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Trojan troops； or do they lie apart？ Explain this that I may
understand it。〃
〃I will tell you truly all；〃 replied Dolon。 〃To the seaward lie
the Carians； the Paeonian bowmen； the Leleges； the Cauconians；
and the noble Pelasgi。 The Lysians and proud Mysians； with the
Phrygians and Meonians； have their place on the side towards
Thymbra； but why ask about an this？ If you want to find your way
into the host of the Trojans； there are the Thracians； who have
lately e here and lie apart from the others at the far end of
the camp； and they have Rhesus son of Eioneus for their king。 His
horses are the finest and strongest that I have ever seen； they
are whiter than snow and fleeter than any wind that blows。 His
chariot is bedight with silver and gold； and he has brought his
marvellous golden armour； of the rarest workmanshiptoo splendid
for any mortal man to carry； and meet only for the gods。 Now；
therefore； take me to the ships or bind me securely here； until
you e back and have proved my words whether they be false or
true。〃
Diomed looked sternly at him and answered； 〃Think not； Dolon； for
all the good information you have given us； that you shall escape
now you are in our hands； for if we ransom you or let you go； you
will e some second time to the ships of the Achaeans either as
a spy or as an open enemy； but if I kill you and an end of you；
you will give no more trouble。〃
On this Dolon would have caught him by the beard to beseech him
further； but Diomed struck him in the middle of his neck with his
sword and cut through both sinews so that his head fell rolling
in the dust while he was yet speaking。 They took the ferret…skin
cap from his head； and also the wolf…skin； the bow； and his long
spear。 Ulysses hung them up aloft in honour of Minerva the
goddess of plunder； and prayed saying； 〃Accept these； goddess；
for we give them to you in preference to all the gods in Olympus：
therefore speed us still further towards the horses and
sleeping…ground of the Thracians。〃
With these words he took the spoils and set them upon a tamarisk
tree； and they marked the place by pulling up reeds and gathering
boughs of tamarisk that they might not miss it as they came back
through the flying hours of darkness。 The two then went onwards
amid the fallen armour and the blood； and came presently to the
pany of Thracian soldiers； who were sleeping； tired out with
their day's toil； their goodly armour was lying on the ground
beside them all orderly in three rows； and each man had his yoke
of horses beside him。 Rhesus was sleeping in the middle； and hard
by him his horses were made fast to the topmost rim of his
chariot。 Ulysses from some way off saw him and said； 〃This；
Diomed； is the man； and these are the horses about which Dolon
whom we killed told us。 Do your very utmost； dally not about your
armour； but loose the horses at onceor else kill the men
yourself； while I see to the horses。〃
Thereon Minerva put courage into the heart of Diomed； and he
smote them right and left。 They made a hideous groaning as they
were being hacked about； and the earth was red with their blood。
As a lion springs furiously upon a flock of sheep or goats when
he finds without their shepherd； so did the son of Tydeus set
upon the Thracian soldiers till he had killed twelve。 As he
killed them Ulysses 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 Minerva an evil dream； the seed of Oeneus；
hovered that night over his head。 Meanwhile Ulysses 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 Diomed。
But Diomed stayed where he was； thinking what other daring deed
he might acplish。 He was doubting whether to take the chariot
in which the king's armour was lying； and draw it out by the
pole； or to lift the armour out and carry it off； or whether
again； he should not kill some more Thracians。 While he was thus
hesitating Minerva came up to him and said； 〃Get back； Diomed； to
the ships or you may be driven thither； should some other god
rouse the Trojans。〃
Diomed knew that it was the goddess； and at once sprang upon the
horses。 Ulysses beat them with his bow and they flew onward to
the ships of the Achaeans。
But Apollo kept no blind look…out when he saw Minerva with the
son of Tydeus。 He was angry with her； and ing to the host of
the Trojans he roused Hippocoon； a counsellor 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
marvelled at the deeds of the heroes who had now got away towards
the ships。
When they reached the place where they had killed Hector's scout；
Ulysses stayed his horses； and the son of Tydeus； leaping to the
ground； placed the blood…stained spoils in the hands of Ulysses
and remounted： then he lashed the horses onwards； and they flew
forward nothing loth 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 counsellors 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 Diomed
and Ulysses driving in horses from the Trojans； but I much fear
that the bravest of the Argives may have e to some harm at
their hands。〃
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 knight of Gerene was first to
question them。 〃Tell me；〃 said he； 〃renowned Ulysses； how did you
two e 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 you
dear to Jove； and to Jove's daughter Minerva。〃
And Ulysses answered； 〃Nestor son of Neleus； honour 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 e
from Thrace。 Diomed killed their king with the twelve bravest of
his panions。 Hard by the ships we took a thirteenth mana
scout whom Hector and the other Trojans had sent as a spy upon
our ships。〃
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