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　gold
  and　bronze。　He　was　ill…favoured；　but　a　good　runner；　and　was　an　only
  son　among　five　sisters。　He　it　was　that　now　addressed　the　Trojans。
  〃I；　Hector；〃　said　he；　〃Will　to　the　ships　and　will　exploit　them。　But
  first　hold　up　your　sceptre　and　swear　that　you　will　give　me　the
  chariot；　bedight　with　bronze；　and　the　horses　that　now　carry　the
  noble　son　of　Peleus。　I　will　make　you　a　good　scout；　and　will　not　fail
  you。　I　will　go　through　the　host　from　one　end　to　the　other　till　I
  come　to　the　ship　of　Agamemnon；　where　I　take　it　the　princes　of　the
  Achaeans　are　now　consulting　whether　they　shall　fight　or　fly。〃
  When　he　had　done　speaking　Hector　held　up　his　sceptre；　and　swore
  him　his　oath　saying；　〃May　Jove　the　thundering　husband　of　Juno　bear
  witness　that　no　other　Trojan　but　yourself　shall　mount　those　steeds；
  and　that　you　shall　have　your　will　with　them　for　ever。〃
  The　oath　he　swore　was　bootless；　but　it　made　Dolon　more　keen　on
  going。　He　hung　his　bow　over　his　shoulder；　and　as　an　overall　he　wore
  the　skin　of　a　grey　wolf；　while　on　his　head　he　set　a　cap　of　ferret
  skin。　Then　he　took　a　pointed　javelin；　and　left　the　camp　for　the　ships；
  but　he　was　not　to　return　with　any　news　for　Hector。　When　he　had　left
  the　horses　and　the　troops　behind　him；　he　made　all　speed　on　his　way；
  but　Ulysses　perceived　his　coming　and　said　to　Diomed；　〃Diomed；　here
  is　some　one　from　the　camp；　I　am　not　sure　whether　he　is　a　spy；　or
  whether　it　is　some　thief　who　would　plunder　the　bodies　of　the　dead；　let
  him　get　a　little　past　us；　we　can　then　spring　upon　him　and　take　him。
  If；　however；　he　is　too　quick　for　us；　go　after　him　with　your　spear
  and　hem　him　in　towards　the　ships　away　from　the　Trojan　camp；　to　prevent
  his　getting　back　to　the　town。〃
  With　this　they　turned　out　of　their　way　and　lay　down　among　the
  corpses。　Dolon　suspected　nothing　and　soon　passed　them；　but　when　he　had
  got　about　as　far　as　the　distance　by　which　a　mule…plowed　furrow　exceeds
  one　that　has　been　ploughed　by　oxen　（for　mules　can　plow　fallow　land
  quicker　than　oxen）　they　ran　after　him；　and　when　he　heard　their
  footsteps　he　stood　still；　for　he　made　sure　they　were　friends　from
  the　Trojan　camp　come　by　Hector's　orders　to　bid　him　return；　when；
  however；　they　were　only　a　spear's　cast；　or　less　away　form　him；　he
  saw　that　they　were　enemies　as　fast　as　his　legs　could　take　him。　The
  others　gave　chase　at　once；　and　as　a　couple　of　well…trained　hounds
  press　forward　after　a　doe　or　hare　that　runs　screaming　in　front　of
  them；　even　so　did　the　son　of　Tydeus　and　Ulysses　pursue　Dolon　and　cut
  him　off　from　his　own　people。　But　when　he　had　fled　so　far　towards　the
  ships　that　he　would　soon　have　fallen　in　with　the　outposts；　Minerva
  infused　fresh　strength　into　the　son　of　Tydeus　for　fear　some　other　of
  the　Achaeans　might　have　the　glory　of　being　first　to　hit　him；　and　he
  might　himself　be　only　second；　he　therefore　sprang　forward　with　his
  spear　and　said；　〃Stand；　or　I　shall　throw　my　spear；　and　in　that　case
  I　shall　soon　make　an　end　of　you。〃
  He　threw　as　he　spoke；　but　missed