In the day of your distress, when your men fall dying by the murderous hand of Hector, you shall not know how to help them, and shall rend your heart with rage for the hour when you offered insult to the bravest of the Achaeans."
Grant that my sword may pierce the shirt of Hector about his heart, and that full many of his comrades may bite the dust as they fall dying round him."
Hector, I charge you above all others, do as I say.
Thus she spoke, but Hector knew that it was the goddess, and at once broke up the assembly.
Priam 's son, great Hector of the gleaming helmet, commanded the Trojans, and with him were arrayed by far the greater number and most valiant of those who were longing for the fray.
Then Hector upbraided him.
And Alexandrus answered," Hector, your rebuke is just.
When Hector heard this he was glad, and went about among the Trojan ranks holding his spear by the middle to keep them back, and they all sat down at his bidding: but the Achaeans still aimed at him with stones and arrows, till Agamemnon shouted to them saying," Hold, Argives, shoot not, sons of the Achaeans; Hector desires to speak."
They ceased taking aim and were still, whereon Hector spoke."
Hector sent two messengers to the city to bring the lambs and to bid Priam come, while Agamemnon told Talthybius to fetch the other lamb from the ships, and he did as Agamemnon had said.
Hector and Ulysses measured the ground, and cast lots from a helmet of bronze to see which should take aim first.
Great Hector now turned his head aside while he shook the helmet, and the lot of Paris flew out first.
Hector, and they that were in front, then gave round while the Argives raised a shout and drew off the dead, pressing further forward as they did so.
I did ill to take my bow down from its peg on the day I led my band of Trojans to Ilius in Hector 's service, and if ever I get home again to set eyes on my native place, my wife, and the greatness of my house, may some one cut my head off then and there if I do not break the bow and set it on a hot fire— such pranks as it plays me."
Aeneas the son of Anchises has fallen, he whom we held in as high honour as Hector himself.
Then Sarpedon rebuked Hector very sternly. "
Hector," said he," where is your prowess now?
So spoke Sarpedon, and Hector smarted under his words.
But Hector marked them from across the ranks, and with a loud cry rushed towards them, followed by the strong battalions of the Trojans.
Mars and dread Enyo led them on, she fraught with ruthless turmoil of battle, while Mars wielded a monstrous spear, and went about, now in front of Hector and now behind him.
Then he said to his men," My friends, how can we wonder that Hector wields the spear so well?
As he spoke the Trojans drew close up, and Hector killed two men, both in one chariot, Menesthes and Anchialus, heroes well versed in war.
He killed Coeranus, Alastor, Chromius, Alcandrus, Halius, Noemon, and Prytanis, and would have slain yet more, had not great Hector marked him, and sped to the front of the fight clad in his suit of mail, filling the Danaans with terror.
Hector made him no answer, but rushed onward to fall at once upon the Achaeans and kill many among them.
Meanwhile the Argives were neither driven towards their ships by Mars and Hector, nor yet did they attack them; when they knew that Mars was with the Trojans they retreated, but kept their faces still turned towards the foe.
Who, then, was first and who last to be slain by Mars and Hector?
Glaucus and Diomed—The story of Bellerophon—Hector and Andromache.
And now the Trojans would have been routed and driven back into Ilius, had not Priam 's son Helenus, wisest of augurs, said to Hector and Aeneas," Hector and Aeneas, you two are the mainstays of the Trojans and Lycians, for you are foremost at all times, alike in fight and counsel; hold your ground here, and go about among the host to rally them in front of the gates, or they will fling themselves into the arms of their wives, to the great joy of our foes.
Meanwhile do you, Hector, go to the city and tell our mother what is happening.
Hector did as his brother bade him.
And Hector shouted to the Trojans," Trojans and allies, be men, my friends, and fight with might and main, while I go to Ilius and tell the old men of our council and our wives to pray to the gods and vow hecatombs in their honour."
Now when Hector reached the Scaean gates and the oak tree, the wives and daughters of the Trojans came running towards him to ask after their sons, brothers, kinsmen, and husbands: he told them to set about praying to the gods, and many were made sorrowful as they heard him.
When Hector got there, his fond mother came up to him with Laodice the fairest of her daughters.
And Hector answered," Honoured mother, bring no wine, lest you unman me and I forget my strength.
While they were thus praying to the daughter of great Jove, Hector went to the fair house of Alexandrus, which he had built for him by the foremost builders in the land.
They had built him his house, storehouse, and courtyard near those of Priam and Hector on the acropolis.
Here Hector entered, with a spear eleven cubits long in his hand; the bronze point gleamed in front of him, and was fastened to the shaft of the spear by a ring of gold.
He found Alexandrus within the house, busied about his armour, his shield and cuirass, and handling his curved bow; there, too, sat Argive Helen with her women, setting them their several tasks; and as Hector saw him he rebuked him with words of scorn. "
And Alexandrus answered," Hector, your rebuke is just; listen therefore, and believe me when I tell you that I am not here so much through rancour or illwill towards the Trojans, as from a desire to indulge my grief.
Hector made no answer, but Helen tried to soothe him."
And Hector answered," Bid me not be seated, Helen, for all the goodwill you bear me.
Then Hector left her, and forthwith was at his own house.
His good housekeeper answered," Hector, since you bid me tell you truly, she did not go to your sisters nor to your brothers ' wives, nor yet to the temple of Minerva, where the other women are propitiating the awful goddess, but she is on the high wall of Ilius, for she had heard the Trojans were being hard pressed, and that the Achaeans were in great force :she went to the wall in frenzied haste, and the nurse went with her carrying the child."
Hector hurried from the house when she had done speaking, and went down the streets by the same way that he had come.
His daughter had married Hector, and now came to meet him with a nurse who carried his little child in her bosom— a mere babe.
Hector 's darling son, and lovely as a star.
Hector had named him Scamandrius, but the people called him Astyanax, for his father stood alone as chief guardian of Ilius.
Hector smiled as he looked upon the boy, but he did not speak, and Andromache stood by him weeping and taking his hand in her own. "
Nay— Hector— you who to me are father, mother, brother, and dear husband— have mercy upon me; stay here upon this wall; make not your child fatherless, and your wife a widow; as for the host, place them near the figtree, where the city can be best scaled, and the wall is weakest.
And Hector answered," Wife, I too have thought upon all this, but with what face should I look upon the Trojans, men or women, if I shirked battle like a coward?
It may be that you will have to ply the loom in Argos at the bidding of a mistress, or to fetch water from the springs Messeis or Hypereia, treated brutally by some cruel taskmaster; then will one say who sees you weeping,' She was wife to Hector, the bravest warrior among the Trojans during the war before Ilius.'
His father and mother laughed to see him, but Hector took the helmet from his head and laid it all gleaming upon the ground.
When she reached her home she found her maidens within, and bade them all join in her lament; so they mourned Hector in his own house though he was yet alive, for they deemed that they should never see him return safe from battle, and from the furious hands of the Achaeans.
Forthwith he came upon his brother Hector, who was then turning away from the place where he had held converse with his wife, and he was himself the first to speak. "
"My good brother," answered Hector," you fight bravely, and no man with any justice can make light of your doings in battle.
Hector and Ajax fight—Hector is getting worsted when night comes on and parts them—They exchange presents—The burial of the dead, and the building of a wall round their ships by the Achaeans—The Achaeans buy their wine of Agamemnon and Menelaus.
With these words Hector passed through the gates, and his brother Alexandrus with him, both eager for the fray.
Hector threw a spear at Eioneus and struck him dead with a wound in the neck under the bronze rim of his helmet.
Apollo, son of Jove, replied," Let us incite great Hector to challenge some one of the Danaans in single combat; on this the Achaeans will be shamed into finding a man who will fight him."
Minerva assented, and Helenus son of Priam divined the counsel of the gods; he therefore went up to Hector and said," Hector son of Priam, peer of gods in counsel, I am your brother, let me then persuade you.
Hector was glad when he heard this saying, and went in among the Trojans, grasping his spear by the middle to hold them back, and they all sat down.
And Hector spoke thus:— "Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, that I may speak even as I am minded; Jove on his high throne has brought our oaths and covenants to nothing, and foreshadows ill for both of us, till you either take the towers of Troy, or are yourselves vanquished at your ships.
The princes of the Achaeans are here present in the midst of you; let him, then, that will fight me stand forward as your champion against Hector.
Then will one say hereafter as he sails his ship over the sea,' This is the monument of one who died long since a champion who was slain by mighty Hector.'
Alas," he cried," vain braggarts, women forsooth not men, doubledyed indeed will be the stain upon us if no man of the Danaans will now face Hector.
With these words he put on his armour; and then, O Menelaus, your life would have come to an end at the hands of hands of Hector, for he was far better the man, had not the princes of the Achaeans sprung upon you and checked you.
Be patient in spite of passion, do not think of fighting a man so much stronger than yourself as Hector son of Priam, who is feared by many another as well as you.
Sit down your own people, and the Achaeans will send some other champion to fight Hector; fearless and fond of battle though he be, I ween his knees will bend gladly under him if he comes out alive from the hurlyburly of this fight."
How would it not grieve him could he hear of them as now quailing before Hector?
But you, foremost among the whole host though you be, have none of you any stomach for fighting Hector."
When Ajax saw his mark he knew it and was glad; he threw it to the ground and said," My friends, the lot is mine, and I rejoice, for I shall vanquish Hector.
With this they fell praying to King Jove the son of Saturn, and thus would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven," Father Jove that rulest from Ida, most glorious in power, vouchsafe victory to Ajax, and let him win great glory: but if you wish well to Hector also and would protect him, grant to each of them equal fame and prowess."
The Argives were elated as they beheld him, but the Trojans trembled in every limb, and the heart even of Hector beat quickly, but he could not now retreat and withdraw into the ranks behind him, for he had been the challenger.
