by Homer
this is anguish to my heart and to their mother, we who bore them;
but to the rest of the people, it will be anguish shorter lived
than if you also should die, broken by Achilles.
Come inside the walls, my child, that you may save the
Trojan men and Trojan women, do not make a gift of glory to
the son of Peleus, who will rob you of your very life.
And on me—wretched, still feeling—have pity,
born to ill fate, whom on the threshold of old age father Zeus, son of Cronus,60
will blight with my hard fate, when I have seen
the destruction of my sons, the abduction of my daughters,
my chambers ravaged, and innocent children
hurled to the ground in the terror of battle;
my daughters-in-law abducted by the wicked hands of Achaean men,
and I myself, last of all, at my very gates, my dogs
will rip raw, when some man with sharp bronze,
stabbing or casting, will strip the spirit from my limbs—
the dogs I raised in my halls and fed at my table as guardians of my gates,
these, maddened by the drinking of my blood,70
will sprawl in my doorway. All is seemly for the young man
slain in war, torn by sharp bronze,
laid out dead; everything is honorable to him in death, whatever shows.
But when the dogs defile the white head and white beard
and the private parts of a dead old man—
this is most pitiable for wretched mortals.”
So the old man spoke, and pulled his white hair with his hands,
tearing it from his head. But he did not persuade the heart of Hector.
Now in turn his mother wailed, raining tears,
and loosening her robe, with a hand she exposed her breast80
and raining tears addressed him with winged words:
“Hector, my child, be moved by this and have pity on me,
if ever I used to give you my breast to soothe you—
remember those times, dear child, defend yourself against this deadly man
from inside the walls; don’t stand as champion against him,
my stubborn one. If he cuts you down, I will surely never
mourn you on your deathbed, dear budding branch, whom I bore,
nor will your worthy wife. But a long way from us
by the ships of the Achaeans the running dogs will eat you.”
Thus both of them weeping addressed their dear son,90
repeatedly beseeching. But they did not persuade the heart of Hector,
and he awaited Achilles, who was looming huge as he drew near.
As a snake by its hole in the mountains waits for a man,
having eaten evil poisons, and a deadly anger comes upon it,
and it shoots a stinging glance, coiled by its hole,
so Hector keeping his spirit unquelled did not retreat,
but having leaned his shining shield against the jutting tower,
in agitation, he spoke to his great-hearted spirit:
“Oh me, if I enter the gates and walls
Poulydamas will be the first to reproach me,100
who bade me lead the Trojans to the city
that baneful night when Achilles the godlike rose,
but I was not persuaded. It would have been far better if I had.
Now since I have destroyed my people by my recklessness,
I dread the Trojan men and the Trojan women with their trailing robes,
lest some other man more worthless than me say:
‘Hector, trusting in his strength, destroyed his people’—
thus they will speak. It would be far better, then, for me
to confront Achilles, either to kill him and return home,
or to die with honor at his hands, before my city.110
But what if I put aside my studded shield
and my strong helmet, leaned my spear against the walls,
and going out alone approached noble Achilles,
and pledged to him Helen and the possessions with her?
All those things—as much as Alexandros carried away to Troy
in his hollow ships, which was the beginning of our quarrel—
to give to the sons of Atreus to lead away; and in addition
to divide everything else with the Achaeans, whatever this city holds,
and after that to make a formal oath with the Trojan council
not to hide anything, but to divide it all, equally—120
but why does my heart debate these things?122
I could set forth to meet him and he not pity me,
nor even respect me, but kill me naked as I was,
as if I were a woman, since I would have put off my armor.
It is not now possible from rock or oak, in the country way,
to chatter to him those things that a girl and youth
chatter to each other, a girl and youth—
no, it is better to engage with him straightway;
we shall see to whom the Olympians give glory.”130
Thus his thoughts churned as he waited, and Achilles drew near,
equal to the war god, the helmet-shaking warrior,
brandishing his Pelian ash-wood spear above his right shoulder,
terrifying. The bronze glinted around him like the flare
of blazing fire or the sun rising.
And as he watched him, trembling took hold of Hector; and he could no longer endure
there to stand his ground, but left the gates behind and, terrified, he ran.
The son of Peleus charged for him, trusting in the swiftness of his feet;
as a mountain hawk, lightest of all things on wings,
easily swoops after a terror-stricken dove,140
which, away from under, flees, but crying sharply near
he swoops continuously and his spirit drives him to take her;
so Achilles flew straight for him, ravenous, and Hector fled
under the walls of Troy, working his swift knees.
By the watch place and the wild fig tree twisted by wind,
always away from the walls, along the wagon path they ran
and reached the two fair-flowing streams, where the two springs
gush forth from the whirling waters of Scamander.
