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Act 5, Scene 8

Another part of the plains.

Enter HECTOR.

Hector

Most putrefied core, so fair without,

Thy goodly armour thus hath cost thy life.

Now is my day's work done; I'll take good breath:

Rest, sword; thou hast thy fill of blood and death. Puts off his helmet and hangs his shield behind him.Enter ACHILLES and Myrmidons.

Achilles

Look, Hector, how the sun begins to set;

How ugly night comes breathing at his heels:

Even with the vail and darkening of the sun,

To close the day up, Hector's life is done.

Hector

I am unarmed; forgo this vantage, Greek.

Achilles

Strike, fellows, strike; this is the man I seek. Hector falls.

So, Ilion, fall thou next! come, Troy, sink down!

Here lies thy heart, thy sinews, and thy bone.

On, Myrmidons, and cry you all amain,

“Achilles hath the mighty Hector slain.” A retreat sounded.

Hark! a retire upon our Grecian part.

Myrmidon

The Trojans' trumpets sound the like, my lord.

Achilles

The dragon wing of night o'erspreads the earth,

And, stickler-like, the armies separates.

My half-supped sword, that frankly would have fed,

Pleased with this dainty bait, thus goes to bed. Sheathes his sword.

Come, tie his body to my horse's tail;

Along the field I will the Trojan trail. Exeunt.