a good watch； or whether perhaps they were getting ready their
ships to sail homewards in the dawn。 So Hector offered a reward to
any man who would creep through the night and spy on the Greeks； he
said he would give the spy the two best horses in the Greek camp。
Now among the Trojans there was a young man named Dolon； the son of
a rich father； and he was the only boy in a family of five sisters。
He was ugly； but a very swift runner； and he cared for horses more
than for anything else in the world。 Dolon arose and said； 〃If you
will swear to give me the horses and chariot of Achilles； son of
Peleus； I will steal to the hut of Agamemnon and listen and find
out whether the Greeks mean to fight or flee。〃 Hector swore to
give these horses； which were the best in the world； to Dolon； so
he took his bow and threw a grey wolf's hide over his shoulders；
and ran towards the ships of the Greeks。
Now Ulysses saw Dolon as he came； and said to Diomede； 〃Let us
suffer him to pass us； and then do you keep driving him with your
spear towards the ships； and away from Troy。〃 So Ulysses and
Diomede lay down among the dead men who had fallen in the battle；
and Dolon ran on past them towards the Greeks。 Then they rose and
chased him as two greyhounds course a hare； and； when Dolon was
near the sentinels； Diomede cried 〃Stand； or I will slay you with
my spear！〃 and he threw his spear just over Dolon's shoulder。 So
Dolon stood still； green with fear； and with his teeth chattering。
When the two came up； he cried； and said that his father was a rich
man； who would pay much gold； and bronze； and iron for his ransom。
Ulysses said； 〃Take heart； and put death out of your mind； and tell
us what you are doing here。〃 Dolon said that Hector had promised
him the horses of Achilles if he would go and spy on the Greeks。
〃You set your hopes high；〃 said Ulysses； 〃for the horses of
Achilles are not earthly steeds； but divine； a gift of the Gods；
and Achilles alone can drive them。 But； tell me； do the Trojans
keep good watch； and where is Hector with his horses？〃 for Ulysses
thought that it would be a great adventure to drive away the horses
of Hector。
〃Hector is with the chiefs； holding council at the tomb of Ilus；〃
said Dolon； 〃but no regular guard is set。 The people of Troy；
indeed； are round their watch fires； for they have to think of the
safety of their wives and children； but the allies from far lands
keep no watch； for their wives and children are safe at home。〃
Then he told where all the different peoples who fought for Priam
had their stations； but； said he； 〃if you want to steal horses； the
best are those of Rhesus； King of the Thracians； who has only
joined us to…night。 He and his men are asleep at the furthest end
of the line； and his horses are the best and greatest that ever I
saw： tall； white as snow； and swift as the wind； and his chariot
is adorned with gold and silver； and golden is his armour。 Now
take me prisoner to the ships； or bind me and leave me here while
you go and try whether I have told you truth or lies。〃
〃No；〃 said Diomede； 〃if I spare your life you may come spying
again；〃 and he drew his sword and smote off the head of Dolon。
They hid his cap and bow and spear where they could find them
easily； and marked the spot； and went through the night to the dark
camp of King Rhesus； who had no watch…fire and no guards。 Then
Diomede silently stabbed each sleeping man to the heart； and
Ulysses seized the dead by the feet and threw them aside lest they
should frighten the horses； which had never been in battle； and
would shy if they were led over the bodies of dead men。 Last of
all Diomede killed King Rhesus； and Ulysses led forth his horses；
beating them with his bow； for he had forgotten to take the whip
from the chariot。 Then Ulysses and Diomede leaped on the backs of
the horses； as they had not time to bring away the chariot； and
they galloped to the ships； stopping to pick up the spear； and bow；
and cap of Dolon。 They rode to the princes； who welcomed them； and
all laughed for glee when they saw the white horses and heard that
King Rhesus was dead； for they guessed that all his army would now
go home to Thrace。 This they must have done； for we never hear of
them in the battles that followed； so Ulysses and Diomede deprived
the Trojans of thousands of men。 The other princes went to bed in
good spirits； but Ulysses and Diomede took a swim in the sea； and
then went into hot baths； and so to breakfast； for rosy…fingered
Dawn was coming up the sky。
BATTLE AT THE SHIPS
With dawn Agamemnon awoke； and fear had gone out of his heart。 He
put on his armour； and arrayed the chiefs on foot in front of their
chariots； and behind them came the spearmen； with the bowmen and
slingers on the wings of the army。 Then a great black cloud spread
over the sky； and red was the rain that fell from it。 The Trojans
gathered on a height in the plain； and Hector； shining in armour；
went here and there； in front and rear； like a star that now gleams
forth and now is hidden in a cloud。
