Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/195

265—313 By mutual confidence and mutual aid,

Great deeds are done, and great discoveries made;

The wise new prudence from the wise acquire,

And one brave hero fans another's fire."

Contending leaders at the word arose;

Each generous breast with emulation glows:

So brave a task each Ajax strove to share,

Bold Merion strove, and Nestor's valiant heir;

The Spartan wished the second place to gain,

And great Ulysses wished, nor wished in vain.

Then thus the king of men the contest ends:

'" [sic]Thou first of warriors, and thou best of friends,

Undaunted Diomed! what chief to join

In this great enterprise, is only thine.

Just be thy choice, without affection made,

To birth or office no respect be paid;

Let worth determine here." The monarch spake,

And inly trembled for his brother's sake.

Then thus the godlike Diomed rejoined:

"My choice declares the impulse of my mind.

How can I doubt, while great Ulysses stands

To lend his counsels, and assist our hands?

A chief, whose safety is Minerva's care:

So famed, so dreadful in the works of war:

Blessed in his conduct, I no aid require,

Wisdom like his might pass through flames of fire."

"It fits thee not, before these chiefs of fame,"

Replied the sage, "to praise me, or to blame:

Praise from a friend, or censure from a foe,

Are lost on hearers that our merits know.

But let us haste. Night rolls the hours away,

The reddening orient shows the coming day,

The stars shine fainter on the ethereal plains,

And of night's empire but a third remains."

Thus having spoke, with generous ardour pressed,

In arms terrific their huge limbs they dressed.

A two-edged faulchion Thrasymed the brave,

And ample buckler, to Tydides gave:

Then in a leathern helm he cased his head,

Short of its crest, and with no plume o'erspread:

Such as by youths, unused to arms, are worn;

No spoils enrich it, and no studs adorn.

Next him Ulysses took a shining sword,

A bow and quiver, with bright arrows stored:

A well-proved casque, with leather braces bound—

Thy gift, Meriones!—his temple crowned:

Soft wool within; without, in order spread,

A boar's white teeth grinned horrid o'er his head.

This from Amyntor, rich Ormenus' son,