So they spake in prayer and Pallas Athene heard them. But when they had prayed to the daughter of great Zeus, they went their way like two lions through the black night, amid the slaughter, amid the corpses, through the arms and the black blood. Nay, nor did Hector suffer the lordly Trojans to sleep, but he called together all the noblest, as many as were leaders and rulers of the Trojans; and when he had called them together he contrived a cunning plan, and said:Who is there now that would promise me this deed and bring it to pass for a great gift? Verily his reward shall be sure.
ὣς ἔφαν εὐχόμενοι, τῶν δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἠρήσαντο Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν ὥς τε λέοντε δύω διὰ νύκτα μέλαινανἂμ φόνον, ἂν νέκυας, διά τʼ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα.οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ Τρῶας ἀγήνορας εἴασεν Ἕκτωρεὕδειν, ἀλλʼ ἄμυδις κικλήσκετο πάντας ἀρίστους,ὅσσοι ἔσαν Τρώων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες·τοὺς ὅ γε συγκαλέσας πυκινὴν ἀρτύνετο βουλήν·τίς κέν μοι τόδε ἔργον ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειεδώρῳ ἔπι μεγάλῳ; μισθὸς δέ οἱ ἄρκιος ἔσται.
For I will give him a chariot and two horses with high arched necks, even those that be the best at the swift ships of the Achaeans, to the man whosoever will dare—and for himself win glory withal— to go close to the swift-faring ships, and spy out whether the swift ships be guarded as of old, or whether by now our foes, subdued beneath our hands, are planning flight among themselves and have no mind to watch the night through, being fordone with dread weariness.So spake he and they all became hushed in silence. Now there was among the Trojans one Dolon, the son of Eumedes the godlike herald, a man rich in gold, rich in bronze, that was ill-favoured to look upon, but withal swift of foot; and he was the only brother among five sisters. He then spake a word to the Trojans and to Hector:Hector, my heart and proud spirit urge me to go close to the swift-faring ships and spy out all. But come, I pray thee, lift up thy staff and swear to me that verily thou wilt give me the horses and the chariot, richly dight with bronze, even them that bear the peerless son of Peleus. And to thee shall I prove no vain scout, neither one to deceive thy hopes.
δώσω γὰρ δίφρόν τε δύω τʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππουςοἵ κεν ἄριστοι ἔωσι θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶνὅς τίς κε τλαίη, οἷ τʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἄροιτο,νηῶν ὠκυπόρων σχεδὸν ἐλθέμεν, ἔκ τε πυθέσθαιἠέ φυλάσσονται νῆες θοαὶ ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,ἦ ἤδη χείρεσσιν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσι δαμέντεςφύξιν βουλεύουσι μετὰ σφίσιν, οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσινύκτα φυλασσέμεναι, καμάτῳ ἀδηκότες αἰνῷ.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.ἦν δέ τις ἐν Τρώεσσι Δόλων Εὐμήδεος υἱὸςκήρυκος θείοιο πολύχρυσος πολύχαλκος,ὃς δή τοι εἶδος μὲν ἔην κακός, ἀλλὰ ποδώκης·αὐτὰρ ὃ μοῦνος ἔην μετὰ πέντε κασιγνήτῃσιν.ὅς ῥα τότε Τρωσίν τε καὶ Ἕκτορι μῦθον ἔειπεν·Ἕκτορ ἔμʼ ὀτρύνει κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρνηῶν ὠκυπόρων σχεδὸν ἐλθέμεν ἔκ τε πυθέσθαι.ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τὸ σκῆπτρον ἀνάσχεο, καί μοι ὄμοσσονἦ μὲν τοὺς ἵππους τε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλα χαλκῷδωσέμεν, οἳ φορέουσιν ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα,σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ οὐχ ἅλιος σκοπὸς ἔσσομαι οὐδʼ ἀπὸ δόξης·
For I will go straight on to the camp, even until I come to the ship of Agamemnon, where, I ween, the chieftains will be holding council, whether to flee or to fight.So spake he, and Hector took the staff in his hands, and sware to him, saying:Now be my witness Zeus himself, the loud-thundering lord of Hera, that on those horses no other man of the Trojans shall mount, but it is thou, I declare, that shalt have glory in them continually.So spake he, and swore thereto an idle oath, and stirred the heart of Dolon. Forthwith then he cast about his shoulders his curved bow, and thereover clad him in the skin of a grey wolf, and on his head he set a cap of ferret skin, and grasped a sharp javelin, and went his way toward the ships from the host; howbeit he was not to return again from the ships, and bear tidings to Hector. But when he had left the throng of horses and of men, he went forth eagerly on the way, and Odysseus, sprung from Zeus, was ware of him as he drew nigh, and spake to Diomedes:Yonder, Diomedes, cometh some man from the camp, I know not whether as a spy upon our ships, or with intent to strip one or another of the corpses of the dead. But let us suffer him at the first to pass by us on the plain a little way, and thereafter let us rush forth upon him and seize him speedily; and if so be he outrun us twain by speed of foot ever do thou hem him in toward the ships away from the host, darting after him with thy spear, lest in any wise he escape toward the city.So saying the twain laid them down among the dead apart from the path, but he ran quickly past them in his witlessness. But when he was as far off as is the range of mules in ploughing—for they are better than oxen to draw through deep fallow land the jointed plough—then the two ran after him, and he stood still when he heard the sound, for in his heart he supposed that they were friends coming from amid the Trojans to turn him back, and that Hector was withdrawing the host. But when they were a spear-cast off or even less, he knew them for foemen and plied his limbs swiftly in flight, and they speedily set out in pursuit.
