Original subtitles

Oh, heavenly

goddess, tell me of the many...

The Iliad of Homer.

The story begins outside the walls of Troy.

For ten long years the Greek army has

vainly besieged the city and if the Trojans

have suffered under this relentless assault the Greeks

too feel the hardships of war.

Exhausted by many battles and short of supplies

the Greeks are camped on the coast where

they live by ravaging the countryside.

All the towns along the coast have been

sacked and now the Greeks are forced to

look farther afield for plunder.

This expedition is marching against the city of

Larnassus.

It is led by Agamemnon, son of Atreus,

king of Mycenae and Corinth.

With him is Ulysses, the wisest and most

cunning of Greek warriors.

Famous hero has been made invulnerable by divine

will.

With Achilles is Patroclus.

Before such an array of force the city

of Larnassus is doomed.

I want her companion, the one in red.

Unfortunately, Agamemnon has first choice.

You don't have to worry about Ulysses.

What do you mean?

Who do you think that gold brazier will

go to, for example?

Put it over there.

His wife needn't worry.

As long as there's gold, he'll be faithful

to her, won't he?

He does not displease me.

Agamemnon, you have the right of the first

choice.

What's your name?

Xenia.

And yours?

Gizelle.

Come on.

Get out of the way.

Keep moving.

Come on, you.

Beautiful.

Very beautiful.

What's your name?

What's yours?

My name doesn't matter.

I am the king of kings.

And I'm consecrated to Apollo, the god of

kings.

You will learn this very night that you're

nothing but a prisoner of war, a priestess

no longer, but a slave.

This is sacrilege.

Who is this little devil?

Chryseis of Larnassus, daughter of the priest of

Apollo.

She's mine.

And her father?

Leave him to starve in the ruins.

Take her back to Agamemnon's camp.

Come on.

Get moving.

Ulysses, this one's my prisoner.

Naturally, brave Achilles.

Ulysses, when you send a messenger to your

wife, tell Penelope that Patroclus thanks her, because

if it wasn't for her, you might have

chosen one of these girls and left only

the gold to keep us company, eh?

Agamemnon, Ulysses, Achilles, and Patroclus are away on

an expedition.

What are we waiting for?

Without these leaders, the Greeks on the coast

are completely lacking in authority, cunning, and strength.

Again, I ask you, what is holding us

back?

Hector's right.

It's a rolling hope.

Yes.

This is the moment to attack their camp

and set fire to their ships.

Now, you well know that as long as

they have ships to carry supplies, our situation

is hopeless.

Do you expect the gods to destroy them?

For ten years, the gods have protected us.

Yes, Sarpedon, for ten years.

And now the fates have turned against us.

The gods favor Achilles, but these adverse gods

are far away, because Achilles is far away.

Yet only the name of Achilles makes you

turn pale.

That's right, Paris.

Yes.

Yes, the name of Achilles makes me turn

pale.

Beloved Priam, king and father, you speak.

Tell him who is the cause of all

our grief that I shall die by the

hand of Achilles, according to the oracle.

But I won't be quiet, Paris.

If I fear the king of Thea, the

invulnerable, it is only because my services are

useful to my country.

On the day of victory, Achilles can drive

his lance through my body and throw me

to the dogs as he promised.

At last, you all know what the oracle

said.

It's true, and it is terrible for me

as a father.

What do you want us to do, Hector?

Attack in force.

Attack the Greek camps on all sides.

We can pretend to make the main drive

towards the camp of old Nestor.

Remember, he has to protect the camps of

Agamemnon and Achilles.

But the two Ajax.

I think their camps are near the two

weak ones.

When they see us, they'll send help.

All right.

But I mean time with a handful of

picked warriors.

We'll follow the river Scamander.

We'll force our way through the tunnel leading

to the ocean.

And with the help of the gods, reach

the ships.

Our torchbearers will do the rest.

We should use this truce to recover our

strength.

Another failure would be the end of us.

There won't be a failure.

But a truce is a matter of honor.

We can't defeat the Greeks.

We mustn't follow Hector.

Paris is right.

Have you become a council of cowards?

Is this why all of Greece is at

our gates?

Father, please, I beg you.

Bless our weapons and give your soldiers the

order to attack.

From the walls of Troy, you can watch

the burning of the whole Greek fleet.

I put Hector's proposal to the vote.

Go then, my

son.

