He said; and both prepar’d to don their arms. The youthful warrior Thrasymedes gave To Diomed a two-edg’d sword (his own Had in the ship been left) and ample shield; Then on his brows a leathern headpiece plac’d, Without or peak or plume; a simple casque, Such as is worn by youths to guard their head. A bow, and well-fill’d quiver, and a sword, Meriones to sage Ulysses gave; And on his brows a leathern headpiece plac’d, Well wrought within, with num’rous straps secur’d, And on th’ outside, with wild boars’ gleaming tusks Profusely garnish’d, scatter’d here and there By skilful hand; the midst with felt was lin’d; This from Amyntor, son of Ormenus, Autolycus from Eleon bore away, Spoil of his pillag’d house; Autolycus Gave to Amphidamas, Cytheran chief, Who in Scandea dwelt; Amphidamas To Molus, pledge of friendship; he again Gave to his son, Meriones, from whom It now encircled sage Ulysses’ brow. Thus with accoutrements and arms supplied, They left their brother chiefs, and took their way. Then close beside their path, by Pallas sent, Rose, on the right, a heron; through the gloom They saw it not indeed, but heard the cry. The fav’ring sign with joy Ulysses hail’d, And thus to Pallas pray’d: “Hear me, thou child Of aegis-bearing Jove, who still hast stood In ev’ry peril at my side, whose eye My ev’ry movement sees; now, Goddess, now Befriend me; grant that safe, with triumph crown’d, We may return, some great exploit achiev’d, Such as the Trojans long may bear in mind.” Him following, thus the brave Tydides pray’d: “My voice too, child of Jove, undaunted, hear; And be with me, as with my father erst, The godlike Tydeus, when to Thebes he went, An envoy, in advance; and left behind, Upon Asopus’ banks the mail-clad Greeks. Smooth was the message which to Thebes he bore; But great, his mission ended, were the deeds That with thine aid he wrought; for, Goddess, thou Wast with him, and thine arm was his defence: So be thou now with me, and me defend. Then on thine altar will I sacrifice A yearling heifer, broad of brow, untam’d, Whereon no yoke hath mortal ever laid: Her will I give, and tip her horns with gold.” Thus as they pray’d, their pray’r the Goddess heard; Then, their devotions ended, on they far’d Through the deep dead of night, like lions twain, ’Mid slaughter, corpses, arms, and blacken’d gore. Nor, in the Trojan camp, did Hector leave The chiefs to rest; but all to conf’rence call’d, The leaders and the councillors of Troy; To whom his prudent speech he thus address’d: “Who is there here, that for a rich reward A noble work will undertake? A car And two strong-collar’d horses, best of all That can be found within the Grecian lines, Shall he receive, who, to his endless praise, Shall dare approach the ships; and learn if still They keep their wonted watch, or, by our arms Subdued and vanquished, meditate retreat, And, worn with toil, the nightly watch neglect.” Thus Hector spoke; but all in silence heard.