The Iliad of Homer


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Renown'd, triumphant, and enrich'd with spoils.  
Now shameful flight alone can save the host,  
Our blood, our treasure, and our glory lost.  
So Jove decrees, resistless lord of all!  
At whose command whole empires rise or fall:  
He shakes the feeble props of human trust,  
And towns and armies humbles to the dust  
What shame to Greece a fruitful war to wage,  
Oh, lasting shame in every future age!  
Once great in arms, the common scorn we grow,  
Repulsed and baffled by a feeble foe.  
So small their number, that if wars were ceased,  
And Greece triumphant held a general feast,  
All rank'd by tens, whole decades when they dine  
Must want a Trojan slave to pour the wine.(84)  
But other forces have our hopes o'erthrown,  
And Troy prevails by armies not her own.  
Now nine long years of mighty Jove are run,  
Since first the labours of this war begun:  
Our cordage torn, decay'd our vessels lie,  
And scarce insure the wretched power to fly.  
Haste, then, for ever leave the Trojan wall!  
Our weeping wives, our tender children call:  
Love, duty, safety, summon us away,  
'
Tis nature's voice, and nature we obey,  
Our shatter'd barks may yet transport us o'er,  
15  
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Page
113 114 115 116 117

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980