The single combat between Paris and Menelaus broke up in
a general battle unfavorable to the Trojans, and Hector returned
to Troy to order the Trojan matrons to sacrifice to Pallas. He
then sought his dwelling to greet his wife and child, but learned
from one of the maids that Andromache, on hearing that the
Greeks were victorious, had hastened to the city walls with the
child and its nurse.
Hector left in haste
The mansion, and retraced his way between
The rows of stately dwellings, traversing
The mighty city. When at length he reached
The Scsean gates, that issue on the field,
His spouse, the nobly-dowered Andromache,
Came forth to meet him, — daughter of the prince
Eetion, who among the woody slopes
Of Places, in the Hypoplacian town
Of Thebl, ruled Cilicia and her sons,
And gave his child to Hector great in arms.
She came attended by a maid, who bore
A tender child — a babe too young to speak —
Upon her bosom, — Hector's only son.
Beautiful as a star, whom Hector called
Scamandrius, but all else Astyanax, —
The city's lord, — since Hector stood the sole
Defence of Troy. The father on his child
Looked with a silent smile. Andromache
Pressed to his side meanwhile, and, all in tears,
Climg to his hand, and, thus beginning, said :



THE STORY OF THE ILIAD.
" Too brave ! thy valor yet will cause thy death.
Thou hast no pity on thy tender child
Nor me, unhappy one, vfho soon must be
Thy widow. All the Greeks will rush on thee
To take thy life. A happier lot were mine,
If 1 must lose thee, to go down to earth.
