The Iliad of Homer


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When the stern fury of the war is o'er,  
And wrath, extinguish'd, burns my breast no more.  
By Hector slain, their faces to the sky,  
All grim with gaping wounds, our heroes lie:  
Those call to war! and might my voice incite,  
Now, now, this instant, shall commence the fight:  
Then, when the day's complete, let generous bowls,  
And copious banquets, glad your weary souls.  
Let not my palate know the taste of food,  
Till my insatiate rage be cloy'd with blood:  
Pale lies my friend, with wounds disfigured o'er,  
And his cold feet are pointed to the door.  
Revenge is all my soul! no meaner care,  
Interest, or thought, has room to harbour there;  
Destruction be my feast, and mortal wounds,  
And scenes of blood, and agonizing sounds."  
"O first of Greeks, (Ulysses thus rejoin'd,)  
The best and bravest of the warrior kind!  
Thy praise it is in dreadful camps to shine,  
But old experience and calm wisdom mine.  
Then hear my counsel, and to reason yield,  
The bravest soon are satiate of the field;  
Though vast the heaps that strow the crimson plain,  
The bloody harvest brings but little gain:  
The scale of conquest ever wavering lies,  
702  


Page
700 701 702 703 704

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980