---
title: "Rhesus · Ῥῆσος"
author: "Euripides"
translator: "Gilbert Murray"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 1 of 2
url: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-rhesus/1/
cite: "Euripides, tr. Gilbert Murray, Rhesus · Ῥῆσος, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-rhesus/1/"
---

# Rhesus · Ῥῆσος

*Euripides, tr. Gilbert Murray*

A night raid in the Trojan War: Odysseus and Diomedes against the Thracian king Rhesus.

> Greek: ed. Gilbert Murray, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0006.tlg019, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Gilbert Murray, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0006.tlg019.perseus-eng4). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 1. Lines 1–509

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-rhesus/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-rhesus/1/#p-N

[¶0] —we seem to have the traditional divine king of the Thracian tribes about Pangaion, seen through the eyes of Greek romance. He is the son of the greatest of Rivers and the Muse of the Mountain: she is simply “The Muse,” otherwise nameless, and we are lost if we try to bind her down to the identity of any Greek goddess. Like many Thracian heroes Rhesus has a dash of the Sun-god in him, the burning targe, the white horses and the splendour. Like them he is a boaster and a deep drinker, a child of battle and of song. Like other divine kings he dies in his youth and strength, and keeps watch over his people from some “feasting presence, full of light,” where he lies among the buried silver-veins of Pangaion. If the uttermost need comes, doubtless he will wake again. When the Athenians began making their dangerous settlements on the coast of Thrace—ten thousand settlers were massacred by Rhesus’s people about 465 B.C.: Amphipolis not fully established till 437—they found the legend of Rhesus in the air, and eventually they thought it prudent to send for his hallowed bones from the Troad, where they were supposed to be buried, and give them a tomb in the Athenian colony. Possibly that pacified him. And his legend in the mouth of the poets seemed perhaps like the story of his own mountaineers, multitudes of strong men, stormy and chivalrous, terrible in onset, who somehow in the end melted away before the skill and persistent courage of a civilised Greek city.
VARIOUS VOICES.: It is a cloudy but moonlight night on the plain before Troy. The Trojans and their allies have won a decisive victory and are camping on the open field close to the Greek outposts. The scene is in front of a rude tent or hut that has been set up for HECTOR, the Trojan leader. A watch-fire burns low in front. Far off at the back can be seen rows of watch-fires in the Greek camp. The road to Troy is in front to the left; the road to Mount Ida leads far away to the right. All is silence; then a noise outside. Enter tumultuously a band of Trojan Pickets.
On to the Prince’s quarters!—Ho!
Who is awake? What man-at-arms,
Or squire or groom?—Let Hector know
New rumour of alarms
From sentinels who stand at mark
The four long watches of the dark,
While others sleep.—Uplift thine head,
O Hector! On thine elbow rise,
Unhood the eagle of thine eyes,
Up from thy leaf-strewn bed!—
Lord Hector!
HECTOR: (coming out from the tent).
Who goes there? Who cries?
A friend? The watchword!... By what right
Do men come prowling in the night
Across my quarters? Come! Speak out.
LEADER.:
A picket, Lord.
HECTOR.:
In such a rout?
LEADER.:
Be not afraid, Lord.
HECTOR.:
I am not.
Is there an ambush? No? Then what,
In God’s name, brings you from your post
With no clear tale to speak,
To spread this turmoil through a host
That lies in harness—do ye all
Know nothing?—out against the wall
And gateways of the Greek?
CHORUS.: (various voices confusedly)
To arms! To arms, Lord Hector!—Send
First where the allied armies lie,
Bid them draw sword and make an end
Of sleep.—Let someone fly
And get the horses’ armour on!—
Who goes with me to Panthoös’ son?—
Who’s for Sarpêdon and the Lycians?—None
Hath seen the priest go by?—
Ho, Captain of the Runners, ho!—
Ho, Trojans of the hornèd bow!
String, string! For need is nigh.
HECTOR.:
Ha, silence there!...
First words of fear,
Then comfort. All an empty swell!
It seems The lash of trembling Pan
Hath caught you. Speak, if speak ye can.
What tidings? Not a word is clear
Of the whole tale ye tell.
[The turmoil subsides, the LEADER comes forward.
LEADER.:
Great beacons in the Argive line
Have burned, my chief, through half the night.
The shipyard timbers seemed to shine.

> Greek: Χορός:
— Βᾶθι πρὸς εὐνὰς τὰς Ἑκτορέους.
τίς ὑπασπιστῶν ἄγρυπνος βασιλέως,
ἢ τευχοφόρων;
— δέξαιτο νέων κληδόνα μύθων,
οἳ τετράμοιρον νυκτὸς φυλακὴν
πάσης στρατιᾶς προκάθηνται.
— ὄρθου κεφαλὴν πῆχυν ἐρείσας,
λῦσον βλεφάρων γοργωπὸν ἕδραν,
λεῖπε χαμεύνας φυλλοστρώτους,
Ἕκτορ· καιρὸς γὰρ ἀκοῦσαι.
Ἕκτωρ:
τίς ὅδʼ; ἦ φίλιος φθόγγος· τίς ἀνήρ;
τί τὸ σῆμα; θρόει·
τίνες ἐκ νυκτῶν τὰς ἡμετέρας
κοίτας πλάθουσʼ; ἐνέπειν χρή.
Χορός:
φύλακες στρατιᾶς.
Ἕκτωρ:
τί φέρῃ θορύβῳ;
Χορός:
θάρσει.
Ἕκτωρ:
θαρσῶ.
μῶν τις λόχος ἐκ νυκτῶν;
[]
Χορός:
[οὐκ ἔστι.]
[]
Ἕκτωρ:
τί σὺ γὰρ
φυλακὰς προλιπὼν κινεῖς στρατιάν,
εἰ μή τινʼ ἔχων νυκτηγορίαν;
οὐκ οἶσθα δορὸς πέλας Ἀργείου
νυχίαν ἡμᾶς
κοίταν πανόπλους κατέχοντας;
Χορός:
— ὁπλίζου χέρα· συμμάχων,
Ἕκτορ, βᾶθι πρὸς εὐνάς,
ὄτρυνον ἔγχος αἴρειν, ἀφύπνισον.
— πέμπε φίλους ἰέναι ποτὶ σὸν λόχον,
ἁρμόσατε ψαλίοις ἵππους.
— τίς εἶσʼ ἐπὶ Πανθοΐδαν,
ἢ τὸν Εὐρώπας, Λυκίων ἀγὸν ἀνδρῶν;
— ποῦ σφαγίων ἔφοροι;
— ποῦ δὲ γυμνήτων μόναρχοι
τοξοφόροι τε Φρυγῶν;
— ζεύγνυτε κερόδετα τόξα νευραῖς.
Ἕκτωρ:
τὰ μὲν ἀγγέλλεις δείματʼ ἀκούειν,
τὰ δὲ θαρσύνεις, κοὐδὲν καθαρῶς.
ἀλλʼ ἦ Κρονίου Πανὸς τρομερᾷ
μάστιγι φοβῇ; [φυλακὰς δὲ λιπὼν]
[κινεῖς στρατιάν.] τί θροεῖς; τί σε φῶ
νέον ἀγγέλλειν; πολλὰ γὰρ εἰπὼν
οὐδὲν τρανῶς ἀπέδειξας.
Χορός:
— πύρʼ αἴθει στρατὸς Ἀργόλας,
Ἕκτορ, πᾶσαν ἀνʼ ὄρφναν,
διειπετῆ δὲ ναῶν πυρσοῖς σταθμά.

[¶1] Then, clear against the light,
Toward Agamemnon’s tent the whole
Army in tumult seemed to roll,
As stirred by some strange voice, shoal after shoal.
A night of such discord
Was never seen. And we, in dread
What such things boded, turned and sped
Hither; dost blame us, Lord?
HECTOR.: (after a moment of thought)
No! Welcome, friend, with all thy tale of fear!

> Greek: πᾶς δʼ Ἀγαμεμνονίαν προσέβα στρατὸς
ἐννύχιος θορύβῳ σκηνάν,
νέαν τινʼ ἐφιέμενοι
βάξιν. οὐ γάρ πω πάρος ὧδʼ ἐφοβήθη
ναυσιπόρος στρατιά.
σοὶ δʼ, ὑποπτεύων τὸ μέλλον,
ἤλυθον ἄγγελος, ὡς
μήποτʼ ἐς ἐμέ τινα μέμψιν εἴπῃς.
Ἕκτωρ:
ἐς καιρὸν ἥκεις, καίπερ ἀγγέλλων φόβον·

[¶2] It shows they mean to fly: they mean to clear
Decks in the dark and so delude my sight...
I like that beacon-burning in the night.

> Greek: ἅνδρες γὰρ ἐκ γῆς τῆσδε νυκτέρῳ πλάτῃ
λαθόντες ὄμμα τοὐμὸν ἀρεῖσθαι φυγὴν
μέλλουσι· σαίνει μʼ ἔννυχος φρυκτωρία.

[¶3] O Zeus above, who checked my conquering way,
Who baulked the hungry lion of his prey
Or ever I could sweep my country clear
Of these despoilers, dost thou hate my spear?

> Greek: ὦ δαῖμον, ὅστις μʼ εὐτυχοῦντʼ ἐνόσφισας
θοίνης λέοντα, πρὶν τὸν Ἀργείων στρατὸν
σύρδην ἅπαντα τῷδʼ ἀναλῶσαι δορί.

