- Source
- Homer. Homeri Opera, Volumes 1-2. Monro, D. B. (David Binning), editor; Allen, Thomas W. (Thomas William), editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908-1920.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:10.291-10.360
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-30
After praying to Athena, Diomedes and Odysseus set out into the enemy camp. Meanwhile, in the Trojan camp, Dolon volunteers to spy on the Achaean ships in exchange for Achilles' horses, but he is spotted and pursued by the two heroes.
ὣς νῦν μοι ἐθέλουσα παρίσταο καί με φύλασσε.
”So now too stand by me willingly and protect me.
σοὶ δʼ αὖ ἐγὼ ῥέξω βοῦν ἦνιν1 εὐρυμέτωπον
And to you in turn I will sacrifice a yearling broad-browed heifer,
ἀδμήτην, ἣν οὔ πω ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ἀνήρ·
unbroken, which no man has yet led under the yoke;
τήν τοι ἐγὼ ῥέξω χρυσὸν κέρασιν περιχεύας.
this to you I will sacrifice, having poured gold over her horns.”
ὣς ἔφαν εὐχόμενοι, τῶν δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
So they spoke praying, and Pallas Athena heard them.
οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἠρήσαντο Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,
And when they had prayed to the daughter of great Zeus,
βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν ὥς τε λέοντε δύω διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν
they went on their way like two lions through the black night,
ἂμ φόνον, ἂν νέκυας, διά τʼ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα.
through the slaughter, through the corpses, through the armor and the black blood.
οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ Τρῶας ἀγήνορας εἴασεν Ἕκτωρ
Nor indeed did Hector allow the proud Trojans
εὕδειν, ἀλλʼ ἄμυδις κικλήσκετο πάντας ἀρίστους,
to sleep, but summoned together all the chieftains,
ὅσσοι ἔσαν Τρώων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες·
as many as were leaders and rulers of the Trojans;
τοὺς ὅ γε συγκαλέσας πυκινὴν ἀρτύνετο βουλήν·
having called them together, he devised a close counsel:
τίς κέν μοι τόδε ἔργον ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειε
”Who would promise and perform this deed for me
δώρῳ ἔπι μεγάλῳ; μισθὸς δέ οἱ ἄρκιος ἔσται.
for a great gift? And his reward shall be sufficient.
δώσω γὰρ δίφρόν τε δύω τʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππους
For I will give a chariot and two strong-necked horses,
οἵ κεν ἄριστοι ἔωσι2 θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν
whichever are the best by the swift ships of the Achaeans,
ὅς τίς κε τλαίη, οἷ τʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἄροιτο,
to him who would dare—and it would bring glory to himself—
νηῶν ὠκυπόρων σχεδὸν ἐλθέμεν, ἔκ τε πυθέσθαι
to go near the swift-sailing ships, and to find out
ἠέ φυλάσσονται νῆες θοαὶ ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,
whether the swift ships are guarded as before,
ἦ ἤδη χείρεσσιν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσι δαμέντες
or if already subdued under our hands
φύξιν βουλεύουσι μετὰ σφίσιν, οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσι
they are planning flight among themselves, and are not willing
νύκτα φυλασσέμεναι, καμάτῳ ἀδηκότες αἰνῷ.
to keep watch through the night, worn out by terrible weariness.”
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.
So he spoke, and they all became hushed in silence.
ἦν δέ τις ἐν Τρώεσσι Δόλων Εὐμήδεος υἱὸς
And there was among the Trojans a certain Dolon, son of Eumedes,
κήρυκος θείοιο πολύχρυσος πολύχαλκος,
the divine herald, rich in gold, rich in bronze,
ὃς δή τοι εἶδος μὲν ἔην κακός, ἀλλὰ ποδώκης·
who was indeed bad in appearance, but swift of foot;
αὐτὰρ ὃ μοῦνος ἔην μετὰ πέντε κασιγνήτῃσιν.
and he was an only son among five sisters.
ὅς ῥα τότε Τρωσίν τε καὶ Ἕκτορι μῦθον ἔειπεν·
He then spoke a word to the Trojans and to Hector:
Ἕκτορ ἔμʼ ὀτρύνει κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
”Hector, my heart and proud spirit urge me
νηῶν ὠκυπόρων σχεδὸν ἐλθέμεν ἔκ τε πυθέσθαι.
to go near the swift-sailing ships and to find out.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τὸ σκῆπτρον ἀνάσχεο, καί μοι ὄμοσσον
But come, raise the sceptre for me, and swear to me
ἦ μὲν τοὺς ἵππους τε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλα χαλκῷ
that you will indeed give the horses and the chariot adorned with bronze
δωσέμεν, οἳ φορέουσιν ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα,
which carry the noble son of Peleus,
σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ οὐχ ἅλιος σκοπὸς ἔσσομαι οὐδʼ ἀπὸ δόξης·3
and to you I will not be a useless scout nor disappoint your expectation;
τόφρα γὰρ ἐς στρατὸν εἶμι διαμπερὲς ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκωμαι
for I will go straight through the army until I reach
νῆʼ Ἀγαμεμνονέην, ὅθι που μέλλουσιν ἄριστοι
the ship of Agamemnon, where surely the chieftains must be
βουλὰς βουλεύειν ἢ φευγέμεν ἠὲ μάχεσθαι.
planning counsels, whether to flee or to fight.”
ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐν χερσὶ σκῆπτρον λάβε καί οἱ ὄμοσσεν·
So he spoke, and Hector took the sceptre in his hands and swore to him:
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης
”Let Zeus himself now be witness, the loud-thundering husband of Hera,
μὴ μὲν τοῖς ἵπποισιν ἀνὴρ ἐποχήσεται ἄλλος
that no other man of the Trojans shall ride upon those horses,
Τρώων, ἀλλά σέ φημι διαμπερὲς ἀγλαϊεῖσθαι.
but I say that you shall continually have glory from them.”
