Despite his fury of war , Diomedes held back his sword so that the old man might speak .
According to Quintus Smyrnaeus , while slaughtering countless Trojans , Diomedes met an elderly man named Ilioneus who begged for mercy .
Despite Diomedes ' fury of war , Diomedes held back his sword so that the old man might speak .
According to Quintus Smyrnaeus , while slaughtering countless Trojans , Diomedes met an elderly man named Ilioneus who begged for mercy .