Iliad, Book 10: The Night Raid

1ἄλλοι μὲν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν

εὗδον παννύχιοι μαλακῷ δεδμημένοι ὕπνῳ·

ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶν

ὕπνος ἔχε γλυκερὸς πολλὰ φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντα.

5ὡς 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

10νειόθεν 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,

15πολλὰς 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,

20ἥ τις ἀλεξίκακος πᾶσιν Δαναοῖσι γένοιτο.

1The other champions of all the Achaeans beside the ships

slept all night, subdued by gentle sleep;

but as for Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, shepherd of the host,

sweet sleep did not hold him as he pondered much in his mind.

5As when the lord of lovely-haired Hera sends lightning,

making boundless, unspeakable rain, or hail,

or snow, when snow powders the fields,

or somewhere the great maw of bitter war—

so Agamemnon groaned again and again within his chest,

10from deep in his heart, and the thoughts within him trembled.

Whenever he looked out across the Trojan plain,

he marveled at the many fires burning before Ilium,

at the sound of flutes and pipes and the tumult of men.

But whenever he looked toward the ships and the Achaean host,

15he tore many locks from his head by the roots

for Zeus on high, and his glorious heart gave a mighty groan.

This plan seemed best to his spirit:

to go first among men to Neleian Nestor,

in hopes he might devise with him some faultless counsel

20that could ward off evil from all the Danaans.

21ὀρθωθεὶς 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.

25ὣς 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

30ποικίλῃ, 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.

τὸν δʼ εὗρʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι τιθήμενον ἔντεα καλὰ

35νηῒ πάρα πρύμνῃ· τῷ δʼ ἀσπάσιος γένετʼ ἐλθών.

21He stood upright and put a tunic about his chest,

beneath his gleaming feet he bound fine sandals,

then cast about himself the blood-dark pelt

of a great tawny lion, reaching to his feet, and took his spear.

25The same trembling held Menelaus too; for on his

eyelids no sleep would settle, lest the Argives suffer—

the Argives, who for his sake across the broad wet sea

had come to Troy, eager to stir up fierce war.

First he covered his broad back with a leopard skin,

30a spotted one; then he raised a helmet to his head,

set the bronze one in place, and grasped a spear in his sturdy hand.

He went to rouse his own brother, who over all

the Argives ruled and was honored like a god among the people.

He found him placing fine arms about his shoulders

35beside his ship’s stern; Menelaus’ coming gave him joy.

36τὸν 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

40ἄνδρας δυσμενέας σκοπιαζέμεν οἶος ἐπελθὼν

νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην· μάλα τις θρασυκάρδιος ἔσται.

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·

χρεὼ βουλῆς ἐμὲ καὶ σὲ διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαε

κερδαλέης, ἥ τίς κεν ἐρύσσεται ἠδὲ σαώσει

45Ἀργείους 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

50αὔτως, 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

55εἶμι, 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.

36Menelaus, good at the war cry, spoke first:

“Why are you arming this way, dear brother? Will you urge some comrade

to spy on the Trojans? But I fear terribly

that no one will promise you this deed:

40to go alone and reconnoiter hostile men

through the ambrosial night. He must be very bold at heart.”

Wide-ruling Agamemnon answered him:

“Zeus-nurtured Menelaus, you and I need

some shrewd counsel that will defend and save

45the Argives and ships, now Zeus’s mind has turned.

He has inclined his heart much more toward Hector’s sacred offerings.

Never yet have I seen or heard anyone declare

that a single man devised so many grievous deeds in one day

as Hector, dear to Zeus, has wrought against the Achaeans’ sons,

50on his own, though no dear son of goddess or god.

He has wrought deeds that I think will trouble the Argives

for a long, long time; such evils he devised against the Achaeans.

But go now, call Ajax and Idomeneus,

running swiftly along the ships. I will go to godlike Nestor

55and urge him to rise, if he is willing

to go among the guards’ sacred company and give commands.

For they would heed him most; his son

directs the guards, with Meriones, Idomeneus’ companion.

For in those two above all we placed our trust.”

60τὸν 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,

65αὖθι 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,

70ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοί περ πονεώμεθα· ὧδέ που ἄμμι

Ζεὺς ἐπὶ γιγνομένοισιν ἵει κακότητα βαρεῖαν.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἀπέπεμπεν ἀδελφεὸν εὖ ἐπιτείλας·

60Then Menelaus, good at the war cry, answered him:

“What then do you enjoin and command me to do?

Am I to remain there with them and wait until you come,

or run back after you once I have given them full instructions?”

Then Agamemnon, lord of men, answered him:

65“Remain there, so that we do not miss one another

as we go; for there are many paths through the camp.

Call out wherever you go and order them to keep awake,

naming each man by his father and lineage,

honoring them all; do not exalt yourself in spirit.

70Rather, let us labor ourselves as well. Such, I suppose,

is the heavy misery Zeus laid on us at our birth.”

So he spoke and sent his brother off with full instructions.

73αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ ῥʼ ἰέναι μετὰ Νέστορα ποιμένα λαῶν·

τὸν δʼ εὗρεν παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ

75εὐνῇ 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.

80ὀρθωθεὶς 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;

85φθέγγεο, μηδʼ ἀκέων ἐπʼ ἔμʼ ἔρχεο· τίπτε δέ σε χρεώ;

73Then he went on to Nestor, shepherd of the host.

He found him beside his hut and black ship,

75in a soft bed; beside him lay ornate gear—

a shield, two spears, and a gleaming helmet.

Beside him lay the all-glittering belt with which the old man

would gird himself whenever arming for man-destroying war

and leading the host, for he would not yield to grievous age.

80He rose on one elbow and lifted his head,

then addressed the son of Atreus and questioned him:

“Who are you, coming alone through the fleet and camp

through the dark night, when other mortals sleep?

