Iliad

Now the other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly the whole night through, but Agamemnon son of Atreus was troubled, so that he could get no rest. As when fair Hera's lord flashes his lightning in token of great rain or hail or snow when the snow-flakes whiten the ground, or again as a sign that he will open the wide jaws of hungry war, even so did Agamemnon heave many a heavy sigh, for his soul trembled within him. When he looked upon the plain of Troy he marveled at the many watchfires burning in front of Ilion , and at the sound of pipes and flutes and of the hum of men, but when presently he turned towards the ships and hosts of the Achaeans, he tore his hair by handfuls before Zeus on high, and groaned aloud for the very disquietness of his soul. In the end he deemed it best to go at once to Nestor son of Neleus, and see if between them they could find any way of the Achaeans from destruction. He therefore rose, put on his shirt, bound his sandals about his comely feet, flung the skin of a huge tawny lion over his shoulders - a skin that reached his feet- and took his spear in his hand.

ἄλλοι μὲν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν

εὗδον παννύχιοι μαλακῷ δεδμημένοι ὕπνῳ·

ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶν

ὕπνος ἔχε γλυκερὸς πολλὰ φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντα.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀστράπτῃ πόσις Ἥρης ἠϋκόμοιο

τεύχων ἢ πολὺν ὄμβρον ἀθέσφατον ἠὲ χάλαζαν

ἢ νιφετόν, ὅτε πέρ τε χιὼν ἐπάλυνεν ἀρούρας,

ἠέ ποθι πτολέμοιο μέγα στόμα πευκεδανοῖο,

ὣς πυκίνʼ ἐν στήθεσσιν ἀνεστενάχιζʼ Ἀγαμέμνων

νειόθεν ἐκ κραδίης, τρομέοντο δέ οἱ φρένες ἐντός.

ἤτοι ὅτʼ ἐς πεδίον τὸ Τρωϊκὸν ἀθρήσειε,

θαύμαζεν πυρὰ πολλὰ τὰ καίετο Ἰλιόθι πρὸ

αὐλῶν συρίγγων τʼ ἐνοπὴν ὅμαδόν τʼ ἀνθρώπων.

αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ ἐς νῆάς τε ἴδοι καὶ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν,

πολλὰς ἐκ κεφαλῆς προθελύμνους ἕλκετο χαίτας

ὑψόθʼ ἐόντι Διί, μέγα δʼ ἔστενε κυδάλιμον κῆρ.

ἥδε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλὴ

Νέστορʼ ἔπι πρῶτον Νηλήϊον ἐλθέμεν ἀνδρῶν,

εἴ τινά οἱ σὺν μῆτιν ἀμύμονα τεκτήναιτο,

ἥ τις ἀλεξίκακος πᾶσιν Δαναοῖσι γένοιτο.

ὀρθωθεὶς δʼ ἔνδυνε περὶ στήθεσσι χιτῶνα,

ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἔπειτα δαφοινὸν ἑέσσατο δέρμα λέοντος

αἴθωνος μεγάλοιο ποδηνεκές, εἵλετο δʼ ἔγχος.

Neither could Menelaos sleep, for he, too, boded ill for the Argives who for his sake had sailed from far over the seas to fight the Trojans. He covered his broad back with the skin of a spotted panther, put a casque of bronze upon his head, and took his spear in his brawny hand. Then he went to rouse his brother, who was by far the most powerful of the Achaeans, and was honored in his district [ dêmos ] as though he were a god. He found him by the stern of his ship already putting his goodly array about his shoulders, and right glad was he that his brother had come.

ὣς δʼ αὔτως Μενέλαον ἔχε τρόμος· οὐδὲ γὰρ αὐτῷ

ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἐφίζανε· μή τι πάθοιεν

Ἀργεῖοι, τοὶ δὴ ἕθεν εἵνεκα πουλὺν ἐφʼ ὑγρὴν

ἤλυθον ἐς Τροίην πόλεμον θρασὺν ὁρμαίνοντες.

παρδαλέῃ μὲν πρῶτα μετάφρενον εὐρὺ κάλυψε

ποικίλῃ, αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ στεφάνην κεφαλῆφιν ἀείρας

θήκατο χαλκείην, δόρυ δʼ εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ.

βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀνστήσων ὃν ἀδελφεόν, ὃς μέγα πάντων

Ἀργείων ἤνασσε, θεὸς δʼ ὣς τίετο δήμῳ.

Menelaos spoke first. "Why," said he, "my dear brother, are you thus arming? Are you going to send any of our comrades to exploit the Trojans? I greatly fear that no one will do you this service, and spy upon the enemy alone in the dead of night. It will be a deed of great daring."

τὸν δʼ εὗρʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι τιθήμενον ἔντεα καλὰ

νηῒ πάρα πρύμνῃ· τῷ δʼ ἀσπάσιος γένετʼ ἐλθών.

τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·

τίφθʼ οὕτως ἠθεῖε κορύσσεαι; ἦ τινʼ ἑταίρων

ὀτρυνέεις Τρώεσσιν ἐπίσκοπον; ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰνῶς

δείδω μὴ οὔ τίς τοι ὑπόσχηται τόδε ἔργον

ἄνδρας δυσμενέας σκοπιαζέμεν οἶος ἐπελθὼν

νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην· μάλα τις θρασυκάρδιος ἔσται.

And King Agamemnon answered, "Menelaos, we both of us need shrewd counsel to save the Argives and our ships, for Zeus has changed his mind, and inclines towards Hektor's sacrifices rather than ours. I never saw nor heard tell of any man as having wrought such ruin in one day as Hektor has now wrought against the sons of the Achaeans - and that too of his own unaided self, for he is son neither to god nor goddess. The Argives will rue it long and deeply. Run, therefore, with all speed by the line of the ships, and call Ajax and Idomeneus. Meanwhile I will go to Nestor, and bid him rise and go about among the companies of our sentinels to give them their instructions; they will listen to him sooner than to any man, for his own son, and Meriones brother in arms to Idomeneus, are leaders over them. It was to them more particularly that we gave this charge."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·

χρεὼ βουλῆς ἐμὲ καὶ σὲ διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαε

κερδαλέης, ἥ τίς κεν ἐρύσσεται ἠδὲ σαώσει

Ἀργείους καὶ νῆας, ἐπεὶ Διὸς ἐτράπετο φρήν.

Ἑκτορέοις ἄρα μᾶλλον ἐπὶ φρένα θῆχʼ ἱεροῖσιν·

οὐ γάρ πω ἰδόμην, οὐδʼ ἔκλυον αὐδήσαντος

ἄνδρʼ ἕνα τοσσάδε μέρμερʼ ἐπʼ ἤματι μητίσασθαι,

ὅσσʼ Ἕκτωρ ἔρρεξε Διῒ φίλος υἷας Ἀχαιῶν

αὔτως, οὔτε θεᾶς υἱὸς φίλος οὔτε θεοῖο.

ἔργα δʼ ἔρεξʼ ὅσα φημὶ μελησέμεν Ἀργείοισι

δηθά τε καὶ δολιχόν· τόσα γὰρ κακὰ μήσατʼ Ἀχαιούς.

ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν Αἴαντα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα κάλεσσον

ῥίμφα θέων παρὰ νῆας· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπὶ Νέστορα δῖον

εἶμι, καὶ ὀτρυνέω ἀνστήμεναι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν

ἐλθεῖν ἐς φυλάκων ἱερὸν τέλος ἠδʼ ἐπιτεῖλαι.

κείνῳ γάρ κε μάλιστα πιθοίατο· τοῖο γὰρ υἱὸς

σημαίνει φυλάκεσσι καὶ Ἰδομενῆος ὀπάων

Μηριόνης· τοῖσιν γὰρ ἐπετράπομέν γε μάλιστα.

