BOOK X
Now all the rest by galley-side,
chieftains of Pan-Achaia,
1
Kept thro' the livelong night repose,
by gentle sleep o'ermaster'd.
But not Atrides Agamemnon,
shepherd of the people,
Might be in slumber sweet detain'd;
but tides of thought did toss him.
And as when brighthair'd Juno's lord
thro' heaven lightning sendeth,
5
Devising hail or piercing sleet
(when snow the clods hath powder'd),
Or rainy flood ineffable,
or bitter-yawning battle;
So thickly from his bosom sobb'd
the royal Agamemnon,
Deep drawing from his heart the moan;
and all his vitals trembled.
10
When o'er the Troian plain he gaz'd,
the many flames admir'd he,
Which burnt in front of Ilium, -
the sound of flutes and whistles,
And hum of men: but when he saw
the Achaian folk and galleys,
Then many a hair with lowest roots
from out his head uptare he
15
To Jupiter aloft; and deep
his noble heart was shaken.
But to his mind this path appear'd
the best; to go for Nestor,
The son of Neleus, first of men;
if-that some blameless counsel
The twain might ponder, and from bale
the Danaï deliver.
20
Upright he rais'd him, and put on
around his breast the tunic,
And underneath his supple feet
he bound the comely sandals.
But next, a fiery lion's hide
he wrapt about his shoulders,
Vast, ruddy, reaching to the heel;
and took his spear beside him.
So eke on Menelaüs came
like trembling; nor did slumber
25
Sit on his eyelids; terror-struck,
lest aught befal the Argives,
Who truly o'er the waters wide
for vengeance of his quarrel
To Troas' land had voyaged,
audacious combat planning.
First with a spotted panther-skin
his shoulders' breadth he cover'd;
But next a brazen coronal
upon his head adjusted,
30
And in his broad hand grasp'd a spear;
and hied to rouse his brother,
Who mightily the Argives sway'd,
and as a god was honour'd.
But him he found, around his frame
the beauteous armour fitting,
At stern of galley; and to him
brought joy by his arrival.
35
Then Menelaüs, good at need,
his brother first accosted:
"My gracious sir, why armest thou?
dost haply urge some comrade
To espy the Troian camp? but I
do direly fear, that no one
This work will undertake, -alone
amid the foes to venture,
40
Peering across ambrosial night.
A sturdy heart is wanted."
To him in words reciprocal
spake royal Agamemnon:
"Jove-nurtur'd Menelas! for thee
and me is need of counsel,
Crafty to liberate and save
the Argives and their galleys.
For Jove's intent is chang'd, who now
on offerings of Hector
45
Rather hath set his mind: for I
neither by sight nor story
Have known one man so rueful deeds
within a day to compass,
As Hector, dear to Jove, hath wrought
upon Achaia's children,
He a mere man, no sacred birth
from god or goddess boasting.
50
Deeds hath he done, which, I aver,
shall rouse concern in Argives
Lasting and long: such bale hath he
against Achaia wreaked.
But hie thee hence, and summon now
Idomeneus and Ajax,
Beside the galleys speeding thee;
and I to godlike Nestor
Will go, and urge him to arise,
if haply he be willing
55
Unto the sacred watcher-band
to cross, and keenly stir them.
For none as he their ear might gain,
sith as his son is leader
To marshal them; and eke with him
Idomeneus' attendant,
Meriones. For upon these
chief trust have we reposed."
Then Menelaüs, good at need,
accosted him responsive:
60
"How willest thou that I perform
this errand and injunction?
Am I beside the watch to stay,
and wait until thou join us,
Or hie me after thee again,
when duly I have charg'd them?"
Then Agamemnon, prince of men,
reciprocal address'd him:
"Stay on the spot, lest we perchance
miss each the other, passing,
65
Amid the gloom: for many are
the paths along the army.
And where thou goest, speak aloud,
and urge them to be wakeful,
And name the parentage of each,
their line of sires recounting,
And lavish praise on all; nor err
by haughtiness of spirit,
But let us both good service do
in person. So, it seemeth,
70
Jove with the past events on us
distressful moil imposes."
With such address and careful charge
dispatched he his brother,
And hied himself in speed, to find
Nestor, the people's shepherd.