τόφρα γὰρ ἐς στρατὸν εἶμι διαμπερὲς ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκωμαινῆʼ Ἀγαμεμνονέην, ὅθι που μέλλουσιν ἄριστοιβουλὰς βουλεύειν ἢ φευγέμεν ἠὲ μάχεσθαι.ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐν χερσὶ σκῆπτρον λάβε καί οἱ ὄμοσσεν·ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρηςμὴ μὲν τοῖς ἵπποισιν ἀνὴρ ἐποχήσεται ἄλλοςΤρώων, ἀλλά σέ φημι διαμπερὲς ἀγλαϊεῖσθαι.ὣς φάτο καί ῥʼ ἐπίορκον ἐπώμοσε, τὸν δʼ ὀρόθυνεν·αὐτίκα δʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἐβάλλετο καμπύλα τόξα,ἕσσατο δʼ ἔκτοσθεν ῥινὸν πολιοῖο λύκοιο,κρατὶ δʼ ἐπὶ κτιδέην κυνέην, ἕλε δʼ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα,βῆ δʼ ἰέναι προτὶ νῆας ἀπὸ στρατοῦ· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλενἐλθὼν ἐκ νηῶν ἂψ Ἕκτορι μῦθον ἀποίσειν.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν κάλλιφʼ ὅμιλον,βῆ ῥʼ ἀνʼ ὁδὸν μεμαώς· τὸν δὲ φράσατο προσιόνταδιογενὴς Ὀδυσεύς, Διομήδεα δὲ προσέειπεν·οὗτός τις Διόμηδες ἀπὸ στρατοῦ ἔρχεται ἀνήρ,οὐκ οἶδʼ ἢ νήεσσιν ἐπίσκοπος ἡμετέρῃσιν,ἦ τινα συλήσων νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.ἀλλʼ ἐῶμέν μιν πρῶτα παρεξελθεῖν πεδίοιοτυτθόν· ἔπειτα δέ κʼ αὐτὸν ἐπαΐξαντες ἕλοιμενκαρπαλίμως· εἰ δʼ ἄμμε παραφθαίησι πόδεσσιν,αἰεί μιν ἐπὶ νῆας ἀπὸ στρατόφι προτιειλεῖνἔγχει ἐπαΐσσων, μή πως προτὶ ἄστυ ἀλύξῃ.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντε παρὲξ ὁδοῦ ἐν νεκύεσσικλινθήτην· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ὦκα παρέδραμεν ἀφραδίῃσιν.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἀπέην ὅσσόν τʼ ἐπὶ οὖρα πέλονταιἡμιόνων· αἱ γάρ τε βοῶν προφερέστεραί εἰσινἑλκέμεναι νειοῖο βαθείης πηκτὸν ἄροτρον·τὼ μὲν ἐπεδραμέτην, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔστη δοῦπον ἀκούσας.ἔλπετο γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀποστρέψοντας ἑταίρουςἐκ Τρώων ἰέναι πάλιν Ἕκτορος ὀτρύναντος.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἄπεσαν δουρηνεκὲς ἢ καὶ ἔλασσον,γνῶ ῥʼ ἄνδρας δηΐους, λαιψηρὰ δὲ γούνατʼ ἐνώμαφευγέμεναι· τοὶ δʼ αἶψα διώκειν ὁρμήθησαν.
And as when two sharp-fanged hounds,—skilled in the hunt, press hard on a doe or a hare in a wooded place, and it ever runneth screaming before them; even so did the son of Tydeus, and Odysseus, sacker of cities, cut Dolon off from the host and ever pursue hard after him.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε καρχαρόδοντε δύω κύνε εἰδότε θήρηςἢ κεμάδʼ ἠὲ λαγωὸν ἐπείγετον ἐμμενὲς αἰεὶχῶρον ἀνʼ ὑλήενθʼ, ὃ δέ τε προθέῃσι μεμηκώς,ὣς τὸν Τυδεΐδης ἠδʼ ὃ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺςλαοῦ ἀποτμήξαντε διώκετον ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.
