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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PHILOCTETES (2) by CHARLES TENNYSON TURNER

First Line: ONWARD THE FATAL HOURS AND MINUTES STEAL
Last Line: THE DREADFUL PURPORT OF HIS CHIEF'S RECALL.
Subject(s): HOMER (10TH CENTURY B.C.); POETRY & POETS; ILIAD; ODYSSEY;
Onward the fatal hours and minutes steal,
To-morrow shall his archery commence,
And Troy's proud walls be left without defence,
Open and mortal as Achilles' heel:
To-morrow that old suitor shall exact
Grim vengeance, now for ten years overdue -
For Menelaus and OEnone too -
Th' adulterer shall be slain - the city sackt:
Night falls - The mighty bow lies still on board,
And dips and rises with the heaving wave:
The ship-light flickers on that thirsty hoard
Of arrows, which the twelve-fold labourer gave;
The night-watch halts beside it, pondering all
The dreadful purport of his chief's recall.



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