Hark! 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 Has his company withdrawn elsewhere?DiomedesPerhaps to form some stratagem against us.