But him he found within his tent,
beside the dusky galley,
On a soft bed; and close to him
was laid his curious armour,
75
His shield, two spears, and shining casque
with triple crest above it.
Beside them lay his breadth of belt,
all-motley; which around him
The old man girded, whensoe'er
to hero-wasting battle,
Leading the folk, he hied; for he
enfeebling Eld resisted.
Now on his elbow raising him,
he, with the head uplifted,
80
Address'd his speech to Atreus' son,
and summon'd him with question:
"Who lonely there beside the ships
along the army paceth
In covert of the dusky night,
when other mortals slumber?
Say, seekest thou some mule astray,
or one of thy companions?
Speak out, nor silent come on me,
but tell, what errand brings thee."
85
Then Agamemnon, prince of men,
to him in turn responded:
"O Nestor, Neleus' progeny!
great glory of the Achaians!
Canst Agamemnon recognize?
whom in a sea of troubles
Beyond all mortals Jove hath plung'd,
entirely and for ever,
While breath doth in my bosom dwell,
and while my knees support me.
90
But thus I roam, sith on my eyes
no gentle slumber sitteth;
1
For, my sad heart doth ruminate
Achaian war and sorrows,
And grimly for the Danaï
I fear: my thoughts within me
Steadfast no longer are, but faint,
and waver: from my bosom
My heart outleapeth, and beneath,
my gallant limbs are palsied.
95
But if thou aught of vigour hast,
sith wakeful thou abidest,
Descend we to the sentinels,
to visit them, lest haply,
Conquer'd by sleep and weariness,
they yield themselves to slumber,
The watch forgetting: close at hand
sitteth the foe; nor know we
100
Whether perchance in shades of night
he eager be to combat."
To him thereat the charioteer
Gerenian Nestor answer'd:
"O Agamemnon, prince of men,
most glorious Atrides,
Truly not all the purposes
which Hector now deviseth,
Will Jove the Counsellor perform;
but he, I trow, will struggle
105
With troubles more and worser, if
from his disastrous anger
Achilles change his noble heart.
But thee I gladly follow;
And others eke will we arouse;
-the spear-renown'd Tydides,
Ulysses and swift Ajax and
the valiant son of Phyleus,
110
And greater Ajax, match for gods,
if one were free to fetch him;
Withal, the prince Idomeneus;
for farthest stand their galleys.
But Menelas, all-be-that I
dear and august account him,
To thy displeasure will I chide,
nor will I hide my censure,
115
Who sleepeth, and to thee alone
such busy duty leaveth.
But now his task it were, to toil
beyond all other chieftains,
With supplication; for distress
unbearable hath reach'd us."
Then Agamemnon, prince of men,
accosted him responsive:
"My aged friend, at other times
I bid thee to rebuke him;
120
For oft in listlessness he waits
and willeth not to labour,
Not from a coward slothful heart,
nor aught perverse in temper,
But keeping still his eye on me,
and my resolve awaiting.
Now woke he earlier than me,
and stood above my pillow.
Him have I forward sent, to call
the twain of whom thou askest.
125
But go we: them I trust to meet
before the fenced portals
Among the sentinels; for there
the trysting-place assign'd I."
To him thereat the charioteer
Gerenian Nestor answer'd:
"'Tis well: for so, on future day,
none will of all the Argives
Indignant be or disobey,
when he shall charge and urge them."
130
This said, the aged man put on
around his breast the tunic,
And underneath his supple feet
he bound the comely sandals,
And at his shoulder button'd he
a cloak of Punic purple,
Double, lowreaching, cover'd well
with curly shag above it.
Then did he grasp a valiant spear,
pointed with brass welltemper'd,
135
And hied to go along the ships
of brazen-cloak'd Achaians.
Ulysses first he found, to Jove
an equipoise in counsel,
And with loud call arous'd him: quick
the voice his heart encircled,
And from the tent forthwith he came,
and spake to them in answer:
140
"Why lonely thus beside the ships
along the army roam ye
Mid the ambrosial night? wherein
doth need so pressing urge you?"
To him thereat the charioteer
Gerenian Nestor answer'd:
"O Jove-deriv'd, Laertes' son,
Ulysses much-contriving,
Take no offence: so fierce distress
upon the Achaians presseth.
