He ended, and no few willing arose
To go with Diomede. Servants of Mars
Each Ajax willing stood; willing as they
Meriones; most willing Nestor’s son;270
Willing the brother of the Chief of all,
Nor willing less Ulysses to explore
The host of Troy, for he possess’d a heart
Delighted ever with some bold exploit.
Then Agamemnon, King of men, began.275
Now Diomede, in whom my soul delights!
Choose whom thou wilt for thy companion; choose
The fittest here; for numerous wish to go.
Leave not through deference to another’s rank,
The more deserving, nor prefer a worse,280
Respecting either pedigree or power.
Such speech he interposed, fearing his choice
Of Menelaus; then, renown’d in arms
The son of Tydeus, rising, spake again.
Since, then, ye bid me my own partner choose285
Free from constraint, how can I overlook
Divine Ulysses, whose courageous heart
With such peculiar cheerfulness endures
Whatever toils, and whom Minerva loves?
Let him attend me, and through fire itself290
We shall return; for none is wise as he.[7]
To him Ulysses, hardy Chief, replied.
Tydides! neither praise me much, nor blame,
For these are Grecians in whose ears thou speak’st,
And know me well. But let us hence! the night295
Draws to a close; day comes apace; the stars
Are far advanced; two portions have elapsed
Of darkness, but the third is yet entire.
So they; then each his dreadful arms put on.
To Diomede, who at the fleet had left300
His own, the dauntless Thrasymedes gave
His shield and sword two-edged, and on his head
Placed, crestless, unadorn’d, his bull-skin casque.
It was a stripling’s helmet, such as youths
Scarce yet confirm’d in lusty manhood, wear.305
Meriones with quiver, bow and sword
Furnish’d Ulysses, and his brows enclosed
In his own casque of hide with many a thong
Well braced within;[8] guarded it was without
With boar’s teeth ivory-white inherent firm310
On all sides, and with woolen head-piece lined.
That helmet erst Autolycus[9] had brought
From Eleon, city of Amyntor son
Of Hormenus, where he the solid walls
Bored through, clandestine, of Amyntor’s house.315
He on Amphidamas the prize bestow’d
In Scandia;[10] from Amphidamas it pass’d
To Molus as a hospitable pledge;
He gave it to Meriones his son,
And now it guarded shrewd Ulysses’ brows.320
Both clad in arms terrific, forth they sped,
Leaving their fellow Chiefs, and as they went
A heron, by command of Pallas, flew
Close on the right beside them; darkling they
Discern’d him not, but heard his clanging plumes.[11]325
Ulysses in the favorable sign
Exulted, and Minerva thus invoked.[12]
Oh hear me, daughter of Jove Ægis-arm’d!
My present helper in all straits, whose eye
Marks all my ways, oh with peculiar care330
Now guard me, Pallas! grant that after toil
Successful, glorious, such as long shall fill
With grief the Trojans, we may safe return
And with immortal honors to the fleet.
Valiant Tydides, next, his prayer preferr’d.335
Hear also me, Jove’s offspring by the toils
Of war invincible! me follow now
As my heroic father erst to Thebes
Thou followedst, Tydeus; by the Greeks dispatch’d
Ambassador, he left the mail-clad host340
Beside Asopus, and with terms of peace
Entrusted, enter’d Thebes; but by thine aid
Benevolent, and in thy strength, perform’d
Returning, deeds of terrible renown.
Thus, now, protect me also! In return345
I vow an offering at thy shrine, a young
Broad-fronted heifer, to the yoke as yet
Untamed, whose horns I will incase with gold.
Such prayer they made, and Pallas heard well pleased.
Their orisons ended to the daughter dread350
Of mighty Jove, lion-like they advanced
Through shades of night, through carnage, arms and blood.
Nor Hector to his gallant host indulged
Sleep, but convened the leaders; leader none
Or senator of all his host he left355
Unsummon’d, and his purpose thus promulged.