Are you looking for one of the mules, or for a comrade?

85Speak, do not approach in silence. What do you need?”

86τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·

ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν

γνώσεαι Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα, τὸν περὶ πάντων

Ζεὺς ἐνέηκε πόνοισι διαμπερὲς εἰς ὅ κʼ ἀϋτμὴ

90ἐν 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

95στηθέων 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.

100δυσμενέες δʼ ἄνδρες σχεδὸν εἵαται· οὐδέ τι ἴδμεν

μή πως καὶ διὰ νύκτα μενοινήσωσι μάχεσθαι.

86Then Agamemnon, lord of men, answered him:

“Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans,

you will recognize Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, whom beyond all

Zeus has plunged in ceaseless toil, as long as breath

90remains in my chest and my own knees still move.

I wander so because sweet sleep will not settle on my eyes;

war and the Achaeans’ sorrows weigh on me.

Terribly I fear for the Danaans, and my heart is not

steady; I am distraught, and my heart leaps out

95from my chest, while my shining limbs tremble beneath me.

But if you have some action in mind, since sleep has not reached you either,

come, let us go down to the guards, so we may see

whether, worn down by toil and sleep,

they have lain down and forgotten the watch entirely.

100The hostile men sit close by, and we do not know

whether they may plan to fight even in the night.”

102τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον

οὔ θην Ἕκτορι πάντα νοήματα μητίετα Ζεὺς

105ἐκτελέει, 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

110ἠδʼ 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

115νεικέσω, 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.

102Then Gerenian Nestor, horseman, answered:

“Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, lord of men,

surely Zeus the counselor will not fulfill for Hector all

105the plans he now expects. Instead, I think

he will toil amid sorrows, and still greater ones, if Achilles

turns his own heart away from grievous anger.

But I will certainly follow you. And next let us rouse others:

Tydeus’ son, famed for the spear, and Odysseus,

110swift Ajax and the valiant son of Phyleus.

But if only someone would go and summon these as well:

godlike Ajax and lord Idomeneus.

Their ships are farthest off, not at all close by.

Yet Menelaus, dear and honored though he is,

115I shall rebuke—even if you resent me—and will not hide

that he sleeps and has left you alone to labor.

Now he ought to be laboring among all the champions,

begging them; for need has come that can no longer be borne.”

119τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·

120ὦ 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·

125τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ προέηκα καλήμεναι οὓς σὺ μεταλλᾷς.

ἀλλʼ ἴομεν· κείνους δὲ κιχησόμεθα πρὸ πυλάων

ἐν φυλάκεσσʼ, ἵνα γάρ σφιν ἐπέφραδον ἠγερέθεσθαι.

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

οὕτως οὔ τίς οἱ νεμεσήσεται οὐδʼ ἀπιθήσει

130Ἀργείων, ὅτε κέν τινʼ ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἀνώγῃ.

119Then Agamemnon, lord of men, answered him:

120“Old man, at other times I even urge you to blame him.

For often he hangs back and will not labor,

not because he gives way to hesitation or through heedlessness of mind,

but looking to me and awaiting my lead.

But now he awoke well before me and came to stand beside me.

125I sent him ahead to call the men you asked about.

Come, let us go. We shall find them before the gates,

among the guards, where I instructed them to gather.”

Then Gerenian Nestor, horseman, answered:

“In that case no Argive will resent him or disobey

130whenever he urges a man and gives a command.”

131ὣς εἰπὼν ἔνδυνε περὶ στήθεσσι χιτῶνα,

ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαῖναν περονήσατο φοινικόεσσαν

διπλῆν ἐκταδίην, οὔλη δʼ ἐπενήνοθε λάχνη.

135εἵλετο 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,

140ἐκ 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

145μὴ νεμέσα· τοῖον γὰρ ἄχος βεβίηκεν Ἀχαιούς.

ἀλλʼ ἕπεʼ, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλον ἐγείρομεν ὅν τʼ ἐπέοικε

βουλὰς βουλεύειν, ἢ φευγέμεν ἠὲ μάχεσθαι.

ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ κλισίην δὲ κιὼν πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεὺς

ποικίλον ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι σάκος θέτο, βῆ δὲ μετʼ αὐτούς.

131So he spoke, then put a tunic about his chest,

beneath his gleaming feet he bound fine sandals,

and fastened a crimson cloak around himself,

double and ample, with thick woolly nap spread over it.

135He took a sturdy spear sharpened with keen bronze

and set out along the ships of the bronze-clad Achaeans.

First it was Odysseus, whose counsel matched Zeus’s,

that Gerenian Nestor, horseman, woke from sleep

with his call; the cry at once reached his mind.

140He came out of his hut and spoke to them:

“Why are you wandering by yourselves through the fleet and camp

in the ambrosial night? What need so great has come?”

Then Gerenian Nestor, horseman, answered:

“Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,

145do not resent this; such grief has overwhelmed the Achaeans.

But follow, so that we may wake another man fit

to frame our plans—whether to flee or to fight.”

So he spoke. Resourceful Odysseus went into his hut,

set a patterned shield about his shoulders, and followed them.

150βὰν δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδην Διομήδεα· τὸν δὲ κίχανον

ἐκτὸς ἀπὸ κλισίης σὺν τεύχεσιν· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι

εὗδον, ὑπὸ κρασὶν δʼ ἔχον ἀσπίδας· ἔγχεα δέ σφιν

ὄρθʼ ἐπὶ σαυρωτῆρος ἐλήλατο, τῆλε δὲ χαλκὸς

λάμφʼ ὥς τε στεροπὴ πατρὸς Διός· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως

155εὗδʼ, 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;

160οὐκ ἀΐεις ὡς Τρῶες ἐπὶ θρωσμῷ πεδίοιο

εἵαται ἄγχι νεῶν, ὀλίγος δʼ ἔτι χῶρος ἐρύκει;

ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐξ ὕπνοιο μάλα κραιπνῶς ἀνόρουσε,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

σχέτλιός ἐσσι γεραιέ· σὺ μὲν πόνου οὔ ποτε λήγεις.

