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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' 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 view his
wondrous strength and beauty； and no one came near him without
giving him a fresh wound。 Then would one turn to his neighbour and
say； 〃It is easier to handle Hector now than when he was flinging fire
on to our ships〃 and as he spoke he would thrust his spear into him
anew。
When Achilles had done spoiling Hector of his armour； he stood among
the Argives and said； 〃My friends； princes and counsellors of the
Argives； now that heaven has vouchsafed us to overcome this man； who
has done us more hurt than all the others together； consider whether
we should not attack the city in force； and discover in what mind
the Trojans may be。 We should thus learn whether they will desert
their city now that Hector has fallen； or will still hold out even
though he is no longer living。 But why argue with myself in this
way； while Patroclus is still lying at the ships unburied； and
unmourned… he Whom I can never forget so long as I am alive and my
strength fails not？ Though men forget their dead when once they are
within the house of Hades； yet not even there will I forget the
comrade whom I have lost。 Now； therefore； Achaean youths； let us raise
the song of victory and go back to the ships taking this man along
with us； for we have achieved a mighty triumph and have slain noble
Hector to whom the Trojans prayed throughout their city as though he
were a god。〃
On this he treated the body of Hector with contumely： he pierced the
sinews at the back of both his feet from heel to ancle and passed
thongs of ox…hide through the slits he had made： thus he made the body
fast to his chariot； letting the head trail upon the ground。 Then when
he had put the goodly armour on the chariot and had himself mounted；
he lashed his horses on and they flew forward nothing loth。 The dust
rose from Hector as he was being dragged along； his dark hair flew all
abroad； and his head once so comely was laid low on earth； for Jove
had now delivered him into the hands of his foes to do him outrage
in his own land。
Thus was the head of Hector being dishonoured in the dust。 His
mother tore her hair； and flung her veil from her with a loud cry as
she looked upon her son。 His father made piteous moan； and
throughout the city the people fell to weeping and wailing。 It was
as though the whole of frowning Ilius was being smirched with fire。
Hardly could the people hold Priam back in his hot haste to rush
without the gates of the city。 He grovelled in the mire and besought
them； calling each one of them by his name。 〃Let be； my friends；〃 he
cried； 〃and for all your sorrow； suffer me to go single…handed to
the ships of the Achaeans。 Let me beseech this cruel and terrible man；
if maybe he will respect the feeling of his fellow…men； and have
compassion on my old age。 His own father is even such another as
myself… Peleus； who bred him and reared him to… be the bane of us
Trojans； and of myself more than of all others。 Many a son of mine has
he slain in the flower of his youth； and yet； grieve for these as I
may； I do so for one… Hector… more than for them all； and the
bitterness of my sorrow will bring me down to the house of Hades。
Would that he had died in my arms； for so both his ill…starred
mother who bore him； and myself； should have had the comfort of
weeping and mourning over him。〃
Thus did he speak with many tears； and all the people of the city
joined in his lament。 Hecuba then raised the cry of wailing among
the Trojans。 〃Alas； my son；〃 she cried； 〃what have I left to live
for now that you are no more？ Night and day did I glory in。 you
throughout the city； for you were a tower of strength to all in
Troy； and both men and women alike hailed you as a god。 So long as you
lived you were their pride； but now death and destruction have
fallen upon you。〃
Hector's wife had as yet heard nothing； for no one had come to
tell her that her husband had remained without the gates。 She was at
her loom in an inner part of the house； weaving a double purple web；
and embroidering it with many flowers。 She told her maids to set a
large tripod on the fire； so as to have a warm bath ready for Hector
when he came out of battle； poor woman； she knew not that he was now
beyond the reach of baths； and that Minerva had laid him low by the
hands of Achilles。 She heard the cry coming as from the wall； and
trembled in every limb； the shuttle fell from her hands； and again she
spoke to her waiting…women。 〃Two of you；〃 she said； 〃come with me that
I may learn what it is that has befallen； I heard the voice of my
husband's honoured mother； my own heart beats as though it would
come into my mouth and my limbs refuse to car