Rhesus
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng3
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Chorus
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Enter the Chorus of Trojan guards. Go to Hector’s couch. Which of you squires that tend the prince, or you armor-clad men, is awake? He ought to receive fresh tidings
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from the warriors who were set to guard the assembled army during the fourth watch of the night. Calls to Hector in the tent. Lift up your head! Prop your arm beneath it! Unseal that fierce eye from its repose; quit your lowly couch of scattered leaves,
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Hector! It is time to hearken.
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Hector
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Who is this? Is it a friend who calls? Who are you? Your password? Speak! Who are these who come near my couch in the night? You must tell me.
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Chorus
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Sentinels of the army.
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Chorus
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Be of good courage.
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Is there some midnight ambush?
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Are you not aware how near the Argive army we take our night’s repose clad in all our armor?
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Chorus
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To arms! Hector, seek your allies’ sleeping camp!
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Stir them up to wield the spear! Awake them! Despatch a friend to your own company, bridle the horses. Who will go to the son of Panthus? Who to Europa’s son, captain of the Lycian band?
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Where are they who should inspect the victims? Where are the leaders of the light-armed troops and the Phrygian archers? String your horn-tipped bows!
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Hector
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Your tidings inspire now fear,
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now confidence; nothing is plainly set forth. Can it be that you are smitten with wild fear by Pan, the son of Cronion? Leaving your watch you rouse the army. What does your noisy summons mean? What tidings can I say you bring? Your words are many,
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but no plain statement have you made.
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Chorus
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The long night through, Hector, the Argive army has kindled fires, and bright with torches shines the anchored fleet. To Agamemnon’s tent the whole army
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move clamorously by night, eager for fresh orders; for never before has the sea-faring company been so alarmed. And so I was suspicious of what might happen
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and came to tell you, so that you may have no cause to blame me hereafter.
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Hector
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In good season you come, although your tidings are full of terror; for those men are bent on giving me the slip and stealing away from this land in their ships by night;
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their midnight signalling pleases me. Ah! Fortune, to rob me in my hour of triumph, a lion of his prey, before this spear had made an end of the whole Argive army in one line! Yes, if the sun’s bright lamp had not withheld
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his light, I would not have stayed my victor’s spear, before I had fired their ships and made my way from tent to tent, drenching this hand in Achaean blood. I was eager to make a night attack and take advantage of the stroke of luck sent by heaven;
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but those wise seers of mine, who have heaven’s will so pat, persuaded me to wait for dawn, and then leave not one Achaean in the land. But those others do not await the counsels of my soothsayers; darkness turns runaways to heroes.
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But we must now without delay pass this word to the army to take up arms and cease from slumber, so that many an Achaean, as he leaps aboard his ship, shall be smitten through the back and sprinkle the ladders with blood, and others shall be fast bound with cords
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and learn to till our Phrygian fields.
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Chorus Leader
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You hasten, Hector, before you know clearly what is happening; for we do not know for certain whether the men are flying.
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Hector
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What other reason did the Argive army have to kindle fires?
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Chorus Leader
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I do not know; I am very suspicious.
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Hector
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If you fear this, be sure there’s nothing you would not fear.
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Chorus Leader
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Never before did the enemy kindle such a blaze.
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Hector
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No, nor ever before did they suffer such shameful defeat and rout.
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Chorus Leader
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This you have achieved; look now to what remains to do.
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Hector
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A simple tale, to arm against the enemy.
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Chorus Leader
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Look! Here comes Aeneas, in great haste too, with news to tell his friends.
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Aeneas
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Hector, why have the sentinels in terror made their way through the army at night to your couch to hold a midnight conclave and disturb the army?
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Hector
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Encase yourself in your armor, Aeneas.
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Aeneas
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What is it? Have tidings come of some secret stratagem set on foot during the night by the foe?
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Hector
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The men are flying, and going aboard their ships.
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Aeneas
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What sure proof can you give of this?
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Hector
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The whole night they are kindling blazing torches; I think they will not wait for tomorrow, but after lighting brands upon their ships’ decks will leave this land and fly to their homes.
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Aeneas
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And you, why do you gird on your sword?
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Hector
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With my spear I will stop them even as they fly and leap aboard their ships, and my hand shall be heavy upon them; for it is shameful in us, yes, and cowardly as well as shameful, when the god gives them into our hands, to let our foes escape without battle, after all the injuries they have done us.
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Aeneas
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Would you were as sage as you are bold! But, to be sure, among mortals the same man is not dowered by nature with universal knowledge; each has his special gift appointed him, yours is battle, another’s is sage counsel. You are excited to hear that the Achaeans are
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lighting blazing torches, and you would lead on our troops across the ditches in the calm still night. Now after crossing the deep yawning trench, supposing you should find the enemy are not flying from the land, but are awaiting your onset,
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beware lest you suffer defeat and so never reach this city again; for how will you pass the palisades in a rout? And how shall your charioteers cross the bridges without dashing the axles of their cars to pieces? And, if victorious, you have next the son of Peleus to engage;
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he will never allow you to cast the firebrand on the fleet or harry the Achaeans, as you believe. No, for that man is fierce as fire, a very tower of might. Let us rather then leave our men to sleep calmly under arms after the weariness of battle,
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while we send, as I advise, whoever will volunteer to spy upon the enemy; and if they really are preparing to fly, let us arise and fall upon the Argive army, but if this signalling is a trap to catch us, we shall discover from the spy the enemy’s designs
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and take counsel; such is my advice, lord.
