Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/43

Rh And then the crested Hector, dying, said:

"I know thee, and too clearly I foresaw

I should not move thee, for thou hast a heart

Of iron. Yet reflect that for my sake

The anger of the gods may fall on thee,

When Paris and Apollo strike thee down,

Strong as thou art, before the Scaean gates."

Thus Hector spake, and straightway o'er him closed

The night of death; the soul forsook bis limbs,

And flew to Hades, grieving for its fate,—

So soon divorced from youth and youthful might.

Then said the great Achilles to the dead:

"Die thou; and I, whenever it shall please

Jove and the other gods, will meet my fate."

He spake, and plucking forth his brazen lance

He laid it by, and from the body stripped

The bloody mail. The thronging Greeks beheld

With wonder Hector's tall and stately form,

And no one came who did not add a wound;

And looking to each other thus they said:

"How much more tamely Hector now endures

Our touch than when he set the fleet on fire!"

Such were the words of those who smote the dead.

But now, when swift Achilles from the corpse

Had stripped the armor, he stood forth among

The Achaian host, and spake these wingèd words:

"Leaders and princes of the Grecian host!

Since we, my friends, by favor of the gods,

Have overcome the chief who wrought more harm

To us than all the rest, let us assault

The town, and learn what they of Troy intend;—

Whether their troops will leave the citadel

Since he is slain, or hold it with strong hand,

Though Hector is no more. But why give thought