His shield, and helm tough and well-tann’d, without or plume or crest, And call’d a murrion, archers’ heads it uséd to invest. Meriones lent Ithacus his quiver and his bow, His helmet fashion’d of a hide; the workman did bestow Much labour in it, quilting it with bow-strings, and, without With snowy tusks of white-mouth’d boars ’twas arméd round about Right cunningly, and in the midst an arming cap was plac’d, That with the fix’d ends of the tusks his head might not be ras’d. This, long since, by Autolycus was brought from Eleon, When he laid waste Amyntor’s house, that was Ormenus’ son: In Scandia, to Cytherius, surnam’d Amphidamas, Autolycus did give this helm; he, when he feasted was By honour’d Molus, gave it him, as present of a guest; Molus to his son Merion did make it his bequest. With this Ulysses arm’d his head; and thus they, both address’d, Took leave of all the other kings. To them a glad ostent, As they were ent’ring on their way, Minerva did present, A hernshaw consecrate to her, which they could ill discern Through sable night, but, by her clange, they knew it was a hern. Ulysses joy’d, and thus invok’d: “Hear me, great Seed of Jove, That ever dost my labours grace with presence of thy love, And all my motions dost attend! Still love me, sacred Dame, Especially in this exploit, and so protect our fame We both may safely make retreat, and thriftily employ Our boldness in some great affair baneful to them of Troy.” Then pray’d illustrate Diomed: “Vouchsafe me likewise ear, O thou unconquer’d Queen of arms! Be with thy favours near, As, to my royal father’s steps, thou went’st a bounteous guide, When th’ Achives and the peers of Thebes he would have pacified, Sent as the Greeks’ ambassador, and left them at the flood Of great Æsopus; whose retreat thou mad’st to swim in blood Of his enambush’d enemies; and, if thou so protect My bold endeavours, to thy name an heifer most select, That never yet was tam’d with yoke, broad-fronted, one year old, I’ll burn in zealous sacrifice, and set the horns in gold.” The Goddess heard; and both the kings their dreadless passage bore Through slaughter, slaughter’d carcasses, arms, and discolour’d gore. Nor Hector let his princes sleep, but all to council call’d, And ask’d, “What one is here will vow, and keep it unappall’d, To have a gift fit for his deed, a chariot and two horse, That pass for speed the rest of Greece? What one dares take this course, For his renown, besides his gifts, to mix amongst the foe, And learn if still they hold their guards, or with this overthrow Determine flight, as being too weak to hold us longer war?” All silent stood; at last stood forth one Dolon, that did dare This dang’rous work, Eumedes’ heir, a herald much renown’d. This Dolon did in gold and brass exceedingly abound, But in his form was quite deform’d, yet passing swift to run; Amongst five sisters, he was left Eumedes’ only son. And he told Hector, his free heart would undertake t’ explore