Book XXI - Page 2

the house of Hades sorely

against his will. He was unarmed when Achilles caught sight of

him, and had neither helmet nor shield; nor yet had he any spear,

for he had thrown all his armour from him on to the bank, and was

sweating with his struggles to get out of the river, so that his

strength was now failing him.

Then Achilles said to himself in his surprise, "What marvel do I

see here? If this man can come back alive after having been sold

over into Lemnos, I shall have the Trojans also whom I have slain

rising from the world below. Could not even the waters of the

grey sea imprison him, as they do many another whether he will or

no? This time let him taste my spear, that I may know for certain

whether mother earth who can keep even a strong man down, will be

able to hold him, or whether thence too he will return."

Thus did he pause and ponder. But Lycaon came up to him dazed and

trying hard to embrace his knees, for he would fain live, not

die. Achilles thrust at him with his spear, meaning to kill him,

but Lycaon ran crouching up to him and caught his knees, whereby

the spear passed over his back, and stuck in the ground,

hungering though it was for blood. With one hand he caught

Achilles' knees as he besought him, and with the other he

clutched the spear and would not let it go. Then he said,

"Achilles, have mercy upon me and spare me, for I am your

suppliant. It was in your tents that I first broke bread on the

day when you took me prisoner in the vineyard; after which you

sold me away to Lemnos far from my father and my friends, and I

brought you the price of a hundred oxen. I have paid three times

as much to gain my freedom; it is but twelve days that I have

come to Ilius after much suffering, and now cruel fate has again

thrown me into your hands. Surely father Jove must hate me, that

he has given me over to you a second time. Short of life indeed

did my mother Laothoe bear me, daughter of aged Altes--of Altes

who reigns over the warlike Lelegae and holds steep Pedasus on

the river Satnioeis. Priam married his daughter along with many

other women 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