And may the gods protect you.

Hector.

Andromache, dear.

I was listening.

Please, Hector, don't go.

You mustn't cry.

But why you?

Always you.

Have Paris go and burn the Greek ship.

Your bravery, your courage will be your death.

Don't challenge fate, Hector.

Think of me and our son.

Dear Andromache, I always think of you and

of him, even in the midst of the

most arduous of battles.

I think of my brave and devoted wife

whom I love so much.

You spend your life on the battlefield and

I remain all alone, living in fear that

you may not come back.

You must love your country more than...

No, that isn't true.

No.

I have no love for the task of

killing all those Greek soldiers, but I have

no choice.

If I don't kill them, they will kill

me, you and everyone.

It seems to be my destiny to have

to lead the army.

That's why, now more than ever, I need

your strength and your courage.

If I give strength to my soldiers, you

also give strength to me.

You need

help, but the Trojans seem to be attacking

from all sides.

I have to protect the interests of the

kings who've gone on a foraging expedition for

us.

Hector, I don't understand.

Look how the center of the battle has

moved.

Any plan of attack?

Perhaps it's just a skirmish.

I think it's just a diversion to hide

their real objective from us.

here here

Here I am, I'm waiting for you Let's

retreat, you can't fight You

were both brave and valorous.

I want him to receive full honors.

Once again we've been fortunate.

I thank you, my brave friends.

Venerable Nestor, I know how you feel.

We won't leave you again.

But let me say in front of everyone,

I couldn't have done better myself.

We have the gods on our side.

They led Achilles back to us at exactly

the right moment.

Yes, and tomorrow we will have a feast

and hold games in honor of the gods.

Hey, where are you going?

We must discuss the arrangement.

Come to my tent.

I have the impression that our two young

friends aren't thinking about the gods at the

moment.

Even King Agamemnon himself made an appointment with

Venus and Larnacis.

It doesn't matter.

Ulysses will stay with me.

While we plan all the games, you can

plan how to win them.

You may return to your camp.

Well now, I think we should hold the

games on an open space.

Thank you.

But say, where on earth have you been?

I thought you'd been murdered or carried off

by the gods to the land of the

underworld.

Have you made up your mind now?

Why do you act so foolishly, Briseis?

Try a little of this Greek wine.

It's very strong and sweet and helps you

forget your unhappiness and all of your family.

Gone away.

Gone away forever.

Try some wine, Briseis, it helps you forget.

Helps me forget?

What would you have me forget?

That I was once a free woman and

now I'm nothing more than a slave?

Modesty has never been your strong point, has

it?

You're always rather proud, Briseis.

That's enough, Xenia.

Why do you struggle against your fate?

Who knows if one day we may return

to Larnacis as queens?

After all, we might have ended up in

the arms of some toothless old soldier.

Instead, we are to be the brides of

kings, slaves, brides.

I believe Patroclus will marry me.

I would have been very jealous of your

Achilles were I forced to wed another.

No.

I could never pretend to love him.

Achilles will never touch me if I only

had enough courage to kill myself.

I think you'll change your mind very soon,

dear.

Just see if you don't.

Now, girls, here's the perfume and the oil

and the water is already fragrant with roses.

Is it so difficult to wash away the

odor of death from your two butchering masters?

Our masters have not touched you yet, hm?

Oil of roses.

Let's do it!

Achilles is mine!

He's ready

for the bath-making.

The god of love.

Yet I will tie him prisoner with lashings

of...

Long life to Patroclus of Thea.

My little maiden has fled like a deer.

We know of your fame to speed, my

lord.

Catch her if you can.

I will catch her presently after I take

a bath.

Health to our two great warriors.

Patroclus.

Don't you sing, Briseis.

Come and pour me some wine.

Hector flees me and a female from Linessus

dares so much.

What do you want me to do with

you?

Break you in like a wild mare or

throw you into the arms of my warriors?

But at least they're mortal who may have

to pay with their lives for the curse

of war in your battles.

Do you think I'm invulnerable, immortal?

Everyone says so and even I myself tried

with this.

I feel terror and loathing of a being

with your fatal destiny.

You're wrong, Briseis.

I'm by no means invulnerable and will die

one day.

Even you could have killed me.

But I know that I will not return

alive from Troy.

This the oracle said before I left Greece.

That Troy will only fall after the death

of Hector.

That Hector must be killed by Achilles.