145
But follow, while we others rouse,
whom it befits to summon
On our high council, to decide
either on flight or battle."
He spake: then, entering his tent,
Ulysses much-devising
Amuchwrought buckler slung around
his breast, and mov'd behind them.
Next went they after Diomedes,
Tydeus son; and found him
150
Lying in arms outside his tent;
and round, his comrades slumber'd.
Beneath their heads their bucklers lay;
their spears upright were planted,
Fix'd in the earth by upper end:
the brazen gleam, as lightning
Of father Jove, flash'd from afar:
but he, their chief, was sleeping.
Beneath his body lay a hide,
torn from a bull field-roaming,
155
But underneath his head was stretch'd
a sheeny-broider'd carpet.
Then with his foot the charioteer
Gerenian Nestor stirr'd him,
And waken'd and exhorted him,
and with reproach confronted:
"Wake, son of Tydeus! why all night
dost cull the prime of slumber?
Nor knowest that the Troïans
are seated near the galleys
160
Along a swelling of the plain,
and little space doth ward them?"
When thus accosted, from his sleep
right quickly up he started,
And straightway speaking in reply,
did winged accents utter:
"Severe art thou, my aged friend!
from toil thou never restest.
Hath not Achaia younger sons
than thee, to move patrolling
165
And wake the princes? aged sir!
distressful is thy vigour."
To him in turn the charioteer
Gerenian Nestor answer'd:
"Ay, verily, all this, my friend,
discreetly hast thou spoken;
For, blameless children, troth! have I,
and a long train of peoples,
170
Who might patrol and summon you:
but heavy need oppresseth
The Achaians mightily: for now
upon an edge of razor
Standeth their future, or to live,
or fall in moanful ruin.
But come, swift Ajax rouse for us;
withal, the son of Phyleus;
175
Sith pity for my age thou hast:
for thou than me art younger."
Hereat, a fiery lion's hide,
vast, reaching to the ankle,
Tydides round his shoulders wrapt,
and took his spear beside him,
And started on his path: and them
he rous'd and quickly gather'd.
But when amid the assembled watch
at length they were arrived,
180
Not slumbering, I wis, they found
the captains of the watchers,
But all with panoply complete
in wakeful mood were seated.
As, penn'd upon a field, the dogs
around the sheep are anxious,
Hearing some stalwart-hearted beast,
who thro' the forest howleth,
Crossing the mountains; after him
an endless riot gathers
185
Of dogs and shepherds; all the night,
their hope of sleep hath perish'd:
So from their eyelids vanish'd then
all hope of gentle slumber,
As thro' that evil night they watch'd:
for to the plain they alway
Turn'd their regard, whene'er they deem'd
the Troïans advancing.
At sight of them the aged man
was joyous, and, to cheer them,
190
He spake a word enheartening,
and winged accents utter'd:
"Dear children! watch ye, diligent,
as now; and let not slumber
Any invade; lest we become
a triumph to the foemen."
He spake, and crossing, pass'd the moat;
and after him there follow'd
All who to council summon'd were,
king-leaders of the Argives.
195
Along with them Meriones
and Nestor's brilliant offspring
Proceeded; for the kings themselves
their joint advice invited.
Then o'er the moat, which deep was dug,
they cross'd, and took their station
On a clear space, where open ground
was seen between the corpses,
Which fell, where Hector yester-eve
set pause upon his fury,
200
Prostrate the Argives laying, when
the shades of night inclos'd him.
Here duly seated, each to each
did canny counsel open.
To them the Pylian charioteer,
Nestor, began discourses :
"My friends! can no man then be found
of Argos, who, confiding
In his own daring soul, among
the mighty-hearted Troians
205
Would venture, if perchance he catch
some foeman on the outskirt,
Or hear among the Troïans
some rumour of their purpose,
Whether their bent be, here to stay,
afar, anent the galleys,
Or to the city back to go,
as victors of the Achaians.
210
Might he such questions duly sound,
and safe return among us,
His glory would to heaven reach,
and noble gifts await him.
For upon him shall every chief,
who Argive galleys swayeth,
Bestow a black ewe, big with young,
of woolly chattels peerless;
215
And alway shall he find a seat
at public feast and banquet."