One flows with warm water, enveloping steam
rises from it as if from a burning fire.150
The other even in summer runs as cold as hail,
or snow water, or ice that forms from water.
Near to these there are the broad washing hollows
of fine stone, where their lustrous clothes
the Trojan wives and their beautiful daughters washed,
in those days before, in peacetime, before there came the sons of the Achaeans.
By this place they ran, one fleeing, the other behind pursuing;
outstanding was he who fled ahead—but far better he who pursued him
swiftly; since it was not for a sacral animal, nor for an oxhide
they contended, prizes in the races of men—160
but they ran for the life of Hector breaker of horses.
As when prizewinning single-hoofed horses
tear around the turning post—a great prize awaits,
a tripod, or woman, in those games held when a man has died—
so three times around the city of Priam they whirled
in the swiftness of their feet, and all the gods looked on.
To them the father of men and gods spoke the first word:
“Alas; it is a dear man whom my eyes see
pursued around the wall; my heart grieves
for Hector, who has burned many thigh cuts of sacral oxen to me,170
both on the summit of Ida of the many glens, and at other times
on the heights of his citadel. But now godlike Achilles
pursu
es him in the swiftness of his feet around the city of Priam.
But come, you gods, consider and take counsel
whether we shall save him from death, or
noble though he is, break him at the hands of Achilles son of Peleus.”
Then the gleaming-eyed goddess Athena answered him:
“O father of the bright thunderbolt and black clouds, what have you said?
This man who is mortal, consigned long ago to fate—
you want to take him back and free him from the harsh sorrow of death?180
Do so; but not all the other gods will approve.”
In answer, Zeus who gathers the clouds addressed her:
“Take heart, Tritogeneia, dear child. I did not now
speak in earnest, and I mean to be kind to you.
Act in whatever way your mind inclines, nor hold back any longer.”
So speaking, he urged Athena, who had been eager even before;
and she went, slipping down from the peaks of Olympus.
Relentlessly, swift Achilles kept driving Hector panicked before him,
as when a dog in the mountains pursues a deer’s fawn
that he has started from its bed through glens and dells;190
and though, cowering in fright, it eludes him beneath a thicket,
the dog runs on, tracking it steadily, until he finds it—
so Hector could not elude Achilles of the swift feet.
Each time he made to dash toward the Dardanian gates,
under the well-built tower,
in the hope that men from above might defend him with thrown missiles,
each time did Achilles, outstripping him, turn him back
toward the plain, and he himself sped ever by the city.
As in a dream a man is not able to pursue one who eludes him,
nor is the other able to escape, nor he to pursue,200
so Achilles for all the swiftness of his feet was not able to lay hold of Hector, nor Hector to escape.
How then could Hector have eluded his fated death
had not Apollo for that last and final time joined closely with him
to rouse his spirit and make swift his knees?
And shining Achilles was shaking his head at his men,
nor allowed them to let their sharp spears fly at Hector,
lest whoever making the throw claim glory, and himself come second.
But when for the fourth time they came to the springs,
then Zeus the father leveled his golden scales,
and placed in them two portions of death that brings enduring grief,210
that of Achilles and that of Hector breaker of horses;
he lifted them, holding by the middle; and the measured day of Hector sank,
headed to Hades, and Phoebus Apollo abandoned him.
Then the gleaming-eyed goddess Athena came up to the son of Peleus
and standing near addressed him with winged words:
“Now I hope, illustrious Achilles, beloved of Zeus,
to carry honor for us two back to the Achaean ships,
after breaking Hector, insatiable though he be for battle;
he can no longer get clear of us,
not if Apollo the Far-Shooter should suffer countless trials for his sake,220
groveling before Father Zeus who wields the aegis.
But you now stop and catch your breath, while I
make my way to Hector and convince him to fight man-to-man.”
Thus spoke Athena, and Achilles obeyed and rejoiced in his heart,
and stood leaning on his bronze-flanged ash-wood spear.
She left him and came up to shining Hector
in the likeness of Deïphobos, in form and steady voice.
Standing close, she spoke winged words:
“My brother, swift Achilles presses you hard,
pursuing you around the city of Priam in the swiftness of his feet.230
Come; let us take our stand and standing firm defend ourselves.”
Then great Hector of the shimmering helm addressed her in turn:
“Deïphobos, even before you were far dearest to me
of my brothers, those sons whom Hecuba and Priam bore.
Now I am minded to honor you even more in my heart—
you who dared for my sake, when you saw me with your eyes,
to quit the walls where the others remain inside.”