But when he was now about to come among the sentinels, as he fled towards the ships, then verily Athene put strength into Tydeus' son, that no man among the brazen-coated Achaeans might before him boast to have dealt the blow, and he come too late. And mighty Diomedes rushed upon him with his spear, and called:
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλε μιγήσεσθαι φυλάκεσσιφεύγων ἐς νῆας, τότε δὴ μένος ἔμβαλʼ ἈθήνηΤυδεΐδῃ, ἵνα μή τις Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνωνφθαίη ἐπευξάμενος βαλέειν, ὃ δὲ δεύτερος ἔλθοι.δουρὶ δʼ ἐπαΐσσων προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·
Stand, or I shall reach thee with the spear, and I deem thou shalt not long escape sheer destruction at my hand.He spake, and hurled his spear, but of purpose he missed the man, and over his right shoulder passed the point of the polished spear, and fixed itself in the ground; and Dolon stood still, seized with terror, stammering and pale with fear, and the teeth clattered in his mouth; and the twain panting for breath came upon him, and seized his hands; and he with a burst of tears spake to them, saying:Take me alive, and I will ransom myself; for at home have I store of bronze and gold and iron, wrought with toil; thereof would my father grant you ransom past counting, should he hear that I am alive at the ships of the Achaeans.Then in answer to him spake Odysseus of many wiles:Be of good cheer, and let not death be in thy thoughts. But come, tell me this, and declare it truly.
ἠὲ μένʼ ἠέ σε δουρὶ κιχήσομαι, οὐδέ σέ φημιδηρὸν ἐμῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἀλύξειν αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.ἦ ῥα καὶ ἔγχος ἀφῆκεν, ἑκὼν δʼ ἡμάρτανε φωτός·δεξιτερὸν δʼ ὑπὲρ ὦμον ἐΰξου δουρὸς ἀκωκὴἐν γαίῃ ἐπάγη· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔστη τάρβησέν τεβαμβαίνων· ἄραβος δὲ διὰ στόμα γίγνετʼ ὀδόντων·χλωρὸς ὑπαὶ δείους· τὼ δʼ ἀσθμαίνοντε κιχήτην,χειρῶν δʼ ἁψάσθην· ὃ δὲ δακρύσας ἔπος ηὔδα·ζωγρεῖτʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐμὲ λύσομαι· ἔστι γὰρ ἔνδονχαλκός τε χρυσός τε πολύκμητός τε σίδηρος,τῶν κʼ ὔμμιν χαρίσαιτο πατὴρ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποιναεἴ κεν ἐμὲ ζωὸν πεπύθοιτʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·θάρσει, μηδέ τί τοι θάνατος καταθύμιος ἔστω.ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
Whither dost thou fare thus alone to the ships from the host in the darkness of night, when other mortals are sleeping? Is it with intent to strip one or another of the corpses of the dead? Did Hector send thee forth to the hollow ships to spy out all, or did thine own heart bid thee?
πῇ δὴ οὕτως ἐπὶ νῆας ἀπὸ στρατοῦ ἔρχεαι οἶοςνύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην, ὅτε θʼ εὕδουσι βροτοὶ ἄλλοι;ἤ τινα συλήσων νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων;ἦ σʼ Ἕκτωρ προέηκε διασκοπιᾶσθαι ἕκαστανῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς; ἦ σʼ αὐτὸν θυμὸς ἀνῆκε;
To him then Dolon made answer, and his limbs trembled beneath him:With many infatuate hopes did Hector lead my wits astray, who pledged him to give me the single-hooved horses of the lordly son of Peleus, and his chariot richly dight with bronze; and he bade me go through the swift, black night close to the foemen, and spy out whether the swift ships be guarded as of old, or whether by now our foes, subdued beneath our hands, are planning flight among themselves, and have no mind to watch the night through, being fordone with dread weariness.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Δόλων, ὑπὸ δʼ ἔτρεμε γυῖα·πολλῇσίν μʼ ἄτῃσι παρὲκ νόον ἤγαγεν Ἕκτωρ,ὅς μοι Πηλεΐωνος ἀγαυοῦ μώνυχας ἵππουςδωσέμεναι κατένευσε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλα χαλκῷ,ἠνώγει δέ μʼ ἰόντα θοὴν διὰ νύκτα μέλαινανἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων σχεδὸν ἐλθέμεν, ἔκ τε πυθέσθαιἠὲ φυλάσσονται νῆες θοαὶ ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,ἦ ἤδη χείρεσσιν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσι δαμέντεςφύξιν βουλεύουσι μετὰ σφίσιν, οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσινύκτα φυλασσέμεναι, καμάτῳ ἀδηκότες αἰνῷ.
Then smiling upon him Odysseus of many wiles made answer:Verily now on great rewards was thy heart set, even the horses of the wise-hearted son of Aeacus, but hard are they for mortal men to master or to drive, save only for Achilles whom an immortal mother bare.
τὸν δʼ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·ἦ ῥά νύ τοι μεγάλων δώρων ἐπεμαίετο θυμὸςἵππων Αἰακίδαο δαΐφρονος· οἳ δʼ ἀλεγεινοὶἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι δαμήμεναι ἠδʼ ὀχέεσθαιἄλλῳ γʼ ἢ Ἀχιλῆϊ, τὸν ἀθανάτη τέκε μήτηρ.
