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anks, and woe to the Trojan who shall venture within reach of my<br />

spear."<br />

Thus did he exhort them. Meanwhile Hector called upon the Trojans<br />

and declared that he would fight Achilles. "Be not afraid, proud Trojans,"<br />

said he, "to face the son of Peleus; I could fight gods myself if<br />

the battle were one of words only, but they would be more than a match<br />

<strong>for</strong> me, if we had to use our spears. Even so the deed of Achilles<br />

will fall somewhat short of his word; he will do in part, and the<br />

other part he will clip short. I will go up against him though his<br />

hands be as fire-­‐ though his hands be fire and his strength iron."<br />

Thus urged the Trojans lifted up their spears against the Achaeans,<br />

and raised the cry of battle as they flung themselves into the midst<br />

of their ranks. But Phoebus Apollo came up to Hector and said, "Hector,<br />

on no account must you challenge Achilles to single combat; keep a<br />

lookout <strong>for</strong> him while you are under cover of the others and away from<br />

the thick of the fight, otherwise he will either hit you with a spear<br />

or cut you down at close quarters."<br />

Thus he spoke, and Hector drew back within the crowd, <strong>for</strong> he was afraid<br />

when he heard what the god had said to him. Achilles then sprang upon<br />

the Trojans with a terrible cry, clothed in valour as with a garment.<br />

First he killed Iphition son of Otrynteus, a leader of much people<br />

whom a naiad nymph had borne to Otrynteus waster of cities, in the<br />

land of Hyde under the snowy heights of Mt. Tmolus. Achilles struck<br />

him full on the head as he was coming on towards him, and split it<br />

clean in two; whereon he fell heavily to the ground and Achilles vaunted

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