Menelaos replied, "How do I take your meaning? Am I to stay with them and wait your coming, or shall I return here as soon as I have given your orders?" "Wait," answered King Agamemnon, "for there are so many paths about the camp that we might miss one another. Call every man on your way, and bid him be stirring; name him by his lineage and by his father's name, give each all titular observance, and stand not too much upon your own dignity; we must take our full share of toil, for at our birth Zeus laid this heavy burden upon us."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·

πῶς γάρ μοι μύθῳ ἐπιτέλλεαι ἠδὲ κελεύεις;

αὖθι μένω μετὰ τοῖσι δεδεγμένος εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθῃς,

ἦε θέω μετὰ σʼ αὖτις, ἐπὴν εὖ τοῖς ἐπιτείλω;

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,

αὖθι μένειν, μή πως ἀβροτάξομεν ἀλλήλοιιν

ἐρχομένω· πολλαὶ γὰρ ἀνὰ στρατόν εἰσι κέλευθοι.

φθέγγεο δʼ ᾗ κεν ἴῃσθα καὶ ἐγρήγορθαι ἄνωχθι

πατρόθεν ἐκ γενεῆς ὀνομάζων ἄνδρα ἕκαστον

πάντας κυδαίνων· μηδὲ μεγαλίζεο θυμῷ,

ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοί περ πονεώμεθα· ὧδέ που ἄμμι

Ζεὺς ἐπὶ γιγνομένοισιν ἵει κακότητα βαρεῖαν.

With these instructions he sent his brother on his way, and went on to Nestor shepherd of his people. He found him sleeping in his tent hard by his own ship; his goodly armor lay beside him - his shield, his two spears and his helmet; beside him also lay the gleaming belt with which the old man girded himself when he armed to lead his people into battle - for his age stayed him not. He raised himself on his elbow and looked up at Agamemnon. "Who is it," said he, "that goes thus about the host and the ships alone and in the dead of night, when men are sleeping? Are you looking for one of your mules or for some comrade? Do not stand there and say nothing, but speak. What is your business?"

ὣς εἰπὼν ἀπέπεμπεν ἀδελφεὸν εὖ ἐπιτείλας·

αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ ῥʼ ἰέναι μετὰ Νέστορα ποιμένα λαῶν·

τὸν δʼ εὗρεν παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ

εὐνῇ ἔνι μαλακῇ· παρὰ δʼ ἔντεα ποικίλʼ ἔκειτο

ἀσπὶς καὶ δύο δοῦρε φαεινή τε τρυφάλεια.

πὰρ δὲ ζωστὴρ κεῖτο παναίολος, ᾧ ῥʼ ὁ γεραιὸς

ζώννυθʼ ὅτʼ ἐς πόλεμον φθισήνορα θωρήσσοιτο

λαὸν ἄγων, ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ἐπέτρεπε γήραϊ λυγρῷ.

ὀρθωθεὶς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνος κεφαλὴν ἐπαείρας

Ἀτρεΐδην προσέειπε καὶ ἐξερεείνετο μύθῳ·

τίς δʼ οὗτος κατὰ νῆας ἀνὰ στρατὸν ἔρχεαι οἶος

νύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην, ὅτε θʼ εὕδουσι βροτοὶ ἄλλοι,

ἠέ τινʼ οὐρήων διζήμενος, ἤ τινʼ ἑταίρων;

φθέγγεο, μηδʼ ἀκέων ἐπʼ ἔμʼ ἔρχεο· τίπτε δέ σε χρεώ;

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·

And Agamemnon answered, "Nestor, son of Neleus, honor to the Achaean name, it is I, Agamemnon son of Atreus, on whom Zeus has laid labor [ ponoi ] and sorrow so long as there is breath in my body and my limbs carry me. I am thus abroad because sleep sits not upon my eyelids, but my heart is big with war and with the jeopardy of the Achaeans. I am in great fear for the Danaans. I am at sea, and without sure counsel; my heart beats as though it would leap out of my body, and my limbs fail me. If then you can do anything - for you too cannot sleep - let us go the round of the watch, and see whether they are drowsy with toil and sleeping to the neglect of their duty. The enemy is encamped hard and we know not but he may attack us by night."

ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν

γνώσεαι Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα, τὸν περὶ πάντων

Ζεὺς ἐνέηκε πόνοισι διαμπερὲς εἰς ὅ κʼ ἀϋτμὴ

ἐν στήθεσσι μένῃ καί μοι φίλα γούνατʼ ὀρώρῃ.

πλάζομαι ὧδʼ ἐπεὶ οὔ μοι ἐπʼ ὄμμασι νήδυμος ὕπνος

ἱζάνει, ἀλλὰ μέλει πόλεμος καὶ κήδεʼ Ἀχαιῶν.

αἰνῶς γὰρ Δαναῶν περιδείδια, οὐδέ μοι ἦτορ

ἔμπεδον, ἀλλʼ ἀλαλύκτημαι, κραδίη δέ μοι ἔξω

στηθέων ἐκθρῴσκει, τρομέει δʼ ὑπὸ φαίδιμα γυῖα.

ἀλλʼ εἴ τι δραίνεις, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ σέ γʼ ὕπνος ἱκάνει,

δεῦρʼ ἐς τοὺς φύλακας καταβήομεν, ὄφρα ἴδωμεν

μὴ τοὶ μὲν καμάτῳ ἀδηκότες ἠδὲ καὶ ὕπνῳ

κοιμήσωνται, ἀτὰρ φυλακῆς ἐπὶ πάγχυ λάθωνται.

δυσμενέες δʼ ἄνδρες σχεδὸν εἵαται· οὐδέ τι ἴδμεν

μή πως καὶ διὰ νύκτα μενοινήσωσι μάχεσθαι.

Nestor replied, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, Zeus will not do all for Hektor that Hektor thinks he will; he will have troubles yet in plenty if Achilles will lay aside his anger. I will go with you, and we will rouse others, either the son of Tydeus, or Odysseus, or fleet Ajax and the valiant son of Phyleus. Some one had also better go and call Ajax and King Idomeneus, for their ships are not near at hand but the farthest of all. I cannot however refrain from blaming Menelaos, much as I love him and respect him -

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον

οὔ θην Ἕκτορι πάντα νοήματα μητίετα Ζεὺς

ἐκτελέει, ὅσα πού νυν ἐέλπεται· ἀλλά μιν οἴω

κήδεσι μοχθήσειν καὶ πλείοσιν, εἴ κεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐκ χόλου ἀργαλέοιο μεταστρέψῃ φίλον ἦτορ.

σοὶ δὲ μάλʼ ἕψομʼ ἐγώ· ποτὶ δʼ αὖ καὶ ἐγείρομεν ἄλλους

ἠμὲν Τυδεΐδην δουρὶ κλυτὸν ἠδʼ Ὀδυσῆα

ἠδʼ Αἴαντα ταχὺν καὶ Φυλέος ἄλκιμον υἱόν.

ἀλλʼ εἴ τις καὶ τούσδε μετοιχόμενος καλέσειεν

ἀντίθεόν τʼ Αἴαντα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα·

τῶν γὰρ νῆες ἔασιν ἑκαστάτω, οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἐγγύς.

ἀλλὰ φίλον περ ἐόντα καὶ αἰδοῖον Μενέλαον

and I will say so plainly, even at the risk of offending you - for sleeping and leaving all this trouble to yourself. He ought to be going about imploring aid from all the princes of the Achaeans, for we are in extreme danger."

νεικέσω, εἴ πέρ μοι νεμεσήσεαι, οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω

ὡς εὕδει, σοὶ δʼ οἴῳ ἐπέτρεψεν πονέεσθαι.

νῦν ὄφελεν κατὰ πάντας ἀριστῆας πονέεσθαι

λισσόμενος· χρειὼ γὰρ ἱκάνεται οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτός.