165οὔ νυ καὶ ἄλλοι ἔασι νεώτεροι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

οἵ κεν ἔπειτα ἕκαστον ἐγείρειαν βασιλήων

πάντῃ ἐποιχόμενοι; σὺ δʼ ἀμήχανός ἐσσι γεραιέ.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα φίλος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.

170εἰσὶν 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.

175ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν Αἴαντα ταχὺν καὶ Φυλέος υἱὸν

ἄνστησον· σὺ γάρ ἐσσι νεώτερος· εἴ μʼ ἐλεαίρεις.

ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἑέσσατο δέρμα λέοντος

αἴθωνος μεγάλοιο ποδηνεκές, εἵλετο δʼ ἔγχος.

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, τοὺς δʼ ἔνθεν ἀναστήσας ἄγεν ἥρως.

150They went to Diomedes, Tydeus’ son, and found him

outside his hut with his gear; around him his comrades

slept with shields beneath their heads, while their spears

had been driven upright on their butt-spikes; far off the bronze

gleamed like the lightning of father Zeus. But the hero

155slept with the hide of a field-ranging ox spread beneath him,

and beneath his head a bright rug was stretched.

Gerenian Nestor, horseman, stood beside him and woke him,

nudging him with his heel, then urging and rebuking him to his face:

“Wake, son of Tydeus! Why sleep the whole night through?

160Do you not hear how the Trojans on the plain’s high ground

sit close to the ships, with only a little space still holding them back?”

So he spoke; Diomedes sprang very swiftly from sleep

and addressed him with winged words:

“Hard man, old sir—you never cease from labor.

165Are there not other, younger sons of the Achaeans

who might then wake each one of the kings

by going everywhere? You are impossible, old man.”

Then Gerenian Nestor, horseman, answered him:

“Yes, my friend, in all this you have spoken according to right.

170I have excellent sons, and I have troops,

many of them; one might go around and summon the others.

But an immense necessity has overwhelmed the Achaeans.

For now, for all of them, it stands upon a razor’s edge—

either utter, grievous ruin for the Achaeans, or survival.

175But go now to swift Ajax and Phyleus’ son;

rouse them—you are younger—if you have pity on me.”

So he put around his shoulders a pelt

of a great tawny lion, reaching to his feet, and took his spear.

He set out, and after rousing those men, the hero led them on.

180οἳ 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

185ἔρχηται 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.

190τοὺς 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.

180When they joined the guards where they were assembled,

they did not find the leaders of the watch asleep;

all sat awake with their gear.

As dogs keep anxious watch around sheep in a fold

when they hear a fierce-hearted beast that through the woods

185comes through the mountains; a great uproar rises around it

from men and dogs, and sleep is gone from them—

so sweet sleep had vanished from the eyelids of those men

keeping watch through the evil night; for always toward the plain

they turned whenever they heard the Trojans advancing.

190The old man rejoiced to see them and heartened them with a speech,

and addressed them with winged words:

“So keep watch now, dear children; let no sleep

take anyone, lest we become a joy to our enemies.”

194ὣς εἰπὼν τάφροιο διέσσυτο· τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο

195Ἀργείων 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

200πιπτόντων· ὅθεν αὖτις ἀπετράπετʼ ὄβριμος Ἕκτωρ

ὀλλὺς Ἀργείους, ὅτε δὴ περὶ νὺξ ἐκάλυψεν.

ἔνθα καθεζόμενοι ἔπεʼ ἀλλήλοισι πίφαυσκον·

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

194So he spoke and rushed across the ditch; with him followed

195all the Argive kings who had been summoned to council.

Meriones and Nestor’s splendid son

went with them too, for the kings themselves had called them to share their counsel.

After crossing the dug-out ditch, they sat down

in a clear space visible amid the bodies

200of the fallen—the place from which mighty Hector had turned back

after killing Argives, when night at last closed around him.

Seated there, they began making their thoughts known to one another.

Gerenian Nestor, horseman, was first to speak among them:

204ὦ φίλοι οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἀνὴρ πεπίθοιθʼ ἑῷ αὐτοῦ

205θυμῷ 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

210ἂψ 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

215τῶν πάντων οἱ ἕκαστος ὄϊν δώσουσι μέλαιναν

θῆλυν ὑπόρρηνον· τῇ μὲν κτέρας οὐδὲν ὁμοῖον,

αἰεὶ δʼ ἐν δαίτῃσι καὶ εἰλαπίνῃσι παρέσται.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.

204“Friends, is there a man who would trust his own

205daring spirit and go among the great-hearted Trojans,

in hopes of capturing some enemy at the edge of their camp

or perhaps learning some report among the Trojans—

what they are planning among themselves—whether they intend

to remain here, far off beside the ships, or withdraw

210back to their city, now that they have subdued the Achaeans?

He could learn all this and return to us

unharmed. He would have great fame beneath heaven

among all mankind, and he will receive a fine gift.

For every champion who holds command over the ships,

215each will give him a black sheep,

a ewe with a suckling lamb; no other possession is equal to her,

and he will always have a place at feasts and banquets.”

So he spoke; they all fell still in silence.

219τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

220Νέστορ 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

225ὅππως κέρδος ἔῃ· μοῦνος δʼ εἴ πέρ τε νοήσῃ

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

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἔθελον Διομήδεϊ πολλοὶ ἕπεσθαι.

ἠθελέτην Αἴαντε δύω θεράποντες Ἄρηος,

ἤθελε Μηριόνης, μάλα δʼ ἤθελε Νέστορος υἱός,

230ἤθελε 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

235τὸν 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.

240ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δὲ περὶ ξανθῷ Μενελάῳ.

219Then Diomedes, good at the war cry, spoke among them:

220“Nestor, my heart and proud spirit urge me

to enter the nearby camp of our enemies,

the Trojans. But if another man were to go with me,

there would be more comfort between us, and greater confidence.

When two go together, one sees before the other

225how advantage may be won. Even if a man thinks of it alone,

his mind is slower, and his counsel thin.”

So he spoke, and many wished to follow Diomedes.

The two Ajaxes wished it, attendants of Ares;

Meriones wished it, and Nestor’s son wished it greatly;

230Menelaus, son of Atreus famed for the spear, wished it,

and enduring Odysseus wished to enter the Trojans’ throng,

for the spirit within his breast was always daring.

Then Agamemnon, lord of men, spoke among them:

“Diomedes, son of Tydeus, dear to my heart,

235you shall choose as your companion whomever you wish,

the best of those before us, since many are eager.

Do not, out of deference in your heart, leave the better man behind

and take the worse with you, yielding to respect

for birth, even if he is more of a king.”

240So he spoke, for he feared for fair-haired Menelaus.

241τοῖς 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

245ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι, φιλεῖ δέ ἑ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.

τούτου γʼ ἑσπομένοιο καὶ ἐκ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο

ἄμφω νοστήσαιμεν, ἐπεὶ περίοιδε νοῆσαι.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

Τυδεΐδη μήτʼ ἄρ με μάλʼ αἴνεε μήτέ τι νείκει·

250εἰδόσι 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.

241Then Diomedes, good at the war cry, spoke again:

“If you command me to choose the companion myself,

how then could I overlook godlike Odysseus,

whose willing heart and proud spirit surpass all others

245in every ordeal, and Pallas Athena loves him?

With him following, even from blazing fire

we both could return, because he knows beyond all men how to plan.”

Much-enduring godlike Odysseus answered him:

“Son of Tydeus, neither praise me too highly nor reproach me,

250for you say these things among Argives who know them well.

But let us go: night is waning fast and dawn is near;

the stars have moved on, and the greater part of night has passed—

two portions are gone, and only the third remains.”

254ὣς εἰπόνθʼ ὅπλοισιν ἔνι δεινοῖσιν ἐδύτην.

255Τυδεΐδῃ 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.

260Μηριόνης 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

265εὖ 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,

270αὐτὰρ ὃ Μηριόνῃ δῶκεν ᾧ παιδὶ φορῆναι·

δὴ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος πύκασεν κάρη ἀμφιτεθεῖσα.

254So they spoke and dressed in dreadful armor.

255Thrasymedes, steadfast in battle, gave the son of Tydeus

a double-edged sword—his own had been left beside his ship—

and a shield; around his head he set a helmet

of bull’s hide, without peak or plume, the kind called

a cap-helmet, which protects the heads of sturdy young men.

260Meriones gave Odysseus a bow and quiver,

a sword, and placed around his head a helmet

made of hide; inside, it was tightly stretched with many straps,

while outside, white tusks

from a gleaming-tusked boar were set close, this way and that,

265well and skillfully; a felt cap was fitted in the middle.

Once at Eleon, it belonged to Amyntor, son of Ormenus;

Autolycus stole it after breaking into his strong-built house.

He gave it to Amphidamas of Cythera to carry to Scandeia;

Amphidamas gave it to Molus as a guest-gift,

270and Molus gave it to his son Meriones to wear.

Now it covered the head of Odysseus, fitted around it.

272τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ὅπλοισιν ἔνι δεινοῖσιν ἐδύτην,

βάν ῥʼ ἰέναι, λιπέτην δὲ κατʼ αὐτόθι πάντας ἀρίστους.

τοῖσι δὲ δεξιὸν ἧκεν ἐρῳδιὸν ἐγγὺς ὁδοῖο

275Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη· τοὶ δʼ οὐκ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι

νύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην, ἀλλὰ κλάγξαντος ἄκουσαν.

χαῖρε δὲ τῷ ὄρνιθʼ Ὀδυσεύς, ἠρᾶτο δʼ Ἀθήνῃ·

κλῦθί μευ αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, ἥ τέ μοι αἰεὶ

ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι παρίστασαι, οὐδέ σε λήθω

280κινύμενος· νῦν αὖτε μάλιστά με φῖλαι Ἀθήνη,

δὸς δὲ πάλιν ἐπὶ νῆας ἐϋκλεῖας ἀφικέσθαι

ῥέξαντας μέγα ἔργον, ὅ κε Τρώεσσι μελήσῃ.

272When the two had dressed in dreadful armor,

they set out, leaving all the champions there.

On their right, close beside the road, a heron was sent

275by Pallas Athena; they could not see it with their eyes

through the dark night, but heard its cry.

Odysseus rejoiced at the bird and prayed to Athena:

“Hear me, child of aegis-bearing Zeus, you who always

stand beside me in every labor; no movement of mine escapes you.

280Now again, Athena, favor me above all,

and grant that we return to the well-famed ships

after accomplishing a great deed that will trouble the Trojans.”

283δεύτερος αὖτʼ ἠρᾶτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

κέκλυθι νῦν καὶ ἐμεῖο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη·

285σπεῖό 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

290σὺν 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.

295ὣς ἔφαν εὐχόμενοι, τῶν δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.

283Next Diomedes, good at the war cry, prayed in turn:

“Hear me now as well, child of Zeus, unwearied one.

285Accompany me as once you accompanied my father, godlike Tydeus,

to Thebes, when he went ahead of the Achaeans as messenger.

He left the bronze-clad Achaeans beside the Asopus

and carried a conciliatory declaration there to the Cadmeians;

but on his way back he devised terrible deeds

290with you, bright goddess, when you willingly stood beside him.