Such was his counsel: thereupon
they all were dumb in silence,
Till Diomedes, good at need,
utter'd his voice among them:
"Nestor, my heart and noble soul
doth mightily bestir me
220
Into the Troian foeman-host,
which near us lies, to enter.
But, with another join'd, it were
more comforting and cheery.
When two together go, the one
before the other seizeth,
How gain is won; but, when alone,
if rightly he discern it,
225
Yet all his mind more sluggish is,
and puny is his counsel."
He spake; then many wish'd to be
escort to Diomedes,
Both the Ajaces wish'd for it,
twin ministers of Ares, -
And Merion: but greatly did
the son of Nestor wish it.
The son of Atreus wish'd for it,
spear-famous Meneläus.
230
And much Ulysses wish'd, the crowd
of Troïans to enter;
For alway he in daring soul
some enterprize was plotting.
Then Agamemnon, prince of men,
pronounc'd his word among them:
"O Diomedes, Tydeus' son,
to my regards most pleasing,
Now mayest thou thyself select
the comrade whom thou willest,
235
Who of the claimants bravest is;
sith many here are eager.
But thou no reverence of heart
indulge, to lose the braver,
Where choice is free; nor take the worse,
by bashfulness persuaded,
Looking to birth; not even if
one kinglier be offer'd."
So spake he, inwardly afraid
for auburn Meneläus.
240
But Diomedes, good at need,
again replied among them:
"If then in truth ye lay on me
myself to choose a comrade,
Could I in such arbitrement,
forget divine Ulysses,
In whom the heart and noble soul
surpassingly is forward
For every feat of hardiment;
and maid Athene loves him?
245
If he be my escórt, I ween
we might return deliver'd
Safe even out of blazing fire:
so sage are his devices."
To him the much-enduring man,
divine Ulysses, answer'd:
"O son of Tydeus, praise me not
too much, nor yet reproach me;
For, those who hear thee, Argives are,
with me and thee acquainted.
250
But go we; for the night apace
doth yield, and morn approacheth:
The stars are far upon their course,
and of the nightly watches
More than two parts are gone;
a third barely is left for action."
So spake they mutual; and both
assum'd their dreadful armour.
A buckler upon Tydeus' son
war-biding Thrasymedes
255
Bestow'd, and cutlass double-edg'd;
for he beside the galleys
Had left his own: and round his head
he plac'd a cap of bull-hide,
Ridgeless and crestless; such as guards
the heads of blooming callants.
But to Ulysses Merion
a bow and quiver offer'd,
260
And sword; and plac'd around his head
a helmet wrought of leather,
With many a twisted strap within
girt strongly; but without it
On either side in thick array
a boar's white tusks were planted
Well and right cleverly; but felt
was in the middle fitted.
265
From Eleon, where reign'd of yore
Ormenides Amyntor,
Autolycus had stolen it,
the closed chamber boring.
It at Scandeia he bestowed
on a Kytheran hero,
Amphidamas; from whom it pass'd
as hospitable token
To Molus: he to Merion,
his proper son, bequeath'd it,
270
For use of war: now, settled close,
Ulysses' head it shelter'd.
So then the twain, when both were busk'd
complete in dreadful armour,
Hied them to go; and on the spot,
behind them, all the bravest
They left; and maid Athene sent
beside the road, to greet them,
A lucky heron: mid the gloom
its cry they knew, tho' nothing
275
Saw they. Ulysses then rejoic'd,
and thus besought Athene:
"Offspring of ægis-holding Jove,
who alway dost beside me
In every feat of danger stand,
and all my goings knowest,
Hearken to me, and chiefly now
befriend me, O Athene!
280
Grant us returning to arrive
with glory at the galleys,
After some deed of hardiment,
which Troians long may ponder."
Next Diomedes, good at need,
did second raise his prayer:
"Eke unto me, O child of Jove!
unweariable! hearken.
Escort me, as of yore thou didst
my father, godlike Tydeus,
285
Escort to Thebes, when forth he went
ambassador for Argos,
And left upon Asopus' banks
the brazen-cloak'd Achaians.
Thither a gentle word did he
to the Cadmeians carry;
Yet he on his returning path
a dire achievement plotted,
Goddess divine! by thy support,
who stoodest by, to prompt him.