[¶4] Had but the sun’s bright arrows failed me not,
I ne’er had rested till the ships were hot
With fire, and through the tents upon the plain
This bloody hand had passed and passed again!

> Greek: εἰ γὰρ φαεννοὶ μὴ ξυνέσχον ἡλίου
λαμπτῆρες, οὔτἂν ἔσχον εὐτυχοῦν δόρυ,
πρὶν ναῦς πυρῶσαι καὶ διὰ σκηνῶν μολεῖν
κτείνων Ἀχαιοὺς τῇδε πολυφόνῳ χερί.

[¶5] Myself, I longed to try the battle-cast
By night, and use God’s vantage to the last,
But sage and prophet, learned in the way
Of seercraft, bade me wait for dawn of day,
And then—leave no Greek living in the land.

> Greek: κἀγὼ μὲν ἦ πρόθυμος ἱέναι δόρυ
ἐν νυκτὶ χρῆσθαί τʼ εὐτυχεῖ ῥύμῃ θεοῦ·
ἀλλʼ οἱ σοφοί με καὶ τὸ θεῖον εἰδότες
μάντεις ἔπεισαν ἡμέρας μεῖναι φάος
κἄπειτʼ Ἀχαιῶν μηδένʼ ἐν χέρσῳ λιπεῖν.

[¶6] They wait not, they, for what my prophets planned
So sagely. In the dark a runaway
Beats a pursuer.

> Greek: οἳ δʼ οὐ μένουσι τῶν ἐμῶν θυοσκόων
βουλάς· ἐν ὄρφνῃ δραπέτης μέγα σθένει.

[¶7] Through our whole array
Send runners! Bid them shake off sleep and wait
Ready with shield and spear.’Tis not too late
To catch them as they climb on board, and slash
Their crouching shoulders till the gangways splash
With blood, or teach them, fettered leg and arm,
To dig the stiff clods of some Trojan farm.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα χρὴ παραγγέλλειν στρατῷ
τεύχη πρόχειρα λαμβάνειν λῆξαί θʼ ὕπνου,
ὡς ἄν τις αὐτῶν καὶ νεὼς θρῴσκων ἔπι
νῶτον χαραχθεὶς κλίμακας ῥάνῃ φόνῳ,
οἳ δʼ ἐν βρόχοισι δέσμιοι λελημμένοι
Φρυγῶν ἀρούρας ἐκμάθωσι γαπονεῖν.

[¶8] LEADER.:
My Prince, thy words run fast. Nor thou nor I
Have knowledge yet that the Greeks mean to fly.

> Greek: Χορός:
Ἕκτορ, ταχύνεις πρὶν μαθεῖν τὸ δρώμενον·
ἅνδρες γὰρ εἰ φεύγουσιν οὐκ ἴσμεν τορῶς.

[¶9] HECTOR.:
What makes them light their beacons? Tell me, what?

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
τίς γὰρ πύρʼ αἴθειν πρόφασις Ἀργείων στρατόν;

[¶10] LEADER.:
God knows! And, for my part, I like it not.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐκ οἶδʼ· ὕποπτον δʼ ἐστὶ κάρτʼ ἐμῇ φρενί.

[¶11] HECTOR.:
What, feared? Thou wouldst be feared of everything!

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
πάντʼ ἂν φοβηθεὶς ἴσθι, δειμαίνων τόδε.

[¶12] LEADER.:
They never lit such light before, O King.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὔπω πρὶν ἧψαν πολέμιοι τοσόνδε φῶς.

[¶13] HECTOR.:
They never fled, man, in such wild dismay.
LEADER: (yielding).

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
οὐδʼ ὧδέ γʼ αἰσχρῶς ἔπεσον ἐν τροπῇ δορός.

[¶14] ’Twas all thy work.—Judge thou, and we obey.

> Greek: Χορός:
σὺ ταῦτʼ ἔπραξας· καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ νῦν σκόπει.

[¶15] HECTOR.:
My word is simple. Arm and face the foe.
[A sound of marching without.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
ἁπλοῦς ἐπʼ ἐχθροῖς μῦθος ὁπλίζειν χέρα.

[¶16] LEADER.:
Who comes? Aeneas, and in haste, as though
Fraught with some sudden tiding of the night.
Enter AENEAS.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ Αἰνέας καὶ μάλα σπουδῇ ποδὸς
στείχει, νέον τι πρᾶγμʼ ἔχων φίλοις φράσαι.

[¶17] AENEAS.:
Hector, what means it? Watchers in affright
Who gather shouting at thy doors, and then
Hold midnight council, shaking all our men?

> Greek: Αἰνείας:
Ἕκτορ, τί χρῆμα νύκτεροι κατὰ στρατὸν
τὰς σὰς πρὸς εὐνὰς φύλακες ἐλθόντες φόβῳ
νυκτηγοροῦσι καὶ κεκίνηται· στρατός;

[¶18] HECTOR.:
To arms, Aeneas! Arm from head to heel!

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
Αἰνέα, πύκαζε τεύχεσιν δέμας σέθεν.

[¶19] AENEAS.:
What is it? Tidings? Doth the Argive steal
Some march, some ambush in the day’s eclipse?

> Greek: Αἰνείας:
τί δʼ ἔστι; μῶν τις πολεμίων ἀγγέλλεται
δόλος κρυφαῖος ἑστάναι κατʼ εὐφρόνην;

[¶20] HECTOR.:’Tis flight, man! They are marching to the ships.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
φεύγουσιν ἅνδρες κἀπιβαίνουσιν νεῶν.

[¶21] AENEAS.:
How know’st thou?—Have we proof that it is flight?

> Greek: Αἰνείας:
τί τοῦδʼ ἂν εἴποις ἀσφαλὲς τεκμήριον;

[¶22] HECTOR.:
They are burning beacon-fires the livelong night.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
αἴθουσι πᾶσαν νύκτα λαμπάδας πυρός·

[¶23] They never mean to wait till dawn. Behind
That screen of light they are climbing in the blind
Dark to their ships—unmooring from our coast.
AENEAS.: (looking toward the distant fires: after a pause)
God guide them!—Why then do you arm the host?

> Greek: καί μοι δοκοῦσιν οὐ μενεῖν ἐς αὔριον,
ἀλλʼ ἐκκέαντες πύρσʼ ἐπʼ εὐσέλμων νεῶν
φυγῇ πρὸς οἴκους τῆσδʼ ἀφορμήσειν χθονός.
Αἰνείας:
σὺ δʼ ὡς τί δράσων πρὸς τάδʼ ὁπλίζῃ χέρας;

[¶24] HECTOR.:
I mean to lame them in their climbing, I
And my good spear, and break them as they fly.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
φεύγοντας αὐτοὺς κἀπιθρῴσκοντας νεῶν
λόγχῃ καθέξω κἀπικείσομαι βαρύς·

[¶25] Black shame it were, and folly worse than shame,
To let these spoilers go the road they came
Unpunished, when God gives them to us here.

> Greek: αἰσχρὸν γὰρ ἡμῖν, καὶ πρὸς αἰσχύνῃ κακόν,
θεοῦ διδόντος πολεμίους ἄνευ μάχης
φεύγειν ἐᾶσαι πολλὰ δράσαντας κακά.

[¶26] AENEAS.:
Brother, I would thy wit were like thy spear!

> Greek: Αἰνείας:
εἴθʼ ἦσθʼ ἀνὴρ εὔβουλος ὡς δρᾶσαι χερί.

[¶27] But Nature wills not one man should be wise
In all things; each must seek his separate prize.
And thine is battle pure. There comes this word
Of beacons, on the touch thy soul is stirred:
“They fly! Out horse and chariots!”—Out withal
Past stake and trench, while night hangs like a pall!

> Greek: ἀλλʼ οὐ γὰρ αὑτὸς πάντʼ ἐπίστασθαι βροτῶν
πέφυκεν· ἄλλῳ δʼ ἄλλο πρόσκειται γέρας,
σὲ μὲν μάχεσθαι, τοὺς δὲ βουλεύειν καλῶς·
ὅστις πυρὸς λαμπτῆρας ἐξήρθης κλύων
φλέγειν Ἀχαιούς, καὶ στρατὸν μέλλεις ἄγειν
τάφρους ὑπερβὰς νυκτὸς ἐν καταστάσει.

[¶28] Say, when we cross that coiling depth of dyke,
We find the foe not fled, but turned to strike;
One check there, and all hope of good return
Is gone. How can our men, returning, learn
The tricks of the palisade? The chariots how
Keep to the bridges on the trenches’ brow,
Save with jammed wheels and broken axles? Aye,
And say thou conquer: other wars yet lie
Before thee. Peleus’ son, for all his ire,
Will never let thee touch the ships with fire
Or pounce on his Greek lambs. The man will bide
No wrong and standeth on a tower of pride.

