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of Cisseus and wife of Antenor； opened the doors； for the Trojans
had made her priestess of Minerva。 The women lifted up their
hands to the goddess with a loud cry； and Theano took the robe to
lay it upon the knees of Minerva； praying the while to the
daughter of great Jove。 〃Holy Minerva；〃 she cried； 〃protectress
of our city； mighty goddess； break the spear of Diomed and lay
him low before the Scaean gates。 Do this； and we will sacrifice
twelve heifers that have never yet known the goad； in your
temple； if you will have pity upon the town； with the wives and
little ones of the Trojans。〃 Thus she prayed； but Pallas Minerva
granted not her prayer。
While they were thus praying to the daughter of great Jove；
Hector went to the fair house of Alexandrus； which he had built
for him by the foremost builders in the land。 They had built him
his house； storehouse； and courtyard near those of Priam and
Hector on the acropolis。 Here Hector entered； with a spear eleven
cubits long in his hand； the bronze point gleamed in front of
him； and was fastened to the shaft of the spear by a ring of
gold。 He found Alexandrus within the house； busied about his
armour； his shield and cuirass； and handling his curved bow；
there； too； sat Argive Helen with her women； setting them their
several tasks； and as Hector saw him he rebuked him with words of
scorn。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃you do ill to nurse this rancour； the
people perish fighting round this our town； you would yourself
chide one whom you saw shirking his part in the bat。 Up then；
or ere long the city will be in a blaze。〃
And Alexandrus answered； 〃Hector； your rebuke is just； listen
therefore； and believe me when I tell you that I am not here so
much through rancour or ill…will towards the Trojans； as from a
desire to indulge my grief。 My wife was even now gently urging me
to battle； and I hold it better that I should go； for victory is
ever fickle。 Wait； then； while I put on my armour； or go first
and I will follow。 I shall be sure to overtake you。〃
Hector made no answer； but Helen tried to soothe him。 〃Brother；〃
said she； 〃to my abhorred and sinful self； would that a whirlwind
had caught me up on the day my mother brought me forth； and had
borne me to some mountain or to the waves of the roaring sea that
should have swept me away ere this mischief had e about。 But；
since the gods have devised these evils； would； at any rate； that
I had been wife to a better manto one who could smart under
dishonour and men's evil speeches。 This fellow was never yet to
be depended upon； nor never will be； and he will surely reap what
he has sown。 Still； brother； e in and rest upon this seat； for
it is you who bear the brunt of that toil that has been caused by
my hateful self and by the sin of Alexandrusboth of whom Jove
has doomed to be a theme of song among those that shall be born
hereafter。〃
And Hector answered； 〃Bid me not be seated； Helen； for all the
goodwill you bear me。 I cannot stay。 I am in haste to help the
Trojans； who miss me greatly when I am not among them； but urge
your husband； and of his own self also let him make haste to
overtake me before I am out of the city。 I must go home to see my
household； my wife and my little son； for I know not whether I
shall ever again return to them； or whether the gods will cause
me to fill by the hands of the Achaeans。〃
Then Hector left her； and forthwith was at his own house。 He did
not find Andromache； for she was on the wall with her child and
one of her maids； weeping bitterly。 Seeing； then； that she was
not within； he stood on the threshold of the women's rooms and
said； 〃Women； tell me； and tell me true； where did Andromache go
when she left the house？ Was it to my sisters； or to my brothers'
wives？ or is she at the temple of Minerva where the other women
are propitiating the awful goddess？〃
His good housekeeper answered； 〃Hector； since you bid me tell you
truly； she did not go to your sisters nor to your brothers'
wives； nor yet to the temple of Minerva； where the other women
are propitiating the awful goddess； but she is on the high wall
of Ilius； for she had heard the Trojans were being hard pressed；
and that the Achaeans were in great force： she went to the wall
in frenzied haste； and the nurse went with her carrying the
child。〃
Hector hurried from the house when she had done speaking； and
went down the streets by the same way that he had e。 When he
had gone through the city and had reached the Scaean gates
through which he would go out on to the plain； his wife came
running towards him； Andromache； daughter of great Eetion who
ruled in Thebe under the wooded slopes of Mt。 Placus； and was
king of the Cilicians。 His daughter had married Hector； and now
came to meet him with a nurse who carried his little child in her
bosoma mere babe。 Hector's darling son； and lovely as a star。
Hector had named him Scamandrius； but the people called him
Astyanax； for his father stood alone as chief guardian of Ilius。
Hector smiled as he looked upon the boy； but he did not speak；
and Andromache stood by him weeping and taking his hand in her
own。 〃Dear husband；〃 said she； 〃your valour will bring you to
destruction； think on your infant son； and on my hapless self who
ere long shall be your widowfor the Achaeans will set upon you
in a body and kill you。 It would be better for me； should I lose
you； to lie dead and buried； for I shall have nothing left to
fort me when you are gone； save only sorrow。 I have neither
father nor mother now。 Achilles slew my father when he sacked
Thebe the goodly city of the Cilicians。 He slew him； but did not
for very shame despoil him； when he had burned him in his
wondrous armour； he raised a barrow over his ashes and the
mountain nymphs； daughters of aegis…bearing Jove； planted a grove
of elms about his tomb。 I had seven brothers in my father's
house； but on the same day they all went within the house of
Hades。 Achilles killed them as they were with their sheep and
cattle。 My motherher who had been queen of all the land under
Mt。 Placushe brought hither with the spoil； and freed her for a
great sum； but the archer…queen Diana took her in the house of
your father。 NayHectoryou who to me are father； mother；
brother； and dear husbandhave mercy upon me； stay here upon
this wall； make not your child fatherless； and your wife a widow；
as for the host； place them near the fig…tree； where the city can
be best scaled； and the wall is weakest。 Thrice have the bravest
of them e thither and assailed it； under the two Ajaxes；
Idomeneus； the sons of Atreus； and the brave son of Tydeus；
either of their own bidding； or because some soothsayer had told
them。〃
And Hector answered； 〃Wife； I too have thought upon all this； but
with what face should I look upon the Trojans； men or women； if I
shirked battle like a coward？ I cannot do so： I know nothing save
to fight bravely in the forefront of the Trojan host and win
renown alike for my father and myself。 Well do I know that the
day will surely e when mighty Ilius shall be destroyed with
Priam and Priam's people； but I grieve for none of thesenot
even for Hecuba； nor King Priam； nor for