The Iliad of Homer


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And crowd to spoil the dead: the Greeks oppose;  
An iron circle round the carcase grows.  
Then brave Laogonus resign'd his breath,  
Despatch'd by Merion to the shades of death:  
On Ida's holy hill he made abode,  
The priest of Jove, and honour'd like his god.  
Between the jaw and ear the javelin went;  
The soul, exhaling, issued at the vent.  
His spear Aeneas at the victor threw,  
Who stooping forward from the death withdrew;  
The lance hiss'd harmless o'er his covering shield,  
And trembling struck, and rooted in the field;  
There yet scarce spent, it quivers on the plain,  
Sent by the great Aeneas' arm in vain.  
"Swift as thou art (the raging hero cries)  
And skill'd in dancing to dispute the prize,  
My spear, the destined passage had it found,  
Had fix'd thy active vigour to the ground."  
"O valiant leader of the Dardan host!  
(
Insulted Merion thus retorts the boast)  
Strong as you are, 'tis mortal force you trust,  
An arm as strong may stretch thee in the dust.  
And if to this my lance thy fate be given,  
Vain are thy vaunts; success is still from heaven:  
611  


Page
609 610 611 612 613

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980