Holding this shield before him, Ajax son of Telamon came close up to Hector, and menaced him saying," Hector, you shall now learn, man to man, what kind of champions the Danaans have among them even besides lionhearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men.
And Hector answered," Noble Ajax, son of Telamon, captain of the host, treat me not as though I were some puny boy or woman that can not fight.
Ajax then sprang forward and pierced the shield of Hector; the spear went through it and staggered him as he was springing forward to attack; it gashed his neck and the blood came pouring from the wound, but even so Hector did not cease fighting; he gave ground, and with his brawny hand seized a stone, rugged and huge, that was lying upon the plain; with this he struck the shield of Ajax on the boss that was in its middle, so that the bronze rang again.
This millstone of a rock broke Hector 's shield inwards and threw him down on his back with the shield crushing him under it, but Apollo raised him at once.
Ajax son of Telamon answered," Idaeus, bid Hector say so, for it was he that challenged our princes.
Then Hector said," Ajax, heaven has vouchsafed you stature and strength, and judgement; and in wielding the spear you excel all others of the Achaeans.
Jove forbids the gods to interfere further—There is an even fight till midday, but then Jove inclines the scales of victory in favour of the Trojans, who eventually chase the Achaeans within their wall—Juno and Minerva set out to help the Trojans: Jove sends Iris to turn them back, but later on he promises Juno that she shall have her way in the end—Hector's triumph is stayed by nightfall—The Trojans bivouac on the plain.
The old man instantly began cutting the traces with his sword, but Hector 's fleet horses bore down upon him through the rout with their bold charioteer, even Hector himself, and the old man would have perished there and then had not Diomed been quick to mark, and with a loud cry called Ulysses to help him.
Let our squires attend to your own steeds, but let us drive mine straight at the Trojans, that Hector may learn how furiously I too can wield my spear."
Nestor took the reins in his hands and lashed the horses on; they were soon close up with Hector, and the son of Tydeus aimed a spear at him as he was charging full speed towards them.
Hector was greatly grieved at the loss of his charioteer, but let him lie for all his sorrow, while he went in quest of another driver; nor did his steeds have to go long without one, for he presently found brave Archeptolemus the son of Iphitus, and made him get up behind the horses, giving the reins into his hand.
Today he vouchsafes victory to Hector; tomorrow, if it so please him, he will again grant it to ourselves; no man, however brave, may thwart the purpose of Jove, for he is far stronger than any."
Diomed answered," All that you have said is true; there is a grief however which pierces me to the very heart, for Hector will talk among the Trojans and say,' The son of Tydeus fled before me to the ships.'
Though Hector say that you are a coward the Trojans and Dardanians will not believe him, nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you have laid low."
So saying he turned the horses back through the thick of the battle, and with a cry that rent the air the Trojans and Hector rained their darts after them.
Hector shouted to him and said," Son of Tydeus, the Danaans have done you honour hitherto as regards your place at table, the meals they give you, and the filling of your cup with wine.
Hector then shouted to them and said," Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, lovers of close fighting, be men, my friends, and fight with might and with main; I see that Jove is minded to vouchsafe victory and great glory to myself, while he will deal destruction upon the Danaans.
Thus did they converse; but the whole space enclosed by the ditch, from the ships even to the wall, was filled with horses and warriors, who were pent up there by Hector son of Priam, now that the hand of Jove was with him.
You vowed that you would each of you stand against a hundred or two hundred men, and now you prove no match even for one— for Hector, who will be ere long setting our ships in a blaze.
As he spoke he aimed another arrow straight at Hector, for he was bent on hitting him; nevertheless he missed him, and the arrow hit Priam 's brave son Gorgythion in the breast.
Again he aimed at Hector, for he was longing to hit him, and again his arrow missed, for Apollo turned it aside; but he hit Hector 's brave charioteer Archeptolemus in the breast, by the nipple, as he was driving furiously into the fight.
Hector was greatly grieved at the loss of his charioteer, but for all his sorrow he let him lie where he fell, and bade his brother Cebriones, who was hard by, take the reins.
Hector thereon with a loud cry sprang from his chariot to the ground, and seizing a great stone made straight for Teucer with intent to kill him.
Teucer had just taken an arrow from his quiver and had laid it upon the bowstring, but Hector struck him with the jagged stone as he was taking aim and drawing the string to his shoulder; he hit him just where the collarbone divides the neck from the chest, a very deadly place, and broke the sinew of his arm so that his wrist was less, and the bow dropped from his hand as he fell forward on his knees.
Jove now again put heart into the Trojans, and they drove the Achaeans to their deep trench with Hector in all his glory at their head.
As a hound grips a wild boar or lion in flank or buttock when he gives him chase, and watches warily for his wheeling, even so did Hector follow close upon the Achaeans, ever killing the hindmost as they rushed panicstricken onwards.
When they had fled through the set stakes and trench and many Achaeans had been laid low at the hands of the Trojans, they halted at their ships, calling upon one another and praying every man instantly as they lifted up their hands to the gods; but Hector wheeled his horses this way and that, his eyes glaring like those of Gorgo or murderous Mars.
Hector the son of Priam rages with intolerable fury, and has already done great mischief."
Get our horses ready, while I go within the house of aegisbearing Jove and put on my armour; we shall then find out whether Priam 's son Hector will be glad to meet us in the highways of battle, or whether the Trojans will glut hounds and vultures with the fat of their flesh as they be dead by the ships of the Achaeans."
And Jove answered," Tomorrow morning, Juno, if you choose to do so, you will see the son of Saturn destroying large numbers of the Argives, for fierce Hector shall not cease fighting till he has roused the son of Peleus when they are fighting in dire straits at their ships ' sterns about the body of Patroclus.
Then Hector led the Trojans back from the ships, and held a council on the open space near the river, where there was a spot clear of corpses.
Thus spoke Hector and the Trojans shouted applause.
Jove, moreover, has sent his lightnings on their right; Hector, in all his glory, rages like a maniac; confident that Jove is with him he fears neither god nor man, but is gone raving mad, and prays for the approach of day.
You might even kill Hector; he will come within your reach, for he is infatuated, and declares that not a Danaan whom the ships have brought can hold his own against him."
He has built a wall; he has dug a trench deep and wide all round it, and he has planted it within with stakes; but even so he stays not the murderous might of Hector.
So long as I fought the Achaeans Hector suffered not the battle range far from the city walls; he would come to the Scaean gates and to the oak tree, but no further.
Go, then, and deliver your message; say that I will have no concern with fighting till Hector, son of noble Priam, reaches the tents of the Myrmidons in his murderous course, and flings fire upon their ships.
And King Agamemnon answered," Menelaus, we both of us need shrewd counsel to save the Argives and our ships, for Jove has changed his mind, and inclines towards Hector 's sacrifices rather than ours.
I never saw nor heard tell of any man as having wrought such ruin in one day as Hector has now wrought against the sons of the Achaeans— and that too of his own unaided self, for he is son neither to god nor goddess.
Nestor replied," Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, Jove will not do all for Hector that Hector thinks he will; he will have troubles yet in plenty if Achilles will lay aside his anger.
When they were beyond the trench that was dug round the wall they held their meeting on the open ground where there was a space clear of corpses, for it was here that when night fell Hector had turned back from his onslaught on the Argives.
Neither again did Hector let the Trojans sleep; for he too called the princes and councillors of the Trojans that he might set his counsel before them. "
"I, Hector," said he," Will to the ships and will exploit them.
When he had done speaking Hector held up his sceptre, and swore him his oath saying," May Jove the thundering husband of Juno bear witness that no other Trojan but yourself shall mount those steeds, and that you shall have your will with them for ever."
Then he took a pointed javelin, and left the camp for the ships, but he was not to return with any news for Hector.
Dolon suspected nothing and soon passed them, but when he had got about as far as the distance by which a muleplowed furrow exceeds one that has been ploughed by oxen( for mules can plow fallow land quicker than oxen) they ran after him, and when he heard their footsteps he stood still, for he made sure they were friends from the Trojan camp come by Hector 's orders to bid him return; when, however, they were only a spear 's cast, or less, away from him, he saw that they were enemies and ran as fast as his legs could take him.
Is it to plunder the bodies of the slain, or did Hector send you to spy out what was going on at the ships?
Dolon answered, his limbs trembling beneath him:" Hector, with his vain flattering promises, lured me from my better judgement.
But tell me, and tell me true, where did you leave Hector when you started?
Hector and the other councillors are now holding conference by the monument of great Ilus, away from the general tumult; as for the guards about which you ask me, there is no chosen watch to keep guard over the host.
When they reached the place where they had killed Hector 's scout, Ulysses stayed his horses, and the son of Tydeus, leaping to the ground, placed the bloodstained spoils in the hands of Ulysses and remounted: then he lashed the horses onwards, and they flew forward nothing loth towards the ships as though of their own free will.
Hard by the ships we took a thirteenth man— a scout whom Hector and the other Trojans had sent as a spy upon our ships."
In the forenoon the fight is equal, but Agamemnon turns the fortune of the day towards the Achaeans until he gets wounded and leaves the field—Hector then drives everything before him till he is wounded by Diomed—Paris wounds Diomed—Ulysses, Nestor, and Idomeneus perform prodigies of valour—Machaon is wounded—Nestor drives him off in his chariot—Achilles sees the pair driving towards the camp and sends Patroclus to ask who it is that is wounded—This is the beginning of evil for Patroclus—Nestor makes a long speech.
The Trojans, on the other side upon the rising slope of the plain, were gathered round great Hector, noble Polydamas, Aeneas who was honoured by the Trojans like an immortal, and the three sons of Antenor, Polybus, Agenor, and young Acamas beauteous as a god.
