the murderous Mars with his
blood. Therefore, show thyself a good spearman and a brave man of war!
There is no escape for thee; for Pallas Athene hath delivered thee into my
hands."

He spake, and cast his long-shafted spear at Hector. But Hector stooped,
and the strong bronze spear flew over his head; but Athene picked it up,
unknown to Hector, and gave it back to Achilles. Then Hector, rejoicing,
spake to the son of Peleus: "Thou hast missed! Nor dost thou surely know
the day of my doom, as thou pretendest. Thou shalt not plant thy spear in
my back, as I flee before thee; but in my breast, if the Gods allow it.
But now, in thy turn, avoid _my_ spear!" So spake he, and smote the middle
of Achilles' shield with his long-shafted spear, but it bounded back from
the shield. Then Hector was dismayed, for he had no second spear to throw.
And he called aloud to his brother, Deiphobus; but no answer came, for
_he_ was far away. Then Hector knew that he was betrayed, and that Athene
had deceived him, in the likeness of his brother. "Now," he cried, "is
Death come near me, and there is no way of escape! This is the will of
Zeus and of the Far-Darter, who once were wont to succor me. But I will
not die ingloriously, but yet perform some notable deed of arms."

He said, and, with his sharp sword, swooped down upon Achilles. But
Achilles rushed at him, wild with fury, brandishing his spear, with evil
intent against noble Hector, and eyed him over, to see where he might
pierce his flesh most easily. The rest of Hector's body was protected by
the splendid armor which he had stripped from the body of Patroclus; but
there was one chink, between the collar-bone and the throat, through which
Achilles thrust his spear. Yet it cut not the windpipe; and Hector was
able to speak faint words to his insulting foe, after he had fallen to the
ground.

Achilles triumphed over him: "Ah, Hector! when thou wert stripping
Patroclus of my goodly armor, thou caredst nothing for me, who was far
away! I, his friend and avenger, was left among the black ships--even I, a
mightier man than he! Thee shall the dogs and birds devour; but he shall
have honorable burial."

Then, with his last breath, the noble Hector of the bright helm addressed
his pitiless foe: "Achilles! I pray thee, by thy soul, and by thy parents'
heads, let not Achaian dogs devour me by the ships! but accept great store
of gold and bronze from my father and my queenly mother, and resto