And Agamemnon answered, "Sir, you may sometimes blame him justly, for he is often remiss and unwilling to exert himself - not indeed from sloth, nor yet lack of thought [ noos ], but because he looks to me and expects me to take the lead. On this occasion, however, he was awake before I was, and came to me of his own accord. I have already sent him to call the very men whom you have named. And now let us be going. We shall find them with the watch outside the gates, for it was there I said that we would meet them."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·

ὦ γέρον ἄλλοτε μέν σε καὶ αἰτιάασθαι ἄνωγα·

πολλάκι γὰρ μεθιεῖ τε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλει πονέεσθαι

οὔτʼ ὄκνῳ εἴκων οὔτʼ ἀφραδίῃσι νόοιο,

ἀλλʼ ἐμέ τʼ εἰσορόων καὶ ἐμὴν ποτιδέγμενος ὁρμήν.

νῦν δʼ ἐμέο πρότερος μάλʼ ἐπέγρετο καί μοι ἐπέστη·

τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ προέηκα καλήμεναι οὓς σὺ μεταλλᾷς.

ἀλλʼ ἴομεν· κείνους δὲ κιχησόμεθα πρὸ πυλάων

"In that case," answered Nestor, "the Argives will not blame him nor disobey his orders when he urges them to fight or gives them instructions."

ἐν φυλάκεσσʼ, ἵνα γάρ σφιν ἐπέφραδον ἠγερέθεσθαι.

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

οὕτως οὔ τίς οἱ νεμεσήσεται οὐδʼ ἀπιθήσει

Ἀργείων, ὅτε κέν τινʼ ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἀνώγῃ.

With this he put on his shirt, and bound his sandals about his comely feet. He buckled on his purple coat, of two thicknesses, large, and of a rough shaggy texture, grasped his redoubtable bronze-shod spear, and wended his way along the line of the Achaean ships. First he called loudly to Odysseus peer of gods in counsel and woke him, for he was soon roused by the sound of the battle-cry. He came outside his tent and said, "Why do you go thus alone about the host, and along the line of the ships in the stillness of the night? What is it that you find so urgent?" And Nestor horseman of Gerene answered, "Odysseus, noble son of Laertes , take it not amiss, for the Achaeans are in great sorrow [ akhos ]. Come with me and let us wake some other, who may advise well with us whether we shall fight or flee."

ὣς εἰπὼν ἔνδυνε περὶ στήθεσσι χιτῶνα,

ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαῖναν περονήσατο φοινικόεσσαν

διπλῆν ἐκταδίην, οὔλη δʼ ἐπενήνοθε λάχνη.

εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.

πρῶτον ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντον

ἐξ ὕπνου ἀνέγειρε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ

φθεγξάμενος· τὸν δʼ αἶψα περὶ φρένας ἤλυθʼ ἰωή,

ἐκ δʼ ἦλθε κλισίης καί σφεας πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·

τίφθʼ οὕτω κατὰ νῆας ἀνὰ στρατὸν οἶοι ἀλᾶσθε

νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην, ὅ τι δὴ χρειὼ τόσον ἵκει;

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ

μὴ νεμέσα· τοῖον γὰρ ἄχος βεβίηκεν Ἀχαιούς.

ἀλλʼ ἕπεʼ, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλον ἐγείρομεν ὅν τʼ ἐπέοικε

βουλὰς βουλεύειν, ἢ φευγέμεν ἠὲ μάχεσθαι.

On this Odysseus went at once into his tent, put his shield about his shoulders and came out with them. First they went to Diomedes son of Tydeus, and found him outside his tent clad in his armor with his comrades sleeping round him and using their shields as pillows; as for their spears,

ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ κλισίην δὲ κιὼν πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεὺς

ποικίλον ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι σάκος θέτο, βῆ δὲ μετʼ αὐτούς.

βὰν δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδην Διομήδεα· τὸν δὲ κίχανον

ἐκτὸς ἀπὸ κλισίης σὺν τεύχεσιν· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι

εὗδον, ὑπὸ κρασὶν δʼ ἔχον ἀσπίδας· ἔγχεα δέ σφιν

they stood upright on the spikes of their butts that were driven into the ground, and the burnished bronze flashed afar like the lightning of father Zeus. The hero was sleeping upon the skin of an ox, with a piece of fine carpet under his head; Nestor went up to him and stirred him with his heel to rouse him, upbraiding him and urging him to bestir himself. "Wake up," he exclaimed, "son of Tydeus. How can you sleep on in this way? Can you not see that the Trojans are encamped on the brow of the plain hard by our ships, with but a little space between us and them?"

ὄρθʼ ἐπὶ σαυρωτῆρος ἐλήλατο, τῆλε δὲ χαλκὸς

λάμφʼ ὥς τε στεροπὴ πατρὸς Διός· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως

εὗδʼ, ὑπὸ δʼ ἔστρωτο ῥινὸν βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο,

αὐτὰρ ὑπὸ κράτεσφι τάπης τετάνυστο φαεινός.

τὸν παρστὰς ἀνέγειρε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,

λὰξ ποδὶ κινήσας, ὄτρυνέ τε νείκεσέ τʼ ἄντην·

ἔγρεο Τυδέος υἱέ· τί πάννυχον ὕπνον ἀωτεῖς;

οὐκ ἀΐεις ὡς Τρῶες ἐπὶ θρωσμῷ πεδίοιο

εἵαται ἄγχι νεῶν, ὀλίγος δʼ ἔτι χῶρος ἐρύκει;

On these words Diomedes leaped up instantly and said, "Old man, your heart is of iron; you rest not one moment from your labors [ ponos ]. Are there no younger men among the Achaeans who could go about to rouse the princes? There is no tiring you."

ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐξ ὕπνοιο μάλα κραιπνῶς ἀνόρουσε,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

σχέτλιός ἐσσι γεραιέ· σὺ μὲν πόνου οὔ ποτε λήγεις.

οὔ νυ καὶ ἄλλοι ἔασι νεώτεροι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

οἵ κεν ἔπειτα ἕκαστον ἐγείρειαν βασιλήων

πάντῃ ἐποιχόμενοι; σὺ δʼ ἀμήχανός ἐσσι γεραιέ.

And Nestor horseman of Gerene made answer, "My son, all that you have said is true. I have good sons, and also many people who might call the chieftains, but the Achaeans are in the gravest danger; life and death are balanced as it were on the edge of a razor. Go then, for you are younger than I, and of your courtesy rouse Ajax and the fleet son of Phyleus."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα φίλος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.

εἰσὶν μέν μοι παῖδες ἀμύμονες, εἰσὶ δὲ λαοὶ

καὶ πολέες, τῶν κέν τις ἐποιχόμενος καλέσειεν·

ἀλλὰ μάλα μεγάλη χρειὼ βεβίηκεν Ἀχαιούς.

νῦν γὰρ δὴ πάντεσσιν ἐπὶ ξυροῦ ἵσταται ἀκμῆς

ἢ μάλα λυγρὸς ὄλεθρος Ἀχαιοῖς ἠὲ βιῶναι.

ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν Αἴαντα ταχὺν καὶ Φυλέος υἱὸν

ἄνστησον· σὺ γάρ ἐσσι νεώτερος· εἴ μʼ ἐλεαίρεις.

Diomedes threw the skin of a great tawny lion about his shoulders - a skin that reached his feet - and grasped his spear. When he had roused the heroes, he brought them back with him; they then went the round of those who were on guard, and found the leaders not sleeping at their posts but wakeful and sitting with their arms about them. As sheep dogs that watch their flocks when they are yarded, and hear a wild beast coming through the mountain forest towards them - forthwith there is a hue and cry of dogs and men, and slumber is broken - even so was sleep chased from the eyes of the Achaeans as they kept the watches of the wicked night, for they turned 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."

ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἑέσσατο δέρμα λέοντος

αἴθωνος μεγάλοιο ποδηνεκές, εἵλετο δʼ ἔγχος.

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, τοὺς δʼ ἔνθεν ἀναστήσας ἄγεν ἥρως.

οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ φυλάκεσσιν ἐν ἀγρομένοισιν ἔμιχθεν,

οὐδὲ μὲν εὕδοντας φυλάκων ἡγήτορας εὗρον,

ἀλλʼ ἐγρηγορτὶ σὺν τεύχεσιν εἵατο πάντες.

