Book 10

The other chieftains of the Achaeans slept beside the shipsall night long, mastered by soft sleep;but Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the people,sweet sleep did not hold, for many things he turned over in his heart.As when the husband of fair-haired Hera flashes lightning,preparing either much unmeasured rain, or hail,or snow, when the snow whitens the fields,or somewhere the great mouth of bitter war,so Agamemnon groaned thickly in his breast,from the bottom of his heart, and his inward spirit trembled.Whenever he looked out over the Trojan plain,he marvelled at the many fires burning before Ilion,the sound of flutes and pipes and the din of men.But when he looked at the ships and the host of the Achaeans,he tore many hairs from his head by the roots,up to Zeus on high, and his noble heart groaned greatly.And this plan seemed best to him in his heart:to go first to Nestor, son of Neleus,if he might devise with him some flawless counsel,some defense against evil for all the Danaans.He rose and put a tunic about his chest,and bound fair sandals under his shining feet,and then threw about him the tawny skin of a lion,a great blazing one, reaching to his feet, and took up his spear.So too trembling held Menelaus; for not even on himdid sleep settle upon his eyelids, lest the Argives suffer —the Argives, who for his sake had come over the wide seato Troy, urging on bold war.First he covered his broad back with a dappled leopard skin,spotted; then he lifted a helmet and set it on his head,one of bronze, and took a spear in his sturdy hand.He went to rouse his brother, who was greatlyking over all the Argives, and was honored as a god by the people.He found him setting his fair armor about his shouldersbeside the stern of his ship; and his coming was welcome to him.Menelaus, good at the war-cry, spoke first:"Why, dear brother, are you arming so? Is it some comradeyou would rouse to spy on the Trojans? But I greatly fearthat no one will promise you this task —to go alone and spy on the enemy menthrough the immortal night; he would have to be very bold-hearted."And lord Agamemnon answered him:"You and I have need of counsel, Menelaus, Zeus-nurtured,shrewd counsel, that may shield and savethe Argives and the ships, since the mind of Zeus has turned.He has set his heart rather on Hector's holy offerings;for never yet have I seen, nor heard another tell,that one man devised so many troubles in a single dayas Hector, dear to Zeus, has done to the sons of the Achaeansunaided — no dear son of a goddess, nor of a god.He has done deeds that I say the Argives will rememberlong and for a long time; so many evils he has devised for the Achaeans.But come now, call Ajax and Idomeneusswiftly, running along the ships; and I will go to shining Nestorand urge him to rise, if he is willingto come to the sacred company of the guards and give them orders.For they would obey him most; his songives the watch-sign to the guards, and Idomeneus' companionMeriones; for to them we have chiefly entrusted it."Then Menelaus, good at the war-cry, answered him:"How then do you command and order me by your word?Shall I wait here among them, expecting until you come,or run after you again, once I have given them fair orders?"Then the lord of men, Agamemnon, answered him:"Wait there, lest we miss each otheras we come; for there are many paths through the camp.Call out wherever you go, and bid them wake,naming each man by his father and his lineage,honoring them all; and do not be haughty in your heart,but let us ourselves also labor; for so, I think,Zeus sends heavy hardship upon us as we are.So speaking he sent his brother off, having ordered him well;and he went his way to Nestor, shepherd of the people.He found him beside his hut and his black shipon a soft bed; and beside him lay his richly worked armor,a shield and two spears and a shining helmet.And by him lay his all-gleaming belt, with which the old mangirded himself whenever he armed for man-destroying war,leading the host; for he did not yield to wretched old age.Rising up on his elbow and lifting his head,he spoke to the son of Atreus and questioned him:"Who are you, who come alone through the ships and the campthrough the dark night, when other mortals sleep —seeking some one of the mule-drivers, or some comrade?Speak, and do not come at me in silence; what is your need?"Then the lord of men, Agamemnon, answered him:"O Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans,you will know Agamemnon, son of Atreus, whom beyond all menZeus has cast into toils unceasing, as long as breathremains in my breast and my knees are stirred to move.I wander thus, because no sweet sleepsettles on my eyes, but war and the sorrows of the Achaeans are my care.For I dread terribly for the Danaans, and my heart is notsteady, but I am frantic, and my heartleaps out of my breast, and my shining limbs tremble beneath me.But if you would do something, since sleep does not come to you either,let us go down to the guards, that we may seewhether they, worn out with toil and with sleep,have gone to bed, and utterly forgotten their watch.The enemy sit close by; we do not knowwhether they may not even intend to fight through the night."Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:"Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, lord of men,surely Zeus the counselor will not fulfill for Hector allthe thoughts he now hopes for; but I think he will be vexedwith sorrows, and more of them, if Achilleswould turn his dear heart from bitter wrath.I will follow you; and let us also wake others —the son of Tydeus, famed for the spear, and Odysseus,and swift Ajax and the valiant son of Phyleus.But could someone go and call these too —godlike Ajax and lord Idomeneus?Their ships are farthest off, not at all near.But Menelaus, though he is dear and respected,I will reproach — even if you resent it, I will not hide it —that he sleeps, and has left the labor to you alone.Now he ought to be toiling among all the chieftains,begging them; for the need that has come is no longer bearable."Then the lord of men, Agamemnon, answered him:"Old man, at other times I would even have you blame him;for often he hangs back and is unwilling to labor,not yielding to sloth nor to folly of mind,but watching me and waiting for my lead.But now he woke up well before me and came to me;I sent him to call those whom you are asking for.But let us go; we shall find them before the gatesamong the guards, for there I told them to gather."Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:"So no one of the Argives will resent him or disobey him,whenever he rouses and orders anyone."So speaking he put a tunic about his chest,and bound fair sandals under his shining feet,and pinned about him a purple cloak,double, spreading, with thick shaggy nap upon it.He took a valiant spear tipped with sharp bronze,and went along the ships of the bronze-clad Achaeans.First he roused Odysseus, equal to Zeus in counsel,from sleep, the Gerenian horseman Nestor,calling aloud; and at once the cry came to his mind,and he came out of his hut and spoke a word to them:"Why do you two wander alone through the ships and the campthrough the immortal night? What need has come so great?"Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:"Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,do not be angry; such grief has overpowered the Achaeans.But come with me, so we may wake another whom it suitsto counsel counsel, whether to flee or to fight."So he spoke, and resourceful Odysseus went into his hutand put his richly worked shield about his shoulders, and went with them.They came to Diomedes, son of Tydeus; they found himoutside his hut with his armor; and about him his comradesslept, with their shields beneath their heads; and their spearsstood driven upright on their butt-spikes, and far off the bronzeshone like the lightning of father Zeus; but the heroslept, and beneath him was spread the hide of a field-ranging ox,and under his head a shining tapestry was spread.Standing beside him, the Gerenian horseman Nestor woke him,stirring him with his heel, and urged him and chided him to his face:"Wake, son of Tydeus! Why do you sleep all night long?Do you not hear how the Trojans on the ridge of the plainsit close to the ships, and only a little space keeps them off?"So he spoke, and he sprang up swiftly out of sleep,and spoke to him winged words:"Hard man you are, old sir; you never cease from toil.Are there not other younger sons of the Achaeanswho could rouse each of the kings,going everywhere? You are relentless, old man."Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:"Yes, dear friend, all that you have said is right.I have blameless sons, and I have men,and many, any of whom could go and call.But a very great need has overpowered the Achaeans.For now it stands for all upon the razor's edge:either most wretched destruction for the Achaeans, or to live.But come now, rouse swift Ajax and the son of Phyleus;you are younger; have pity on me."So he spoke, and he threw about his shoulders the skin of a lion,a great blazing one, reaching to his feet, and took up his spear.He went, and the hero roused them and led them from there.When they came in among the gathered guards,they did not find the leaders of the guard sleeping,but all sat awake, with their armor on.As dogs keep anxious watch about the sheep in the fold,having heard a strong-hearted beast that comes through the wooddown through the hills; and much clamor follows after it,of men and dogs, and their sleep is utterly lost:so from their eyelids sweet sleep was lostas they watched through the evil night; for continually toward the plainthey turned, whenever they heard the Trojans coming.The old man rejoiced to see them, and heartened them with words,and spoke to them winged words:"So now, dear children, keep watch; and let sleep seize no one,lest we become a joy to the enemy."So speaking he passed through the trench; and they followed with him,as many kings of the Argives as had been called to the council.With them went Meriones and Nestor's glorious son;for they themselves had called them to take counsel together.Crossing over the dug trench, they sat downin a clear place, where the ground showed clear of the fallen dead— the place from which mighty Hector had turned back againafter destroying the Argives, when night had covered them.There they sat down and showed their words to one another;and the Gerenian horseman Nestor began the speech among them:"My friends, could no man persuade his ownbold heart to go among the great-hearted Trojans,if somewhere he might catch a straggler of the enemy,or hear some report among the Trojans,what they plan among themselves, whether they are mindedto stay here by the ships, far off, or to the cityto withdraw again, since they have beaten the Achaeans.All this he might learn, and come back to usunharmed; and great would be his glory under heavenamong all men, and his gift would be a good one;for as many chieftains as command the ships,each of them all will give him a black ewe,a female with a suckling lamb; there is no possession like it,and he will always be present at feasts and banquets."So he spoke, and they all became silent in stillness.And Diomedes, good at the war-cry, spoke among them:"Nestor, my heart and my proud spirit urge meto go into the camp of the enemy men close at hand,of the Trojans; but if some other man would come with me,there would be more comfort and more confidence.When two go together, one sees before the otherhow there may be profit; but alone, even if he thinks of something,his mind is slower, and his counsel thin."So he spoke, and many wished to follow Diomedes.The two Ajaxes, servants of Ares, wished it;Meriones wished it, and Nestor's son greatly wished it,and Menelaus, son of Atreus, famed for the spear, wished it,and steadfast Odysseus wished to go down into the throngof the Trojans; for his spirit was always daring in his breast.And the lord of men, Agamemnon, spoke among them:"Diomedes, son of Tydeus, pleasing to my heart,choose your companion, the one you wish,the best of those who appear, since many are eager.And do not, out of shame in your heart, leave the better manbehind and take the worse, yielding to shame,looking at his birth — not even if he is more kingly."So he spoke, and feared for fair-haired Menelaus.Then Diomedes, good at the war-cry, spoke again among them:"If you bid me choose a companion myself,how then could I forget godlike Odysseus,whose heart is eager and whose spirit is proudin every toil, and Pallas Athena loves him?With him following, even out of blazing firewe both might come home, for he knows well how to think."Then much-enduring shining Odysseus answered him:"Son of Tydeus, neither praise me much nor blame me;for you speak these things among Argives who know them.But let us go; for the night is passing, and dawn is near,the stars have gone forward, and more than two parts of the nighthave passed, and only a third part is left."So speaking, the two put on their dread armor.To the son of Tydeus, steadfast Thrasymedes gavea two-edged sword; his own had been left by his ship;and a shield; and he set on his head a helmetof bull's hide, without boss and without plume, the kind calleda skull-cap, and it guards the head of vigorous young men.Meriones gave Odysseus a bow and a quiverand a sword, and set on his head a helmetmade of hide; inside it, with many thongs,it was stretched tight; and outside, white tusksof a bright-toothed boar held it thickly here and there,well and skillfully; and in the middle a felt lining was fitted.This helmet Autolycus once took from Eleon,having broken into the close-built house of Amyntor, son of Ormenus,and gave it to Amphidamas of Cythera;and Amphidamas gave it to Molus as a guest-gift,and he gave it to his son Meriones to wear;and now it covered the head of Odysseus, set upon it.When the two had put on their dread armor,they went, leaving there all the chieftains.And to them, near the road, Pallas Athena sent a heron on the right;they did not see it with their eyesthrough the dark night, but they heard it cry.Odysseus rejoiced at the bird, and prayed to Athena:"Hear me, child of aegis-bearing Zeus, who alwaysstand beside me in every toil, and I do not escape your noticeas I move; now again, most of all, Athena, be my friend,and grant that we come back to the ships with good glory,having done a great deed that the Trojans will care about."Second, Diomedes, good at the war-cry, prayed again:"Hear me too now, child of Zeus, unwearied one;follow me as once you followed my father, shining Tydeus,to Thebes, when he went as a messenger before the Achaeans.He left the bronze-clad Achaeans by the Asopus,and carried a gentle message to the Cadmeansthere; but