So now stand beside me willingly and guard me.

In return I will sacrifice to you a yearling, broad-browed heifer,

unbroken, which no man has yet led beneath the yoke;

I will sacrifice her to you after overlaying her horns with gold.”

295So they prayed, and Pallas Athena heard them.

296οἳ 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.

οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ Τρῶας ἀγήνορας εἴασεν Ἕκτωρ

300εὕδειν, ἀλλʼ ἄμυδις κικλήσκετο πάντας ἀρίστους,

ὅσσοι ἔσαν Τρώων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες·

τοὺς ὅ γε συγκαλέσας πυκινὴν ἀρτύνετο βουλήν·

296After praying to mighty Zeus’s daughter,

they went like two lions through the black night,

through carnage and corpses, through armor and black blood.

Nor did Hector allow the proud Trojans

300to sleep; he called together all their champions,

all who were leaders and rulers of the Trojans.

He gathered them and framed a shrewd plan:

303τίς κέν μοι τόδε ἔργον ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειε

δώρῳ ἔπι μεγάλῳ; μισθὸς δέ οἱ ἄρκιος ἔσται.

305δώσω 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,

310ἦ ἤδη χείρεσσιν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσι δαμέντες

φύξιν βουλεύουσι μετὰ σφίσιν, οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσι

νύκτα φυλασσέμεναι, καμάτῳ ἀδηκότες αἰνῷ.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.

303“Who will promise me and complete this deed

for a great gift? His payment will be ample.

305For I will give a chariot and two high-necked horses,

whichever are best beside the Achaeans’ swift ships,

to the man who dares and wins triumph for himself

by going close to the swift ships and discovering

whether the swift ships are guarded as before,

310or whether, already subdued beneath our hands,

they are planning flight among themselves and are unwilling

to keep watch through the night, worn down by terrible toil.”

So he spoke; they all fell still in silence.

314ἦν δέ τις ἐν Τρώεσσι Δόλων Εὐμήδεος υἱὸς

315κήρυκος 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

320νηῶν 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·

325τόφρα γὰρ ἐς στρατὸν εἶμι διαμπερὲς ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκωμαι

νῆʼ Ἀγαμεμνονέην, ὅθι που μέλλουσιν ἄριστοι

βουλὰς βουλεύειν ἢ φευγέμεν ἠὲ μάχεσθαι.

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

ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης

330μὴ μὲν τοῖς ἵπποισιν ἀνὴρ ἐποχήσεται ἄλλος

Τρώων, ἀλλά σέ φημι διαμπερὲς ἀγλαϊεῖσθαι.

ὣς φάτο καί ῥʼ ἐπίορκον ἐπώμοσε, τὸν δʼ ὀρόθυνεν·

314Among the Trojans was Dolon, son of Eumedes,

315whose father was a godlike herald; Dolon was rich in gold and bronze.

Dolon was ugly in appearance, but swift-footed,

the only son, with five sisters.

He then spoke to the Trojans and Hector:

“Hector, my heart and proud spirit urge me

320to go close to the swift ships and learn what I can.

But come, raise your scepter for me and swear

that you truly will give me the horses and bronze-inlaid chariot

that carry Peleus’ blameless son.

I will not prove a useless scout for you or disappoint your hopes.

325For I will go straight through the camp until I reach

Agamemnon’s ship, where the champions surely

will deliberate whether to flee or fight.”

So he spoke. Hector took the scepter in his hands and swore:

“Let Zeus himself now know it, loud-thundering husband of Hera:

330no other Trojan man will mount those horses;

I say you alone will take pride in them all your days.”

So he spoke and swore a false oath, and spurred Dolon on.

333αὐτίκα δʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἐβάλλετο καμπύλα τόξα,

ἕσσατο δʼ ἔκτοσθεν ῥινὸν πολιοῖο λύκοιο,

335κρατὶ 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

340διογενὴς 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

345τυτθόν· 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.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντε παρὲξ ὁδοῦ ἐν νεκύεσσι

350κλινθήτην· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ὦκα παρέδραμεν ἀφραδίῃσιν.

333At once Dolon slung a curved bow around his shoulders,

put a gray wolf’s hide over his body,

335set a marten-skin cap on his head, and took a sharp javelin.

He set out from the camp toward the ships, but he was not destined

to return from the ships and bring Hector any report.

When he had left behind the throng of horses and men,

he went eagerly along the road. As he approached, he was noticed

340by Zeus-born Odysseus, who addressed Diomedes:

“Diomedes, some man is coming from the camp.

I do not know whether he is a spy against our ships

or is coming to strip one of the fallen dead.

But let us first allow him to pass us a little

345across the plain; then we can rush him and seize him

quickly. But if he outruns us with his feet,

keep driving him toward the ships, away from his camp,

rushing at him with your spear, so he cannot escape toward the city.”

So they spoke and lay down off the road among the corpses.

350He quickly ran past them, unaware.

351ἀλλʼ 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.

355ἔλπετο 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.

360ὡς 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.

351But when he was as far ahead as the length of a mule’s furrow—

for mules are quicker than oxen

at drawing a solid plow through deep fallow—

the two ran after him; he stopped when he heard their pounding feet.

355For in his heart he expected comrades were coming to turn him back,

sent out from the Trojans at Hector’s urging.

But when they were a spear-cast away, or even less,

he recognized them as enemies and worked his nimble knees

to flee; and they at once surged in pursuit.

360As two sharp-toothed hounds skilled in the hunt

press relentlessly after a fawn or hare

through wooded country, while it runs ahead crying out,

so the son of Tydeus and Odysseus, sacker of cities,

cut him off from the host and pursued him without pause.

