The Iliad of Homer


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Or thus the fearful with reproaches fires:  
Shame to your country, scandal of your kind;  
"
Born to the fate ye well deserve to find!  
Why stand ye gazing round the dreadful plain,  
Prepared for flight, but doom'd to fly in vain?  
Confused and panting thus, the hunted deer  
Falls as he flies, a victim to his fear.  
Still must ye wait the foes, and still retire,  
Till yon tall vessels blaze with Trojan fire?  
Or trust ye, Jove a valiant foe shall chase,  
To save a trembling, heartless, dastard race?"  
This said, he stalk'd with ample strides along,  
To Crete's brave monarch and his martial throng;  
High at their head he saw the chief appear,  
And bold Meriones excite the rear.  
At this the king his generous joy express'd,  
And clasp'd the warrior to his armed breast.  
"
Divine Idomeneus! what thanks we owe  
To worth like thine! what praise shall we bestow?  
To thee the foremost honours are decreed,  
First in the fight and every graceful deed.  
For this, in banquets, when the generous bowls  
Restore our blood, and raise the warriors' souls,  
Though all the rest with stated rules we bound,  
Unmix'd, unmeasured, are thy goblets crown'd.  
191  


Page
189 190 191 192 193

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980