There was one Dolon in the Trojan camp, The herald’s son, Eumedes; rich in gold And brass; not fair of face, but swift of foot; Amid five sisters he the only son; Who thus to Hector and the Trojans spoke: “Hector, with dauntless courage I will dare Approach the ships, and bring thee tidings sure; But hold thou forth thy royal staff, and swear That I the horses and the brass-bound car Shall have, the boast of Peleus’ matchless son: Not vain shall be my errand, nor deceive Thy hopes; right through the camp I mean to pass To Agamemnon’s tent, where all the chiefs Debate in council, or to fight or fly.” He said; and Hector took his royal staff, And swore to him: “Be witness Jove himself, The Lord of thunder, that no Trojan man, Thyself except, shall e’er those horses drive; For thee they are reserv’d, a glorious prize.” Thus Hector swore; though unfulfill’d the oath. The hope to Dolon fresh assurance gave. Forthwith, his bow across his shoulders slung, A grisly wolf-skin o’er it, on his head A cap of marten’s fur, and in his hand A jav’lin, from the camp he took his way, Straight to the Grecian ships; but never thence Destin’d to bring th’ expected tidings back. The crowd of men and horses left behind, Briskly he mov’d along; Ulysses first Mark’d his approach, and to Tydides said: “See, from the camp where some one this way comes, With what intent I know not; if to play The spy about the ships, or rob the dead. Turn we aside, and let him pass us by A little way; we then with sudden rush May seize him; or if he outstrip us both By speed of foot, may urge him tow’rd the ships, Driving him still before us with our spears, And from, the city cutting off his flight.” Thus saying, ’mid the dead, beside the road They crouch’d; he, all unconscious, hasten’d by. But when such space was interpos’d as leave Between the sluggish oxen and themselves[3] A team of mules (so much the faster they Through the stiff fallow drag the jointed plough), They rush’d upon him; at the sound he stopp’d, Deeming that from the Trojan camp they came, By Hector sent, to order his return. Within a spear’s length when they came, or less, For foes he knew them, and to night address’d His active limbs; they rush’d in hot pursuit. And as two hounds, well practis’d in the chase, With glist’ning fangs, unflagging, strain to catch, In woodland glade, some pricket deer, or hare, That flies before them, screaming; so those two, Tydides and Ulysses, stout of heart, With fiery zeal, unflagging, strain’d to catch The flying Dolon, from the camp cut off; But when the fugitive approach’d the ships, Close by the guard, fresh vigour Pallas gave To Diomed, lest haply from the walls Some other might anticipate his blow, And he himself but second honours gain. Tydides then with threat’ning gesture cried, “Stop, or I hurl my spear; and small thy chance, If I assail thee, of escape from death.” He said, and threw his spear; but by design It struck him not; above his shoulder flew