The Iliad of Homer


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As with the light the warriors' toils begun.  
Even Jove, whose thunder spoke his wrath, distill'd  
Red drops of blood o'er all the fatal field;(220)  
The woes of men unwilling to survey,  
And all the slaughters that must stain the day.  
Near Ilus' tomb, in order ranged around,  
The Trojan lines possess'd the rising ground:  
There wise Polydamas and Hector stood;  
Æneas, honour'd as a guardian god;  
Bold Polybus, Agenor the divine;  
The brother-warriors of Antenor's line:  
With youthful Acamas, whose beauteous face  
And fair proportion match'd the ethereal race.  
Great Hector, cover'd with his spacious shield,  
Plies all the troops, and orders all the field.  
As the red star now shows his sanguine fires  
Through the dark clouds, and now in night retires,  
Thus through the ranks appear'd the godlike man,  
Plunged in the rear, or blazing in the van;  
While streamy sparkles, restless as he flies,  
Flash from his arms, as lightning from the skies.  
As sweating reapers in some wealthy field,  
Ranged in two bands, their crooked weapons wield,  
Bear down the furrows, till their labours meet;  
Thick fall the heapy harvests at their feet:  
407  


Page
405 406 407 408 409

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980