Entering his tent, Achilles raised the lid Of a fair coffer, beautifully wrought, Which silver-footed Thetis placed on board His barque, and filled with tunics, cloaks well lined, And fleecy carpets. There he also kept A goblet richly chased, from which no lip Of man, save his, might drink the dark red wine, Nor wine be poured to any god save Jove, The mighty Father. This he took in hand And purified with sulphur first, and then Rinsed with clear water. Next, with washen hands, He drew the dark red wine, and stood without, In the open space, and, pouring out the wine, Prayed with his eyes turned heavenward, not unheard By Jupiter, who wields the thunderbolt.
“Dodonian Jove, Pelasgian, sovereign King, Whose dwelling is afar, and who dost rule Dodona winter-bound, where dwell thy priests, The Selli, with unwashen feet, who sleep Upon the ground! Thou once hast heard my prayer, And thou hast honored me, and terribly Avenged me on the Greeks. Accomplish yet This one request of mine. I shall remain Among the rows of ships, but in my stead I send my comrade, who will lead to war My vast array of Myrmidons. With him, O God of Thunders, send the victory. Make his heart bold; let even Hector learn Whether my follower, though alone, can wage Successful war, or conquer only then When I go forth with him into the field Of slaughter. When he shall have beaten back The assailants from the fleet, let him return Unharmed to my good galleys and to me. With all his arms and all his valiant men.”
So spake he, offering prayer, and Jupiter, The Great Disposer, hearkened. Half the prayer The All-Father granted him, and half denied: To drive the storm of battle from the fleet He granted, but denied his friend’s return In safety. When the warrior thus had prayed, And poured the wine to Father Jove, he went Into his tent again, and there replaced The goblet in the coffer. Coming forth, He stood before the entrance to behold The terrible encounter of the hosts.