ÆNE. What mean the watch, O Hector, who by night
Were to their stations in the camp assigned,
That they, with terror smitten, at your chamber
In a nocturnal council have assembled?
And why is the whole army thus in motion?
HEC. Put on thy arms, Æneas.
ÆNE. What hath happened?
Are you informed that in this midnight gloom
The foe hath formed some stratagem?
HEC. They fly!
They mount their ships.
ÆNE. What proof have you of this?
HEC. All night their torches blaze; to me they seem
As if they would not wait to-morrow’s dawn:
But, kindling fires upon their lofty decks,
They sure fly homeward from this hostile land.
ÆNE. But why, if it be thus, prepare your troops
For battle?
HEC. As they mount the deck, this spear
Shall overtake the dastards; I their flight
Will harass: for ’twere base, and prejudicial
As well as base, when Heaven delivers up
The foe into our hands, to suffer those
Who wronged us to escape without a conflict.
ÆNE. Ah! would to Heaven you equally stood foremost
In wisdom, as in courage: but one man
By bounteous Nature never was endued
With knowledge universal: various gifts
Doth she dispense, to you the warrior’s palm,
To others sapient counsels: now you hear
Their torches blaze, you thence infer the Greeks
Are flying, and would lead the troops by night
Over the trenches: but when you have passed
The yawning fosse, should you perceive the foes
Instead of flying from the land, resist,
With dauntless courage, your protended spear,
If you are vanquished, to these sheltering walls
You never can return: for in their flight
How shall the troops o’er slanting palisades
Escape, or, how the charioteer direct
Over the narrow bridge his crashing wheels?
If you prevail, you have a foe at hand,
The son of Peleus, from your flaming torches
Who will protect the fleet, nor suffer you
Utterly to destroy the Grecian host
As you expect; for he is brave. Our troops
Let us then leave to rest from martial toils,
And sleep beside their shields. That we despatch
Amid the foe some voluntary spy,
Is my advice: if they prepare for flight,
Let us assail the Greeks; but if those fires
Are kindled to ensnare us, having learned
The enemy’s intentions, let us hold
A second council on this great emprise.
Illustrious chief, I have declared my thoughts.