Then the gleaming-eyed goddess Athena spoke to him:
“My brother, our father and lady mother implored me greatly,
entreating in turn, and the companions about them,240
to remain there—for so great is the dread of all;
but my inner spirit was harrowed with impotent grief.
But now let us two press straight forward and go to battle,
and let there be no restraint of our spears, so that we shall see if Achilles,
killing us both, will bear our bloodied arms
to his hollow ships, or if he will be broken by your spear.”
Thus spoke Athena and with cunning led him on.
And when they had advanced almost upon each other
great Hector of the shimmering helm spoke first:
“No longer, son of Peleus, shall I flee from you, as before250
I fled three times around the great city of Priam, nor could then endure
to withstand your charge. But now my spirit stirs me
to hold firm before you. I will kill you, or be killed.
But come, let us take an oath upon our gods, for they
will be the best witnesses and protectors of agreements.
I will not, outrageous though you are, dishonor you if Zeus grants me
to endure, and I take your life.
But when I have stripped you of your splendid armor, Achilles,
I will give your body back to the Achaeans; and do you the same.”
Then looking at him from beneath his brows, Achilles of the swift feet spoke:260
“Hector, doer of unforgettable deeds—do not to me propose your agreements.
As there are no pacts of faith between lions and men,
nor do wolves and lambs have spirit in kind,
but they plot evil unremittingly for one another,
so it is not possible that you and I be friends, nor for us two
will there be oaths; before that time one of us falling
will sate with his blood the shield-bearing warrior god.
Recollect your every skill. Now the need is very great
to be a spearman and brave warrior.
There will be no further escape for you, but soon Pallas Athena270
will break you by my spear. Now you will pay in one sum
for all the sorrows of my companions, those whom you killed, raging with your spear.”
He spoke, and balancing his long-shadowed spear, he let it fly.
But, holding it in his sight as it came at him, shining Hector avoided it,
for as he watched, he crouched, and the bronze spear flew over
and stuck in the earth; but Pallas Athena snatched it up
and gave it back to Achilles, escaping the notice of Hector, shepherd of the people.
And Hector addressed the noble son of Peleus:
“You missed! It was not, then, godlike Achilles,
from Zeus you knew my fate—you only thought you did;280
and you turn out to a glib talker, cunning with words—
fearing you, you thought I would forget my strength and valor—
but you will not fix your spear in my back as I flee,
but drive it through my breast as I come at you,
if a god grants this. Now in your turn dodge my spear,
bronze-pointed; would that you carried the whole of it in your flesh.
Then would this war be the lighter to bear for the Trojans,
with you dead. For you are their greatest evil.”
He spoke, and balanci
ng his long-shadowing spear, he let it fly,
and hurled at the middle of the son of Peleus’ shield, nor did he miss;290
but the spear glanced off the shield, for a long way. And Hector was angry
that his swift cast flew from his hand in vain,
and he stood dejected, nor did he have any other ash-shafted spear.
Raising his great voice he called Deïphobos of the pale shield
and asked for his long spear—but Deïphobos was not near him.
And Hector understood within his heart and spoke aloud:
“This is it. The gods summon me deathward.
I thought the warrior Deïphobos was by me,
but he is inside the walls and Athena has tricked me.
Hateful death is very near me; it is no longer far away,300
nor is there escape. And for some long time this has been pleasing
to Zeus and to Zeus’ son who shoots from afar, who before this
protected me willingly enough. Yet now destiny has caught me.
Let me not die without a struggle and ingloriously,
but while doing some great thing for even men to come to hear of.”
So speaking he drew his sharp sword
that hung down by his side, huge and strong-made,
and collecting himself he swooped like a high-flying eagle,
an eagle that plunges through lowering clouds toward the plain
to snatch a soft lamb or a cowering hare;310
so Hector swooped brandishing his sharp sword.
But Achilles charged, his spirit filled with
savage passion. Before his breast he held his covering shield,
beautiful and intricately wrought, and nodded with his shining
four-ridged helmet; splendid horsehair flowed about it
of gold, which Hephaestus had set thickly around the helmet crest.
As a star moves among other stars in the milky murk of night,
Hesperus the Evening Star, the most beautiful star to stand in heaven,
so the light shone from the well-pointed spearhead that Achilles
was shaking in his right hand, bent upon evil for Hector,320
surveying his handsome flesh, where it might best give way.
The rest of his body was held by brazen armor,
the splendid armor he stripped after slaying strong Patroclus—
but at that point where the collarbone holds the neck from the shoulders there showed
his gullet, where death of the soul comes swiftest;
and at this point shining Achilles drove with his spear as Hector strove against him,
and the spearhead went utterly through the soft neck.
Heavy with bronze as it was, the ash-spear did not sever the windpipe,