ὡς δὲ κύνες περὶ μῆλα δυσωρήσωνται ἐν αὐλῇ

θηρὸς ἀκούσαντες κρατερόφρονος, ὅς τε καθʼ ὕλην

ἔρχηται διʼ ὄρεσφι· πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ἐπʼ αὐτῷ

ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ κυνῶν, ἀπό τέ σφισιν ὕπνος ὄλωλεν·

ὣς τῶν νήδυμος ὕπνος ἀπὸ βλεφάροιιν ὀλώλει

νύκτα φυλασσομένοισι κακήν· πεδίον δὲ γὰρ αἰεὶ

τετράφαθʼ, ὁππότʼ ἐπὶ Τρώων ἀΐοιεν ἰόντων.

τοὺς δʼ ὃ γέρων γήθησεν ἰδὼν θάρσυνέ τε μύθῳ

καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

οὕτω νῦν φίλα τέκνα φυλάσσετε· μηδέ τινʼ ὕπνος

αἱρείτω, μὴ χάρμα γενώμεθα δυσμενέεσσιν.

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 Hektor had turned back from his onslaught on the Argives. They sat down, therefore, and held debate with one another.

ὣς εἰπὼν τάφροιο διέσσυτο· τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο

Ἀργείων βασιλῆες ὅσοι κεκλήατο βουλήν.

τοῖς δʼ ἅμα Μηριόνης καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς

ἤϊσαν· αὐτοὶ γὰρ κάλεον συμμητιάασθαι.

τάφρον δʼ ἐκδιαβάντες ὀρυκτὴν ἑδριόωντο

ἐν καθαρῷ, ὅθι δὴ νεκύων διεφαίνετο χῶρος

πιπτόντων· ὅθεν αὖτις ἀπετράπετʼ ὄβριμος Ἕκτωρ

ὀλλὺς Ἀργείους, ὅτε δὴ περὶ νὺξ ἐκάλυψεν.

ἔνθα καθεζόμενοι ἔπεʼ ἀλλήλοισι πίφαυσκον·

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 [ kleos ] 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."

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

ὦ φίλοι οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἀνὴρ πεπίθοιθʼ ἑῷ αὐτοῦ

θυμῷ τολμήεντι μετὰ Τρῶας μεγαθύμους

ἐλθεῖν, εἴ τινά που δηΐων ἕλοι ἐσχατόωντα,

ἤ τινά που καὶ φῆμιν ἐνὶ Τρώεσσι πύθοιτο,

ἅσσά τε μητιόωσι μετὰ σφίσιν, ἢ μεμάασιν

αὖθι μένειν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀπόπροθεν, ἦε πόλιν δὲ

ἂψ ἀναχωρήσουσιν, ἐπεὶ δαμάσαντό γʼ Ἀχαιούς.

ταῦτά κε πάντα πύθοιτο, καὶ ἂψ εἰς ἡμέας ἔλθοι

ἀσκηθής· μέγα κέν οἱ ὑπουράνιον κλέος εἴη

πάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, καί οἱ δόσις ἔσσεται ἐσθλή·

ὅσσοι γὰρ νήεσσιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι

τῶν πάντων οἱ ἕκαστος ὄϊν δώσουσι μέλαιναν

θῆλυν ὑπόρρηνον· τῇ μὲν κτέρας οὐδὲν ὁμοῖον,

αἰεὶ δʼ ἐν δαίτῃσι καὶ εἰλαπίνῃσι παρέσται.

They all held their peace, but Diomedes 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 [ kerdos ] which the other has not caught sight of; if a man is alone he is less full of resource, and his wit [ noos ] is weaker."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

Νέστορ ἔμʼ ὀτρύνει κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ

ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων δῦναι στρατὸν ἐγγὺς ἐόντων

Τρώων· ἀλλʼ εἴ τίς μοι ἀνὴρ ἅμʼ ἕποιτο καὶ ἄλλος

μᾶλλον θαλπωρὴ καὶ θαρσαλεώτερον ἔσται.

σύν τε δύʼ ἐρχομένω καί τε πρὸ ὃ τοῦ ἐνόησεν

ὅππως κέρδος ἔῃ· μοῦνος δʼ εἴ πέρ τε νοήσῃ

ἀλλά τέ οἱ βράσσων τε νόος, λεπτὴ δέ τε μῆτις.

On this several offered to go with Diomedes. The two Ajaxes, squires [ therapontes ] of Ares, Meriones, and the son of Nestor all wanted to go, so did Menelaos son of Atreus; Odysseus 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: "Diomedes," 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 [ aidôs ] for his lineage, because he is of more royal blood."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἔθελον Διομήδεϊ πολλοὶ ἕπεσθαι.

ἠθελέτην Αἴαντε δύω θεράποντες Ἄρηος,

ἤθελε Μηριόνης, μάλα δʼ ἤθελε Νέστορος υἱός,

ἤθελε δʼ Ἀτρεΐδης δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος,

ἤθελε δʼ ὁ τλήμων Ὀδυσεὺς καταδῦναι ὅμιλον

Τρώων· αἰεὶ γάρ οἱ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἐτόλμα.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·

Τυδεΐδη Διόμηδες ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ

τὸν μὲν δὴ ἕταρόν γʼ αἱρήσεαι ὅν κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,

φαινομένων τὸν ἄριστον, ἐπεὶ μεμάασί γε πολλοί.

μηδὲ σύ γʼ αἰδόμενος σῇσι φρεσὶ τὸν μὲν ἀρείω

καλλείπειν, σὺ δὲ χείρονʼ ὀπάσσεαι αἰδοῖ εἴκων

ἐς γενεὴν ὁρόων, μηδʼ εἰ βασιλεύτερός ἐστιν.

He said this because he feared for Menelaos. Diomedes answered, "If you bid me take the man of my own choice, how in that case can I fail to think of Odysseus, than whom there is no man more eager to face all kinds of danger [ ponoi ] - and Pallas Athena 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."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δὲ περὶ ξανθῷ Μενελάῳ.

τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

εἰ μὲν δὴ ἕταρόν γε κελεύετέ μʼ αὐτὸν ἑλέσθαι,

πῶς ἂν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ θείοιο λαθοίμην,

οὗ πέρι μὲν πρόφρων κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ

ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι, φιλεῖ δέ ἑ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.

τούτου γʼ ἑσπομένοιο καὶ ἐκ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο

ἄμφω νοστήσαιμεν, ἐπεὶ περίοιδε νοῆσαι.

"Son of Tydeus," replied Odysseus, "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."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

Τυδεΐδη μήτʼ ἄρ με μάλʼ αἴνεε μήτέ τι νείκει·

εἰδόσι γάρ τοι ταῦτα μετʼ Ἀργείοις ἀγορεύεις.

ἀλλʼ ἴομεν· μάλα γὰρ νὺξ ἄνεται, ἐγγύθι δʼ ἠώς,

ἄστρα δὲ δὴ προβέβηκε, παροίχωκεν δὲ πλέων νὺξ

τῶν δύο μοιράων, τριτάτη δʼ ἔτι μοῖρα λέλειπται.

They then put on their armor. 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 Odysseus, 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 skillfully set into it; next the head there was an inner lining of felt. This helmet had been stolen by Autolykos 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 Molos, who gave it to his son Meriones; and now it was set upon the head of Odysseus.

ὣς εἰπόνθʼ ὅπλοισιν ἔνι δεινοῖσιν ἐδύτην.

Τυδεΐδῃ μὲν δῶκε μενεπτόλεμος Θρασυμήδης

φάσγανον ἄμφηκες· τὸ δʼ ἑὸν παρὰ νηῒ λέλειπτο·

καὶ σάκος· ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κυνέην κεφαλῆφιν ἔθηκε

ταυρείην, ἄφαλόν τε καὶ ἄλλοφον, ἥ τε καταῖτυξ

κέκληται, ῥύεται δὲ κάρη θαλερῶν αἰζηῶν.

