Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
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 Achaeans 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 daring, 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. When
they had done praying to the daughter of great Jove, they went
their way like two lions prowling by night amid the armour and
blood-stained bodies of them that had fallen.
Neither again did Hector let the Trojans sleep; for he too called the
princes and councillors of the Trojans that he might set his counsel
before them. “Is there one,” said he, “who for a great reward will
do me the service of which I will tell you? He shall be well paid if
he will. I will give him a chariot and a couple of horses, the fleetest
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