“Now what? If I take cover inside, Polydamas will be the first to reproach me. He begged me to lead the Trojans back To the city on that black night when Achilles rose. But I wouldn’t listen, and now I’ve destroyed Half the army through my recklessness. [120] I can’t face the Trojan men and women now, Can’t bear to hear some lesser man say, {426} ‘Hector trusted his strength and lost the army.’ That’s what they’ll say. I’ll be much better off Facing Achilles, either killing him Or dying honorably before the city. But what if I lay down all my weapons,
