The Iliad of Homer


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And his numb'd hand dismiss'd his useless bow.  
He fell: but Ajax his broad shield display'd,  
And screen'd his brother with the mighty shade;  
Till great Alaster, and Mecistheus, bore  
The batter'd archer groaning to the shore.  
Troy yet found grace before the Olympian sire,  
He arm'd their hands, and fill'd their breasts with fire.  
The Greeks repulsed, retreat behind their wall,  
Or in the trench on heaps confusedly fall.  
First of the foe, great Hector march'd along,  
With terror clothed, and more than mortal strong.  
As the bold hound, that gives the lion chase,  
With beating bosom, and with eager pace,  
Hangs on his haunch, or fastens on his heels,  
Guards as he turns, and circles as he wheels;  
Thus oft the Grecians turn'd, but still they flew;  
Thus following, Hector still the hindmost slew.  
When flying they had pass'd the trench profound,  
And many a chief lay gasping on the ground;  
Before the ships a desperate stand they made,  
And fired the troops, and called the gods to aid.  
Fierce on his rattling chariot Hector came:  
His eyes like Gorgon shot a sanguine flame  
That wither'd all their host: like Mars he stood:  
Dire as the monster, dreadful as the god!  
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Page
324 325 326 327 328

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980