Hector 's round shield showed in the front rank, and as some baneful star that shines for a moment through a rent in the clouds and is again hidden beneath them; even so was Hector now seen in the front ranks and now again in the hindermost, and his bronze armour gleamed like the lightning of aegisbearing Jove.
Jove drew Hector away from the darts and dust, with the carnage and din of battle; but the son of Atreus sped onwards, calling out lustily to the Danaans.
Go," said he," fleet Iris, and speak thus to Hector— say that so long as he sees Agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the Trojan ranks, he is to keep aloof and bid the others bear the brunt of the battle, but when Agamemnon is wounded either by spear or arrow, and takes to his chariot, then will I vouchsafe him strength to slay till he reach the ships and night falls at the going down of the sun."
Down she went to strong Ilius from the crests of Ida, and found Hector son of Priam standing by his chariot and horses.
Then she said," Hector son of Priam, peer of gods in counsel, father Jove has sent me to bear you this message— so long as you see Agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the Trojan ranks, you are to keep aloof and bid the others bear the brunt of the battle, but when Agamemnon is wounded either by spear or arrow, and takes to his chariot, then will Jove vouchsafe you strength to slay till you reach the ships, and till night falls at the going down of the sun."
When she had thus spoken Iris left him, and Hector sprang full armed from his chariot to the ground, brandishing his spear as he went about everywhere among the host, cheering his men on to fight, and stirring the dread strife of battle.
When Hector saw Agamemnon quit the field, he shouted to the Trojans and Lycians saying," Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanian warriors, be men, my friends, and acquit yourselves in battle bravely; their best man has left them, and Jove has vouchsafed me a great triumph; charge the foe with your chariots that you may win still greater glory."
With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and as a huntsman hounds his dogs on against a lion or wild boar, even so did Hector, peer of Mars, hound the proud Trojans on against the Achaeans.
What, then is the full tale of those whom Hector son of Priam killed in the hour of triumph which Jove then vouchsafed him?
First Asaeus, Autonous, and Opites; Dolops son of Clytius, Opheltius and Agelaus; Aesymnus, Orus and Hipponous steadfast in battle; these chieftains of the Achaeans did Hector slay, and then he fell upon the rank and file.
As when the west wind hustles the clouds of the white south and beats them down with the fierceness of its fury— the waves of the sea roll high, and the spray is flung aloft in the rage of the wandering wind— even so thick were the heads of them that fell by the hand of Hector.
Come, my good fellow, stand by my side and help me, we shall be shamed for ever if Hector takes the ships."
Thus did they turn upon the Trojans and slay them, and the Achaeans were thankful to have breathing time in their flight from Hector.
Hector soon marked the havoc Diomed and Ulysses were making, and bore down upon them with a loud cry, followed by the Trojan ranks; brave Diomed was dismayed when he saw them, and said to Ulysses who was beside him," Great Hector is bearing down upon us and we shall be undone; let us stand firm and wait his onset."
He had aimed at Hector 's head near the top of his helmet, but bronze was turned by bronze, and Hector was untouched, for the spear was stayed by the visored helm made with three plates of metal, which Phoebus Apollo had given him.
Hector sprang back with a great bound under cover of the ranks; he fell on his knees and propped himself with his brawny hand leaning on the ground, for darkness had fallen on his eyes.
The son of Tydeus having thrown his spear dashed in among the foremost fighters, to the place where he had seen it strike the ground; meanwhile Hector recovered himself and springing back into his chariot mingled with the crowd, by which means he saved his life.
Hector did not yet know what Ajax was doing, for he was fighting on the extreme left of the battle by the banks of the river Scamander, where the carnage was thickest and the warcry loudest round Nestor and brave Idomeneus.
Among these Hector was making great slaughter with his spear and furious driving, and was destroying the ranks that were opposed to him; still the Achaeans would have given no ground, had not Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen stayed the prowess of Machaon, shepherd of his people, by wounding him in the right shoulder with a triplebarbed arrow.
Then Cebriones seeing the Trojans in confusion said to Hector from his place beside him," Hector, here are we two fighting on the extreme wing of the battle, while the other Trojans are in pellmell rout, they and their horses.
Hector tore his way through and flung himself into the thick of the fight, and his presence threw the Danaans into confusion, for his spear was not long idle; nevertheless though he went among the ranks with sword and spear, and throwing great stones, he avoided Ajax son of Telamon, for Jove would have been angry with him if he had fought a better man than himself.
Say, noble Eurypylus, will the Achaeans be able to hold great Hector in check, or will they fall now before his spear?"
The Trojans and their allies break the wall, led on by Hector.
So long as Hector lived and Achilles nursed his anger, and so long as the city of Priam remained untaken, the great wall of the Achaeans stood firm; but when the bravest of the Trojans were no more, and many also of the Argives, though some were yet left alive— when, moreover, the city was sacked in the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back with their ships to their own country— then Neptune and Apollo took counsel to destroy the wall, and they turned on to it the streams of all the rivers from Mount Ida into the sea, Rhesus, Heptaporus, Caresus, Rhodius, Grenicus, Aesopus, and goodly Scamander, with Simois, where many a shield and helm had fallen, and many a hero of the race of demigods had bitten the dust.
The Argives, cowed by the scourge of Jove, were hemmed in at their ships in fear of Hector the mighty minister of Rout, who as heretofore fought with the force and fury of a whirlwind.
As a lion or wild boar turns fiercely on the dogs and men that attack him, while these form a solid wall and shower their javelins as they face him— his courage is all undaunted, but his high spirit will be the death of him; many a time does he charge at his pursuers to scatter them, and they fall back as often as he does so— even so did Hector go about among the host exhorting his men, and cheering them on to cross the trench.
Then Polydamas went up to Hector and said," Hector, and you other captains of the Trojans and allies, it is madness for us to try and drive our horses across the trench; it will be very hard to cross, for it is full of sharp stakes, and beyond these there is the wall.
Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let our squires hold our horses by the trench, but let us follow Hector in a body on foot, clad in full armour, and if the day of their doom is at hand the Achaeans will not be able to withstand us."
Thus spoke Polydamas and his saying pleased Hector, who sprang in full armour to the ground, and all the other Trojans, when they saw him do so, also left their chariots.
Those that went with Hector and Polydamas were the bravest and most in number, and the most determined to break through the wall and fight at the ships.
Cebriones was also joined with them as third in command, for Hector had left his chariot in charge of a less valiant soldier.
He spoke, but moved not the mind of Jove, whose counsel it then was to give glory to Hector.
While they were busy stripping the armour from these heroes, the youths who were led on by Polydamas and Hector( and these were the greater part and the most valiant of those that were trying to break through the wall and fire the ships) were still standing by the trench, uncertain what they should do; for they had seen a sign from heaven when they had essayed to cross it— a soaring eagle that flew skirting the left wing of their host, with a monstrous bloodred snake in its talons still alive and struggling to escape.
The Trojans were struck with terror when they saw the snake, portent of aegisbearing Jove, writhing in the midst of them, and Polydamas went up to Hector and said," Hector, at our councils of war you are ever given to rebuke me, even when I speak wisely, as though it were not well, forsooth, that one of the people should cross your will either in the field or at the council board; you would have them support you always: nevertheless I will say what I think will be best; let us not now go on to fight the Danaans at their ships, for I know what will happen if this soaring eagle which skirted the left wing of our host with a monstrous bloodred snake in its talons( the snake being still alive) was really sent as an omen to the Trojans on their essaying to cross the trench.
Hector looked fiercely at him and said," Polydamas, I like not of your reading.
Then Jove the lord of thunder sent the blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida, that bore the dust down towards the ships; he thus lulled the Achaeans into security, and gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans, who, trusting to their own might and to the signs he had shown them, essayed to break through the great wall of the Achaeans.
Still the Trojans and brave Hector would not yet have broken down the gates and the great bar, had not Jove turned his son Sarpedon against the Argives as a lion against a herd of horned cattle.
But even so the Trojans could not rout the Achaeans, who still held on; and as some honest hardworking woman weighs wool in her balance and sees that the scales be true, for she would gain some pitiful earnings for her little ones, even so was the fight balanced evenly between them till the time came when Jove gave the greater glory to Hector son of Priam, who was first to spring towards the wall of the Achaeans.
Hector laid hold of a stone that lay just outside the gates and was thick at one end but pointed at the other; two of the best men in a town, as men now are, could hardly raise it from the ground and put it on to a waggon, but Hector lifted it quite easily by himself, for the son of scheming Saturn made it light for him.
As a shepherd picks up a ram 's fleece with one hand and finds it no burden, so easily did Hector lift the great stone and drive it right at the doors that closed the gates so strong and so firmly set.
When he had got close up to them, Hector strode towards them that his blow might gain in force and struck them in the middle, leaning his whole weight against them.
Then brave Hector leaped inside with a face as dark as that of flying night.
Neptune helps the Achaeans—The feats of Idomeneus—Hector at the ships.
Now when Jove had thus brought Hector and the Trojans to the ships, he left them to their neverending toil, and turned his keen eyes away, looking elsewhither towards the horsebreeders of Thrace, the Mysians, fighters at close quarters, the noble Hippemolgi, who live on milk, and the Abians, justest of mankind.
Now the Trojans followed Hector son of Priam in close array like a stormcloud or flame of fire, fighting with might and main and raising the cry battle; for they deemed that they should take the ships of the Achaeans and kill all their chiefest heroes then and there.
I am not afraid that the Trojans, who have got over the wall in force, will be victorious in any other part, for the Achaeans can hold all of them in check, but I much fear that some evil will befall us here where furious Hector, who boasts himself the son of great Jove himself, is leading them on like a pillar of flame.
And Ajax son of Telamon answered," I too feel my hands grasp my spear more firmly; my strength is greater, and my feet more nimble; I long, moreover, to meet furious Hector son of Priam, even in single combat."
