Dolon

“or whether by now our foes, subdued beneath our hands, are planning flight among themselves and have no mind to watch the night through, being fordone with dread weariness. So spake he and they all became hushed in silence. Now there was among the Trojans one Dolon, the son of Eumedes”

“that on those horses no other man of the Trojans shall mount, but it is thou, I declare, that shalt have glory in them continually. So spake he, and swore thereto an idle oath, and stirred the heart of Dolon. Forthwith then he cast about his shoulders his curved bow, and thereover clad him in the skin of a grey wolf,”

“but he ran quickly past them in his witlessness. But when he was as far off as is the range of mules in ploughing—for they are better than oxen to draw through deep fallow land the jointed plough—then the two ran after him, and he stood still when he heard the sound,”

“stammering and pale with fear, and the teeth clattered in his mouth; and the twain panting for breath came upon him, and seized his hands; and he with a burst of tears spake to them, saying: Take me alive, and I will ransom myself; for at home have I store of bronze and gold and iron, wrought with toil;”

“To him then Dolon made answer, and his limbs trembled beneath him: With many infatuate hopes did Hector lead my wits astray, who pledged him to give me the single-hooved horses of the lordly son of Peleus, and his chariot richly dight with bronze; and he bade me go through the swift, black night close to the foemen, and spy out”

“where they be by the ships afar, or to withdraw again to the city, seeing they have worsted the Achaeans? Then made answer to him Dolon, son of Eumedes: Verily now will I frankly tell thee all. Hector with all them that are counsellors”

“whether or no I have spoken to you according to right. Then with an angry glance from beneath his brows, spake to him mighty Diomedes: Nay, I bid thee, Dolon, put no thought of escape in thy heart, even though thou hast brought good tidings, seeing thou hast come into our hands. For if so be we release thee now or let thee go,”