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brightest of them all though he be； he yet bodes ill for mortals；
for he brings fire and fever in his traineven so did Achilles'
armour gleam on his breast as he sped onwards。 Priam raised a cry
and beat his head with his hands as he lifted them up and shouted
out to his dear son； imploring him to return； but Hector still
stayed before the gates； for his heart was set upon doing battle
with Achilles。 The old man reached out his arms towards him and
bade him for pity's sake e within the walls。 〃Hector；〃 he
cried； 〃my son； stay not to face this man alone and unsupported；
or you will meet death at the hands of the son of Peleus； for he
is mightier than you。 Monster that he is； would indeed that the
gods loved him no better than I do； for so； dogs and vultures
would soon devour him as he lay stretched on earth； and a load of
grief would be lifted from my heart； for many a brave son has he
reft from me； either by killing them or selling them away in the
islands that are beyond the sea： even now I miss two sons from
among the Trojans who have thronged within the city； Lycaon and
Polydorus； whom Laothoe peeress among women bore me。 Should they
be still alive and in the hands of the Achaeans； we will ransom
them with gold and bronze； of which we have store； for the old
man Altes endowed his daughter richly； but if they are already
dead and in the house of Hades； sorrow will it be to us two who
were their parents； albeit the grief of others will be more
short…lived unless you too perish at the hands of Achilles。 e；
then； my son； within the city； to be the guardian of Trojan men
and Trojan women； or you will both lose your own life and afford
a mighty triumph to the son of Peleus。 Have pity also on your
unhappy father while life yet remains to himon me； whom the son
of Saturn will destroy by a terrible doom on the threshold of old
age； after I have seen my sons slain and my daughters haled away
as captives； my bridal chambers pillaged； little children dashed
to earth amid the rage of battle； and my sons' wives dragged away
by the cruel hands of the Achaeans； in the end fierce hounds will
tear me in pieces at my own gates after some one has beaten the
life out of my body with sword or spear…hounds that I myself
reared and fed at my own table to guard my gates； but who will
yet lap my blood and then lie all distraught at my doors。 When a
young man falls by the sword in battle； he may lie where he is
and there is nothing unseemly； let what will be seen； all is
honourable in death； but when an old man is slain there is
nothing in this world more pitiable than that dogs should defile
his grey hair and beard and all that men hide for shame。〃
The old man tore his grey hair as he spoke； but he moved not the
heart of Hector。 His mother hard by wept and moaned aloud as she
bared her bosom and pointed to the breast which had suckled him。
〃Hector；〃 she cried； weeping bitterly the while； 〃Hector； my son；
spurn not this breast； but have pity upon me too： if I have ever
given you fort from my own bosom； think on it now； dear son；
and e within the wall to protect us from this man； stand not
without to meet him。 Should the wretch kill you； neither I nor
your richly dowered wife shall ever weep； dear offshoot of
myself； over the bed on which you lie； for dogs will devour you
at the ships of the Achaeans。〃
Thus did the two with many tears implore their son； but they
moved not the heart of Hector； and he stood his ground awaiting
huge Achilles as he drew nearer towards him。 As serpent in its
den upon the mountains； full fed with deadly poisons； waits for
the approach of manhe is filled with fury and his eyes glare
terribly as he goes writhing round his deneven so Hector leaned
his shield against a tower that jutted out from the wall and
stood where he was； undaunted。
〃Alas；〃 said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart； 〃if I
go within the gates； Polydamas will be the first to heap reproach
upon me； for it was he that urged me to lead the Trojans back to
the city on that awful night when Achilles again came forth
against us。 I would not listen； but it would have been indeed
better if I had done so。 Now that my folly has destroyed the
host； I dare not look Trojan men and Trojan women in the face；
lest a worse man should say； 'Hector has ruined us by his
self…confidence。' Surely it would be better for me to return
after having fought Achilles and slain him； or to die gloriously
here before the city。 What； again； if I were to lay down my
shield and helmet； lean my spear against the wall and go straight
up to noble Achilles？ What if I were to promise to give up Helen；
who was the fountainhead of all this war； and all the treasure
that Alexandrus brought with him in his ships to Troy； aye； and
to let the Achaeans divide the half of everything that the city
contains among themselves？ I might make the Trojans； by the
mouths of their princes； take a solemn oath that they would hide
nothing； but would divide into two shares all that is within the
citybut why argue with myself in this way？ Were I to go up to
him he would show me no kind of mercy； he would kill me then and
there as easily as though I were a woman； when I had off my
armour。 There is no parleying with him from some rock or oak
tree as young men and maidens prattle with one another。 Better
fight him at once； and learn to which of us Jove will vouchsafe
victory。〃
Thus did he stand and ponder； but Achilles came up to him as it
were Mars himself； plumed lord of battle。 From his right shoulder
he brandished his terrible spear of Pelian ash； and the bronze
gleamed around him like flashing fire or the rays of the rising
sun。 Fear fell upon Hector as he beheld him； and he dared not
stay longer where he was but fled in dismay from before the
gates； while Achilles darted after him at his utmost speed。 As a
mountain falcon； swiftest of all birds； swoops down upon some
cowering dovethe dove flies before him but the falcon with a
shrill scream follows close after； resolved to have hereven so
did Achilles make straight for Hector with all his might； while
Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his limbs could take
him。
On they flew along the waggon…road that ran hard by under the
wall； past the lookout station； and past the weather…beaten wild
fig…tree； till they came to two fair springs which feed the river
Scamander。 One of these two springs is warm； and steam rises from
it as smoke from a burning fire； but the other even in summer is
as cold as hail or snow； or the ice that forms on water。 Here；
hard by the springs； are the goodly washing…troughs of stone；
where in the time of peace before the ing of the Achaeans the
wives and fair daughters of the Trojans used to wash their
clothes。 Past these did they fly； the one in front and the other
giving chase behind him： good was the man that fled； but better
far was he that followed after； and swiftly indeed did they run；
for the prize was no mere beast for sacrifice or bullock's hide；
as it might be for a mon foot…race； but they ran for the life
of Hector。 As horses in a chariot race speed round the
turning…posts when they are running for s