Μηριόνης δʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ δίδου βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην

καὶ ξίφος, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κυνέην κεφαλῆφιν ἔθηκε

ῥινοῦ ποιητήν· πολέσιν δʼ ἔντοσθεν ἱμᾶσιν

ἐντέτατο στερεῶς· ἔκτοσθε δὲ λευκοὶ ὀδόντες

ἀργιόδοντος ὑὸς θαμέες ἔχον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα

εὖ καὶ ἐπισταμένως· μέσσῃ δʼ ἐνὶ πῖλος ἀρήρει.

τήν ῥά ποτʼ ἐξ Ἐλεῶνος Ἀμύντορος Ὀρμενίδαο

ἐξέλετʼ Αὐτόλυκος πυκινὸν δόμον ἀντιτορήσας,

Σκάνδειαν δʼ ἄρα δῶκε Κυθηρίῳ Ἀμφιδάμαντι·

Ἀμφιδάμας δὲ Μόλῳ δῶκε ξεινήϊον εἶναι,

αὐτὰρ ὃ Μηριόνῃ δῶκεν ᾧ παιδὶ φορῆναι·

δὴ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος πύκασεν κάρη ἀμφιτεθεῖσα.

When the pair had armed, they set out, and left the other chieftains behind them. Pallas Athena sent them a heron by the wayside upon their right hands; they could not see it for the darkness, but they heard its cry. Odysseus was glad when he heard it and prayed to Athena:

τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ὅπλοισιν ἔνι δεινοῖσιν ἐδύτην,

βάν ῥʼ ἰέναι, λιπέτην δὲ κατʼ αὐτόθι πάντας ἀρίστους.

τοῖσι δὲ δεξιὸν ἧκεν ἐρῳδιὸν ἐγγὺς ὁδοῖο

Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη· τοὶ δʼ οὐκ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι

νύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην, ἀλλὰ κλάγξαντος ἄκουσαν.

"Hear me," he cried, "daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, you who spy out all my ways and who are with me in all my hardships [ ponoi ]; 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."

χαῖρε δὲ τῷ ὄρνιθʼ Ὀδυσεύς, ἠρᾶτο δʼ Ἀθήνῃ·

κλῦθί μευ αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, ἥ τέ μοι αἰεὶ

ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι παρίστασαι, οὐδέ σε λήθω

κινύμενος· νῦν αὖτε μάλιστά με φῖλαι Ἀθήνη,

δὸς δὲ πάλιν ἐπὶ νῆας ἐϋκλεῖας ἀφικέσθαι

ῥέξαντας μέγα ἔργον, ὅ κε Τρώεσσι μελήσῃ.

Then Diomedes of the loud war-cry also prayed: "Hear me too," said he, "daughter of Zeus, 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 Aesopos, and went to the city bearing a message of peace to the Cadmeans; 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."

δεύτερος αὖτʼ ἠρᾶτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

κέκλυθι νῦν καὶ ἐμεῖο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη·

σπεῖό μοι ὡς ὅτε πατρὶ ἅμʼ ἕσπεο Τυδέϊ δίῳ

ἐς Θήβας, ὅτε τε πρὸ Ἀχαιῶν ἄγγελος ᾔει.

τοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀσωπῷ λίπε χαλκοχίτωνας Ἀχαιούς,

αὐτὰρ ὃ μειλίχιον μῦθον φέρε Καδμείοισι

κεῖσʼ· ἀτὰρ ἂψ ἀπιὼν μάλα μέρμερα μήσατο ἔργα

σὺν σοὶ δῖα θεά, ὅτε οἱ πρόφρασσα παρέστης.

ὣς νῦν μοι ἐθέλουσα παρίσταο καί με φύλασσε.

σοὶ δʼ αὖ ἐγὼ ῥέξω βοῦν ἦνιν εὐρυμέτωπον

ἀδμήτην, ἣν οὔ πω ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ἀνήρ·

τήν τοι ἐγὼ ῥέξω χρυσὸν κέρασιν περιχεύας.

Thus they prayed, and Pallas Athena heard their prayer. When they had done praying to the daughter of great Zeus, they went their way like two lions prowling by night amid the armor and blood-stained bodies of them that had fallen.

ὣς ἔφαν εὐχόμενοι, τῶν δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.

οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἠρήσαντο Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,

βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν ὥς τε λέοντε δύω διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν

ἂμ φόνον, ἂν νέκυας, διά τʼ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα.

Neither again did Hektor let the Trojans sleep; for he too called the princes and councilors 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 honor 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 flee, and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to keep their watches."

οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ Τρῶας ἀγήνορας εἴασεν Ἕκτωρ

εὕδειν, ἀλλʼ ἄμυδις κικλήσκετο πάντας ἀρίστους,

ὅσσοι ἔσαν Τρώων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες·

τοὺς ὅ γε συγκαλέσας πυκινὴν ἀρτύνετο βουλήν·

τίς κέν μοι τόδε ἔργον ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειε

δώρῳ ἔπι μεγάλῳ; μισθὸς δέ οἱ ἄρκιος ἔσται.

δώσω γὰρ δίφρόν τε δύω τʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππους

οἵ κεν ἄριστοι ἔωσι θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν

ὅς τίς κε τλαίη, οἷ τʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἄροιτο,

νηῶν ὠκυπόρων σχεδὸν ἐλθέμεν, ἔκ τε πυθέσθαι

ἠέ φυλάσσονται νῆες θοαὶ ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,

ἦ ἤδη χείρεσσιν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσι δαμέντες

φύξιν βουλεύουσι μετὰ σφίσιν, οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσι

νύκτα φυλασσέμεναι, καμάτῳ ἀδηκότες αἰνῷ.

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-favored, but a good runner, and was an only son among five sisters. He it was that now addressed the Trojans. "I, Hektor," said he, "Will to the ships and will exploit them. But first hold up your scepter and swear that you will give me the chariot, equipped 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 flee."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.

ἦν δέ τις ἐν Τρώεσσι Δόλων Εὐμήδεος υἱὸς

κήρυκος 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 ἀγήνωρ

νηῶν ὠκυπόρων σχεδὸν ἐλθέμεν ἔκ τε πυθέσθαι.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τὸ σκῆπτρον ἀνάσχεο, καί μοι ὄμοσσον

ἦ μὲν τοὺς ἵππους τε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλα χαλκῷ

δωσέμεν, οἳ φορέουσιν ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα,

σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ οὐχ ἅλιος σκοπὸς ἔσσομαι οὐδʼ ἀπὸ δόξης·

τόφρα γὰρ ἐς στρατὸν εἶμι διαμπερὲς ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκωμαι

νῆʼ Ἀγαμεμνονέην, ὅθι που μέλλουσιν ἄριστοι

βουλὰς βουλεύειν ἢ φευγέμεν ἠὲ μάχεσθαι.

When he had done speaking Hektor held up his scepter, and swore him his oath saying, "May Zeus the thundering husband of Hera bear witness that no other Trojan but yourself shall mount those steeds, and that you shall have your will with them for ever."

ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐν χερσὶ σκῆπτρον λάβε καί οἱ ὄμοσσεν·

ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης

μὴ μὲν τοῖς ἵπποισιν ἀνὴρ ἐποχήσεται ἄλλος

Τρώων, ἀλλά σέ φημι διαμπερὲς ἀγλαϊεῖσθαι.

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 gray 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 Hektor. When he had left the horses and the troops behind him, he made all speed on his way, but Odysseus perceived his coming and said to Diomedes, "Diomedes, 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."

