How Achilles fought with Hector, and slew him, and brought his body to
the ships.
Thus they throughout the city, scared like fawns, were cooling their
sweat and drinking and slaking their thirst, leaning on the fair
battlements, while the Achaians drew near the wall, setting shields to
shoulders. But Hector deadly fate bound to abide in his place, in front
of Ilios and the Skaian gates. Then to the son of Peleus spake Phoebus
Apollo: “Wherefore, son of Peleus, pursuest thou me with swift feet,
thyself being mortal and I a deathless god? Thou hast not even yet
known me, that I am a god, but strivest vehemently. Truly thou
regardest not thy task among the affliction of the Trojans whom thou
affrightedst, who now are gathered into the city, while thou heat
wandered hither. Me thou wilt never slay, for I am not subject unto
death.”
Then mightily moved spake unto him Achilles fleet of foot: “Thou hast
baulked me, Far-darter, most mischievous of all the gods, in that thou
hast turned me hither from the wall: else should full many yet have
bitten the dust or ever within Ilios had they come. Now hast thou
robbed me of great renown, and lightly hast saved them, because thou
hadst no vengeance to fear thereafter. Verily I would avenge me on
thee, had I but the power.”
Thus saying toward the city he was gone in pride of heart, rushing like
some victorious horse in a chariot, that runneth lightly at full speed
over the plain; so swiftly plied Achilles his feet and knees. Him the
old man Priam first beheld as he sped across the plain, blazing as the
star that cometh forth at harvest-time, and plain seen his rays shine
forth amid the host of stars in the darkness of night, the star whose
name men call Orion’s Dog. Brightest of all is he, yet for an evil sign
is he set, and bringeth much fever upon hapless men. Even so on
Achilles’ breast the bronze gleamed as he ran. And the old man cried
aloud and beat upon his head with his hands, raising them on high, and
with a cry called aloud beseeching his dear son; for he before the
gates was standing, all hot for battle with Achilles. And the old man
spake piteously unto him, stretching forth his hands: “Hector, beloved
son, I pray thee await not this man alone with none beside thee, lest
thou quickly meet thy doom, slain by the son of Peleus, since he is
mightier far, a merciless man. Would the gods loved him even as do I!
then quickly would dogs and vultures devour him on the field—thereby
would cruel pain go from my heart—the man who hath bereft me of many
valiant sons, slaying them and selling them captive into far-off isles.
Ay even now twain of my children, Lykaon and Polydoros, I cannot see
among the Trojans that throng into the fastness, sons whom Laothoe bare
me, a princess among women. If they be yet alive amid the enemy’s host,
then will we ransom them with bronze and gold, for there is store
within, for much goods gave the old man famous Altes to his child. If
they be dead, then even in the house of Hades shall they be a sorrow to
my soul and to their mother, even to us who gave them birth, but to the
rest of the folk a briefer sorrow, if but thou die not by Achilles’
hand. Nay, come within the wall, my child, that thou preserve the men
and women of Troy, neither give great triumph to the son of Peleus, and
be thyself bereft of sweet life. Have compassion also on me, the
helpless one, who still can feel, ill-fated; whom the father, Kronos’
son, will bring to naught by a grievous doom in the path of old age,
having seen full many ills, his sons perishing and his daughters
carried away captive, and his chambers laid waste and infant children
hurled to the ground in terrible war, and his sons’ wives dragged away
by the ruinous hands of the Achaians. Myself then last of all at the
street door will ravening dogs tear, when some one by stroke or throw
of the sharp bronze hath bereft my limbs of life—even the dogs I reared
in my halls about my table and to guard my door, which then having
drunk my blood, maddened at heart shall lie in the gateway. A young man
all beseemeth, even to be slain in war, to be torn by the sharp bronze
and lie on the field; though he be dead yet is all honourable to him,
whate’er be seen: but when dogs defile the hoary head and hoary beard
of an old man slain, this is the most piteous thing that cometh upon
hapless men.”
Thus spake the old man, and grasped his hoary hairs, plucking them from
his head, but he persuaded not Hector’s soul. Then his mother in her
turn wailed tearfully, loosening the folds of her robe, while with the
other hand she showed her breast; and through her tears spake to him
winged words: “Hector, my child, have regard unto this bosom and pity
me, if ever I gave thee consolation of my breast. Think of it, dear
child, and from this side the wall drive back the foe, nor stand in
front to meet him. He is merciless; if he slay thee it will not be on a
bed that I or thy wife shall bewail thee, my own dear child, but far
away from us by the ships of the Argives will swift dogs devour thee.”
