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186 conspicuous mark, pulling up handfuls of reeds, and the wide-spreading branches of the tamarisk, lest they should escape their notice while they were returning through the dark and dangerous night. Then both advanced onward through arms and black blood; and proceeding, they came immediately to the band of the Thracian heroes. But they were sleeping, overpowered with fatigue; and their beautiful armor lay upon the ground beside them, carefully in order, in three rows: and by each of them [stood] a yoke of horses. Rhesus slept in the midst, and beside him his swift horses were fastened by the reins to the outer rim of the chariot. And Ulysses first observing, pointed him out to Diomede:

"This [is] the man, O Diomede, and these [are] the horses, which Dolon, whom we slew, pointed out to us. But come now, exert thy mighty strength; nor does it at all become thee to stand leisurely with thy armor. Loose therefore the steeds, or do thou slay the men, and the horses shall be my care."

Thus he spoke; but into him azure-eyed Minerva breathed valor, and he slaughtered, turning himself on every side, and a dreadful groaning arose of those smitten with the sword; and the earth grew red with blood. As when a lion, coming upon unprotected flocks of goats or sheep, rushes upon them, designing evils, so fell the son of Tydeus upon the Thracian men, until he had slain twelve. But much-counseling Ulysses—whomsoever Diomede standing beside struck with the sword—him Ulysses dragged backward, seizing by the foot; meditating these things in his mind, that the fair-maned steeds should pass through easily, nor should tremble in spirit, treading on the corses; for as yet they were unused to them. But when now the son of Tydeus had reached the king, him, the thirteenth, he deprived of sweet life, panting; for by the counsel of Minerva an evil dream had stood over his head during the night, [in likeness of] the son of Œneus: but in the mean time patient Ulysses was untying the solid-hoofed steeds. With the reins he bound them together and drove them from the crowd,