The Iliad and the Odyssey (Classics of World Literature) (34 page)

Thou wrong’st thy venture, choosing one least fit to join with thee,

Although perhaps a greater king.’ This spake he with suspect

That Diomed (for honour’s sake) his brother would select.

Then said Tydides: ‘Since thou giv’st my judgment leave to choose,

How can it so much truth forget, Ulysses to refuse,

That bears a mind so most exempt, and vigorous in th’ effect

Of all high labours, and a man Pallas doth most respect?

We shall return through burning fire, if I with him combine:

He sets strength in so true a course with counsels so divine.’

Ulysses, loth to be esteem’d a lover of his praise,

With such exceptions humbled him, as did him higher raise,

And said: ‘Tydides, praise me not more than free truth will bear,

Nor yet empair me: they are Greeks that give judicial ear.

But come, the morning hastes, the stars are forward in their course;

Two parts of night are past, the third is left t’ employ our force.’

Now borrow’d they for haste some arms: bold Thrasymedes lent

Advent’rous Diomed his sword (his own was at his tent),

His shield and helm, tough and well tann’d, without or plume or crest,

And call’d a murrion; archers’ heads it used to invest.

Meriones lent Ithacus his quiver and his bow,

His helmet fashion’d of a hide: the workman did bestow

Much labour in it, quilting it with bow-strings; and without,

With snowy tusks of white-mouth’d boars ’twas armed round about

Right cunningly: and in the midst, an arming cap was plac’d,

That with the fix’d ends of the tusks his head might not be ras’d.

This, long since, by Autolycus was brought from Eleon,

When he laid waste Amyntor’s house, that was Ormenus’ son.

In Scandia, to Cytherius, surnarn’d Amphydamas,

Autolycus did give this helm: he, when he feasted was

By honour’d Molus, gave it him, as present of a guest:

Molus to his son Merion did make it his bequest.

With this Ulysses arm’d his head; and thus they (both address’d)

Took leave of all the other kings: to them a glad ostent,

As they were ent’ring on their way, Minerva did present –

A hernshaw consecrate to her; which they could ill discern

Through sable night, but by her clang they knew it was a hern.

Ulysses joy’d, and thus invok’d: ‘Hear me, great seed of Jove,

That ever dost my labours grace with presence of thy love,

And all my motions dost attend; still love me, sacred dame,

Especially in this exploit, and so protect our fame,

We both may safely make retreat, and thriftily employ

Our boldness in some great affair, baneful to them of Troy.’

Then pray’d illustrate Diomed: ‘Vouchsafe me likewise ear,

O thou unconquer’d queen of arms: be with thy favours near,

As to my royal father’s steps thou went’st a bounteous guide,

When th’ Achives and the peers of Thebes he would have pacified,

Sent as the Greeks’ ambassador, and left them at the flood

Of great Aesopus; whose retreat thou mad’st to swim in blood

Of his enambush’d enemies: and if thou so protect

My bold endeavours, to thy name an heifer, most select,

That never yet was tam’d with yoke, broad-fronted, one year old,

I’ll burn in zealous sacrifice, and set the horns in gold.’

The goddess heard, and both the kings their dreadful passage bore

Through slaughter, slaughter’d carcasses, arms and discolour’d gore.

Nor Hector let his princes sleep, but all to counsel call’d,

And ask’d, ‘What one is here will vow, and keep it unappall’d,

To have a gift fit for his deed, a chariot and two horse,

That pass for speed the rest of Greece? What one dares take this course,

For his renown, besides his gifts, to mix amongst the foe,

And learn if still they hold their guards, or with this overthrow

Determine flight, as being too weak to hold us longer war?’

All silent stood; at last stood forth one Dolon, that did dare

This dangerous work, Eumedes’ heir, a herald much renown’d:

This Dolon did in gold and brass exceedingly abound,

But in his form was quite deform’d, yet passing swift to run.

Amongst five sisters he was left Eumedes’ only son.

