by Homer
O queen of women, from whose womb they breathed. O did the tents
Detain them only, brass and gold would purchase safe events
To their sad durance; 'tis within; old Altes, young in fame,
Gave plenty for his daughter's dow'r; but if they fed the flame
Of this man's fury, woe is me, woe to my wretched queen!
But'in our state's woe their two deaths will nought at all be seen,
So thy life quit them. Take the town, retire, dear son, and save
Troy's husbands and her wives, nor give thine own life to the grave
For this man's glory. Pity me, me, wretch, so long alive,
Whom in the door of age Jove keeps, that so he may deprive
My being, in fortune's utmost curse, to see the blackest thread
¦ Of this life's miseries, my sons slain, my daughters ravished,
Their resting chambers sacked, their babes torn from them, on their knees
Pleading for mercy, themselves dragged to Grecian slaveries,
And all this drawn through my red eyes. Then last of all kneel I,
Alone, all helpless at my gates, before my enemy,
That ruthless gives me to my dogs, all the deformity
Of age discovered; and all this thy death, sought wilfully,
Will pour on me. A fair young man at all parts it beseems,
Being bravely slain, to lie all gashed, and wear the worst extremes
Of war's most cruelty; no wound of whatsoever ruth
But is his ornament; but I, a man so far from youth,
White head, white-bearded, wrinkled, pined, all shames must show the eye.
Live, prevent this then, this most shame of all man's misery."
Thus wept the old king, and tore off his white hair; yet all these
Retired not Hector. Hecuba then fell upon her knees,
Stripped naked her bosom, showed her breasts, and bade him reverence them,
And pity her. If ever she had quieted his exclaim,
He would cease hers, and take the town, not tempting the rude field
When all had left it: " Think," said she, " I gave thee life to yield
My life recomfort; thy rich wife shall have no rites of thee,
Nor do thee rites; our tears shall pay thy corse no obsequy,
Being ravished from us; Grecian dogs, nourished with what I nursed."
Thus wept both these, and to his ruth proposed the utmost worst
Of what could chance them; yet he stayed. And now drew deadly near
Mighty Achilles, yet he still kept deadly station there.
Look how a dragon, when she sees a traveller bent upon
Her breeding den, her bosom fed with fell contagion,
Gathers her forces, sits him firm, and at his nearest pace
Wraps all her cavern in her folds, and thrusts a horrid face
Out at his entry; Hector so, with unextinguished spirit,
Stood great Achilles, stirred no foot, but at the prominent turret
Bent to his bright shield, and resolved to bear fall'n heaven on it.
Yet all this resolute abode did not so truly fit
His free election; but he felt a much more galling spur
To the performance, with conceit of what he should incur
Ent'ring, like others, for this cause; to which he thus gave way :
“O me, if I shall take the town, Polydamas will lay
This flight and all this death on me, who counselled me to lead
My pow'rs to Troy this last black night, when so I saw make head
Incensed Achilles. I yet stayed, though, past all doubt, that course
Had much more profited than mine; which, being by so much worse
As comes to all our flight and death, my folly now I fear
Hath bred this scandal, all our town now burns my ominous ear
With whispering : ' Hector's self-conceit hath cast away his host.'
And, this true, this extremity that I rely on most
Is best for me; stay, and retire with this man's life, or die
Here for our city with renown, since all else fled but I.
And yet one way cuts both these ways : What if I hang my shield,
My helm and lance here on these walls, and meet in humble field
Renowned Achilles, offering him Helen and all the wealth,
Whatever in his hollow keels bore Alexander's stealth
For both th' Atrides? For the rest, whatever is possessed
In all this city, known or hid, by oath shall be confessed
Of all our citizens; of which one half the Greeks shall have,
One half themselves. But why, loved soul, would these suggestions save
Thy state still in me? I'll not sue; nor would he grant, but I,
Mine arms cast off, should be assured a woman's death to die.
To men of oak and rock, no words; virgins and youths talk thus,
Virgins and youths that love and woo; there's other war with us;
What blows and conflicts urge, we cry, hates and defiances,
And, with the garlands these trees bear, try which hand Jove will bless."
These thoughts employed his stay; and now Achilles comes, now near
His Mars-like presence terribly came brandishing his spear,
His right arm shook it, his bright arms like day came glittering on,
Like fire-light, or the light of heaven shot from the rising sun.
