leave, The battle for his palace. Let the god Phoebus, preparing Hector for the fight, Breathe strength into his frame, that so he lose The sense of pain which bows his spirit now, And he shall force the Greeks again to flee In craven fear. Then shall their flying host Fall back upon the galleys of the son Of Peleus, who shall send into the fight His friend Patroclus. Him the mighty spear Of Hector shall o’erthrow before the walls Of Ilium, after many a Trojan youth Shall by his hand have fallen, and with them My noble son, Sarpedon. Roused to rage, Then shall the great Achilles take the life Of Hector. Be it from this time my care That all the assaults of Trojans in the fleet Be beaten back, till by Minerva’s aid The Greeks possess the lofty town of Troy. Still am I angry, nor will I allow One of the ever-living gods to aid The Greeks, until the prayer of Peleus’ son Shall fully be accomplished, as my word And nod were given, when Thetis clasped my knees, Entreating me to honor, signally, Her son, Achilles, spoiler of walled towns.”
He spake;