coming back he devised very dreadful deedswith you, shining goddess, when you stood by him willingly."So now stand beside me willingly, and guard me.And I will sacrifice to you a yearling heifer, broad-browed,unbroken, which no man has yet led under the yoke;her I will sacrifice, pouring gold about her horns."So they spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athena heard them.When they had prayed to the daughter of great Zeus,they went on like two lions through the black night,through slaughter, through corpses, through armor and black blood.Nor did Hector let the proud Trojanssleep, but he called together all the chiefs,as many as were leaders and lords of the Trojans;these he gathered and set out a close-packed council:"Who will promise to accomplish this task for mefor a great gift? His reward will be sufficient.For I will give a chariot and two strong-necked horses,the best there are at the swift ships of the Achaeans,to whoever dares — and he would win glory for himself —to go near the swift ships and find outwhether the swift ships are guarded as before,or whether, already beaten by our hands,they are planning flight among themselves, and are unwillingto keep watch through the night, worn out with terrible toil."So he spoke, and they all became silent in stillness.There was among the Trojans a certain Dolon, son of Eumedes,the godlike herald, rich in gold and rich in bronze,who was ugly in looks but swift of foot;and he was the only son among five sisters.He then spoke a word to the Trojans and to Hector:"Hector, my heart and my proud spirit urge meto go near the swift ships and find out.But come, raise up your scepter and swear to methat you will truly give me the horses and the chariot inlaid with bronze,the ones that carry the blameless son of Peleus;and I will not be a spy in vain for you, nor fall short of your hope.For I will go straight through the camp until I reachthe ship of Agamemnon, where I suppose the chiefs are likelyto be counseling whether to flee or to fight."So he spoke, and Hector took the scepter in his hands and swore to him:"Let Zeus himself, the loud-thundering husband of Hera, be witness:no other man of the Trojans shall mount those horses,but I say you shall have glory in them forever."So he spoke and swore a false oath, and urged him on.At once he slung his curved bow about his shoulders,put on outside it the hide of a gray wolf,set a cap of weasel-skin on his head, and took a sharp javelin,and went from the camp toward the ships; and he was not to come backfrom the ships to bring word to Hector again.But when he had left the throng of horses and men behind,he went eagerly along the road; and Zeus-born Odysseusmarked him as he came, and said to Diomedes:"Diomedes, here is a man coming from the camp —I do not know whether as a spy against our ships,or to strip something from the dead corpses.But let us let him pass on a little way across the plain first;and then, rushing at him, we might catch himswiftly; but if he outruns us with his feet,keep driving him back toward the ships, away from the camp,charging with your spear, lest somehow he escape to the city."So speaking, the two lay down off the road among the corpses,and he ran past quickly in his folly.But when he was as far off as the range of mules— for mules are better than oxenat dragging the jointed plow through the deep fallow —the two ran after him, and he stood still, hearing the noise.For he hoped in his heart that comrades would turn backfrom the Trojans at Hector's urging.But when they were a spear-cast away, or less,he knew they were enemy men, and he plied his nimble kneesto flee; and they set off in pursuit at once.As when two sharp-toothed dogs, skilled in the hunt,press hard and steadily upon a fawn or a harethrough a wooded place, and it runs ahead bleating,so the son of Tydeus and Odysseus, sacker of cities,cut him off from the host and chased him hard and steady.But when he was about to reach the guardsas he fled toward the ships, then Athena put strengthinto the son of Tydeus, so that no one of the bronze-clad Achaeansmight strike him first and boast, and he come second.Charging with his spear, strong Diomedes spoke:"Stand, or my spear will catch you, and I say you will notlong escape sheer destruction from my hand."He spoke and threw his spear, and on purpose missed the man;the point of the well-made spear went over his right shoulderand stuck in the ground; and he stood still and was terrified,stammering, and a clatter of teeth came through his mouth;pale with fear; and the two caught him, panting,and seized his hands; and he spoke in tears:"Take me alive, and I will pay my own ransom; for there is insidebronze and gold and much-wrought iron,from which my father would give you countless ransomif he learned I was alive at the ships of the Achaeans."And resourceful Odysseus answered him:"Take heart, and do not let death be in your mind.But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:where are you going so alone from the camp toward the shipsthrough the dark night, when other mortals sleep?Is it to strip something from the dead corpses?Or did Hector send you to spy out everythingat the hollow ships? Or did your own spirit urge you?"Then Dolon answered him, and his limbs trembled beneath him:"Hector led me beyond my senses with many delusions,who promised to give me the single-hoofed horses of the noble son of Peleusand the chariot inlaid with bronze,and ordered me to go through the swift black nightand come near the enemy men and find outwhether the swift ships are guarded as before,or whether, already beaten by our hands,they are planning flight among themselves, and are unwillingto keep watch through the night, worn out with terrible toil."Smiling at him, resourceful Odysseus said:"Truly your heart was reaching for great gifts —the horses of the warlike descendant of Aeacus; but they are hardfor mortal men to master and to drive,for anyone but Achilles, whose mother was immortal.But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:where, when you came here, did you leave Hector, shepherd of the people?Where does his war-gear lie, and where are his horses?And how are the watches and the sleeping-places of the other Trojans?What do they plan among themselves? Are they mindedto stay here by the ships far off, or to the cityto withdraw again, since they have beaten the Achaeans?"Then Dolon, son of Eumedes, answered him:"Yes, I will recount all this to you exactly.Hector, with those who are his counselors,is holding council beside the tomb of godlike Ilus,apart from the din; and the watches you ask about, hero,no chosen watch guards or protects the camp.As for the Trojans' watch-fires — those who are compelled,they stay awake and call on one another to keep watch;but the allies, called from many lands,are sleeping; for they leave the watching to the Trojans;for their children and wives are not sitting near them."And resourceful Odysseus answered him:"How then do they sleep, mixed with the horse-taming Trojans,or apart? Tell me in detail, so that I may know."Then Dolon, son of Eumedes, answered him:"Yes, I will recount this too to you exactly.Toward the sea are the Carians and the Paeonians with curved bows,and the Leleges and the Caucones and the shining Pelasgians;toward Thymbre fell the Lycians and the haughty Mysians,and the Phrygians, fighters from chariots, and the