The students began working on the following assignment which is to be completed for HW:
The Iliad-book 10 “A Night Raid”-20pts
Relate Diomedes’ and Odysseus’ treatment of the prisoner Dolon to today. Do they treat him fairly? Write a reaction to their actions. In other words, defend or refute.
Dolon wasn't much to look at, but he ran fast.He was the only male child, with five sisters.At that point he spoke up to Hector and the Trojans: 380
"Hector, my heart and my proud spirit prompt meto volunteer to sneak up to those fast ships [320]and find out what I can. Come, raise your sceptre,swear to me that you'll give me those horsesand that chariot decorated all in bronzewhich carry the fine son of Peleus.I'll not be a useless scout or disappoint you.I'll go straight through the army, till I reachAgamemnon's ship, where their best menmust be in council talking of their plans, 390whether to flee or to continue fighting."
Dolon spoke. Holding up his sceptre, Hector swore:
"Let Zeus himself, Hera's loud-thundering husband,be my witness, that no other Trojanwill be carried by those horses. I affirm [330]that you will glory in them all your life."
Hector spoke. He'd sworn an empty oath, but Dolonwas encouraged. At once, he slung across his shoulderhis curved bow, then threw a gray wolf skin on it.On his head he set a cap of marten skin, 400 grabbed a sharp spear, and set off, going from the camptowards the ships. He would not be coming backbringing Hector information from the ships.But when he left the crowd of men and horses,he went eagerly along the path. As he moved,noble Odysseus saw him and said to Diomedes: [340]
"Diomedes, someone's coming from the camp.I don't know if he's going to scout our shipsor strip some dead man's corpse. Let's let himat first get past us on the plain, just a bit. 410Then we can go after him and catch him fast.If his feet outrun ours, we'll keep following himand chase him from his camp towards our ships.Keep brandishing your spear behind him,so he doesn't make it to the city."
After these words, the two men lay down beside the road,among the corpses. Dolon ran past them quickly, [350]quite unaware. When he'd gone about as faras mules plough in a single day—and in deep fieldsthey outwork oxen pulling double-jointed ploughs— 420 the two men ran after him. When he heard their noise,Dolon stopped, hoping in his heart they were comradescoming from the Trojans to get him to turn back,Hector having changed the orders. But when they camewithin the distance of a spear throw or even less, he saw that they were enemies and started running,to get away as quickly as his legs could carry him.They set off chasing him with speed. Just as when two dogs, [360]skilled hunting hounds with sharp fangs, harass some doeor hare relentlessly across a wooded country, 430the prey screaming as it runs, that's how Tydeus' sonand Odysseus, destroyer of cities, pursued him,keeping Dolon from his people with their constant chase.When Dolon was about to run into the sentriesin his flight towards the ships, at that pointAthena put fighting power into Tydeus' son,so no bronze-clad Achaean could make the boastthat he'd hit Dolon first and that Diomedeshad come up later. Springing forward with his spear,powerful Diomedes yelled:
"Stop! 440 [370]Or I'll hit you with my spear. I don't thinkyou'll long escape complete destruction at my hands"
Diomedes shouted this, then threw the spear,deliberately missing Dolon. The polished spear pointsailed over his right shoulder, then stuck in the ground.Dolon just stood there terrified, stammering, pale with fear—his teeth were chattering in his mouth. The two men ran up,panting, and grabbed his hands. Dolon began to cry and beg:
"Take me alive, and I'll ransom myself. At home there is bronze, gold, well-wrought iron. 450 My father will give lots of it to you—an immense ransom—if he once finds out [380]I'm at Achaean ships and still alive."
Crafty Odysseus smiled at him and said:
"Don't worry. Don't let death weigh down your heart.Come now, tell me—and be sure to speak the truth.Why are you going like this to the ships alone,away from your army in the dead of night,when other warriors are fast asleep[H1] ?Are you going to strip some dead man's body, 460 or has Hector sent you as a spy,to learn something about the hollow ships?Or did your own spirit prompt you to this?"
Dolon answered Odysseus, his limbs trembling. [390]
"Hector led my mind astray with foolish hopes,lots of them. He promised he'd give methe sure-footed horses of Achilles,Peleus' excellent son, and his chariotwith its bronze decoration. He told meto venture out into the swift dark night, 470get close to hostile troops, and then find outif they were guarding their swift ships as before, or whether, now we have defeated them,they were planning flight among themselves,unwilling to keep up watch at night,exhausted by their desperate efforts."
Shrewd Odysseus, still smiling, then continued: [400]
"Your heart has been ambitious for big gifts.Those horses of warrior Achilles,descendant of Aeacus, are hard to manage 480or control for any mortal person,except Achilles, son of an immortal mother[H2] .Tell me, now, and be sure to speak the truth.When you came here, where did you leave Hector,shepherd to his people? Where's his armour?Where are his horses? How are the sentriesof the other Trojans set? Where are they sleeping?Tell me what they talk of amongst themselves, whether they're eager to stay beside the ships,quite far from home, or whether they'll return 490 [410]to the city, with Achaeans beaten."
