it aloft;
or take away the life of more of the Thracians. Whilst he was revolving
these things within his mind, Minerva in the meantime standing near,
addressed noble Diomede:

"Be mindful now of a return to the hollow ships, O son of magnanimous
Tydeus, lest thou reach them, having been put to flight; or lest some
other god perchance arouse the Trojans."

[Footnote 358: Understand [Greek: kata rymou].]

Thus she spoke; and he understood the voice of the goddess speaking, and
he quickly ascended the chariot. And Ulysses lashed on [the horses] with
his bow, and they fled to the swift ships of the Greeks.

Nor did silver-bowed Apollo keep a vain watch. When he beheld Minerva
accompanying the son of Tydeus, enraged with her, he descended into the
vast army of the Trojans, and roused Hippocooen, a counsellor of the
Thracians, the gallant cousin of Rhesus. And he, leaping up from sleep,
when he beheld the place empty where the fleet horses had stood, and the
men panting amidst the dreadful slaughter, immediately then wept aloud,
and called upon his dear companion by name. A clamour and immeasurable
tumult of the Trojans running together arose, and they looked with
wonder at the marvellous deeds, which men having perpetrated, had
returned to the hollow ships.

But when now they came where they had slain the spy of Hector, there
Ulysses, dear to Jove, reined in his fleet steeds. But the son of
Tydeus, leaping to the ground, placed the bloody spoils in the hands of
Ulysses, and then ascended the chariot. And he lashed on the steeds, and
both, not unwilling, fled towards the hollow ships, for thither it was
agreeable to their minds [to go]. But Nestor first heard the sound, and
said:

"O friends, leaders and rulers over the Greeks, shall I speak falsely,
or say the truth? Still my mind impels me. The noise of swift-footed
steeds strikes upon my ears. O that now Ulysses and gallant Diomede
would immediately drive some solid-hoofed steeds from the Trojans! But
greatly do I fear in mind lest these bravest of the Greeks suffer aught
from the rude host of Trojans."

Not yet was the whole speech uttered, when they themselves arrived. Then
indeed they descended to the ground, and [their friends] rejoicing,
saluted them with the right hand and kind expressions. But [first] the
Gerenian knight Nestor asked them:

"Come, tell me, most excellent Ulysses, great glory of the Greeks, how
took ye these horses? [Whether] penetrati