The Iliad of Homer


google search for The Iliad of Homer

Return to Master Book Index.

Page
726 727 728 729 730

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980

Sees, through its parting plates, the upper air,  
And at his back perceives the quivering spear:  
A fate so near him, chills his soul with fright;  
And swims before his eyes the many-colour'd light.  
Achilles, rushing in with dreadful cries,  
Draws his broad blade, and at Æneas flies:  
Æneas rousing as the foe came on,  
With force collected, heaves a mighty stone:  
A mass enormous! which in modern days  
No two of earth's degenerate sons could raise.  
But ocean's god, whose earthquakes rock the ground.  
Saw the distress, and moved the powers around:  
"Lo! on the brink of fate Æneas stands,  
An instant victim to Achilles' hands;  
By Phoebus urged; but Phoebus has bestow'd  
His aid in vain: the man o'erpowers the god.  
And can ye see this righteous chief atone  
With guiltless blood for vices not his own?  
To all the gods his constant vows were paid;  
Sure, though he wars for Troy, he claims our aid.  
Fate wills not this; nor thus can Jove resign  
The future father of the Dardan line:(266)  
The first great ancestor obtain'd his grace,  
And still his love descends on all the race:  
For Priam now, and Priam's faithless kind,  
728  


Page
726 727 728 729 730

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980