Prologos
Hector
In good season you come, although your tidings are full of terror; for those men are bent on giving me the slip and stealing away from this land in their ships by night;
their midnight signalling pleases me. Ah! Fortune, to rob me in my hour of triumph, a lion of his prey, before this spear had made an end of the whole Argive army in one line! Yes, if the sun’s bright lamp had not withheld
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his light, I would not have stayed my victor’s spear, before I had fired their ships and made my way from tent to tent, drenching this hand in Achaean blood. I was eager to make a night attack and take advantage of the stroke of luck sent by heaven;
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but those wise seers of mine, who have heaven’s will so pat, persuaded me to wait for dawn, and then leave not one Achaean in the land. But those others do not await the counsels of my soothsayers; darkness turns runaways to heroes.
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But we must now without delay pass this word to the army to take up arms and cease from slumber, so that many an Achaean, as he leaps aboard his ship, shall be smitten through the back and sprinkle the ladders with blood, and others shall be fast bound with cords
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and learn to till our Phrygian fields.
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Chorus Leader
You hasten, Hector, before you know clearly what is happening; for we do not know for certain whether the men are flying.
Hector
What other reason did the Argive army have to kindle fires?
Chorus Leader
I do not know; I am very suspicious.
Hector
If you fear this, be sure there’s nothing you would not fear.
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Chorus Leader
Never before did the enemy kindle such a blaze.
Hector
No, nor ever before did they suffer such shameful defeat and rout.
Chorus Leader
This you have achieved; look now to what remains to do.
Hector
A simple tale, to arm against the enemy.
Chorus Leader
Look! Here comes Aeneas, in great haste too, with news to tell his friends.
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Aeneas
Hector, why have the sentinels in terror made their way through the army at night to your couch to hold a midnight conclave and disturb the army?
Hector
Encase yourself in your armor, Aeneas.
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Aeneas
What is it? Have tidings come of some secret stratagem set on foot during the night by the foe?
Hector
The men are flying, and going aboard their ships.
Aeneas
What sure proof can you give of this?
Hector
The whole night they are kindling blazing torches; I think they will not wait for tomorrow, but after lighting brands upon their ships’ decks will leave this land and fly to their homes.
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Aeneas
And you, why do you gird on your sword?
Hector
With my spear I will stop them even as they fly and leap aboard their ships, and my hand shall be heavy upon them; for it is shameful in us, yes, and cowardly as well as shameful, when the god gives them into our hands, to let our foes escape without battle, after all the injuries they have done us.
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Aeneas
Would you were as sage as you are bold! But, to be sure, among mortals the same man is not dowered by nature with universal knowledge; each has his special gift appointed him, yours is battle, another’s is sage counsel. You are excited to hear that the Achaeans are
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lighting blazing torches, and you would lead on our troops across the ditches in the calm still night. Now after crossing the deep yawning trench, supposing you should find the enemy are not flying from the land, but are awaiting your onset,
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beware lest you suffer defeat and so never reach this city again; for how will you pass the palisades in a rout? And how shall your charioteers cross the bridges without dashing the axles of their cars to pieces? And, if victorious, you have next the son of Peleus to engage;
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he will never allow you to cast the firebrand on the fleet or harry the Achaeans, as you believe. No, for that man is fierce as fire, a very tower of might. Let us rather then leave our men to sleep calmly under arms after the weariness of battle,
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while we send, as I advise, whoever will volunteer to spy upon the enemy; and if they really are preparing to fly, let us arise and fall upon the Argive army, but if this signalling is a trap to catch us, we shall discover from the spy the enemy’s designs
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and take counsel; such is my advice, lord.
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