Ἕκτωρ δ' ἐν Σκαιῇσι πύλῃς ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους:
δίζε γὰρ, ἠὲ μάχοιτο κατα κλόνον αὖτις ἐλάσσας.
ἢ λαοὺς ἐς τεῖχος ὁμοκλήσειεν αλῆναι:
ταῦτ' άρα οἱ φρονέοντι παρίστατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
ἀνέρι εἰσάμενος αἰζηῷ τε κρατερῷ τε
Ἀσίῳ. ὃς μήτρως ἦν Ἕκτοροςἱπποδάμοιο.
αὐτοκασίγνητος Ἑκάβης. υἱὸς δὲ Δύμαντος,
ὃς Φρυγίῃ ναίεσκε, ῥοῇς ἔπι Σαγγαρίοιο:
τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων:
Ἕκτορ. τίπτε μάχης ἀποπαύεαι. οὐδέ τι σε χρή:
αἴθ' ὅσον ἥσσων εἰμὶ. τόσον σέο φέρτερος εἴην:
τῶ κε τάχα στυγερῶς πολέμου ἀπερωήσειας:
ἂλλ' ἄγε Πατρόκλῳ ἔφεπε κρατερώνυχας ἵππους:
αἴ κέν πως μιν ἕλῃς. δώῃ δέ τοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων:
But Hector at the Scaean gate was staying his single-hoofed horses, for he was divided in mind, whether he should drive again into the turmoil and do battle, or should call to the host to gather them within the wall. And while he pondered thus there drew nigh to him Phoebus Apollo in the likeness of a young man and a strong, even of Asius, that was uncle to horse-taming Hector, and own brother to Hecabe, but son of Dymas, that dwelt in Phrygia by the streams of Sangarius. In his likeness spake Apollo, the son of Zeus, unto Hector: "Hector, wherefore dost thou cease from battle? It beseemeth thee not. I would that I were as much stronger than thou as I am weaker;then straightway would it be to thine own hurt that thou drawest back from the war. Nay, come, drive against Patroclus thy strong-hoofed horses, if so be thou mayest slay him, and Apollo give thee glory."
