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have said is true。 I have good sons； and also much 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。〃
Diomed 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 captains 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。〃
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 Hector had turned back from his
onslaught on the Argives。 They sat down； therefore； and held debate
with one another。
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 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。〃
They all held their peace； but Diomed 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 which the other has not caught sight of； if a man
is alone he is less full of resource； and his wit is weaker。〃
On this several offered to go with Diomed。 The two Ajaxes；
servants of Mars； Meriones； and the son of Nestor all wanted to go； so
did Menelaus son of Atreus； Ulysses 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： 〃Diomed；〃 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 for his lineage； because he is of more royal blood。〃
He said this because he feared for Menelaus。 Diomed answered； 〃If
you bid me take the man of my own choice； how in that case can I
fail to think of Ulysses； than whom there is no man more eager to face
all kinds of danger… and Pallas Minerva 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。〃
〃Son of Tydeus；〃 replied Ulysses； 〃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。〃
They then put on their armour。 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 Ulysses； 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 skilfully set into it； next the head there was an inner
lining of felt。 This helmet had been stolen by Autolycus 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 Molus； who gave it to his son Meriones； and
now it was set upon the head of Ulysses。
When the pair had armed； they set out； and left the other chieftains
behind them。 Pallas Minerva sent them a heron by the wayside upon
their right hands； they could not see it for the darkness； but they
heard its cry。 Ulysses was glad when he heard it and prayed to
Minerva： 〃Hear me；〃 he cried； 〃daughter of aegis…bearing Jove； you who
spy out all my ways and who are with me in all my hardships；
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。〃
Then Diomed of the loud war…cry also prayed： 〃Hear me too；〃 said he；
〃daughter of Jove； 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 Aesopus；
and went to the city bearing a message of peace to the Cadmeians； 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。〃
Thus they prayed； and Pallas Minerva heard their prayer。 When they
had done praying to the daughter of great Jove； they went their way
like two lions prowling by night amid the armour and blood…stained
bodies of them that had fallen。
Neither again did Hector let the Trojans sleep； for he too called
the princes and councillors 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 honour 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 fly； and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to keep
their watches。〃
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 gol