the city is chiefly easy of ascent, and the
wall can be scaled. For going to this very quarter, the bravest [of the
Greeks] have thrice assaulted, the two Ajaces, and most renowned
Idomeneus, and the sons of Atreus, and the brave son of Tydeus.
Certainly some person well skilled in prophecy mentioned it to them, or
their own mind impels and orders them."

But her then in turn the mighty crest-tossing Hector addressed:
"Assuredly to me also are all these things a subject of anxiety, dear
wife, but I am exceedingly ashamed of the Trojans and the long-robed
Trojan dames, if I, like a dastard, [keeping] aloof, should avoid the
battle: nor does my mind incline me thus, for I have learned to be
always brave, and to fight in the foremost among the Trojans, seeking to
gain both my father's great glory and mine own. For well I know this in
my mind and soul; a day will arrive when sacred Ilium shall perish, and
Priam, and the people of Priam skilled in the ashen spear. But to me the
grief that is to come will not be so great on account of the Trojans,
neither for Hecuba herself, nor for king Priam, nor for my brothers,
who, many and excellent, are destined to fall in the dust beneath
hostile men, as for thee, when some one of the brazen-mailed Greeks
shall lead thee away weeping, having deprived thee of the day of
freedom. And, perchance, being in Argos, thou mayest weave the web at
the command of some other dame, and bear water from the fountain of
Messeis, or Hyperia, very unwillingly; and hard necessity will oppress
thee; whilst some one, hereafter beholding thee pouring forth tears,
will say, 'This was the wife of Hector, who was the bravest in battle of
the horse-breaking Trojans, when they fought round Ilium.' Thus will
some one hereafter say; but fresh anguish will be thine, from the want
of such a husband, to avert the day of servitude. But may the heaped
earth cover me dead, before I hear of this lamentation and abduction."

Thus having said, illustrious Hector stretched out [his arms] for his
son; but the child, screaming, shrunk back to the bosom of the
well-zoned nurse, affrighted at the aspect of his dear sire, fearing the
brass and the horse-haired crest, seeing it nodding dreadfully from the
top of the helmet: gently his loving father smiled, and his revered
mother. Instantly illustrious Hector took the helmet from his head, and
laid it all-glittering on the ground; and having kissed his beloved
child, and fondled