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 ἔμελλεν

ἐλθὼν ἐκ νηῶν ἂψ Ἕκτορι μῦθον ἀποίσειν.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν κάλλιφʼ ὅμιλον,

βῆ ῥʼ ἀνʼ ὁδὸν μεμαώς· τὸν δὲ φράσατο προσιόντα

διογενὴς 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 πεδίοιο

τυτθόν· ἔπειτα δέ κʼ αὐτὸν ἐπαΐξαντες ἕλοιμεν

καρπαλίμως· εἰ δʼ ἄμμε παραφθαίησι πόδεσσιν,

αἰεί μιν ἐπὶ νῆας ἀπὸ στρατόφι προτιειλεῖν

ἔγχει ἐπαΐσσων, μή πως προτὶ ἄστυ ἀλύξῃ.

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 Hektor'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 Odysseus 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, Athena 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."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντε παρὲξ ὁδοῦ ἐν νεκύεσσι

κλινθήτην· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ὦκα παρέδραμεν ἀφραδίῃσιν.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἀπέην ὅσσόν τʼ ἐπὶ οὖρα πέλονται

ἡμιόνων· αἱ γάρ τε βοῶν προφερέστεραί εἰσιν

ἑλκέμεναι νειοῖο βαθείης πηκτὸν ἄροτρον·

τὼ μὲν ἐπεδραμέτην, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔστη δοῦπον ἀκούσας.

ἔλπετο γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀποστρέψοντας ἑταίρους

ἐκ Τρώων ἰέναι πάλιν Ἕκτορος ὀτρύναντος.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἄπεσαν δουρηνεκὲς ἢ καὶ ἔλασσον,

γνῶ ῥʼ ἄνδρας δηΐους, λαιψηρὰ δὲ γούνατʼ ἐνώμα

φευγέμεναι· τοὶ δʼ αἶψα διώκειν ὁρμήθησαν.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε καρχαρόδοντε δύω κύνε εἰδότε θήρης

ἢ κεμάδʼ ἠὲ λαγωὸν ἐπείγετον ἐμμενὲς αἰεὶ

χῶρον ἀνʼ ὑλήενθʼ, ὃ δέ τε προθέῃσι μεμηκώς,

ὣς τὸν Τυδεΐδης ἠδʼ ὃ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺς

λαοῦ ἀποτμήξαντε διώκετον ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλε μιγήσεσθαι φυλάκεσσι

φεύγων ἐς νῆας, τότε δὴ μένος ἔμβαλʼ Ἀθήνη

Τυδεΐδῃ, ἵνα μή τις Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

φθαίη ἐπευξάμενος βαλέειν, ὃ δὲ δεύτερος ἔλθοι.

δουρὶ δʼ ἐπαΐσσων προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·

ἠὲ μένʼ ἠέ σε δουρὶ κιχήσομαι, οὐδέ σέ φημι

δηρὸν ἐμῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἀλύξειν αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.

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."

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἔγχος ἀφῆκεν, ἑκὼν δʼ ἡμάρτανε φωτός·

δεξιτερὸν δʼ ὑπὲρ ὦμον ἐΰξου δουρὸς ἀκωκὴ

ἐν γαίῃ ἐπάγη· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔστη τάρβησέν τε

βαμβαίνων· 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 ἔνδον

χαλκός τε χρυσός τε πολύκμητός τε σίδηρος,

τῶν κʼ ὔμμιν χαρίσαιτο πατὴρ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα

εἴ κεν ἐμὲ ζωὸν πεπύθοιτʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.

"Fear not," replied Odysseus, "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 Hektor send you to spy out what was going on at the ships? Or did you come here of your own mere notion [noon]?"

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

θάρσει, μηδέ τί τοι θάνατος καταθύμιος ἔστω.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·

πῇ δὴ οὕτως ἐπὶ νῆας ἀπὸ στρατοῦ ἔρχεαι οἶος

νύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην, ὅτε θʼ εὕδουσι βροτοὶ ἄλλοι;

ἤ τινα συλήσων νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων;

ἦ σʼ Ἕκτωρ προέηκε διασκοπιᾶσθαι ἕκαστα

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς; ἦ σʼ αὐτὸν θυμὸς ἀνῆκε;

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Δόλων, ὑπὸ δʼ ἔτρεμε γυῖα·

πολλῇσίν μʼ ἄτῃσι παρὲκ νόον ἤγαγεν Ἕκτωρ,

Dolon answered, his limbs trembling beneath him: "Hektor, with his vain flattering promises, lured me into derangement [ atê ]. 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 fleeing 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 flee, and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to keep their watches."

ὅς μοι Πηλεΐωνος ἀγαυοῦ μώνυχας ἵππους

δωσέμεναι κατένευσε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλα χαλκῷ,

ἠνώγει δέ μʼ ἰόντα θοὴν διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν

ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων σχεδὸν ἐλθέμεν, ἔκ τε πυθέσθαι

ἠὲ φυλάσσονται νῆες θοαὶ ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,

ἦ ἤδη χείρεσσιν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσι δαμέντες

φύξιν βουλεύουσι μετὰ σφίσιν, οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσι

νύκτα φυλασσέμεναι, καμάτῳ ἀδηκότες αἰνῷ.

Odysseus smiled at him and answered, "You had indeed set your heart upon a great reward, but the horses of the descendant of Aiakos 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 Hektor when you started? Where lies his armor 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?"

τὸν δʼ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ἦ ῥά νύ τοι μεγάλων δώρων ἐπεμαίετο θυμὸς

ἵππων Αἰακίδαο δαΐφρονος· οἳ δʼ ἀλεγεινοὶ

ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι δαμήμεναι ἠδʼ ὀχέεσθαι

ἄλλῳ γʼ ἢ Ἀχιλῆϊ, τὸν ἀθανάτη τέκε μήτηρ.

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 μεμάασιν

αὖθι μένειν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀπόπροθεν, ἦε πόλιν δὲ

ἂψ ἀναχωρήσουσιν, ἐπεὶ δαμάσαντό γʼ Ἀχαιούς.

And Dolon answered, "I will tell you truly all. Hektor and the other councilors are now holding conference by the monument [ sêma ] of great Ilos, 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 come from other places are asleep and leave it to the Trojans to keep guard, for their wives and children are not here."

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 Ἴλου

νόσφιν ἀπὸ φλοίσβου· φυλακὰς δʼ ἃς εἴρεαι ἥρως

οὔ τις κεκριμένη ῥύεται στρατὸν οὐδὲ φυλάσσει.

ὅσσαι μὲν Τρώων πυρὸς ἐσχάραι, οἷσιν ἀνάγκη

οἷ δʼ ἐγρηγόρθασι φυλασσέμεναί τε κέλονται

ἀλλήλοις· ἀτὰρ αὖτε πολύκλητοι ἐπίκουροι

εὕδουσι· Τρωσὶν γὰρ ἐπιτραπέουσι φυλάσσειν·

οὐ γάρ σφιν παῖδες σχεδὸν εἵαται οὐδὲ γυναῖκες.

Odysseus then said, "Now tell me; are they sleeping among the Trojan troops, or do they lie apart? Explain this that I may understand it."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

πῶς γὰρ νῦν Τρώεσσι μεμιγμένοι ἱπποδάμοισιν

εὕδουσʼ ἦ ἀπάνευθε; δίειπέ μοι ὄφρα δαείω.

"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,

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Δόλων Εὐμήδεος υἱός·

τοὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ ταῦτα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω.

πρὸς μὲν ἁλὸς Κᾶρες καὶ Παίονες ἀγκυλότοξοι

καὶ Λέλεγες καὶ Καύκωνες δῖοί τε Πελασγοί,

πρὸς Θύμβρης δʼ ἔλαχον Λύκιοι Μυσοί τʼ ἀγέρωχοι

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 come 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 equipped with silver and gold, and he has brought his marvelous golden armor, of the rarest workmanship - too 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 come back and have proved my words whether they be false or true."

καὶ Φρύγες ἱππόμαχοι καὶ Μῄονες ἱπποκορυσταί.

ἀλλὰ τί ἢ ἐμὲ ταῦτα διεξερέεσθε ἕκαστα;

εἰ γὰρ δὴ μέματον Τρώων καταδῦναι ὅμιλον

Θρήϊκες 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 ἰδέσθαι

ἤλυθʼ ἔχων· τὰ μὲν οὔ τι καταθνητοῖσιν ἔοικεν

ἄνδρεσσιν φορέειν, ἀλλʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.

ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν νῦν νηυσὶ πελάσσετον ὠκυπόροισιν,

ἠέ με δήσαντες λίπετʼ αὐτόθι νηλέϊ δεσμῷ,

ὄφρά κεν ἔλθητον καὶ πειρηθῆτον ἐμεῖο

ἠὲ κατʼ αἶσαν ἔειπον ἐν ὑμῖν, ἦε καὶ οὐκί.

τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·

Diomedes 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 come 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."

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,

ἦ τε καὶ ὕστερον εἶσθα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

ἠὲ διοπτεύσων ἢ ἐναντίβιον πολεμίξων·

εἰ δέ κʼ ἐμῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶ δαμεὶς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσῃς,

οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα σὺ πῆμά ποτʼ ἔσσεαι Ἀργείοισιν.

On this Dolon would have caught him by the beard to beseech him further, but Diomedes 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. Odysseus hung them up aloft in honor of Athena 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."

ἦ, καὶ ὃ μέν μιν ἔμελλε γενείου χειρὶ παχείῃ

ἁψάμενος λίσσεσθαι, ὃ δʼ αὐχένα μέσσον ἔλασσε

φασγάνῳ ἀΐξας, ἀπὸ δʼ ἄμφω κέρσε τένοντε·

φθεγγομένου δʼ ἄρα τοῦ γε κάρη κονίῃσιν ἐμίχθη.

τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν κτιδέην κυνέην κεφαλῆφιν ἕλοντο

καὶ λυκέην καὶ τόξα παλίντονα καὶ δόρυ μακρόν·

καὶ τά γʼ Ἀθηναίῃ ληΐτιδι δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

ὑψόσʼ ἀνέσχεθε χειρὶ καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·

χαῖρε θεὰ τοῖσδεσσι· σὲ γὰρ πρώτην ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ

πάντων ἀθανάτων ἐπιδωσόμεθʼ· ἀλλὰ καὶ αὖτις

πέμψον ἐπὶ Θρῃκῶν ἀνδρῶν ἵππους τε καὶ εὐνάς.

With these words he took the spoils and set them upon a tamarisk tree, and they made a mark [ sêma ] at the place by pulling up reeds and gathering boughs of tamarisk that they might not miss it as they came back through the fleeing hours of darkness. The two then went onwards amid the fallen armor and the blood, and came presently to the company of Thracian warriors, who were sleeping, tired out with their day's toil; their goodly armor was lying on the ground beside them all in order [ kosmos ], 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. Odysseus from some way off saw him and said, "This, Diomedes, is the man, and these are the horses about which Dolon whom we killed told us. Do your very utmost; dally not about your armor, but loose the horses at once - or else kill the men yourself, while I see to the horses."

ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, καὶ ἀπὸ ἕθεν ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας

θῆκεν ἀνὰ μυρίκην· δέελον δʼ ἐπὶ σῆμά τʼ ἔθηκε

συμμάρψας 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 σφιν

καλὰ παρʼ αὐτοῖσι χθονὶ κέκλιτο εὖ κατὰ κόσμον

τριστοιχί· παρὰ δέ σφιν ἑκάστῳ δίζυγες ἵπποι.

Ῥῆσος δʼ ἐν μέσῳ εὗδε, παρʼ αὐτῷ δʼ ὠκέες ἵπποι

ἐξ 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 χρὴ

ἑστάμεναι μέλεον σὺν τεύχεσιν, ἀλλὰ λύʼ ἵππους·

ἠὲ σύ γʼ ἄνδρας ἔναιρε, μελήσουσιν δʼ ἐμοὶ ἵπποι.

Thereon Athena put courage into the heart of Diomedes, 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 furiously upon a flock of sheep or goats when he finds without their shepherd, so did the son of Tydeus set upon the Thracian warriors till he had killed twelve. As he killed them Odysseus came and drew them aside by their feet one by one, that the horses might go forward freely without being frightened as they passed over the dead bodies, for they were not yet used to them. When the son of Tydeus came to the king, he killed him too (which made thirteen), as he was breathing hard, for by the counsel of Athena an evil dream, the seed of Oeneus, hovered that night over his head. Meanwhile Odysseus untied the horses, made them fast one to another and drove them off, striking them with his bow, for he had forgotten to take the whip from the chariot. Then he whistled as a sign to Diomedes.

ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἔμπνευσε μένος γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

κτεῖνε δʼ ἐπιστροφάδην· τῶν δὲ στόνος ὄρνυτʼ ἀεικὴς

ἄορι θεινομένων, ἐρυθαίνετο δʼ αἵματι γαῖα.

ὡς δὲ λέων μήλοισιν ἀσημάντοισιν ἐπελθὼν

αἴγεσιν ἢ ὀΐεσσι κακὰ φρονέων ἐνορούσῃ,

ὣς μὲν Θρήϊκας ἄνδρας ἐπῴχετο Τυδέος υἱὸς

ὄφρα δυώδεκʼ ἔπεφνεν· ἀτὰρ πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεὺς

ὅν τινα Τυδεΐδης ἄορι πλήξειε παραστὰς

τὸν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μετόπισθε λαβὼν ποδὸς ἐξερύσασκε,

τὰ φρονέων κατὰ θυμὸν ὅπως καλλίτριχες ἵπποι

ῥεῖα διέλθοιεν μηδὲ τρομεοίατο θυμῷ

νεκροῖς ἀμβαίνοντες· ἀήθεσσον γὰρ ἔτʼ αὐτῶν.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ βασιλῆα κιχήσατο Τυδέος υἱός,

τὸν τρισκαιδέκατον μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἀπηύρα

ἀσθμαίνοντα· κακὸν γὰρ ὄναρ κεφαλῆφιν ἐπέστη

τὴν νύκτʼ Οἰνεΐδαο πάϊς διὰ μῆτιν Ἀθήνης.

τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ ὃ τλήμων Ὀδυσεὺς λύε μώνυχας ἵππους,

σὺν δʼ ἤειρεν ἱμᾶσι καὶ ἐξήλαυνεν ὁμίλου

τόξῳ ἐπιπλήσσων, ἐπεὶ οὐ μάστιγα φαεινὴν

ποικίλου ἐκ δίφροιο νοήσατο χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι·

ῥοίζησεν δʼ ἄρα πιφαύσκων Διομήδεϊ δίῳ.

But Diomedes stayed where he was, thinking what other daring deed he might accomplish. He was doubting whether to take the chariot in which the king's armor was lying, and draw it out by the pole, or to lift the armor out and carry it off; or whether again, he should not kill some more Thracians. While he was thus hesitating Athena came up to him and said, "Make your homecoming [ nostos ], Diomedes, to the ships or you may be driven thither, should some other god rouse the Trojans."

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 Ἀθήνη

ἐγγύθεν ἱσταμένη προσέφη Διομήδεα δῖον·

νόστου δὴ μνῆσαι μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὲ

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς, μὴ καὶ πεφοβημένος ἔλθῃς,

μή πού τις καὶ Τρῶας ἐγείρῃσιν θεὸς ἄλλος.

Diomedes knew that it was the goddess, and at once sprang upon the horses. Odysseus beat them with his bow and they flew onward to the ships of the Achaeans.

ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ ξυνέηκε θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης,

καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵππων ἐπεβήσετο· κόψε δʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς

τόξῳ· τοὶ δʼ ἐπέτοντο θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.

But Apollo kept no blind look-out when he saw Athena with the son of Tydeus. He was angry with her, and coming to the host of the Trojans he roused Hippokoön, a counselor of the Thracians and a noble kinsman of Rhesus. He started up out of his sleep and saw that the horses were no longer in their place, and that the men were gasping in their death-agony; on this he groaned aloud, and called upon his friend by name. Then the whole Trojan camp was in an uproar as the people kept hurrying together, and they marveled at the deeds of the heroes who had now got away towards the ships.