Maeonians, armored horsemen.But why do you question me about all these things one by one?For if you two are eager to get into the Trojan throng,here are the Thracians, new-come, apart, at the very edge of the others;and among them is their king Rhesus, son of Eioneus.I have seen his horses, the fairest and the largest;whiter than snow, and like the winds for running;his chariot is well wrought with gold and silver;and he came with golden armor, huge, a wonder to look at —it is not at all like what mortalmen wear, but like what the immortal gods wear.But now bring me to the swift ships,or bind me with a ruthless bond and leave me here,until you two come and make trial of me,whether I spoke what was right before you, or not."Looking at him from under his brows, strong Diomedes said:"Dolon, do not put any thought of escape in my heart,even though you have brought good news, now that you have come into our hands.For if we let you go now or set you free,you will surely come again later to the swift ships of the Achaeans,either to spy or to fight face to face;but if, beaten under my hands, you lose your life,then you will never again be a trouble to the Argives."He spoke; and Dolon was about to touch his chin with his heavy handin supplication, but Diomedes struck him in the middle of the neck,leaping with his sword, and cut through both tendons;and as he was speaking, his head was mixed with the dust.They took from his head the weasel-skin cap,and the wolf-hide and the back-bent bow and the long spear;and shining Odysseus held them up on highwith his hand to Athena, goddess of spoil, and spoke in prayer:"Hail, goddess; accept these, for you first of all on Olympusof all the immortals we will give offering to; but yet againsend us to the horses and the sleeping-places of the Thracian men."So he spoke, and lifting them up from himhe set them on a tamarisk bush, and put a clear marker on it,gathering reeds and the flourishing branches of the tamarisk,so they might not miss it coming back through the swift black night.The two went on through armor and black blood,and soon came to the company of the Thracian men.They were sleeping, worn out with toil, and their fair armorlay beside them on the ground, well and in order,in three rows; and beside each man were his paired horses.Rhesus slept in the middle, and beside him his swift horseswere tied with straps from the last rail of the chariot.Seeing him first, Odysseus pointed him out to Diomedes:"Diomedes, this is the man, and these are the horses,which Dolon, whom we killed, pointed out to us.But come, put forth your mighty strength; there is no needto stand idle in your armor; loose the horses instead;or you kill the men, and the horses will be my care."So he spoke, and bright-eyed Athena breathed strength into him,and he killed, turning this way and that; and a shameful groaning rose from themas they were struck with the sword, and the earth grew red with blood.As a lion comes upon an unguarded flockof goats or sheep and springs on them with evil intent,so the son of Tydeus went at the Thracian menuntil he had killed twelve; and resourceful Odysseuswhoever the son of Tydeus struck with his sword, standing by,him Odysseus would catch from behind by the foot and drag away,thinking in his heart how the beautiful-maned horsesmight pass through easily and not be frightened in spiritas they stepped over the dead; for they were not yet used to them.But when the son of Tydeus came upon the king,he took from him, the thirteenth, his honey-sweet lifeas he gasped; for an evil dream stood over his headthat night — the son of Oeneus, through the counsel of Athena.Meanwhile steadfast Odysseus loosed the single-hoofed horses,gathered them together with straps and drove them out of the crowd,striking them with his bow, since he had not thought to take the shining whipfrom the well-wrought chariot into his hands;and he whistled to signal shining Diomedes.But he waited, pondering what most shameless thing he might do:whether he should take the chariot, where the rich armor lay,and drag it out by the pole, or lift it up and carry it away,or take the life from still more of the Thracians.While he was pondering this in his mind, Athena cameand standing near spoke to shining Diomedes:"Son of great-hearted Tydeus, remember your returnto the hollow ships — do not come back in fear —lest some other god wake the Trojans."So she spoke, and he understood the voice of the goddess speaking,and swiftly mounted the horses; and Odysseus struck themwith his bow; and they flew toward the swift ships of the Achaeans.Nor did Apollo of the silver bow keep a blind watchwhen he saw Athena following the son of Tydeus;in anger at her he went down into the great throng of the Trojans,and roused Hippocoon, counselor of the Thracians,the noble cousin of Rhesus; and he sprang out of sleep,and when he saw the empty place where the swift horses had stood,and the men gasping in their painful slaughter,he groaned aloud and called his dear comrade by name.Then a clamor and unspeakable uproar rose from the Trojansas they rushed together; and they marvelled at the dreadful deedsthat the men had done and gone to the hollow ships.When they came to the place where they had killed Hector's spy,there Odysseus, dear to Zeus, checked the swift horses,and the son of Tydeus leaped to the ground and put the bloody spoilsinto the hands of Odysseus, and mounted the horses;he lashed the horses, and they flew, not unwilling,toward the hollow ships; for that was dear to their heart.Nestor heard the noise first, and spoke:"My friends, leaders and lords of the Argives,shall I speak falsely or speak the truth? My heart bids me.The sound of swift-footed horses strikes my ears.If only Odysseus and strong Diomedeswere driving the single-hoofed horses out of Troy like this!But I greatly fear in my mind that something has happened to them —the best of the Argives — from the Trojans' uproar."He had not yet finished the whole speech when they themselves arrived.They stepped down onto the ground, and the others, rejoicing,greeted them with their right hands and gentle words;and the Gerenian horseman Nestor was first to question them:"Come, tell me, much-praised Odysseus, great glory of the Achaeans,how you two took these horses, going down into the throngof the Trojans; or some god met you and gave them to you.They are terribly like the sunbeams.I am always mixing with the Trojans, and I do not claimto linger by the ships, old warrior though I am;but I have never yet seen or marked such horses.But I think some god met you and gave them;for Zeus the cloud-gatherer loves you both,and the daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, bright-eyed Athena."And resourceful Odysseus answered him:"O Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans,easily could a willing god give even better horses than these,since they are far superior.But these horses, old man, that you ask about are newly come,Thracian; and their lord, good Diomedeskilled, along with twelve comrades, all the best.And a thirteenth, a spy, we caught near the ships,the one whom Hector sent to watch our army,he and the other noble Trojans."So speaking he drove the single-hoofed horses across the trench,exulting; and the other Achaeans went with him, rejoicing.When they came to the well-built hut of the son of Tydeus,they tied the horses with well-cut strapsat the horse-manger, where the horses of Diomedesstood, swift-footed, eating honey-sweet grain;and on the stern of the ship Odysseus placed the bloody spoils of Dolon,to be made ready as a sacred offering to Athena.And they washed the abundant sweat off themselves in the sea,stepping in, their shins and necks and thighs.But when the wave of the sea had washed the abundant sweatfrom their skin and their dear hearts were refreshed,they stepped into well-polished tubs and bathed.The two, bathed and anointed richly with olive oil,sat down to dinner, and from the mixing bowl they poured,drawing from the full bowl, libation of honey-sweet wine to Athena.