290
In the same fashion now, beside me
willing stand, and guard me:
And I to thee will sacrifice
a broad-fac'd yearling heifer
Untam'd; which no man hitherto
beneath the yoke hath fasten'd.
Gold will I spread around its horns
and yield it to thy honour."
So utter'd they the word of pray'r,
and maid Athene heard them.
295
When to the imp of mighty Jove
they thus had paid their worship,
They hied to go, as lions twain,
amid the nightly darkness,
O'er carcases and dusky gore,
thro' weapons and thro' carnage.
Eke Hector, neither yet did he
permit the haughty Troians
To sleep; but into council thick
he all the bravest summon'd,
300
As many as of Troians
were governours and leaders.
When these together he had call'd,
a canny word disclos'd he:
"Who for a mighty guerdon now
would undertake and finish
The deed which in my mind I plan?
nor should his meed be scanty.
For I will give the chariot
and two high-crested coursers,
305
Which are of all preeminent
at yon Achaian galleys,
On him, who hath the hardiment
to earn him proper glory,
And near the swift-careering ships
to go, and make inquiry,
Whether they guard them, as of old,
or, by our hands o'ermaster'd,
310
Among themselves they meditate
a homeward flight; and haply,
Outwearièd by direful toil,
neglect the nightly watches."
So he harangu'd them: thereupon
they all were dumb in silence. -
Among the Troians was a man,
Dolon; whose sire Eumedes
A godlike herald was: the son
was rich in gold and copper,
315
And had in form no comeliness,
tho' excellent his swiftness:
Five were the daughters of his sire,
but he their only brother.
Who then stood forth, and spake his word
to Hector and the Troians:
"Hector! my heart and noble soul
doth mightily bestir me
Near to the swift-careering ships
to go, and make inquiry.
320
But come, thy sceptre forward reach,
and swear an oath upon it,
That verily the chariot
inwrought with brass, and coursers
On me thou wilt bestow, which bear
the spotless son of Peleus.
But I a spy to thee will be
nor vain nor short of promise:
For thro' and thro' the army I
will pass, till I arrive at
325
The ship of Agamemnon, where
(I deem) the bravest heroes
Join the high council, to decide
either on flight or battle."
Then Hector held his sceptre forth,
and sware an oath upon it:
"Bear witness Jupiter himself
loud-rumbling lord of Juno;
No other man of Troïans
shall on these coursers mount him,
330
But thou perpetual shalt reap
delight from them and glory."
False was the oath which thus he sware,
yet him it keenly stirred.
Quickly behind his back he slung
his bending bow and quiver:
On outer part a hoary skin
of wolf he wrapt around him,
With casque of weasel screen'd his head,
and seiz'd a pointed jav'lin,
335
And from the army hied toward
the ships. But backward journey
None was for him by Fate decreed,
to bring report to Hector.
But when the crowd of steeds and men
he left, and eager sallied,
Ulysses his approach perceiv'd,
and spake to Diomedes :
340
"Some man, O Diomedes, -hark!
comes hither from the army,
Whether the galleys to espy,
or to despoil the corpses.
But let us suffer him to pass
along the plain a little,
Then, rushing after, catch him quick:
or if his feet outstrip us,
345
Yet shipward press him with the spear,
from his own folk divided."
After such whisper and reply,
they crouch'd amid the corpses
Beside the path; and swiftly he,
O simpleton! ran past them.
350
When só far onward he was gone,
as in a match of ploughing
The mules unto the oxen give:
-for they by far are quicker
In new and sinking soil to drag
the heavy-framed ploughshare ;-
Then, in pursuit, on ran the twain.
He heard, and stood and listen'd ;
For o'er his mind this fancy rush'd,
that, at command of Hector,
355
His comrades of the Troïans
came after to recal him.
But when within a lance's length
they reach'd, he knew the foemen,
And plied his supple knees to flee;
and sharply did they chase him.
As when, with jagged rows of teeth,
two hounds to hunting trained
360
Over a woody lawn pursue
a fawn or hare with effort
2
Ever incessant; forward scuds
with shriek the tender quarry:
So then the son of Tydeus, with
Ulysses city-rieving,
From his own folk dividing him,
pursued with speed relentless.
