Page 419 - the-iliad

and two sons were born of her, both of whom you will have
slain. Your spear slew noble Polydorus as he was fighting in
the front ranks, and now evil will here befall me, for I fear
that I shall not escape you since heaven has delivered me
over to you. Furthermore I say, and lay my saying to your
heart, spare me, for I am not of the same womb as Hector
who slew your brave and noble comrade.’
With such words did the princely son of Priam beseech
Achilles; but Achilles answered him sternly. ‘Idiot,’ said he,
‘talk not to me of ransom. Until Patroclus fell I preferred to
give the Trojans quarter, and sold beyond the sea many of
those whom I had taken alive; but now not a man shall live
of those whom heaven delivers into my hands before the
city of Ilius—and of all Trojans it shall fare hardest with the
sons of Priam. Therefore, my friend, you too shall die. Why
should you whine in this way? Patroclus fell, and he was a
better man than you are. I too—see you not how I am great
and goodly? I am son to a noble father, and have a goddess
for my mother, but the hands of doom and death overshad-
ow me all as surely. The day will come, either at dawn or
dark, or at the noontide, when one shall take my life also
in battle, either with his spear, or with an arrow sped from
his bow.’
Thus did he speak, and Lycaon’s heart sank within him.
He loosed his hold of the spear, and held out both hands be-
fore him; but Achilles drew his keen blade, and struck him
by the collar-bone on his neck; he plunged his two-edged
sword into him to the very hilt, whereon he lay at full length
on the ground, with the dark blood welling from him till the

1 The Iliad