The Iliad of Homer


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Following his martial father to the war:  
Through filial love he left his native shore,  
Never, ah, never to behold it more!  
His unsuccessful spear he chanced to fling  
Against the target of the Spartan king;  
Thus of his lance disarm'd, from death he flies,  
And turns around his apprehensive eyes.  
Him, through the hip transpiercing as he fled,  
The shaft of Merion mingled with the dead.  
Beneath the bone the glancing point descends,  
And, driving down, the swelling bladder rends:  
Sunk in his sad companions' arms he lay,  
And in short pantings sobb'd his soul away;  
(Like some vile worm extended on the ground;)  
While life's red torrent gush'd from out the wound.  
Him on his car the Paphlagonian train  
In slow procession bore from off the plain.  
The pensive father, father now no more!  
Attends the mournful pomp along the shore;  
And unavailing tears profusely shed;  
And, unrevenged, deplored his offspring dead.  
Paris from far the moving sight beheld,  
With pity soften'd and with fury swell'd:  
His honour'd host, a youth of matchless grace,  
503  


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501 502 503 504 505

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980