Dawn scatters herself over the face of the earth. Zeus assembles all the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. He informs them all of the horrific consequence should any god or goddess attempt to thwart his will concerning the battle. He makes his point very clear. "I shall take him and dash him down to the murk of Tartaros." (That's a very bad place. That's beneath Hades.) Then he heads off to Mount Ida with his chariot and horses. There he observes the Achaians and Trojans as they awake, feast and march to battle. He then weighs "fateful portions of death" for the Achaians and Trojans. The Trojans will apparently be having a much lighter stack of bodies. The Achaians' "portion" far outweighs the Trojans', whose scale is brought closer towards the heavens. In true form for a god of Zeus' status, he releases a massive "stroke" from Mount Ida. "[P]ale terror took hold of all of them." (The Achaians that is.)
None of the Achaian leaders stay their ground. Even Nestor wants to leave, but he can't. Alexandros fells one of his chariot's horses with an. (Finally! He does something useful.) Nestor is stuck. His horses panic and are being weighed down by the dead one. Nestor tries to cut the reins, but it proves pointless. Hektor is charging full force for the frightened old man. Just in time Diomedes shows up. He offers Nestor a ride. He takes it without hesitation. Nestor takes the reins and turns the chariot so as to give Diomedes the chance to fight Hektor. He throws his spear but misses Hektor hitting his driver. Hektor sorrows for his lost companion, but must continue the fight.
"And now there would have been fighting beyond control, and destruction, now they would have been driven and penned like sheep against Ilion, had not the father of gods and of men sharply perceived them." Zeus "thunders horribly" and strikes his mighty bolt right in front of Diomedes' horses, and the horses recoil back against the chariot. Nestor then advises Diomedes that Zeus is no longer with him. (It's time to turn back.) Nestor easily accepts the old man's words. They turn to make for the Achaian camp. But Hektor is in close pursuit. He hurls insults at Diomedes. Diomedes thrice considers turning back. And Zeus thrice reminds him to not.
Hektor begins boasting about how Zeus is honoring him and how he hopes to end the war and send the Achaians "packing" if he can retrieve Diomedes' shield and armor. Hera is none to happy to hear this. She grumbles to Poseidon while making plans to take action while Zeus is in solitude on Mount Ida. Poseidon doesn't care for Hera's plan in the least. Hera then stirs Agamemnon's heart to action. He laments to Zeus how he has faithfully served him. Zeus takes pity and sends him a good sign. An eagle with a fawn in his talons. The fawn is released beside Zeus' altar. This is a positive sign for all Achaians.
The Achaians remember their warcraft and charge. No man is as fast as Diomedes, owing his speed to the Trojan horses he took as spoils from Aineias. Now enter Teukros, a great archer. He takes down eight Trojans. But he cannot touch Hektor. He kills two more while attempting to take down Hektor before Hektor wounds him by bashing him something terrible with a jagged stone. His companions retrieve his limp, groaning body and carry him back to the ships. Hektor kills every Achaians he sees in a mad rage.
Hera complains to Athena concerning the Achaians plight. Athena elaborates on her troubled relationship with her father. She then asks Hera to set up the horses. "So shall I discover whether the son of Priam, Hektor of the shining helmet, will feel joy to see us on the outworks of battle[.]" (OOOOOOO! She's gonna get in trouble!)
Zeus sees them from Mount Ida and is immensely angered at them. He send the swift messenger Iris to warn them of the consequences if they attempt this foolish move. They're warned and fearfully turn back towards Olympus.
Zeus returns to Olympus himself and assembles the gods. He ask why Athena and Hera look so glum. They voice their irritation toward Zeus. He then informs them of their last chance to save the Achaians. They must bring the mighty Achilles back into the fight. Something about Achilles fighting "in the narrow place of necessity over fallen Patroklos." (It doesn't sound good for Patroklos.)
Now darkness descends against the Trojan's will. But it's good news for the trembling Achaians. Hektor gathers some men and forms his plan against the Achaians. Hektor is no longer content with having the Achaians retreat and sail home. He wants his defeat of the Achaians to make anyone else think twice before bringing war against Troy. He sends word to have all young men in the city keep watch at the bastions around the city while all the wives kindle fires to keep watch over the city on the chance of an attack while the soldiers are away. The Trojans are camping out to stir themselves early so that they may "waken the bitter war god" against the Achaians. Hektor plans to fell Diomedes early in the battle.
But for now the Trojans give sacrifice and take their feast. Tomorrow is a big day. Throughout the night, to keep watch on the Achaians, "[a] thousand fires [are] burning there in the plain, and beside each one [sits] fifty men in the flare of the blazing firelight."
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