"Dear brother," she cried, "save me, and give me your horses to take me to Olympus where the gods dwell.

I am badly wounded by a mortal, the son of Tydeus, who would now fight even with father Jove." Thus she spoke, and Mars gave her his gold-bedizened steeds.

She mounted the chariot sick and sorry at heart, while Iris sat beside her and took the reins in her hand.

She lashed her horses on and they flew forward nothing loth, till in a trice they were at high Olympus, where the gods have their dwelling.

There she stayed them, unloosed them from the chariot, and gave them their ambrosial forage; but Venus flung herself on to the lap of her mother Dione, who threw her arms about her and caressed her, saying, "Which of the heavenly beings has been treating you in this way, as though you had been doing something wrong in the face of day ?" And laughter-loving Venus answered, "Proud Diomed, the son of Tydeus, wounded me because I was bearing my dear son Aeneas, whom I love best of all mankind, out of the fight.