Home

The English Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury; Now First Collected and Edited by Sir William Molesworth, Bart., (London: Bohn, 1839-45). 11 vols. Vol. 10.

Author: Homer
Translator: Thomas Hobbes
Editor: Sir William Molesworth

Part of: The English Works of Thomas Hobbes, 11 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.

Copyright information:

The text is in the public domain.

Fair use statement:

This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.

LIB. XXII.

The death of Hector, and lamentation in Troy.

Thus were the Trojans driven into Troy
Like deer, and up unto the wall they went,
And from their bodies rubb’d the sweat away,
And with good wine renew’d their spirits spent,
5And to the wall advancing was the foe.

But Hector, hamper’d by his cruel fate,
Into the town of Troy refus’d to go,
And staid without, before the Scæan gate.
Then to Achilles Phœbus spake, and said,
10Why do you thus pursue me, Peleus’ son,

That am a God? which but by passion sway’d
You might have known; but rashly you run on,
And only look how you may slaughter men.
For else, why could you not contented be,
15When you had pent the Trojans up; but then

Must leave your way so far to follow me,
And cannot kill me; for I cannot die?
At this Achilles vex’d was at the heart;
And to Apollo answer’d angrily;
20Apollo, thou the most pernicious art

Of all the Gods, that hast me thus misled.
For had I unto Ilium kept my way,
I strewed had the field with Trojans dead
Before they could have enter’d into Troy.
25But by your fraud that honour I have lost,

Because the strength of men you need not fear.
But I would make you pay for’t to your cost,
If to revenge myself I able were.
This said, to Troy he went a mighty pace,
30And mighty things conceived in his mind,

And stretch’d his legs and knees, as in a race
Good horses do, to leave the rest behind.
Old Priam first upon him set his eyes;
For brightly from afar his armour shin’d
35Like the fair star that does in autumn rise,

But agues brings, and is to men unkind,
And called is Orion’s dog. So bright
Achilles in his armour did appear,
And put the old man Priam in affright,
40And made him groan, and roar, and tear his hair.

To Hector then he cried aloud and said,
Hector, come in; come in, my dearest son;
For mightily I for you am afraid;
Fight not against that cruel man alone.
45Achilles stronger is than you by odds;

Lose not your life to give him victory.
Oh that he were beloved by the Gods
No better than he is belov’d by me!
He eaten had ere now been on the plain
50By dogs and fowl, and I been comforted

A little for my sons whom he hath slain,
Or in the islands far hence trafficked.
Lycaon now I miss, and Polydore;
They came not into Troy with them that fled.
55Their mother brought me with her wealth good store

To pay their ransom if they be not dead.
If they be slain, ’tis then remediless.
Their parents and the people all will grieve;
But yet their sorrow will be much the less
60If Hector still preserved be and live.

Come, therefore, quickly in, dear child, and save
The Trojans and their wives, yourself and wife;
And do not let Achilles th’ honour have
Alone to have deprived you of life.
65Besides, you should some pity take of me,

That now upon the very brink of age
The cruel slaughter of my sons must see,
And daughters dragg’d and hurried by the rage
Of the Achæans into slavery,
70And chambers torn by the insulting foe,

And babes dash’d ’gainst the ground expiring lie,
Whilst into servitude their mothers go.
And after all this, slain must I be too;
My dogs will eat me raw, and lap my blood,
75And pleased be (not knowing what they do),

That at my table daily take their food.
When young men slain are by the chance of war,
There nothing is whereof to be ashamed;
But when by dogs abus’d and eaten are
80White heads and beards, and parts not to be named,

There’s nothing to a man more miserable.
Thus said old Priam, tugging his grey hairs,
But to prevail with Hector was not able.
And to him then his mother spake with tears,
85And from her bosom layed out a teat,

Hector, if this e’er pleased you, said she,
Dear son, I pray you into Troy retreat,
And have compassion on my misery.
Come in; between you let there be a wall;
90For if you should be slain, your wife and I

Shall not lament you at your funeral,
But at the ships a prey for dogs you’ll lie.
Thus weeping, he and she to Hector pray’d,
And nothing to them answer’d he again,
95But obstinately for Achilles staid.

