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about him； nevertheless； so far as in me lies I will show no
slackness of hand or foot nor want of endurance； not even for a
moment； I will utterly break their ranks； and woe to the Trojan
who shall venture within reach of my spear。〃
Thus did he exhort them。 Meanwhile Hector called upon the Trojans
and declared that he would fight Achilles。 〃Be not afraid； proud
Trojans；〃 said he； 〃to face the son of Peleus； I could fight gods
myself if the battle were one of words only； but they would be
more than a match for me； if we had to use our spears。 Even so
the deed of Achilles will fall somewhat short of his word； he
will do in part； and the other part he will clip short。 I will go
up against him though his hands be as firethough his hands be
fire and his strength iron。〃
Thus urged the Trojans lifted up their spears against the
Achaeans； and raised the cry of battle as they flung themselves
into the midst of their ranks。 But Phoebus Apollo came up to
Hector and said； 〃Hector； on no account must you challenge
Achilles to single bat； keep a lookout for him while you are
under cover of the others and away from the thick of the fight；
otherwise he will either hit you with a spear or cut you down at
close quarters。〃
Thus he spoke； and Hector drew back within the crowd； for he was
afraid when he heard what the god had said to him。 Achilles then
sprang upon the Trojans with a terrible cry； clothed in valour as
with a garment。 First he killed Iphition son of Otrynteus； a
leader of much people whom a naiad nymph had borne to Otrynteus
waster of cities； in the land of Hyde under the snowy heights of
Mt。 Tmolus。 Achilles struck him full on the head as he was ing
on towards him； and split it clean in two； whereon he fell
heavily to the ground and Achilles vaunted over him saying； 〃You
be low； son of Otrynteus； mighty hero； your death is here； but
your lineage is on the Gygaean lake where your father's estate
lies； by Hyllus； rich in fish； and the eddying waters of Hermus。〃
Thus did he vaunt； but darkness closed the eyes of the other。
The chariots of the Achaeans cut him up as their wheels passed
over him in the front of the battle； and after him Achilles
killed Demoleon； a valiant man of war and son to Antenor。 He
struck him on the temple through his bronze…cheeked helmet。 The
helmet did not stay the spear； but it went right on； crushing the
bone so that the brain inside was shed in all directions； and his
lust of fighting was ended。 Then he struck Hippodamas in the
midriff as he was springing down from his chariot in front of
him； and trying to escape。 He breathed his last； bellowing like a
bull bellows when young men are dragging him to offer him in
sacrifice to the King of Helice； and the heart of the
earth…shaker is glad； even so did he bellow as he lay dying。
Achilles then went in pursuit of Polydorus son of Priam； whom his
father had always forbidden to fight because he was the youngest
of his sons； the one he loved best； and the fastest runner。 He；
in his folly and showing off the fleetness of his feet； was
rushing about among front ranks until he lost his life； for
Achilles struck him in the middle of the back as he was darting
past him： he struck him just at the golden fastenings of his belt
and where the two pieces of the double breastplate overlapped。
The point of the spear pierced him through and came out by the
navel； whereon he fell groaning on to his knees and a cloud of
darkness overshadowed him as he sank holding his entrails in his
hands。
When Hector saw his brother Polydorus with his entrails in his
hands and sinking down upon the ground； a mist came over his
eyes； and he could not bear to keep longer at a distance； he
therefore poised his spear and darted towards Achilles like a
flame of fire。 When Achilles saw him he bounded forward and
vaunted saying； 〃This is he that has wounded my heart most deeply
and has slain my beloved rade。 Not for long shall we two quail
before one another on the highways of war。〃
He looked fiercely on Hector and said； 〃Draw near； that you may
meet your doom the sooner。〃 Hector feared him not and answered；
〃Son of Peleus； think not that your words can scare me as though
I were a child； I too if I will can brag and talk unseemly； I
know that you are a mighty warrior； mightier by far than I；
nevertheless the issue lies in the lap of heaven whether I； worse
man though I be； may not slay you with my spear； for this too has
been found keen ere now。〃
He hurled his spear as he spoke； but Minerva breathed upon it；
and though she breathed but very lightly she turned it back from
going towards Achilles； so that it returned to Hector and lay at
his feet in front of him。 Achilles then sprang furiously on him
with a loud cry； bent on killing him； but Apollo caught him up
easily as a god can； and hid him in a thick darkness。 Thrice did
Achilles spring towards him spear in hand； and thrice did he
waste his blow upon the air。 When he rushed forward for the
fourth time as though he were a god； he shouted aloud saying；
〃Hound； this time too you have escaped deathbut of a truth it
came exceedingly near you。 Phoebus Apollo； to whom it seems you
pray before you go into battle； has again saved you； but if I too
have any friend among the gods I will surely make an end of you
when I e across you at some other time。 Now； however； I will
pursue and overtake other Trojans。〃
On this he struck Dryops with his spear； about the middle of his
neck； and he fell headlong at his feet。 There he let him lie and
stayed Demouchus son of Philetor； a man both brave and of great
stature； by hitting him on the knee with a spear； then he smote
him with his sword and killed him。 After this he sprang on
Laogonus and Dardanus； sons of Bias； and threw them from their
chariot； the one with a blow from a thrown spear； while the other
he cut down in hand…to…hand fight。 There was also Tros the son of
Alastorhe came up to Achilles and clasped his knees in the hope
that he would spare him and not kill him but let him go； because
they were both of the same age。 Fool； he might have known that he
should not prevail with him； for the man was in no mood for pity
or forbearance but was in grim earnest。 Therefore when Tros laid
hold of his knees and sought a hearing for his prayers； Achilles
drove his sword into his liver； and the liver came rolling out；
while his bosom was all covered with the black blood that welled
from the wound。 Thus did death close his eyes as he lay lifeless。
Achilles then went up to Mulius and struck him on the ear with a
spear； and the bronze spear…head came right out at the other ear。
He also struck Echeclus son of Agenor on the head with his sword；
which became warm with the blood； while death and stern fate
closed the eyes of Echeclus。 Next in order the bronze point of
his spear wounded Deucalion in the fore…arm where the sinews of
the elbow are united； whereon he waited Achilles' onset with his
arm hanging down and death staring him in the face。 Achilles cut
his head off with a blow from his sword and flung it helmet and
all away from him； and the marrow came oozing out of his backbone
as he lay。 He t