The Iliad of Homer


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"
He bleeds! (he cries) some god has sped my dart!  
Would the same god had fix'd it in his heart!  
So Troy, relieved from that wide-wasting hand,  
Should breathe from slaughter and in combat stand:  
Whose sons now tremble at his darted spear,  
As scatter'd lambs the rushing lion fear."  
He dauntless thus: "Thou conqueror of the fair,  
Thou woman-warrior with the curling hair;  
Vain archer! trusting to the distant dart,  
Unskill'd in arms to act a manly part!  
Thou hast but done what boys or women can;  
Such hands may wound, but not incense a man.  
Nor boast the scratch thy feeble arrow gave,  
A coward's weapon never hurts the brave.  
Not so this dart, which thou may'st one day feel;  
Fate wings its flight, and death is on the steel:  
Where this but lights, some noble life expires;  
Its touch makes orphans, bathes the cheeks of sires,  
Steeps earth in purple, gluts the birds of air,  
And leaves such objects as distract the fair."  
Ulysses hastens with a trembling heart,  
Before him steps, and bending draws the dart:  
Forth flows the blood; an eager pang succeeds;  
Tydides mounts, and to the navy speeds.  
424  


Page
422 423 424 425 426

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980