The Iliad of Homer


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Due to my conquest of her father's reign;  
Due to the votes of all the Grecian train.  
From me he forced her; me, the bold and brave,  
Disgraced, dishonour'd, like the meanest slave.  
But bear we this--the wrongs I grieve are past;  
'Tis time our fury should relent at last:  
I fix'd its date; the day I wish'd appears:  
How Hector to my ships his battle bears,  
The flames my eyes, the shouts invade my ears.  
Go then, Patroclus! court fair honour's charms  
In Troy's famed fields, and in Achilles' arms:  
Lead forth my martial Myrmidons to fight,  
Go save the fleets, and conquer in my right.  
See the thin relics of their baffled band  
At the last edge of yon deserted land!  
Behold all Ilion on their ships descends;  
How the cloud blackens, how the storm impends!  
It was not thus, when, at my sight amazed,  
Troy saw and trembled, as this helmet blazed:  
Had not the injurious king our friendship lost,  
Yon ample trench had buried half her host.  
No camps, no bulwarks now the Trojans fear,  
Those are not dreadful, no Achilles there;  
No longer flames the lance of Tydeus' son;  
No more your general calls his heroes on:  
Hector, alone, I hear; his dreadful breath  
584  


Page
582 583 584 585 586

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980