Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
as of the tramp of horses. I hope it may Diomed and Ulysses
driving in horses from the Trojans, but I much fear that the bravest
of the Argives may have come to some harm at their hands.”
He had hardly done speaking when the two men came in and
dismounted, whereon the others shook hands right gladly with
them and congratulated them. Nestor knight of Gerene was first to
question them. “Tell me,” said he, “renowned Ulysses, how did
you two come by these horses? Did you steal in among the Trojan
forces, or did some god meet you and give them to you? They are
like sunbeams. I am well conversant with the Trojans, for old
warrior though I am I never hold back by the ships, but I never yet
saw or heard of such horses as these are. Surely some god must
have met you and given them to you, for you are both of dear to
Jove, and to Jove’s daughter Minerva.”
And Ulysses answered, “Nestor son of Neleus, honour to the
Achaean name, heaven, if it so will, can give us even better horses
than these, for the gods are far mightier than we are. These horses,
however, about which you ask me, are freshly come from Thrace.
Diomed killed their king with the twelve bravest of his
companions. Hard by the ships we took a thirteenth man- a scout
whom Hector and the other Trojans had sent as a spy upon our
ships.”
He laughed as he spoke and drove the horses over the ditch, while
the other Achaeans followed him gladly. When they reached the
strongly built quarters of the son of Tydeus, they tied the horses
with thongs of leather to the manger, where the steeds of Diomed
stood eating their sweet corn, but Ulysses hung the blood-stained
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