But come tell me this, and declare it truly: where now, as thou camest hither, didst thou leave Hector, shepherd of the host? Where lies his battle-gear, and where his horses? And how are disposed the watches and the sleeping-places of the other Trojans? And what counsel devise they among themselves?—to abide where they be by the ships afar, or to withdraw again to the city, seeing they have worsted the Achaeans?Then made answer to him Dolon, son of Eumedes:Verily now will I frankly tell thee all. Hector with all them that are counsellors is holding council by the tomb of godlike Ilus, away from the turmoil; but as touching the guards whereof thou askest, O warrior, no special guard keepeth or watcheth the host. By all the watch-fires of the Trojans verily, they that needs must, lie awake and bid one another keep watch, but the allies, summoned from many lands, are sleeping; for to the Trojans they leave it to keep watch, seeing their own children abide not nigh, neither their wives.Then in answer to him spake Odysseus of many wiles:How is it now, do they sleep mingled with the horse-taming Trojans, or apart? tell me at large that I may know.Then made answer to him Dolon, son of Eumedes:Verily now this likewise will I frankly tell thee. Towards the sea lie the Carians and the Paeonians, with curved bows, and the Leleges and Caucones, and the goodly Pelasgi. And towards Thymbre fell the lot of the Lycians and the lordly Mysians, and the Phrygians that fight from chariots and the Maeonians, lords of chariots. But why is it that ye question me closely regarding all these things? For if ye are fain to enter the throng of the Trojans, lo, here apart be the Thracians, new comers, the outermost of all, and among them their king Rhesus, son of Eïoneus. His be verily the fairest horses that ever I saw, and the greatest, whiter than snow, and in speed like the winds. And his chariot is cunningly wrought with gold and silver, and armour of gold brought he with him, huge of size, a wonder to behold. Such armour it beseemeth not that mortal men should wear, but immortal gods. But bring ye me now to the swift-faring ships, or bind me with a cruel bond and leave me here, that ye may go and make trial of me, whether or no I have spoken to you according to right.Then with an angry glance from beneath his brows, spake to him mighty Diomedes:Nay, I bid thee, Dolon, put no thought of escape in thy heart, even though thou hast brought good tidings, seeing thou hast come into our hands. For if so be we release thee now or let thee go,
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·ποῦ νῦν δεῦρο κιὼν λίπες Ἕκτορα ποιμένα λαῶν;ποῦ δέ οἱ ἔντεα κεῖται ἀρήϊα, ποῦ δέ οἱ ἵπποι;πῶς δαὶ τῶν ἄλλων Τρώων φυλακαί τε καὶ εὐναί;ἅσσά τε μητιόωσι μετὰ σφίσιν, ἢ μεμάασιναὖθι μένειν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀπόπροθεν, ἦε πόλιν δὲἂψ ἀναχωρήσουσιν, ἐπεὶ δαμάσαντό γʼ Ἀχαιούς.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Δόλων Εὐμήδεος υἱός·τοὶ γὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω.Ἕκτωρ μὲν μετὰ τοῖσιν, ὅσοι βουληφόροι εἰσί,βουλὰς βουλεύει θείου παρὰ σήματι Ἴλουνόσφιν ἀπὸ φλοίσβου· φυλακὰς δʼ ἃς εἴρεαι ἥρωςοὔ τις κεκριμένη ῥύεται στρατὸν οὐδὲ φυλάσσει.ὅσσαι μὲν Τρώων πυρὸς ἐσχάραι, οἷσιν ἀνάγκηοἷ δʼ ἐγρηγόρθασι φυλασσέμεναί τε κέλονταιἀλλήλοις· ἀτὰρ αὖτε πολύκλητοι ἐπίκουροιεὕδουσι· Τρωσὶν γὰρ ἐπιτραπέουσι φυλάσσειν·οὐ γάρ σφιν παῖδες σχεδὸν εἵαται οὐδὲ γυναῖκες.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·πῶς γὰρ νῦν Τρώεσσι μεμιγμένοι ἱπποδάμοισινεὕδουσʼ ἦ ἀπάνευθε; δίειπέ μοι ὄφρα δαείω.τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Δόλων Εὐμήδεος υἱός·τοὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ ταῦτα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω.πρὸς μὲν ἁλὸς Κᾶρες καὶ Παίονες ἀγκυλότοξοικαὶ Λέλεγες καὶ Καύκωνες δῖοί τε Πελασγοί,πρὸς Θύμβρης δʼ ἔλαχον Λύκιοι Μυσοί τʼ ἀγέρωχοικαὶ Φρύγες ἱππόμαχοι καὶ Μῄονες ἱπποκορυσταί.