Hector from the fleet son of Peleus。 Whenever he made a set to get
near the Dardanian gates and under the walls； that his people might
help him by showering down weapons from above； Achilles would gain
on him and head him back towards the plain； keeping himself always
on the city side。 As a man in a dream who fails to lay hands upon
another whom he is pursuing… the one cannot escape nor the other
overtake… even so neither could Achilles come up with Hector； nor
Hector break away from Achilles； nevertheless he might even yet have
escaped death had not the time come when Apollo； who thus far had
sustained his strength and nerved his running； was now no longer to
stay by him。 Achilles made signs to the Achaean host； and shook his
head to show that no man was to aim a dart at Hector； lest another
might win the glory of having hit him and he might himself come in
second。 Then； at last； as they were nearing the fountains for the
fourth time； the father of all balanced his golden scales and placed a
doom in each of them； one for Achilles and the other for Hector。 As he
held the scales by the middle； the doom of Hector fell down deep
into the house of Hades… and then Phoebus Apollo left him。 Thereon
Minerva went close up to the son of Peleus and said； 〃Noble
Achilles； favoured of heaven； we two shall surely take back to the
ships a triumph for the Achaeans by slaying Hector； for all his lust
of battle。 Do what Apollo may as he lies grovelling before his father；
aegis…bearing Jove； Hector cannot escape us longer。 Stay here and take
breath； while I go up to him and persuade him to make a stand and
fight you。〃
Thus spoke Minerva。 Achilles obeyed her gladly； and stood still；
leaning on his bronze…pointed ashen spear； while Minerva left him
and went after Hector in the form and with the voice of Deiphobus。 She
came close up to him and said； 〃Dear brother； I see you are hard
pressed by Achilles who is chasing you at full speed round the city of
Priam； let us await his onset and stand on our defence。〃
And Hector answered； 〃Deiphobus； you have always been dearest to
me of all my brothers； children of Hecuba and Priam； but henceforth
I shall rate you yet more highly； inasmuch as you have ventured
outside the wall for my sake when all the others remain inside。〃
Then Minerva said； 〃Dear brother； my father and mother went down
on their knees and implored me； as did all my comrades； to remain
inside； so great a fear has fallen upon them all； but I was in an
agony of grief when I beheld you； now； therefore； let us two make a
stand and fight； and let there be no keeping our spears in reserve；
that we may learn whether Achilles shall kill us and bear off our
spoils to the ships； or whether he shall fall before you。〃
Thus did Minerva inveigle him by her cunning； and when the two
were now close to one another great Hector was first to speak。 〃I
will…no longer fly you； son of Peleus；〃 said he； 〃as I have been doing
hitherto。 Three times have I fled round the mighty city of Priam；
without daring to withstand you； but now； let me either slay or be
slain； for I am in the mind to face you。 Let us； then； give pledges to
one another by our gods； who are the fittest witnesses and guardians
of all covenants； let it be agreed between us that if Jove
vouchsafes me the longer stay and I take your life； I am not to
treat your dead body in any unseemly fashion； but when I have stripped
you of your armour； I am to give up your body to the Achaeans。 And
do you likewise。〃
Achilles glared at him and answered； 〃Fool； prate not to me about
covenants。 There can be no covenants between men and lions； wolves and
lambs can never be of one mind； but hate each other out and out an
through。 Therefore there can be no understanding between you and me；
nor may there be any covenants between us； till one or other shall
fall and glut grim Mars with his life's blood。 Put forth all your
strength； you have need now to prove yourself indeed a bold soldier
and man of war。 You have no more chance； and Pallas Minerva will
forthwith vanquish you by my spear： you shall now pay me in full for
the grief you have caused me on account of my comrades whom you have
killed in battle。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it。 Hector saw it
coming and avoided it； he watched it and crouched down so that it flew
over his head and stuck in the ground beyond； Minerva then snatched it
up and gave it back to Achilles without Hector's seeing her； Hector
thereon said to the son of Peleus； 〃You have missed your aim；
Achilles； peer of the gods； and Jove has not yet revealed to you the
