The death of Priam

Virgil Aeneid
The death of Priam

Neoptolemos, referred to by Virgil as Pyrrhus, kills Priam's son Polites in front of him on the altar of Zeus the Protector, where Priam and his family have taken refuge.

Priam, though death now ringed him round, could not be passive,
Could not refrain from uttering his indignation. He cried:
"Hear me, you criminal! If there is any justice in heaven,
Any eye for such things, may the gods pay you the due reward
And unstintingly show their gratitiude for this most monstrous crime
You have committed - making me witness my son's death,
Fouling a father's eyes like this with the sight of murder!

You are poles apart from Achilles - your father, you lyingly claim.
He treated me differently far, though I was his foe; he respected
A suppliant's rights, gave up the bloodless remains of Hector
For burial, and gave me safe conduct back to my city."

So saying, the old man flung his weapon, but harmlessly -
No strength behind it; a clang when the shield of Pyrrhus parried it,
And then the spear was dangling impotently from its centre.

Pyrrhus replied: "All right, you shall go and carry a message
To my father Achilles. Remember to tell him what a milksop
His son has become, and what shocking deed he has committed.
Now die!"

Even as he spoke, he dragged the old man, trembling,
And sliding in the pool of his son's blood, right to the altar;
Twined Priam's hair in his left hand, raised with his right the flashing
Sword, and sank it up to the hilt between his ribs.