"Why, vixen," said he, "have you again set the gods by the ears in the pride and haughtiness of your heart?
Have you forgotten how you set Diomed son of Tydeus on to wound me, and yourself took visible spear and drove it into me to the hurt of my fair body?
You shall now suffer for what you then did to me." As he spoke he struck her on the terrible tasselled aegis--so terrible that not even can Jove's lightning pierce it.

Here did murderous Mars strike her with his great spear.

She drew back and with her strong hand seized a stone that was lying on the plain--great and rugged and black--which men of old had set for the boundary of a field.

With this she struck Mars on the neck, and brought him down.

Nine roods did he cover in his fall, and his hair was all soiled in the dust, while his armour rang rattling round him.