The armies rushed on each other and hewed each other down； as
reapers cut their way through a field of tall corn。 Neither side
gave ground； though the helmets of the bravest Trojans might be
seen deep in the ranks of the Greeks； and the swords of the bravest
Greeks rose and fell in the ranks of the Trojans； and all the while
the arrows showered like rain。 But at noon…day； when the weary
woodman rests from cutting trees； and takes his dinner in the quiet
hills； the Greeks of the first line made a charge； Agamemnon
running in front of them； and he speared two Trojans； and took
their breastplates； which he laid in his chariot； and then he
speared one brother of Hector and struck another down with his
sword； and killed two more who vainly asked to be made prisoners of
war。 Footmen slew footmen； and chariot men slew chariot men； and
they broke into the Trojan line as fire falls on a forest in a
windy day； leaping and roaring and racing through the trees。 Many
an empty chariot did the horses hurry madly through the field； for
the charioteers were lying dead； with the greedy vultures hovering
above them； flapping their wide wings。 Still Agamemnon followed
and slew the hindmost Trojans； but the rest fled till they came to
the gates； and the oak tree that grew outside the gates； and there
they stopped。
But Hector held his hands from fighting； for in the meantime he was
making his men face the enemy and form up in line and take breath；
and was encouraging them； for they had retreated from the wall of
the Greeks across the whole plain； past the hill that was the tomb
of Ilus； a king of old； and past the place of the wild fig…tree。
Much ado had Hector to rally the Trojans； but he knew that when men
do turn again they are hard to beat。 So it proved； for when the
Trojans had rallied and formed in line； Agamemnon slew a Thracian
chief who had come to fight for Troy before King Rhesus came。 But
the eldest brother of the slain man smote Agamemnon through the arm
with his spear； and； though Agamemnon slew him in turn； his wound
bled much and he was in great pain； so he leaped into his chariot
and was driven back to the ships。
Then Hector gave the word to charge； as a huntsman cries on his
hounds against a lion； and he rushed forward at the head of the
Trojan line； slaying as he went。 Nine chiefs of the Greeks he
slew； and fell upon the spearmen and scattered them； as the spray
of the waves is scattered by the wandering wind。
Now the ranks of the Greeks were broken； and they would have been
driven among their ships and killed without mercy； had not Ulysses
and Diomede stood firm in the centre； and slain four Trojan
leaders。 The Greeks began to come back and face their enemies in
line of battle again； though Hector； who had been fighting on the
Trojan right； rushed against them。 But Diomede took good aim with
his spear at the helmet of Hector； and struck it fairly。 The
spear…point did not go through the helmet； but Hector was stunned
and fell； and； when he came to himself； he leaped into his chariot；
and his squire drove him against the Pylians and Cretans； under
Nestor and Idomeneus； who were on the left wing of the Greek army。
Then Diomede fought on till Paris； who stood beside the pillar on
the hillock that was the tomb of old King Ilus； sent an arrow clean
through his foot。 Ulysses went and stood in front of Diomede； who
sat down； and Ulysses drew the arrow from his foot； and Diomede
stepped into his chariot and was driven back to the ships。
Ulysses was now the only Greek chief that still fought in the
centre。 The Greeks all fled； and he was alone in the crowd of
Trojans； who rushed on him as hounds and hunters press round a wild
boar that stands at bay in a wood。 〃They are cowards that flee
from the fight；〃 said Ulysses to himself； 〃but I will stand here；
one man against a multitude。〃 He covered the front of his body
with his great shield； that hung by a belt round his neck； and he
smote four Trojans and wounded a fifth。 But the brother of the
wounded man drove a spear through the shield and breastplate of
Ulysses； and tore clean through his side。 Then Ulysses turned on
this Trojan； and he fled； and Ulysses sent a spear through his
shoulder and out at his breast； and he died。 Ulysses dragged from
his own side the spear that had wounded him； and called thrice with
a great voice to the other Greeks； and Menelaus and Aias rushed to
rescue him； for many Trojans were round him； like jackals round a
wounded stag that a man has struck with an arrow。 But Aias ran and
covered the wounded Ulysses with his huge shield till he could
climb into the chariot of Menelaus； who drove him back to the
ships。
Meanwhile； Hector was slaying the Greeks on the left of their
battle； and Paris struck the Greek surgeon； Machaon； with an arrow；
and Idomeneus bade Nestor put Machaon in his chariot and drive him
to Nestor's hut； where his wound might be tended。 Meanwhile；
Hector sped to the centre of the line； where Aias was slaying the
Trojans； but Eurypylus； a Greek chief； was wounded by an arrow from
the bow of Paris