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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 ing 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 e 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 his aim on purpose。 The dart
flew over the man's right shoulder； and then stuck in the ground。
He stood stock still； trembling and in great fear； his teeth
chattered； and he turned pale with fear。 The two came breathless
up to him and seized his hands； whereon he began to weep and
said； 〃Take me alive； I will ransom myself； we have great store
of gold； bronze； and wrought iron； and from this my father will
satisfy you with a very large ransom； should he hear of my being
alive at the ships of the Achaeans。〃
〃Fear not；〃 replied Ulysses； 〃let no thought of death be in your
mind； but tell me； and tell me true； why are you thus going about
alone in the dead of night away from your camp and towards the
ships； while other men are sleeping？ Is it to plunder the bodies
of the slain； or did Hector send you to spy out what was going on
at the ships？ Or did you e here of your own mere notion？〃
Dolon answered； his limbs trembling beneath him： 〃Hector； with
his vain flattering promises； lured me from my better judgement。
He said he would give me the horses of the noble son of Peleus
and his bronze…bedizened chariot； he bade me go through the
darkness of the flying night； get close to the enemy； and find
out whether the ships 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。〃
Ulysses smiled at him and answered； 〃You had indeed set your
heart upon a great reward； but the horses of the descendant of
Aeacus are hardly to be kept in hand or driven by any other
mortal man than Achilles himself； whose mother was an immortal。
But tell me； and tell me true； where did you leave Hector when
you started？ Where lies his armour and his horses？ How； too； are
the watches and sleeping…ground of the Trojans ordered？ What are
their plans？ Will they stay here by the ships and away from the
city； or now that they have worsted the Achaeans； will they
retire within their walls？〃
And Dolon answered； 〃I will tell you truly all。 Hector and the
other councillors are now holding conference by the monument of
great Ilus； away from the general tumult； as for the guards about
which you ask me； there is no chosen watch to keep guard over the
host。 The Trojans have their watchfires； for they are bound to
have them； they； therefore； are awake and keep each other to
their duty as sentinels； but the allies who have e from other
places are asleep and leave it to the Trojans to keep guard； for
their wives and children are not here。〃
Ulysses then said； 〃Now tell me； are they sleeping among the
Trojan troops； or do they lie apart？ Explain this that I may
understand it。〃
〃I will tell you truly all；〃 replied Dolon。 〃To the seaward lie
the Carians； the Paeonian bowmen； the Leleges； the Cauconians；
and the noble Pelasgi。 The Lysians and proud Mysians； with the
Phrygians and Meonians； have their place on the side towards
Thymbra； but why ask about an this？ If you want to find your way
into the host of the Trojans； there are the Thracians； who have
lately e here and lie apart from the others at the far end of
the camp； and they have Rhesus son of Eioneus for their king。 His
horses are the finest and strongest that I have ever seen； they
are whiter than snow and fleeter than any wind that blows。 His
chariot is bedight with silver and gold； and he has brought his
marvellous golden armour； of the rarest workmanshiptoo splendid
for any mortal man to carry； and meet only for the gods。 Now；
therefore； take me to the ships or bind me securely here； until
you e back and have proved my words whether they be false or
true。〃
Diomed looked sternly at him and answered； 〃Think not； Dolon； for
all the good information you have given us； that you shall escape
now you are in our hands； for if we ransom you or let you go； you
will e some second time to the ships of the Achaeans either as
a spy or as an open enemy； but if I kill you and an end of you；
you will give no more trouble。〃
On this Dolon would have caught him by the beard to beseech him
further； but Diomed struck him in the middle of his neck with his
sword and cut through both sinews so that his head fell rolling
in the dust while he was yet speaking。 They took the ferret…skin
cap from his head； and also the wolf…skin； the bow； and his long
spear。 Ulysses hung them up aloft in honour of Minerva the
goddess of plunder； and prayed saying； 〃Accept these； goddess；
for we give them to you in preference to all the gods in Olympus：
therefore speed us still further towards the horses and
sleeping…ground of the Thracians。〃
With these words he took the spoils and set them upon a tamarisk
tree； and they marked the place by pulling up reeds and gathering
boughs of tamarisk that they might not miss it as they came back
through the flying hours of darkness。 The two then went onwards
amid the fallen armour and the blood； and came presently to the
pany of Thracian soldiers； who were sleeping； tired out with
their day's toil； their goodly armour was lying on the ground
beside them all orderly in three rows； and each man had his yoke
of horses beside him。 Rhesus was sleeping in the middle； and hard
by him his horses were made fast to the topmost rim of his
chariot。 Ulysses from some way off saw him and said； 〃This；
Diomed； is the man； and these are the horses about which Dolon
whom we killed told us。 Do your very utmost； dally not about your
armour； but loose the horses at onceor else kill the men
yourself； while I see to the horses。〃
Thereon Minerva put courage into the heart of Diomed； and he
smote them right and left。 They made a hideous groaning as they
were being hacked about； and the earth was red with their blood。
As a lion springs f