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of Hector。 As horses in a chariot race speed round the
turning…posts when they are running for some great prizea
tripod or womanat the games in honour of some dead hero； so did
these two run full speed three times round the city of Priam。 All
the gods watched them； and the sire of gods and men was the first
to speak。
〃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 thigh…bones of many a heifer in my
honour； one while on the crests of many…valleyed Ida； and again
on the citadel of Troy； and now I see noble Achilles in full
pursuit of him round the city of Priam。 What say you？ Consider
among yourselves and decide whether we shall now save him or let
him fall； valiant though he be； before Achilles； son of Peleus。〃
Then Minerva said； 〃Father； wielder of the lightning； lord of
cloud and storm； what mean you？ Would you pluck this mortal whose
doom has long been decreed out of the jaws of death？ Do as you
will； but we others shall not be of a mind with you。〃
And Jove answered； 〃My child； Trito…born； take heart。 I did not
speak in full earnest； and I will let you have your way。 Do
without let or hindrance as you are minded。〃
Thus did he urge Minerva who was already eager； and down she
darted from the topmost summits of Olympus。
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 hereven so there was no escape for
Hector from the fleet son of Peleus。 Whenever he made a set to
get near the Dardanian gates and under the walls； that his people
might help him by showering down weapons from above； Achilles
would gain on him and head him back towards the plain； keeping
himself always on the city side。 As a man in a dream who fails to
lay hands upon another whom he is pursuingthe one cannot escape
nor the other overtakeeven so neither could Achilles e up
with Hector； nor Hector break away from Achilles； nevertheless he
might even yet have escaped death had not the time e 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 e 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 Hadesand 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； aegis…bearing Jove； Hector cannot escape us longer。 Stay
here and take breath； while I go up to him and persuade him to
make a stand and fight you。〃
Thus spoke Minerva。 Achilles obeyed her gladly； and stood still；
leaning on his bronze…pointed ashen spear； while Minerva left him
and went after Hector in the form and with the voice of
Deiphobus。 She came close up to him and said； 〃Dear brother； I
see you are hard pressed by Achilles who is chasing you at full
speed round the city of Priam； let us await his onset and stand
on our defence。〃
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。〃
Then Minerva said； 〃Dear brother； my father and mother went down
on their knees and implored me； as did all my rades； to remain
inside； so great a fear has fallen upon them all； but I was in an
agony of grief when I beheld you； now； therefore； let us two make
a stand and fight； and let there be no keeping our spears in
reserve； that we may learn whether Achilles shall kill us and
bear off our spoils to the ships； or whether he shall fall before
you。〃
Thus did Minerva inveigle him by her cunning； and when the two
were now close to one another great Hector was first to speak。 〃I
will…no longer fly you； son of Peleus；〃 said he； 〃as I have been
doing hitherto。 Three times have I fled round the mighty city of
Priam； without daring to withstand you； but now； let me either
slay or be slain； for I am in the mind to face you。 Let us； then；
give pledges to one another by our gods； who are the fittest
witnesses and guardians of all covenants； let it be agreed
between us that if Jove vouchsafes me the longer stay and I take
your life； I am not to treat your dead body in any unseemly
fashion； but when I have stripped you of your armour； I am to
give up your body to the Achaeans。 And do you likewise。〃
Achilles glared at him and answered； 〃Fool； prate not to me about
covenants。 There can be no covenants between men and lions；
wolves and lambs can never be of one mind； but hate each other
out and out an through。 Therefore there can be no understanding
between you and me； nor may there be any covenants between us；
till one or other shall fall and glut grim Mars with his life's
blood。 Put forth all your strength； you have need now to prove
yourself indeed a bold soldier and man of war。 You have no more
chance； and Pallas Minerva will forthwith vanquish you by my
spear： you shall now pay me in full for the grief you have caused
me on account of my rades whom you have killed in battle。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it。 Hector saw it
ing 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。 You were a false…tongued liar when you deemed that I
should forget my valour and quail before you。 You shall not drive
spear into the back of a runawaydrive it； should heaven so
grant you power； drive it into me as I make straight towards you；
and now for your own part avoid my spear if you canwould that
you might receive the whole of it into your body； if you were
once dead the Trojans would find the war an easier matter； for it
is you who have harmed them most。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it。 His aim was true
for he hit the middle of Achilles' shield； but the spear
rebounded from it； and did not pierce it。 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。 With a loud cry he
called Deiphobus and asked him for one； but there wa