ὣς φάτο καί ῥʼ ἐπίορκον ἐπώμοσε, τὸν δʼ ὀρόθυνεν·
So he spoke, and swore a false oath, but it urged Dolon on.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἐβάλλετο καμπύλα τόξα,
And straightway he cast his curved bow about his shoulders,
ἕσσατο δʼ ἔκτοσθεν ῥινὸν πολιοῖο λύκοιο,
and put on over it the skin of a grey wolf,
κρατὶ δʼ ἐπὶ κτιδέην κυνέην, ἕλε δʼ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα,
and on his head a cap of marten-skin, and took a sharp javelin,
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι προτὶ νῆας ἀπὸ στρατοῦ· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλεν
and went on his way towards the ships from the army; but he was not destined
ἐλθὼν ἐκ νηῶν ἂψ Ἕκτορι μῦθον ἀποίσειν.
to return from the ships and bring back word to Hector.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν κάλλιφʼ ὅμιλον,
But when indeed he had left behind the throng of horses and men,
βῆ ῥʼ ἀνʼ ὁδὸν μεμαώς· τὸν δὲ φράσατο προσιόντα
he went along the way eagerly; and divine Odysseus noticed him
διογενὴς Ὀδυσεύς, Διομήδεα δὲ προσέειπεν·
as he approached, and spoke to Diomedes:
οὗτός τις Διόμηδες ἀπὸ στρατοῦ ἔρχεται ἀνήρ,
”Here is some man, Diomedes, coming from the army,
οὐκ οἶδʼ ἢ νήεσσιν ἐπίσκοπος ἡμετέρῃσιν,
I know not whether as a spy upon our ships,
ἦ τινα συλήσων νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.
or to despoil some of the dead corpses.
ἀλλʼ ἐῶμέν μιν πρῶτα παρεξελθεῖν πεδίοιο
But let us suffer him first to pass by over the plain
τυτθόν· ἔπειτα δέ κʼ αὐτὸν ἐπαΐξαντες ἕλοιμεν
a little way; and then we might rush upon him and catch him
καρπαλίμως· εἰ δʼ ἄμμε παραφθαίησι πόδεσσιν,
quickly; but if he should outstrip us by his speed of foot,
αἰεί μιν ἐπὶ νῆας ἀπὸ στρατόφι προτιειλεῖν4
always hem him in towards the ships, away from the army,
ἔγχει ἐπαΐσσων, μή πως προτὶ ἄστυ ἀλύξῃ.
rushing at him with your spear, lest somehow he escape to the city.”
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντε παρὲξ ὁδοῦ ἐν νεκύεσσι
Having thus spoken, they lay down out of the path among the corpses;
κλινθήτην· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ὦκα παρέδραμεν ἀφραδίῃσιν.
and he quickly ran past in his folly.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἀπέην ὅσσόν τʼ ἐπὶ οὖρα πέλονται
But when he was as far away as is the range of mules
ἡμιόνων· αἱ γάρ τε βοῶν προφερέστεραί εἰσιν
—for they are better than oxen
ἑλκέμεναι νειοῖο βαθείης πηκτὸν ἄροτρον·
at drawing the jointed plow through deep fallow land—
τὼ μὲν ἐπεδραμέτην, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔστη δοῦπον ἀκούσας.
the two ran after him, and he stood still, hearing the sound.
ἔλπετο γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀποστρέψοντας ἑταίρους
For he hoped in his heart that comrades were coming to turn him back
ἐκ Τρώων ἰέναι πάλιν Ἕκτορος ὀτρύναντος.
from the Trojans, Hector having urged them on.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἄπεσαν δουρηνεκὲς ἢ καὶ ἔλασσον,
But when they were a spear-cast off or even less,
γνῶ ῥʼ ἄνδρας δηΐους, λαιψηρὰ δὲ γούνατʼ ἐνώμα
he knew them to be hostile men, and moved his swift knees
φευγέμεναι· τοὶ δʼ αἶψα διώκειν ὁρμήθησαν.
to flee; and they immediately started in pursuit.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε καρχαρόδοντε δύω κύνε εἰδότε θήρης
And as when two sharp-toothed hounds, skilled in the chase,
- 10.292βοῦν ἦνιν
The adjective ἦνιν ("yearling" or "one-year-old") modifies the noun βοῦν ("heifer"). Along with ἀδμήτην ("unbroken") in the next line, it emphasizes that the animal is pure and appropriate for sacrifice to the goddess Athena.
- 10.306οἵ κεν ἄριστοι ἔωσι
The relative pronoun οἵ combined with the particle κεν (Homeric form of ἄν) and the subjunctive ἔωσι (third-person plural present subjunctive of εἰμί) indicates a generalizing or potential condition within the relative clause ("whichever may be the best"). It shows Hector is promising whatever horses happen to be the finest in the Achaean camp.
- 10.324ἀπὸ δόξης
The prepositional phrase ἀπὸ δόξης literally means "away from expectation." Here, combined with the negative οὐχ, it means "I will not be a scout who disappoints your expectation" or "useless." Alternatively, it could mean "contrary to my own judgment," but in context, Dolon is assuring his fidelity and competence in the mission.
- 10.347προτιειλεῖν
The infinitive προτιειλεῖν (from προσείλω, "to pen in" or "drive towards") is used here in place of an imperative (infinitivus pro imperativo). It expresses a strong command or instruction to Diomedes regarding the tactic to be used if Dolon tries to outrun them.