The Iliad of Homer


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Such ponderous ruin shall confound the place,  
No Greeks shall e'er his perish'd relics grace,  
No hand his bones shall gather, or inhume;  
These his cold rites, and this his watery tomb."  
He said; and on the chief descends amain,  
Increased with gore, and swelling with the slain.  
Then, murmuring from his beds, he boils, he raves,  
And a foam whitens on the purple waves:  
At every step, before Achilles stood  
The crimson surge, and deluged him with blood.  
Fear touch'd the queen of heaven: she saw dismay'd,  
She call'd aloud, and summon'd Vulcan's aid.  
"
Rise to the war! the insulting flood requires  
Thy wasteful arm! assemble all thy fires!  
While to their aid, by our command enjoin'd,  
Rush the swift eastern and the western wind:  
These from old ocean at my word shall blow,  
Pour the red torrent on the watery foe,  
Corses and arms to one bright ruin turn,  
And hissing rivers to their bottoms burn.  
Go, mighty in thy rage! display thy power,  
Drink the whole flood, the crackling trees devour.  
Scorch all the banks! and (till our voice reclaim)  
Exert the unwearied furies of the flame!"  
755  


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753 754 755 756 757

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980