> Greek: καίτοι περάσας κοῖλον αὐλώνων βάθος,
εἰ μὴ κυρήσεις πολεμίους ἀπὸ χθονὸς
φεύγοντας, ἀλλὰ σὸν βλέποντας ἐς δόρυ,
νικώμενος μὲν οὔτι μὴ μόλῃς πάλιν·
πῶς γὰρ περάσει σκόλοπας ἐν τροπῇ στρατός;
πῶς δʼ αὖ γεφύρας διαβαλοῦσʼ ἱππηλάται,
ἢν ἆρα μὴ θραύσαντες ἀντύγων χνόας;
νικῶν δʼ ἔφεδρον παῖδʼ ἔχεις τὸν Πηλέως,
ὅς σʼ οὐκ ἐάσει ναυσὶν ἐμβαλεῖν φλόγα,
οὐδʼ ὧδʼ Ἀχαιούς, ὡς δοκεῖς, ἀναρπάσαι.
αἴθων γὰρ ἁνὴρ καὶ πεπύργωται χερί.

[¶29] Nay, brother, let the army, head on shield,
Sleep off its long day’s labour in the field:
Then, send a spy; find someone who will dare
Creep to yon Argive camp. Then, if ’tis clear
They mean flight, on and smite them as they fly.

> Greek: ἀλλὰ στρατὸν μὲν ἥσυχον παρʼ ἀσπίδας
εὕδειν ἐῶμεν ἐκ κόπων ἀρειφάτων,
κατάσκοπον δὲ πολεμίων, ὃς ἂν θέλῃ,
πέμπειν δοκεῖ μοι· κἂν μὲν αἴρωνται φυγήν,
στείχοντες ἐμπέσωμεν Ἀργείων στρατῷ·

[¶30] Else, if the beacons hide some strategy,
The spy will read it out, and we can call
A council.—Thus speak I, my general.

> Greek: εἰ δʼ ἐς δόλον τινʼ ἥδʼ ἄγει φρυκτωρία,
μαθόντες ἐχθρῶν μηχανὰς κατασκόπου
βουλευσόμεσθα· τήνδʼ ἔχω γνώμην, ἄναξ.

[¶31] CHORUS.:’Tis good!’Tis wisdom! Prince, give heed
And change the word thy passion gave.

> Greek: Χορός:
τάδε δοκεῖ, τάδε μεταθέμενος νόει.
σφαλερὰ δʼ οὐ φιλῶ στρατηγῶν κράτη.

[¶32] No soldier loveth, in his need,
The glory of a chief too brave.
A spy is best: a spy, to learn
For what strange work those beacons burn
All night beside the guarded wave.

> Greek: τί γὰρ ἄμεινον ἢ
ταχυβάταν νεῶν κατόπταν μολεῖν
πέλας ὅ τί ποτʼ ἄρα δαΐοις
πυρὰ κατʼ ἀντίπρῳρα ναυστάθμων δαίεται;

[¶33] HECTOR.:
Ye all so wish it?—Well, ye conquer me.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
νικᾶτʼ, ἐπειδὴ πᾶσιν ἁνδάνει τάδε.

[¶34] (To AENEAS) Go thou and calm the allies. There will be
Some stir among them, hearing of these high
And midnight councils.—I will seek the spy
To send to the Greek camp. If there we learn
Of some plot hatching, on the man’s return
I straight will call thee and share counsels. So.

> Greek: στείχων δὲ κοίμα συμμάχους· τάχʼ ἂν στρατὸς
κινοῖτʼ ἀκούσας νυκτέρους ἐκκλησίας.
ἐγὼ δὲ πέμψω πολεμίων κατάσκοπον.
κἂν μέν τινʼ ἐχθρῶν μηχανὴν πυθώμεθα,
σὺ πάντʼ ἀκούσῃ καὶ παρὼν εἴσῃ λόγον·

[¶35] But wait attentive. If he says they go
Shipward and plan to escape, one trumpet call
Shall warn thee, and I wait no more, but fall
On camp and hulls, or ever dawn can rise.

> Greek: ἐὰν δʼ ἀπαίρωσʼ ἐς φυγὴν ὁρμώμενοι,
σάλπιγγος αὐδὴν προσδοκῶν καραδόκει,
ὡς οὐ μενοῦντά μʼ· ἀλλὰ προσμείξω νεῶν
ὁλκοῖσι νυκτὸς τῆσδʼ ἐπʼ Ἀργείων στρατῷ.

[¶36] AENEAS.:
Aye, haste and send him. Now thy plans are wise,
And when need comes I am with thee, sword by sword. [Exit AENEAS.
HECTOR: (turning to the Guards and other soldiers).

> Greek: Αἰνείας:
πέμφʼ ὡς τάχιστα· νῦν γὰρ ἀσφαλῶς φρονεῖς.
σὺν σοὶ δʼ ἔμʼ ὄψῃ καρτεροῦνθʼ, ὅταν δέῃ.

[¶37] Ye gathered Trojans, sharers of my word,
Who dares to creep through the Greek lines alone?

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
τίς δῆτα Τρώων οἳ πάρεισιν ἐν λόγῳ
θέλει κατόπτης ναῦς ἐπʼ Ἀργείων μολεῖν;

[¶38] Who will so help his fatherland?

> Greek: τίς ἂν γένοιτο τῆσδε γῆς εὐεργέτης;

[¶39] Doth none
Offer? Must I do everything, one hand
Alone, to save our allies and our land?
[A lean dark man pushes forward from the back.

> Greek: τίς φησιν; οὔτοι πάντʼ ἐγὼ δυνήσομαι
πόλει πατρῴᾳ συμμάχοις θʼ ὑπηρετεῖν.

[¶40] DOLON:
I, Prince!—I offer for our City’s sake
To go disguised to the Greek ships, to make
Their counsels mine, and here bring word to thee.
If that be thy full service, I agree.

> Greek: Δόλων:
ἐγὼ πρὸ γαίας τόνδε κίνδυνον θέλω
ῥίψας κατόπτης ναῦς ἐπʼ Ἀργείων μολεῖν,
καὶ πάντʼ Ἀχαιῶν ἐκμαθὼν βουλεύματα
ἥξω· ἐπὶ τούτοις τόνδʼ ὑφίσταμαι πόνον.

[¶41] HECTOR.:
Dolon the Wolf! A wise wolf and a true!
Thy father’s house was praised when first I knew
Troy: this shall raise it twofold in our eyes.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
ἐπώνυμος μὲν κάρτα καὶ φιλόπτολις
Δόλων· πατρὸς δὲ καὶ πρὶν εὐκλεᾶ δόμον
νῦν δὶς τόσως ἔθηκας εὐκλεέστερον.

[¶42] DOLON.:’Tis wise to do good work, but also wise
To pay the worker. Aye, and fair reward
Makes twofold pleasure, though the work be hard.

> Greek: Δόλων:
οὐκοῦν πονεῖν μὲν χρή, πονοῦντα δʼ ἄξιον
μισθὸν φέρεσθαι. παντὶ γὰρ προσκείμενον
κέρδος πρὸς ἔργῳ τὴν χάριν τίκτει διπλῆν.

[¶43] HECTOR.:
So be it: an honest rule. Do thou lay down
What guerdon likes thee best—short of my crown.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
ναί, καὶ δίκαια ταῦτα κοὐκ ἄλλως λέγω.
τάξαι δὲ μισθόν, πλὴν ἐμῆς τυραννίδος.

[¶44] DOLON.:
I care not for thy crowned and care-fraught life.

> Greek: Δόλων:
οὐ σῆς ἐρῶμεν πολιόχου τυραννίδος.

[¶45] HECTOR.:
Wouldst have a daughter of the King to wife?

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
σὺ δʼ ἀλλὰ γήμας Πριαμιδῶν γαμβρὸς γενοῦ.

[¶46] DOLON.:
I seek no mate that might look down on me.

> Greek: Δόλων:
οὐδʼ ἐξ ἐμαυτοῦ μειζόνων γαμεῖν θέλω.

[¶47] HECTOR.:
Good gold is ready, if that tempteth thee.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
χρυσὸς πάρεστιν, εἰ τόδʼ αἰτήσεις γέρας.

[¶48] DOLON.:
We live at ease and have no care for gold.

> Greek: Δόλων:
ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἐν οἴκοις· οὐ βίου σπανίζομεν.

[¶49] HECTOR.:
Well, Troy hath other treasures manifold.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
τί δῆτα χρῄζεις ὧν κέκευθεν Ἴλιος;

[¶50] DOLON.:
Pay me not now, but when the Greeks are ta’en.

> Greek: Δόλων:
ἑλὼν Ἀχαιοὺς δῶρά μοι ξυναίνεσον.

[¶51] HECTOR.:
The Greeks!... Choose any save the Atridae twain.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
δώσω· σὺ δʼ αἴτει πλὴν στρατηλάτας νεῶν.

[¶52] DOLON.:
Kill both, an it please thee. I make prayer for none.

> Greek: Δόλων:
κτεῖνʼ, οὔ σʼ ἀπαιτῶ Μενέλεω σχέσθαι χέρα.

[¶53] HECTOR.:
Thou wilt not ask for Ajax, Ileus’ son?

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
οὐ μὴν τὸν Ἰλέως παῖδά μʼ ἐξαιτῇ λαβεῖν;

[¶54] DOLON.:
A princely hand is skilless at the plough.

> Greek: Δόλων:
κακαὶ γεωργεῖν χεῖρες εὖ τεθραμμέναι.

[¶55] HECTOR.:’Tis ransom, then?... What prisoner cravest thou?

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
τίνʼ οὖν Ἀχαιῶν ζῶντʼ ἀποινᾶσθαι θέλεις;

[¶56] DOLON.:
I said before, of gold we have our fill.

