n to urge him to fight. In the guise of one
of Hector's brothers, this god offers to aid him, so, thus supported,
Hector turns to meet Achilles, with whom before fighting he tries to
bargain that the victor shall respect the remains of the vanquished.
But Achilles refuses to listen to terms, and in the course of the
ensuing duel is ably seconded by Minerva, while Hector, who depends
upon his supposed brother to supply him with weapons when his fail, is
basely deserted by Apollo.

Seeing him disarmed, Achilles finally deals him a deadly blow, and,
although the dying hero tries to abate his resentment, loudly
proclaims he shall be a prey to vultures and wolves. Hearing this,
Hector curses his conqueror and dies, predicting Achilles shall be
slain by Paris. His victim having breathed his last, Achilles ties him
by the heels to his chariot, and then drives off with Hector's noble
head trailing in the dust!

Meantime Andromache, busy preparing for her husband's return, is so
startled by loud cries that she rushes off to the ramparts to find out
what has occurred. Arriving there just in time to see her husband
dragged away, she faints at the pitiful sight, and, on coming back to
her senses, bewails her sad fate, foresees an unhappy fate for her
infant son, and regrets not being able to bury her beloved husband.

_Book XXIII._ On reaching his tent with his victim, Achilles drags it
around Patroclus' remains, apostrophizing him and assuring him that
twelve Trojans shall be executed on his pyre, while his slayer's body
shall be a prey to the dogs. Then, having cast Hector's corpse on the
refuse heap, Achilles assembles the Greeks in his tent for a funeral
repast, after which they retire, leaving him to mourn. That night he
is visited by Patroclus' spirit, which warns him he will soon have to
die, and bespeaks funeral rites. This vision convinces Achilles that
the human soul does not perish with the body, and impels him to rouse
his companions at dawn to erect a huge pyre on the shore, where
innumerable victims are to be sacrificed to satisfy his friend's
spirit. Then he renews his promise that Hector's body shall be a prey
to the dogs, little suspecting that Venus has mounted guard over it,
so that no harm may befall it.

In describing the building and lighting of the pyre, the poet relates
how the flames were fanned by opposite winds, depicts the sacrifices
offered, the funeral games celebrated, and explains how the ashes w