Page 189 - the-iliad

ner lining of felt. This helmet had been stolen by Autolycus
out of Eleon when he broke into the house of Amyntor son
of Ormenus. He gave it to Amphidamas of Cythera to take
to Scandea, and Amphidamas gave it as a guest-gift to Mo-
lus, who gave it to his son Meriones; and now it was set upon
the head of Ulysses.
When the pair had armed, they set out, and left the other
chieftains behind them. Pallas Minerva sent them a her-
on by the wayside upon their right hands; they could not
see it for the darkness, but they heard its cry. Ulysses was
glad when he heard it and prayed to Minerva: ‘Hear me,’ he
cried, ‘daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, you who spy out all
my ways and who are with me in all my hardships; befriend
me in this mine hour, and grant that we may return to the
ships covered with glory after having achieved some mighty
exploit that shall bring sorrow to the Trojans.’
Then Diomed of the loud war-cry also prayed: ‘Hear me
too,’ said he, ‘daughter of Jove, unweariable; be with me
even as you were with my noble father Tydeus when he went
to Thebes as envoy sent by the Achaeans. He left the Achae-
ans by the banks of the river Aesopus, and went to the city
bearing a message of peace to the Cadmeians; on his return
thence, with your help, goddess, he did great deeds of dar-
ing, for you were his ready helper. Even so guide me and
guard me now, and in return I will offer you in sacrifice a
broad-browed heifer of a year old, unbroken, and never yet
brought by man under the yoke. I will gild her horns and
will offer her up to you in sacrifice.’
Thus they prayed, and Pallas Minerva heard their prayer.

1 The Iliad