But that I, Achilles, will die after the

death of Hector.

Immediately after.

Thus spoke the oracle.

The other warriors have hopes of defending themselves

against death and surviving to return home.

But not I.

Thus I ask of the wine as I

ask of your beauty.

The illusion of being a man like all

the others.

But when I drink too much wine, I

behave like an animal.

And you repulse me, denying me the gift

that out of pity you would give to

the least of my warriors.

The men of Argos sleep, as do Diomedes

their king, Ajax and Nestor.

And the king Agamemnon lights till birth.

Choose your perfume.

Not quite.

Jasmine of Persia.

The most exotic and the most suited to

the task of winning a reluctant consent.

Don't you agree, my dear Cressida?

I'm sure you recall this very perfume, eh?

Hurry up.

You'd better be careful.

I remember well that you were only 25.

I wouldn't want the Virgin of Larnaca to

laugh at you tonight.

Cressida, you're making a fool of yourself.

Criseas, does your vocation permit you to drink

wine?

We must make a libation to Bacchus.

May he give me strength and you desire.

Never mind, child.

It makes me sick when he tries to

show off in front of me.

Take care in how you send the libation

to Bacchus.

You'll sleep quietly tonight.

This will be an unforgettable night for the

priestess of Apollo.

Men, they're always boasting.

He'll never grow up.

Here, please drink some wine.

You'll feel better.

Divine Apollo, god of the silver bow.

Your priest has nothing more to ask of

you.

It is right that you abandon one who

is not able to defend your sacred altar.

And the unjust fate of his daughter.

She who also, oh god, offered you her

prayers and many sacrifices and spirit of purest

love.

Apollo, she is at the mercy of a

pitiless enemy.

Her youthful gentleness and her beauty, her very

honor is consecrated to you.

Oh god, I've now become the pleasing of

the Greek's most basic desire.

Apollo, protect my daughter.

Save my poor child.

Hear me, priestess.

Go now to the convent.

Come in, hurry.

Now you go with her.

Come on, girls.

Help me with him.

Well now, my little baby's all tired out.

Sleep, you old bitch.

Oh, he wants a little rest.

Oh, my poor little boy.

What's the matter?

This is just the time that my wife

lights the fire.

If she's still alive.

But you had a daughter.

She should light the fire.

She was four when we left home ten

years back.

So, she must be fourteen by now.

Fourteen's the best age for lighting all kinds

of fires.

Hey, look.

Both the same in the grief we bear.

What do you mean?

You've been thinking of your daughter, and I

of mine.

That's why I'm here.

I've come to get her.

I am Crisis of Lanessa's servant of Apollo.

I want to speak to King Agamemnon.

Do you think he wants to speak to

you?

Shall we let him pass?

Maybe, but he's chosen a bad moment.

The king is preparing for the game.

What are they for?

Because we won a battle yesterday.

We're celebrating the victory.

A father who expects Agamemnon to return his

young daughter would be wise to hurry.

The gods treat you well, Agamemnon.

You shine like an inhabitant of Olympus.

Ulysses, I never trust you when you start

paying compliments.

I prefer your sarcasm.

Still, I must admit, there's nothing like a

victory to invigorate the body and spirit.

A victory in love or war?

Have you prepared everything?

Yes, we're almost ready.

The other kings have already brought their gifts.

But not you, though.

Who is that?

I am Crisis, the servant of Apollo, father

of Crisean.

By what right do you come here?

By the will of God.

What do you want?

My daughter.

And I offer you this in exchange, a

wagonload of treasure.

It's not enough.

But surely you can't be serious.

Call Calchus.

My advisor, Calchus.

Calchus, call Calchus.

Calchus will clarify my religious position.

He'll explain, speaking for the gods, the terrible

obligations they imposed upon me before I could

come here as commander of the army.

In just having a daughter, you are fortunate.

Remember that mine was sacrificed in Aulis before

my fleet could even be put to sea

for Troy.

Sacrificed, a mere child, slaughtered by the priests

on the altar stone.

A king subjects alike unto his children.

You are deprived of one daughter but have

saved all your sons and all your people.

But I have only her.

Calchus, you tell how my helpless child Iphigenia

trembled at the sacrificial knife.

Make him understand how much more terrible is

the cold altar stone of the temple of

sacrifice than the soft bed that I offered

to his daughter.

Tell him.

Blasphemy, yes.

