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youth； and yet； grieve for these as I may； I do so for one
Hectormore than for them all； and the bitterness of my sorrow
will bring me down to the house of Hades。 Would that he had died
in my arms； for so both his ill…starred mother who bore him； and
myself； should have had the fort of weeping and mourning over
him。〃
Thus did he speak with many tears； and all the people of the city
joined in his lament。 Hecuba then raised the cry of wailing among
the Trojans。 〃Alas； my son；〃 she cried； 〃what have I left to live
for now that you are no more？ Night and day did I glory in you
throughout the city； for you were a tower of strength to all in
Troy； and both men and women alike hailed you as a god。 So long
as you lived you were their pride； but now death and destruction
have fallen upon you。〃
Hector's wife had as yet heard nothing； for no one had e to
tell her that her husband had remained without the gates。 She was
at her loom in an inner part of the house； weaving a double
purple web； and embroidering it with many flowers。 She told her
maids to set a large tripod on the fire； so as to have a warm
bath ready for Hector when he came out of battle； poor woman； she
knew not that he was now beyond the reach of baths； and that
Minerva had laid him low by the hands of Achilles。 She heard the
cry ing as from the wall； and trembled in every limb； the
shuttle fell from her hands； and again she spoke to her
waiting…women。 〃Two of you；〃 she said； 〃e with me that I may
learn what it is that has befallen； I heard the voice of my
husband's honoured mother； my own heart beats as though it would
e into my mouth and my limbs refuse to carry me； some great
misfortune for Priam's children must be at hand。 May I never live
to hear it； but I greatly fear that Achilles has cut off the
retreat of brave Hector and has chased him on to the plain where
he was singlehanded； I fear he may have put an end to the
reckless daring which possessed my husband； who would never
remain with the body of his men； but would dash on far in front；
foremost of them all in valour。〃
Her heart beat fast； and as she spoke she flew from the house
like a maniac； with her waiting…women following after。 When she
reached the battlements and the crowd of people； she stood
looking out upon the wall； and saw Hector being borne away in
front of the citythe horses dragging him without heed or care
over the ground towards the ships of the Achaeans。 Her eyes were
then shrouded as with the darkness of night and she fell fainting
backwards。 She tore the attiring from her head and flung it from
her； the frontlet and net with its plaited band； and the veil
which golden Venus had given her on the day when Hector took her
with him from the house of Eetion； after having given countless
gifts of wooing for her sake。 Her husband's sisters and the wives
of his brothers crowded round her and supported her； for she was
fain to die in her distraction； when she again presently breathed
and came to herself； she sobbed and made lament among the Trojans
saying； 〃Woe is me； O Hector； woe； indeed； that to share a mon
lot we were born； you at Troy in the house of Priam； and I at
Thebes under the wooded mountain of Placus in the house of Eetion
who brought me up when I was a childill…starred sire of an
ill…starred daughterwould that he had never begotten me。 You
are now going into the house of Hades under the secret places of
the earth； and you leave me a sorrowing widow in your house。 The
child； of whom you and I are the unhappy parents； is as yet a
mere infant。 Now that you are gone； O Hector； you can do nothing
for him nor he for you。 Even though he escape the horrors of this
woeful war with the Achaeans； yet shall his life henceforth be
one of labour and sorrow； for others will seize his lands。 The
day that robs a child of his parents severs him from his own
kind； his head is bowed； his cheeks are wet with tears； and he
will go about destitute among the friends of his father； plucking
one by the cloak and another by the shirt。 Some one or other of
these may so far pity him as to hold the cup for a moment towards
him and let him moisten his lips； but he must not drink enough to
wet the roof of his mouth； then one whose parents are alive will
drive him from the table with blows and angry words。 'Out with
you；' he will say； 'you have no father here；' and the child will
go crying back to his widowed motherhe； Astyanax； who erewhile
would sit upon his father's knees； and have none but the
daintiest and choicest morsels set before him。 When he had played
till he was tired and went to sleep； he would lie in a bed； in
the arms of his nurse； on a soft couch； knowing neither want nor
care； whereas now that he has lost his father his lot will be
full of hardshiphe； whom the Trojans name Astyanax； because
you； O Hector； were the only defence of their gates and
battlements。 The wriggling writhing worms will now eat you at the
ships； far from your parents； when the dogs have glutted
themselves upon you。 You will lie naked； although in your house
you have fine and goodly raiment made by hands of women。 This
will I now burn； it is of no use to you； for you can never again
wear it； and thus you will have respect shown you by the Trojans
both men and women。〃
In such wise did she cry aloud amid her tears； and the women
joined in her lament。
BOOK XXIII
The funeral of Patroclus； and the funeral games。
Thus did they make their moan throughout the city； while the
Achaeans when they reached the Hellespont went back every man to
his own ship。 But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go； and
spoke to his brave rades saying； 〃Myrmidons； famed horsemen
and my own trusted friends； not yet； forsooth； let us unyoke； but
with horse and chariot draw near to the body and mourn Patroclus；
in due honour to the dead。 When we have had full fort of
lamentation we will unyoke our horses and take supper all of us
here。〃
On this they all joined in a cry of wailing and Achilles led them
in their lament。 Thrice did they drive their chariots all
sorrowing round the body； and Thetis stirred within them a still
deeper yearning。 The sands of the seashore and the men's armour
were wet with their weeping； so great a minister of fear was he
whom they had lost。 Chief in all their mourning was the son of
Peleus： he laid his bloodstained hand on the breast of his
friend。 〃Fare well；〃 he cried； 〃Patroclus； even in the house of
Hades。 I will now do all that I erewhile promised you； I will
drag Hector hither and let dogs devour him raw； twelve noble sons
of Trojans will I also slay before your pyre to avenge you。〃
As he spoke he treated the body of noble Hector with contumely；
laying it at full length in the dust beside the bier of
Patroclus。 The others then put off every man his armour； took the
horses from their chariots； and seated themselves in great
multitude by the ship of the fleet descendant of Aeacus； who
thereon feasted them with an abundant funeral banquet。 Many a
goodly ox； with many a sheep and bleating goat did they butcher
and cut up； many a tusked boar moreover； fat and well…fed； did
they singe and set to roast i