The other Greek leaders slept by the shipsall night long, worn out by soft sleep.But sweet sleep did not hold Agamemnon, Atreus' son, shepherd of the people,because he was turning many things over in his mind.Just as when Hera's fair-haired husband flashes lightning,getting ready to send heavy rain, or hail,or snow, when snow whitens the fields,or the wide mouth of bitter war somewhere,so Agamemnon groaned deep in his chest,from the bottom of his heart, and his spirit shook inside him.Whenever he looked out at the Trojan plain,he was amazed at the many fires burning in front of Troy,the sound of flutes and pipes and the noise of men.But when he looked at the ships and the Greek army,he tore handfuls of hair out of his head,up toward Zeus on high, and his proud heart groaned.And this plan seemed best to him:to go first to Nestor, son of Neleus,to see if together they could work out some blameless plan,some way to keep evil from all the Greeks.He got up and pulled a tunic over his chest,tied good sandals under his shining feet,then wrapped around himself the tawny hide of a lion,a big blazing one, reaching to his feet, and picked up a spear.Menelaus was shaking with fear too; sleep would notsettle on his eyelids either, in case the Greekscame to harm — the Greeks who had crossed the wide seato Troy for his sake, pushing a bold war.First he covered his broad back with a spottedleopard skin, then lifted a bronze helmetand put it on his head, and took a spear in his strong hand.He went to wake his brother, who ruled mightilyover all the Greeks, and was honored like a god by the army.He found him putting his fine armor on his shouldersbeside the stern of his ship; and he was glad he came.Menelaus, good at the war cry, spoke first:"Why are you arming like this, brother? Are you going to wakesome comrade to spy on the Trojans? But I'm very afraidthat nobody will take on that job —going alone through the immortal night to spy on the enemy.A man would have to be very bold-hearted."Lord Agamemnon answered him:"Menelaus, raised by Zeus, you and I need a plan —a clever one, that will protect and savethe Greeks and the ships, because Zeus's mind has turned.He's set his heart on Hector's offerings instead.I've never seen or heard of one manthinking up so much trouble in a single dayas Hector, dear to Zeus, has done to the Greeksall by himself — and he's no son of a goddess or a god.He's done things the Greeks will remember,and remember for a long time; that's how much evil he's planned.So go now, call Ajax and Idomeneusquickly along the ships; I'll go to shining Nestorand urge him to get up, if he's willingto come to the sacred guard post and give them orders.They'd obey him best; his songives the guards their signal, and Idomeneus' companionMeriones does too; that's who we've trusted with it most."Then Menelaus, good at the war cry, answered him:"So how do you order me, and what do you want?Should I wait here with them until you come,or run after you again once I've given them good orders?"Lord Agamemnon, lord of men, answered him:"Wait there, in case we miss each othercoming and going; there are many paths through the camp.Call out wherever you go, and tell them to wake up,naming each man by his father and family,giving everyone honor. Don't be proud about it —let's do the hard work ourselves too; that's howZeus lays heavy trouble on us."With that he sent his brother off, having given him good orders.Then he went himself to Nestor, shepherd of the people.He found him beside his hut and his black shipon a soft bed; and beside him lay his richly worked armor,a shield and two spears and a shining helmet.Beside him lay his gleaming belt, which the old manstrapped on whenever he armed for man-destroying war,leading the army; he never gave in to miserable old age.Raising himself on his elbow and lifting his head,he spoke to Atreus' son and asked him:"Who are you, going alone through the ships and the campin the dark night, when other people are asleep —looking for one of the mule drivers, or some comrade?Speak up; don't come at me in silence. What do you want?"Lord Agamemnon, lord of men, answered him:"Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Greeks,you know me — Agamemnon, Atreus' son, whom Zeushas thrown into endless hard work, as long as breathstays in my chest and my knees can still move.I'm wandering around like this because sweet sleep won'tsettle on my eyes; I keep thinking about the war and the Greeks' troubles.I'm terribly afraid for the Greeks, and my heartisn't steady — I'm frantic, my heartjumps out of my chest, and my bright limbs are shaking.But if you can do something — since sleep won't come to you either —let's go down to the guards and seewhether they've fallen asleep, worn out by hard workand sleep, and completely forgotten their watch.The enemy is camped nearby; we don't knowif they're planning to fight through the night."The Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:"Most glorious Agamemnon, Atreus' son, lord of men,Zeus the planner won't bring Hector everythinghe's hoping for now; I think he'll strugglewith even more troubles, if Achillesturns his heart away from his bitter anger.I'll come with you; and let's wake some others too —Tydeus' son, famous for the spear, and Odysseus,and quick Ajax and Phyleus' brave son.But maybe someone should go and call these two as well —godlike Ajax and lord Idomeneus?Their ships are farthest away, not near at all.But Menelaus — even though he's dear to me and respected —I'll criticize, even if it makes you angry, and I won't hide it:he's asleep, and he's left the work to you alone.He should be going around to all the leaders now,begging them; the need is no longer bearable."Lord Agamemnon, lord of men, answered him:"Old man, other times I'd tell you to blame him too;he often hangs back and won't do the work,not because he's lazy or foolish,but because he watches me and waits for me to start.But this time he woke up well before me and came to me;I sent him to call the men you're asking about.Let's go; we'll find them before the gatesat the guard post — that's where I told them to gather."The Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:"So none of the Greeks will blame him or disobey him,whenever he urges or orders anyone."With that he pulled a tunic over his chest,tied good sandals under his shining feet,pinned around himself a purple cloak,double, spread wide, with thick shaggy wool on it.He picked up a strong spear tipped with sharp bronzeand went along the ships of the bronze-clad Greeks.First he woke Odysseus, whose mind is equal to Zeus's,the Gerenian horseman Nestor, up out of sleep,calling out; the sound reached his mind at once,and he came out of his hut and spoke to them:"Why are you two