flying over the plain； even so fast and furiously did the limbs of
Achilles bear him onwards。 King Priam was first to note him as he
scoured the plain； all radiant as the star which men call Orion's
Hound； and whose beams blaze forth in time of harvest more brilliantly
than those of any other that shines by night； brightest of them all
though he be； he yet bodes ill for mortals； for he brings fire and
fever in his train… even 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 come 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。 Come； 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 him… on 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 comfort
from my own bosom； think on it now； dear son； and come 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
man… he is filled with fury and his eyes glare terribly as he goes
writhing round his den… even 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 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 city… but 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 dove… the dove flies before
him but the falcon with a shrill scream follows close after；
resolved to have her… even 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 coming 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 ha。 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 common 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 some great prize…
a tripod or woman… at the games in honour of some dead hero； so did
these two run full speed three times round the city of Priam。 All
the gods watched them； and the sire of gods and men was the first to
speak。
〃Alas；〃 said he； 〃my eyes behold a man who is dear to me being
pursued round the walls of Troy； my heart is full of pity for
Hector； who has burned the thigh…bones of many a heifer in my
honour； at one while on the of many…valleyed Ida； and again on the
citadel of Troy； and now I see noble Achilles in full pursuit of him
round the city of Priam。 What say you？ Consider among yourselves and
decide whether we shall now save him or let him fall； valiant though
he be； before Achilles； son of Peleus。〃
Then Minerva said； 〃Father； wielder of the lightning； lord of
cloud and storm； what mean you？ Would you pluck this mortal whose doom
has long been decreed out of the jaws of death？ Do as you will； but we
others shall not be of a mind with you。〃
And Jove answered； 〃My child； Trito…born； take heart。 I did not
speak in full earnest； and I will let you have your way。 Do without
let or hindrance as you are minded。〃
Thus did he urge Minerva who was already eager； and down she
darted from the topmost summits of Olympus。
Achilles was still in full pursuit of Hector； as a hound chasing a
fawn which he has started from its covert on the mountains； and
hunts through glade and thicket。 The fawn may try to elude him by
crouching under cover of a bush； but he will scent her out and
follow her up until he gets her… even so there was no escape for
Hector from the fleet son of Peleus。 Whenever he made a set to get
near the Dardanian gates and u