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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 rades； 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 rades whom you have killed in battle。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it。 Hector saw it
ing 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 runawaydrive 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 canwould 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 Deiphobus 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 itfor 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 e 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 hareeven 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 with 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 ing 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 e off scatheless when you were spoiling Patroclus；
and recked not of myself who was not with him。 Fool that you
were： for I； his rade； 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 you
have done me； as I am that nothing shall save you from the
dogsit 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 enjoy youth and strength no
longer。 But Achilles said； speaking to the dead body； 〃Die； for
my part I will accept my fate whensoever Jove and the other gods
see fit to send it。〃
As he spoke he drew his spear from the body and set it on one
side； then he stripped the blood…stained armour from Hector's
shoulders while the other Achaeans came running up to v