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there in dismay for he had no second spear。 With a loud cry he
called Deiphobus and asked him for one； but there was no man；
then he saw the truth and said to himself； 〃Alas！ the gods have
lured me on to my destruction。 I deemed that the hero Deiphobus
was by my side； but he is within the wall； and Minerva has
inveigled me； death is now indeed exceedingly near at hand and
there is no way out of itfor so Jove and his son Apollo the
far…darter have willed it； though heretofore they have been ever
ready to protect me。 My doom has e upon me； let me not then
die ingloriously and without a struggle； but let me first do some
great thing that shall be told among men hereafter。〃
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 hareeven so did Hector brandish his sword and
spring upon Achilles。 Achilles mad with rage darted towards him；
with his wondrous shield before his breast； and his gleaming
helmet； made with four layers of metal； nodding fiercely forward。
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 collar…bones divide the neck from the shoulders； and
this is a most deadly place： here then did Achilles strike him as
he was ing 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 e off scatheless when you were spoiling Patroclus；
and recked not of myself who was not with him。 Fool that you
were： for I； his rade； mightier far than he； was still left
behind him at the ships； and now I have laid you low。 The
Achaeans shall give him all due funeral rites； while dogs and
vultures shall work their will upon yourself。〃
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。〃
Achilles glared at him and answered； 〃Dog； talk not to me neither
of knees nor parents； would that I could be as sure of being able
to cut your flesh into pieces and eat it raw； for the ill you
have done me； as I am that nothing shall save you from the
dogsit shall not be； though they bring ten or twenty…fold
ransom and weigh it out for me on the spot； with promise of yet
more hereafter。 Though Priam son of Dardanus should bid them
offer me your weight in gold； even so your mother shall never lay
you out and make lament over the son she bore； but dogs and
vultures shall eat you utterly up。〃
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。〃
When he had thus said the shrouds of death enfolded him； whereon
his soul went out of him and flew down to the house of Hades；
lamenting its sad fate that it should enjoy youth and strength no
longer。 But Achilles said； speaking to the dead body； 〃Die； for
my part I will accept my fate whensoever Jove and the other gods
see fit to send it。〃
As he spoke he drew his spear from the body and set it on one
side； then he stripped the blood…stained 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 overe
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。 But
why argue with myself in this way； while Patroclus is still lying
at the ships unburied； and unmournedhe whom I can never forget
so long as I am alive and my strength fails not？ Though men
forget their dead when once they are within the house of Hades；
yet not even there will I forget the rade whom I have lost。
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 ox…hide through the slits he had made： thus he
made the body fast to his chariot； letting the head trail upon
the ground。 Then when he had put the goodly armour on the chariot
and had himself mounted； he lashed his horses on and they flew
forward nothing loth。 The dust rose from Hector as he was being
dragged along； his dark hair flew all abroad； and his head once
so ely 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。 His
mother tore her hair； and flung her veil from her with a loud cry
as she looked upon her son。 His father made piteous moan； and
throughout the city the people fell to weeping and wailing。 It
was as though the whole of frowning Ilius was being smirched with
fire。 Hardly could the people hold Priam back in his hot haste to
rush without the gates of the city。 He grovelled in the mire and
besought them； calling each one of them by his name。 〃Let be； my
friends；〃 he cried； 〃and for all your sorrow； suffer me to go
single…handed to the ships of the Achaeans。 Let me beseech this
cruel and terrible man； if maybe he will respect the feeling of
his fellow…men； and have passion on my old age。 His own father
is even such another as myselfPeleus； who bred him and reared
him to be the bane of us Trojans； and of myself more than of all
others。 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
Hec