less he encouraged him. Immediately he threw around his shoulders his crooked bow, and put on above the hide of a gray wolf, with a casque of weasel-skin upon his head; and seized a sharp javelin. And he sat out to go from the camp toward the ships: nor was he destined to bring back intelligence to Hector, returning from the ships. But when now he had quitted the crowd of horses and men, he eagerly held on his way. But him godlike Ulysses observed advancing, and addressed Diomede:
"Hark! Diomede, a man comes from the camp; I know not whether as a spy upon our vessels, or to plunder some of the dead bodies. But let us suffer him first to pass by a little through the plain, and afterward, hastily rushing upon him, let us take him. If, however, he surpasses us in speed, attacking him with the spear, let us continually drive him from the camp toward the ships, lest by chance he escape toward the city."
Then having thus spoken, they lay down out of the pathway among the dead; but he, in thoughtlessness, ran hastily past. But when now he was as far off as is the space plowed at one effort[1] by mules (for they are preferable to oxen in drawing the well-made plow through the deep fallow), they indeed ran toward him; but he stood still, hearing a noise; for he hoped within his mind that his companions had come from the Trojans to turn him back, Hector having ordered. But when now they were distant a spear's cast or even less, he perceived that they were enemies, and moved his active knees to fly; and they immediately hastened to follow. As when two rough-toothed hounds, skilled in the chase, ever incessantly pursue through the woody ground either a fawn or hare, while screaming it flies before; thus did Tydides and Ulysses, sacker of cities, pursue him ever steadily, having cut him off from his own people. But when now flying toward the ships, he would speedily have mingled with the watch, then indeed Minerva infused strength into Tydides, that none of the brazen-mailed Greeks might be beforehand in boasting that he had wounded
- ↑ See the Scholiast, and Kennedy's note.
deceit. The poet contemplates the event, which frustrated his hopes, and rendered his oath obligatory."—Kennedy.