ἀλλὰ τί ἢ ἐμὲ ταῦτα διεξερέεσθε ἕκαστα;εἰ γὰρ δὴ μέματον Τρώων καταδῦναι ὅμιλονΘρήϊκες οἷδʼ ἀπάνευθε νεήλυδες ἔσχατοι ἄλλων·ἐν δέ σφιν Ῥῆσος βασιλεὺς πάϊς Ἠϊονῆος.τοῦ δὴ καλλίστους ἵππους ἴδον ἠδὲ μεγίστους·λευκότεροι χιόνος, θείειν δʼ ἀνέμοισιν ὁμοῖοι·ἅρμα δέ οἱ χρυσῷ τε καὶ ἀργύρῳ εὖ ἤσκηται·τεύχεα δὲ χρύσεια πελώρια θαῦμα ἰδέσθαιἤλυθʼ ἔχων· τὰ μὲν οὔ τι καταθνητοῖσιν ἔοικενἄνδρεσσιν φορέειν, ἀλλʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν νῦν νηυσὶ πελάσσετον ὠκυπόροισιν,ἠέ με δήσαντες λίπετʼ αὐτόθι νηλέϊ δεσμῷ,ὄφρά κεν ἔλθητον καὶ πειρηθῆτον ἐμεῖοἠὲ κατʼ αἶσαν ἔειπον ἐν ὑμῖν, ἦε καὶ οὐκί.τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·μὴ δή μοι φύξίν γε Δόλων ἐμβάλλεο θυμῷ·ἐσθλά περ ἀγγείλας, ἐπεὶ ἵκεο χεῖρας ἐς ἁμάς.εἰ μὲν γάρ κέ σε νῦν ἀπολύσομεν ἠὲ μεθῶμεν,
yet even hereafter wilt thou come to the swift ships of the Achaeans, either to spy upon us, or to fight in open combat; but if, subdued beneath my hands, thou lose thy life, never again wilt thou prove a bane to the Argives.He spake, and the other was at point to touch his chin with his stout hand and make entreaty, but Diomedes sprang upon him with his sword and smote him full upon the neck, and shore off both the sinews, and even while he was yet speaking his head was mingled with the dust. Then from him they stripped the cap of ferret skin from off his head, and the wolf's hide, and the back-bent bow and the long spear, and these things did goodly Odysseus hold aloft in his hand to Athene, the driver of the spoil, and he made prayer, and spake, saying:Rejoice, goddess, in these, for on thee, first of all the immortals in Olympus, will we call; but send thou us on against the horses and the sleeping-places of the Thracian warriors.
ἦ τε καὶ ὕστερον εἶσθα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶνἠὲ διοπτεύσων ἢ ἐναντίβιον πολεμίξων·εἰ δέ κʼ ἐμῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶ δαμεὶς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσῃς,οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα σὺ πῆμά ποτʼ ἔσσεαι Ἀργείοισιν.ἦ, καὶ ὃ μέν μιν ἔμελλε γενείου χειρὶ παχείῃἁψάμενος λίσσεσθαι, ὃ δʼ αὐχένα μέσσον ἔλασσεφασγάνῳ ἀΐξας, ἀπὸ δʼ ἄμφω κέρσε τένοντε·φθεγγομένου δʼ ἄρα τοῦ γε κάρη κονίῃσιν ἐμίχθη.τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν κτιδέην κυνέην κεφαλῆφιν ἕλοντοκαὶ λυκέην καὶ τόξα παλίντονα καὶ δόρυ μακρόν·καὶ τά γʼ Ἀθηναίῃ ληΐτιδι δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺςὑψόσʼ ἀνέσχεθε χειρὶ καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·χαῖρε θεὰ τοῖσδεσσι· σὲ γὰρ πρώτην ἐν Ὀλύμπῳπάντων ἀθανάτων ἐπιδωσόμεθʼ· ἀλλὰ καὶ αὖτιςπέμψον ἐπὶ Θρῃκῶν ἀνδρῶν ἵππους τε καὶ εὐνάς.
So spake he, and lifted from him the spoils on high, and set them on a tamarisk bush, and set thereby a mark plain to see, gathering handfuls of reeds and luxuriant branches of tamarisk, lest they two might miss the place as they came back through the swift, black night. But the twain went forward through the arms and the black blood, and swiftly came in their course to the company of the Thracian warriors. Now these were slumbering, foredone with weariness, and their goodly battle-gear lay by them on the ground, all in due order, in three rows, and hard by each man was his yoke of horses. But Rhesus slept in the midst, and hard by him his swift horses were tethered by the reins to the topmost rim of the chariot. Him Odysseus was first to espy, and shewed him to Diomedes:Lo, here, Diomedes, is the man, and here are the horses whereof Dolon, that we slew, told us. But come now, put forth mighty strength; it beseemeth thee not at all to stand idle with thy weapons; nay, loose the horses; or do thou slay the men, and I will look to the horses.So spake he, and into the other's heart flashing-eyed Athene breathed might, and he fell to slaving on this side and on that, and from them uprose hideous groaning as they were smitten with the sword, and the earth grew red with blood.
ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, καὶ ἀπὸ ἕθεν ὑψόσʼ ἀείραςθῆκεν ἀνὰ μυρίκην· δέελον δʼ ἐπὶ σῆμά τʼ ἔθηκεσυμμάρψας δόνακας μυρίκης τʼ ἐριθηλέας ὄζους,μὴ λάθοι αὖτις ἰόντε θοὴν διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν.τὼ δὲ βάτην προτέρω διά τʼ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα,αἶψα δʼ ἐπὶ Θρῃκῶν ἀνδρῶν τέλος ἷξον ἰόντες.οἳ δʼ εὗδον καμάτῳ ἀδηκότες, ἔντεα δέ σφινκαλὰ παρʼ αὐτοῖσι χθονὶ κέκλιτο εὖ κατὰ κόσμοντριστοιχί· παρὰ δέ σφιν ἑκάστῳ δίζυγες ἵπποι.Ῥῆσος δʼ ἐν μέσῳ εὗδε, παρʼ αὐτῷ δʼ ὠκέες ἵπποιἐξ ἐπιδιφριάδος πυμάτης ἱμᾶσι δέδεντο.τὸν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς προπάροιθεν ἰδὼν Διομήδεϊ δεῖξεν·οὗτός τοι Διόμηδες ἀνήρ, οὗτοι δέ τοι ἵπποι,οὓς νῶϊν πίφαυσκε Δόλων ὃν ἐπέφνομεν ἡμεῖς.ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ πρόφερε κρατερὸν μένος· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴἑστάμεναι μέλεον σὺν τεύχεσιν, ἀλλὰ λύʼ ἵππους·ἠὲ σύ γʼ ἄνδρας ἔναιρε, μελήσουσιν δʼ ἐμοὶ ἵπποι.ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἔμπνευσε μένος γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,κτεῖνε δʼ ἐπιστροφάδην· τῶν δὲ στόνος ὄρνυτʼ ἀεικὴςἄορι θεινομένων, ἐρυθαίνετο δʼ αἵματι γαῖα.
And even as a lion cometh on flocks unshepherded, on goats or on sheep, and leapeth upon them with fell intent, so up and down amid the Thracian warriors went the son of Tydeus until he had slain twelve. But whomsoever the son of Tydeus drew nigh and smote with the sword, him would Odysseus of the many wiles seize by the foot from behind and drag aside, with this thought in mind, that the fair-maned horses might easily pass through and not be affrighted at heart as they trod over dead men; for they were as yet unused thereto. But when the son of Tydeus came to the king, him the thirteenth he robbed of honey-sweet life, as he breathed hard, for like to an evil dream there stood above his head that night the son of Oeneus' son, by the devise of Athene. Meanwhile steadfast Odysseus loosed the single-hooved horses and bound them together with the reins, and drave them forth from the throng, smiting them with his bow, for he had not thought to take in his hands the bright whip from the richly dight car; and he whistled to give a sign to goodly Diomedes. But he tarried and pondered what most reckless deed he might do, whether to take the chariot, where lay the war-gear richly dight, and draw it out by the pole, or lift it on high and so bear it forth, or whether he should rather take the lives of yet more Thracians. The while he was pondering this in heart, even then Athene drew nigh and spake to goodly Diomedes:Bethink thee now of returning, son of great-souled Tydeus, to the hollow ships, lest thou go thither in full flight, and haply some other god rouse up the Trojans.So spake she, and he knew the voice of the goddess as she spoke, and swiftly mounted the horses; and Odysseus smote them with his bow, and they sped toward the swift ships of the Achaeans.
ὡς δὲ λέων μήλοισιν ἀσημάντοισιν ἐπελθὼναἴγεσιν ἢ ὀΐεσσι κακὰ φρονέων ἐνορούσῃ,ὣς μὲν Θρήϊκας ἄνδρας ἐπῴχετο Τυδέος υἱὸςὄφρα δυώδεκʼ ἔπεφνεν· ἀτὰρ πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεὺςὅν τινα Τυδεΐδης ἄορι πλήξειε παραστὰςτὸν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μετόπισθε λαβὼν ποδὸς ἐξερύσασκε,τὰ φρονέων κατὰ θυμὸν ὅπως καλλίτριχες ἵπποιῥεῖα διέλθοιεν μηδὲ τρομεοίατο θυμῷνεκροῖς ἀμβαίνοντες· ἀήθεσσον γὰρ ἔτʼ αὐτῶν.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ βασιλῆα κιχήσατο Τυδέος υἱός,τὸν τρισκαιδέκατον μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἀπηύραἀσθμαίνοντα· κακὸν γὰρ ὄναρ κεφαλῆφιν ἐπέστητὴν νύκτʼ Οἰνεΐδαο πάϊς διὰ μῆτιν Ἀθήνης.τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ ὃ τλήμων Ὀδυσεὺς λύε μώνυχας ἵππους,σὺν δʼ ἤειρεν ἱμᾶσι καὶ ἐξήλαυνεν ὁμίλουτόξῳ ἐπιπλήσσων, ἐπεὶ οὐ μάστιγα φαεινὴνποικίλου ἐκ δίφροιο νοήσατο χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι·ῥοίζησεν δʼ ἄρα πιφαύσκων Διομήδεϊ δίῳ.αὐτὰρ ὃ μερμήριζε μένων ὅ τι κύντατον ἕρδοι,ἢ ὅ γε δίφρον ἑλών, ὅθι ποικίλα τεύχεʼ ἔκειτο,ῥυμοῦ ἐξερύοι ἢ ἐκφέροι ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας,ἦ ἔτι τῶν πλεόνων Θρῃκῶν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο.εἷος ὃ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα, τόφρα δʼ Ἀθήνηἐγγύθεν ἱσταμένη προσέφη Διομήδεα δῖον·νόστου δὴ μνῆσαι μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὲνῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς, μὴ καὶ πεφοβημένος ἔλθῃς,μή πού τις καὶ Τρῶας ἐγείρῃσιν θεὸς ἄλλος.ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ ξυνέηκε θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης,καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵππων ἐπεβήσετο· κόψε δʼ Ὀδυσσεὺςτόξῳ· τοὶ δʼ ἐπέτοντο θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.
