The Achaeans took food quickly through the shelters, and the Trojans armed themselves throughout the city. Though they were fewer, they were eager to fight from need, defending children and wives. The gates opened, and the army poured out with horses and men and a great noise rose.
When the two sides met in one place, shields struck shields, spears struck spears, and the force of bronze-armored men came together. Bossed shields crashed, and groans and shouts rose at once from killers and from men being killed. The earth ran with blood.
As long as morning grew and sacred day increased, weapons flew from both sides and men kept falling. But when the sun stood high in the middle sky, the father lifted his golden scales and set in them two fates of death, one for horse-taming Trojans and one for bronze-clad Achaeans.
He took the balance by the middle. The Achaeans' day of doom sank down toward the bountiful earth, while the Trojans' fate lifted toward broad heaven. Zeus thundered from Ida and hurled a blazing flash among the Achaeans. They saw it and were seized with pale fear.
Idomeneus did not stand, nor Agamemnon, nor the two Aiantes, servants of Ares. Nestor alone was caught there, not by will, for Paris had shot one of his horses and pinned it by the crown of the head. The horse writhed, and the team tangled around him.
The old horseman cut at the traces with his sword. Hector's swift horses were bearing down with their bold driver. Nestor would have lost his life, but Diomedes saw him and shouted to Odysseus to help. Odysseus did not hear, or would not turn, and ran on toward the ships.
Diomedes sprang down, stood beside Nestor, and spoke sharply but kindly: old man, young fighters press you hard; your strength is worn down, your attendant is weak, and your horses are slow. Mount my chariot, and you will see what the horses of Tros can do, horses I took from Aeneas, skilled in pursuit and flight.
Nestor answered that Diomedes spoke rightly. Sthenelus and kind Eurymedon took charge of Nestor's horses, while Nestor mounted beside Diomedes. The old man took the shining reins, lashed the horses, and the two drove straight at Hector.
Diomedes hurled at Hector and missed him, but struck Eniopeus, Hector's charioteer, in the breast beside the nipple. Eniopeus fell from the car, and Hector grieved for him, though he left him lying and searched for another driver. He found Archeptolemos son of Iphitos and put the reins in his hands.
Then there would have been ruin and deeds past repair, with the Trojans penned in Ilios like lambs, if the father of gods and men had not seen it. He thundered terribly and cast a white lightning bolt before Diomedes' horses. A dreadful flame went up from burning sulfur, and the horses crouched under the chariot in fear.