Tell him that.

I laugh at him and his god.

I will beg pity for you.

Pity for your family.

Pity for your warriors.

It's terrible the retribution of the angry god.

In that case, you won't object to my

immediate compensation.

Unload that cart and put everything in my

tent.

You can go.

And thank, if not my faith, then my

superstition, which prevents me from executing an old

fool.

Go!

And don't return to my camp or neither

god nor sanctity will help you.

Have mercy on us.

He has a burning pain within his heart

that makes him pitiless.

But surely the others are not to blame.

Whoever allows a cruel and unjust king to

rule over his country, whosoever supports a leader

enshrined from the paths of righteousness deserves the

punishment of the god.

Calchas prays, if anyone is dear to him.

To the

winner, for his lady, the gift of King

Ulysses, King of Ithaca.

Many champions, much stronger and faster than me.

But why?

Because I like the color.

Look, it's the color of the setting sun.

The time of rest and sleep.

Our time.

Good.

All right, orange for me.

Orange picked by Patroclus.

Do you want that dress?

No.

I'd like Zania to have it.

Look how bright her eyes are.

She will have it.

Thank you.

I see that some of you are already

worried by Achilles.

Well, if I was competing today, there'd be

no doubt about it.

Blue for Achilles!

You've chosen the blue, eh?

Are you competing, Nestor?

No, I don't want to make you boys

look foolish.

I leave the prizes to you.

Well, Achilles?

Already, I command not.

Now then, remember, this is a trial of

ability, not of strength.

Is that all clear?

No one has to throw the lance until

the target reaches that mark over there.

All right.

On your mark.

Oh, excuse me.

I'm left-handed, don't forget.

No, leave them like that.

Are you ready?

Go!

Patroclus!

Congratulations.

It's well done.

Oh, great Apollo!

God of the stooge of old, I

have always worked to...

I'm judge of the games, and I saw

everything.

I'm happy for the happiness of Zania as

Achilles is for Patroclus.

Noble sentiment.

In that case, I was mistaken.

I saw nothing.

And now it's time for the next event.

Are you not running, Ulysses?

Yes.

In my imagination.

It's less time.

All right, men.

Ready along the starting line.

Achilles!

Achilles!

You start back there by that horse.

Is this far enough?

All right.

The gloomy heavens and lightning struck the warriors

where they stood.

Achilles called the leaders.

He spoke.

My lord, we must return home now if

we're allowed to live.

War and pestilence are destroying us.

As to the war, you and your brother

know the origin better than all.

As for the pestilence, nobody knows the reason.

Therefore, it is time some diviner, priest, interpreter

of dreams was consulted to tell us if

Apollo was accusing us of having offended or

neglected him and if he demands sacrifices which

will lift his vengeance from our heads.

Calchas, what do you think?

Yes, I can explain it.

But not before you promise me the security

of your protection.

The predictions of the gods and their ministries

are often displeasing to the mighty and the

mighty have respect for us only when we

can offer to them blessings and flattery.

Enough of this chatter!

The facts, if you know anything.

I asked you to speak and I will

defend you.

Against all the rulers and arrogant people of

the world.

Apollo is insulted and outraged that his servant

Crisis has denied the return of his daughter.

It is obvious the father's curse was granted

by an approving god and imposes on us

a misfortune without the hope that the other

gods of Olympus will take our part until

the proper respect is paid to Apollo.

What do you propose then?

Not I but Apollo expects you to restore

Crisis to her father.

I for my part advise you to add

to that a generous sacrifice and expiation.

Prophet of disaster not once have you ever

spoken without filling my heart with sorrow or

my head with unwelcome ideas.

As a man Agamemnon tells you Crisis is

dear to me thus she has no price.

And so you may understand that which is

priceless can never be ransomed.

But a king should stand above ordinary men.

A king seeks the safety not the death

of his people.

The king Agamemnon demands from the man Agamemnon

this Crisis and returns her to her god.

But the people the other heroes and kings

must pay me recompense must pay my sacrifice.

Agamemnon famous for his avidity and no less

for his greed as an orator you contradict

yourself.

How do we compensate you?

Is there perhaps spoil that has not been

divided that can be allotted to you?

Or do you want to take from others

what the god demands from you?

Be satisfied with our promise Chryseis will be

paid one hundred times her worth when we

come to the plunder of Troy.

