No escape shall ye find thence to light, In horror of darkness prisoned evermore." Dreading Zeus' menace gave they heed to her, From strife refrained, and cast away their wrath, And were made one in peace and amity. Some heavenward soared, some plunged into the sea, On earth stayed some. Amid the Achaean host Spake in his subtlety Laertes' son: "O valorous-hearted lords of the Argive host, Now prove in time of need what men ye be, How passing-strong, how flawless-brave! The hour Is this for desperate emprise: now, with hearts Heroic, enter ye yon carven horse, So to attain the goal of this stern war. For better it is by stratagem and craft Now to destroy this city, for whose sake Hither we came, and still are suffering Many afflictions far from our own land. Come then, and let your hearts be stout and strong For he who in stress of fight hath turned to bay And snatched a desperate courage from despair, Oft, though the weaker, slays a mightier foe. For courage, which is all men's glory, makes The heart great. Come then, set the ambush, ye Which be our mightiest, and the rest shall go To Tenedos' hallowed burg, and there abide Until our foes have haled within their walls Us with the Horse, as deeming that they bring A gift unto Tritonis. Some brave man, One whom the Trojans know not, yet we lack, To harden his heart as steel, and to abide Near by the Horse. Let that man bear in mind Heedfully whatsoe'er I said erewhile. And let none other thought be in his heart, Lest to the foe our counsel be revealed." Then, when all others feared, a man far-famed Made answer, Sinon, marked of destiny To bring the great work to accomplishment. Therefore with worship all men looked on him, The loyal of heart, as in the midst he spake: "Odysseus, and all ye Achaean chiefs, This work for which ye crave will I perform-- Yea, though they torture me, though into fire Living they thrust me; for mine heart is fixed Not to escape, but die by hands of foes, Except I crown with glory your desire." Stoutly he spake: right glad the Argives were; And one said: "How the Gods have given to-day High courage to this man! He hath not been Heretofore valiant. Heaven is kindling him To be the Trojans' ruin, but to us Salvation. Now full soon, I trow, we reach The goal of grievous war, so long unseen."