Great Hector is now fighting at our ships; he has broken through the gates and the strong bolt that held them."
Thereon round the two Ajaxes there gathered strong bands of men, of whom not even Mars nor Minerva, marshaller of hosts could make light if they went among them, for they were the picked men of all those who were now awaiting the onset of Hector and the Trojans.
The Trojans advanced in a dense body, with Hector at their head pressing right on as a rock that comes thundering down the side of some mountain from whose brow the winter torrents have torn it; the foundations of the dull thing have been loosened by floods of rain, and as it bounds headlong on its way it sets the whole forest in an uproar; it swerves neither to right nor left till it reaches level ground, but then for all its fury it can go no further— even so easily did Hector for a while seem as though he would career through the tents and ships of the Achaeans till he had reached the sea in his murderous course; but the closely serried battalions stayed him when he reached them, for the sons of the Achaeans thrust at him with swords and spears pointed at both ends, and drove him from them so that he staggered and gave ground ;thereon he shouted to the Trojans," Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, fighters in close combat, stand firm: the Achaeans have set themselves as a wall against me, but they will not check me for long; they will give ground before me if the mightiest of the gods, the thundering spouse of Juno, has indeed inspired my onset."
Thus did he fall with his bronzedight armour ringing harshly round him, and Teucer sprang forward with intent to strip him of his armour; but as he was doing so, Hector took aim at him with a spear.
Hector sprang forward to take Amphimachus 's helmet from off his temples, and in a moment Ajax threw a spear at him, but did not wound him, for he was encased all over in his terrible armour; nevertheless the spear struck the boss of his shield with such force as to drive him back from the two corpses, which the Achaeans then drew off.
Then the son of Oileus severed the head from the neck in revenge for the death of Amphimachus, and sent it whirling over the crowd as though it had been a ball, till it fell in the dust at Hector 's feet.
These will give Hector son of Priam enough to do; fight as he may, he will find it hard to vanquish their indomitable fury, and fire the ships, unless the son of Saturn fling a firebrand upon them with his own hand.
Jove was minded to give victory to the Trojans and to Hector, so as to do honour to fleet Achilles, nevertheless he did not mean to utterly overthrow the Achaean host before Ilius, and only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son.
But Hector had not yet heard, and did not know that the Argives were making havoc of his men on the left wing of the battle, where the Achaeans ere long would have triumphed over them, so vigorously did Neptune cheer them on and help them.
The Boeotians and the Ionians with their long tunics, the Locrians, the men of Phthia, and the famous force of the Epeans could hardly stay Hector as he rushed on towards the ships, nor could they drive him from them, for he was as a wall of fire.
The others, therefore, with their heavy armour bore the brunt of the fight with the Trojans and with Hector, while the Locrians shot from behind, under their cover; and thus the Trojans began to lose heart, for the arrows threw them into confusion.
The Trojans would now have been driven in sorry plight from the ships and tents back to windy Ilius, had not Polydamas presently said to Hector," Hector, there is no persuading you to take advice.
Thus spoke Polydamas, and his words pleased Hector well.
When they heard his voice they all hastened to gather round Polydamas, the excellent son of Panthous, but Hector kept on among the foremost, looking everywhere to find Deiphobus and prince Helenus, Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus; living, indeed, and scatheless he could no longer find them, for the two last were lying by the sterns of the Achaean ships, slain by the Argives, while the others had been also stricken and wounded by them; but upon the left wing of the dread battle he found Alexandrus, husband of lovely Helen, cheering his men and urging them on to fight.
Alexandrus answered," Hector, why find fault when there is no one to find fault with?
The way was led by Hector son of Priam, peer of murderous Mars, with his round shield before him— his shield of oxhides covered with plates of bronze— and his gleaming helmet upon his temples.
But Hector answered," Ajax, braggart and false of tongue, would that I were as sure of being son for evermore to aegisbearing Jove, with Queen Juno for my mother, and of being held in like honour with Minerva and Apollo, as I am that this day is big with the destruction of the Achaeans; and you shall fall among them if you dare abide my spear; it shall rend your fair body and bid you glut our hounds and birds of prey with your fat and your flesh, as you fall by the ships of the Achaeans."
Agamemnon proposes that the Achaeans should sail home, and is rebuked by Ulysses—Juno beguiles Jupiter—Hector is wounded.
I fear that what dread Hector said will come true, when he vaunted among the Trojans saying that he would not return to Ilius till he had fired our ships and killed us; this is what he said, and now it is all coming true.
He darted forward among the first ranks and shouted saying," Argives, shall we let Hector son of Priam have the triumph of taking our ships and covering himself with glory?
Let us each take the best and largest shield we can lay hold of, put on our helmets, and sally forth with our longest spears in our hands; I will lead you on, and Hector son of Priam, rage as he may, will not dare to hold out against us.
Hector on the other side set the Trojans in array.
Thereon Neptune and Hector waged fierce war on one another— Hector on the Trojan and Neptune on the Argive side.
Hector first aimed his spear at Ajax, who was turned full towards him, nor did he miss his aim.
Hector was angry that his spear should have been hurled in vain, and withdrew under cover of his men.
Ajax caught up one of them and struck Hector above the rim of his shield close to his neck; the blow made him spin round like a top and reel in all directions.
As an oak falls headlong when uprooted by the lightning flash of father Jove, and there is a terrible smell of brimstone— no man can help being dismayed if he is standing near it, for a thunderbolt is a very awful thing— even so did Hector fall to earth and bite the dust.
When the Argives saw Hector leaving the field, they took heart and set upon the Trojans yet more furiously.
Jove awakes, tells Apollo to heal Hector, and the Trojans again become victorious.
He saw Hector lying on the ground with his comrades gathered round him, gasping for breath, wandering in mind and vomiting blood, for it was not the feeblest of the Achaeans who struck him.
"I see, Juno," said he," you mischiefmaking trickster, that your cunning has stayed Hector from fighting and has caused the rout of his host.
Juno trembled as he spoke, and said," May heaven above and earth below be my witnesses, with the waters of the river Styx— and this is the most solemn oath that a blessed god can take— nay, I swear also by your own almighty head and by our bridal bed— things over which I could never possibly perjure myself— that Neptune is not punishing Hector and the Trojans and helping the Achaeans through any doing of mine; it is all of his own mere motion because he was sorry to see the Achaeans hard pressed at their ships: if I were advising him, I should tell him to do as you bid him."
If, then, you are speaking the truth and mean what you say, go among the rank and file of the gods, and tell Iris and Apollo lord of the bow, that I want them— Iris, that she may go to the Achaean host and tell Neptune to leave off fighting and go home, and Apollo, that he may send Hector again into battle and give him fresh strength; he will thus forget his present sufferings, and drive the Achaeans back in confusion till they fall among the ships of Achilles son of Peleus.
Achilles will then send his comrade Patroclus into battle, and Hector will kill him in front of Ilius after he has slain many warriors, and among them my own noble son Sarpedon.
Achilles will kill Hector to avenge Patroclus, and from that time I will bring it about that the Achaeans shall persistently drive the Trojans back till they fulfil the counsels of Minerva and take Ilius.
Then Jove said to Apollo," Go, dear Phoebus, to Hector, for Neptune who holds the earth in his embrace has now gone down under the sea to avoid the severity of my displeasure.
Take, then, your tasselled aegis, and shake it furiously, so as to set the Achaean heroes in a panic; take, moreover, brave Hector, O FarDarter, into your own care, and rouse him to deeds of daring, till the Achaeans are sent flying back to their ships and to the Hellespont.
He found Hector no longer lying upon the ground, but sitting up, for he had just come to himself again.
Apollo stood beside him and said," Hector son of Priam, why are you so faint, and why are you here away from the others?
Hector in a weak voice answered," And which, kind sir, of the gods are you, who now ask me thus?
And as a horse, stabled and fullfed, breaks loose and gallops gloriously over the plain to the place where he is wo nt to take his bath in the river— he tosses his head, and his mane streams over his shoulders as in all the pride of his strength he flies full speed to the pastures where the mares are feeding— even so Hector, when he heard what the god said, urged his horsemen on, and sped forward as fast as his limbs could take him.
As country peasants set their hounds on to a homed stag or wild goat— he has taken shelter under rock or thicket, and they can not find him, but, lo, a bearded lion whom their shouts have roused stands in their path, and they are in no further humour for the chase— even so the Achaeans were still charging on in a body, using their swords and spears pointed at both ends, but when they saw Hector going about among his men they were afraid, and their hearts fell down into their feet.
Is it not Hector come to life again?
Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let us order the main body of our forces to fall back upon the ships, but let those of us who profess to be the flower of the army stand firm, and see whether we can not hold Hector back at the point of our spears as soon as he comes near us; I conceive that he will then think better of it before he tries to charge into the press of the Danaans."
Those who were about Ajax and King Idomeneus, the followers moreover of Teucer, Meriones, and Meges peer of Mars called all their best men about them and sustained the fight against Hector and the Trojans, but the main body fell back upon the ships of the Achaeans.
The Trojans pressed forward in a dense body, with Hector striding on at their head.
As when two wild beasts spring in the dead of night on a herd of cattle or a large flock of sheep when the herdsman is not there— even so were the Danaans struck helpless, for Apollo filled them with panic and gave victory to Hector and the Trojans.
Hector killed Stichius and Arcesilaus, the one, leader of the Boeotians, and the other, friend and comrade of Menestheus.
Hector then cried out to the Trojans," Forward to the ships, and let the spoils be.
Hector made straight for Ajax, and the two fought fiercely about the same ship.
Hector could not force Ajax back and fire the ship, nor yet could Ajax drive Hector from the spot to which heaven had brought him.
