constantly towards the plain whenever they heard any stir among the
Trojans。 The old man was glad bade them be of good cheer。 〃Watch on；
my children；〃 said he； 〃and let not sleep get hold upon you； lest
our enemies triumph over us。〃
With this he passed the trench； and with him the other chiefs of the
Achaeans who had been called to the council。 Meriones and the brave
son of Nestor went also； for the princes bade them。 When they were
beyond the trench that was dug round the wall they held their
meeting on the open ground where there was a space clear of corpses；
for it was here that when night fell Hector had turned back from his
onslaught on the Argives。 They sat down； therefore； and held debate
with one another。
Nestor spoke first。 〃My friends；〃 said he； 〃is there any man bold
enough to venture the Trojans； and cut off some straggler； or us
news of what the enemy mean to do whether they will stay here by the
ships away from the city； or whether； now that they have worsted the
Achaeans； they will retire within their walls。 If he could learn all
this and come back safely here； his fame would be high as heaven in
the mouths of all men； and he would be rewarded richly； for the chiefs
from all our ships would each of them give him a black ewe with her
lamb… which is a present of surpassing value… and he would be asked as
a guest to all feasts and clan…gatherings。〃
They all held their peace； but Diomed of the loud war…cry spoke
saying； 〃Nestor； gladly will I visit the host of the Trojans over
against us； but if another will go with me I shall do so in greater
confidence and comfort。 When two men are together； one of them may see
some opportunity which the other has not caught sight of； if a man
is alone he is less full of resource； and his wit is weaker。〃
On this several offered to go with Diomed。 The two Ajaxes；
servants of Mars； Meriones； and the son of Nestor all wanted to go； so
did Menelaus son of Atreus； Ulysses also wished to go among the host
of the Trojans； for he was ever full of daring； and thereon
Agamemnon king of men spoke thus： 〃Diomed；〃 said he； 〃son of Tydeus；
man after my own heart； choose your comrade for yourself… take the
best man of those that have offered； for many would now go with you。
Do not through delicacy reject the better man； and take the worst
out of respect for his lineage； because he is of more royal blood。〃
He said this because he feared for Menelaus。 Diomed answered； 〃If
you bid me take the man of my own choice； how in that case can I
fail to think of Ulysses； than whom there is no man more eager to face
all kinds of danger… and Pallas Minerva loves him well？ If he were
to go with me we should pass safely through fire itself； for he is
quick to see and understand。〃
〃Son of Tydeus；〃 replied Ulysses； 〃say neither good nor ill about
me； for you are among Argives who know me well。 Let us be going； for
the night wanes and dawn is at hand。 The stars have gone forward；
two…thirds of the night are already spent； and the third is alone left
us。〃
They then put on their armour。 Brave Thrasymedes provided the son of
Tydeus with a sword and a shield （for he had left his own at his ship）
and on his head he set a helmet of bull's hide without either peak
or crest； it is called a skull…cap and is a common headgear。
Meriones found a bow and quiver for Ulysses； and on his head he set
a leathern helmet that was lined with a strong plaiting of leathern
thongs； while on the outside it was thickly studded with boar's teeth；
well and skilfully set into it； next the head there was an inner
lining of felt。 This helmet had been stolen by Autolycus out of
Eleon when he broke into the house of Amyntor son of Ormenus。 He
gave it to Amphidamas of Cythera to take to Scandea； and Amphidamas
gave it as a guest…gift to Molus； who gave it to his son Meriones； and
now it was set upon the head of Ulysses。
When the pair had armed； they set out； and left the other chieftains
behind them。 Pallas Minerva sent them a heron by the wayside 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 that can be found at the ships of the Achaeans；
if he will dare this thing； and he will win infinite honour to boot；
he must go to the ships and find out whether they are still guarded as
heretofore； or whether now that we have beaten them the Achaeans
design to fly； and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to keep
their watches。〃
They all held their peace； but there was among the Trojans a certain
man named Dolon； son of Eumedes； the famous herald… a man rich in gold
and bronze。 He was ill…favoured； but a good runner； and was an only
son among five sisters。 He it was that now addressed the Trojans。
〃I； Hector；〃 said he； 〃Will to the ships and will exploit them。 But
first hold up your sceptre and swear that you will give me the
chariot； bedight with bronze； and the horses that now carry the
noble son of Peleus。 I will make you a good scout； and will not fail
you。 I will go through the host from one end to the other till I
come to the ship of Agamemnon； where I take it the princes of the
Achaeans are now consulting whether they shall fight or fly。〃
When he had done speaking Hector held up his sceptre； and swore
him his oath saying； 〃May Jove the thundering husband of Juno bear
witness that no other Trojan but yourself shall mount those steeds；
and that you shall have your will with them for ever。〃
The oath he swore was bootless； but it made Dolon more keen on
going。 He hung his bow over his shoulder； and as an overall he wore
the skin of a grey wolf； while on his head he set a cap of ferret
skin。 Then he took a pointed javelin； and left the camp for the ships；
but he was not to return with any news for Hector。 When he had left
the horses and the troops behind him； he made all speed on his way；
but Ulysses perceived his coming and said to Diomed； 〃Diomed； here
is some one from the camp； I am not sure whether he is a spy； or
whether it is some thief who would plunder the bodies of the dead； let
him get a little past us； we can then spring upon him and take him。
If； however； he is too quick for us； go after him with your spear
and hem him in towards the ships away from the Trojan camp； to prevent
his getting back to the town。〃
With this they turned out of their way and lay down among the
corpses。 Dolon suspected nothing and soon passed them； but when he had
got about as far as the distance by which a mule…plowed furrow exceeds
one that has been ploughed by oxen （for mules can plow fallow land
quicker than oxen） they ran after him； and when he heard their
footsteps he stood still； for he made sure they were friends from
the Trojan camp come by Hector's orders to bid him return； when；
however； they were only a spear's cast； or less away form him； he
saw that they were enemies as fast as his legs could take him。 The
others gave chase at once； and as a couple of well…trained hounds
press forward after a doe or hare that runs screaming in front of
them； even so did the son of Tydeus and Ulysses pursue Dolon and cut
him off from his own people。 But when he had fled so far towards the
ships that he would soon have fallen in with the outposts； Minerva
infused fresh strength into the son of Tydeus for fear some other of
the Achaeans might have the glory of being first to hit him； and he
might himself be only second； he therefore sprang forward with his
spear and said； 〃Stand； or I shall throw my spear； and in that case
I shall soon make an end of you。〃
He threw as he spoke； but missed