But, worthy Hector,
She is a theme of honour and renown,
A spur to valiant and magnanimous deeds.
The character of Hector, in the few slight indications which appear
of it, is made very amiable. His death is sublime, and shows in a
striking light the mixture of barbarity and heroism of the age. The
threats of Achilles are fatal; they carry their own means of
execution with them.
Come here about me, you my Myrmidons,
Mark what I say.--Attend me where I wheel:
Strike not a stroke, but keep yourselves in breath;
And when I have the bloody Hector found,
Empale him with your weapons round about:
In fellest manner execute your arms.
Follow me, sirs, and my proceeding eye.
He then finds Hector and slays him, as if he had been hunting down a
wild beast. There is something revolting as well as terrific in the
ferocious coolness with which he singles out his prey: nor does the
splendour of the achievement reconcile us to the cruelty of the
means.
The characters of Cressida and Pandarus are very amusing and
instructive. The disinterested willingness of Pandarus to serve his
friend in an affair which lies next his heart is immediately brought
forward. 'Go thy way, Troilus, go thy way; had I a sister were a
grace, or a daughter were a goddess, he should take his choice.
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