The Cretan next, Idomeneus, with whom
  Uprose Meriones his friend approved,
  Terrible as the man-destroyer Mars. 
  Evaemon’s noble offspring next appear’d
  Eurypylus; Andraemon’s son the next 195
  Thoas; and last, Ulysses, glorious Chief. 
  All these stood ready to engage in arms
  With warlike Hector, when the ancient King,
  Gerenian Nestor, thus his speech resumed. 
    Now cast the lot for all.  Who wins the chance 200
  Shall yield Achaia service, and himself
  Serve also, if successful he escape
  This brunt of hostile hardiment severe. 
    So Nestor.  They, inscribing each his lot,
  Into the helmet cast it of the son 205
  Of Atreus, Agamemnon.  Then the host
  Pray’d all, their hands uplifting, and with eyes
  To the wide heavens directed, many said[6]—­
    Eternal sire! choose Ajax, or the son
  Of Tydeus, or the King himself[7] who sways 210
  The sceptre in Mycenae wealth-renown’d! 
    Such prayer the people made; then Nestor shook
  The helmet, and forth leaped, whose most they wished,
  The lot of Ajax.  Throughout all the host
  To every chief and potentate of Greece, 215
  From right to left the herald bore the lot
  By all disown’d; but when at length he reach’d
  The inscriber of the lot, who cast it in,
  Illustrious Ajax, in his open palm
  The herald placed it, standing at his side. 220
  He, conscious, with heroic joy the lot
  Cast at his foot, and thus exclaim’d aloud. 
    My friends! the lot is mine,[8] and my own heart
  Rejoices also; for I nothing doubt
  That noble Hector shall be foil’d by me. 225
  But while I put mine armor on, pray all
  In silence to the King Saturnian Jove,
  Lest, while ye pray, the Trojans overhear. 
  Or pray aloud, for whom have we to dread? 
  No man shall my firm standing by his strength 230
  Unsettle, or for ignorance of mine
  Me vanquish, who, I hope, brought forth and train’d
  In Salamis, have, now, not much to learn. 
    He ended.  They with heaven-directed eyes
  The King in prayer address’d, Saturnian Jove. 235
    Jove! glorious father! who from Ida’s height
  Controlest all below, let Ajax prove
  Victorious; make the honor all his own! 
  Or, if not less than Ajax, Hector share
  Thy love and thy regard, divide the prize 240
  Of glory, and let each achieve renown! 
    Then Ajax put his radiant armor on,
  And, arm’d complete, rush’d forward.  As huge Mars
  To battle moves the sons of men between
  Whom Jove with heart-devouring thirst inspires 245
  Of war, so moved huge Ajax to the fight,
  Tower of the Greeks, dilating with a smile