Homer, Iliad (Orange Street).pdf

Homer’s Iliad
quarter, and sold beyond the sea many of those whom I had taken
alive; but now not a man shall live of those whom heaven delivers
into my hands before the city of Ilius- and of all Trojans it shall fare
hardest with the sons of Priam. Therefore, my friend, you too shall
die. Why should you whine in this way? Patroclus fell, and he was
a better man than you are. I too- see you not how I am great and
goodly? I am son to a noble father, and have a goddess for my
mother, but the hands of doom and death overshadow me all as
surely. The day will come, either at dawn or dark, or at the
noontide, when one shall take my life also in battle, either with his
spear, or with an arrow sped from his bow.”
Thus did he speak, and Lycaon’s heart sank within him. He loosed
his hold of the spear, and held out both hands before him; but
Achilles drew his keen blade, and struck him by the collar-bone on
his neck; he plunged his two-edged sword into him to the very hilt,
whereon he lay at full length on the ground, with the dark blood
welling from him till the earth was soaked. Then Achilles caught
him by the foot and flung him into the river to go down stream,
vaunting over him the while, and saying, “Lie there among the
fishes, who will lick the blood from your wound and gloat over it;
your mother shall not lay you on any bier to mourn you, but the
eddies of Scamander shall bear you into the broad bosom of the
sea. There shall the fishes feed on the fat of Lycaon as they dart
under the dark ripple of the waters- so perish all of you till we
reach the citadel of strong Ilius- you in flight, and I following after
to destroy you. The river with its broad silver stream shall serve
you in no stead, for all the bulls you offered him and all the horses
that you flung living into his waters. None the less miserably shall
you perish till there is not a man of you but has paid in full for the
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