Now I understand now I know who it

was who dared to put those lying words

in the mouth of Calchas.

This too must be endured by a king

because the people believe in his noble generosity.

Very well we are as we are I

give my people Chryseis but demand of Achilles

that he give me in return his slave

Briseis of Larnassus I have spoken.

I am here not for my hate for

the Trojans but for your benefit and the

honor of your brother I who bear the

major burden of the war do not see

you taking equal share to mine but a

much larger part always I must endure your

abuse and in addition your insults I'm leaving

you I'm going back to fear Leave leave

me then other kings other heroes will remain

at my side worthy as yourself even if

they are not mongrels of a goddess Go

now you are and never will be on

the side of justice time will repay you

for this insult Everybody remember

when Hector's sword soaks the field with Greek

blood and I see that hour approaching you

can ask the reason from your noble king

If Achilles loves that woman I'd be careful

of him Agamemnon Yes to perform an act

of justice and secret Sadness is to be

expected when one offends the conscience of a

king Euripides

and Telphobias heralds of Agamemnon What do you

want?

We bring Achilles an order from Agamemnon Open

the gate What

do you want from Achilles?

My king doesn't take orders from yours Leave

the camp Patroclus we must speak to your

king Since time began a herald has been

like the wind bearing the voices of all

without blame But you spoke of bearing orders

not messages Leave the camp I said But

Patroclus Sentinels Show these men how we treat

bearers of unjust orders from an unjust king

Your souls will bring Agamemnon the reply from

Achilles' myrmidons Stop Lower your bows My

noble and faithful friend your loyalty is a

comfort to my wounded pride But you know

that an answer is due King Agamemnon The

heralds are sacred I will not offend the

gods to revenge myself on a man if

he who abuses his power and does not

comply with the laws of honor could call

himself a man Achilles King of Phrygia We

are speaking for our king but not for

ourselves The heralds must be respected They are

sacred and precious How could a man otherwise

have connections with that snarling dog Agamemnon Speak

before my myrmidons remember how to use their

bows and swords What do you want from

me Priscius Palaeus my

father and Chiron the centaur taught me that

kings were also men and can err on

impulse like all men Tell Agamemnon that this

is proof that he is unworthy to hold

the supreme scepter He has had the whole

night for his temper to diminish But even

after the tranquil night which brings counsel and

reflection he hasn't learned to act like a

real king While I Achilles will answer like

a king My friend take Priscius give her

to the heralds If she cries dry her

tears for me But Achilles I have Nestor's

word that she will not suffer any affront

And regarding the offense he has afflicted on

me you heralds messengers of shame make Agamemnon's

spine quiver with this prophecy When the dogs

of Troy are still fighting over the Greek

Agamemnon's bruised and bleeding body I, Achilles will

look on and I shall not shed a

tear I swear it Our

information says that the Mermadons will re-embark

and are going back to Greece We mustn't

rejoice too soon, my friend This may be

another trick Perhaps you are right, Paris And

in this case I want to see for

myself Your courage, Hector is not always tempered

with sagacity I would recommend caution You must

remember that in this war we are fighting

both against men and gods Don't blaspheme, Hector

Lest the wrath of Olympus Up to now

for ten years the gods have been against

us All Olympus has opposed us But today

Achilles the demigod the invulnerable has withdrawn from

our enemies You can well imagine the terror

in their hearts They say that Knight is

a good counselor Tonight let us bring the

Greeks some advice Trojan advice written in blood

Abandon the land of Troy Speak

Ulysses' camp is in flames The Trojans are

attacking all the camps Hector's coming this way

They've heard about Achilles What do we do?

Is Achilles the only Greek?

We'll drive them back Hector wants to take

the camp by surprise Better give battle in

the open To arms Don't

you want a drink?

What do you think is the matter?

I don't like sitting around here doing nothing

when my friends are all being killed on

a battlefield Friends?

We're not our friends anymore Didn't you hear

the order from Achilles?

You can't forget ten years of fighting just

for some stupid order I can't and don't

pretend to I still have a little account

to settle with the Trojans Out

of my way What is it?

Bad news Hector You call that bad news?

Patrik let's pour him some wine and me

too It's a great day for Hector He's

very fortunate Yes The gods are all with

Hector And the mighty heroes Diomedes and the

Ajax What are they doing?

They're fighting But to tell the truth it

seems as though everyone is avoiding a fight

Live Hector Your life is mine also Is

our camp in any danger?

