There he finds none but the servants at home, who inform him that his
wife has gone to the watch-tower, whither he now hastens. The meeting
between Hector and Andromache, her tender reproaches at the risks he
runs, and her passionate reminder that since Achilles deprived her of
her kin he is her sole protector, form the most touching passage in
the Iliad. Gently reminding her he must go where honor calls, and
sadly admitting he is haunted by visions of fallen Troy and of her
plight as a captive, Hector adds that to protect her from such a fate
he must fight. But when he holds out his arms to his child, the little
one, terrified by the plumes on his helmet, refuses to come to him
until he lays it aside. Having embraced his infant son, Hector
fervently prays he may grow up to defend the Trojans, ere he hands
him back to Andromache, from whom he also takes tender leave.

Thus having spoke, the illustrious chief of Troy
Stretch'd his fond arms to clasp the lovely boy.
The babe clung crying to his nurse's breast,
Seared at the dazzling helm and nodding crest.
With secret pleasure each fond parent smiled
And Hector hasted to relieve his child,
The glittering terrors from his brows unbound,
And placed the beaming helmet on the ground;
Then kiss'd the child, and, lifting high in air,
Thus to the gods preferr'd a father's prayer:
"O thou! whose glory fills the ethereal throne,
And all ye deathless powers! protect my son!
Grant him, like me, to purchase just renown,
To guard the Trojans, to defend the crown,
Against his country's foes the war to wage,
And rise the Hector of the future age!