him bespake. 
    My Hector! reverence this, and pity me
  If ever, drawing forth this breast, thy griefs
  Of infancy I soothed, oh now, my son! 95
  Acknowledge it, and from within the walls
  Repulse this enemy; stand not abroad
  To cope with him, for he is savage-fierce,
  And should he slay thee, neither shall myself
  Who bore thee, nor thy noble spouse weep o’er 100
  Thy body, but, where we can never come,
  Dogs shall devour it in the fleet of Greece. 
    So they with prayers importuned, and with tears
  Their son, but him sway’d not; unmoved he stood,
  Expecting vast Achilles now at hand. 105
  As some fell serpent in his cave expects
  The traveller’s approach, batten’d with herbs
  Of baneful juice to fury,[3] forth he looks
  Hideous, and lies coil’d all around his den,
  So Hector, fill’d with confidence untamed, 110
  Fled not, but placing his bright shield against
  A buttress, with his noble heart conferr’d.
    [4]Alas for me! should I repass the gate,
  Polydamas would be the first to heap
  Reproaches on me, for he bade me lead 115
  The Trojans back this last calamitous night
  In which Achilles rose to arms again. 
  But I refused, although to have complied,
  Had proved more profitable far; since then
  By rash resolves of mine I have destroy’d 120
  The people, how can I escape the blame
  Of all in Troy?  The meanest there will say—­
  By his self-will he hath destroy’d us all. 
  So shall they speak, and then shall I regret
  That I return’d ere I had slain in fight 125
  Achilles, or that, by Achilles slain,
  I died not nobly in defence of Troy. 
  But shall I thus?  Lay down my bossy shield,
  Put off my helmet, and my spear recline
  Against the city wall, then go myself 130
  To meet the brave Achilles, and at once
  Promise him Helen, for whose sake we strive
  With all the wealth that Paris in his fleet
  Brought home, to be restored to Atreus’ sons,
  And to distribute to the Greeks at large 135
  All hidden treasures of the town, an oath
  Taking beside from every senator,
  That he will nought conceal, but will produce
  And share in just equality what stores
  Soever our fair city still includes? 140
  Ah airy speculations, questions vain! 
  I may not sue to him:  compassion none
  Will he vouchsafe me, or my suit respect. 
  But, seeing me unarm’d, will sate at once
  His rage, and womanlike I shall be slain. 145
  It is no time from oak or hollow rock
  With him to parley, as a nymph and swain,
  A nymph and swain[5] soft parley mutual