Who after him? The Paeonian contingent roused the Cilicians, and the Mysians us. Is it not then high time we went and roused the Lycians for the fifth watch, as the lot decided?

ChorusHark! hark! a sound; sitting on her blood-stained nest by Simois, she sings with voice of many trills her piteous plaint, the nightingale that slew her child. Already on Ida they are pasturing the flocks, and over the night I catch the shrill pipe’s note. Sleep charms my eyes, for sleep is sweetest at dawn to tired eyelids. Why does not our scout draw near, whom Hector sent to spy on the fleet? He is so long away, I have my fears.Is it possible he has plunged into a hidden ambush and been slain? Perhaps. I am afraid. My counsel is we go and rouse the Lycians for the fifth watch, as the lot ordained. Exit Chorus

Enter Diomedes and Odysseus cautiously with drawn swords.OdysseusDid you not hear, Diomedes, the clash of arms or is it an idle noise that rings in my ears?DiomedesNo, it is the rattle of steel harness on the chariot rails; I, too, was afraid, till I perceived it was the clang of horses’ chains.OdysseusBeware lest you stumble upon the guard in the darkness.DiomedesI will take good care how I advance even in the gloom.OdysseusIf however you should rouse them, do you know their password?DiomedesYes, it is Phoebus; I heard Dolon use it.OdysseusAh! I see the enemy have left this bivouac.DiomedesYet Dolon surely said that here was Hector’s couch, against whom this sword of mine is drawn.OdysseusWhat can it mean? Has his company withdrawn elsewhere?DiomedesPerhaps to form some stratagem against us.OdysseusYes, for Hector is bold now, by reason of his victory, bold.DiomedesWhat then are we to do, Odysseus? We have not found the man asleep; our hopes are dashed.OdysseusLet us go to the fleet with what speed we may. Some god, whichever it be that gives him his good luck, is preserving him; against fate we must not strive.DiomedesThen should we two not go against Aeneas or Paris, most hateful of Phrygians, and with our swords cut off their heads?OdysseusWell, how in the darkness can you find them among a hostile army, and slay them without risk?DiomedesYet it would be shameful to go to the Argive ships if we have done the enemy no harm.OdysseusWhat! no harm! Have we not slain Dolon who spied upon the anchored fleet, and have we not his spoils safe here? Or do you expect to sack the entire camp?DiomedesI agree, let us return; and good luck go with us!AthenaWhere are you going, away from the Trojan ranks, with sorrow gnawing at your hearts, because the god does not grant you two to slay Hector or Paris? Have you not heard that Rhesus has come to aid Troy in no mean fashion? If he survives this night until the dawn, neither Achilles nor Aias’s spear can stop him from utterly destroying the Argive fleet, razing its palisades and carrying this the onslaught of his lance far and wide within the gates. Slay him, and all is yours; let Hector’s sleep alone, no throat-cutting slaughter; for he shall find death at another hand.OdysseusQueen Athena, it is the well-known accent of your voice I hear; for you are always at my side to help me in my toil. Tell us where that man lies asleep; in what part of the barbarian army is he stationed?