And as a snake roll’d up before his den,
With venom fed, when coming towards him
He sees a man, and stirred is his gall,
Looks cruelly; so Hector, looking grim,
100Staid with his shield set up against the wall;

And grieving, to himself he spake, and said:
If I should now into the city go,
Polydamas the first would me upbraid,
That yesternight advis’d me to do so,
105Then when Achilles in the field was seen.

But his good counsel I refused then,
Which to have follow’d had much better been;
Lost by my folly are so many men.
And now I fear the Trojans and their wives
110Will censure me, and some man worse than I

Say I have cast away the people’s lives,
Presuming on my strength so foolishly.
So they will say; and therefore better ’tis
To venture on Achilles, though I die,
115A better way I cannot take than this;

For should I lay my shield and helmet by,
And leave my spear set up against the wall,
And to Achilles thus disarmed come,
And offer Helen to restore with all
120The wealth she with her brought to Ilium;

And to the Greeks give half the goods of Troy,
And take an oath that we will nothing hide,
Nor anything out of their sight convey,
But bring it forth and faithfully divide.
125But whither to no purpose runs my mind?

I will not do’t, for it were but in vain.
I ne’er the sooner should his favour find,
But by him so much eas’lier be slain.
I cannot with him talk from hill nor tree,
130As boys and wenches do; he is too nigh,

And therefore here I’ll stay for him, and see
Whether my fate it be or his to die.
Whilst yet he spake, Achilles near him was,
As terrible as Mars, and shook his spear;
135As flaming fire relucent was the brass,

Or as the sun at morning doth appear.
Then Hector durst no longer stay, but fled:
Fear nimbly made his feet and knees to move;
Achilles no less swiftly followed.
140As when a hawk is flying at a dove,

The dove flies out aside, herself to save;
But by the hawk again is followed,
That gives not over till the prey he have;
Achilles so pursu’d and Hector fled,
145Keeping the cart-way still under Troy wall;

And to the watch-tow’r came and sicamore,
And the two springs that into Xanthus fall,
Whereof the one is always cover’d o’er
With smoke, as if upon a fire it were,
150And with hot water all the year doth flow.

The water of the other all the year
As cold is as the hail, or ice, or snow,
And two fine washing-places built were there,
To which the Trojan women used to come,
155And wash their garments when they sullied were,

Before the Argives came to Ilium.
This way they ran, and swiftly mov’d their thighs;
For ’twas not for a piece of flesh or hide,
Which of foot-races is the usual prize,
160But for the life of Hector that they vied.

As when race-horses run for some great prize,
That used to it are, most swiftly run;
So Hector and Achilles now ran thrice
About Troy wall, the Gods all looking on.
165Then, speaking to the Gods, Behold, said Jove,

I Hector see in danger to be slain,
A good and pious man, and whom I love,
And for him now my heart is in great pain;
For he hath made me many a sacrifice,
170Both in my house on Ida and in Troy,

And now before the swift Achilles flies.
Say, shall he die, or be convey’d away?
Father, said Pallas then, what’s this you say?
He’s mortal, and by Fate condemned is,
175And will you now the execution stay?

You may; but th’ other Gods will take’t amiss.
And Jove to Pallas then again replied:
Sweet child, it was not seriously meant,
But only said. You shall not be denied;
180Do what you please yourself, I am content.

This said, Athena, glad, leapt down to Troy.
Achilles Hector still pursued; and as
A hound in view pursueth all the way
A frighted hare, so coursed Hector was;
185Nor suffer’d was to double or to squat.

For when he to the gate ran for defence,
Between the gate and him Achilles gat,
So that he could not stay for help from thence.
Achilles never would the wall forsake;
190But Hector still upon the cart-way fled.

As men can neither fly nor overtake
When in a dream they think it in their bed;
So Hector from Achilles could not fly,
Nor could Achilles Hector overtake;
195For Phœbus Hector did with strength supply,

But of him then no further care did take.
Achilles by a sign all else forbad
To throw a spear, for fear the greatest glory
Some other of the Argives should have had,
200And he come after but as accessory.