When Hector saw his cousin fallen in front of the ship he shouted to the Trojans and Lycians saying," Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians good in close fight, bate not a jot, but rescue the son of Clytius lest the Achaeans strip him of his armour now that he has fallen."
Hector 's spear struck him on the head below the ear, and he fell headlong from the ship 's prow on to the ground with no life left in him.
Hector has just killed him; fetch your deadly arrows at once and the bow which Phoebus Apollo gave you."
Forthwith he showered his arrows on the Trojans, and hit Cleitus the son of Pisenor, comrade of Polydamas the noble son of Panthous, with the reins in his hands as he was attending to his horses; he was in the middle of the very thickest part of the fight, doing good service to Hector and the Trojans, but evil had now come upon him, and not one of those who were fain to do so could avert it, for the arrow struck him on the back of the neck.
Teucer then aimed another arrow at Hector, and there would have been no more fighting at the ships if he had hit him and killed him then and there: Jove, however, who kept watch over Hector, had his eyes on Teucer, and deprived him of his triumph, by breaking his bowstring for him just as he was drawing it and about to take his aim; on this the arrow went astray and the bow fell from his hands.
When Hector saw that Teucer 's bow was of no more use to him, he shouted out to the Trojans and Lycians," Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians good in close fight, be men, my friends, and show your mettle here at the ships, for I see the weapon of one of their chieftains made useless by the hand of Jove.
Do you think, if Hector takes them, that you will be able to get home by land?
Hector then killed Schedius son of Perimedes, leader of the Phoceans, and Ajax killed Laodamas captain of foot soldiers and son to Antenor.
The two then made towards him to strip him of his armour, but Hector called on all his brothers for help, and he especially upbraided brave Melanippus son of Hiketaon, who erewhile used to pasture his herds of cattle in Percote before the war broke out; but when the ships of the Danaans came, he went back to Ilius, where he was eminent among the Trojans, and lived near Priam who treated him as one of his own sons.
Hector now rebuked him and said," Why, Melanippus, are we thus remiss?
Even so, O Melanippus, did stalwart Antilochus spring upon you to strip you of your armour; but noble Hector marked him, and came running up to him through the thick of the battle.
Even so did the son of Nestor fly, and the Trojans and Hector with a cry that rent the air showered their weapons after him; nor did he turn round and stay his flight till he had reached his comrades.
For he meant giving glory to Hector son of Priam, and letting him throw fire upon the ships, till he had fulfilled the unrighteous prayer that Thetis had made him; Jove, therefore, bided his time till he should see the glare of a blazing ship.
With this purpose he inspired Hector son of Priam, who was eager enough already, to assail the ships.
Or as a savage lion attacking a herd of cows while they are feeding by thousands in the lowlying meadows by some widewatered shore— the herdsman is at his wit 's end how to protect his herd and keeps going about now in the van and now in the rear of his cattle, while the lion springs into the thick of them and fastens on a cow so that they all tremble for fear— even so were the Achaeans utterly panicstricken by Hector and father Jove.
Nevertheless Hector only killed Periphetes of Mycenae; he was son of Copreus who was wo nt to take the orders of King Eurystheus to mighty Hercules, but the son was a far better man than the father in every way; he was fleet of foot, a valiant warrior, and in understanding ranked among the foremost men of Mycenae.
He it was who then afforded Hector a triumph, for as he was turning back he stumbled against the rim of his shield which reached his feet, and served to keep the javelins off him.
Hector saw him fall and ran up to him; he then thrust a spear into his chest, and killed him close to his own comrades.
These, for all their sorrow, could not help him for they were themselves terribly afraid of Hector.
They could see Hector and all his men, both those in the rear who were taking no part in the battle, and those who were fighting by the ships.
He kept on shouting his orders to the Danaans and exhorting them to defend their ships and tents; neither did Hector remain within the main body of the Trojan warriors, but as a dun eagle swoops down upon a flock of wildfowl feeding near a river— geese, it may be, or cranes, or longnecked swans— even so did Hector make straight for a darkprowed ship, rushing right towards it; for Jove with his mighty hand impelled him forward, and roused his people to follow him.
Then Hector seized the stern of the good ship that had brought Protesilaus to Troy, but never bore him back to his native land.
Hector, when he had seized the ship, would not loose his hold but held on to its curved stern and shouted to the Trojans," Bring fire, and raise the battlecry all of you with a single voice.
As he spoke he wielded his spear with still greater fury, and when any Trojan made towards the ships with fire at Hector 's bidding, he would be on the lookout for him, and drive at him with his long spear.
Fire being now thrown on the ship of Protesilaus, Patroclus fights in the armour of Achilles—He drives the Trojans back, but is in the end killed by Euphorbus and Hector.
Diomed son of Tydeus no longer wields his spear to defend the Danaans, neither have I heard the voice of the son of Atreus coming from his hated head, whereas that of murderous Hector rings in my cars as he gives orders to the Trojans, who triumph over the Achaeans and fill the whole plain with their cry of battle.
Hector came close up and let drive with his great sword at the ashen spear of Ajax.
Grant, O allseeing Jove, that victory may go with him; put your courage into his heart that Hector may learn whether my squire is man enough to fight alone, or whether his might is only then so indomitable when I myself enter the turmoil of war.
Meanwhile great Ajax kept on trying to drive a spear into Hector, but Hector was so skilful that he held his broad shoulders well under cover of his oxhide shield, ever on the lookout for the whizzing of the arrows and the heavy thud of the spears.
Hector 's fleet horses bore him and his armour out of the fight, and he left the Trojan host penned in by the deep trench against their will.
He was intent on trying to get near Hector, for he had set his heart on spearing him, but Hector 's horses were now hurrying him away.
From these he strode on among the Trojans to Polydamas son of Panthous and Agenor; he then went in search of Aeneas and Hector, and when he had found them he said," Hector, you have utterly forgotten your allies, who languish here for your sake far from friends and home while you do nothing to support them.
Led by Hector, who was infuriated by the fall of Sarpedon, they made instantly for the Danaans with all their might, while the undaunted spirit of Patroclus son of Menoetius cheered on the Achaeans.
Hector now struck him on the head with a stone just as he had caught hold of the body, and his brains inside his helmet were all battered in, so that he fell face foremost upon the body of Sarpedon, and there died.
On this Hector and the front rank of his men gave ground.
Men swarmed about the body, as flies that buzz round the full milkpails in spring when they are brimming with milk— even so did they gather round Sarpedon; nor did Jove turn his keen eyes away for one moment from the fight, but kept looking at it all the time, for he was settling how best to kill Patroclus, and considering whether Hector should be allowed to end him now in the fight round the body of Sarpedon, and strip him of his armour, or whether he should let him give yet further trouble to the Trojans.
In the end, he deemed it best that the brave squire of Achilles son of Peleus should drive Hector and the Trojans back towards the city and take the lives of many.
First, therefore, he made Hector turn fainthearted, whereon he mounted his chariot and fled, bidding the other Trojans fly also, for he saw that the scales of Jove had turned against him.
Meanwhile Hector was waiting with his horses inside the Scaean gates, in doubt whether to drive out again and go on fighting, or to call the army inside the gates.
As he was thus doubting Phoebus Apollo drew near him in the likeness of a young and lusty warrior Asius, who was Hector 's uncle, being own brother to Hecuba, and son of Dymas who lived in Phrygia by the waters of the river Sangarius; in his likeness Jove 's son Apollo now spoke to Hector saying," Hector, why have you left off fighting?
With this the god went back into the hurlyburly, and Hector bade Cebriones drive again into the fight.
Apollo passed in among them, and struck panic into the Argives, while he gave triumph to Hector and the Trojans.
Hector let the other Danaans alone and killed no man, but drove straight at Patroclus.
He stood still and threw it, nor did it go far without hitting some one; the cast was not in vain, for the stone struck Cebriones, Hector 's charioteer, a bastard son of Priam, as he held the reins in his hands.
Hector sprang also from his chariot to the ground.
As two lions fight fiercely on some high mountain over the body of a stag that they have killed, even so did these two mighty warriors, Patroclus son of Menoetius and brave Hector, hack and hew at one another over the corpse of Cebriones.
Hector would not let him go when he had once got him by the head, while Patroclus kept fast hold of his feet, and a fierce fight raged between the other Danaans and Trojans.
Now, however, Zeus delivered it over to be worn by Hector.
Nevertheless the end of Hector also was near.
Hector on this, seeing him to be wounded and giving ground, forced his way through the ranks, and when close up with him struck him in the lower part of the belly with a spear, driving the bronze point right through it, so that he fell heavily to the ground to the great grief of the Achaeans.
As when a lion has fought some fierce wildboar and worsted him— the two fight furiously upon the mountains over some little fountain at which they would both drink, and the lion has beaten the boar till he can hardly breathe— even so did Hector son of Priam take the life of the brave son of Menoetius who had killed so many, striking him from close at hand, and vaunting over him the while. "
Fool; Hector and his fleet horses were ever straining their utmost to defend them.
Poor wretch, Achilles with all his bravery availed you nothing; and yet I ween when you left him he charged you straitly saying,' Come not back to the ships, knight Patroclus, till you have rent the bloodstained shirt of murderous Hector about his body.'
Then, as the life ebbed out of you, you answered, O knight Patroclus:" Hector, vaunt as you will, for Jove the son of Saturn and Apollo have vouchsafed you victory; it is they who have vanquished me so easily, and they who have stripped the armour from my shoulders; had twenty such men as you attacked me, all of them would have fallen before my spear.
Dead though he was, Hector still spoke to him saying," Patroclus, why should you thus foretell my doom?
The son of Atreus would have then carried off the armour of the son of Panthous with ease, had not Phoebus Apollo been angry, and in the guise of Mentes chief of the Cicons incited Hector to attack him. "
Hector," said he," you are now going after the horses of the noble son of Aeacus, but you will not take them; they can not be kept in hand and driven by mortal man, save only by Achilles, who is son to an immortal mother.