365ἀλλʼ 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·

370ἠὲ μένʼ ἠέ σε δουρὶ κιχήσομαι, οὐδέ σέ φημι

δηρὸν ἐμῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἀλύξειν αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.

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

375βαμβαίνων· ἄραβος δὲ διὰ στόμα γίγνετʼ ὀδόντων·

χλωρὸς ὑπαὶ δείους· τὼ δʼ ἀσθμαίνοντε κιχήτην,

χειρῶν δʼ ἁψάσθην· ὃ δὲ δακρύσας ἔπος ηὔδα·

365But when he was about to reach the guards,

as he fled toward the ships, Athena put force into Diomedes

so that no bronze-clad Achaean

might strike first and boast, while Diomedes came second.

Strong Diomedes rushed at him with his spear and called:

370“Stop, or I will reach you with my spear. I tell you,

you will not long escape sheer destruction from my hand.”

He spoke and hurled his spear, but intentionally missed the man.

The point of the polished shaft flew over his right shoulder

and stuck in the ground. Dolon halted, terrified,

375stammering, while his teeth chattered in his mouth;

pale with fear. The two overtook him, both panting,

and seized his hands. Weeping, he spoke:

378ζωγρεῖτʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐμὲ λύσομαι· ἔστι γὰρ ἔνδον

χαλκός τε χρυσός τε πολύκμητός τε σίδηρος,

380τῶν κʼ ὔμμιν χαρίσαιτο πατὴρ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα

εἴ κεν ἐμὲ ζωὸν πεπύθοιτʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.

378“Take me alive, and I will ransom myself. At home there is

bronze and gold and much-worked iron.

380From these my father would gladly give you both ransom beyond counting

if he learned I was alive beside the Achaean ships.”

382τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

θάρσει, μηδέ τί τοι θάνατος καταθύμιος ἔστω.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·

385πῇ 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;

382Resourceful Odysseus answered him:

“Take courage; do not let death be in your thoughts.

But come, tell me this and give me an exact account:

385Where are you going alone from the camp toward the ships

through the dark night, when other mortals sleep?

or are you coming to strip one of the fallen dead?

Did Hector send you to spy out every detail

at the hollow ships, or did your own spirit urge you on?”

390τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Δόλων, ὑπὸ δʼ ἔτρεμε γυῖα·

πολλῇσίν μʼ ἄτῃσι παρὲκ νόον ἤγαγεν Ἕκτωρ,

ὅς μοι Πηλεΐωνος ἀγαυοῦ μώνυχας ἵππους

δωσέμεναι κατένευσε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλα χαλκῷ,

ἠνώγει δέ μʼ ἰόντα θοὴν διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν

395ἀνδρῶν 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.

390Then Dolon answered him, and his limbs trembled beneath him:

“Hector led my mind astray through many delusions,

when he pledged to give me the single-hoofed horses

of Peleus’ glorious son and his chariot adorned with bronze.

He ordered me to go through the swift black night

395and come close to the enemy warriors, to learn

whether the swift ships are guarded as before,

or whether, already subdued beneath our hands,

they are planning flight among themselves and are unwilling

to keep watch through the night, worn down by terrible toil?”

400τὸν 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.

405ἀλλʼ 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

410αὖθι μένειν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀπόπροθεν, ἦε πόλιν δὲ

ἂψ ἀναχωρήσουσιν, ἐπεὶ δαμάσαντό γʼ Ἀχαιούς.

400Resourceful Odysseus smiled and answered him:

“So your spirit reached out for truly great gifts—

the horses of war-wise Aeacus’ grandson. But they are hard

for mortal men to master and drive,

for any but Achilles, whom an immortal mother bore.

405But come, tell me this and give me an exact account:

where did you leave Hector, shepherd of the people, when you came here?

Where does his battle gear lie, and where are his horses?

And how are the watches and sleeping places of the other Trojans arranged?

What are they planning among themselves—are they eager

410to remain here, far off beside the ships, or will they

withdraw back to their city, now that they have subdued the Achaeans?”

412τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Δόλων Εὐμήδεος υἱός·

τοὶ γὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω.

Ἕκτωρ μὲν μετὰ τοῖσιν, ὅσοι βουληφόροι εἰσί,

415βουλὰς 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

420ἀλλήλοις· ἀτὰρ αὖτε πολύκλητοι ἐπίκουροι

εὕδουσι· Τρωσὶν γὰρ ἐπιτραπέουσι φυλάσσειν·

οὐ γάρ σφιν παῖδες σχεδὸν εἵαται οὐδὲ γυναῖκες.

412Dolon, son of Eumedes, answered him again:

“Then I will give you a very exact account of these things.

Hector is among those who serve as counselors,

415taking counsel beside the tomb of godlike Ilus,

away from the din. But as for the watches you ask about, hero,

no chosen guard protects or watches over the army.

At every Trojan fire, those whom necessity binds

stay awake and urge one another to keep watch.

420But the allies called from many places are sleeping;

they entrust the watch to the Trojans,

for their children and wives are not camped nearby.”

423τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

πῶς γὰρ νῦν Τρώεσσι μεμιγμένοι ἱπποδάμοισιν

425εὕδουσʼ ἦ ἀπάνευθε; δίειπέ μοι ὄφρα δαείω.

423Resourceful Odysseus answered him:

“Are they sleeping mixed in among the horse-taming Trojans,

425or apart? Explain it fully, so I may know.”

426τὸν 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,

430πρὸς Θύμβρης δʼ ἔλαχον Λύκιοι Μυσοί τʼ ἀγέρωχοι

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·

435ἐν 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

440ἤλυθʼ 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

445ἠὲ κατʼ αἶσαν ἔειπον ἐν ὑμῖν, ἦε καὶ οὐκί.

426Then Dolon, son of Eumedes, answered him:

“Then I will give you a very exact account of that as well.

