Now Diomede, in whom my soul delights! 
Choose whom thou wilt for thy companion; choose
The fittest here; for numerous wish to go. 
Leave not through deference to another’s rank,
The more deserving, nor prefer a worse, 280
Respecting either pedigree or power. 

    Such speech he interposed, fearing his choice

Of Menelaus; then, renown’d in arms
The son of Tydeus, rising, spake again. 

    Since, then, ye bid me my own partner choose 285

Free from constraint, how can I overlook
Divine Ulysses, whose courageous heart
With such peculiar cheerfulness endures
Whatever toils, and whom Minerva loves? 
Let him attend me, and through fire itself 290
We shall return; for none is wise as he.[7]

    To him Ulysses, hardy Chief, replied. 

Tydides! neither praise me much, nor blame,
For these are Grecians in whose ears thou speak’st,
And know me well.  But let us hence! the night 295
Draws to a close; day comes apace; the stars
Are far advanced; two portions have elapsed
Of darkness, but the third is yet entire. 

    So they; then each his dreadful arms put on. 

To Diomede, who at the fleet had left 300
His own, the dauntless Thrasymedes gave
His shield and sword two-edged, and on his head
Placed, crestless, unadorn’d, his bull-skin casque. 
It was a stripling’s helmet, such as youths
Scarce yet confirm’d in lusty manhood, wear. 305
Meriones with quiver, bow and sword
Furnish’d Ulysses, and his brows enclosed
In his own casque of hide with many a thong
Well braced within;[8] guarded it was without
With boar’s teeth ivory-white inherent firm 310
On all sides, and with woolen head-piece lined. 
That helmet erst Autolycus[9] had brought
From Eleon, city of Amyntor son
Of Hormenus, where he the solid walls
Bored through, clandestine, of Amyntor’s house. 315
He on Amphidamas the prize bestow’d
In Scandia;[10] from Amphidamas it pass’d
To Molus as a hospitable pledge;
He gave it to Meriones his son,
And now it guarded shrewd Ulysses’ brows. 320
Both clad in arms terrific, forth they sped,
Leaving their fellow Chiefs, and as they went
A heron, by command of Pallas, flew
Close on the right beside them; darkling they
Discern’d him not, but heard his clanging plumes.[11] 325
Ulysses in the favorable sign
Exulted, and Minerva thus invoked.[12]

    Oh hear me, daughter of Jove AEgis-arm’d! 

My present helper in all straits, whose eye
Marks all my ways, oh with peculiar care 330
Now guard me, Pallas! grant that after toil
Successful, glorious, such as long shall fill
With grief the Trojans, we may safe return