So Athene spoke, and Achilleus was happy at heart, and did as she told him: so he stood there leaning on his bronze-barbed ash spear. She then left him and caught up with godlike Hektor, taking the form and tireless voice of Deïphobos. She came close and spoke winged words to him: ‘Brother, swift Achilleus is pressing you very hard now, chasing you round the city of Priam with all his speed. Come then, let us face him together and beat him off where we stand.’

Then great Hektor of the glinting helmet said to her: ‘Deïphobos, you have always been the brother I loved far the most of all the sons born to Hekabe and Priam. And now my heart is minded to honour you yet more highly, since you have had the courage, when your eyes saw my trouble, to come outside the wall on my account, while all the others stay inside.’

Then the bright-eyed goddess Athene said to him: ‘Brother, our father and honoured mother, and my friends around me, did indeed beseech me one after the other, and implored me again and again to stay where I was inside – such is the terror on them all. But my heart within me was chafed with painful sorrow for you. Now let us charge straight in and fight, and not be sparing with our spears, so we can see whether Achilleus will kill us both and carry away our bloody spoils to the hollow ships, or else be beaten down under your spear.’

So speaking Athene led him forward in her treachery. When the two men had advanced to close range, great Hektor of the glinting helmet was first to speak: ‘Son of Peleus, I shall not run from you any more, as I did when you chased me three times round the great city of Priam, and I did not dare to stop and take your attack. But now my heart prompts me to stand and face you – I shall kill or be killed. But first let us swear here before our gods – they will be the best witnesses to keep watch on our agreement. I swear that I will inflict no outrage on you, if Zeus grants me the endurance and I take away your life: but after I have stripped you of your famous armour, Achilleus, I will give your body back to the Achaians – and you do the same.’