Toward the sea are the Carians and Paeonians with curved bows,

the Leleges, Cauconians, and godlike Pelasgians;

430toward Thymbra the Lycians were allotted their place, with proud Mysians,

horse-fighting Phrygians, and chariot-fighting Maeonians.

But why do you question me on every one of these details?

If you two truly intend to enter the Trojan throng,

there are the Thracians, newly arrived, apart from the rest and last in the line.

435Among them is King Rhesus, son of Eioneus.

I saw his horses—the finest and largest:

whiter than snow and in running like the winds.

His chariot is finely worked in gold and silver,

and enormous golden armor, a wonder to behold;

440he came bearing it. Such armor is not fitting for mortal

men to wear, but only for immortal gods.

Now bring me near the swift-running ships,

or bind me and leave me here in merciless bonds,

until you return and put my words to the test—

445whether I have given you a due account, or not.”

446τὸν 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,

450ἦ 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.

ἦ, καὶ ὃ μέν μιν ἔμελλε γενείου χειρὶ παχείῃ

455ἁψάμενος λίσσεσθαι, ὃ δʼ αὐχένα μέσσον ἔλασσε

φασγάνῳ ἀΐξας, ἀπὸ δʼ ἄμφω κέρσε τένοντε·

φθεγγομένου δʼ ἄρα τοῦ γε κάρη κονίῃσιν ἐμίχθη.

446Strong Diomedes looked at him from under his brows and said:

“Dolon, do not put escape into your mind,

even though you brought good news, now that you have come into our hands.

For if we release you now or let you go,

450you will surely come again to the swift ships of the Achaeans,

either to spy or to fight face-to-face.

But if you are mastered beneath my hands and lose your life,

never again will you prove a menace to the Argives.”

He spoke. Dolon was about to grasp Diomedes by the chin with his strong hand

455and beg him, but Diomedes struck the middle of his neck

with his sword as he sprang, and severed both tendons;

while he was still speaking, his head mingled with the dust.

458τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν κτιδέην κυνέην κεφαλῆφιν ἕλοντο

καὶ λυκέην καὶ τόξα παλίντονα καὶ δόρυ μακρόν·

460καὶ 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.

465ὣς 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.

458They took from his head the marten-skin cap,

the wolfskin, the back-bent bow, and the long spear.

460For Athena of the spoils, godlike Odysseus

held them high in his hand and spoke this word in prayer:

“Rejoice, goddess, in these spoils; for on Olympus, first

among all the immortals, we shall invoke you. Once more,

send us against the Thracian men’s horses and sleeping places.”

465So he spoke, lifted the spoils high away from himself,

and set them up on a tamarisk. He made a clear marker beside them,

binding reeds and fresh-flourishing tamarisk branches together,

so the marker would not escape them as they returned through the swift black night.

469τὼ δὲ βάτην προτέρω διά τʼ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα,

470αἶψα 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

475ἐξ 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

480ἑστάμεναι μέλεον σὺν τεύχεσιν, ἀλλὰ λύʼ ἵππους·

ἠὲ σύ γʼ ἄνδρας ἔναιρε, μελήσουσιν δʼ ἐμοὶ ἵπποι.

469The two went on through armor and black blood,

470and soon, as they went, reached the company of Thracian warriors.

They slept, worn down by toil, and their fine armor

lay on the ground beside them, arranged in good order

in three rows; beside each man stood his pair of yoked horses.

Rhesus slept in the middle, and beside him his swift horses

475were tethered by straps to the outermost rim of the chariot.

Odysseus saw him first and pointed him out to Diomedes:

“There, Diomedes, is the man, and there are the horses

that Dolon showed us—the man we killed.

Come, bring forth your mighty force. You must not

480stand here uselessly in your armor. Loose the horses,

or kill the men, and I will take care of the horses.”

482ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἔμπνευσε μένος γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

κτεῖνε δʼ ἐπιστροφάδην· τῶν δὲ στόνος ὄρνυτʼ ἀεικὴς

ἄορι θεινομένων, ἐρυθαίνετο δʼ αἵματι γαῖα.

485ὡς 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

490τὸν 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,

495τὸν τρισκαιδέκατον μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἀπηύρα

ἀσθμαίνοντα· κακὸν γὰρ ὄναρ κεφαλῆφιν ἐπέστη

τὴν νύκτʼ Οἰνεΐδαο πάϊς διὰ μῆτιν Ἀθήνης.

482So he spoke, and bright-eyed Athena breathed force into Diomedes.

He killed in rapid succession, and a hideous groaning rose

as they were struck by the sword, and the earth reddened with blood.

485As a lion comes upon an unguarded flock

of goats or sheep and leaps among them intent on harm,

so Tydeus’ son ranged among the Thracian warriors

until he had killed twelve. Resourceful Odysseus, meanwhile,

whenever Tydeus’ son stood beside a man and struck him with the sword,

490would seize the corpse by the foot and drag it backward,

thinking in his spirit how the horses with beautiful manes

might pass through easily without trembling in spirit

as they stepped over corpses, for they were not yet used to them.

But when Tydeus’ son came upon the king,

495he took from him his honey-sweet life, the thirteenth man,

as he gasped—for over his head as a dreadful dream stood

Oeneus’ grandson that night, through Athena’s cunning.

498τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ ὃ τλήμων Ὀδυσεὺς λύε μώνυχας ἵππους,

σὺν δʼ ἤειρεν ἱμᾶσι καὶ ἐξήλαυνεν ὁμίλου

500τόξῳ ἐπιπλήσσων, ἐπεὶ οὐ μάστιγα φαεινὴν

ποικίλου 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,

505ῥυμοῦ ἐξερύοι ἢ ἐκφέροι ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας,

ἦ ἔτι τῶν πλεόνων Θρῃκῶν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο.

