unto hail, or cold
snow, or ice from water. There, at them, are the wide, handsome stone
basins, where the wives and fair daughters of the Trojans used to wash
their splendid garments formerly in time of peace, before the sons of
the Greeks arrived. In this direction they ran past [the one] flying,
but the other pursuing from behind. A brave man, indeed, fled before,
but a much braver swiftly pursued him; since they did not seek to obtain
a victim or a bull's hide, such as are the rewards of men for speed, but
they ran for the life of horse-breaking Hector. And as when
prize-winning[705] solid-hoofed steeds ran very swiftly round the
course, and a great reward is proposed, either a tripod, or a woman [in
honour] of a deceased hero; so they thrice made the circuit of the city
of Priam with their swift feet: and all the gods beheld. Then to them
the father of men and gods commenced an address:

[Footnote 705: _I.e._ race horses.]

"Alas! certainly I behold with mine eyes a beloved hero pursued round
the wall; and my heart is grieved on account of Hector, who has
sacrificed many thighs of oxen to me, upon the tops of many-valed Ida,
and at other times again in the highest [places of] the city; but now,
indeed, noble Achilles pursues him, on swift feet, around the city of
Priam. But come, deliberate, O ye gods, and consider, whether we shall
preserve him from death, or shall subdue him now, being brave [at the
hands of] Achilles, the son of Peleus."

But him the blue-eyed goddess Minerva then addressed:

"O father, hurler of the white thunder, [collector] of dark clouds, what
a word hast thou spoken! Dost thou wish to liberate from sad death a
man, being mortal, long ago destined to fate? Do it: but all we, the
other gods, will not assent to thee."

Her, then, the cloud-compelling Jupiter, answering, addressed: "Take
courage, Tritonia, beloved child: I by no means speak with serious mind,
but I wish to be mild to thee. Do as is the inclination, nor delay at
all."

Thus speaking, he incited Minerva, already prepared; and, springing
forth, she descended down from the heights of Olympus.

But swift Achilles pursued Hector, incessantly pressing upon him. And as
when a dog pursues the fawn of a deer in the mountains, having roused it
from its lair, through both glens and thickets; and, although
panic-stricken, it crouches down beneath a brake; yet tracking it, he
runs continually on until he finds it; so Hector elude