> Greek: Δόλων:
καὶ πρόσθεν εἶπον· ἔστι χρυσὸς ἐν δόμοις.

[¶57] HECTOR.:
For spoils and armour... thou shalt choose at will.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
καὶ μὴν λαφύρων γʼ αὐτὸς αἱρήσῃ παρών.

[¶58] DOLON.:
Nail them for trophies on some temple wall.

> Greek: Δόλων:
θεοῖσιν αὐτὰ πασσάλευε πρὸς δόμοις.

[¶59] HECTOR.:
What seeks the man? What prize more rich than all?

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
τί δῆτα μεῖζον τῶνδέ μʼ αἰτήσεις γέρας;

[¶60] DOLON.:
Achilles’ horses! Murmurs of surprise.
Yes, I need a great
Prize. I am dicing for my life with Fate.

> Greek: Δόλων:
ἵππους Ἀχιλλέως· χρὴ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀξίοις πονεῖν
ψυχὴν προβάλλοντʼ ἐν κύβοισι δαίμονος.

[¶61] HECTOR.:’Fore God, I am thy rival, if thy love
Lies there. Undying was the breed thereof,
And these shall never die, who bear to war
Great Peleus’ son, swift gleaming like a star.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
καὶ μὴν ἐρῶντί γʼ ἀντερᾷς ἵππων ἐμοί·
ἐξ ἀφθίτων γὰρ ἄφθιτοι πεφυκότες
τὸν Πηλέως φέρουσι θούριον γόνον·

[¶62] Poseidon, rider of the wild sea-drift,
Tamed them, men say, and gave them for his gift
To Peleus.—None the less, since I have stirred
Hopes, I will baulk them not. I pledge my word,
Achilles’ steeds, a rare prize, shall be thine.

> Greek: δίδωσι δʼ αὐτοὺς πωλοδαμνήσας ἄναξ
Πηλεῖ Ποσειδῶν, ὡς λέγουσι, πόντιος.
ἀλλʼ οὔ σʼ ἐπάρας ψεύσομαι· δώσω δέ σοι,
κάλλιστον οἴκοις κτῆμʼ, Ἀχιλλέως ὄχον.

[¶63] DOLON.:
I thank thee.—’Tis indeed a prize more fine
Than all in Troy.—
Grudge me not that; there be
Guerdons abundant for a Prince like thee.
Exit HECTOR.

> Greek: Δόλων:
αἰνῶ· λαβὼν δʼ ἄν φημι κάλλιστον Φρυγῶν
δῶρον δέχεσθαι τῆς ἐμῆς εὐσπλαγχνίας.
σὲ δʼ οὐ φθονεῖν χρή· μυρίʼ ἔστιν ἄλλα σοι,
ἐφʼ οἷσι τέρψῃ τῆσδʼ ἀριστεύων χθονός.

[¶64] CHORUS.:
O peril strange, O fearful prize!

> Greek: Χορός:
μέγας ἀγών, μεγάλα δʼ ἐπινοεῖς ἑλεῖν·

[¶65] Yet win it and thy life hath wings:

> Greek: μακάριός γε μὴν κυρήσας ἔσῃ.

[¶66] A deed of glory in men’s eyes,
A greatness, to be wooed of kings.

> Greek: πόνος ὅδʼ εὐκλεής·
μέγα δὲ κοιράνοισι γαμβρὸν πέλειν.

[¶67] If God but hearken to the right,
Thou drinkest to the full this night
The cup of man’s imaginings.
DOLON.: He stands waiting a moment looking out into the dark.

> Greek: τὰ θεόθεν ἐπιδέτω Δίκα,
τὰ δὲ παρʼ ἀνδράσιν τέλειά σοι φαίνεται.

[¶68] There lies the way.—But first I must go find
At home some body-shelter to my mind;
Then, forward to the ships of Argolis!

> Greek: Δόλων:
στείχοιμʼ ἄν· ἐλθὼν ⟨δʼ⟩ ἐς δόμους ἐφέστιος
σκευῇ πρεπόντως σῶμʼ ἐμὸν καθάψομαι,
κἀκεῖθεν ἥσω ναῦς ἐπʼ Ἀργείων πόδα.

[¶69] LEADER.:
What other raiment wilt thou need than this?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπεὶ τίνʼ ἄλλην ἀντὶ τῆσδʼ ἕξεις στολήν;

[¶70] DOLON.:
A garb for work, for night; a thieving guise.

> Greek: Δόλων:
πρέπουσαν ἔργῳ κλωπικοῖς τε βήμασι.

[¶71] LEADER.:’Tis good to learn the wisdoms of the wise.

> Greek: Χορός:
σοφοῦ παρʼ ἀνδρὸς χρὴ σοφόν τι μανθάνειν·

[¶72] What will thy wrapping be?

> Greek: λέξον, τίς ἔσται τοῦδε σώματος σαγή;

[¶73] DOLON.:
A grey wolf’s hide
Shall wrap my body close on either side;
My head shall be the mask of gleaming teeth,
My arms fit in the forepaws, like a sheath,
My thighs in the hinder parts. No Greek shall tell
’Tis not a wolf that walks, half visible,
On four feet by the trenches and around
The ship-screen. When it comes to empty ground
It stands on two.—That is the plan, my friend!

> Greek: Δόλων:
λύκειον ἀμφὶ νῶτʼ ἐνάψομαι δορὰν
καὶ χάσμα θηρὸς ἀμφʼ ἐμῷ θήσω κάρᾳ,
βάσιν τε χερσὶ προσθίαν καθαρμόσας
καὶ κῶλα κώλοις, τετράπουν μιμήσομαι
λύκου κέλευθον πολεμίοις δυσεύρετον,
τάφροις πελάζων καὶ νεῶν προβλήμασιν.
ὅταν δʼ ἔρημον χῶρον ἐμβαίνω ποδί,
δίβαμος εἶμι· τῇδε σύγκειται δόλος.

[¶74] LEADER.:
Now Maian Hermes guide thee to thy end
And home safe! Well he loves all counterfeit...

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ εὖ σʼ ὁ Μαίας παῖς ἐκεῖσε καὶ πάλιν
πέμψειεν Ἑρμῆς, ὅς γε φηλητῶν ἄναξ.

[¶75] Good work is there; may good luck go with it!
DOLON: (to himself, gazing out toward the Greek camp).

> Greek: ἔχεις δὲ τοὔργον· εὐτυχεῖν μόνον σε δεῖ.

[¶76] There, and then back!... And on this belt shall bleed
Odysseus’ head—or why not Diomede?—
To prove my truth. Ere dawn can touch the land
I shall be here, and blood upon my hand.
Exit DOLON.

> Greek: Δόλων:
σωθήσομαί γε καὶ κτανὼν Ὀδυσσέως
οἴσω κάρα σοι — σύμβολον δʼ ἔχων σαφὲς
φήσεις Δόλωνα ναῦς ἐπʼ Ἀργείων μολεῖν —
ἢ παῖδα Τυδέως· οὐδʼ ἀναιμάκτῳ χερὶ
ἥξω πρὸς οἴκους πρὶν φάος μολεῖν χθόνα.

[¶77] CHORUS.:
Thymbraean, Delian, Birth divine,
That walkest Lycia’s inmost shrine,
Come, strong to guard, to guide, to follow,
Come, bow in hand and girt with night,
To help thy Dardans as of old,
When stone by stone thy music rolled—
O conquering Strength, O Sire Apollo!—
Young Ilion into towers of light.

> Greek: Χορός:
Θυμβραῖε καὶ Δάλιε καὶ Λυκίας
ναὸν ἐμβατεύων
Ἄπολλον, ὦ δία κεφαλά, μόλε τοξή-
ρης, ἱκοῦ ἐννύχιος
καὶ γενοῦ σωτήριος ἀνέρι πομπᾶς
ἁγεμὼν καὶ ξύλλαβε Δαρδανίδαις,
ὦ παγκρατές, ὦ Τροΐας
τείχη παλαιὰ δείμας.

[¶78] CHORUS.:
Grant that he reach the shipyard, creep
Keen-eyed through all that host asleep,
Then back to home and hearth, yet living,
Where now his father prays alone:

> Greek: Χορός:
μόλοι δὲ ναυκλήρια, καὶ στρατιᾶς
Ἑλλάδος διόπτας
ἵκοιτο, καὶ κάμψειε πάλιν θυμέλας οἴ-
κων πατρὸς Ἰλιάδας.

[¶79] Yea, grant that, when the Greeks are slain,
Our wolf shall mount with scourge and rein
Those coursers of the sea-god’s giving,
Whom Peleus drove in days foregone.

> Greek: Φθιάδων δʼ ἵππων ποτʼ ἐπʼ ἄντυγα βαίη,
δεσπότου πέρσαντος Ἀχαιὸν Ἄρη,
τὰς πόντιος Αἰακίδᾳ
Πηλεῖ δίδωσι δαίμων.

