FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187  
188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   >>   >|  
ueen! is thine? I war not with the highest. All above Submit and tremble at the hand of Jove." Now godlike Hector, to whose matchless might Jove gave the glory of the destined fight, Squadrons on squadrons drives, and fills the fields With close-ranged chariots, and with thicken'd shields. Where the deep trench in length extended lay, Compacted troops stand wedged in firm array, A dreadful front! they shake the brands, and threat With long-destroying flames the hostile fleet. The king of men, by Juno's self inspired, Toil'd through the tents, and all his army fired. Swift as he moved, he lifted in his hand His purple robe, bright ensign of command. High on the midmost bark the king appear'd: There, from Ulysses' deck, his voice was heard: To Ajax and Achilles reach'd the sound, Whose distant ships the guarded navy bound. "O Argives! shame of human race! (he cried: The hollow vessels to his voice replied,) Where now are all your glorious boasts of yore, Your hasty triumphs on the Lemnian shore? Each fearless hero dares a hundred foes, While the feast lasts, and while the goblet flows; But who to meet one martial man is found, When the fight rages, and the flames surround? O mighty Jove! O sire of the distress'd! Was ever king like me, like me oppress'd? With power immense, with justice arm'd in vain; My glory ravish'd, and my people slain! To thee my vows were breathed from every shore; What altar smoked not with our victims' gore? With fat of bulls I fed the constant flame, And ask'd destruction to the Trojan name. Now, gracious god! far humbler our demand; Give these at least to 'scape from Hector's hand, And save the relics of the Grecian land!" Thus pray'd the king, and heaven's great father heard His vows, in bitterness of soul preferr'd: The wrath appeased, by happy signs declares, And gives the people to their monarch's prayers. His eagle, sacred bird of heaven! he sent, A fawn his talons truss'd, (divine portent!) High o'er the wondering hosts he soar'd above, Who paid their vows to Panomphaean Jove; Then let the prey before his altar fall; The Greeks beheld, and transport seized on all: Encouraged by the sign, the troops revive, And fierce on Troy with doubled fury drive. Tydides first, of all the Grecian force, O'er the broad ditch impell'd his foaming horse, Pierced the deep ranks, their s
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187  
188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

troops

 

flames

 

Grecian

 

heaven

 

people

 

Hector

 

gracious

 

Trojan

 

destruction

 

humbler


relics

 

demand

 

constant

 

justice

 

ravish

 

immense

 

distress

 

tremble

 
oppress
 

Submit


victims

 
smoked
 

highest

 

breathed

 

seized

 

transport

 

Encouraged

 

fierce

 

revive

 
beheld

Greeks
 

doubled

 

foaming

 

impell

 
Pierced
 
Tydides
 
Panomphaean
 

declares

 
monarch
 

prayers


bitterness

 

preferr

 

appeased

 

sacred

 

wondering

 

portent

 

talons

 

divine

 

father

 

destined