οὐδʼ ἀλαοσκοπιὴν εἶχʼ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων

ὡς ἴδʼ Ἀθηναίην μετὰ Τυδέος υἱὸν ἕπουσαν·

τῇ κοτέων Τρώων κατεδύσετο πουλὺν ὅμιλον,

ὦρσεν δὲ Θρῃκῶν βουληφόρον Ἱπποκόωντα

Ῥήσου ἀνεψιὸν ἐσθλόν· ὃ δʼ ἐξ ὕπνου ἀνορούσας

ὡς 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 κυδοιμὸς

θυνόντων ἄμυδις· θηεῦντο δὲ μέρμερα ἔργα

ὅσσʼ ἄνδρες ῥέξαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.

When they reached the place where they had killed Hektor's scout, Odysseus stayed his horses, and the son of Tydeus, leaping to the ground, placed the blood-stained spoils in the hands of Odysseus and remounted: then he lashed the horses onwards, and they flew forward nothing loath towards the ships as though of their own free will. Nestor was first to hear the tramp of their feet. "My friends," said he, "princes and counselors of the Argives, shall I guess right or wrong? - but I must say what I think: there is a sound in my ears as of the tramp of horses. I hope it may Diomedes and Odysseus driving in horses from the Trojans, but I much fear that the bravest of the Argives may have come to some harm at their hands."

οἳ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι σκοπὸν Ἕκτορος ἔκταν,

ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μὲν ἔρυξε Διῒ φίλος ὠκέας ἵππους,

Τυδεΐδης δὲ χαμᾶζε θορὼν ἔναρα βροτόεντα

ἐν χείρεσσʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ τίθει, ἐπεβήσετο δʼ ἵππων·

μάστιξεν δʼ ἵππους, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· τῇ γὰρ φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ.

Νέστωρ δὲ πρῶτος κτύπον ἄϊε φώνησέν τε·

ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

ψεύσομαι, ἦ ἔτυμον ἐρέω; κέλεται δέ με θυμός.

ἵππων μʼ ὠκυπόδων ἀμφὶ κτύπος οὔατα βάλλει.

αἲ γὰρ δὴ Ὀδυσεύς τε καὶ ὃ κρατερὸς Διομήδης

ὧδʼ ἄφαρ ἐκ Τρώων ἐλασαίατο μώνυχας ἵππους·

ἀλλʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα μή τι πάθωσιν

Ἀργείων οἳ ἄριστοι ὑπὸ Τρώων ὀρυμαγδοῦ.

He had hardly done speaking when the two men came in and dismounted, whereon the others shook hands right gladly with them and congratulated them. Nestor horseman of Gerene was first to question them. "Tell me," said he, "renowned Odysseus, how did you two come by these horses? Did you steal in among the Trojan forces, or did some god meet you and give them to you? They are like sunbeams. I am well conversant with the Trojans, for old warrior though I am I never hold back by the ships, but I never yet saw or heard of such horses as these are. Surely some god must have met you and given them to you, for you are both of dear to Zeus, and to Zeus' daughter Athena."

οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρητο ἔπος ὅτʼ ἄρʼ ἤλυθον αὐτοί.

καί ῥʼ οἳ μὲν κατέβησαν ἐπὶ χθόνα, τοὶ δὲ χαρέντες

δεξιῇ ἠσπάζοντο ἔπεσσί τε μειλιχίοισι·

πρῶτος δʼ ἐξερέεινε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

εἴπʼ ἄγε μʼ ὦ πολύαινʼ Ὀδυσεῦ μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν

ὅππως τοῦσδʼ ἵππους λάβετον καταδύντες ὅμιλον

Τρώων, ἦ τίς σφωε πόρεν θεὸς ἀντιβολήσας.

αἰνῶς ἀκτίνεσσιν ἐοικότες ἠελίοιο.

αἰεὶ μὲν Τρώεσσʼ ἐπιμίσγομαι, οὐδέ τί φημι

μιμνάζειν παρὰ νηυσὶ γέρων περ ἐὼν πολεμιστής·

ἀλλʼ οὔ πω τοίους ἵππους ἴδον οὐδὲ νόησα.

ἀλλά τινʼ ὔμμʼ ὀΐω δόμεναι θεὸν ἀντιάσαντα·

ἀμφοτέρω γὰρ σφῶϊ φιλεῖ νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς

κούρη τʼ αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

And Odysseus answered, "Nestor son of Neleus, honor to the Achaean name, heaven, if it so will, can give us even better horses than these, for the gods are far mightier than we are. These horses, however, about which you ask me, are freshly come from Thrace . Diomedes killed their king with the twelve bravest of his companions. Hard by the ships we took a thirteenth man - a scout whom Hektor and the other Trojans had sent as a spy upon our ships."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν

ῥεῖα θεός γʼ ἐθέλων καὶ ἀμείνονας ἠέ περ οἵδε

ἵππους δωρήσαιτʼ, ἐπεὶ ἢ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσιν.

ἵπποι δʼ οἵδε γεραιὲ νεήλυδες οὓς ἐρεείνεις

Θρηΐκιοι· τὸν δέ σφιν ἄνακτʼ ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης

ἔκτανε, πὰρ δʼ ἑτάρους δυοκαίδεκα πάντας ἀρίστους.

τὸν τρισκαιδέκατον σκοπὸν εἵλομεν ἐγγύθι νηῶν,

τόν ῥα διοπτῆρα στρατοῦ ἔμμεναι ἡμετέροιο

Ἕκτωρ τε προέηκε καὶ ἄλλοι Τρῶες ἀγαυοί.

He laughed as he spoke and drove the horses over the ditch, while the other Achaeans followed him gladly. When they reached the strongly built quarters of the son of Tydeus, they tied the horses with thongs of leather to the manger, where the steeds of Diomedes stood eating their sweet grain, but Odysseus hung the blood-stained spoils of Dolon at the stern of his ship, that they might prepare a sacred offering to Athena. As for themselves, they went into the sea and washed the sweat from their bodies, and from their necks and thighs. When the sea-water had taken all the sweat from off them, and had refreshed them, they went into the baths and washed themselves. After they had so done and had anointed themselves with oil, they sat down to table, and drawing from a full mixing-bowl, made a drink-offering of wine to Athena.

ὣς εἰπὼν τάφροιο διήλασε μώνυχας ἵππους

καγχαλόων· ἅμα δʼ ἄλλοι ἴσαν χαίροντες Ἀχαιοί.

οἳ δʼ ὅτε Τυδεΐδεω κλισίην εὔτυκτον ἵκοντο,

ἵππους μὲν κατέδησαν ἐϋτμήτοισιν ἱμᾶσι

φάτνῃ ἐφʼ ἱππείῃ, ὅθι περ Διομήδεος ἵπποι

ἕστασαν ὠκύποδες μελιηδέα πυρὸν ἔδοντες·

νηῒ δʼ ἐνὶ πρυμνῇ ἔναρα βροτόεντα Δόλωνος

θῆκʼ Ὀδυσεύς, ὄφρʼ ἱρὸν ἑτοιμασσαίατʼ Ἀθήνῃ.

αὐτοὶ δʼ ἱδρῶ πολλὸν ἀπενίζοντο θαλάσσῃ

ἐσβάντες κνήμας τε ἰδὲ λόφον ἀμφί τε μηρούς.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί σφιν κῦμα θαλάσσης ἱδρῶ πολλὸν

νίψεν ἀπὸ χρωτὸς καὶ ἀνέψυχθεν φίλον ἦτορ,

ἔς ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐϋξέστας λούσαντο.

τὼ δὲ λοεσσαμένω καὶ ἀλειψαμένω λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ

δείπνῳ ἐφιζανέτην, ἀπὸ δὲ κρητῆρος Ἀθήνῃ

πλείου ἀφυσσόμενοι λεῖβον μελιηδέα οἶνον.