The Iliad

by Homer

Castor and Pollux, first in martial force, One bold on foot, and one renown'd for horse.

Far more than heirs of all our parents' fame, Our glories darken their diminish'd name."

All sink alike, the fearful and the brave.

The long reflections of the distant fires Gleam on the walls, and tremble on the spires.

And ardent warriors wait the rising morn.

Yet more—three daughters in his court are bred, And each well worthy of a royal bed: Laodice and Iphigenia fair, And bright Chrysothemis with golden hair:

My beauteous captives thither I'll convey, And all that rests of my unravish'd prey.

The weapon drank the mingled brains and gore!

Spread their cold poison through our soldiers' breasts, My javelin can revenge so base a part, And free the soul that quivers in thy heart."

Troy ends at last his labours and his life.

Glory to me, and to the Greeks despair.

Amisodarus, who, by Furies led, The bane of men, abhorr'd Chimaera bred;

The god, his eyes averting from the plain, Laments his son, predestined to be slain,

Great Jove, to swell the horrors of the fight, O'er the fierce armies pours pernicious night,

And stuck with darts by warring heroes shed, Lies undistinguish'd from the vulgar dead.

Æneas was the first who dared to stay; Apollo wedged him in the warrior's way, But swell'd his bosom with undaunted might, Half-forced and half-persuaded to the fight.

And dash'd and mingled all the brains with gore.

High o'er the scene of death Achilles stood, All grim with dust, all horrible in blood: Yet still insatiate, still with rage on flame; Such is the lust of never-dying fame!

Add perjury to fraud, and make it thine—"