The Iliad of Homer


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Shot trembling rays that glitter'd o'er the land;  
And on his breast the beamy splendour shone,  
Like Jove's own lightning, or the rising sun.  
As Hector sees, unusual terrors rise,  
Struck by some god, he fears, recedes, and flies.  
He leaves the gates, he leaves the wall behind:  
Achilles follows like the winged wind.  
Thus at the panting dove a falcon flies  
(The swiftest racer of the liquid skies),  
Just when he holds, or thinks he holds his prey,  
Obliquely wheeling through the aerial way,  
With open beak and shrilling cries he springs,  
And aims his claws, and shoots upon his wings:  
No less fore-right the rapid chase they held,  
One urged by fury, one by fear impell'd:  
Now circling round the walls their course maintain,  
Where the high watch-tower overlooks the plain;  
Now where the fig-trees spread their umbrage broad,  
(A wider compass,) smoke along the road.  
Next by Scamander's double source they bound,  
Where two famed fountains burst the parted ground;  
This hot through scorching clefts is seen to rise,  
With exhalations steaming to the skies;  
That the green banks in summer's heat o'erflows,  
Like crystal clear, and cold as winter snows:  
Each gushing fount a marble cistern fills,  
778  


Page
776 777 778 779 780

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980