But when all bút he had achiev'd
to mingle with the watchers,
365
In flight uuto the galleys, then
Athene mighty vigour
Into Tydides breath'd, lest some
of brazen-cloak'd Achaians
Boast earlier to fling the dart,
and he but follow second.
Then, brandishing his weapon, cried
the stalwart Diomedes:
"Stand still, or else my javelin
shall reach thee: nor, I reckon,
370
Long time shalt thou beneath my hand
escape headlong destruction."
He spake, and hurl'd his javelin,
but miss'd the man on purpose.
The point of its well-polish'd shaft
over his better shoulder
Glided, and fasten'd in the ground:
then still he stood, and trembled,
All pale with fear; and in his mouth
his teeth did champ and chatter.
375
Panting, the twain arriv'd and seiz'd
his hands: then weeping spake he:
"Save me alive, O warriours,
and take a worthy ransom.
For in our home is brass and gold
and varied forms of iron.
From these my sire would speedily
with boundless ransom please you,
Soon as he learns of me alive
beside the Achaian galleys."
380
To him, thereat, responsive spake
Ulysses much-devising:
"Be of good cheer, nor let thy mind
by thoughts of death be troubled.
But come, explain thou this to me
and faithfully declare it:
Why from the army lonely thus
toward the galleys goest
385
In covert of the dusky night,
when other mortals slumber?
Is it, the corpses to despoil?
or art thou sent by Hector
As spy upon the hollow ships?
or comest thou self-bidden?"
Dolon replied, and while he spake,
his limbs beneath him trembled:
"By frenzied follies Hector me
entic'd against my judgment,
390
Who gave assent to yield to me
the single-hoofed horses
Of Peleus' lordly son, and eke
the car with brass adorned;
And thro' the night's swift-rushing
gloom he bade me to adventure,
And to the foeman's galley-side
to go, and make inquiry,
395
Whether they guard them, as of old,
or, by our hands o'ermaster'd,
Among themselves they meditate
a homeward flight; and haply,
Outwearièd by direful toil,
neglect the nightly watches."
To him with smiling glance replied
Ulysses much-devising:
400
"To mighty guerdon verily
aspir'd thy daring passion.
Hard are those steeds for mortal men
to tame and guide in harness,
To all but skilful Achileus,
born of a deathless mother.
But come, explain thou this to me,
and faithfully declare it.
405
Where, hither coming, leftest thou
Hector, the people's shepherd?
Where is his martial armour laid?
and where repose his horses?
And of all other Troïans
how lie the beds and watches?
What are their plans? and are they
bent to stay anent the galleys,
410
Or to the city back to go,
as victors of the Achaians?"
Dolon, Eumedes' son, thereat
reciprocal address'd him :
"Right faithfully will I to thee
declare the things thou askest.
With those who are high councillors
Hector exchangeth counsels
415
Far from the din of war, beside
the tomb of godlike Ilus.
As for the watches, none distinct
do guard and save the army.
For where a fire is kindled, there
are men awake to watch it :
Each guardeth other: but the allies,
from many countries summon'd,
420
Slumber; for to the Troïans
they trust the charge of watching.
Themselves in near vicinity
nor children have nor women."
To him in turn responded then
Ulysses much-devising:
"But how? promiscuous reclin'd
with coursertaming Troians
Slumber they? or on ground apart?
distinctly this inform me."
425
Dolon, Eumedes' son, thereat
reciprocal address'd him :
"This also, which thou askest me,
right faithfully I tell thee.
Toward the sea the Leleges
and Cares and Caucônes,
And Pæones with bending bows,
and the divine Pelasgi.
Thymbre-ward lie the Lycians
and haughty-hearted Mysi,
430
And Mæones with horsehair-crests,
and coursertaming Phryges.
But why thus carefully of me
inquire ye where they slumber?
For if ye eager are, the crowd
of Troïans to enter,
Here lie the Thracians apart,
new-come, of all the outmost.
Rhesus, the son of Eioneus,
their king, encamps among them,
435
Whose steeds I saw, of all on earth
the handsomest and largest,
Whiter in hue than falling snow,
and like the winds in fleetness.
With gold and silver beauteous
his chariot is fashion'd.
With him he brings a spectacle
right marvellous to gaze at,
Gigantic armour, all of gold,
which for a man and mortal
440
Seemeth too glorious to wear;
meet only for the deathless.