[¶80] CHORUS.:
Alone in those Greek ships to stake
His life, for home and country’s sake:’Tis wondrous! Few be hearts so true
When seas across the bulwark break,
And sunlight sickens o’er the crew.
Ah, Phrygia still hath hearts of rock!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπεὶ πρό τʼ οἴκων πρό τε γᾶς ἔτλα μόνος
ναύσταθμα βὰς κατιδεῖν· ἄγαμαι
λήματος· ἦ σπανία ⟨τις⟩
τῶν ἀγαθῶν, ὅταν ᾖ
δυσάλιος ἐν πελάγει
καὶ σαλεύῃ
πόλις. ἔστι Φρυγῶν τις ἔστιν ἄλκιμος·

[¶81] The Phrygian spear flies fast and far!
Where shall ye find the fool to mock
Our works in war?

> Greek: ἔνι δὲ θράσος ἐν αἰχ-
μᾷ· πόθι Μυσῶν ὃς ἐμὰν
συμμαχίαν ἀτίζει;

[¶82] CHORUS.:
Whom will he stab a-sleeping, whom,
The quick grey wolf, the crawling doom?
Grant that he slay the Spartan! Nay,
Or Agamemnon’s head and plume
To Helen bear at dawn of day!
A lightsome dawn to hear her wail
Her brother sworn, her King who came
To Ilion with his thousand sail,
And swords, and flame! As the song ends DOLON reappears, in the disguise of a wolf. The Guards gather round him, bidding him godspeed as he crawls off in the dark towards the Greek camp. Meantime from the direction of Mount Ida has entered a SHEPHERD who goes to HECTOR’S door and calls. The Guards seeing him return to their places.

> Greek: Χορός:
τίνʼ ἄνδρʼ Ἀχαιῶν ὁ πεδοστιβὴς σφαγεὺς
οὐτάσει ἐν κλισίαις, τετράπουν
μῖμον ἔχων ἐπιγαίου
θηρός; ἕλοι Μενέλαν,
κτανὼν δʼ Ἀγαμεμνόνιον
κρᾶτʼ ἐνέγκοι
Ἑλένᾳ κακόγαμβρον ἐς χέρας γόον,
ὃς ἐπὶ πόλιν, ὃς ἐπὶ
γᾶν Τροΐαν χιλιόναυν
ἤλυθʼ ἔχων στρατείαν.

[¶83] SHEPHERD.:
Ho, Master! Enter HECTOR from tent.
I would it ofttimes were my luck to share
As goodly news with thee as now I bear.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Ποιμήν:
ἄναξ, τοιούτων δεσπόταισιν ἄγγελος
εἴην τὸ λοιπὸν οἷά σοι φέρω μαθεῖν.

[¶84] HECTOR.:
What dulness hangs about these shepherds! Block,
Com’st thou to us with tidings of thy flock
Here in the field in arms? Who wants thee here?

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
ἦ πόλλʼ ἀγρώταις σκαιὰ πρόσκειται φρενί·
καὶ γὰρ σὺ ποίμνας δεσπόταις τευχεσφόροις
ἥκειν ἔοικας ἀγγελῶν ἵνʼ οὐ πρέπει.

[¶85] Thou know’st my house; thou know’st my father’s.
There
Tell all about thy lucky lambs.—Now go.

> Greek: οὐκ οἶσθα δῶμα τοὐμὸν ἢ θρόνους πατρός,
οἷ χρῆν γεγωνεῖν σʼ εὐτυχοῦντα ποίμνια;

[¶86] SHEPHERD.:
Dull wits, we shepherds! Aye,’twas alway so.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
σκαιοὶ βοτῆρές ἐσμεν· οὐκ ἄλλως λέγω.

[¶87] Yet still, there is some good news to be told.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν ἧσσον σοι φέρω κεδνοὺς λόγους.

[¶88] HECTOR.:
A truce there to thy gossip of the fold!

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
παῦσαι λέγων μοι τὰς προσαυλείους τύχας·

[¶89] Our dealings are of war, of sword and spear.
He turns to go.

> Greek: μάχας πρὸ χειρῶν καὶ δόρη βαστάζομεν.

[¶90] SHEPHERD.:
Aye; so were mine. That is what brought me here.
HECTOR’S manner changes.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
τοιαῦτα κἀγὼ σημανῶν ἐλήλυθα·

[¶91] A chief comes yonder, leading a great band
Of spears, with help to thee and all the land.

> Greek: ἀνὴρ γὰρ ἀλκῆς μυρίας στρατηλατῶν
στείχει φίλος σοὶ σύμμαχός τε τῇδε γῇ.

[¶92] HECTOR.:
From whence? How do his name and lineage run?

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
ποίας πατρῴας γῆς ἐρημώσας πέδον;

[¶93] SHEPHERD.:
He comes from Thrace, the River Strymon’s son.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
Θρῄκης· πατρὸς δὲ Στρυμόνος κικλήσκεται.

[¶94] HECTOR.:
Rhesus! Not Rhesus, here on Trojan soil?

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
Ῥῆσον τιθέντʼ ἔλεξας ἐν Τροίᾳ πόδα;

[¶95] SHEPHERD.:
Thou hast guessed. That eases me of half my toil.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ἔγνως· λόγου δὲ δὶς τόσου μʼ ἐκούφισας.

[¶96] HECTOR.:
What makes he there towards Ida? All astray
Thus from the plain and the broad waggon-way!

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
καὶ πῶς πρὸς Ἴδης ὀργάδας πορεύεται,
πλαγχθεὶς πλατείας πεδιάδος θʼ ἁμαξιτοῦ;

[¶97] SHEPHERD.:
I know not rightly, though one well may guess.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
οὐκ οἶδʼ ἀκριβῶς· εἰκάσαι γε μὴν πάρα.

[¶98] ’Tis hard to land at night, with such a press
Of spears, on a strange coast, where rumours tell
Of foes through all the plain-land. We that dwell
On Ida, in the rock, Troy’s ancient root
And hearth-stone, were well frighted, through the mute
And wolfish thickets thus to hear him break.

> Greek: νυκτὸς γὰρ οὔτι φαῦλον ἐμβαλεῖν στρατόν,
κλύοντα πλήρη πεδία πολεμίας χερός.
φόβον δʼ ἀγρώσταις, οἳ κατʼ Ἰδαῖον λέπας
οἰκοῦμεν αὐτόρριζον ἑστίαν χθονός,
παρέσχε δρυμὸν νυκτὸς ἔνθηρον μολών.

[¶99] A great and rushing noise those Thracians make,
Marching. We, all astonied, ran to drive
Our sheep to the upmost heights.’Twas some Argive,
We thought, who came to sweep the mountain clear
And waste thy folds; till suddenly our ear
Caught at their speech, and knew ’twas nothing Greek.
Then all our terror fled. I ran to seek
Some scout or pioneer who led the van
And called in Thracian: “Ho, what child of man”
“Doth lead you? From what nation do ye bring”
“This host with aid to Ilion and her king?”

> Greek: πολλῇ γὰρ ἠχῇ Θρῄκιος ῥέων στρατὸς
ἔστειχε· θάμβει δʼ ἐκπλαγέντες ἵεμεν
ποίμνας πρὸς ἄκρας, μή τις Ἀργείων μόλῃ
λεηλατήσων καὶ σὰ πορθήσων σταθμά,
πρὶν δὴ διʼ ὤτων γῆρυν οὐχ Ἑλληνικὴν
ἐδεξάμεσθα καὶ μετέστημεν φόβου.
στείχων δʼ ἄνακτος προυξερευνητὰς ὁδοῦ
ἀνιστόρησα Θρῃκίοις προσφθέγμασι,
Τίς ὁ στρατηγὸς καὶ τίνος κεκλημένος
στείχει πρὸς ἄστυ Πριαμίδαισι σύμμαχος;

[¶100] He told me what I sought, and there I stood
Watching; and saw one gleaming like a God,
Tall in the darkness on a Thracian car.

> Greek: καὶ πάντʼ ἀκούσας ὧν ἐφιέμην μαθεῖν,
ἔστην· ὁρῶ δὲ Ῥῆσον ὥστε δαίμονα
ἑστῶτʼ ἐν ἵπποις Θρῃκίοις τʼ ὀχήμασι.

[¶101] A plate of red gold mated, like a bar,
His coursers’ necks, white, white as fallen snow.

> Greek: χρυσῆ δὲ πλάστιγξ αὐχένα ζυγηφόρον
πώλων ἔκλῃε χιόνος ἐξαυγεστέρων.

[¶102] A carven targe, with golden shapes aglow,
Hung o’er his back. Before each courser’s head
A Gorgon, to the frontlet riveted,
With bells set round-like stories that they tell
Of Pallas’ shield-made music terrible.

> Greek: πέλτη δʼ ἐπʼ ὤμων χρυσοκολλήτοις τύποις
ἔλαμπε· Γοργὼν δʼ ὡς ἐπʼ αἰγίδος θεᾶς
χαλκῆ μετώποις ἱππικοῖσι πρόσδετος
πολλοῖσι σὺν κώδωσιν ἐκτύπει φόβον.

[¶103] The numbers of that host no pen could write
Nor reckon;’tis a multitudinous sight,
Long lines of horsemen, lines of targeteers,
Archers abundant; and behind them veers
A wavering horde, light-armed, in Thracian weed.

> Greek: στρατοῦ δὲ πλῆθος οὐδʼ ἂν ἐν ψήφου λόγῳ
θέσθαι δυναίμην, ὡς ἄπλατον ἦν ἰδεῖν,
πολλοὶ μὲν ἱππῆς, πολλὰ πελταστῶν τέλη,
πολλοὶ δʼ ἀτράκτων τοξόται, πολὺς δʼ ὄχλος
γυμνὴς ὁμαρτῇ, Θρῃκίαν ἔχων στολήν.

