Page 190 - the-iliad

When they had done praying to the daughter of great Jove,
they went their way like two lions prowling by night amid
the armour and blood-stained bodies of them that had fall-
en.
Neither again did Hector let the Trojans sleep; for he
too called the princes and councillors of the Trojans that
he might set his counsel before them. ‘Is there one,’ said he,
‘who for a great reward will do me the service of which I will
tell you? He shall be well paid if he will. I will give him a
chariot and a couple of horses, the fleetest that can be found
at the ships of the Achaeans, if he will dare this thing; and
he will win infinite honour to boot; he must go to the ships
and find out whether they are still guarded as heretofore, or
whether now that we have beaten them the Achaeans design
to fly, and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to keep
their watches.’
They all held their peace; but there was among the Trojans
a certain man named Dolon, son of Eumedes, the famous
herald—a man rich in gold and bronze. He was ill-favoured,
but a good runner, and was an only son among five sisters.
He it was that now addressed the Trojans. ‘I, Hector,’ said
he, ‘Will to the ships and will exploit them. But first hold
up your sceptre and swear that you will give me the chari-
ot, bedight with bronze, and the horses that now carry the
noble son of Peleus. I will make you a good scout, and will
not fail you. I will go through the host from one end to the
other till I come to the ship of Agamemnon, where I take
it the princes of the Achaeans are now consulting whether
they shall fight or fly.’

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