The Iliad by Homer (ebooks children's books free TXT) 📕

And stout Ulysses, whose enduring heart For ev’ry deed of valour was prepar’d.

Rose Agamemnon, King of men, and said: “Tydides, comrade dearest to my soul,

Choose thou thine own companion, whom thou wilt; Of all the many here that proffer aid

Him whom thou deem’st the best; nor from respect To persons leave the better man behind, And take the worse; nor def’rence show to rank, Not though the purest royal blood were his.”

In fear for Menelaus thus he spoke:

Then answer’d valiant Diomed, and said; “If my companion I may freely choose,

How can I pass the sage Ulysses by?

Of ready wit, and dauntless courage, prov’d In ev’ry danger; and to Pallas dear.

I should not fear, by him accompanied, To pass through fire, and safely both return; So far in prudence he surpasses all.”

Whom answer’d thus Ulysses, stout of heart: “Tydides, nor exaggerated praise

Bestow on me, nor censure; for thou speak’st To those who know me all for what I am.

But go we; night wanes fast, the morn is near: The stars are high in Heav’n; and of the night Two thirds are spent, one third alone remains.”

He said; and both prepar’d to don their arms.

The youthful warrior Thrasymedes gave

To Diomed a two-edg’d sword (his own

Had in the ship been left) and ample shield; Then on his brows a leathern headpiece plac’d, Without or peak or plume; a simple casque, Such as is worn by youths to guard their head.

A bow, and well-fill’d quiver, and a sword, Meriones to sage Ulysses gave;

And on his brows a leathern headpiece plac’d, Well wrought within, with num’rous straps secur’d, And on th’ outside, with wild boars’ gleaming tusks Profusely garnish’d, scatter’d here and there By skilful hand; the midst with felt was lin’d; This from Amyntor, son of Ormenus,

Autolycus from Eleon bore away,

Spoil of his pillag’d house; Autolycus Gave to Amphidamas, Cytheran chief,

Who in Scandea dwelt; Amphidamas

To Molus, pledge of friendship; he again Gave to his son, Meriones, from whom

It now encircled sage Ulysses’ brow.

Thus with accoutrements and arms supplied, They left their brother chiefs, and took their way.

Then close beside their path, by Pallas sent, Rose, on the right, a heron; through the gloom They saw it not indeed, but heard the cry.

The fav’ring sign with joy Ulysses hail’d, And thus to Pallas pray’d: “Hear me, thou child Of aegis-bearing Jove, who still hast stood In ev’ry peril at my side, whose eye

My ev’ry movement sees; now, Goddess, now Befriend me; grant that safe, with triumph crown’d, We may return, some great exploit achiev’d, Such as the Trojans long may bear in mind.”

Him following, thus the brave Tydides pray’d: “My voice too, child of Jove, undaunted, hear; And be with me, as with my father erst, The godlike Tydeus, when to Thebes he went, An envoy, in advance; and left behind, Upon Asopus’ banks the mail-clad Greeks.

Smooth was the message which to Thebes he bore; But great, his mission ended, were the deeds That with thine aid he wrought; for, Goddess, thou Wast with him, and thine arm was his defence: So be thou now with me, and me defend.

Then on thine altar will I sacrifice

A yearling heifer, broad of brow, untam’d, Whereon no yoke hath mortal ever laid: Her will I give, and tip her horns with gold.”

Thus as they pray’d, their pray’r the Goddess heard; Then, their devotions ended, on they far’d Through the deep dead of night, like lions twain, ‘Mid slaughter, corpses, arms, and blacken’d gore.

Nor, in the Trojan camp, did Hector leave The chiefs to rest; but all to conf’rence call’d, The leaders and the councillors of Troy; To whom his prudent speech he thus address’d: “Who is there here, that for a rich reward A noble work will undertake? A car

And two strong-collar’d horses, best of all That can be found within the Grecian lines, Shall he receive, who, to his endless praise, Shall dare approach the ships; and learn if still They keep their wonted watch, or, by our arms Subdued and vanquished, meditate retreat, And, worn with toil, the nightly watch neglect.”

Thus Hector spoke; but all in silence heard.

There was one Dolon in the Trojan camp, The herald’s son, Eumedes; rich in gold And brass; not fair of face, but swift of foot; Amid five sisters he the only son;

Who thus to Hector and the Trojans spoke: “Hector, with dauntless courage I will dare Approach the ships, and bring thee tidings sure; But hold thou forth thy royal staff, and swear That I the horses and the brass-bound car Shall have, the boast of Peleus’ matchless son: Not vain shall be my errand, nor deceive Thy hopes; right through the camp I mean to pass To Agamemnon’s tent, where all the chiefs Debate in council, or to fight or fly.”

He said; and Hector took his royal staff, And swore to him: “Be witness Jove himself, The Lord of thunder, that no Trojan man, Thyself except, shall e’er those horses drive; For thee they are reserv’d, a glorious prize.”

Thus Hector swore; though unfulfill’d the oath.

The hope to Dolon fresh assurance gave.

Forthwith, his bow across his shoulders slung, A grisly wolf-skin o’er it, on his head A cap of marten’s fur, and in his hand A jav’lin, from the camp he took his way, Straight to the Grecian ships; but never thence Destin’d to bring th’ expected tidings back.

The crowd of men and horses left behind, Briskly he mov’d along; Ulysses first

Mark’d his approach, and to Tydides said: “See, from the camp where some one this way comes, With what intent I know not; if to play The spy about the ships, or rob the dead.