[¶104] A friend is come to Ilion in her need
’Gainst whom no Argive, let him fly or stand,
Shall aught avail nor ’scape his conquering hand.

> Greek: τοιόσδε Τροίᾳ σύμμαχος πάρεστʼ ἀνήρ,
ὃν οὔτε φεύγων οὔθʼ ὑποσταθεὶς δορὶ
ὁ Πηλέως παῖς ἐκφυγεῖν δυνήσεται.

[¶105] LEADER.:
Lo, when the Gods breathe gently o’er a town,
All runs to good, as water-streams run down.
HECTOR.: (bitterly)
Aye, when my spear hath fortune, when God sends
His favour, I shall find abundant friends.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὅταν πολίταις εὐσταθῶσι δαίμονες,
ἕρπει κατάντης ξυμφορὰ πρὸς τἀγαθά.
Ἕκτωρ:
πολλούς, ἐπειδὴ τοὐμὸν εὐτυχεῖ δόρυ
καὶ Ζεὺς πρὸς ἡμῶν ἐστιν, εὑρήσω φίλους.

[¶106] I need them not; who never came of yore
To help us, when we rolled to death before
The war-swell, and the wind had ripped our sail.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν αὐτῶν δεόμεθʼ, οἵτινες πάλαι
μὴ ξυμπονοῦσιν, ἡνίκʼ ἐξώστης Ἄρης
ἔθραυε λαίφη τῆσδε γῆς μέγας πνέων.

[¶107] Then Rhesus taught us Trojans what avail
His words are.—He comes early to the feast;
Where was he when the hunters met the beast?
Where, when we sank beneath the Argive spear?

> Greek: Ῥῆσος δʼ ἔδειξεν οἷος ἦν Τροίᾳ φίλος·
ἥκει γὰρ ἐς δαῖτʼ, οὐ παρὼν κυνηγέταις
αἱροῦσι λείαν οὐδὲ συγκαμὼν δορί.

[¶108] LEADER.:
Well may’st thou mock and blame thy friend. Yet here
He comes with help for Troy. Accept him thou.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὀρθῶς ἀτίζεις κἀπίμομφος εἶ φίλοις·
δέχου δὲ τοὺς θέλοντας ὠφελεῖν πόλιν.

[¶109] HECTOR.:
We are enough, who have held the wall till now.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
ἀρκοῦμεν οἱ σῴζοντες Ἴλιον πάλαι.

[¶110] LEADER.:
Master, dost think already that our foe
Is ta’en?

> Greek: Χορός:
πέποιθας ἤδη πολεμίους ᾑρηκέναι;

[¶111] HECTOR.:
I do. To-morrow’s light will show.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
πέποιθα· δείξει τοὐπιὸν σέλας θεοῦ.

[¶112] LEADER.:
Have care. Fate often flings a backward cast.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὅρα τὸ μέλλον· πόλλʼ ἀναστρέφει θεός.

[¶113] HECTOR.:
I hate the help that comes when need is past...

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
μισῶ φίλοισιν ὕστερον βοηδρομεῖν.

[¶114] Howbeit, once come, I bid him welcome here
As guest—not war-friend; guest to share our cheer.

> Greek: ὃ δʼ οὖν, ἐπείπερ ἦλθε, σύμμαχος μὲν οὔ,
ξένος δὲ πρὸς τράπεζαν ἡκέτω ξένων·

[¶115] The thanks are lost, he might have won from us.

> Greek: χάρις γὰρ αὐτῷ Πριαμιδῶν διώλετο.

[¶116] LEADER.:
My general, to reject an ally thus
Must needs make hatred.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄναξ, ἀπωθεῖν συμμάχους ἐπίφθονον.

[¶117] SHEPHERD.:
The mere sight of those
I saw would sure cast fear upon our foes.
HECTOR.: (yielding reluctantly, with a laugh)
Ah, well; thy words are prudent; and (To SHEPHERD) thine eyes
See glorious things. With all these panoplies
Of gold that filled our Shepherd’s heart with joy,
Bid Rhesus welcome, as war-friend to Troy.
Exit SHEPHERD; HECTOR returns to his tent, amid the joy of the soldiers.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
φόβος γένοιτʼ ἂν πολεμίοις ὀφθεὶς μόνον.
Ἕκτωρ:
σύ τʼ εὖ παραινεῖς καὶ σὺ καιρίως σκοπεῖς.
ὁ χρυσοτευχὴς δʼ οὕνεκʼ ἀγγέλου λόγων
Ῥῆσος παρέστω τῇδε σύμμαχος χθονί.

[¶118] CHORUS.:
Now Adrasteia be near and guard
Our lips from sin, lest the end be hard!

> Greek: Χορός:
Ἀδράστεια μὲν ἁ Διὸς
παῖς εἴργοι στομάτων φθόνον·

[¶119] But he cometh, he cometh, the Child of the River!
The pride of my heart it shall roll unbarred.

> Greek: φράσω γὰρ δὴ ὅσον μοι ψυχᾷ
προσφιλές ἐστιν εἰπεῖν.

[¶120] We craved thy coming; yea, need was strong
In the Hall of thy lovers, O child of Song;
Thy mother the Muse and her fair-bridged River
They held thee from us so long, so long!
CHORUS.:
By Strymon’s torrent alone she sang,
And Strymon shivered and coiled and sprang;
And her arms went wide to the wild sweet water,
And the love of the River around her rang.

> Greek: ἥκεις, ὦ ποταμοῦ παῖ,
ἥκεις, ἐπλάθης Φιλίου πρὸς αὐλὰν
ἀσπαστός, ἐπεί σε χρόνῳ
Πιερὶς μάτηρ ὅ τε καλλιγέφυ-
ρος ποταμὸς πορεύει
Χορός:
Στρυμών, ὅς ποτε τᾶς μελῳ-
δοῦ Μούσας διʼ ἀκηράτων
δινηθεὶς ὑδροειδὴς κόλπων
σὰν ἐφύτευσεν ἥβαν.

[¶121] We hail thee, Fruit of the River’s seed,
Young Zeus of the Dawn, on thy starry steed!

> Greek: σύ μοι Ζεὺς ὁ φαναῖος
ἥκεις διφρεύων βαλιαῖσι πώλοις.

[¶122] O ancient City, O Ida’s daughter,
Is God the Deliverer found indeed?

> Greek: νῦν, ὦ πατρὶς ὦ Φρυγία,
ξὺν θεῷ νῦν σοι τὸν ἐλευθέριον
Ζῆνα πάρεστιν εἰπεῖν.

[¶123] CHORUS.:
And men shall tell of thee, Ilion mine,
Once more a-harping at day’s decline,’Mid laughing of lovers and lays and dances
And challenge on challenge of circling wine?
When the Greek is smitten that day shall be,
And fled to Argolis over the sea:
O mighty of hand, O leader of lances,
Smite him, and heaven be good to thee!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἆρά ποτʼ αὖθις ἁ παλαιὰ Τροΐα
τοὺς προπότας παναμερεύ-
σει θιάσους ἐρώτων
ψαλμοῖσι καὶ κυλίκων οἰνοπλανή-
τοις ὑποδεξίαις ἁμίλ-
λαις κατὰ πόντον Ἀτρειδᾶν
Σπάρταν οἰχομένων
Ἰλιάδος παρʼ ἀκτᾶς;
ὦ φίλος, εἴθε μοι
σᾷ χερὶ καὶ σῷ δορὶ πρά-
ξας τάδʼ ἐς οἶκον ἔλθοις.

[¶124] CHORUS.:
Thou Rider golden and swift and sheer,
Achilles falters: appear! appear!
The car like flame where the red shield leapeth,
The fell white steeds and the burning spear!
No Greek shall boast he hath seen thy face
And danced again in the dancing place;
And the land shall laugh for the sheaves she reapeth,
Of spoilers dead by a sword from Thrace.
Enter RHESUS in dazzling white armour, followed by his CHARIOTEER and Attendants. The CHARIOTEER carries his golden shield. The CHORUS break into a shout of “All Hail!”
LEADER.:
All hail, great King! A whelp indeed
Is born in Thracia’s lion fold,
Whose leap shall make strong cities bleed.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐλθέ, φάνηθι, τὰν ζάχρυσον προβαλοῦ
Πηλεΐδα κατʼ ὄμμα πέλ-
ταν δοχμίαν πεδαίρων
σχιστὰν παρʼ ἄντυγα, πώλους ἐρεθί-
ζων δίβολόν τʼ ἄκοντα πάλ-
λων. σὲ γὰρ οὔτις ὑποστὰς
Ἀργείας ποτʼ ἐν Ἥ-
ρας δαπέδοις χορεύσει·
ἀλλά νιν ἅδε γᾶ
καπφθίμενον Θρῃκὶ μόρῳ
φίλτατον ἄχθος οἴσει.
Χορός:
— ἰὼ ἰώ, μέγας ὦ βασιλεῦ.
καλόν, ὦ Θρῄκη,
σκύμνον ἔθρεψας πολίαρχον ἰδεῖν.

[¶125] Behold his body girt with gold,
And hark the pride of bells along
The frontlet of that targe’s hold.