But no blind watch did Apollo of the silver bow keep when he saw Athene attending the son of Tydeus; in wrath against her he entered the great throng of the Trojans, and aroused a counsellor of the Thracians, Hippocoön, the noble kinsman of Rhesus. And he leapt up out of sleep, and when he saw the place empty where the swift horses had stood, and the men gasping amid gruesome streams of blood, then he uttered a groan, and called by name upon his dear comrade. And from the Trojans arose a clamour and confusion unspeakable as they hasted together; and they gazed upon the terrible deeds, even all that the warriors had wrought and thereafter gone to the hollow ships. But when these were now come to the place where they had slain the spy of Hector, then Odysseus, dear to Zeus, stayed the swift horses, and the son of Tydeus leaping to the ground placed the bloody spoils in the hands of Odysseus, and again mounted;
οὐδʼ ἀλαοσκοπιὴν εἶχʼ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλωνὡς ἴδʼ Ἀθηναίην μετὰ Τυδέος υἱὸν ἕπουσαν·τῇ κοτέων Τρώων κατεδύσετο πουλὺν ὅμιλον,ὦρσεν δὲ Θρῃκῶν βουληφόρον ἹπποκόωνταῬήσου ἀνεψιὸν ἐσθλόν· ὃ δʼ ἐξ ὕπνου ἀνορούσαςὡς ἴδε χῶρον ἐρῆμον, ὅθʼ ἕστασαν ὠκέες ἵπποι,ἄνδράς τʼ ἀσπαίροντας ἐν ἀργαλέῃσι φονῇσιν,ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα φίλον τʼ ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον.Τρώων δὲ κλαγγή τε καὶ ἄσπετος ὦρτο κυδοιμὸςθυνόντων ἄμυδις· θηεῦντο δὲ μέρμερα ἔργαὅσσʼ ἄνδρες ῥέξαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.οἳ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι σκοπὸν Ἕκτορος ἔκταν,ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μὲν ἔρυξε Διῒ φίλος ὠκέας ἵππους,Τυδεΐδης δὲ χαμᾶζε θορὼν ἔναρα βροτόενταἐν χείρεσσʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ τίθει, ἐπεβήσετο δʼ ἵππων·
and he touched the horses with the lash, and nothing loath the pair sped on to the hollow ships, for there were they fain to be. And Nestor was first to hear the sound, and he spake, saying:My frieads, leaders and rulers of the Argives, shall I be wrong, or speak the truth? Nay, my heart bids me speak.
μάστιξεν δʼ ἵππους, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθηννῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· τῇ γὰρ φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ.Νέστωρ δὲ πρῶτος κτύπον ἄϊε φώνησέν τε·ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντεςψεύσομαι, ἦ ἔτυμον ἐρέω; κέλεται δέ με θυμός.
The sound of swift-footed horses strikes upon mine ears. I would that Odysseus and the valiant Diomedes may even thus speedily have driven forth from among the Trojans single-hooved horses; but wondrously do I fear at heart lest those bravest of the Argives have suffered some ill through the battle din of the Trojans.
ἵππων μʼ ὠκυπόδων ἀμφὶ κτύπος οὔατα βάλλει.αἲ γὰρ δὴ Ὀδυσεύς τε καὶ ὃ κρατερὸς Διομήδηςὧδʼ ἄφαρ ἐκ Τρώων ἐλασαίατο μώνυχας ἵππους·ἀλλʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα μή τι πάθωσινἈργείων οἳ ἄριστοι ὑπὸ Τρώων ὀρυμαγδοῦ.