When to the spring the fourth time they were nigh,
Jove took his golden balance up, and laid
In one o’ th’ scales Achilles’ destiny,
And Hector’s in the other, and them weigh’d.
205Hector’s was heaviest, and down fell the same

As low as hell, so much it overweigh’d.
Then Phœbus parted. And t’ Achilles came
Athena nigh, and speaking to him, said,
Achilles, now, I think, we shall not miss
210Of killing Hector, but with honour go

To th’ ships, as greedy as of fight he is;
For sure I am he cannot ’scape us now,
Phœbus in vain to Jove shall for him pray.
But stay you here and breathe awhile; for I
215Will to him go, and make him for you stay,

And so encourage him he shall not fly.
This said, Achilles, leaning on his spear,
Staid where he was. To Hector Pallas came.
So like Deiphobus she did appear
220In shape and voice, he took her for the same.

And when she with him was, she to him said,
Brother, you still are by Achilles cours’d
About the wall of Troy. Be not afraid;
I’ll by you stand, and let him do his worst.
225Deiphobus, said Hector, who before

Was dearest to me of my brothers all,
I bound am now to honour you much more,
That t’ aid me durst appear without the wall,
When all the rest remain within for fear.
230Pallas to Hector then replied, and said,

Brother, my father and my mother dear,
And friends with their entreaties had me staid,
So dreadful is Achilles to them all,
But I would not. But come, let’s go and try
235Whether it be our fate by him to fall,

Or his by Hector’s hand and spear to die.
This said, she went before him with her spear,
Lest he, some fraud mistrusting, should have staid.
And when they were unto Achilles near,
240Hector spake first, and to Achilles said:

Pelides, though before you I have fled
Now thrice about the wall, and durst not stay,
Yet now to stand I am determined,
And fight till either I be slain or slay.
245But come, let’s first the Gods to witness call,

Of what shall be agreed ’twixt you and me.
If by my hand it be your chance to fall,
Your body dead shall not abused be.
I’ll take your arms and send them into Troy;
250Your body dead the Greeks shall have again

Entire, and not disgraced any way;
Do you the like to me if I be slain.
Achilles, sourly looking, said again,
Talk not of oaths and covenants to me,
255That nothing worth ’twixt lions are and men,

And wolves with lambs on nothing can agree;
And you and I shall one another hate,
Nor oaths and pacts between us will stand good,
Till we blood-thirsty Mars shall satiate
260Either with Hector’s or Achilles’ blood.

It now behoves you all your pow’r to show,
And be an able man of war indeed.
You cannot, as you did, run from me now,
Although, I think, you never had more need;
265For by Athena slain you shall be here,

And for the slaughter of the Greeks be paid.
This said, he at him threw his heavy spear,
But Hector, stooping, did the same avoid,
And o’er his head the spear then harmless flew.
270But Pallas quickly snatch’d it from the sand

Invisibly, which Hector never knew,
And put the same into Achilles’ hand.
Then Hector to Achilles spake, and said,
Achilles, you have miss’d. My fate unknown
275Is to you yet; and me to make afraid,

You have devised fables of your own;
Upon my back your spear shall never fall.
If by it to be slain my fate it be,
It shall be on my breast, or not at all.
280But how my spear will speed now let me see;

Oh, that it would into your body go!
The Trojans would the war much better bear,
Since from your hands proceeds the greatest woe.
And as he spake away he sent his spear,
285And on Achilles’ shield it lighted just,

But enter’d not; and other he had none.
Upon Deiphobus lay all his trust;
But when he call’d Deiphobus was gone,
And Hector then perceiv’d his death was near;
290And oh, said he, the Gods now for me call.

Deiphobus, I thought, stood by me here,
But Pallas ’twas; he’s still within the wall.
I shall not ’scape. I see, Jove heretofore,
And Phœbus too, did mean it should be so;
295They sav’d me oft, but will do so no more.

But let me somewhat do before I go,
That men may speak of me in time to come,
And not ignoble die: and at that word
He roused up his fainting heart, and from
300His side he drew his great and heavy sword.

As when an eagle stoopeth to the plain,
From a dark cloud, a tender lamb t’ invade,
Or fearful hare; so Hector went amain
T’ Achilles, brandishing his shining blade.
305Achilles, angry, on the other side

Came on, and cruel thoughts had in his mind,
And up he kept his shield his breast to hide,
And on his head like fire his helmet shin’d;
And as he went, at ev’ry step he trod,
310His plume, by Vulcan made of golden hair,

And to his crest applied, gave a nod,
And o’er his shoulders terribly did flare.
As Hesperus at midnight does appear,
The brightest star that shineth in the sky;
315So gloriously the point shone of his spear.

