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and fell from the head of Patroclus； and he was wounded from behind； and
Hector； in front； drove his spear clean through his body。 With his last
breath Patroclus prophesied： 〃Death stands near thee； Hector； at the
hands of noble Achilles。〃 But Automedon was driving back the swift
horses； carrying to Achilles the news that his dearest friend was slain。
After Ulysses was wounded； early in this great battle； he was not able
to fight for several days； and； as the story is about Ulysses； we must tell
quite shortly how Achilles returned to the war to take vengeance for
Patroclus； and how he slew Hector。 When Patroclus fell； Hector seized
the armour which the Gods had given to Peleus； and Peleus to his son
Achilles； while Achilles had lent it to Patroclus that he might terrify the
Trojans。 Retiring out of reach of spears； Hector took off his own armour
and put on that of Achilles； and Greeks and Trojans fought for the dead
body of Patroclus。 Then Zeus； the chief of the Gods； looked down and
said that Hector should never come home out of the battle to his wife；
Andromache。 But Hector returned into the fight around the dead
Patroclus； and here all the best men fought； and even Automedon； who had
been driving the chariot of Patroclus。 Now when the Trojans seemed to
have the better of the fight； the Greeks sent Antilochus； a son of old Nestor；
to tell Achilles that his friend was slain； and Antilochus ran； and Aias and
his brother protected the Greeks who were trying to carry the body of
Patroclus back to the ships。
Swiftly Antilochus came running to Achilles； saying： 〃Fallen is
Patroclus； and they are fighting round his naked body； for Hector has his
armour。〃 Then Achilles said never a word； but fell on the floor of his hut；
and threw black ashes on his yellow hair； till Antilochus seized his hands；
fearing that he would cut his own throat with his dagger； for very sorrow。
His mother； Thetis； arose from the sea to comfort him； but he said that he
desired to die if he could not slay Hector； who had slain his friend。 Then
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Thetis told him that he could not fight without armour； and now he had
none； but she would go to the God of armour…making and bring from him
such a shield and helmet and breastplate as had never been seen by men。
Meanwhile the fight raged round the dead body of Patroclus； which
was defiled with blood and dust； near the ships； and was being dragged
this way and that； and torn and wounded。 Achilles could not bear this
sight； yet his mother had warned him not to enter without armour the
battle where stones and arrows and spears were flying like hail； and he
was so tall and broad that he could put on the arms of no other man。 So
he went down to the ditch as he was； unarmed； and as he stood high above
it； against the red sunset； fire seemed to flow from his golden hair like the
beacon blaze that soars into the dark sky when an island town is attacked
at night； and men light beacons that their neighbours may see them and
come to their help from other isles。 There Achilles stood in a splendour
of fire； and he shouted aloud； as clear as a clarion rings when men fall on
to attack a besieged city wall。 Thrice Achilles shouted mightily； and
thrice the horses of the Trojans shuddered for fear and turned back from
the onslaught；and thrice the men of Troy were confounded and shaken
with terror。 Then the Greeks drew the body of Patroclus out of the dust
and the arrows； and laid him on a bier； and Achilles followed； weeping； for
he had sent his friend with chariot and horses to the war； but home again
he welcomed him never more。 Then the sun set and it was night。
Now one of the Trojans wished Hector to retire within the walls of
Troy； for certainly Achilles would to…morrow be foremost in the war。 But
Hector said； 〃Have ye not had your fill of being shut up behind walls？
Let Achilles fight； I will meet him in the open field。〃 The Trojans
cheered； and they camped in the plain； while in the hut of Achilles women
washed the dead body of Patroclus； and Achilles swore that he would slay
Hector。
In the dawn came Thetis； bearing to Achilles the new splendid armour
that the God had made for him。 Then Achilles put on that armour； and
roused his men； but Ulysses； who knew all the rules of honour； would not
let him fight till peace had been made； with a sacrifice and other
ceremonies； between him and Agamemnon； and till Agamemnon had
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given him all the presents which Achilles had before refused。 Achilles
did not want them； he wanted only to fight； but Ulysses made him obey；
and do what was usual。 Then the gifts were brought； and Agamemnon
stood up； and said that he was sorry for his insolence； and the men took
breakfast； 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
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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
spear clean through the neck of Hector。 He fell in the dust and Achilles
said； 〃Dogs and birds shall tear your flesh unburied。〃 With his dying
breath Hector prayed him to take gold from Priam； and give back his body
to be burned in Troy。 Bu