Neo. Why through deceit? May not persuasion fetch him?
Od. Never. And force as certainly will fail.
Neo. Miat lends him such assurance of defence?
Od. Arrows, the unerring harbingers of Death.
Neo. Then to go near him is a perilous thing.
Od. Unless with subtlety, as I have said.
Neo. And is not lying shameful to thy soul?
Od. Not if by lying I can save my soul.
Neo. How must one look in speaking such a word?
Od. Where gain invites, this shrinking is not good.
Neo. What gain I through his coming back to Troy?
Od. His arms alone have power to take Troy-town.
Neo. Then am not I the spoiler, as ye said?
Od. Thou without them, they without thee, are powerless.
Neo. If it be so, they must be sought and won.
Od. Yea, for in this two prizes will be thine.
Neo. What? When I learn them, I will not refuse.
Od. Wisdom and valour joined in one good name.
Neo. Shame, to the winds! Come, I will do this thing.
Od. Say, dost thou bear my bidding full in mind?
Neo. Doubt not, since once for all I have embraced it.
Od. Thou, then, await him here. I will retire,
For fear my hated presence should be known,
And take back our attendant to the ship.
And then once more, should ye appear to waste
The time unduly, I will send again
This same man hither in disguise, transformed
To the strange semblance of a merchantman;
From dark suggestion of whose crafty tongue,
Thou, O my son, shalt gather timely counsel.
Now to my ship. This charge I leave to thee.
May secret Hermes guide us to our end,
And civic Pallas, named of victory,
The sure protectress of my devious way.