wandering alone through the ships and the campin the immortal night? What's the big need?"The Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:"Odysseus, Zeus-born son of Laertes, full of tricks,don't be angry — this much grief has beaten the Greeks down.Come with me, so we can wake another man who oughtto be in on the plan — whether to run or to fight."He spoke, and cunning Odysseus went into his hutand put his richly worked shield on his shoulders, and went with them.They went to Diomedes, Tydeus' son; they found himoutside his hut with his armor on. His comradeswere sleeping around him with their shields under their heads;their spears were stuck upright on their butt-spikes, and the bronzeflashed far off like the lightning of father Zeus. But the herowas asleep, with the hide of a farm ox spread under him,and a bright blanket spread under his head.Standing beside him, the Gerenian horseman Nestor woke him,nudging him with his heel, and urged him on and scolded him to his face:"Wake up, Tydeus' son! Why are you sleeping the whole night through?Don't you hear how the Trojans are camped on the high ground of the plain,close to the ships, with only a little space between us?"He spoke, and Diomedes jumped up fast out of sleepand spoke winged words to him:"You're a hard man, old sir; you never stop working.Aren't there younger sons of the Greekswho could wake up each of the kings,going around everywhere? You're impossible, old man."The Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:"Yes, dear friend, everything you said is right.I do have blameless sons, and I have men,plenty of them, and any one could go and call.But a very big need has beaten the Greeks down.Right now everything hangs on a razor's edge for all of us:either the Greeks are destroyed miserably, or they live.So go now, wake quick Ajax and Phyleus' son;you're younger — have pity on me."He spoke, and Diomedes wrapped the hide of a lionaround his shoulders, a big blazing one reaching to his feet, and picked up a spear.He went, and the hero woke them and led them away.When they reached the gathered guards,they did not find the guard leaders sleeping —all of them were sitting awake with their armor on.Just as dogs stand anxious around the sheep in the yardwhen they hear a strong-hearted wild beast that comesthrough the woods and down the hills; a big racket follows itfrom men and dogs, and their sleep is gone:so their sweet sleep was gone from their eyelidsas they kept watch through the wicked night; they kept turningtoward the plain whenever they heard the Trojans moving.The old man was glad to see them and encouraged them with words,and spoke winged words to them:"Keep watch like this now, dear children; don't let sleepgrab anyone, or we'll become a joy to the enemy."With that he went through the ditch; and they followed him,as many Greek kings as had been called to the council.Meriones went with them, and Nestor's glorious son,because they had called them to plan together.They crossed the dug ditch and sat downin an open spot, where the ground was clear of the fallen dead,the place where mighty Hector had turned backafter killing Greeks, once night covered everything.There they sat and shared their thoughts with each other,and the Gerenian horseman Nestor started the talking:"My friends, could no man persuade his ownbold heart to go among the great-hearted Trojans,and catch some straggler of the enemy,or find out some report from the Trojans —what they're planning among themselves, whether they meanto stay here by the ships, far off, or to the city,to pull back again, since they've beaten the Greeks.He'd learn all that, and come back to usunharmed; his glory under the sky would be greatamong all people, and his gift would be a good one.Every one of the leaders who command the shipswill give him a black ewe,a female with a suckling lamb; nothing is worth the same,and he'll always be at the feasts and banquets."He spoke, and they all went silent.Then Diomedes, good at the war cry, spoke among them:"Nestor, my heart and my proud spirit push meto go into the enemy camp that's close at hand,the Trojans'. But if another man came with me,there'd be more comfort and more courage.When two go together, one sees ahead of the otherhow there might be profit; alone, even if he thinks of something,his mind is slower and his plan is thin."He spoke, and many wanted to go with Diomedes.The two Ajaxes, servants of Ares, wanted to;Meriones wanted to, and Nestor's son really wanted to,and Menelaus, Atreus' son, famous for the spear, wanted to,and stubborn Odysseus wanted to go down into the throngof the Trojans; his spirit was always daring.Then lord Agamemnon, lord of men, spoke among them:"Diomedes, Tydeus' son, dear to my heart,choose your companion — whoever you want,the best of those here, since plenty of them are eager.And don't, out of shame in your heart, leave the better manbehind and take the worse one because you're embarrassed,looking at his family — not even if he's more of a king."He spoke, and he was afraid for fair-haired Menelaus.Then Diomedes, good at the war cry, spoke again:"If you're telling me to pick a companion myself,how could I forget godlike Odysseus,whose heart is eager and whose spirit is proudin every kind of hard work, and Pallas Athena loves him?With him beside me, we could come back even out of blazing fire,because he knows how to think things through."Then much-enduring shining Odysseus answered him:"Tydeus' son, don't praise me too much or criticize me;you're saying this to Greeks who know the truth.Let's go; the night is passing, dawn is near,the stars have moved on, and more than two-thirdsof the night is gone, only a third is left."With that, the two put on their terrible armor.To Tydeus' son, steadfast Thrasymedes gavea two-edged sword — his own had been left at the ship —and a shield; and he put a helmet on his headmade of bull's hide, with no boss and no plume, the kind calleda skullcap; it protects the heads of strong young men.Meriones gave Odysseus a bow and a quiverand a sword, and put a helmet on his headmade of hide; inside it, tight-stretchedwith lots of leather straps; outside, white boar tusksof a bright-toothed boar were set thickly here and there,well and skillfully; and in the middle a felt cap was fitted.Autolycus once stole this helmet from Eleon,breaking into the well-built house of Amyntor, Ormenus' son,and gave it to Amphidamas of Cythera;Amphidamas gave it to Molus as a guest gift,and he gave it to his son Meriones to wear;and now it was put on and covered Odysseus' head.When the two had put on their terrible armor,they went, leaving all the leaders behind.Pallas Athena sent them a heron on the right, near the road;they didn't see it with their eyesthrough the dark night, but they heard it cry.Odysseus was glad at the bird, and prayed to Athena:"Hear me, child of aegis-bearing Zeus, you who alwaysstand beside me in every hard task, and I never escape your noticewhen I move; now especially, Athena, be my friend,and let us come back to the ships with good glory,having done a great deed that the Trojans will care about."Second, Diomedes, good at the war cry, prayed too:"Hear me too now, child of Zeus, unwearied one;follow me as you once followed my father, shining Tydeus,to Thebes, when he went as a messenger ahead of the Greeks.He left the bronze-clad Greeks by the Asopus river,and carried a gentle