The Iliad of Homer


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She rent her tresses, venerable grey,  
And cast, far off, the regal veils away.  
With piercing shrieks his bitter fate she moans,  
While the sad father answers groans with groans  
Tears after tears his mournful cheeks o'erflow,  
And the whole city wears one face of woe:  
No less than if the rage of hostile fires.  
From her foundations curling to her spires,  
O'er the proud citadel at length should rise,  
And the last blaze send Ilion to the skies.  
The wretched monarch of the falling state,  
Distracted, presses to the Dardan gate.  
Scarce the whole people stop his desperate course,  
While strong affliction gives the feeble force:  
Grief tears his heart, and drives him to and fro,  
In all the raging impotence of woe.  
At length he roll'd in dust, and thus begun,  
Imploring all, and naming one by one:  
"
Ah! let me, let me go where sorrow calls;  
I, only I, will issue from your walls  
Guide or companion, friends! I ask ye none),  
(
And bow before the murderer of my son.  
My grief perhaps his pity may engage;  
Perhaps at least he may respect my age.  
He has a father too; a man like me;  
One, not exempt from age and misery  
792  


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790 791 792 793 794

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980