Not yet was the word fully uttered, when they came themselves. Down they leapt to earth, and the others were seized with joy and welcomed them with hand-clasps and with gentle words. And the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia, was first to question them:Come tell me now, Odysseus, greatly to be praised, great glory of the Achaeans, how ye twain took these horses. Was it by entering the throng of the Trojans? Or did some god that met you give you them? Wondrous like are they to rays of the sun. Ever do I mingle in battle with the Trojans and nowise methinks do I tarry by the ships, old warrior though I be;
οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρητο ἔπος ὅτʼ ἄρʼ ἤλυθον αὐτοί.καί ῥʼ οἳ μὲν κατέβησαν ἐπὶ χθόνα, τοὶ δὲ χαρέντεςδεξιῇ ἠσπάζοντο ἔπεσσί τε μειλιχίοισι·πρῶτος δʼ ἐξερέεινε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·εἴπʼ ἄγε μʼ ὦ πολύαινʼ Ὀδυσεῦ μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶνὅππως τοῦσδʼ ἵππους λάβετον καταδύντες ὅμιλονΤρώων, ἦ τίς σφωε πόρεν θεὸς ἀντιβολήσας.αἰνῶς ἀκτίνεσσιν ἐοικότες ἠελίοιο.αἰεὶ μὲν Τρώεσσʼ ἐπιμίσγομαι, οὐδέ τί φημιμιμνάζειν παρὰ νηυσὶ γέρων περ ἐὼν πολεμιστής·
howbeit never yet saw I such horses neither thought of such. Nay, methinks some god hath met you and given you them; for both of you twain doth Zeus the cloud-gatherer love and the daughter of Zeus that beareth the aegis, even flashing-eyed Athene.Then in answer spake unto him Odysseus of many wiles:
ἀλλʼ οὔ πω τοίους ἵππους ἴδον οὐδὲ νόησα.ἀλλά τινʼ ὔμμʼ ὀΐω δόμεναι θεὸν ἀντιάσαντα·ἀμφοτέρω γὰρ σφῶϊ φιλεῖ νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺςκούρη τʼ αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans, easily might a god that willed it bestow even better horses than these, for the gods are mightier far. But these horses, old sir, whereof thou askest, are newly come from Thrace, and their lord did brave Diomedes slay, and beside him twelve of his comrades, all them that were the best. And for the thirteenth we slew a scout near the ships, one that Hector and the other lordly Trojans had sent forth to spy upon our camp.So spake he, and drave the single-hooved horses through the trench, exultingly, and with him went joyously the rest of the Achaeans. But when they were come to the well-builded hut of the son of Tydeus, the horses they bound with shapely thongs at the manger where stood the swift-footed horses of Diomedes, eating honey-sweet corn.
ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶνῥεῖα θεός γʼ ἐθέλων καὶ ἀμείνονας ἠέ περ οἵδεἵππους δωρήσαιτʼ, ἐπεὶ ἢ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσιν.ἵπποι δʼ οἵδε γεραιὲ νεήλυδες οὓς ἐρεείνειςΘρηΐκιοι· τὸν δέ σφιν ἄνακτʼ ἀγαθὸς Διομήδηςἔκτανε, πὰρ δʼ ἑτάρους δυοκαίδεκα πάντας ἀρίστους.τὸν τρισκαιδέκατον σκοπὸν εἵλομεν ἐγγύθι νηῶν,τόν ῥα διοπτῆρα στρατοῦ ἔμμεναι ἡμετέροιοἝκτωρ τε προέηκε καὶ ἄλλοι Τρῶες ἀγαυοί.ὣς εἰπὼν τάφροιο διήλασε μώνυχας ἵππουςκαγχαλόων· ἅμα δʼ ἄλλοι ἴσαν χαίροντες Ἀχαιοί.οἳ δʼ ὅτε Τυδεΐδεω κλισίην εὔτυκτον ἵκοντο,ἵππους μὲν κατέδησαν ἐϋτμήτοισιν ἱμᾶσιφάτνῃ ἐφʼ ἱππείῃ, ὅθι περ Διομήδεος ἵπποιἕστασαν ὠκύποδες μελιηδέα πυρὸν ἔδοντες·
And on the stern of his ship did Odysseus place the bloody spoils of Dolon until they should make ready a sacred offering to Athene. But for themselves they entered the sea and washed away the abundant sweat from shins and necks and thighs. And when the wave of the sea had washed the abundant sweat from their skin, and their hearts were refreshed, they went into polished baths and bathed. But when the twain had bathed and anointed them richly with oil, they sate them down at supper, and from the full mixing-bowl they drew off honey-sweet wine and made libation to Athene.
νηῒ δʼ ἐνὶ πρυμνῇ ἔναρα βροτόεντα Δόλωνοςθῆκʼ Ὀδυσεύς, ὄφρʼ ἱρὸν ἑτοιμασσαίατʼ Ἀθήνῃ.αὐτοὶ δʼ ἱδρῶ πολλὸν ἀπενίζοντο θαλάσσῃἐσβάντες κνήμας τε ἰδὲ λόφον ἀμφί τε μηρούς.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί σφιν κῦμα θαλάσσης ἱδρῶ πολλὸννίψεν ἀπὸ χρωτὸς καὶ ἀνέψυχθεν φίλον ἦτορ,ἔς ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐϋξέστας λούσαντο.τὼ δὲ λοεσσαμένω καὶ ἀλειψαμένω λίπʼ ἐλαίῳδείπνῳ ἐφιζανέτην, ἀπὸ δὲ κρητῆρος Ἀθήνῃπλείου ἀφυσσόμενοι λεῖβον μελιηδέα οἶνον.