This sight outwrought discourse, cold fear shook Hector from his stand;
No more stay now, all ports were left, he fled in fear the hand
Of that Fear-master, who, hawk-like, air's swiftest passenger,
That holds a timorous dove in chase, and with command doth bear
His fiery onset, the dove hastes, the hawk comes whizzing on,
This way and that he turns and winds, and cuffs the pigeon,
And, till he truss it, his great spirit lays hot charge on his wing;
So urged Achilles Hector's flight, so still fear's point did sting
His troubled spirit, his knees wrought hard, along the wall he flew,
In that fair chariot-way that runs beneath the tow'r of view,
And Troy's wild fig-tree, till they reached where those two mother-springs
Of deep Scamander poured abroad their silver murmurings;
One warm and casts out fumes as fire, the other cold as snow,
Or hail dissolved. And when the sun made ardent summer glow,
There water's concrete crystal shined, near which were cisterns made,
All paved and clear, where Trojan wives and their fair daughters had
Laundry for their fine linen weeds, in times of cleanly peace,
Before the Grecians brought their siege. These captains noted these,
One flying, th' other in pursuit; a strong man flew before,
A stronger followed him by far, and close up to him bore;
Both did their best, for neither now ran for a sacrifice,
Or for the sacrificer's hide, our runners' usual prize;
These Tan for tame-horse Hector's soul. And as two running steeds,
Backed in some set race for a game that tries their swiftest speeds
(A tripod, or a woman, given for some man's funerals)
Such speed made these men, and on foot ran thrice about the walls.
The Gods beheld them, all much moved; and Jove said : " O ill sight!
A man I love much I see forced in most unworthy flight
About great Ilion. My heart grieves, he paid so many vows,
With thighs of sacrificed beeves, both on the lofty brows
Of Ida, and on Ilion's height. Consult we, shall we free
His life from death, or give it now t' Achilles' victory? "
Minerva answered : " Alter Fate? One long since marked for death
Now take from death? Do thou; but know, he still shall run beneath
Our other censur
es." " Be it then," replied the Thunderer,
“My loved Tritonia, at thy will; at this I will prefer
Thy free intention, work it all." Then stooped she from the sky
To this great combat. Peleus' son pursued incessantly
Still-flying Hector. As a hound that having roused a hart,
Although he tappish ne'er so oft, and every shrubby part
Attempts for strength, and trembles in. the hound doth still pursue
So close that not a foot he fails, but hunts it still at view;
So plied Achilles Hector's steps; as oft as he assayed
The Dardan ports and tow'rs for strength (to fetch from thence some aid
With winged shafts) so oft forced he amends of pace, and stept
'Twixt him and all his hopes, and still upon the field he kept
His utmost turnings to the town. And yet, as in a dream,
One thinks he gives another chase, when such a fained extreme,
Possesseth both that he in chase the chaser cannot fly,
Nor can the chaser get to hand his flying enemy;
So nor Achilles' chase could.reach the flight of Hector's pace,
Nor Hector's flight enlarge itself of swift Achilles' chase.
But how chanced this? How, all this time, could Hector bear the k nees
Of fierce Achilles with his own, and keep off destinies,
If Phoebus, for his last and best, through all that course had failed
To add his succours to his nerves, and, as his foe assailed
Near and within him, fed his 'scape? Achilles yet well knew
His knees would fetch him, and gave signs to some friends, making show
Of shooting at him, to forbear, lest they detracted so
From his full glory in first wounds, and in the overthrow
Make his hand last. But when they reached the fourth time the two founts,
Then Jove his golden scoles weighed up, and took the last accounts
Of fate for Hector, putting in for him and Peleus' son
Two fates of bitter death, of which high heaven received the one,
The other hell; so low declined the light of Hector's life.
Then Phoebus left him, when war's Queen came to resolve the strife
In th' other's knowledge : " Now," said she, " Jove-loved Aeacides,
I hope at last to make renown perform a brave access
To all the Grecians; we shall now lay low this champion's height,
Though never so insatiate was his great heart of fight.
Nor must he 'scape our pursuit still, though at the feet of Jove
Apollo bows into a sphere, soliciting more love
To his most favoured. Breathe thee then, stand firm, myself will haste
And hearten Hector to change blows." She went, and he stood fast,
Leaned on his lance, and much was joyed that single strokes should try
This fadging conflict. Then came close the changed deity
To Hector, like Deiphobus in shape and voice, and said :
“O brother, thou art too much urged to be thus combated
About our own walls; let us stand, and force to a retreat
Th' insulting chaser." Hector joyed at this so kind deceit,
And said : " O good Deiphobus, thy love was most before,
Of all my brothers, dear to me, but now exceeding more
It costs me honour, that, thus urged, thou com'st to part the charge
Of my last fortunes; other friends keep town, and leave at large
My racked endeavours." She replied: " Good brother, 'tis most true,
One after other, king and queen, and all our friends did sue,
Even on their knees, to stay me there, such tremblings shake them all
With this man's terror; but my mind so grieved to see our wall
Girt with thy chases, that to death I longed to urge thy stay.