Turn we aside, and let him pass us by

A little way; we then with sudden rush May seize him; or if he outstrip us both By speed of foot, may urge him tow’rd the ships, Driving him still before us with our spears, And from, the city cutting off his flight.”

Thus saying, ‘mid the dead, beside the road They crouch’d; he, all unconscious, hasten’d by.

But when such space was interpos’d as leave Between the sluggish oxen and themselves [3]

A team of mules (so much the faster they Through the stiff fallow drag the jointed plough), They rush’d upon him; at the sound he stopp’d, Deeming that from the Trojan camp they came, By Hector sent, to order his return.

Within a spear’s length when they came, or less, For foes he knew them, and to night address’d His active limbs; they rush’d in hot pursuit.

And as two hounds, well practis’d in the chase, With glist’ning fangs, unflagging, strain to catch, In woodland glade, some pricket deer, or hare, That flies before them, screaming; so those two, Tydides and Ulysses, stout of heart,

With fiery zeal, unflagging, strain’d to catch The flying Dolon, from the camp cut off; But when the fugitive approach’d the ships, Close by the guard, fresh vigour Pallas gave To Diomed, lest haply from the walls

Some other might anticipate his blow,

And he himself but second honours gain.

Tydides then with threat’ning gesture cried, “Stop, or I hurl my spear; and small thy chance, If I assail thee, of escape from death.”

He said, and threw his spear; but by design It struck him not; above his shoulder flew The polish’d lance, and quiver’d in the ground.

Sudden he stopp’d, with panic paralys’d: His teeth all chatt’ring, pale with fear he stood, With falt’ring accents; panting, they came up And seiz’d him in their grasp; he thus, in tears: “Spare but my life; my life I can redeem; For ample stores I have of gold, and brass, And well-wrought iron; and of these my sire Would pay a gen’rous ransom, could he learn That in the Grecian ships I yet surviv’d.”

To whom Ulysses, deep-designing, thus: “Be of good cheer; nor let the fear of death Disturb thy mind; but tell me truly this; How is ‘t that tow’rd the ships thou com’st alone, In the still night, when other mortals sleep?

Com’st thou perchance for plunder of the dead?

Or seek’st upon our ships to play the spy, By Hector sent? or of thine own accord?”

Then Dolon thus—his knees with terror shook—

“With much persuasion, of my better mind Hector beguil’d me, off’ring as my prize Achilles’ horses and his brass-bound car; Through the dark night he sent me, and enjoin’d, Ent’ring your hostile camp, to learn if still Ye keep your wonted watch, or by our arms Subdued and vanquish’d, meditate retreat, And worn with toil, your nightly watch neglect.”

To whom Ulysses thus with scornful smile: “High soar’d thy hopes indeed, that thought to win The horses of Achilles; hard are they

For mortal man to harness or control,

Save for Achilles’ self, the Goddess-born.

But tell me truly this; when here thou cam’st, Where left’st thou Hector, guardian chief of Troy?

Where are his warlike arms? his horses where?

Where lie the rest? and where are plac’d their guards?

What are their secret counsels? do they mean Here by the ships to keep their ground, or back, Sated with vict’ry, to the town return?”

Whom Dolon answer’d thus, Eumedes’ son: “Thy questions all true answers shall receive; Hector, with those who share his counsels, sits In conf’rence, far apart, near Ilus’ tomb; But for the guards thou speak’st of, noble chief, Not one is station’d to protect the camp.

Around the Trojan fires indeed, perforce, A watch is kept; and they, among themselves, Due caution exercise: but, for th’ Allies, They sleep, and to the Trojans leave the watch, Since nor their children nor their wives are near.”

To whom in answer sage Ulysses thus:

“Say now, where sleep they? with the Trojans mix’d, Or separate? explain, that I may know.”

Whom answer’d Dolon thus, Eumedes’ son: “To this too will I give ye answer true; Next to the sea the Carian forces lie; The Paeon archers and the Leleges,

The Caucons, and the bold Pelasgians next; On Thymbra’s side the Lycians’ lot has fall’n, The Mysians brave, the Phrygian cavalry, And the Maeonians with their horsehair plumes.

But why of these enquire? if ye intend An inroad on the camp, apart from all, New come, the farthest off, the Thracians lie: Rhesus their King, the son of Eioneus, Sleeps in the midst; no steeds that e’er I saw For size and beauty can with his compare: Whiter than snow, and swifter than the wind.

With gold and silver is his chariot wrought, His armour golden, of gigantic size,

A marvel to behold! it seems not meet

For mortal man, but for th’ immortal Gods.

But take me now in safety to the ships; Or leave me here in fetters bound, that so, Ere ye return, ye may approve my words, And see if I have told you true, or no.”

To whom thus Diomed with stern regard: “Dolon, though good thy tidings, hope not thou, Once in our hands, to ‘scape the doom of death; For if we now should let thee go, again In after times thou mightst our ships approach, As secret spy, or open enemy:

But if beneath my hands thou lose thy life, No farther trouble shalt thou cause the Greeks.”

He said; and as the suppliant sought in vain To touch his beard, imploring, through his throat, Both tendons sev’ring, drove his trenchant blade: Ev’n while he spoke, his head was roll’d in dust.

The cap of marten fur from off his head They took, the wolf-skin, and the bow unstrung,