After his escape from the river, Achilles went in pursuit of the other
Trojans, who had fallen back towards the town. Then began a second
rout, and a second slaughter, and Priam, who was watching the field
from his citadel, soon beheld the whole remnant of the Trojan army
flying before Achilles towards the city. With a cry of alarm he
hastened down to the gates, and gave directions to the warders to draw
bolt and bar, and admit the flying multitude. "But stand ready," he
said, "to make all fast, as soon as the people are safe within, for
fear lest this terrible man should enter the town."
The warders did as they were bidden, and held the gates ready; and
before long the first of the fugitives came panting in, their lips
parched with thirst, and their armour powdered with dust.
Still unsated with slaughter, Achilles came on in hot pursuit, and
Priam's fears might have been realised if Agenor, a young Trojan noble,
had not been inspired by Apollo with sudden courage, which prompted him
to cross the destroyer's path. "I will face this man," he said,
halting from his flight. "He too is of mortal flesh, and has but one
life to lose. I will face him, though Zeus fight on his side."
As a leopard comes forth from his thick covert to meet the hunter, when
he hears the baying of the hounds, and, even though sorely wounded,
fights on till he is slain, so stood Agenor to meet Achilles, with
shield on breast, and spear poised for the throw. "Thou thoughtest to
have taken Troy this day," he cried. "Thou fool! This deed is not for
thee; thou shall not read to the end the story of her woes, but here,
on this spot, I will end thy life of blood."
With that he cast his spear, which struck him on the greave above the
knee, but rebounded from the tempered metal; but before Achilles could
return the attack Apollo removed Agenor from his reach, and putting on
the likeness of Agenor fled away towards the river, luring Achilles
after him. The Trojans were thus given time to make good their escape,
and the city was soon filled with a frightened and disordered host,
thankful to have escaped with bare life. All along the battlements
were seen groups of exhausted men, who wiped the sweat from their
brows, and drank deep draughts of wine to quench their burning thirst.
Only one was left outside: This was Hector, who remained of his own
free will, resolved to decide the issue in single combat with Achilles.