The Iliad of Homer eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 667 pages of information about The Iliad of Homer.
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The Iliad of Homer eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 667 pages of information about The Iliad of Homer.
For Lycia lies far distant on the banks
Of the deep-eddied Xanthus.  There a wife
I left and infant son, both dear to me,
With plenteous wealth, the wish of all who want. 
Yet urge I still my Lycians, and am prompt 570
Myself to fight, although possessing here
Nought that the Greeks can carry or drive hence. 
But there stand’st thou, neither employed thyself,
Nor moving others to an active part
For all their dearest pledges.  Oh beware! 575
Lest, as with meshes of an ample net,
At one huge draught the Grecians sweep you all,
And desolate at once your populous Troy! 
By day, by night, thoughts such as these should still
Thy conduct influence, and from Chief to Chief 580
Of the allies should send thee, praying each
To make firm stand, all bickerings put away. 

    So spake Sarpedon, and his reprimand

Stung Hector; instant to the ground he leap’d
All arm’d, and shaking his bright spears his host 585
Ranged in all quarters animating loud
His legions, and rekindling horrid war. 
Then, rolling back, the powers of Troy opposed
Once more the Grecians, whom the Grecians dense
Expected, unretreating, void of fear. 590

    As flies the chaff wide scatter’d by the wind

O’er all the consecrated floor, what time
Ripe Ceres[13] with brisk airs her golden grain
Ventilates, whitening with its husk the ground;
So grew the Achaians white, a dusty cloud 595
Descending on their arms, which steeds with steeds
Again to battle mingling, with their hoofs
Up-stamp’d into the brazen vault of heaven;
For now the charioteers turn’d all to fight. 
Host toward host with full collected force 600
They moved direct.  Then Mars through all the field
Took wide his range, and overhung the war
With night, in aid of Troy, at the command
Of Phoebus of the golden sword; for he
Perceiving Pallas from the field withdrawn, 605
Patroness of the Greeks, had Mars enjoin’d
To rouse the spirit of the Trojan host. 
Meantime Apollo from his unctuous shrine
Sent forth restored and with new force inspired
AEneas.  He amidst his warriors stood, 610
Who him with joy beheld still living, heal’d,
And all his strength possessing unimpair’d. 
Yet no man ask’d him aught.  No leisure now
For question was; far other thoughts had they;
Such toils the archer of the silver bow, 615
Wide-slaughtering Mars, and Discord as at first
Raging implacable, for them prepared. 

    Ulysses, either Ajax, Diomede—­

These roused the Greeks to battle, who themselves
The force fear’d nothing, or the shouts of Troy, 620
But steadfast stood, like clouds by Jove amass’d
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The Iliad of Homer from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.