He bade him first the dread Chimaera slay; A monster, sent from Heav’n, not human born, With head of lion, and a serpent’s tail, And body of a goat; and from her mouth There issued flames of fiercely-burning fire: Yet her, confiding in the Gods, he slew. Next, with the valiant Solymi he fought, The fiercest fight that e’er he undertook. Thirdly, the women-warriors he o’erthrew, The Amazons; from whom returning home, The King another stratagem devis’d; For, choosing out the best of Lycia’s sons, He set an ambush; they return’d not home, For all by brave Bellerophon were slain. But, by his valour when the King perceiv’d His heav’nly birth, he entertain’d him well; Gave him his daughter; and with her the half Of all his royal honours he bestow’d: A portion too the Lycians meted out, Fertile in corn and wine, of all the state The choicest land, to be his heritage. Three children there to brave Bellerophon Were born; Isander, and Hippolochus, Laodamia last, belov’d of Jove, The Lord of counsel; and to him she bore Godlike Sarpedon of the brazen helm. Bellerophon at length the wrath incurr’d Of all the Gods; and to th’ Aleian plain Alone he wander’d; there he wore away His soul, and shunn’d the busy haunts of men. Insatiate Mars his son Isander slew In battle with the valiant Solymi: His daughter perish’d by Diana’s wrath. I from Hippolochus my birth derive: To Troy he sent me, and enjoin’d me oft To aim at highest honours, and surpass My comrades all; nor on my father’s name Discredit bring, who held the foremost place In Ephyre, and Lycia’s wide domain. Such is my race, and such the blood I boast.” He said; and Diomed rejoicing heard: His spear he planted in the fruitful ground, And thus with friendly words the chief address’d: “By ancient ties of friendship are we bound; For godlike Œneus in his house receiv’d For twenty days the brave Bellerophon; They many a gift of friendship interchang’d; A belt, with crimson glowing, Œneus gave; Bellerophon a double cup of gold, Which in my house I left when here I came. Of Tydeus no remembrance I retain; For yet a child he left me, when he fell With his Achaians at the gate of Thebes. So I in Argos am thy friendly host; Thou mine in Lycia, when I thither come: Then shun we, e’en amid the thickest fight, Each other’s lance; enough there are for me Of Trojans and their brave allies to kill, As Heav’n may aid me, and my speed of foot; And Greeks enough there are for thee to slay, If so indeed thou canst; but let us now Our armour interchange, that these may know What friendly bonds of old our houses join.” Thus as they spoke, they quitted each his car; Clasp’d hand in hand, and plighted mutual faith. Then Glaucus of his judgment Jove depriv’d, His armour interchanging, gold for brass, A hundred oxen’s worth for that of nine.