The Iliad

by Homer

now I deem we part not hence till one of ye Glut with his blood th’ insatiate Lord of War.”

This day the gates of Hades thou shalt pass.”

Jove, With look indignant: “Come no more to me, Thou wav’ring turncoat, with thy whining pray’rs: Of all the Gods who on Olympus dwell I hate thee most; for thou delight’st in nought 1015 But strife and war; thou hast inherited Thy mother, Juno’s, proud, unbending mood, Whom I can scarce control; and thou, methinks, To her suggestions ow’st thy present plight. Yet since thou art my offspring, and to me 1020 Thy mother bore thee, I must not permit That thou should’st long be doom’d to suffer pain; But had thy birth been other than it is, For thy misdoings thou hadst long ere now Been banish’d from the Gods’ companionship.”

for great the strength Which gen’rous wine imparts to men who toil,

Thy better judgment better counsel knows;

And here and there, athwart the pass of war, 180 Was many an empty car at random whirl’d By strong-neck’d steeds, of guiding hands bereft; Stretch’d on the plain they lay, more welcome sight To carrion birds than to their widow’d wives.

“Thou hast it! not in vain my shaft hath flown! Would that, deep buried in thy flank, it touch’d Thy very life!

not in vain the spear has flown: A Greek now bears it off; and he, perchance, May use it as a staff to Pluto’s realm.”

Full on his temples fell the jagged mass, Drove both his eyebrows in, and crush’d the bone; Before him in the dust his eyeballs fell;

She gave fresh vigour to his arms and knees, And to his breast the boldness of the fly, Which, oft repell’d by man, renews th’ assault Incessant,

at his words Antilochus Astounded stood; long time his tongue in vain For utt’rance strove; his eyes were fill’d with tears,

“O Heav’n, what marvel do mine eyes behold? My spear before me laid, and vanish’d he At whom I hurl’d it with intent to slay!

Thee and thy sons in Troy I vex with war.