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them。 Right for the city and the high wall； parched with thirst and
grimy with dust； still they fied on； with Achilles wielding his
spear furiously behind them。 For he was as one possessed； and was
thirsting after glory。
Then had the sons of the Achaeans taken the lofty gates of Troy if
Apollo had not spurred on Agenor； valiant and noble son to Antenor。 He
put courage into his heart； and stood by his side to guard him；
leaning against a beech tree and shrouded in thick darkness。 When
Agenor saw Achilles he stood still and his heart was clouded with
care。 〃Alas；〃 said he to himself in his dismay； 〃if I fly before
mighty Achilles； and go where all the others are being driven in rout；
he will none the less catch me and kill me for a coward。 How would
it be were I to let Achilles drive the others before him； and then fly
from the wall to the plain that is behind Ilius till I reach the spurs
of Ida and can hide in the underwood that is thereon？ I could then
wash the sweat from off me in the river and in the evening return to
Ilius。 But why commune with myself in this way？ Like enough he would
see me as I am hurrying from the city over the plain； and would
speed after me till he had caught me… I should stand no chance against
him； for he is mightiest of all mankind。 What； then； if I go out and
meet him in front of the city？ His flesh too； I take it； can be
pierced by pointed bronze。 Life is the same in one and all； and men
say that he is but mortal despite the triumph that Jove son of
Saturn vouchsafes him。〃
So saying he stood on his guard and awaited Achilles； for he was now
fain to fight him。 As a leopardess that bounds from out a thick covert
to attack a hunter… she knows no fear and is not dismayed by the
baying of the hounds； even though the man be too quick for her and
wound her either with thrust or spear； still； though the spear has
pierced her she will not give in till she has either caught him in her
grip or been killed outright… even so did noble Agenor son of
Antenor refuse to fly till he had made trial of Achilles； and took aim
at him with his spear； holding his round shield before him and
crying with a loud voice。 〃Of a truth；〃 said he； 〃noble Achilles；
you deem that you shall this day sack the city of the proud Trojans。
Fool； there will be trouble enough yet before it； for there is many
a brave man of us still inside who will stand in front of our dear
parents with our wives and children； to defend Ilius。 Here
therefore； huge and mighty warrior though you be； here shall you cue。
As he spoke his strong hand hurled his javelin from him； and the
spear struck Achilles on the leg beneath the knee； the greave of newly
wrought tin rang loudly； but the spear recoiled from the body of him
whom it had struck； and did not pierce it； for the gods gift stayed
it。 Achilles in his turn attacked noble Agenor； but Apollo would not
vouchsafe him glory； for he snatched Agenor away and hid him in a
thick mist； sending him out of the battle unmolested Then he
craftily drew the son of Peleus away from going after the host； for he
put on the semblance of Agenor and stood in front of Achilles； who ran
towards him to give him chase and pursued him over the corn lands of
the plain； turning him towards the deep waters of the river Scamander。
Apollo ran but a little way before him and beguiled Achilles by making
him think all the time that he was on the point of overtaking him。
Meanwhile the rabble of routed Trojans was thankful to crowd within
the city till their numbers thronged it； no longer did they dare
wait for one another outside the city walls； to learn who had
escaped and who were fallen in fight； but all whose feet and knees
could still carry them poured pell…mell into the town。
BOOK XXII
THUS the Trojans in the city； scared like fawns； wiped the sweat
from off them and drank to quench their thirst； leaning against the
goodly battlements； while the Achaeans with their shields laid upon
their shoulders drew close up to the walls。 But stern fate bade Hector
stay where he was before Ilius and the Scaean gates。 Then Phoebus
Apollo spoke to the son of Peleus saying； 〃Why； son of Peleus； do you；
who are but man； give chase to me who am immortal？ Have you not yet
found out that it is a god whom you pursue so furiously？ You did not
harass the Trojans whom you had routed； and now they are within
their walls； while you have been decoyed hither away from them。 Me you
cannot kill； for death can take no hold upon me。〃
Achilles was greatly angered and said； 〃You have baulked me；
Far…Darter； most malicious of all gods； and have drawn me away from
the wall； where many another man would have bitten the dust ere he got
within Ilius； you have robbed me of great glory and have saved the
Trojans at no risk to yourself； for you have nothing to fear； but I
would indeed have my revenge if it were in my power to do so。〃
On this； with fell intent he made towards the city； and as the
winning horse in a chariot race strains every nerve when he is
flying over the plain； even so fast and furiously did the limbs of
Achilles bear him onwards。 King Priam was first to note him as he
scoured the plain； all radiant as the star which men call Orion's
Hound； and whose beams blaze forth in time of harvest more brilliantly
than those of any other that shines by night； brightest of them all
though he be； he yet bodes ill for mortals； for he brings fire and
fever in his train… even so did Achilles' armour gleam on his breast
as he sped onwards。 Priam raised a cry and beat his head with his
hands as he lifted them up and shouted out to his dear son；
imploring him to return； but Hector still stayed before the gates； for
his heart was set upon doing battle with Achilles。 The old man reached
out his arms towards him and bade him for pity's sake come within
the walls。 〃Hector；〃 he cried； 〃my son； stay not to face this man
alone and unsupported； or you will meet death at the hands of the
son of Peleus； for he is mightier than you。 Monster that he is；
would indeed that the gods loved him no better than I do； for so； dogs
and vultures would soon devour him as he lay stretched on earth； and a
load of grief would be lifted from my heart； for many a brave son
has he reft from me； either by killing them or selling them away in
the islands that are beyond the sea： even now I miss two sons from
among the Trojans who have thronged within the city； Lycaon and
Polydorus； whom Laothoe peeress among women bore me。 Should they be
still alive and in the hands of the Achaeans； we will ransom them with
gold and bronze； of which we have store； for the old man Altes endowed
his daughter richly； but if they are already dead and in the house
of Hades； sorrow will it be to us two who were their parents； albeit
the grief of others will be more short…lived unless you too perish
at the hands of Achilles。 Come； then； my son； within the city； to be
the guardian of Trojan men and Trojan women； or you will both lose
your own life and afford a mighty triumph to the son of Peleus。 Have
pity also on your unhappy father while life yet remains to him… on me；
whom the son