Thus they with wailing spake to their dear son, beseeching him sore,
yet they persuaded not Hector’s soul, but he stood awaiting Achilles as
he drew nigh in giant might. As a serpent of the mountains upon his den
awaiteth a man, having fed on evil poisons, and fell wrath hath entered
into him, and terribly he glared as he coileth himself about his den,
so Hector with courage unquenchable gave not back, leaning his shining
shield against a jutting tower. Then sore troubled he spake to his
great heart: “Ay me, if I go within the gates and walls, Polydamas will
be first to bring reproach against me, since he bade me lead the
Trojans to the city during this ruinous night, when noble Achilles
arose. But I regarded him not, yet surely it had been better far. And
now that I have undone the host by my wantonness, I am ashamed before
the men of Troy and women of trailing robes, lest at any time some
worse man than I shall say: ‘Hector by trusting his own might undid the
host.’ So will they speak; then to me would it be better far to face
Achilles and either slay him and go home, or myself die gloriously
before the city. Or what if I lay down my bossy shield and my stout
helm, and lean my spear against the wall, and go of myself to meet
noble Achilles and promise him that Helen, and with her all possessions
that Alexandros brought in hollow ships to Troy, the beginning of
strife, we will give to the Sons of Atreus to take away, and
therewithal to divide in half with the Achaians all else that this city
holdeth: and if thereafter I obtain from the Trojans an oath of the
Elders that they will hide nothing but divide all in twain [whatever
wealth the pleasant city hold within]? But wherefore doth my heart
debate thus? I might come unto him and he would not pity or regard me
at all, but presently slay me unarmed as it were but a woman, if I put
off my armour. No time is it now to dally with him from oaktree or from
rock, like youth with maiden, as youth and maiden hold dalliance one
with another. Better is it to join battle with all speed: let us know
upon which of us twain the Olympian shall bestow renown.”
Thus pondered he as he stood, but nigh on him came Achilles, peer of
Enyalios warrior of the waving helm, brandishing from his right
shoulder the Pelian ash, his terrible spear; and all around the bronze
on him flashed like the gleam of blazing fire or of the Sun as he
ariseth. And trembling seized Hector as he was aware of him, nor
endured he to abide in his place, but left the gates behind him and
fled in fear. And the son of Peleus darted after him, trusting in his
swift feet. As a falcon upon the mountains, swiftest of winged things,
swoopeth fleetly after a trembling dove; and she before him fleeth,
while he with shrill screams hard at hand still darteth at her, for his
heart urgeth him to seize her; so Achilles in hot haste flew straight
for him, and Hector fled beneath the Trojans’ wall, and plied swift
knees. They past the watch-place and wind-waved wild fig-tree sped
ever, away from under the wall, along the waggon-track, and came to the
two fair-flowing springs, where two fountains rise that feed
deep-eddying Skamandros. The one floweth with warm water, and smoke
goeth up therefrom around as it were from a blazing fire, while the
other even in summer floweth forth like cold hail or snow or ice that
water formeth. And there beside the springs are broad washing-troughs
hard by, fair troughs of stone, where wives and fair daughters of the
men of Troy were wont to wash bright raiment, in the old time of peace,
before the sons of the Achaians came. Thereby they ran, he flying, he
pursuing. Valiant was the flier but far mightier he who fleetly pursued
him. For not for beast of sacrifice or for an oxhide were they
striving, such as are prizes for men’s speed of foot, but for the life
of horse-taming Hector was their race. And as when victorious
whole-hooved horses run rapidly round the turning-points, and some
great prize lieth in sight, be it a tripod or a woman, in honour of a
man that is dead, so thrice around Priam’s city circled those twain
with flying feet, and all the gods were gazing on them. Then among them
spake first the father of gods and men: “Ay me, a man beloved I see
pursued around the wall. My heart is woe for Hector, who hath burnt for
me many thighs of oxen amid the crests of many-folded Ida, and other
times on the city-height; but now is goodly Achilles pursuing him with
swift feet round Priam’s town. Come, give your counsel, gods, and
devise whether we shall save him from death or now at last slay him,
valiant though he be, by the hand of Achilles Peleus’ son.”
