Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ILIAD: BOOK 22. THE PURSUIT AROUND THE WALLS, by HOMER Poet's Biography First Line: Thus pondering he stood; meantime approached Last Line: Of priam compass'd. All the gods looked on. Subject(s): Mythology - Classical; Trojan War | ||||||||
THUS pondering he stood; meantime approach'd Achilles, terrible as fiery Mars, Crest-tossing God, and brandish'd as he came O'er his right shoulder high the Pelian spear. Like lightning, or like flame, or like the sun Ascending, beam'd his armour. At that sight Trembled the Trojan Chief, nor dared expect His nearer step, but flying left the gates Far distant, and Achilles swift pursued. As in the mountains, fleetest fowl of air, The hawk darts eager at the dove; she scuds Aslant, he, screaming, springs and springs again To seize her, all impatient for the prey, So flew Achilles constant to the track Of Hector, who with dreadful haste beneath The Trojan bulwarks plied his agile limbs. Passing the prospect-mount where high in air The wild-fig waved, they rush'd along the road, Declining never from the wall of Troy. And now they reach'd the running rivulets clear, Where from Scamander's dizzy flood arise Two fountains, tepid one, from which a smoke Issues voluminous as from a fire, The other, even in summer heats, like hail For cold, or snow, or chrystal-stream frost-bound. Beside them may be seen the broad canals Of marble scoop'd, in which the wives of Troy And all her daughters fair were wont to lave Their costly raiment, while the land had rest, And ere the warlike sons of Greece arrived. By these they ran, one fleeing, one in chase. Valiant was he who fled, but valiant far Beyond him He who urged the swift pursuit; Nor ran they for a vulgar prize, a beast For sacrifice, or for the hide of such, The swift foot-racer's customary meed, But for the noble Hector's life they ran. As when two steeds, oft conquerors, trim the goal For some illustrious prize, a tripod bright Or beauteous virgin, at a funeral game, So they with nimble feet the city thrice Of Priam compass'd. All the Gods looked on. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RETURN OF THE GREEKS by EDWIN MUIR THE FALL OF TROY by RACHEL HADAS MENELAUS AND HELEN by RUPERT BROOKE THE DEATH OF LEONIDAS by GEORGE CROLY THE ILIAD: ACHILLES OVER THE TRENCH by HOMER THE ILIAD: BOOK 12. SARPEDON'S SPEECH by HOMER BALLAD OF HECTOR IN HADES by EDWIN MUIR THE ILIAD: ACHILLES OVER THE TRENCH by HOMER |
|