The god then went back into the toil and turmoil, but the soul of Hector was darkened with a cloud of grief; he looked along the ranks and saw Euphorbus lying on the ground with the blood still flowing from his wound, and Menelaus stripping him of his armour.
Still if for my honour 's sake I fight Hector and the Trojans singlehanded, they will prove too many for me, for Hector is bringing them up in force.
Let no Danaan think ill of me if I give place to Hector, for the hand of heaven is with him.
Yet, if I could find Ajax, the two of us would fight Hector and heaven too, if we might only save the body of Patroclus for Achilles son of Peleus.
While he was thus in two minds, the Trojans came up to him with Hector at their head; he therefore drew back and left the body, turning about like some bearded lion who is being chased by dogs and men from a stockyard with spears and hue and cry, whereon he is daunted and slinks sulkily off— even so did Menelaus son of Atreus turn and leave the body of Patroclus.
He ran up to him and said," Ajax, my good friend, come with me at once to dead Patroclus, if so be that we may take the body to Achilles— as for his armour, Hector already has it."
Hector had stripped Patroclus of his armour, and was dragging him away to cut off his head and take the body to fling before the dogs of Troy.
But Ajax came up with his shield like wall before him, on which Hector withdrew under shelter of his men, and sprang on to his chariot, giving the armour over to the Trojans to take to the city, as a great trophy for himself; Ajax, therefore, covered the body of Patroclus with his broad shield and bestrode him; as a lion stands over his whelps if hunters have come upon him in a forest when he is with his little ones— in the pride and fierceness of his strength he draws his knit brows down till they cover his eyes— even so did Ajax bestride the body of Patroclus, and by his side stood Menelaus son of Atreus, nursing great sorrow in his heart.
Then Glaucus son of Hippolochus looked fiercely at Hector and rebuked him sternly. "
Hector," said he," you make a brave show, but in fight you are sadly wanting.
Hector scowled at him and answered," Glaucus, you should know better.
With this Hector left the fight, and ran full speed after his men who were taking the armour of Achilles to Troy, but had not yet got far.
When Jove, lord of the stormcloud, saw Hector standing aloof and arming himself in the armour of the son of Peleus, he wagged his head and muttered to himself saying," A!
The son of Saturn bowed his portentous brows, and Hector fitted the armour to his body, while terrible Mars entered into him, and filled his whole body with might and valour.
Hector has wrapped us round in a storm of battle from every quarter, and our destruction seems now certain.
The Trojans with Hector at their head charged in a body.
At this moment Hippothous brave son of the Pelasgian Lethus, in his zeal for Hector and the Trojans, was dragging the body off by the foot through the press of the fight, having bound a strap round the sinews near the ancle; but a mischief soon befell him from which none of those could save him who would have gladly done so, for the son of Telamon sprang forward and smote him on his bronzecheeked helmet.
Hector then took aim at Ajax with a spear, but he saw it coming and just managed to avoid it; the spear passed on and struck Schedius son of noble Iphitus, captain of the Phoceans, who dwelt in famed Panopeus and reigned over much people; it struck him under the middle of the collarbone the bronze point went right through him, coming out at the bottom of his shoulderblade, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.
Hector and those who were in the front rank then gave ground, while the Argives raised a loud cry of triumph, and drew off the bodies of Phorcys and Hippothous which they stripped presently of their armour.
Aeneas knew Apollo when he looked straight at him, and shouted to Hector saying," Hector and all other Trojans and allies, shame on us if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to Ilius through our own cowardice.
The horses of the descendant of Aeacus stood out of the fight and wept when they heard that their driver had been laid low by the hand of murderous Hector.
for of all creatures that live and move upon the earth there is none so pitiable as he is— still, Hector son of Priam shall drive neither you nor your chariot.
He who was your comrade is slain, and Hector plumes himself on being armed in the armour of the descendant of Aeacus."
When Hector saw him he said to Aeneas who was near him," Aeneas, counsellor of the mailclad Trojans, I see the steeds of the fleet son of Aeacus come into battle with weak hands to drive them.
He turned to his trusty comrade Alcimedon and said," Alcimedon, keep your horses so close up that I may feel their breath upon my back; I doubt that we shall not stay Hector son of Priam till he has killed us and mounted behind the horses; he will then either spread panic among the ranks of the Achaeans, or himself be killed among the foremost."
On this he cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelaus," Ajaxes captains of the Argives, and Menelaus, give the dead body over to them that are best able to defend it, and come to the rescue of us living; for Hector and Aeneas who are the two best men among the Trojans, are pressing us hard in the full tide of war.
Hector then aimed a spear at Automedon but he saw it coming and stooped forward to avoid it, so that it flew past him and the point stuck in the ground, while the buttend went on quivering till Mars robbed it of its force.
They would then have fought hand to hand with swords had not the two Ajaxes forced their way through the crowd when they heard their comrade calling, and parted them for all their fury— for Hector, Aeneas, and Chromius were afraid and drew back, leaving Aretus to lie there struck to the heart.
Menelaus answered," Phoenix, my good old friend, may Minerva vouchsafe me strength and keep the darts from off me, for so shall I stand by Patroclus and defend him; his death has gone to my heart, but Hector is as a raging fire and deals his blows without ceasing, for Jove is now granting him a time of triumph."
Hector held him in the highest honour for he was his comrade and boon companion; the spear of Menelaus struck this man in the girdle just as he had turned in flight, and went right through him.
Apollo then went up to Hector and spurred him on to fight, in the likeness of Phaenops son of Asius who lived in Abydos and was the most favoured of all Hector 's guests.
In his likeness Apollo said," Hector, who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward now that you have quailed before Menelaus who has ever been rated poorly as a soldier?
A dark cloud of grief fell upon Hector as he heard, and he made his way to the front clad in full armour.
Then Hector in close combat struck Leitus son of noble Alectryon in the hand by the wrist, and disabled him from fighting further.
While Hector was in pursuit of Leitus, Idomeneus struck him on the breastplate over his chest near the nipple; but the spear broke in the shaft, and the Trojans cheered aloud.
Hector then aimed at Idomeneus son of Deucalion as he was standing on his chariot, and very narrowly missed him, but the spear hit Coiranus, a follower and charioteer of Meriones who had come with him from Lyctus.
Idomeneus had left the ships on foot and would have afforded a great triumph to the Trojans if Coiranus had not driven quickly up to him, he therefore brought life and rescue to Idomeneus, but himself fell by the hand of murderous Hector.
For Hector hit him on the jaw under the ear; the end of the spear drove out his teeth and cut his tongue in two pieces, so that he fell from his chariot and let the reins fall to the ground.
What, then, will be best both as regards rescuing the body, and our return to the joy of our friends who will be grieving as they look hitherwards; for they will make sure that nothing can now check the terrible hands of Hector, and that he will fling himself upon our ships.
As for the armour, Hector already has it."
He came running up to the two Ajaxes and said," I have sent Antilochus to the ships to tell Achilles, but rage against Hector as he may, he can not come, for he can not fight without armour.
Ajax answered," Menelaus, you have said well: do you, then, and Meriones stoop down, raise the body, and bear it out of the fray, while we two behind you keep off Hector and the Trojans, one in heart as in name, and long used to fighting side by side with one another."
As some wooded mountainspur that stretches across a plain will turn water and check the flow even of a great river, nor is there any stream strong enough to break through it— even so did the two Ajaxes face the Trojans and stem the tide of their fighting though they kept pouring on towards them and foremost among them all was Aeneas son of Anchises with valiant Hector.
As a flock of daws or starlings fall to screaming and chattering when they see a falcon, foe to all small birds, come soaring near them, even so did the Achaean youth raise a babel of cries as they fled before Aeneas and Hector, unmindful of their former prowess.
I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen through his own daring and yet I bade him return to the ships as soon as he had driven back those that were bringing fire against them, and not join battle with Hector."
Patroclus has fallen, and a fight is raging about his naked body— for Hector holds his armour."
I have lost him; aye, and Hector when he had killed him stripped the wondrous armour, so glorious to behold, which the gods gave to Peleus when they laid you in the couch of a mortal man.
For now you shall have grief infinite by reason of the death of that son whom you can never welcome home— nay, I will not live nor go about among mankind unless Hector fall by my spear, and thus pay me for having slain Patroclus son of Menoetius."
Thetis wept and answered," Then, my son, is your end near at hand— for your own death awaits you full soon after that of Hector."
Return to my own land I shall not, and I have brought no saving neither to Patroclus nor to my other comrades of whom so many have been slain by mighty Hector; I stay here by my ships a bootless burden upon the earth, I, who in fight have no peer among the Achaeans, though in council there are better than I.
And yet— so be it, for it is over; I will force my soul into subjection as I needs must; I will go; I will pursue Hector who has slain him whom I loved so dearly, and will then abide my doom when it may please Jove and the other gods to send it.
It is well to save your comrades from destruction, but your armour is in the hands of the Trojans; Hector bears it in triumph upon his own shoulders.
Thus, then, did her feet bear the goddess to Olympus, and meanwhile the Achaeans were flying with loud cries before murderous Hector till they reached the ships and the Hellespont, and they could not draw the body of Mars 's servant Patroclus out of reach of the weapons that were showered upon him, for Hector son of Priam with his host and horsemen had again caught up to him like the flame of a fiery furnace; thrice did brave Hector seize him by the feet, striving with might and main to draw him away and calling loudly on the Trojans, and thrice did the two Ajaxes, clothed in valour as with a garment, beat him from off the body; but all undaunted he would now charge into the thick of the fight, and now again he would stand still and cry aloud, but he would give no ground.
As upland shepherds that can not chase some famished lion from a carcase, even so could not the two Ajaxes scare Hector son of Priam from the body of Patroclus.
