Hector persists in remaining outside the walls, despite the entreaties
of his father. He flies thrice round Troy, fights, and is slain by
Achilles, who drags his body to the fleet at the wheels of his chariot.
The lamentations of his wife and parents follow.
Thus they, indeed, driven by fright through the city, like fawns, were
refreshing themselves from sweat, and were drinking and allaying their
thirst, leaning against the handsome battlements; but the Greeks were
coming near the wall, resting their shields upon their shoulders. But
Hector his destructive fate fettered to remain there, before Ilium and
the Scæan gates. And Phœbus Apollo thus addressed the son of Peleus:
“Why, O son of Peleus, dost thou pursue me, an immortal god, with swift
feet, thyself being a mortal? Nor yet hast thou at all discovered that
I am a god; but thou incessantly ragest. For certainly the labour of
the Trojans is not now a care to thee, whom thou hast routed, and who
are now enclosed within their city, while thou art turned aside hither.
Neither canst thou slay me, since I am not mortal.”
But him swift-footed Achilles, greatly indignant, 695 addressed: