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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
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sea； and then went into hot baths； and so to breakfast； for rosy…fingered
Dawn was coming up the sky。
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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；
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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