Men are killing one another, the Danaans in defence of the dead body, while the Trojans are trying to hale it away, and take it to windy Ilius: Hector is the most furious of them all; he is for cutting the head from the body and fixing it on the stakes of the wall.
He was comrade to Hector, and they had been born upon the same night; with all sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:— "Look to it well, my friends; I would urge you to go back now to your city and not wait here by the ships till morning, for we are far from our walls.
Hector looked fiercely at him and answered," Polydamas, your words are not to my liking in that you bid us go back and be pent within the city.
Thus spoke Hector; and the Trojans, fools that they were, shouted in applause, for Pallas Minerva had robbed them of their understanding.
They gave ear to Hector with his evil counsel, but the wise words of Polydamas no man would heed.
Nevertheless, O Patroclus, now that I am left behind you, I will not bury you, till I have brought hither the head and armour of mighty Hector who has slain you.
All day long they fought by the Scaean gates and would have taken the city there and then, had not Apollo vouchsafed glory to Hector and slain the valiant son of Menoetius after he had done the Trojans much evil.
It has been well for Hector and the Trojans, but the Achaeans will long indeed remember our quarrel.
Even so did I grieve when mighty Hector was killing the Argives at their ships, and all the time I kept thinking of Folly who had so baned me.
Would you have men eat while the bodies of those whom Hector son of Priam slew are still lying mangled upon the plain?
Neither was it through any sloth or slackness on our part that the Trojans stripped Patroclus of his armour; it was the mighty god whom lovely Leto bore that slew him as he fought among the foremost, and vouchsafed a triumph to Hector .
But the heart of Achilles was set on meeting Hector son of Priam, for it was with his blood that he longed above all things else to glut the stubborn lord of battle.
But Assaracus was father to Capys, and Capys to Anchises, who was my father, while Hector is son to Priam.
Meanwhile Hector called upon the Trojans and declared that he would fight Achilles.
But Phoebus Apollo came up to Hector and said," Hector, on no account must you challenge Achilles to single combat; keep a lookout for him while you are under cover of the others and away from the thick of the fight, otherwise he will either hit you with a spear or cut you down at close quarters."
Thus he spoke, and Hector drew back within the crowd, for he was afraid when he heard what the god had said to him.
When Hector saw his brother Polydorus with his entrails in his hands and sinking down upon the ground, a mist came over his eyes, and he could not bear to keep longer at a distance; he therefore poised his spear and darted towards Achilles like a flame of fire.
He looked fiercely on Hector and said," Draw near, that you may meet your doom the sooner."
Hector feared him not and answered," Son of Peleus, think not that your words can scare me as though I were a child; I too if I will can brag and talk unseemly ;I know that you are a mighty warrior, mightier by far than I, nevertheless the issue lies in the lap of heaven whether I, worse man though I be, may not slay you with my spear, for this too has been found keen ere now."
He hurled his spear as he spoke, but Minerva breathed upon it, and though she breathed but very lightly she turned it back from going towards Achilles, so that it returned to Hector and lay at his feet in front of him.
Now when they came to the ford of the fullflowing river Xanthus, begotten of immortal Jove, Achilles cut their forces in two: one half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the Achaeans had taken when flying panicstricken on the preceding day with Hector in full triumph; this way did they fly pellmell, and Juno sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them.
Furthermore I say, and lay my saying to your heart, spare me, for I am not of the same womb as Hector who slew your brave and noble comrade."
Achilles answered," So be it, Scamander, Jovedescended; but I will never cease dealing out death among the Trojans, till I have pent them up in their city, and made trial of Hector face to face, that I may learn whether he is to vanquish me, or I him."
She told me I was to fall under the walls of Troy by the flying arrows of Apollo; would that Hector, the best man among the Trojans, might there slay me; then should I fall a hero by the hand of a hero; whereas now it seems that I shall come to a most pitiable end, trapped in this river as though I were some swineherd 's boy, who gets carried down a torrent while trying to cross it during a storm."
Then kill Hector and go back to the ships, for we will vouchsafe you a triumph over him."
The death of Hector.
But stern fate bade Hector stay where he was before Ilius and the Scaean gates.
Priam raised a cry and beat his head with his hands as he lifted them up and shouted out to his dear son, imploring him to return; but Hector still stayed before the gates, for his heart was set upon doing battle with Achilles.
Hector," he cried," my son, stay not to face this man alone and unsupported, or you will meet death at the hands of the son of Peleus, for he is mightier than you.
The old man tore his grey hair as he spoke, but he moved not the heart of Hector.
Hector," she cried, weeping bitterly the while," Hector, my son, spurn not this breast, but have pity upon me too: if I have ever given you comfort from my own bosom, think on it now, dear son, and come within the wall to protect us from this man ;stand not without to meet him.
Thus did the two with many tears implore their son, but they moved not the heart of Hector, and he stood his ground awaiting huge Achilles as he drew nearer towards him.
As a serpent in its den upon the mountains, full fed with deadly poisons, waits for the approach of man— he is filled with fury and his eyes glare terribly as he goes writhing round his den —even so Hector leaned his shield against a tower that jutted out from the wall and stood where he was, undaunted.
Now that my folly has destroyed the host, I dare not look Trojan men and Trojan women in the face, lest a worse man should say,' Hector has ruined us by his selfconfidence.'
Fear fell upon Hector as he beheld him, and he dared not stay longer where he was but fled in dismay from before the gates, while Achilles darted after him at his utmost speed.
As a mountain falcon, swiftest of all birds, swoops down upon some cowering dove— the dove flies before him but the falcon with a shrill scream follows close after, resolved to have her— even so did Achilles make straight for Hector with all his might, while Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his limbs could take him.
Past these did they fly, the one in front and the other giving chase behind him: good was the man that fled, but better far was he that followed after, and swiftly indeed did they run, for the prize was no mere beast for sacrifice or bullock 's hide, as it might be for a common footrace, but they ran for the life of Hector.
"Alas," said he," my eyes behold a man who is dear to me being pursued round the walls of Troy; my heart is full of pity for Hector, who has burned the thighbones of many a heifer in my honour, one while on the crests of manyvalleyed Ida, and again on the citadel of Troy; and now I see noble Achilles in full pursuit of him round the city of Priam.
Achilles was still in full pursuit of Hector, as a hound chasing a fawn which he has started from its covert on the mountains, and hunts through glade and thicket.
The fawn may try to elude him by crouching under cover of a bush, but he will scent her out and follow her up until he gets her— even so there was no escape for Hector from the fleet son of Peleus.
As a man in a dream who fails to lay hands upon another whom he is pursuing— the one can not escape nor the other overtake— even so neither could Achilles come up with Hector, nor Hector break away from Achilles; nevertheless he might even yet have escaped death had not the time come when Apollo, who thus far had sustained his strength and nerved his running, was now no longer to stay by him.
Achilles made signs to the Achaean host, and shook his head to show that no man was to aim a dart at Hector, lest another might win the glory of having hit him and he might himself come in second.
Then, at last, as they were nearing the fountains for the fourth time, the father of all balanced his golden scales and placed a doom in each of them, one for Achilles and the other for Hector.
As he held the scales by the middle, the doom of Hector fell down deep into the house of Hades— and then Phoebus Apollo left him.
Thereon Minerva went close up to the son of Peleus and said," Noble Achilles, favoured of heaven, we two shall surely take back to the ships a triumph for the Achaeans by slaying Hector, for all his lust of battle.
Do what Apollo may as he lies grovelling before his father, aegisbearing Jove, Hector can not escape us longer.
Achilles obeyed her gladly, and stood still, leaning on his bronzepointed ashen spear, while Minerva left him and went after Hector in the form and with the voice of Deiphobus.
And Hector answered," Deiphobus, you have always been dearest to me of all my brothers, children of Hecuba and Priam, but henceforth I shall rate you yet more highly, inasmuch as you have ventured outside the wall for my sake when all the others remain inside."
Thus did Minerva inveigle him by her cunning, and when the two were now close to one another great Hector was first to speak.
Hector saw it coming and avoided it; he watched it and crouched down so that it flew over his head and stuck in the ground beyond; Minerva then snatched it up and gave it back to Achilles without Hector 's seeing her; Hector thereon said to the son of Peleus," You have missed your aim, Achilles, peer of the gods, and Jove has not yet revealed to you the hour of my doom, though you made sure that he had done so.
Hector was angry when he saw that the weapon had sped from his hand in vain, and stood there in dismay for he had no second spear.
As he spoke he drew the keen blade that hung so great and strong by his side, and gathering himself together be sprang on Achilles like a soaring eagle which swoops down from the clouds on to some lamb or timid hare— even so did Hector brandish his sword and spring upon Achilles.
The thick tresses of gold with which Vulcan had crested the helmet floated round it, and as the evening star that shines brighter than all others through the stillness of night, even such was the gleam of the spear which Achilles poised in his right hand, fraught with the death of noble Hector.
He eyed his fair flesh over and over to see where he could best wound it, but all was protected by the goodly armour of which Hector had spoiled Patroclus after he had slain him, save only the throat where the collarbones divide the neck from the shoulders, and this is a most deadly place: here then did Achilles strike him as he was coming on towards him, and the point of his spear went right through the fleshy part of the neck, but it did not sever his windpipe so that he could still speak.
Hector fell headlong, and Achilles vaunted over him saying," Hector, you deemed that you should come off scatheless when you were spoiling Patroclus, and recked not of myself who was not with him.
Then Hector said, as the life ebbed out of him," I pray you by your life and knees, and by your parents, let not dogs devour me at the ships of the Achaeans, but accept the rich treasure of gold and bronze which my father and mother will offer you, and send my body home, that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire when I am dead."