Then to him answered the bright-eyed goddess Athene: “O Father, Lord of
the bright lightning and the dark cloud, what is this thou hast said? A
man that is a mortal, doomed long ago by fate, wouldst thou redeem back
from ill-boding death? Do it, but not all we other gods approve.”
And unto her in answer spake cloud-gathering Zeus: “Be of good cheer,
Trito-born, dear child: not in full earnest speak I, and I would fain
be kind to thee. Do as seemeth good to thy mind, and draw not back.”
Thus saying he roused Athene, that already was set thereon, and from
the crests of Olympus she darted down.
But after Hector sped fleet Achilles chasing him vehemently. And as
when on the mountains a hound hunteth the fawn of a deer, having
started it from its covert, through glens and glades, and if it crouch
to baffle him under a bush, yet scenting it out the hound runneth
constantly until he find it; so Hector baffled not Peleus’ fleet-footed
son. Oft as he set himself to dart under the well-built walls over
against the Dardanian gates, if haply from above they might succour him
with darts, so oft would Achilles gain on him and turn him toward the
plain, while himself he sped ever on the city-side. And as in a dream
one faileth in chase of a flying man, the one faileth in his flight and
the other in his chase—so failed Achilles to overtake him in the race,
and Hector to escape. And thus would Hector have avoided the visitation
of death, had not this time been utterly the last wherein Apollo came
nigh to him, who nerved his strength and his swift knees. For to the
host did noble Achilles sign with his head, and forbade them to hurl
bitter darts against Hector, lest any smiting him should gain renown,
and he himself come second. But when the fourth time they had reached
the springs, then the Father hung his golden balances, and set therein
two lots of dreary death, one of Achilles, one of horse-taming Hector,
and held them by the midst and poised. Then Hector’s fated day sank
down, and fell to the house of Hades, and Phoebus Apollo left him. But
to Peleus’ son came the bright-eyed goddess Athene, and standing near
spake to him winged words: “Now verily, glorious Achilles dear to Zeus,
I have hope that we twain shall carry off great glory to the ships for
the Achaians, having slain Hector, for all his thirst for fight. No
longer is it possible for him to escape us, not even though far-darting
Apollo should travail sore, grovelling before the Father, aegis-bearing
Zeus. But do thou now stand and take breath, and I will go and persuade
this man to confront thee in fight.”
Thus spake Athene, and he obeyed, and was glad at heart, and stood
leaning on his bronze-pointed ashen-spear. And she left him and came to
noble Hector, like unto Deiphobos in shape and in strong voice, and
standing near spake to him winged words: “Dear brother, verily fleet
Achilles doth thee violence, chasing thee round Priam’s town with swift
feet: but come let us make a stand and await him on our defence.”
Then answered her great Hector of the glancing helm: “Deiphobos, verily
aforetime wert thou far dearest of my brothers, but now methinks I
shall honour thee even more, in that thou hast dared for my sake, when
thou sawest me, to come forth of the wall, while the others tarry
within.”
Then to him again spake the bright-eyed goddess Athene: “Dear brother,
of a truth my father and lady mother and my comrades around besought me
much, entreating me in turn, to tarry there, so greatly do they all
tremble before him; but my heart within was sore with dismal grief. And
now fight we with straight-set resolve and let there be no sparing of
spears, that we may know whether Achilles is to slay us and carry our
bloody spoils to the hollow ships, or whether he might be vanquished by
thy spear.”
Thus saying Athene in her subtlety led him on. And when they were come
nigh in onset on one another, to Achilles first spake great Hector of
the glancing helm: “No longer, son of Peleus, will I fly thee, as
before I thrice ran round the great town of Priam, and endured not to
await thy onset. Now my heart biddeth me stand up against thee; I will
either slay or be slain. But come hither and let us pledge us by our
gods, for they shall be best witnesses and beholders of covenants: I
will entreat thee in no outrageous sort, if Zeus grant me to outstay
thee, and if I take thy life, but when I have despoiled thee of thy
glorious armour, O Achilles, I will give back thy dead body to the
Achaians, and do thou the same.”