> Greek: ἴδε χρυσόδετον σώματος ἀλκήν,
κλύε καὶ κόμπους κωδωνοκρότους
παρὰ πορπάκων κελαδοῦντας.

[¶126] CHORUS.:
A God, O Troy, a God and more!’Tis Ares’ self, this issue strong
Of Strymon and the Muse of song,
Whose breath is fragrant on thy shore!
Re-enter HECTOR.

> Greek: θεός, ὦ Τροία, θεός, αὐτὸς Ἄρης
ὁ Στρυμόνιος πῶλος ἀοιδοῦ
Μούσης ἥκων καταπνεῖ σε.

[¶127] RHESUS.:
Lord Hector, Prince of Ilion, noble son
Of noble sires, all hail! Long years have run
Since last we greeted, and ’tis joy this day
To see thy fortunes firm and thine array
Camped at the foe’s gate. Here am I to tame
That foe for thee, and wrap his ships in flame.

> Greek: Ῥῆσος:
χαῖρʼ, ἐσθλὸς ἐσθλοῦ παῖς, τύραννε τῆσδε γῆς,
Ἕκτορ· παλαιᾷ σʼ ἡμέρᾳ προσεννέπω.
χαίρω δέ σʼ εὐτυχοῦντα καὶ προσήμενον
πύργοισιν ἐχθρῶν· συγκατασκάψων δʼ ἐγὼ
τείχη πάρειμι καὶ νεῶν πρήσων σκάφη.

[¶128] HECTOR.:
Thou child of Music and the Thracian flood,
Strymonian Rhesus, truth is alway good
In Hector’s eyes. I wear no double heart.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
παῖ τῆς μελῳδοῦ μητέρος Μουσῶν μιᾶς
Θρῃκός τε ποταμοῦ Στρυμόνος, φιλῶ λέγειν
τἀληθὲς αἰεὶ κοὐ διπλοῦς πέφυκʼ ἀνήρ.

[¶129] Long, long ago thou shouldst have borne thy part
In Ilion’s labours, not have left us here,
For all thy help, to sink beneath the spear.

> Greek: πάλαι πάλαι χρῆν τῇδε συγκάμνειν χθονὶ
ἐλθόντα, καὶ μὴ τοὐπί σʼ Ἀργείων ὕπο
Τροίαν ἐᾶσαι πολεμίῳ πεσεῖν δορί.

[¶130] Why didst thou—not for lack of need made plain!—
Not come, not send, not think of us again?

> Greek: οὐ γάρ τι λέξεις ὡς ἄκλητος ὢν φίλοις
οὐκ ἦλθες οὐδʼ ἤμυνας οὐδʼ ἐπεστράφης.

[¶131] What grave ambassadors prayed not before
Thy throne, what herald knelt not at thy door?

> Greek: τίς γάρ σε κῆρυξ ἢ γερουσία Φρυγῶν
ἐλθοῦσʼ ἀμύνειν οὐκ ἐπέσκηψεν πόλει;

[¶132] What pride of gifts did Troy not send to thee?

> Greek: ποῖον δὲ δώρων κόσμον οὐκ ἐπέμψαμεν;

[¶133] And thou, a lord of Barbary even as we,
Thou, brother of our blood, like one at sup
Who quaffs his fill and flings away the cup,
Hast flung to the Greeks my city! Yet, long since,’Twas I that found thee but a little prince
And made thee mighty, I and this right hand;
When round Pangaion and the Paiôn’s land,
Front against front, I burst upon the brood
Of Thrace and broke their targes, and subdued
Their power to thine. The grace whereof, not small,
Thou hast spurned, and when thy kinsmen, drowning, call,
Comest too late. Thou! Others there have been
These long years, not by nature of our kin..
Some under yon rough barrows thou canst see
Lie buried; they were true to Troy and me;
And others, yet here in the shielded line
Or mid the chariots, parching in the shine
Of noonday, starving in the winds that bite
Through Ilion’s winter, still endure and fight
On at my side.’Twas not their way, to lie
On a soft couch and, while the cups go by,
Pledge my good health, like thee, in Thracian wine.

> Greek: σὺ δʼ ἐγγενὴς ὢν βάρβαρός τε βαρβάρους
Ἕλλησιν ἡμᾶς προύπιες τὸ σὸν μέρος.
καίτοι σε μικρᾶς ἐκ τυραννίδος μέγαν
Θρῃκῶν ἄνακτα τῇδʼ ἔθηκʼ ἐγὼ χερί,
ὅτʼ ἀμφὶ Πάγγαιόν τε Παιόνων τε γῆν
Θρῃκῶν ἀρίστοις ἐμπεσὼν κατὰ στόμα
ἔρρηξα πέλτην, σοὶ δὲ δουλώσας λεὼν
παρέσχον· ὧν σὺ λακτίσας πολλὴν χάριν,
φίλων νοσούντων ὕστερος βοηδρομεῖς.
οἱ δʼ οὐδὲν ἡμῖν ἐν γένει πεφυκότες,
πάλαι παρόντες, οἳ μὲν ἐν χωστοῖς τάφοις
κεῖνται πεσόντες, πίστις οὐ σμικρὰ πόλει,
οἳ δʼ ἔν θʼ ὅπλοισι καὶ παρʼ ἱππείοις ὄχοις
ψυχρὰν ἄησιν δίψιόν τε πῦρ θεοῦ
μένουσι καρτεροῦντες, οὐκ ἐν δεμνίοις
πυκνὴν ἄμυστιν ὡς σὺ δεξιούμενοι.

[¶134] I speak as a free man. With thee and thine
Hector is wroth, and tells thee to thy face.

> Greek: ταῦθʼ, ὡς ἂν εἰδῇς Ἕκτορʼ ὄντʼ ἐλεύθερον,
καὶ μέμφομαί σοι καὶ λέγω κατʼ ὄμμα σόν.

[¶135] RHESUS.:
Thy way is mine, friend. Straight I run my race
In word and deed, and bear no double tongue.

> Greek: Ῥῆσος:
τοιοῦτός εἰμι καὐτός, εὐθεῖαν λόγων
τέμνων κέλευθον, κοὐ διπλοῦς πέφυκʼ ἀνήρ.

[¶136] I tell thee, more than thine my heart was wrung,
Yea, angered past all durance, thus to stay
Back from thy battles.’Twas a folk that lay
Hard on my borders, Scythians of the north;
Just when my host for Troy had started forth,
They fell upon our homes. I had reached the coast
Of the Friendless Sea and purposed to have crossed
My Thracians there. We turned; and all that plain
Is trampled in a mire of Scythian slain
Ploughed by our spears, and blood of Thrace withal
Not stinted. This it was that drowned thy call
For help and held me back from Ilion’s need.

> Greek: ἐγὼ δὲ μεῖζον ἢ σὺ τῆσδʼ ἀπὼν χθονὸς
λύπῃ πρὸς ἧπαρ δυσφορῶν ἐτειρόμην·
ἀλλʼ ἀγχιτέρμων γαῖά μοι, Σκύθης λεώς,
μέλλοντι νόστον τὸν πρὸς Ἴλιον περᾶν
ξυνῆψε πόλεμον· Εὐξένου δʼ ἀφικόμην
πόντου πρὸς ἀκτάς, Θρῇκα πορθμεύσων στρατόν.
ἔνθʼ αἱματηρὸς πέλανος ἐς γαῖαν Σκύθης
ἠντλεῖτο λόγχῃ Θρῄξ τε συμμιγὴς φόνος.
τοιάδε τοί μʼ ἀπεῖργε συμφορὰ πέδον
Τροίας ἱκέσθαι σύμμαχόν τέ σοι μολεῖν.

[¶137] I broke their power; the princes of their breed
I took to hostage, made their elders swear
To bring my house due tribute, year by year,
Then, never lagging, crossed the Pontus mouth,
Marched by long stages through Bithynia south
And here am come... not drunken with the feast,
As thou wouldst have me be, not lulled to rest
In golden chambers. In this harness hard
I have borne my nights of winter storm that starred
The Euxine into ice and scared the strong
Paionians. Long I have been, but not too long
To save thee yet. Friend, this is the tenth year
Thou labourest on unceasing, with no clear
Vantage; day creeps by day, and Ares throws
The same red dice for thee and for thy foes.

> Greek: ἐπεὶ δʼ ἔπερσα, τῶνδʼ ὁμηρεύσας τέκνα
τάξας ⟨τʼ⟩ ἔτειον δασμὸν ἐς δόμους φέρειν,
ἥκω περάσας ναυσὶ πόντιον στόμα,
τὰ δʼ ἄλλα πεζὸς γῆς περῶν ὁρίσματα —
οὐχ ὡς σὺ κομπεῖς τὰς ἐμὰς ἀμύστιδας,
οὐδʼ ἐν ζαχρύσοις δώμασιν κοιμώμενος,
ἀλλʼ οἷα πόντον Θρῄκιον φυσήματα
κρυσταλλόπηκτα Παιόνας τʼ ἐπεζάρει,
ξὺν τοῖσδʼ ἄυπνος οἶδα τλὰς πορπάμασιν.
ἀλλʼ ὕστερος μὲν ἦλθον, ἐν καιρῷ δʼ ὅμως·
σὺ μὲν γὰρ ἤδη δέκατον αἰχμάζεις ἔτος
κοὐδὲν περαίνεις, ἡμέραν δʼ ἐξ ἡμέρας
πίπτεις κυβεύων τὸν πρὸς Ἀργείους Ἄρη·

[¶138] Now, hear my vow. Before one day’s eclipse
I swear to break their wall, to burn their ships
And slay their princes. On the second day
I leave this soil and take my homeward way,
Thy pains relieved. No Trojan of the land
Need move, nor turn the buckler in his hand.

