Rhesus   

ODYSSEUS If however thou shouldst rouse them, dost know their watchword?
DIOMEDES Yea, 'tis "Phorbus"; I heard Dolon use it. (They enter
the tent, then return.)
ODYSSEUS Ha! the foe I see have left this bivouac.
DIOMEDES Yet Dolon surely said that here was Hector's couch, against
whom this sword of mine is drawn.
ODYSSEUS What can it mean? Is his company withdrawn elsewhere?
DIOMEDES Perhaps to form some stratagem against us.
ODYSSEUS Like enough, for Hector now is grown quite bold by reason
of his victory.
DIOMEDES What then are we to do, Odysseus? we have not found our
man asleep; our hopes are dashed.
ODYSSEUS Let us to the fleet with what speed we may. Some god, whiche'er
it be that gives him his good luck, is preserving him; 'gainst fate
we must not strive.
DIOMEDES Well, we twain must go against Eneas or Paris, most hateful
of Phrygians, and withour swords cut off their heads.
ODYSSEUS How, pray, in the darkness canst thou find them amid a hostile
army, and slay them without risk?
DIOMEDES Yet 'twere base to go unto the Agrive ships if we have worked
the enemy no harm.
ODYSSEUS What! no harm! Have we not slain Dolon who spied upon the
anchored fleet, and have we not his spoils safe here? Dost thou expect
to sack the entire camp? Be led by me, let us return; and good luck
go with us! (ATHENA appears.)
ATHENA Whither away from the Trojan ranks, with sorrow gnawing at
your hearts, because fortune granteth not you twain to slay Hector
or Paris? Have ye not heard that Rhesus is come to succour Troy in
no mean sort? If he survive this night until to-morrow's dawn, neither
Achilles nor Aias, stout spearman, can stay him from utterly destroying
the Argive fleet, razing its palisades and carrying the onslaught
of his lance far and wide within the gates; slay him, and all is thine;
let Hector's sleep alone, nor hope to leave him a weltering trunk,
for he shall find death at another hand.
ODYSSEUS Queen Athena, 'tis the well-known accent of thy voice I
hear; for thou art ever at my side to help me in my toil. Tell us
where the warrior lies asleep, in what part of the barbarian army
he is stationed.
ATHENA Here lies he close at hand, not marshalled with the other
troops, but outside the ranks hath Hector given him quarters, till
night gives place to day. And nigh him are tethered his white steeds
to his Thracian chariot, easy to see in the darkness; glossy white
are they like to the plumage of a river swan. Slay their master and
bear them off, a glorious prize to any home, for nowhere else in all
the world is such a splendid team to be found.
ODYSSEUS Diomedes, either do thou slay the Thracian folk, or leave
that to me, while thy care must be the horses.
DIOMEDES I will do the killing, and do thou look to the steeds. For
thou art well versed in clever tricks, and hast a ready wit. And 'tis
right to allot a man to the work he can best perform.
ATHENA Lo! yonder I see Paris coming towards us; he hath heard maybe
from the guard a rumour vague that foes are near.
DIOMEDES Are others with him or cometh he alone?
ATHENA Alone; to Hector's couch he seems to wend his way, to announce
to him that spies are in the camp.
DIOMEDES Ought not he to head the list of slain?
ATHENA Thou canst not o'erreach Destiny. And it is not decreed that
he should fall by thy hand; but hasten on thy mission of slaughter
fore-ordained, (exeunt ODYSSEUS and DIOMEDES) while I feigning to
be Cypris, his ally, and to aid him in his efforts will answer thy
foe with cheating words. Thus much I have told you, but the fated
victim knoweth not, nor hath he heard one word, for all he is so near.
(Enter PARIS.)
PARIS To thee I call, general and brother, Hector! Sleep'st thou?