But unto him with grim gaze spake Achilles fleet of foot: “Hector, talk
not to me, thou madman, of covenants. As between men and lions there is
no pledge of faith, nor wolves and sheep can be of one mind, but
imagine evil continually against each other, so is it impossible for
thee and me to be friends, neither shall be any pledge between us until
one or other shall have fallen and glutted with blood Ares, the
stubborn god of war. Bethink thee of all thy soldiership: now behoveth
it thee to quit thee as a good spearman and valiant man of war. No
longer is there way of escape for thee, but Pallas Athene will
straightway subdue thee to my spear; and now in one hour shalt thou pay
back for all my sorrows for my friends whom thou hast slain in the fury
of thy spear.”
He said, and poised his far-shadowing spear and hurled. And noble
Hector watched the coming thereof and avoided it; for with his eye on
it he crouched, and the bronze spear flew over him, and fixed itself in
the earth; but Pallas Athene caught it up and gave it back to Achilles,
unknown of Hector shepherd of hosts. Then Hector spake unto the noble
son of Peleus: “Thou hast missed, so no wise yet, godlike Achilles, has
thou known from Zeus the hour of my doom, though thou thoughtest it.
Cunning of tongue art thou and a deceiver in speech, that fearing thee
I might forget my valour and strength. Not as I flee shalt thou plant
thy spear in my reins, but drive it straight through my breast as I set
on thee, if God hath given thee to do it. Now in thy turn avoid my
spear of bronze. O that thou mightst take it all into thy flesh! Then
would the war be lighter to the Trojans, if but thou wert dead, for
thou art their greatest bane.”
He said, and poised his long-shadowed spear and hurled it, and smote
the midst of the shield of Peleus’ son, and missed him not: but far
from the shield the spear leapt back. And Hector was wroth that his
swift weapon had left his hand in vain, and he stood downcast, for he
had no second ashen spear. And he called with a loud shout to Deiphobos
of the white shield, and asked of him a long spear, but he was no wise
nigh. Then Hector knew he truth in his heart, and spake and said: “Ay
me, now verily the gods have summoned me to death. I deemed the warrior
Deiphobos was by my side, but he is within the wall, and it was Athene
who played me false. Now therefore is evil death come very nigh me, not
far off, nor is there way of escape. This then was from of old the
pleasure of Zeus and of the far-darting son of Zeus, who yet before
were fain to succour me: but now my fate hath found me. At least let me
not die without a struggle or ingloriously, but in some great deed of
arms whereof men yet to be born shall hear.”
Thus saying he drew his sharp sword that by his flank hung great and
strong, and gathered himself and swooped like a soaring eagle that
darteth to the plain through the dark clouds to seize a tender lamb or
crouching hare. So Hector swooped, brandishing his sharp sword. And
Achilles made at him, for his heart was filled with wild fierceness,
and before his breast he made a covering with his fair graven shield,
and tossed his bright four-plated helm; and round it waved fair golden
plumes [that Hephaistos had set thick about the crest.]. As a star
goeth among stars in the darkness of night, Hesperos, fairest of all
stars set in heaven, so flashed there forth a light from the keen spear
Achilles poised in his right hand, devising mischief against noble
Hector, eyeing his fair flesh to find the fittest place. Now for the
rest of him his flesh was covered by the fair bronze armour he stripped
from strong Patroklos when he slew him, but there was an opening where
the collar bones coming from the shoulders clasp the neck, even at the
gullet, where destruction of life cometh quickliest; there, as he came
on, noble Achilles drave at him with his spear, and right through the
tender neck went the point. Yet the bronze-weighted ashen spear clave
not the windpipe, so that he might yet speak words of answer to his
foe. And he fell down in the dust, and noble Achilles spake exultingly:
“Hector, thou thoughtest, whilst thou wert spoiling Patroklos, that
thou wouldst be safe, and didst reck nothing of me who was afar, thou
fool. But away among the hollow ships his comrade, a mightier far, even
I, was left behind, who now have unstrung thy knees. Thee shall dogs
and birds tear foully, but his funeral shall the Achaians make.”
Then with faint breath spake unto him Hector of the glancing helm: “I
pray thee by thy life and knees and parents leave me not for dogs of
the Achaians to devour by the ships, but take good store of bronze and
gold, gifts that my father and lady mother shall give to thee, and give
them home my body back again, that the Trojans and Trojans’ wives give
me my due of fire after my death.”