No But everybody says they're avoiding it on

purpose Come drink my friend Enjoy the night

of our revenge All right Go Patrik You

are my eyes and my arms Bring me

some good news Go Change

your song you stupid Not a hymn A

war song Louder Louder Ah

Forward Trojans The cavalry go to the camp

of Diomedes Destroy everything Raise it to the

ground Behold

the great The divine Achilles Even for this

Agamemnon is responsible Wait up Achilles Greece is

being defeated You have to hurry You can't

possibly want to destroy Greece Greece Where is

Greece?

I knew it when I was just a

child But they forced me to fight and

go to Troy Hector will have to be

stopped He's already destroyed three camps My camp?

No But aren't the other camps yours as

well?

Your fellow countrymen are being defeated Greece does

not exist anymore Let me sleep It's a

wonderful medicine A gift from the gods If

you don't want to give satisfaction Agamemnon take

my armor pretend to be me but lead

your warriors out to save your homeland No

No you can't No you mustn't You're behaving

like a woman in love Like a free

woman who fears for her lover You're very

dear to me Senor And I want to

treat you as as though you were my

wife Because that is what you will be

when we return home And for that very

reason I must carry out my obligations Understand?

And his I am his friend A friend

to his honor Don't weep Zania Lest you

extinguish my hatred They must believe I am

here Strong and fierce Shouting his war cry

Wearing his armor Go my dear to the

highest tower So that you can watch me

Invoke the aid of the immortals For one

who is only a man Trojans

Where is your honor Where is your shame

Is this how you intend to save your

homeland Courage Attack The time

has come for me to fight and kill

him I can

already see the dawn of victory for Troy

Use the spear with his left hand Come

down Come and give battle Men You make

me get tired What's the matter with you

Have the gods turned against you Patroclus

You're Patroclus No I'm the strength of Achilles

Look there Your brave warriors are running Deedful

gods Why are you mocking the courage of

Troy No I cannot kill you A kind

word for your enemy What could be more

noble But war is war Grant me a

word of hatred Destroy me Don't let me

die Believing that I've been killed by a

better man I beg you to be cruel

You'll get no pity From the gods Nor

Achilles Your fate decided And Dromache will be

a widow Stop it Your son Zorpas Troy

destroyed all of your brothers All your family

And there are those who envy me The

sacrifice of Patroclus has saved the fleet The

fall of night has taken the cursed Trojans

back to their granite prison But tomorrow Tomorrow

It's already tomorrow And now the morning sun

is rising above the mountains of the east

The gentle rays are shining on our far

distant houses Beyond the great ocean The royal

palace The queen My son Not

even you were sleeping Love of power Power

of love Two demons who cannot tolerate sleeping

You love Achilles Naturally you love him Everyone

loves him And I love power Neither I

nor you are able to be satisfied without

Achilles You and I depend on his arms

We are nothing without him Very well Return

to his tent Bear this with you He'll

understand Understand that I feel shame for having

insulted our bravest warrior Tell him that I'll

kneel before him and humbly beg his help

And you I even return his slave girl

unharmed And I offer him all the wealth

he wants He can name his price as

long as he returns to the battle Go

now before I change my mind Go quickly

Courage Venya Please cry or feel better I

would have willingly watched him Patriclus Why don't

you answer Patriclus You don't move You don't

speak Where's Achilles I don't know But he

frightened me He shouted and shouted He said

that it was all his fault He didn't

even want to look at the body He

ran away towards the seashore Venya Please come

away You mustn't stay here The night is

already almost over And on the cold seashore

they have raised the great funeral pyre At

daybreak the searing odor of burning flesh will

rise towards the gods All the cruel gods

You didn't mourn like this for the fate

of Ernesto He wanted to marry me He

would have taken me back to Ernesto The

queen Achilles mustn't find him here in his

tent Beside the other Patriclus is a fallen

warrior Here he's only a murdered friend It's

terrible That's exactly what he is isn't he

If only Achilles No The very fact that

I have returned here should tell you who

is responsible for this death Have them place

his body together with those of the other

heroes He wasn't only mine You have Achilles

But I Who am I without him Oh

son of mine Why is it that I

find you mourning Mighty Jove has granted you

My loyal companion Dearer to me than life

is dead Mother I cannot stay or live

amongst men unless I avenge his death Achilles

You know that after the death of My

fate is marked and it does not belong

to me But my revenge Yes And now

you must help me I will fight with

ordinary weapons The Trojan for spoiling the corpse

of Patriclus took mine So now mother Tell

me where I'm vulnerable Assure me that fate

holds this in store for me That I

will die only after killing Hector The way

you will lose your life on earth is

the secret of the gods It's not within

my right to let you know the exact

spot that is vulnerable Nor will kill you

But you'll have arms worthy of you Master

your anger And put your trust in fate

Your arms I will get from Vulcan Master

Achilles Have you run away?