message to the people of Thebesthere; but coming back he planned dreadful deedswith you, shining goddess, when you stood by him willing."So now stand beside me willingly, and guard me.And I'll sacrifice to you a yearling heifer, broad-browed,unbroken, that no man has ever led under the yoke;her I'll sacrifice, pouring gold around her horns."So they prayed, and Pallas Athena heard them.When they had prayed to the daughter of great Zeus,they went on like two lions through the black night,through slaughter, through corpses, through armor and black blood.Hector didn't let the proud Trojanssleep either; he called all the leaders together,as many as were leaders and lords of the Trojans;he gathered them and set up a close-packed council:"Who will promise to do this job for mefor a big gift? His reward will be enough.I'll give him a chariot and two strong-necked horses,the best there are at the swift ships of the Greeks,to whoever dares — and he'd win glory for himself —to go close to the swift ships and find outwhether the swift ships are guarded like before,or whether, already beaten by our hands,they're planning to run among themselves, and don't wantto keep watch through the night, worn out by terrible work."He spoke, and they all went silent.There was a man among the Trojans named Dolon, son of Eumedes,the godlike herald, rich in gold and rich in bronze,ugly to look at, but fast on his feet;he was the only son among five sisters.He spoke a word to the Trojans and to Hector:"Hector, my heart and my proud spirit push meto go close to the swift ships and find out.But come, raise your scepter and swear to methat you'll really give me the horses and the chariot inlaid with bronze,the ones that carry the blameless son of Peleus;and I won't be a useless spy for you, or fail your hopes.I'll go straight through the camp until I reachAgamemnon's ship, where I suppose the leaders are likelyto be deciding whether to run or to fight."He spoke, and Hector took the scepter in his hand and swore to him:"Let Zeus himself, the loud-thundering husband of Hera, be my witness:no other Trojan will ever mount those horses —I say you'll have glory in them forever."He spoke and swore a false oath, and pushed him on.At once Dolon slung his curved bow over his shoulders,put on over it the hide of a gray wolf,put a weasel-skin cap on his head, took a sharp javelin,and went from the camp toward the ships; and he wasn't goingto bring word back to Hector from the ships.But when he had left the crowd of horses and men behind,he went eagerly down the road; and Zeus-born Odysseusspotted him coming and said to Diomedes:"Diomedes, here comes a man from the camp —I don't know if he's a spy after our ships,or going to strip something off the dead bodies.Let's let him pass by across the plain a little way first;then we can rush him and catch himfast. But if he outruns us on foot,keep driving him back toward the ships, away from the camp,charging with your spear, so he doesn't get away to the city."With that, the two lay down off the road among the corpses,and he ran right past in his foolishness.But when he was as far away as the length of a furrowthat mules plow — mules are better than oxenat dragging the jointed plow through deep fallow ground —the two ran at him, and he stopped when he heard the noise.He had hoped in his heart that comrades were turning backfrom the Trojans, sent by Hector.But when they were a spear-throw away, or less,he knew they were enemy men, and he worked his legs fastto run; and they set off chasing him at once.Just as two sharp-toothed dogs, skilled hunters,press hard and steady after a fawn or a harethrough a wooded place, and it runs ahead bleating,so Tydeus' son and Odysseus, sacker of cities,cut him off from his army and chased him hard and steady.But when he was about to reach the guardsas he ran toward the ships, Athena put strengthinto Tydeus' son, so that no bronze-clad Greekcould hit him first and boast, and Diomedes come second.Charging with his spear, strong Diomedes said:"Stop, or my spear will catch you, and I say you won'tescape plain death from my hand for long."He spoke and threw his spear, and deliberately missed the man;the point of the well-made spear went over his right shoulderand stuck in the ground. He stood still, terrified,stammering, and his teeth chattered in his mouth;he went pale with fear. The two caught him, panting,and grabbed his hands; and he spoke in tears:"Take me alive, and I'll pay my own ransom; there's plenty inside —bronze and gold and hard-worked iron —my father would give you endless ransom from itif he heard I was alive at the Greek ships."Cunning Odysseus answered him:"Cheer up, don't think about death.But come, tell me this and tell it straight:where are you going all alone from the camp toward the shipsthrough the dark night, when other people are asleep?Are you going to strip the dead bodies?Or did Hector send you to spy out everythingat the hollow ships? Or did your own spirit push you?"Dolon answered him, his limbs shaking:"Hector led me off my senses with a lot of lies,promising to give me the single-hoofed horses of the noble son of Peleusand the chariot inlaid with bronze.He ordered me to go through the swift black nightand come close to the enemy and find outwhether the swift ships are guarded like before,or whether, already beaten by our hands,they're planning to run among themselves, and don't wantto keep watch through the night, worn out by terrible work."Smiling at him, cunning Odysseus said:"So your heart was reaching for big gifts —the horses of the warlike grandson of Aeacus. But they're hardfor mortal men to master and drive,for anyone except Achilles, whose mother was immortal.But come, tell me this and tell it straight:where did you leave Hector, shepherd of the people, when you came here?Where does his war gear lie, and where are his horses?And how are the watches and sleeping places of the other Trojans set up?What are they planning among themselves? Do they meanto stay here by the ships, far off, or to the city,to pull back again, since they've beaten the Greeks?"Dolon, son of Eumedes, answered him:"I'll tell you all this exactly.Hector, with the ones who give him advice,is holding a council beside the tomb of godlike Ilus,away from the noise. And the watches you're asking about, hero,no chosen watch is guarding or protecting the camp.As for the Trojan watch fires — the men who have to,they stay awake and tell each other to keep watch.But the allies, called in from many places,are sleeping; they leave the watching to the Trojans,because their children and wives aren't camped nearby."Cunning Odysseus answered him:"So how do they sleep — mixed in with the horse-taming Trojans,or apart? Tell me the details so I understand."Dolon, son of Eumedes, answered him:"I'll tell you this exactly too.Toward the sea are the Carians and the Paeonians with curved bows,and the Leleges and the Caucones and the shining Pelasgians;toward Thymbre are the Lycians and the haughty Mysians,and the Phrygians who fight from chariots, and the Maeonians, armored horsemen.But why are you asking me about all these things one by one?If you two really want to get into the Trojan crowd,here are the Thracians, newly arrived, off at the far edge from the others,and among them is their king Rhesus, son of Eioneus.I've seen his horses — the finest and the biggest;whiter than snow, and as fast