Page 119 - the-iliad

near those of Priam and Hector on the acropolis. Here Hec-
tor entered, with a spear eleven cubits long in his hand; the
bronze point gleamed in front of him, and was fastened to
the shaft of the spear by a ring of gold. He found Alexan-
drus within the house, busied about his armour, his shield
and cuirass, and handling his curved bow; there, too, sat
Argive Helen with her women, setting them their several
tasks; and as Hector saw him he rebuked him with words
of scorn. ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘you do ill to nurse this rancour; the
people perish fighting round this our town; you would
yourself chide one whom you saw shirking his part in the
combat. Up then, or ere long the city will be in a blaze.’
And Alexandrus answered, ‘Hector, your rebuke is just;
listen therefore, and believe me when I tell you that I am
not here so much through rancour or ill-will towards the
Trojans, as from a desire to indulge my grief. My wife was
even now gently urging me to battle, and I hold it better that
I should go, for victory is ever fickle. Wait, then, while I put
on my armour, or go first and I will follow. I shall be sure
to overtake you.’
Hector made no answer, but Helen tried to soothe him.
‘Brother,’ said she, ‘to my abhorred and sinful self, would
that a whirlwind had caught me up on the day my mother
brought me forth, and had borne me to some mountain or
to the waves of the roaring sea that should have swept me
away ere this mischief had come about. But, since the gods
have devised these evils, would, at any rate, that I had been
wife to a better man—to one who could smart under dis-
honour and men’s evil speeches. This fellow was never yet

11 The Iliad