Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ILIAD: BOOK 17. THE HORSES OF ACHILLES, by HOMER


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THE ILIAD: BOOK 17. THE HORSES OF ACHILLES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: And thus they fought; the iron clangour pierced
Last Line: Amid the greeks and trojans lightly bore.
Subject(s): Animals; Horses; Mythology - Classical; Trojan War


AND thus they fought; the iron clangour pierced
The empty air, and brazen vault of Heaven.
But from the fight withdrawn, Achilles' steeds
Wept, as they heard how in the dust was laid
Their charioteer, by Hector's murderous hand.
Automedon, Diores' valiant son,
Essayed in vain to rouse them with the lash,
In vain with honeyed words, in vain with threats;
Nor to the ships would they return again
By the broad Hellespont, nor join the fray;
But as a column stands, which marks the tomb
Of man or woman, so immovable
Beneath the splendid car they stood, their heads
Down-drooping to the ground, while scalding tears
Dropped earthward from their eyelids, as they mourned
Their charioteer; and, o'er the yoke-band shed,
Down streamed their ample manes, with dust defiled.
The son of Saturn pitying saw their grief,
And sorrowing shook his head, as thus he mused:
'Ah, hapless horses! wherefore gave we you
To royal Peleus, to a mortal man,
You that from age and death are both exempt!
Was it that you the miseries might share
Of wretched mortals? for of all that breathe,
And walk upon the earth, or creep, is nought
More wretched than the unhappy race of man.
Yet shall not ye, nor shall your well-wrought car,
By Hector, son of Priam, be controlled;
I will not suffer it; enough for him
To hold, with vaunting boast, Achilles' arms;
But to your limbs and spirits will I impart
Such strength, that from the battle to the ships
Ye shall in safety bear Automedon;
For yet I will the Trojans shall prevail,
And slay, until they reach the well-manned ships,
Till sets the sun, and darkness shrouds the earth.'
He said, and in their breasts fresh spirit infused;
They, shaking from their manes the dust, the car
Amid the Greeks and Trojans lightly bore.





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