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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
company 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
once… or 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 accomplish。 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 coming 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 come 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 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 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 come from Thrace。
Diomed killed their king with the twelve bravest of his companions。
Hard by the ships we took a thirteenth man… a 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 tied the horses with
thongs of leather to the manger； where the steeds of Diomed stood
eating their sweet corn； but Ulysses hung the blood…stained spoils
of Dolon at the stern of his ship； that they might prepare a sacred
offering to Minerva。 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 Minerva。
BOOK XI
AND now as Dawn rose from her couch beside Tithonus； harbinger of
light alike to mortals and immortals； Jove sent fierce Discord with
the ensign of war in her hands to the ships of the Achaeans。 She
took her stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses' ship which was
middlemost of all； so that her voice might carry farthest on either
side； on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon； and on
the other towards those of Achilles… for these two heroes；
well…assured of their own strength； had valorously drawn up their
ships at the two ends of the line。 There she took her stand； and
rai