Hector with his dying breath then said," I know you what you are, and was sure that I should not move you, for your heart is hard as iron; look to it that I bring not heaven 's anger upon you on the day when Paris and Phoebus Apollo, valiant though you be, shall slay you at the Scaean gates."
As he spoke he drew his spear from the body and set it on one side; then he stripped the bloodstained armour from Hector 's shoulders while the other Achaeans came running up to view his wondrous strength and beauty; and no one came near him without giving him a fresh wound.
Then would one turn to his neighbour and say," It is easier to handle Hector now than when he was flinging fire on to our ships"—and as he spoke he would thrust his spear into him anew.
When Achilles had done spoiling Hector of his armour, he stood among the Argives and said," My friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, now that heaven has vouchsafed us to overcome this man, who has done us more hurt than all the others together, consider whether we should not attack the city in force, and discover in what mind the Trojans may be.
We should thus learn whether they will desert their city now that Hector has fallen, or will still hold out even though he is no longer living.
Now, therefore, Achaean youths, let us raise the song of victory and go back to the ships taking this man along with us; for we have achieved a mighty triumph and have slain noble Hector to whom the Trojans prayed throughout their city as though he were a god."
On this he treated the body of Hector with contumely: he pierced the sinews at the back of both his feet from heel to ancle and passed thongs of oxhide through the slits he had made: thus he made the body fast to his chariot, letting the head trail upon the ground.
The dust rose from Hector as he was being dragged along, his dark hair flew all abroad, and his head once so comely was laid low on earth, for Jove had now delivered him into the hands of his foes to do him outrage in his own land.
Thus was the head of Hector being dishonoured in the dust.
Many a son of mine has he slain in the flower of his youth, and yet, grieve for these as I may, I do so for one— Hector— more than for them all, and the bitterness of my sorrow will bring me down to the house of Hades.
Hector 's wife had as yet heard nothing, for no one had come to tell her that her husband had remained without the gates.
She told her maids to set a large tripod on the fire, so as to have a warm bath ready for Hector when he came out of battle; poor woman, she knew not that he was now beyond the reach of baths, and that Minerva had laid him low by the hands of Achilles.
May I never live to hear it, but I greatly fear that Achilles has cut off the retreat of brave Hector and has chased him on to the plain where he was singlehanded; I fear he may have put an end to the reckless daring which possessed my husband, who would never remain with the body of his men, but would dash on far in front, foremost of them all in valour."
When she reached the battlements and the crowd of people, she stood looking out upon the wall, and saw Hector being borne away in front of the city— the horses dragging him without heed or care over the ground towards the ships of the Achaeans.
She tore the attiring from her head and flung it from her, the frontlet and net with its plaited band, and the veil which golden Venus had given her on the day when Hector took her with him from the house of Eetion, after having given countless gifts of wooing for her sake.
Her husband 's sisters and the wives of his brothers crowded round her and supported her, for she was fain to die in her distraction; when she again presently breathed and came to herself, she sobbed and made lament among the Trojans saying," Woe is me, O Hector; woe, indeed, that to share a common lot we were born, you at Troy in the house of Priam, and I at Thebes under the wooded mountain of Placus in the house of Eetion who brought me up when I was a child— illstarred sire of an illstarred daughter— would that he had never begotten me.
Now that you are gone, O Hector, you can do nothing for him nor he for you.
When he had played till he was tired and went to sleep, he would lie in a bed, in the arms of his nurse, on a soft couch, knowing neither want nor care, whereas now that he has lost his father his lot will be full of hardship— he, whom the Trojans name Astyanax, because you, O Hector, were the only defence of their gates and battlements.
I will now do all that I erewhile promised you; I will drag Hector hither and let dogs devour him raw; twelve noble sons of Trojans will I also slay before your pyre to avenge you."
As he spoke he treated the body of noble Hector with contumely, laying it at full length in the dust beside the bier of Patroclus.
Here a very deep slumber took hold upon him and eased the burden of his sorrows, for his limbs were weary with chasing Hector round windy Ilius.
Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans shall the flames consume along with yourself, but dogs, not fire, shall devour the flesh of Hector son of Priam."
Thus did he vaunt, but the dogs came not about the body of Hector, for Jove 's daughter Venus kept them off him night and day, and anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh might not be torn when Achilles was dragging him about.
Phoebus Apollo moreover sent a dark cloud from heaven to earth, which gave shade to the whole place where Hector lay, that the heat of the sun might not parch his body.
Priam ransoms the body of Hector—Hector's funeral.
Then, when he saw dawn breaking over beach and sea, he yoked his horses to his chariot, and bound the body of Hector behind it that he might drag it about.
Thus shamefully did Achilles in his fury dishonour Hector; but the blessed gods looked down in pity from heaven, and urged Mercury, slayer of Argus, to steal the body.
Did not Hector burn you thighbones of heifers and of unblemished goats?
A man may lose one far dearer than Achilles has lost— a son, it may be, or a brother born from his own mother 's womb; yet when he has mourned him and wept over him he will let him bide, for it takes much sorrow to kill a man; whereas Achilles, now that he has slain noble Hector, drags him behind his chariot round the tomb of his comrade.
This were well," she cried," O lord of the silver bow, if you would give like honour to Hector and to Achilles; but Hector was mortal and suckled at a woman 's breast, whereas Achilles is the offspring of a goddess whom I myself reared and brought up.
Their honour shall not be equal, but of all that dwell in Ilius, Hector was dearest to the gods, as also to myself, for his offerings never failed me.
I shall therefore permit the body of mighty Hector to be stolen; and yet this may hardly be without Achilles coming to know it, for his mother keeps night and day beside him.
This nine days past the immortals have been quarrelling about Achilles waster of cities and the body of Hector.
Go, then, to the host and lay these commands upon him; say that the gods are angry with him, and that I am myself more angry than them all, in that he keeps Hector at the ships and will not give him up.
Now, therefore, heed what I say, for I come as a messenger from Jove; he says that the gods are angry with you, and himself more angry than them all, in that you keep Hector at the ships and will not give him up.
The lord of Olympus bids you go and ransom noble Hector, and take with you such gifts as shall give satisfaction to Achilles.
Let us then weep Hector from afar here in our own house, for when I gave him birth the threads of overruling fate were spun for him that dogs should eat his flesh far from his parents, in the house of that terrible man on whose liver I would fain fasten and devour it.
Come to me at once," he cried," worthless sons who do me shame; would that you had all been killed at the ships rather than Hector.
Miserable man that I am, I have had the bravest sons in all Troy— noble Nestor, Troilus the dauntless charioteer, and Hector who was a god among men, so that one would have thought he was son to an immortal— yet there is not one of them left.
This done, they brought from the storechamber the rich ransom that was to purchase the body of Hector, and they set it all orderly on the waggon; then they yoked the strong harnessmules which the Mysians had on a time given as a goodly present to Priam; but for Priam himself they yoked horses which the old king had bred, and kept for his own use.
The slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, answered him," Sir, you would prove me, that you question me about noble Hector.
The greater part of them has fierce Mars laid low, and Hector, him who was alone left, him who was the guardian of the city and ourselves, him have you lately slain; therefore I am now come to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom his body from you with a great ransom.
The two wept bitterly— Priam, as he lay at Achilles ' feet, weeping for Hector, and Achilles now for his father and now for Patroclus, till the house was filled with their lamentation.
And Priam answered," O king, bid me not be seated, while Hector is still lying uncared for in your tents, but accept the great ransom which I have brought you, and give him to me at once that I may look upon him.
Achilles looked at him sternly and said," Vex me, sir, no longer; I am of myself minded to give up the body of Hector.
They lifted the ransom for Hector 's body from the waggon, but they left two mantles and a goodly shirt, that Achilles might wrap the body in them when he gave it to be taken home.
He cried aloud as he did so and called on the name of his dear comrade," Be not angry with me, Patroclus," he said," if you hear even in the house of Hades that I have given Hector to his father for a ransom.
And now tell me and tell me true, for how many days would you celebrate the funeral rites of noble Hector?
Nine days, therefore, will we mourn Hector in my house; on the tenth day we will bury him and there shall be a public feast in his honour; on the eleventh we will build a mound over his ashes, and on the twelfth, if there be need, we will fight."
Priam and Idaeus then drove on toward the city lamenting and making moan, and the mules drew the body of Hector.
Then she saw him that was lying upon the bier, drawn by the mules, and with a loud cry she went about the city saying," Come hither Trojans, men and women, and look on Hector; if ever you rejoiced to see him coming from battle when he was alive, look now on him that was the glory of our city and all our people."
Hector 's wife and his mother were the first to mourn him: they flew towards the waggon and laid their hands upon his head, while the crowd stood weeping round them.
Foremost among them all Andromache led their wailing as she clasped the head of mighty Hector in her embrace. "
Or, may be, some Achaean will hurl you( O miserable death) from our walls, to avenge some brother, son, or father whom Hector slew; many of them have indeed bitten the dust at his hands, for your father 's hand in battle was no light one.
You have left, O Hector, sorrow unutterable to your parents, and my own grief is greatest of all, for you did not stretch forth your arms and embrace me as you lay dying, nor say to me any words that might have lived with me in my tears night and day for evermore."
Hector," she cried," dearest to me of all my children.
Hector," said she," dearest of all my brothersinlaw— for I am wife to Alexandrus who brought me hither to Troy— would that I had died ere he did so —twenty years are come and gone since I left my home and came from over the sea, but I have never heard one word of insult or unkindness from you.
Nine days long did they bring in great heaps of wood, and on the morning of the tenth day with many tears they took brave Hector forth, laid his dead body upon the summit of the pile, and set the fire thereto.
Then when the child of morning, rosyfingered dawn, appeared on the eleventh day, the people again assembled, round the pyre of mighty Hector.
Thus, then, did they celebrate the funeral of Hector tamer of horses.