hour of my doom； though you made sure that he had done so。 You were
a false…tongued liar when you deemed that I should forget my valour
and quail before you。 You shall not drive spear into the back of a
runaway… drive it； should heaven so grant you power； drive it into
me as I make straight towards you； and now for your own part avoid
my spear if you can… would that you might receive the whole of it into
your body； if you were once dead the Trojans would find the war an
easier matter； for it is you who have harmed them most。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it。 His aim was true
for he hit the middle of Achilles' shield； but the spear rebounded
from it； and did not pierce it。 Hector was angry when he saw that
the weapon had sped from his hand in vain； and stood there in dismay
for he had no second spear。 With a loud cry he called Diphobus and
asked him for one； but there was no man； then he saw the truth and
said to himself； 〃Alas！ the gods have lured me on to my destruction。 I
deemed that the hero Deiphobus was by my side； but he is within the
wall； and Minerva has inveigled me； death is now indeed exceedingly
near at hand and there is no way out of it… for so Jove and his son
Apollo the far…darter have willed it； though heretofore they have been
ever ready to protect me。 My doom has come upon me； let me not then
die ingloriously and without a struggle； but let me first do some
great thing that shall be told among men hereafter。〃
As he spoke he drew the keen blade that hung so great and strong
by his side； and gathering himself together be sprang on Achilles like
a soaring eagle which swoops down from the clouds on to some lamb or
timid hare… even so did Hector brandish his sword and spring upon
Achilles。 Achilles mad with rage darted towards him； with his wondrous
shield before his breast； and his gleaming helmet； made with four
layers of metal； nodding fiercely forward。 The thick tresses of gold
wi which Vulcan had crested the helmet floated round it； and as the
evening star that shines brighter than all others through the
stillness of night； even such was the gleam of the spear which
Achilles poised in his right hand； fraught with the death of noble
Hector。 He eyed his fair flesh over and over to see where he could
best wound it； but all was protected by the goodly armour of which
Hector had spoiled Patroclus after he had slain him； save only the
throat where the collar…bones divide the neck from the shoulders；
and this is a most deadly place： here then did Achilles strike him
as he was coming on towards him； and the point of his spear went right
through the fleshy part of the neck； but it did not sever his windpipe
so that he could still speak。 Hector fell headlong； and Achilles
vaunted over him saying； 〃Hector； you deemed that you should come
off scatheless when you were spoiling Patroclus； and recked not of
myself who was not with him。 Fool that you were： for I； his comrade；
mightier far than he； was still left behind him at the ships； and
now I have laid you low。 The Achaeans shall give him all due funeral
rites； while dogs and vultures shall work their will upon yourself。〃
Then Hector said； as the life ebbed out of him； 〃I pray you by
your life and knees； and by your parents； let not dogs devour me at
the ships of the Achaeans； but accept the rich treasure of gold and
bronze which my father and mother will offer you； and send my body
home； that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire
when I am dead。〃
Achilles glared at him and answered； 〃Dog； talk not to me neither of
knees nor parents； would that I could be as sure of being able to
cut your flesh into pieces and eat it raw； for the ill have done me；
as I am that nothing shall save you from the dogs… it shall not be；
though they bring ten or twenty…fold ransom and weigh it out for me on
the spot； with promise of yet more hereafter。 Though Priam son of
Dardanus should bid them offer me your weight in gold； even so your
mother shall never lay you out and make lament over the son she
bore； but dogs and vultures shall eat you utterly up。〃
Hector with his dying breath then said； 〃I know you what you are；
and was sure that I should not move you； for your heart is hard as
iron； look to it that I bring not heaven's anger upon you on the day
when Paris and Phoebus Apollo； valiant though you be； shall slay you
at the Scaean gates。〃
When he had thus said the shrouds of death enfolded him； whereon his
soul went out of him and flew down to the house of Hades； lamenting
its sad fate that it should en' you