But unto him with grim gaze spake Achilles fleet of foot: “Entreat me
not, dog, by knees or parents. Would that my heart’s desire could so
bid me myself to carve and eat raw thy flesh, for the evil thou hast
wrought me, as surely is there none that shall keep the dogs from thee,
not even should they bring ten or twenty fold ransom and here weigh it
out, and promise even more, not even were Priam Dardanos’ son to bid
pay thy weight in gold, not even so shall thy lady mother lay thee on a
bed to mourn her son, but dogs and birds shall devour thee utterly.”
Then dying spake unto him Hector of the glancing helm: “Verily I know
thee and behold thee as thou art, nor was I destined to persuade thee;
truly thy heart is iron in thy breast. Take heed now lest I draw upon
thee wrath of gods, in the day when Paris and Phoebus Apollo slay thee,
for all thy valour, at the Skaian gate.”
He ended, and the shadow of death came down upon him, and his soul flew
forth of his limbs and was gone to the house of Hades, wailing her
fate, leaving her vigour and youth. Then to the dead man spake noble
Achilles: “Die: for my death, I will accept it whensoever Zeus and the
other immortal gods are minded to accomplish it.”
He said, and from the corpse drew forth his bronze spear, and set it
aside, and stripped the bloody armour from the shoulders. And other
sons of Achaians ran up around, who gazed upon the stature and
marvellous goodliness of Hector. Nor did any stand by but wounded him,
and thus would many a man say looking toward his neighbour: “Go to, of
a truth far easier to handle is Hector now than when he burnt the ships
with blazing fire.” Thus would many a man say, and wound him as he
stood hard by. And when fleet noble Achilles had despoiled him, he
stood up among the Achaians and spake winged words: “Friends, chiefs
and counsellors of the Argives, since the gods have vouchsafed us to
vanquish this man who hath done us more evil than all the rest
together, come let us make trial in arms round about the city, that we
may know somewhat of the Trojans’ purpose, whether since he hath fallen
they will forsake the citadel, or whether they are minded to abide,
albeit Hector is no more. But wherefore doth my heart debate thus?
There lieth by the ships a dead man unbewailed, unburied, Patroklos;
him will I not forget, while I abide among the living and my knees can
stir. Nay if even in the house of Hades the dead forget their dead, yet
will I even there be mindful of my dear comrade. But come, ye sons of
the Achaians, let us now, singing our song of victory, go back to the
hollow ships and take with us our foe. Great glory have we won; we have
slain the noble Hector, unto whom the Trojans prayed throughout their
city, as he had been a god.”
He said, and devised foul entreatment of noble Hector. The tendons of
both feet behind he slit from heel to ankle-joint, and thrust
therethrough thongs of ox-hide, and bound him to his chariot, leaving
his head to trail. And when he had mounted the chariot and lifted
therein the famous armour, he lashed his horses to speed, and they
nothing loth flew on. And dust rose around him that was dragged, and
his dark hair flowed loose on either side, and in the dust lay all his
once fair head, for now had Zeus given him over to his foes to entreat
foully in his own native land.
Thus was his head all grimed with dust. But his mother when she beheld
her son, tore her hair and cast far from her her shining veil, and
cried aloud with an exceeding bitter cry. And piteously moaned his
father, and around them the folk fell to crying and moaning throughout
the town. Most like it seemed as though all beetling Ilios were burning
utterly in fire. Scarcely could the folk keep back the old man in his
hot desire to get him forth of the Dardanian gates. For he besought
them all, casting himself down in the mire, and calling on each man by
his name: “Hold, friends, and though you love me leave me to get me
forth of the city alone and go unto the ships of the Achaians. Let me
pray this accursed horror-working man, if haply he may feel shame
before his age-fellows and pity an old man. He also hath a father such
as I am, Peleus, who begat and reared him to be a bane of Trojans—and
most of all to me hath he brought woe. So many sons of mine hath he
slain in their flower—yet for all my sorrow for the rest I mourn them
all less than this one alone, for whom my sharp grief will bring me
down to the house of Hades—even Hector. Would that he had died in my
arms; then would we have wept and wailed our fill, his mother who bore
him to her ill hap, and I myself.”