as the winds.His chariot is well made with gold and silver,and he came with golden armor, huge, amazing to see —it doesn't look at all like what mortalmen wear, but like what the immortal gods wear.But now bring me to the swift ships,or tie me up with a pitiless rope and leave me here,until you two come back and test me,whether I told you the truth or not."Glaring at him from under his brows, strong Diomedes said:"Dolon, don't put any idea of escape in my head,even though you brought good news, now that you're in our hands.If we let you go now or set you free,you'll surely come back later to the swift Greek ships,either to spy or to fight face to face.But if you're beaten under my hands and lose your life,you'll never be trouble to the Greeks again."He spoke; Dolon was about to grab his chin with a heavy handand beg, but Diomedes hit him in the middle of the neck,lunging with his sword, and cut through both tendons;and while he was still speaking, his head fell in the dust.They took the weasel-skin cap off his head,and the wolf hide and the back-bent bow and the long spear;and shining Odysseus held them up highin his hand to Athena, taker of plunder, and prayed:"Greetings, goddess; take these, for you first of all on Olympusof all the immortals we'll make an offering to. But send us againto the horses and the sleeping places of the Thracian men."So he spoke, and lifting the spoils up off the groundhe put them on a tamarisk bush, and set a clear marker on it,gathering reeds and fresh tamarisk branches,so they wouldn't miss the spot coming back through the swift black night.The two went on through armor and black blood,and soon came to the Thracian company.They were sleeping, worn out with work, and their fine armorlay beside them on the ground, neatly set outin three rows; and beside each man were his pair of horses.Rhesus slept in the middle, and beside him his swift horseswere tied with straps to the back rail of the chariot.Odysseus saw him first and pointed him out to Diomedes:"Diomedes, this is the man, and these are the horsesthat Dolon, the one we killed, told us about.Come on, use your strength; there's no pointstanding here useless in your armor — untie the horses instead.Or you kill the men, and I'll take care of the horses."He spoke, and bright-eyed Athena breathed strength into him,and he killed them, turning this way and that; a sickening groaning roseas they were struck with the sword, and the ground turned red with blood.Just as a lion comes at an unguarded flockof goats or sheep and springs on them meaning harm,so Tydeus' son went at the Thracian menuntil he had killed twelve; and cunning Odysseuskept dragging away by the foot from behind whichever manTydeus' son struck with his sword as he stood by him,thinking to himself how the beautiful-maned horsescould get through easily and not be scaredas they stepped over the dead; they weren't used to it yet.But when Tydeus' son came to the king,he took his honey-sweet life from him, the thirteenth,as he gasped; an evil dream came over his headthat night — the son of Oeneus, with Athena's help.Meanwhile stubborn Odysseus untied the single-hoofed horses,tied them together with straps and drove them out of the crowd,hitting them with his bow, since he hadn't thoughtto take the shining whip in his hands from the decorated chariot;and he whistled to signal shining Diomedes.But Diomedes stood there wondering what the most outrageous thing to do was:whether to grab the chariot, where the rich armor lay,and drag it out by the pole, or lift it up and carry it off,or kill still more of the Thracians.While he was turning this over in his mind, Athenacame and stood near and spoke to shining Diomedes:"Son of great-hearted Tydeus, think about getting backto the hollow ships — don't come back scared —in case some other god wakes the Trojans."She spoke, and he understood the goddess's voice,and quickly mounted the horses; Odysseus struck themwith his bow, and they flew toward the swift Greek ships.Apollo of the silver bow wasn't looking the other waywhen he saw Athena following Tydeus' son;angry at her, he went down into the great crowd of Trojansand roused Hippocoon, the Thracian counselor,the noble cousin of Rhesus; he jumped out of sleep,and when he saw the empty place where the swift horses had stood,and the men twitching in their painful slaughter,he groaned aloud and called his dear comrade by name.Then shouting and an endless uproar rose from the Trojansas they rushed together, and they stared at the dreadful thingsthe men had done before going to the hollow ships.When they reached the place where they had killed Hector's spy,there Odysseus, dear to Zeus, pulled up the swift horses,and Tydeus' son jumped to the ground and put the bloody spoilsinto Odysseus' hands, and climbed onto the horses;he whipped the horses, and they flew off, not unwilling,toward the hollow ships, because that's where their hearts wanted to go.Nestor heard the noise first and said:"My friends, leaders and lords of the Greeks,should I lie, or tell the truth? My heart tells me to speak.The sound of swift-footed horses is hitting my ears.If only Odysseus and strong Diomedeswere driving the single-hoofed horses out of Troy this fast!But I'm very afraid in my heart that something has happened to them —the best of the Greeks — because of the Trojan uproar."He hadn't finished the whole speech when they arrived themselves.They climbed down to the ground, and the others, happy,greeted them with their right hands and gentle words;and the Gerenian horseman Nestor was the first to ask:"Come on, tell me, much-praised Odysseus, great glory of the Greeks,how you two got these horses, going down into the crowdof Trojans — or some god met you and gave them to you.They look terribly like sunbeams.I'm always mixing it up with the Trojans, and I don't claimto hang back by the ships, old warrior that I am;but I've never yet seen or noticed horses like these.But I think some god met you and gave them to you,because Zeus the cloud-gatherer loves you both,and so does the daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, bright-eyed Athena."Cunning Odysseus answered him:"Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Greeks,a willing god could easily give even better horses than these,since those are far superior.But these horses, old man, that you're asking about are newly arrived,Thracian; and their lord, good Diomedes,killed, along with twelve comrades, all the best men.And we caught a thirteenth, a spy, near the ships —the one Hector and the other noble Trojanssent to watch our army."With that he drove the single-hoofed horses across the ditch,laughing with delight, and the other Greeks came along, happy.When they reached Tydeus' son's well-built hut,they tied the horses with well-cut strapsat the horse manger, where Diomedes' horsesstood, swift-footed, eating honey-sweet grain;and Odysseus put Dolon's bloody spoils on the stern of the ship,to get them ready as a sacred offering for Athena.Then they washed the thick sweat off themselves in the sea,stepping in, their shins and necks and thighs.But when the sea waves had washed the thick sweatoff their skin and their hearts were refreshed,they stepped into well-polished tubs and bathed.The two, bathed and rubbed richly with olive oil,sat down to dinner, and from the mixing bowl they drewand poured a libation of honey-sweet wine to Athena.