Thus terribly to Hector he drew nigh,
And view’d his arms to see which way his spear
Might with most ease into his body pass.
But ev’rywhere entire and close they were,
320Save at the neck a little gap there was.

At that he aim’d, and with great force he smote
Him with his mighty spear clean through the neck;
And yet the spear his wind-pipe wounded not.
Then down he fell, but able was to speak.
325Achilles, over him insulting, said,

Hector, you thought, when you Patroclus kill’d,
You safe were, and of me were not afraid,
Because you knew I was not in the field;
And like a fool ne’er thought of what a friend
330To take revenge he left had at the fleet;

Who now has brought you to an evil end
For dogs to eat, while he has burial meet.
Then Hector feebly to him said again,
Let not by dogs my body eaten be,
235But be contented that you have me slain;

My friends at any price will ransom me.
Take brass and gold, as much as you require;
And to my father send my body home,
To be consumed in the fun’ral fire,
340By th’ Trojans and their wives in Ilium.

Thus Hector said. Achilles answer’d to’t:
Hector, you dog, speak not of price to me;
If I myself could eat thee I would do’t;
But by the dogs I’m sure you’ll eaten be.
345If they would give me twenty times as much,

Or buy thy body, weight for weight, with gold,
And promise as much more, your deeds are such,
Your body shall not at that price be sold.
Nor shall your mother lay you on a bed,
350And over you lamenting stand and howl;

But in the open field you shall lie dead,
Until devour’d you be by dogs and fowl.
Hector replied (though ready now to die),
I knew you had a heart as hard as steel;
355But thus much to you I will prophecy:

The vengeance of the Gods you’ll for it feel,
When one day Paris and Apollo shall,
As terrible and strong as you are now,
Make you before the Scæan gate to fall.
360This said, he died; and to the shades below,

Leaving his limbs, his soul, bewailing, flew.
And yet Achilles did again reply,
And briefly to him answer’d, Now die you;
And when the Gods call for me, so will I.
365This said, he from the body pluck’d the spear,

And laid it by him down upon the place,
And took his armour off. Then others near
Stood, gazing at his stature and his grace,
And wond’ring at him, t’ one another said:
370We safely now to Hector may go nigher;

His raging fit is very much allay’d
Since when unto the ships he came with fire.
Then spake Achilles to the Greeks and said,
My friends, that in the army have command,
375Since by the Gods this great man is destroy’d,

And lies before you killed by my hand,
Who did the Argive people more annoy
Than all the other Trojans put together,
Let’s armed as we are go up to Troy,
380And see on what they are resolved, whether

They’ll quit the city, seeing Hector’s dead,
Or still defend the same without him will.
But why should this come now into my head
When unbewail’d Patroclus lieth still?
385For my Patroclus I must not forget

As long as I am living and can go.
And when I come to th’ house of Hades, yet
I still shall think upon him there below.
But back unto the ships we now will go.
390And let the youth of Argos pæans sing,

Whilst thither we in triumph bring the foe
With whose great praise the town of Troy did ring.
This said, he full of spite on Hector flies,
And slits his legs from th’ ankles to the heels,
395And with a rope them to his char’ot ties.

Then drives away; and rais’d is by the wheels
A cloud of dust; and in it all the while,
Along the ground dragg’d was his comely head,
Once glorious, now by the Greeks made vile,
400Since to them Jove had him delivered.

Which, when his mother from the wall beheld,
Enrag’d, she from her head pluck’d off her hood,
And threw it from her, tore her hair, and squeal’d.
And Priam lamentably sighing stood.
405About him were the Trojans shedding tears,

Sighing, and sobbing, and in such affray,
As if all Troy had flam’d about their ears.
And much ado they Priam had to stay.
For down he lay, and spake to ev’ry one,
410Forbear, said he; I will go to this man

As fierce and cruel as he is, alone,
And move him to compassion, if I can;
And what respect he hath to age I’ll see.
For Pelius is old as well as I,
415That got that mischief both to Troy and me,

To th’ Trojans all, but me especially.
For he hath kill’d me many a goodly son,
Which all together make me not so smart,
Nor wounds so deep as Hector’s death hath done,
420Which is alone enough to break my heart.