498Meanwhile enduring Odysseus was loosing the single-hoofed horses,

binding them together by the straps and driving them out of the throng

500with his bow, since he had not thought to take in his hands

the gleaming whip from the decorated chariot.

He whistled to signal godlike Diomedes.

But Diomedes stayed, weighing what most reckless deed he could do:

whether to seize the chariot where the ornate armor lay

505and drag it away by the pole, or lift it high and carry it,

or take the lives of still more Thracians.

507εἷος ὃ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα, τόφρα δʼ Ἀθήνη

ἐγγύθεν ἱσταμένη προσέφη Διομήδεα δῖον·

νόστου δὴ μνῆσαι μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὲ

510νῆας 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 Ὀδυσσεὺς

τόξῳ· τοὶ δʼ ἐπέτοντο θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.

507While he pondered these things in his mind, Athena

stood near and addressed godlike Diomedes:

“Remember your return now, son of great-hearted Tydeus,

510to the hollow ships, lest you even come there in flight,

if some other god should rouse the Trojans.”

So she spoke, and he recognized the voice of the goddess speaking.

He mounted the horses at once, and Odysseus struck them

with his bow; they flew toward the swift ships of the Achaeans.

515οὐδʼ 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

520ὡς 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

525ὅσσʼ ἄνδρες ῥέξαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.

515Silver-bowed Apollo was not blind to what was happening:

when he saw Athena attending Tydeus’ son,

angry with her, he plunged into the great throng of Trojans

and roused Hippocoon, counselor of the Thracians,

Rhesus’ noble cousin. He sprang up from sleep,

520and when he saw the place empty where the swift horses had stood

and the men convulsing amid cruel slaughter,

he groaned aloud and called his dear companion by name.

A clamor and boundless turmoil rose among the Trojans

as they rushed together; they stared at the terrible deeds

525the men had done before leaving for the hollow ships.

526οἳ 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·

530μάστιξεν δʼ ἵππους, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· τῇ γὰρ φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ.

526When they reached the place where they had killed Hector’s scout,

Zeus-loved Odysseus checked the swift horses there,

while Tydeus’ son leapt to the ground with the bloodied spoils;

he put them in Odysseus’ hands, then mounted the horses again.

530He lashed the horses, and the pair flew onward willingly

toward the hollow ships, for the course pleased their spirit.

532Νέστωρ δὲ πρῶτος κτύπον ἄϊε φώνησέν τε·

ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

ψεύσομαι, ἦ ἔτυμον ἐρέω; κέλεται δέ με θυμός.

535ἵππων 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.

540οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρητο ἔπος ὅτʼ ἄρʼ ἤλυθον αὐτοί.

532Nestor first heard the pounding and called out:

“Friends, leaders and rulers of the Argives,

shall I be mistaken, or shall I speak the truth? My spirit urges me.

535The pounding of swift-footed horses beats around my ears.

If only Odysseus and strong Diomedes

were driving single-hoofed horses here so soon from the Trojans!

Yet I fear terribly in my mind that some harm has come

to the Argives’ best men amid the Trojans’ uproar.”

540His whole word was not yet spoken when they themselves arrived.

541καί 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

545ὅππως 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·

550ἀλλʼ 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.

541The two dismounted to the ground, and the others rejoiced

and greeted them with right hands and gentle words.

Gerenian Nestor, horseman, was first to question them:

“Come, tell me, much-praised Odysseus, great glory of the Achaeans:

545how did you two get these horses after entering the Trojan throng?

Or did some god meet you and grant them to you?

They look astonishingly like the rays of the sun.

I am always meeting the Trojans in battle, and I cannot say

that I sit idle beside the ships, old warrior though I am;

550yet I have never seen or marked horses like these.

I think some god met you and gave them to you,

for cloud-gathering Zeus loves you both,

as does bright-eyed Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus.”

554τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

555ὦ 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

560ἔκτανε, 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.

554Resourceful Odysseus answered him:

555“Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans,

a god, if willing, could easily give even better

horses than these, for the gods are far more powerful.

But these horses you ask about, old man, are newly arrived—

Thracian horses. Brave Diomedes killed their king

560and beside him twelve companions, all of them the best.

And as a thirteenth, we took the scout near the ships—

the man who was to be a spy on our army;

Hector and the other glorious Trojans sent him out.”

564ὣς εἰπὼν τάφροιο διήλασε μώνυχας ἵππους

565καγχαλόων· 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·

570νηῒ δʼ ἐνὶ πρυμνῇ ἔναρα βροτόεντα Δόλωνος

θῆκʼ Ὀδυσεύς, ὄφρʼ ἱρὸν ἑτοιμασσαίατʼ Ἀθήνῃ.

564So saying, he drove the single-hoofed horses across the ditch,

565laughing aloud, while the other Achaeans went with him rejoicing.

When they reached the well-built shelter of Tydeus’ son,

they tethered the horses with well-cut straps

at the horse-manger, where Diomedes’ own

swift-footed horses stood eating honey-sweet wheat.

570In the stern of the ship Odysseus laid Dolon’s bloodied spoils,

so they might prepare a sacred offering to Athena.

572αὐτοὶ δʼ ἱδρῶ πολλὸν ἀπενίζοντο θαλάσσῃ

ἐσβάντες κνήμας τε ἰδὲ λόφον ἀμφί τε μηρούς.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί σφιν κῦμα θαλάσσης ἱδρῶ πολλὸν

575νίψεν 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.

572They themselves went into the sea and washed off the heavy sweat

from their shins, neck, and thighs.

When the sea wave had washed the heavy sweat

575from their skin and cooled their spirit,

they stepped into well-polished bathing tubs and bathed.

After bathing and anointing themselves richly with oil,

the two sat down to supper. Then, drawing from the full mixing bowl

for Athena, they poured a libation of honey-sweet wine.