But now permit me to approach
the swift-careering galleys,
Else bind me with a ruthless bond,
and here behind you leave me,
Till ye have gone and trial made,
whether I told you truly."
445
To him with scowling glance replied
the stalwart Diomedes:
"Dolon! no fancy of escape
within thy heart indulge thou,
Sithence our hands have grappled thee;
albeit good thy tiding.
For, ransom'd or escaping now,
mightest thou come tomorrow
Against the swift Achaian ships,
as spy or open fighter.
450
But if, beneath my hands laid low,
thou here from life shalt vanish,
Never wilt thou hereafter work
annoy against the Argives."
Then Dolon reach'd his spreading hand,
upon the beard to stroke him,
In guise of suppliant; but he,
uprising with the cutlass,
455
Smote him in middle of the neck
and adverse tendons sever'd;
And ere his lips as yet were still,
his head with dust was mingled.
Then off they stript the weasel-cap,
and double bow and quiver,
Wolfskin and spear; but these aloft
divine Ulysses raising
460
Unto Athene booty-driving,
spake his vow and worship:
"With these, O goddess, be thou pleas'd:
for thee, of all immortals
First, in Olympus we invoke:
but once again conduct us
Against the coursers and the beds
of men arriv'd from Thrake."
This said, upon a tamarisk
he rais'd aloft and plac'm them.
465
Then reeds collecting and the twigs
of tamarisk fresh-sprouting,
He made a token, clear to sight
in gloom of night swift-rushing.
This finish'd, onward went the twain,
thro' dusky gore and weapons,
And sudden came upon the band
of men arriv'd from Thrake.
470
And they, by toil outwearièd,
did slumber; and beside them
Upon the ground in order fair
by triple row their weapons
Brilliant were laid; and every man
had coursers twain beside him.
But Rhesus in the middle slept;
and his swift chargers near him,
From outmost rim of chariot
with leathern straps were coupled.
475
Ulysses then, first seeing him,
to Diomedes beckon'd:
"O Diomedes, lo! the man,
and lo! the snow-white coursers,
Which Dolon, whom we slew but now,
hath faithfully denoted.
3
But come, thy stalwart might put forth.
Idle to stand, befits not
A harness'd warriour like thee:
do thou untie the horses:
480
Or else, the men shalt thou assail,
and I will tend the horses."
When thus he spake, the greyey'd maid
breath'd might into Tydides.
From side to side he slaughter'd them;
and horrible the groaning
Rose, as the smiting cutlass fell:
red grew the earth with carnage.
And as a lion on a flock
of cattle unprotected,
485
Or goats or sheep, doth sudden pounce
with heart of desolation,
So did the son of Tydeus then
pursue the men of Thrake,
Till twelve lay slain beneath him:
but Ulysses much-devising,
Seiz'd by the foot and backward trail'd
each slaughter'd man, with purpose,
For-that the glossy-coated steeds
might find an easy passage,
490
Nor tremble, stepping on the dead:
for new were they to slaughter.
But when unto the king at last
the son of Tydeus reached,
From him, the thirteenth, ravish'd he
the life, as honey pleasant,
495
Gasping already for, that night,
by purpose of Athene,
Over his head a phantom dire
stood forth, the son of Tydeus!
Daring Ulysses loos'd meanwhile
the single-hoofed horses
Slung them together, drove them out,
and whipp'd them with his bowstring;
(For from the curious car to take
the shining scourge forgat he ;)
500
Then with a whistle notice gave
to godlike Diomedes.
He on some new daredevilry,
staying behind, did ponder;
Whether to seize the chariot,
which held the curious armour,
And outward drag it by the pole,
or mightily uphoist it,
505
Or from the troop of Thracians
devote more lives to slaughter.
While all his soul with such debate
did heave, meanwhile Athene
Close standing by his side, address'd
the godlike Diomedes.
"Now meditate return, O son
of mighty-hearted Tydeus,
Unto the smoothly-hollow ships;
lest scar'd thou hurry thither,
510
If haply by some other god
the Troians too be waken'd."
When thus she whisper'd, right he knew
the goddess' voice which warn'd him.