Dolon, son of Eumedes, answered Odysseus:
"I'll answer you in this quite truthfully.Right now Hector is with his advisors,holding a council meeting by the tombof godlike Ilus, some distance from the noise.As for the guards you asked about, noble sir,there's nothing special to protect the troops,or keep lookout. By all Trojan watch fires,as necessity requires, there are men 500who stay awake, calling to each other,to keep up their guard. But the allied force, [420]which comes from many lands, is sleeping.They leave it to Trojans to stay on watch,for their wives and children aren't close by."
Crafty Odysseus, with a smile, then asked Dolon:
"Now, those allies—are they intermingledwith horse-taming Trojans where they sleepor separate from them? Tell me. I need to know[H3] ."
Dolon, son of Eumedes, answered Odysseus: 510
"I can reveal the truth of this as well.By the sea lie Carians, Paeonians,with their curved bows, Lelegians, Caucones,god-like Pelasgians. Around Thymbreare positioned Lycians, Mysians, [430]impetuous fighters, and Phrygians,who fight on horseback, and from Maeoniathere are charioteers. But why ask me detailsof these matters? If you're keen to infiltratethe Trojan army, over there are Thracians, 520fresh troops, new arrivals, furthest distantfrom the rest, among them their king Rhesus,son of Eioneus. His horses are the best,the finest and largest ones I've ever seen,whiter than snow, as fast as the winds.His chariot is finely built—with goldand silver. He came here with his armour—an amazing sight—huge and made of gold.It's not appropriate for mortal men [440]to wear such armour, only deathless gods. 530But take me now to your fast ships, or elsetie me up, leave me here in painful fetters,so you can go and check my story out,see whether I have told the truth or not."
Mighty Diomedes scowled at Dolon and said:
"Don't fill your heart with thoughts you'll get away,Dolon, even though your news is good.You've fallen in our hands. Now, if wereleased you or set you free for ransom,you'd come back to the swift Achaean ships, 540 [450]either to spy or fight us openly.But if my hands subdue you and you die,you'll pose no problems for the Argives later[H4] ."
As Diomedes finished, Dolon was intendingto cup his chin with his strong hand in supplication.But with his sword Diomedes jumped at him,slashed him across the middle of his neck, slicingthrough both tendons. Dolon's head rolled in the dust,as he was speaking. They stripped the cap of marten skin,then took the wolf hide, long spear, and his curved bow[H5] . 550Lord Odysseus held these objects high above him [460]for Athena, goddess of battle spoils, and prayed:
Explain Diomedes’ actions in this scene. Are they heroic? Defend or refute them.
"There's our man, 570Diomedes. And these are the horseswhich Dolon told us of, the man we killed.Come, now, let's see that mighty strength of yours.It's not right for you to stand there idly [480]with your weapons. So loose those horses.Or else kill the men, while I take care of them."
Odysseus spoke. Athena with her glittering eyesbreathed fighting power into Diomedes.Moving around everywhere, he began the killing.Agonizing groans came from those his sword then butchered. 580The earth grew soggy with their blood. Just as a lioncomes across an unguarded flock of sheep or goatsand leaps on them, heart thirsting for the kill,so Tydeus' son went at those Thracian soldiers,until he'd slaughtered twelve[H6] . Whenever Diomedesstood over some man he'd just killed with his sword,crafty Odysseus, from behind, would grab his feet [490]and drag the body clear. For his mind was planninghow he might steal the fine-maned horses easily,if he didn't frighten them by forcing them to step 590on dead men's bodies, for they were not used to that.Tydeus' son came across the king, the thirteenth manwhose sweet life he had taken. Rhesus lay there,in his last gasp. A bad dream had stood beside his headthat night, a device sent by Athena—and that dreamwas the son of Tydeus[H7] . Meanwhile, bold Odysseusuntied the sure-footed horses, roped them together,and drove them from the camp, prodding with his bow,for he'd forgotten to pick up the shining whip [500]from the ornate chariot. Then he gave a whistle, 600to signal noble Diomedes. But he just stayed there,wondering how he could do something really bold.Should he take away the chariot, which containedthe king's finely decorated armour, pull itby the pole, or lift it up above his headand carry it like that? Or should he take the livesof still more Thracians? While Diomedes turned overthese matters in his mind, Athena came, stood by him,then said to noble Diomedes:
"Think of going back,to the hollow ships, son of great-hearted Tydeus, 610 in case you get driven there in quick retreat, [510]if some other god wakes up the Trojans."