And he told Hector, his free heart would undertake t’ explore

The Greeks’ intentions: ‘But,’ said he, ‘thou shalt be sworn before,

By this thy sceptre, that the horse of great Aeacides

And his strong chariot, bound with brass, thou wilt (before all these)

Resign me as my valour’s prize; and so I rest unmov’d

To be thy spy, and not return before I have approv’d

(By venturing to Atrides’ ship, where their consults are held)

If they resolve still to resist, or fly as quite expell’d.’

He put his sceptre in his hand, and call’d the thunder’s god

(Saturnia’s husband) to his oath, those horse should not be rode

By any other man than he, but he for ever joy

(To his renown) their services, for his good done to Troy.

Thus swore he, and forswore himself, yet made base Dolon bold:

Who on his shoulders hung his bow, and did about him fold

A white wol
f
’s hide, and with a helm of weasels’ skins did arm

His weasel’s head; then took his dart, and never turn’d to harm

The Greeks with their related drifts: but being past the troops

Of horse and foot, he promptly runs; and as he runs he stoops

To undermine Achilles’ horse. Ulysses straight did see,

And said to Diomed: ‘This man makes footing towards thee,

Out of the tents; I know not well, if he be us’d as spy,

Bent to our fleet, or come to rob the slaughter’d enemy.

But let us suffer him to come a little further on,

And then pursue him. If it chance, that we be overgone

By his more swiftness, urge him still to run upon our fleet,

And (lest he ’scape us to the town) still let thy javelin meet

With all his offers of retreat.’ Thus stepp’d they from the plain

Amongst the slaughter’d carcasses. Dolon came on amain,

Suspecting nothing; but once past, as far as mules outdraw

Oxen at plough, being both put on, neither admitted law,

To plough a deep soil’d furrow forth, so far was Dolon past:

Then they pursu’d, which he perceiv’d, and stay’d his speedless haste,

Subtly supposing Hector sent to countermand his spy:

But in a javelin’s throw or less, he knew them enemy.

Then laid he on his nimble knees, and they pursu’d like wind.

As when a brace of greyhounds are laid in with hare or hind,

Close-mouth’d and skill’d to make the best of their industrious course,

Serve either’s turn, and set on hard, lose neither ground nor force:

So constantly did Tydeus’ son, and his town-razing peer,

Pursue this spy, still turning him, as he was winding near

His covert, till he almost mix’d with their out-courts of guard.

Then Pallas prompted Diomed, lest his due worth’s reward

Should be impair’d, if any man did vaunt he first did sheath

His sword in him, and he be call’d but second in his death:

Then spake he (threat’ning with his lance): ‘Or stay, or this comes on,

And long thou canst not run, before thou be by death outgone.’

This said, he threw his javelin forth: which miss’d (as Diomed would)

Above his right arm making way, the pile stuck in the mould:

He stay’d and trembled, and his teeth did chatter in his head.

They came in blowing, seiz’d him fast; he, weeping, offered

A wealthy ransom for his life, and told them he had brass,

Much gold and iron, that fit for use in many labours was,

From whose rich heaps his father would a wondrous portion give,

If, at the great Achaian fleet, he heard his son did live.

Ulysses bad him cheer his heart. ‘Think not of death,’ said he,

‘But tell us true, why runn’st thou forth when others sleeping be?

Is it to spoil the carcasses? Or art thou choicely sent

T’ explore our drifts? Or of thyself seek’st thou some wish’d event?’

He trembling answer’d: ‘Much reward did Hector’s oath propose,

And urg’d me much against my will, t’ endeavour to disclose

If you determin’d still to stay, or bent your course for flight,

As all dismay’d with your late foil, and wearied with the fight:

For which exploit, Pelides’ horse and chariot he did swear

I only ever should enjoy.’ Ulysses smil’d to hear

So base a swain have any hope so high a prize t’ aspire,

And said, his labours did affect a great and precious hire:

And that the horse Pelides rein’d no mortal hand could use

But he himself, whose matchless life a goddess did produce:

‘But tell us, and report but truth, where left’st thou Hector now?

Where are his arms? His famous horse? On whom doth he bestow

The watch’s charge? Where sleep the kings? Intend they still to lie

Thus near encamp d? Or turn suffic’d with their late victory?’

