, but
Achilles would neither eat nor drink. He mounted his chariot, but the
horse Xanthus bowed his head till his long mane touched the ground, and,
being a fairy horse, the child of the West Wind, he spoke (or so men
said), and these were his words: "We shall bear thee swiftly and
speedily, but thou shalt be slain in fight, and thy dying day is near at
hand." "Well I know it," said Achilles, "but I will not cease from
fighting till I have given the Trojans their fill of war."

So all that day he chased and slew the Trojans. He drove them into the
river, and, though the river came down in a red flood, he crossed, and
slew them on the plain. The plain caught fire, the bushes and long dry
grass blazed round him, but he fought his way through the fire, and drove
the Trojans to their walls. The gates were thrown open, and the Trojans
rushed through like frightened fawns, and then they climbed to the
battlements, and looked down in safety, while the whole Greek army
advanced in line under their shields.

But Hector stood still, alone, in front of the gate, and old Priam, who
saw Achilles rushing on, shining like a star in his new armour, called
with tears to Hector, "Come within the gate! This man has slain many of
my sons, and if he slays thee whom have I to help me in my old age?" His
mother also called to Hector, but he stood firm, waiting for Achilles.
Now the story says that he was afraid, and ran thrice in full armour
round Troy, with Achilles in pursuit. But this cannot be true, for no
mortal men could run thrice, in heavy armour, with great shields that
clanked against their ankles, round the town of Troy: moreover Hector was
the bravest of men, and all the Trojan women were looking down at him
from the walls.

We cannot believe that he ran away, and the story goes on to tell that he
asked Achilles to make an agreement with him. The conqueror in the fight
should give back the body of the fallen to be buried by his friends, but
should keep his armour. But Achilles said that he could make no
agreement with Hector, and threw his spear, which flew over Hector's
shoulder. Then Hector threw his spear, but it could not pierce the
shield which the God had made for Achilles. Hector had no other spear,
and Achilles had one, so Hector cried, "Let me not die without honour!"
and drew his sword, and rushed at Achilles, who sprang to meet him, but
before Hector could come within a sword-stroke Achilles had sent his