Quickly they mounted on the steeds;
and with his bow Ulysses
Smack'd them; and fleetly they approach'd
the sharp Achaian galleys.
Meantime no idle watch was kept
by silver-bow'd Apollo :
515
And soon as he with Tydeus' son
beheld Athene dealing,
With her enrag'd, he rush'd amid
the crowded throng of Troians,
And rous'd from sleep Hippocoön,
high counsellor of Thrake,
Who Rhesus' noble kinsman was:
then up from slumber starting,
When empty he beheld the place,
wherestood the snow-white coursers,
520
And found the corpses heaving yet,
with noisome carnage reeking,
He thereupon groan'fully,
and call'd his dear companion.
Soon tumult and uncounted scream
rose, as the tide of Troians
Promiscuous together rush'd,
and gaz'd at deeds of horror,
Achiev'd by men unseen,—escap'd
unto the hollow galleys.
525
But when they came returning, where
they slew the spy of Hector,
There did Ulysses, dear to Jove,
arrest the coursers' gallop.
His comrade, leaping to the ground,
the gory spoils recover'd,
And plac'd them in Ulysses's hands,
and on the steed remounted.
They flogg'd the coursers, nothing loth
in flying race to speed them
530
Unto the smoothly-hollow ships,
whither their wishes hasted.
And Nestor first the tramping heard,
and urgently address'd them:
"O friends, who to the Argive folk
are governours and leaders,
Falsely or truly, shall I say
what yet my heart persuadeth?
My ears do quiver with the tramp
of nimble-footed horses.
535
O heaven! may Ulysses thus
and stalwart Diomedes
Drive sudden from the Troïans
the single-hoofed horses.
Yet grimly in my heart I dread,
lest-that the Argive bravest
In some disaster tangled be
beneath the Troian riot."
Not all his word was utter'd yet,
when lo! themselves arrived.
540
Quick to the ground dismounted they:
the rest, in heart delighted,
With the right hand saluted them
and eke with honey'd speeches.
First thereupon the charioteer
Gerenian Nestor ask'd them:
"Come say, Ulysses, rich of lore,
great glory of the Achaians,
Whence are these coursers? took ye them
amid the throng of Troians?
545
Or did some god fall in with you,
and give them as a present?
To the sun's awful brilliancy
would I compare their whiteness.
Ever among the Troian ranks
I mix; nor wont to tarry
Beside the galleys, troth, am I,
albeit old for fighting:
Yet coursers, such as these, not yet
with eye nor fancy saw I,
550
But rather ween I that some god
hath met you and bestow'd them.
For cloud-collecting Jupiter
to both of you hath favour,
And eke Athene, maiden-imp
of Jove the ægisholder."
To him in turn responsive spake
Ulysses much-devising:
"O Nestor, Neleus' progeny,
great glory of the Achaians,
555
A god, who will'd it, easily
might honour us with presents
Of coursers nobler far than these;
for greatly are they higher.
Howbeit, aged friend, in sooth,
the steeds, of which thou askest,
Are Thracian and newly come;
and gallant Diomedes
Slaughter'd their lord, and by his side
twelve comrades, all his bravest.
560
A thirteenth man, whose spoils are here,
we captur'd near the galleys,
Whom, to espy our camp, and sound
our strength and courage, Hector
And other lordly Troïans
sent forward from their army."
This said, across the moat he urg'd
the singlehoofed horses,
Highglorying; along with him
the others went, delighted.
565
When at the tightly joined tent
of Tydeus' son arriv'd they,
With wellcut thongs they fastened
the horses to the manger,
Where, eating honey-pleasant wheat,
stood Diomedes' horses.
And on the poop Ulysses hung
the gory spoils of Dolon,
570
High on his ship, to furnish out
a trophy for Athene.
Themselves, descending on the beach,
into the waters waded,
From feet below, to neck above,
the cleansing power courting.
But when the tossing wave had wash'd
much sweat from off their members,
And had their hearts refresh'd, they stept
into the baths wellpolish'd.
575
After their bodies thus were bath'd,
and with fat oil anointed,
So sat they to the morning-meal,
and to Athene's honour
Tilted the honey-pleasant wine,
out of the full bowl teeming.
Dolon. Detail from an Attic red-figure lekythos (460 BCE). Image via 