He spake, and brandishing his massive spear, Hurled it, nor missed, but in the centre smote The buckler of Pelides. Far away It bounded from the brass, and he was vexed To see that the swift weapon from his hand Had flown in vain. He stood perplexed and sad; No second spear had he. He called aloud On the white-bucklered chief, Deïphobus, To bring another; but that chief was far, And Hector saw that it was so, and said:—
“Ah me! The gods have summoned me to die. I thought my warrior-friend, Deïphobus, Was by my side; but he is still in Troy, And Pallas has deceived me. Now my death Cannot be far—is near; there is no hope Of my escape, for so it pleases Jove And Jove’s great archer-son, who have till now Delivered me. My hour at last is come; Yet not ingloriously or passively I die, but first will do some valiant deed, Of which mankind shall hear in after time.”
He spake, and drew the keen-edged sword that hung, Massive and finely tempered, at his side, And sprang—as when an eagle high in heaven, Through the thick cloud, darts downward to the plain To clutch some tender lamb or timid hare, So Hector, brandishing that keen-edged sword, Sprang forward, while Achilles opposite Leaped toward him, all on fire with savage hate, And holding his bright buckler, nobly wrought, Before him. On his shining helmet waved The fourfold crest; there tossed the golden tufts With which the hand of Vulcan lavishly Had decked it. As in the still hours of night Hesper goes forth among the host of stars, The fairest light of heaven, so brightly shone, Brandished in the right hand of Peleus’ son, The spear’s keen blade, as, confident to slay The noble Hector, o’er his glorious form His quick eye ran, exploring where to plant The surest wound. The glittering mail of brass Won from the slain Patroclus guarded well Each part, save only where the collar-bones Divide the shoulder from the neck, and there Appeared the throat, the spot where life is most In peril. Through that part the noble son Of Peleus drave his spear; it went quite through The tender neck, and yet the