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thy heart thou art no son of mine； nor of the race of Periclymenus； who
stood up in battle even against the strong man Heracles！〃
But Memnon was too strong for Thrasymedes； and drove him off；
while old Nestor himself charged sword in hand； though Memnon bade
him begone； for he was not minded to strike so aged a man； and Nestor
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drew back； for he was weak with age。 Then Memnon and his army
charged the Greeks； slaying and stripping the dead。 But Nestor had
mounted his chariot and driven to Achilles； weeping； and imploring him to
come swiftly and save the body of Antilochus； and he sped to meet
Memnon； who lifted a great stone； the landmark of a field； and drove it
against the shield of the son of Peleus。 But Achilles was not shaken by
the blow； he ran forward； and wounded Memnon over the rim of his shield。
Yet wounded as he was Memnon fought on and struck his spear through
the arm of Achilles； for the Greeks fought with no sleeves of bronze to
protect their arms。
Then Achilles drew his great sword； and flew on Memnon； and with
sword…strokes they lashed at each other on shield and helmet； and the long
horsehair crests of the helmets were shorn off； and flew down the wind；
and their shields rang terribly beneath the sword strokes。 They thrust at
each others' throats between shield and visor of the helmet； they smote at
knee； and thrust at breast； and the armour rang about their bodies； and the
dust from beneath their feet rose up in a cloud around them； like mist
round the falls of a great river in flood。 So they fought； neither of them
yielding a step； till Achilles made so rapid a thrust that Memnon could not
parry it； and the bronze sword passed clean through his body beneath the
breast…bone； and he fell； and his armour clashed as he fell。
Then Achilles； wounded as he was and weak from loss of blood； did
not stay to strip the golden armour of Memnon； but shouted his warcry；
and pressed on； for he hoped to enter the gate of Troy with the fleeing
Trojans； and all the Greeks followed after him。 So they pursued； slaying
as they went； and the Scaean gate was choked with the crowd of men；
pursuing and pursued。 In that hour would the Greeks have entered Troy；
and burned the city； and taken the women captive； but Paris stood on the
tower above the gate； and in his mind was anger for the death of his
brother Hector。 He tried the string of his bow； and found it frayed； for all
day he had showered his arrows on the Greeks； so he chose a new
bowstring； and fitted it； and strung the bow； and chose an arrow from his
quiver； and aimed at the ankle of Achilles； where it was bare beneath the
greave； or leg…guard of metal； that the God had fashioned for him。
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Through the ankle flew the arrow； and Achilles wheeled round； weak as he
was； and stumbled； and fell； and the armour that the God had wrought was
defiled with dust and blood。
Then Achilles rose again； and cried： 〃What coward has smitten me
with a secret arrow from afar？ Let him stand forth and meet me with
sword and spear！〃 So speaking he seized the shaft with his strong hands
and tore it out of the wound； and much blood gushed； and darkness came
over his eyes。 Yet he staggered forward； striking blindly； and smote
Orythaon； a dear friend of Hector； through the helmet； and others he smote；
but now his force failed him； and he leaned on his spear； and cried his
warcry； and said； 〃Cowards of Troy； ye shall not all escape my spear；
dying as I am。〃 But as he spoke he fell； and all his armour rang around
him； yet the Trojans stood apart and watched； and as hunters watch a
dying lion not daring to go nigh him； so the Trojans stood in fear till
Achilles drew his latest breath。 Then from the wall the Trojan women
raised a great cry of joy over him who had slain the noble Hector： and
thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Hector； that Achilles should fall in the
Scaean gateway； by the hand of Paris。
Then the best of the Trojans rushed forth from the gate to seize the
body of Achilles； and his glorious armour； but the Greeks were as eager to
carry the body to the ships that it might have due burial。 Round the dead
Achilles men fought long and sore； and both sides were mixed； Greeks and
Trojans； so that men dared not shoot arrows from the walls of Troy lest
they should kill their own friends。 Paris； and Aeneas； and Glaucus； who
had been the friend of Sarpedon； led the Trojans； and Aias and Ulysses led
the Greeks； for we are not told that Agamemnon was fighting in this great
battle of the war。 Now as angry wild bees flock round a man who is
taking their honeycombs； so the Trojans gathered round Aias； striving to
stab him； but he set his great shield in front； and smote and slew all that
came within reach of his spear。 Ulysses； too； struck down many； and
though a spear was thrown and pierced his leg near the knee he stood firm；
protecting the body of Achilles。 At last Ulysses caught the body of
Achilles by the hands； and heaved it upon his back； and so limped towards
the ships； but Aias and the men of Aias followed； turning round if ever the
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Trojans ventured to come near； and charging into the midst of them。
Thus very slowly they bore the dead Achilles across the plain； through the
bodies of the fallen and the blood； till they met Nestor in his chariot and
placed Achilles therein； and swiftly Nestor drove to the ships。
There the women； weeping； washed Achilles' comely body； and laid
him on a bier with a great white mantle over him； and all the women
lamented and sang dirges； and the first was Briseis； who loved Achilles
better than her own country； and her father； and her brothers whom he had
slain in war。 The Greek princes； too； stood round the body； weeping and
cutting off their long locks of yellow hair； a token of grief and an offering
to the dead。
Men say that forth from the sea came Thetis of the silver feet； the
mother of Achilles； with her ladies； the deathless maidens of the waters。
They rose up from their glassy chambers below the sea； moving on； many
and beautiful； like the waves on a summer day； and their sweet song
echoed along the shores； and fear came upon the Greeks。 Then they
would have fled； but Nestor cried： 〃Hold； flee not； young lords of the
Achaeans！ Lo； she that comes from the sea is his mother； with the
deathless maidens of the waters； to look on the face of her dead son。〃
Then the sea nymphs stood around the dead Achilles and clothed him in
the garments of the Gods； fragrant raiment； and all the Nine Muses； one to
the other replying with sweet voices； began their lament。
Next the Greeks made a great pile of dry wood； and laid Achilles on it；
and set fire to it； till the flames had consumed his body except the white
ashes。 These they placed in a great golden cup and mingled with them
the ashes of Patroclus； and above all they built a tomb like a hill； high on a
headland above the sea； that men for all time may see it as they go sailing
by； and may remember Achilles。 Next they held in his honour foot races
and chariot races； and other games； and Thetis gave splendid prizes。 Last
of all； when the games were ended； Thetis placed before the chiefs the
glorious armour that the God had made for her son on the night after the
slaying of Patroclus by Hector。 〃Let these arms be the prize of the best
of the Greeks；〃 she said； 〃and of him that saved the body of Achilles out of