> Greek: ἐμοὶ δὲ φῶς ἓν ἡλίου καταρκέσει
πέρσαντι πύργους ναυστάθμοις ἐπεσπεσεῖν
κτεῖναί τʼ Ἀχαιούς· θατέρᾳ δʼ ἀπʼ Ἰλίου
πρὸς οἶκον εἶμι, συντεμὼν τοὺς σοὺς πόνους,
ὑμῶν δὲ μή τις ἀσπίδʼ ἄρηται χερί·

[¶139] Alone my late-comers will turn the tide
And smite your Greeks, for all their bitter pride.
CHORUS.: The Trojan soldiers, who have been listening with delight, here break out in irrepressible applause.

> Greek: ἐγὼ γὰρ ἕξω τοὺς μέγʼ αὐχοῦντας δορὶ
πέρσας Ἀχαιούς, καίπερ ὕστερος μολών.

[¶140] All hail!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ ἰώ.

[¶141] Sweet words and faithful heart!
Only may Zeus avert
From those proud lips the Wrath that none may bear!
Never a galleon bore,
Now, nor in days of yore,
Prince like to thee, so valiant and so fair.
How shall Achilles, how
Shall Ajax bear him now,
Or face thy lance? May I but stand that day
Watching to see him reel
Broken beneath thy steel,
And once in blood his many murders pay!

> Greek: φίλα θροεῖς, φίλος Διόθεν εἶ· μόνον
φθόνον ἄμαχον ὕπατος
Ζεὺς θέλοι ἀμφὶ σοῖς λόγοισιν εἴργειν.
τὸ δὲ νάιον Ἀργόθεν δόρυ
οὔτε πρίν τινʼ οὔτε νῦν
ἀνδρῶν ἐπόρευσε σέθεν κρείσσω. πῶς μοι
Ἀχιλεὺς τὸ σὸν ἔγχος ἂν δύναιτο,
πῶς δʼ Αἴας ὑπομεῖναι;
εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδʼ ἦμαρ εἰσίδοιμʼ, ἄναξ,
ὅτῳ πολυφόνου
χειρὸς ἀποινάσαιο λόγχᾳ.

[¶142] RHESUS.:
Yea, more atonement thou shalt take from me
For this slow help.—May Adrasteia see
My heart and pardon!—When we two have set
Troy free from these who compass her with hate,
Soon as the Gods have had their first-fruits, I
With thee will sail—so help me Zeus on high!—
And sack all Hellas with the sword, till these
Doers of deeds shall know what suffering is.

> Greek: Ῥῆσος:
τοιαῦτα μέν σοι τῆς μακρᾶς ἀπουσίας
πρᾶξαι παρέξω — σὺν δʼ Ἀδραστείᾳ λέγω —
ἐπειδἂν ἐχθρῶν τήνδʼ ἐλευθέραν πόλιν
θῶμεν θεοῖσί τʼ ἀκροθίνιʼ ἐξέλῃς,
ξὺν σοὶ στρατεύειν γῆν ἐπʼ Ἀργείων θέλω
καὶ πᾶσαν ἐλθὼν Ἑλλάδʼ ἐκπέρσαι δορί,
ὡς ἂν μάθωσιν ἐν μέρει πάσχειν κακῶς.

[¶143] HECTOR.:
By heaven, could I once see this peril rolled
Past us, and live in Ilion as of old,
Untrembling, I would thank my gods! To seek
Argos and sack the cities of the Greek-
’Twere not such light work as thou fanciest.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
εἰ τοῦ παρόντος τοῦδʼ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς κακοῦ
πόλιν νεμοίμην ὡς τὸ πρίν ποτʼ ἀσφαλῆ,
ἦ κάρτα πολλὴν θεοῖς ἂν εἰδείην χάριν.
τὰ δʼ ἀμφί τʼ Ἄργος καὶ νομὸν τὸν Ἑλλάδος
οὐχ ὧδε πορθεῖν ῥᾴδιʼ, ὡς λέγεις, δορί.

[¶144] RHESUS.:
These Greeks that face thee, are they not their best?

> Greek: Ῥῆσος:
οὐ τούσδʼ ἀριστέας φασὶν Ἑλλήνων μολεῖν;

[¶145] HECTOR.:
We seek not better. These do all we need.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
κοὐ μεμφόμεσθά γʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄδην ἐλαύνομεν.

[¶146] RHESUS.:
When these are beaten, then, we have done the deed.

> Greek: Ῥῆσος:
οὐκ οὖν κτανόντες τούσδε πᾶν εἰργάσμεθα;

[¶147] HECTOR.:
Lose not thy path watching a distant view.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
μή νυν τὰ πόρρω τἀγγύθεν μεθεὶς σκόπει.

[¶148] RHESUS.:
Thou seem’st content to suffer, not to do?

> Greek: Ῥῆσος:
ἀρκεῖν ἔοικέ σοι παθεῖν, δρᾶσαι δὲ μή.

[¶149] HECTOR.:
I have a kingdom large by mine own right..

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
πολλῆς γὰρ ἄρχω κἀνθάδʼ ὢν τυραννίδος.

[¶150] What station will best please thee in this fight
To ground the targe and stablish thine array?
Right, left, or midmost in the allies? Say.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ εἴτε λαιὸν εἴτε δεξιὸν κέρας
εἴτʼ ἐν μέσοισι συμμάχοις πάρεστί σοι
πέλτην ἐρεῖσαι καὶ καταστῆσαι στρατόν.

[¶151] RHESUS.:’Twould please me best to fight these Greeks alone.

> Greek: Ῥῆσος:
μόνος μάχεσθαι πολεμίοις, Ἕκτορ, θέλω.

[¶152] Yet, if ’twould irk thine honour not to have thrown
One firebrand on the ships with me, why, then
Set us to face Achilles and his men.

> Greek: εἰ δʼ αἰσχρὸν ἡγῇ μὴ συνεμπρῆσαι νεῶν
πρύμνας, πονήσας τὸν πάρος πολὺν χρόνον,
τάξον μʼ Ἀχιλλέως καὶ στρατοῦ κατὰ στόμα.

[¶153] HECTOR.:
Achilles? Nay, his spear ye cannot meet.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
οὐκ ἔστʼ ἐκείνῳ θοῦρον ἐντάξαι δόρυ.

[¶154] RHESUS.:
How so? Fame said he sailed here with the fleet.

> Greek: Ῥῆσος:
καὶ μὴν λόγος γʼ ἦν ὡς ἔπλευσʼ ἐπʼ Ἴλιον.

[¶155] HECTOR.:
He sailed, and he is here. But some despite
’Gainst the great King now keeps him from the fight.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
ἔπλευσε καὶ πάρεστιν· ἀλλὰ μηνίων
στρατηλάταισιν οὐ συναίρεται δόρυ.

[¶156] RHESUS.:
Who next to him hath honour in their host?

> Greek: Ῥῆσος:
τίς δὴ μετʼ αὐτὸν ἄλλος εὐδοξεῖ στρατοῦ;

[¶157] HECTOR.:
Next, to my seeming, Ajax hath the most,
Or Diomede.—But Odysseus is a tough
And subtle fox, and brave; aye, brave enough.
No man of them hath harmed us more than he.

> Greek: Ἕκτωρ:
Αἴας ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδὲν ἡσσᾶσθαι δοκεῖ
χὡ Τυδέως παῖς· ἔστι δʼ αἱμυλώτατον
κρότημʼ Ὀδυσσεύς, λῆμά τʼ ἀρκούντως θρασὺς
καὶ πλεῖστα χώραν τήνδʼ ἀνὴρ καθυβρίσας·

[¶158] He climbed here to Athena’s sanctuary
One night, and stole her image clean away
To the Argive ships. Yes, and another day,
Guised as a wandering priest, in rags, he came
And walked straight through the Gates, made loud acclaim
Of curses on the Greek, spied out alone
All that he sought in Ilion, and was gone—
Gone, and the watch and helpers of the Gate
Dead! And in every ambush they have set
By the old Altar, close to Troy, we know
He sits—a murderous reptile of a foe!

> Greek: ὃς εἰς Ἀθάνας σηκὸν ἔννυχος μολὼν
κλέψας ἄγαλμα ναῦς ἐπʼ Ἀργείων φέρει.
ἤδη δʼ ἀγύρτης πτωχικὴν ἔχων στολὴν
ἐσῆλθε πύργους, πολλὰ δʼ Ἀργείοις κακὰ
ἠρᾶτο, πεμφθεὶς Ἰλίου κατάσκοπος·
κτανὼν δὲ φρουροὺς καὶ παραστάτας πυλῶν
ἐξῆλθεν· αἰεὶ δʼ ἐν λόχοις εὑρίσκεται
Θυμβραῖον ἀμφὶ βωμὸν ἄστεως πέλας
θάσσων· κακῷ δὲ μερμέρῳ παλαίομεν.