Thus spake he wailing, and all the men of the city made moan with him.
And among the women of Troy, Hekabe led the wild lament: “My child, ah,
woe is me! wherefore should I live in my pain, now thou art dead, who
night and day wert my boast through the city, and blessing to all, both
men and women of Troy throughout the town, who hailed thee as a god,
for verily an exceeding glory to them wert thou in thy life:—now death
and fate have overtaken thee.”
Thus spake she wailing. But Hector’s wife knew not as yet, for no true
messenger had come to tell her how her husband abode without the gates,
but in an inner chamber of the lofty house she was weaving a double
purple web, and broidering therein manifold flowers. Then she called to
her goodly-haired handmaids through the house to set a great tripod on
the fire, that Hector might have warm washing when he came home out of
the battle fond heart, and was unaware how, far from all washings,
bright-eyed Athene had slain him by the hand of Achilles. But she heard
shrieks and groans from the battlements, and her limbs reeled, and the
shuttle fell from her hands to earth. Then again among her
goodly-haired maids she spake: “Come two of ye this way with me that I
may see what deeds are done. It was the voice of my husband’s noble
mother that I heard, and in my own breast my heart leapeth to my mouth
and my knees are numbed beneath me: surely some evil thing is at hand
against the children of Priam. Would that such word might never reach
my ear! yet terribly I dread lest noble Achilles have cut off bold
Hector from the city by himself and chased him to the plain and ere
this ended his perilous pride that possessed him, for never would he
tarry among the throng of men but ran out before them far, yielding
place to no man in his hardihood.”
Thus saying she sped through the chamber like one mad, with beating
heart, and with her went her handmaidens. But when she came to the
battlements and the throng of men, she stood still upon the wall and
gazed, and beheld him dragged before the city:—swift horses dragged him
recklessly toward the hollow ships of the Achaians. Then dark night
came on her eyes and shrouded her, and she fell backward and gasped
forth her spirit. From off her head she shook the bright attiring
thereof, frontlet and net and woven band, and veil, the veil that
golden Aphrodite gave her on the day when Hector of the glancing helm
led her forth of the house of Eetion, having given bride-gifts untold.
And around her thronged her husband’s sisters and his brothers’ wives,
who held her up among them, distraught even to death. But when at last
she came to herself and her soul returned into her breast, then wailing
with deep sobs she spake among the women of Troy: “O Hector, woe is me!
to one fate then were we both born, thou in Troy in the house of Priam,
and I in Thebe under woody Plakos, in the house of Eetion, who reared
me from a little one—ill-fated sire of cruel-fated child. Ah, would he
have begotten me not. Now thou to the house of Hades beneath the secret
places of the earth departest, and me in bitter mourning thou leavest a
widow in thy halls: and thy son is but an infant child—son of unhappy
parents, thee and me—nor shalt thou profit him, Hector, since thou art
dead, neither he thee. For even if he escape the Achaians’ woful war,
yet shall labour and sorrow cleave unto him hereafter, for other men
shall seize his lands. The day of orphanage sundereth a child from his
fellows, and his head is bowed down ever, and his cheeks are wet with
tears. And in his need the child seeketh his father’s friends, plucking
this one by cloak and that by coat, and one of them that pity him
holdeth his cup a little to his mouth, and moisteneth his lips, but his
palate he moisteneth not. And some child unorphaned thrusteth him from
the feast with blows and taunting words, ‘Out with thee! no father of
thine is at our board.’ Then weeping to his widowed mother shall he
return, even Astyanax, who erst upon his father’s knee ate only marrow
and fat flesh of sheep; and when sleep fell on him and he ceased from
childish play, then in bed in his nurse’s arms he would slumber softly
nested, having satisfied his heart with good things; but now that he
hath lost his father he will suffer many ills, Astyanax—that name the
Trojans gave him, because thou only wet the defence of their gates and
their long walls. But now by the beaked ships, far from thy parents,
shall coiling worms devour thee when the dogs have had their fill, as
thou liest naked; yet in these halls lieth raiment of thine, delicate
and fair, wrought by the hands of women. But verily all these will I
consume with burning fire—to thee no profit, since thou wilt never lie
therein, yet that his be honour to thee from the men and the women of
Troy.”
Thus spake she wailing, and the women joined their moan.