the iliad(伊利亚特)-第38章
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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 his aim on purpose。 The dart flew
over the man's right shoulder； and then stuck in the ground。 He
stood stock still； trembling and in great fear； his teeth chattered；
and he turned pale with fear。 The two came breathless up to him and
seized his hands； whereon he began to weep and said； 〃Take me alive； I
will ransom myself； we have great store of gold； bronze； and wrought
iron； and from this my father will satisfy you with a very large
ransom； should he hear of my being alive at the ships of the
Achaeans。〃
〃Fear not；〃 replied Ulysses； 〃let no thought of death be in your
mind； but tell me； and tell me true； why are you thus going about
alone in the dead of night away from your camp and towards the
ships； while other men are sleeping？ Is it to plunder the bodies of
the slain； or did Hector send you to spy out what was going on at
the ships？ Or did you come here of your own mere notion？〃
Dolon answered； his limbs trembling beneath him： 〃Hector； with his
vain flattering promises； lured me from my better judgement。 He said
he would give me the horses of the noble son of Peleus and his
bronze…bedizened chariot； he bade me go through the darkness of the
flying night； get close to the enemy； and find out whether the ships
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。〃
Ulysses smiled at him and answered； 〃You had indeed set your heart
upon a great reward； but the horses of the descendant of Aeacus are
hardly to be kept in hand or driven by any other mortal man than
Achilles himself； whose mother was an immortal。 But tell me； and
tell me true； where did you leave Hector when you started？ Where
lies his armour and his horses？ How； too； are the watches and
sleeping…ground of the Trojans ordered？ What are their plans？ Will
they stay here by the ships and away from the city； or now that they
have worsted the Achaeans； will they retire within their walls？〃
And Dolon answered； 〃I will tell you truly all。 Hector and the other
councillors are now holding conference by the monument of great
Ilus； away from the general tumult； as for the guards about which
you ask me； there is no chosen watch to keep guard over the host。
The Trojans have their watchfires； for they are bound to have them；
they； therefore； are awake and keep each other to their duty as
sentinels； but the allies who have come from other places are asleep
and leave it to the Trojans to keep guard； for their wives and
children are not here。〃
Ulysses then said； 〃Now tell me； are they sleeping among the
Trojan troops； or do they lie apart？ Explain this that I may
understand it。〃
〃I will tell you truly all；〃 replied Dolon。 〃To the seaward lie
the Carians； the Paeonian bowmen； the Leleges； the Cauconians； and the
noble Pelasgi。 The Lysians and proud Mysians； with the Phrygians and
Meonians； have their place on the side towards Thymbra； but why ask
about an this？ If you want to find your way into the host of the
Trojans； there are the Thracians； who have lately come here and lie
apart from the others at the far end of the camp； and they have Rhesus
son of Eioneus for their king。 His horses are the finest and strongest
that I have ever seen； they are whiter than snow and fleeter than
any wind that blows。 His chariot is bedight with silver and gold；
and he has brought his marvellous golden armour； of the rarest
workmanship… too splendid for any mortal man to carry； and meet only
for the gods。 Now； therefore； take me to the ships or bind me securely
here； until you come back and have proved my words whether they be
false or true。〃
Diomed looked sternly at him and answered； 〃Think not； Dolon； for
all the good information you have given us； that you shall escape
now you are in our hands； for if we ransom you or let you go； you will
come some second time to the ships of the Achaeans either as a spy
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