Come, fight we, thirsty of his blood; no more let's fear to lay
Cost on our lances, but approve, if, bloodied with our spoils,
He can bear glory to their fleet, or shut up all their toils
In his one sufferance on thy lance." With this deceit .she led,
And, both come near, thus Hector spake : " Thrice have I compassed
This great town, Peleus' son, in flight, with aversation
That out of fate put off my steps; but now all flight is flown,
The short course set up, death or life. Our resolutions yet
Must shun all rudeness; and the Gods before our valour set
For use of victory, and they being worthiest witnesses
Of all vows, since they keep vows best, before their deities,
Let vows of fit respect pass both, when conquest hath bestowed
Her wreath on either. Here I vow no fury shall be showed,
That is not manly, on thy corse, but, having spoiled thy arms,
Resign thy person; which swear thou." These fair and temperate terms
Far fled Achilles; his brows bent, and out flew this reply :
“Hector, thou only pestilence in all mortality
To my sere spirits, never set the point 'twixt thee and me
Any conditions; but as far as men and lions fly
All terms of covenant, lambs and wolves, in so far opposite state,
Impossible for loye t' atone, stand we, till our souls satiate
The God of soldiers. Do not dream that our disjunction can
Endure condition. Therefore now all worth that fits a man
Call to thee, all particular parts that fit a soldier,
And they all this include, besides the skill and spirit of war,
Hunger for slaughter, and a hate that eats thy heart to eat
Thy foe's heart. This stirs, this supplies in death the killing heat;
And all this need'st thou. No more flight. Pallas Athenia
Will quickly cast thee to my lance." Now, now together draw
All griefs for vengeance, both in me and all my friends late dead
That bled thee, raging with thy lance." This said, he brandished
His long lance, and away it sung; which Hector giving view,
Stooped low, stood firm, foreseeing it best, and quite it overflew,
Fastening on earth. Athenia drew it, and gavQ her friend,
Unseen of Hector. Hector then thus spake : " Thou want'st thy end,
Godlike Achilles. Now I see, thou hast not learned my fate
Of Jove at all, as thy high words would bravely intimate.
Much tongue affects thee. Cunning words well serve thee to prepare
Thy blows with threats, that mine might faint with want of spirit to dare.
But my back never turns with breath; it was not born to bear
Burthens of wounds; strike home before; drive at my breast thy spear,
As mine at thine shall, and try then if heavens will favour thee
With 'scape of my lance. O would Jove would take it after me,
And make thy bosom take it all! An easy end would crown
Our difficult wars, were thy soul fled, thou most bane of our town."
Thus flew his dart, touched at the midst of his vast shield, and flew
A huge way from it; but his heart wrath entered with the view
Of that hard 'scape, and heavy thoughts stook through him when he spied
His brother vanished, and no lance beside left; out he cried :
“Deiphobus! another lance." Lance nor Deiphobus
Stood near his call. And then his mind saw all things ominous,
And thus suggested : " Woe is me, the gods have called, and I
Must meet death here! Deiphobus I well hoped had been by
With his white shield; but our strong walls shield him, and this deceit
Flows from Minerva. Now, O now. ill death comes, no more flight,
No more recovery. O Jove, this hath been otherwise;
Thy bright son and thyself have
set the Greeks a greater prize
Of Hector's blood than now, of which, even jealous, you had care.
But Fate now conquers; I am hers : and yet not she shall share
In my renown; that life is left to every noble spirit,
And that some great deed shall beget that all lives shall inherit."
Thus, forth his sword flew, sharp and broad, and bore a deadly weight,
With which he rushed in. And look how an eagle from her height
Stoops to the rapture of a lamb, or cuffs a timorous hare;
So fell in Hector; and at him Achilles; his mind's fare
Was fierce and mighty, his shield cast a sun-like radiance,
Helm nodded, and his four plumes shook, and, when he raised his lance,
Up Hesp'rus rose 'mongst th' evening stars. His bright and sparkling eyes
Looked through the body of his foe, and sought through all that prize
The next way to his thirsted life. Of all ways, only one
Appeared to him, and that was where th' unequal winding bone,
That joins the shoulders and the neck, had place, and where there lay
The speeding way to death; and there his quick eye could display
The place it sought, even through those arms his friend Patroclus wore
When Hector slew him. There he aimed, and there his javelin tore
Stem passage quite through Hector's neck; yet missed it so his throat
It gave him pow'r to change some words; but down to earth it got
His fainting body. Then triumphed divine Aeacides:
“Hector," said he, " thy heart supposed that in my friend's decease
Thy life was safe; my absent arm not cared for. Fool! he left
One at the fleet that bettered him, and he it is that reft
Thy strong knees thus; and now the dogs and fowls in foulest use
Shall tear thee up, thy corse exposed to all the Greeks' abuse."
He, fainting, said : " Let me implore, even by thy knees and soul
And thy great parents, do not see a cruelty so foul
Inflicted on me. Brass and gold receive at any rate,
And quit my person, that the peers and ladies of our state
May tomb it, and to sacred fire turn thy profane decrees."
'' Dog," he replied," urge not my ruth, by parents, soul, nor knees.
I would to God that any rage would let me eat thee raw,
Sliced into pieces, so beyond the right of any law
I taste thy merits! And, believe, it flies the force of man
To rescue thy head from the dogs. Give all the gold they can,