Aeneas bids an archer check his destructive career. But this man is
slain before he can obey, and Aeneas himself would have been killed by
Diomedes had not Venus snatched him away from the battle-field. While
she does this, Diomedes wounds her in the hand, causing her to drop
her son, whom Apollo rescues, while she hastens off to obtain from
Mars the loan of his chariot, wherein to drive back to Olympus. There,
on her mother's breast, Venus sobs out the tale of her fright, and,
when healed, is sarcastically advised to leave fighting to the other
gods and busy herself only with the pleasures of love.

The sire of gods and men superior smiled,
And, calling Venus, thus address'd his child:
"Not these, O daughter, are thy proper cares,
Thee milder arts befit, and softer wars;
Sweet smiles are thine, and kind endearing charms;
To Mars and Pallas leave the deeds of arms."

Having snatched Aeneas out of danger, Apollo conveys him to Pergamus
to be healed, leaving on the battle-field in his stead a phantom to
represent him. Then Apollo challenges Mars to avenge Venus' wound, and
the fray which ensues becomes so bloody that "Homeric battle" has been
ever since the accepted term for fierce fighting. It is because Mars
and Bellona protect Hector that the Trojans now gain some advantage,
seeing which, Juno and Minerva hasten to the rescue of the Greeks.
Arriving on the battle-field, Juno, assuming the form of Stentor
(whose brazen tones have become proverbial), directs the Greek
onslaught. Meanwhile, instigated by Minerva, Diomedes attacks Mars,
who, receiving a wound, emits such a roar of pain that both armies
shudder. Then he too is miraculously conveyed to Olympus, where, after
exhibiting his wound, he denounces Minerva who caused it. But,