Oh blessed Gods, that it had been your will
He in his mother’s hands and mine had died,
That over him we might have wept our fill!
This said, the Trojans wept again and sigh’d.
425Then Hecuba amongst the wives of Troy

Began her plaint. Hector, my son, said she,
O my dear son, my glory and my joy,
Why should I ’mongst the living longer be,
Since you are dead and gone, that night and day
430The Trojans, men and women, did defend,

And as a God was honoured in Troy,
And now are come to an untimely end?
Thus wail’d his mother. But Andromache
Knew not how Hector sped without the gate;
435For at a shining figur’d garment she

Within an inner chamber weaving sate,
And given had her maids command to set
A trivet on the fire, that Hector might,
When he came in, wash off his blood and sweat,
440Contracted by great labour in the fight,

Not dreaming of her husband’s death. But when
She heard the lamentation at the wall,
And outcries both of women and of men,
She trembling stood, and let her shuttle fall.
445And then unto her maids she call’d, and said,

Come hither two of you, and with me go;
I hear my mother cry, and am afraid
To Priam’s sons there happen’d is some woe.
I’ll to the tow’r go up myself, and see
450What ’tis. My heart is at my mouth. I fear

Lest by Achilles Hector chased be
Alone, and will be killed by his spear.
Oh, how I tremble! he can never stay,
But out before the rest will always run,
455And never unto any man give way,

As if his strength could matched be by none.
This said, out went she like a woman mad,
And panting, up into the tow’r she hied,
Where she no sooner look’d about her had,
460But saw her husband to a char’ot tied,

And by Achilles dragg’d away, and dead.
And presently she fell into a swoon,
And all the comely dressings of her head,
Veil, kerchiefs, ribbons, knots, to th’ground came down,
465And coronet unto her given by

Venus, when she with Hector married.
Her sister-laws, that stood about her nigh,
Then took her up, with sorrow almost dead;
And when again her spirits to her came,
470She wept, and spake, and stopp’d, and spake again:

Hector, of women I most wretched am,
And you the most unfortunate of men;
Both born to one and the same evil fate,
You here in Ilium, king Priam’s son,
475And I in Thebe child unfortunate

Of the unfortunate Eëtion.
And you now to the shades below are gone,
And me a woful widow here have left,
And with me my sweet babe your tender son,
480And cannot, since you are of life bereft,

Do to him any good, nor he to you.
And though he should escape the Argives now,
Yet poverty and woe will him pursue,
And other men his goodly fields will plough.
485A child that is an orphan has no friend;

And, though with tears, must stoop to whatsoe’er
To the supplying of his need shall tend,
When he his want of food no more can bear.
So to your friends my child shall go, and take
490One by the cloak, another by the coat,

That give him may some wine for pity’s sake,
Enough to cool his lips, but not his throat.
Or else some son of them that sit at meat
May rate, or give him a good box o’th’ ear,
495And bid him quickly out o’ th’ hall to get,

And tell him that his father dines not there.
Then weeping comes Astyanax to me,
That us’d was by his father to be fed
With mutton fat and marrow on his knee,
500And with his nurse repose on a soft bed.

But since his father now is dead and gone,
Astyanax (whom so the Trojans call
Because defended were by you alone,
When you were here, the Trojan gates and wall),
505Intolerable grief is like to find,

Since at the ships you dead and naked lie
For worms to feed on when the dogs have din’d,
While all your precious garments here have I
Of woman’s work, and burn them will, since you
510Now never in them likely are to lie,

’Tis to the wives of Troy an honour due.
This weeping spoken made the women sigh.

Home

The Forum

Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

The Library

Return to Title Page for The English Works, vol. X (Iliad and Odyssey)

The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

LIB. XXII. - Homer, The English Works, vol. X (Iliad and Odyssey) [1839]

Edition used:

Part of: The English Works of Thomas Hobbes, 11 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Copyright information:

Fair use statement:

LIB. XXII.