Rhesus   

HECTOR I have but one word to say, "Arm, arm against the foe!"
CHORUS Lo! where Aeneas comes, in hot haste too, as though he hath
news to tell his friends. (Enter ENEAS.)
AENEAS Why, Hector, have the sentinels in terror made their way through
the host to thy couch to hold a midnight conclave and disturb the
army?
HECTOR Case thee in thy coat of mail, Aeneas.
AENEAS How now? are tidings come of some secret stratagem set on
foot during the night by the foe?
HECTOR They are flying, these foes of ours, and going aboard their
ships.
AENEAS What sure proof canst thou give of this?
HECTOR The livelong night they are kindling blazing torches; methinks
they will not wait for the morrow, but after lighting brands upon
their ships' decks will leave this and to their homes.
AENEAS And thou, wherefore dost thou gird thee with thy sword?
HECTOR With my spear will I stop them even as they fly and leap aboard
their ships, and my hand shail be heavy upon them; for shameful it
were in us, aye, and cowardly as well as shameful, when God gives
them into our hands, to let our foes escape without a blow after all
the injuries they have done us.
AENEAS Would thou wert as sage as thou art bold But lo! among mortals
the same man is not dowered by nature with universal knowledge; each
hath his special gift appointed him, thine is arms, another's is sage
counsel. Thou hearest their torches are blazing, and art fired with
the hope that the Achaeans are flying, and wouldst lead on our troops
across the trenches in the calm still night. Now after crossing the
deep yawning trench, supposing thou shouldst find the enemy are not
flying from the land, but are awaiting thy onset, beware lest thou
suffer defeat and so never reach this city again; for how wilt thou
pass the palisades in a rout? And how shall thy charioteers cross
the bridges without dashing the axles of their cars to pieces? And,
if victorious, thou hast next the son of Peleus to engage; he will
ne'er suffer thee to cast the firebrand on the fleet, no, nor to harry
the Achaeans as thou dost fondly fancy. Nay, for yon man is fierce
as fire, a very tower of valiancy. Let us rather then leave our men
to sleep calmly under arms after the weariness of battle, while we
send, as I advise, whoe'er will volunteer, to spy upon the enemy;
and if they really are preparing to fly, let us arise and fall upon
the Argive host, but if this signalling is a trap to catch us, we
shall discover from the spy the enemy's designs and take our measures;
such is my advice, O King.
CHORUS It likes me well; so change thy mind and adopt this counsel.
I love not hazardous commands in generals. What better scheme could
be than for a fleet spy to approach the ships and learn why our foes
are lighting fires in front of their naval station?
HECTOR Since this finds favour with you all, prevail. (To AENEAS)
Go thou and marshal our allies; mayhap the host hearing of our midnight
council is disturbed. Mine shall it be to send one forth to spy upon
the foe. And if I discover any plot amongst them, thou shalt fully
hear thereof, and at the council-board shalt learn our will; but in
case they be starting off in flight, with cager ear await the trumpet's
call, for then I will not stay, but will this very night engage the
Argive host there where their ships are hauled up.
AENEAS Send out the spy forthwith; there's safety in thy counsels
now. And thou shalt find me steadfast at thy side, whene'er occasion
call. (Exit AENEAS.)
HECTOR What Trojan now af all our company doth volunteer to go and
spy the Argive fleet? Who will be that patriot? Who saith "I will"?
Myself cannot at every point serve my country and my friends in arms.
DOLON (Comes from the rear) I for my country will gladly run this
risk and go to spy the Argive fleet, and when I have learnt fully
all that the Acheans plot I will return. Hear the conditions on which
I undertake this toil.