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Chorus
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It pleases me well; so change your mind and adopt this counsel. I do not love hazardous commands in generals. What is better than for a swift-footed spy to approach the ships
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and learn why our foes are lighting fires in front of their naval station?
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Hector
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Since this finds favor with you all, prevail. To Aeneas. Go and calm the allies; perhaps the army hearing of our midnight council is disturbed.
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Mine shall it be to send one forth to spy upon the foe. And if I discover any plot among them, you shall fully hear of it and be present to learn the report; but in case they are starting off in flight, with eager ear await the trumpet’s call,
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for then I will not stay, but will this very night engage the Argive army there where their ships are hauled up.
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Aeneas
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Send out the spy at once; there’s safety in your counsels now. And you shall find me steadfast at your side, whenever occasion calls.
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Hector
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What Trojan of those present in council
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volunteers to go and spy on the Argive fleet? Who will be that patriot? Who says yes? I myself cannot at every point serve my country and my friends in arms.
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Dolon
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I for my country will gladly run this risk
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and go to spy on the Argive fleet, and when I have learned fully all that the Achaeans plot I will return. I undertake this toil on these conditions.
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Hector
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True to his name indeed, his country’s friend is Dolon. Your father’s house was famed before,
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but now you have made it doubly so.
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Dolon
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So must I toil, but for my pains I should receive fitting wages. For set a reward on any deed, and it breeds a double favor.
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Hector
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Yes, that is fair; I cannot dispute it.
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Name your wage, except for my sovereignty.
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Dolon
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I do not covet your toilsome sovereignty.
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Hector
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Well then, marry a daughter of Priam and become my brother-in-law.
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Dolon
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No, I do not wish to marry among those beyond my station.
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Hector
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There’s gold, if this you’ll claim as your prize.
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Dolon
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I have it in my home; I lack no sustenance.
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Hector
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What then is your desire of all that Ilium stores within her?
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Dolon
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Promise me my gift when you conquer the Achaeans.
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Hector
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I will give it to you; ask anything except the captains of the fleet.
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Dolon
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Slay them; I do not ask you to keep your hand off Menelaus.
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Hector
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Is it the son of Oileus you would ask me for?
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Dolon
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Hands that are well brought up are worthless at farming.
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Hector
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Whom then of the Achaeans will you have alive to hold to ransom?
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Dolon
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I told you before, my house is stored with gold.
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Hector
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Why then, you shall come and with your own hands choose out some spoil.
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Dolon
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Nail up the spoils for the gods on their temples.
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Hector
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Then what greater prize than these will you ask me for?
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Dolon
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Achilles’ horses. The prize must be worth the toil when one stakes one’s life on Fortune’s dice.
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Hector
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Ah! but your desires clash with mine about those horses;
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for they are immortal and born from immortals, who bear the son of Peleus on his headlong course. Poseidon, lord of the ocean, broke them and gave them to Peleus, so runs the legend. Yet, for I urged you on, I will not break my word; I will give to you
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Achilles’ team, a fair possession for your house.
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Dolon
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I thank you; in receiving then, I assert that I am taking a fairer gift than any other Phrygian for my bravery. Yet you should not be envious; you have other things to gladden your heart, in your kingship over this land.
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Chorus
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Great the enterprise, and great the reward you design to receive. Happy, yes, happy will you be, if you succeed; fair the fame your toil shall win. Yet it is a great thing to become the brother-in-law of princes. On the gods’ decrees let Justice keep her eye!
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what man can give you have, it seems, in full.
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Dolon
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I will set forth; but going within my house I will clothe myself in fitting attire, and then I will hasten to the Argive fleet.
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Chorus Leader
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Why, what dress in place of this will you assume?
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Dolon
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One that fits my task and furtive steps.
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Chorus Leader
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One should ever learn wisdom from the wise; tell me, what will be your equipment?
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Dolon
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I will fasten a wolf-skin about my back, and over my head put the brute’s gaping jaws;
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then fitting its fore-feet to ny hands and its hind-feet to my legs, I will go on all-fours in imitation of a wolf’s gait to puzzle the enemy, when I approach their trenches and barriers round the ships. Rut whenever I come to a deserted spot,
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I will walk on two feet; such is the ruse I have decided on.
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Chorus Leader
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May Hermes, Maia’s child, escort you safely there and back, prince of tricksters as he is! You know what you have to do; good luck is all you need now.
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Dolon
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I shall return in safety, and bring to you the head of Odysseus
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when I have slain him, or the son of Tydeus, and with this clear proof before you you shall assert that Dolon went to the Argive fleet; for, before the dawn, I will come back home with bloodstained hand. Exit Dolon.
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Chorus
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Lord of Thymbra and of Delos, who haunt
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your temple in Lycia, Apollo, O divine head, come with all your archery, appear this night, and by your guidance save this man,
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and aid the Dardanians, O almighty god whose hands in days of old built the walls of Troy.
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Chorus
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May he come to the ships! May he reach the army of Hellas and spy it out, then turn again and reach the altars of his father’s
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home in Ilium!
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May he mount the chariot drawn by Phthia’s horses, when our master has sacked Achaea’s camp,