He sent me back to you With gifts

and promises This is the king's wisdom I

would give all my wealth if it was

sufficient enough to get Hector out of his

den at dawn And Agamemnon thinks he can

buy me The funeral rites for Patriclus have

begun Shall we join them?

No We have time Patriclus and I to

spend together An eternity of time And it's

not far off Xenia's

out there with him On your body On

your face The true message is that it

would be better that life would bloom within

you But instead dribble fate My chariot

Salvador Look Summon Hector There's a

Greek herald here Hector is listening to you

This is the message You have taken the

arms of Achilles without facing their true owner

You have been avoiding a direct fight If

you don't want the very walls of Troy

to redden with the shame of your cowardice

come out at once Achilles challenges you He

wishes to dedicate your life to the gods

and to the spirit of the hero Patriclus

Prince of Lachris This is the message of

Achilles who is waiting for you outside the

gates of Troy You

are looking at me as though I were

going to a certain death You don't encourage

me Is it because you read fear in

me You're right I'm afraid just like you

Afraid of the god which is in Achilles

and afraid of the fake But I will

not disappoint you If Hector is killed his

name will never die Teach our

son to remember I ask of you my

friends that you look after this little prince

The gods

are asking me to give my life to

save the honor of Troy And I am

obliged to give it to them But my

sword will perhaps turn the scales of fate

yet Is there anyone among you who dares

to say that Hector is already beaten My

child My little orphan Look And I hope

you remember to hate warfare as long as

you live Open

the gate And be ready to close it

behind him as soon as the chariot is

inside Open the gate Open

the gate Hector It's your turn now Can't

you interpret a divine omen Do you

see that tree Remember it That's where Patroclus

was killed by your treachery You will

die there too Not quickly but after an

agony a hundred times as long as his

Get up Get

up Give

me a lance Gods

of Olympus Give wings to my lance You

need this advantage Hector Don't talk to me

about advantages Everyone knows that the gods are

protecting you That every effort against you is

useless It's not true I too can be

killed I too can

be

killed You've

been repaid for what he did to you

Guard it And at dawn you'll feed it

to the ravens But for a whole night

Patroclus will know he's been avenged How

did you get here Did some treachery or

deceit enable you to cross my lines Even

though my sentries are on guard One of

the gods who still has pity on the

Trojans made it possible to reach you What

do you want I want the body of

my son A son whose only crime was

to carry out his duty and defend his

homeland Hector only defended Paris and Helen his

mistress He cannot demand the respect of any

man today or in the future who hears

the story of the troubles we suffered because

of an adulteress I'm sure you must have

come to realize even in your short life

how all men want to interpret their destiny

with a simple explanation Under our confusion is

the incomprehensible masquerade of the gods who pursue

their own fancies with men as puppets As

you like then see me as a servant

of the avenging furies Your son Hector suffered

today for the losses imposed by Helen on

so many blameless Greek women I respect the

sorrow of the mothers and widows who have

suffered But can you respect the sorrow of

a father I do not ask you as

a king though I beg you as a

father as would your father Peleus to give

me the right to burn the last remains

of a Trojan warrior You're badly misled Priam

if you would have me think of my

father You want me to cry over Hector's

misfortunes But you do not know that I

consider him more fortunate than I His father

is alive and he can expect the honors

due to him even tears But who will

cry over Achilles' body now that he's close

to the accomplishment of his destiny If by

chance you should be killed while I am

still alive I Priam will mourn you as

my son in memory of those whose lives

are sacrificed in the interest of pride and

ambition Do you hear that owl You know

that is the voice of Minerva the goddess

who favors you Achilles Soldiers Put Hector's body

on the chariot with his father and have

them escorted to Troy with all due respect

The gods grant you blessings for this deed

above all for this deed You shall live

in the memory of men