‘All this,’ said he, ‘I’ll tell most true. At Ilus’ monument

Hector with all our princes sits, t’ advise of this event;

Who choose that place remov’d, to shun the rude confused sounds

The common soldiers throw about: but, for our watch, and rounds.

Whereof, brave lord, thou mak’st demand; none orderly we keep:

The Trojans that have roofs to save, only abandon sleep,

And privately without command each other they exhort

To make prevention of the worst; and in this slender sort

Is watch and guard maintain’d with us. th’ auxiliary bands

Sleep soundly, and commit their cares into the Trojans hands;

For they have neither wives with them, nor children to protect;

The less they need to care, the more, they succour dull neglect.

‘But tell me,’ said wise Ithacus, ‘are all these foreign pow’rs

Appointed quarters by themselves, or else commix’d with yours?’

‘And this,’ said Dolon, ‘too, my lords, I’ll seriously unfold:

The Paeons with the crooked bows, and Cares, quarters hold

Next to the sea; the Leleges and Caucons join’d with them,

And brave Pelasgians; Thimber’s mead, remov’d more from the stream,

Is quarter to the Lycians, the lofty Mysian force,

The Phrygians and Meonians, that fight with armed horse.

But what need these particulars? If ye intend surprise

Of any in our Trojan camps, the Thracian quarter lies

Utmost of all, and uncommix’d with Trojan regiments,

That keep the voluntary watch: new pitch’d are all their tents.

King Rhesus, Eioneus’ son, commands them; who hath steeds

More white than snow, huge and well shap’d; their fiery pace exceeds

The winds in swiftness; these I saw: his chariot is with gold

And pallid silver richly fram’d, and wondrous to behold.

His great and golden armour is not fit a man should wear,

But for immortal shoulders fram’d: come then, and quickly bear

Your happy prisoner to your fleet, or leave him here fast bound

Till your well-urg’d and rich return prove my relation sound.’

Tydides dreadfully replied: ‘Think not of passage thus,

Though of right acceptable news thou hast advertis’d us;

Our hands are holds more strict than so: and should we set thee free

For offer’d ransom, for this ’scape, thou still wouldst scouting be

About our ships or do us scathe in plain opposed arms;

But if I take thy life, no way can we repent thy harms.’

With this, as Dolon reach’d his hand to use a suppliant’s part,

And stroke the beard of Diomed, he struck his neck athwart

With his forc’d sword, and both the nerves he did in sunder wound;

And suddenly his head, deceiv’d, fell speaking on the ground:

His weasel’s helm they took, his bow, his wol
f
’s skin, and his lance;

Which to Minerva Ithacus did zealously advance

With lifted arm into the air; and to her thus he spake:

‘Goddess, triumph in thine own spoils: to thee we first will make

Our invocations, of all powers, thron’d on th’ Olympian hill;

Now to the Thracians, and their horse, and beds, conduct us still.’

With this, he hung them up aloft, upon a tamrick bough,

As eyeful trophies: and the sprigs that did about it grow,

He proined from the leafy arms, to make it easier view’d,

When they should hastily retire, and be perhaps pursu’d.

Forth went they, through black blood and arms; and presently aspir’d

The guardless Thracian regiment, fast bound with sleep, and tir’d;

Their arms lay by, and triple ranks they, as they slept, did keep,

As they should watch and guard their king; who, in a fatal sleep,

Lay in the midst; their chariot horse, as they coachfellows were,

Fed by them; and the famous steeds, that did their general bear,

Stood next him, to the hinder part of his rich chariot tied.

Ulysses saw them first, and said, ‘Tydides, I have spied

The horse that Dolon (whom we slew) assur’d us we should see:

Now use thy strength; now idle arms are most unfit for thee.

Prize thou the horse; or kill the guard, and leave the horse to me.’

Minerva with the azure eyes breath’d strength into her king,

Who fill’d the tent with mixed death: the souls he set on wing

Issu’d in groans, and made air swell into her stormy flood:

Horror and slaughter had one power; the earth did blush with blood.

As when a hungry lion flies with purpose to devour

On flocks unkept, and on their lives doth freely use his pow’r:

So Tydeus son assail’d the foe; twelve souls before him flew;