The Iliads of Homer. Homer

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СКАЧАТЬ Who from Trœzenius-Ceades right nobly did descend.

       Pyræchmes did the Pæons rule, that crookéd bows do bend;

       From Axius, out of Amydon, he had them in command,

       From Axius, whose most beauteous stream still overflows the land.

       Pylæmen with the well-arm'd heart, the Paphlagonians led,

       From Enes, where the race of mules fit for the plough is bred.

       The men that broad Cytorus' bounds, and Sesamus, enfold,

       About Parthenius' lofty flood, in houses much extoll'd,

       From Cromna and Ægialus, the men that arms did bear,

       And Erythinus situate high, Pylæmen's soldiers were.

       Epistrophus and Dius did the Halizonians guide,

       Far-fetch'd from Alybe, where first the silver mines were tried.

       Chromis, and augur Ennomus, the Mysians did command,

       Who could not with his auguries the strength of death withstand,

       But suffer'd it beneath the stroke of great Æacides,

       In Xanthus; where he made more souls dive to the Stygian seas.

       Phorcys, and fair Ascanius, the Phrygians brought to war,

       Well train'd for battle, and were come out of Ascania far.

       With Methles, and with Antiphus, (Pylæmen's sons) did fight

       The men of Meïon, whom the fen Gygæa brought to light,

       And those Meionians that beneath the mountain Tmolus sprung.

       The rude unletter'd Caribæ, that barbarous were of tongue,

       Did under Nastes' colours march, and young Amphimachus,

       (Nomion's famous sons) to whom, the mountain Phthirorus

       That with the famous wood is crown'd, Miletus, Mycales

       That hath so many lofty marks for men that love the seas,

       The crooked arms Mæander bow'd with his so snaky flood,

       Resign'd for conduct the choice youth of all their martial brood.

       The fool Amphimachus, to field, brought gold to be his wrack,

       Proud-girl-like that doth ever bear her dow'r upon her back;

       Which wise Achilles mark'd, slew him, and took his gold in strife,

       At Xanthus' flood; so little Death did fear his golden life.

       Sarpedon led the Lycians, and Glaucus unreprov'd,

       From Lycia, and the gulfy flood of Xanthus far remov'd.

      THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK.

      THE THIRD BOOK OF HOMER'S ILIADS

      THE ARGUMENT

      Paris, betwixt the hosts, to single fight,

       Of all the Greeks, dares the most hardy knight.

       King Menelaus doth accept his brave,

       Conditioning that he again should have

       Fair Helena, with all she brought to Troy,

       If he subdu'd; else Paris should enjoy

       Her, and her wealth, in peace. Conquest doth grant

       Her dear wreath to the Grecian combatant;

       But Venus to her champion's life doth yield

       Safe rescue, and conveys him from the field

       Into his chamber, and for Helen sends,

       Whom much her lover's foul disgrace offends;

       Yet Venus for him still makes good her charms,

       And ends the second combat in his arms.

      ANOTHER ARGUMENT

      Gamma the single fight doth sing

       'Twixt Paris and the Spartan king.

      When ev'ry least commander's will best soldiers had obey'd,

       And both the hosts were rang'd for fight, the Trojans would have

       fray'd

       The Greeks with noises, crying out, in coming rudely on;

       At all parts like the cranes that fill, with harsh confusion,

       Of brutish clangés all the air, and in ridiculous war

       (Eschewing the unsuffer'd storms, shot from the winter's star)

       Visit the ocean, and confer the Pygmei soldiers' death.

       The Greeks charg'd silent, and like men, bestow'd their thrifty

       breath

       In strength of far-resounding blows, still entertaining care

       Of either's rescue, when their strength did their engagements dare.

       And as, upon a hill's steep tops, the south wind pours a cloud,

       To shepherds thankless, but by thieves that love the night,

       allow'd,

       A darkness letting down, that blinds a stone's cast off men's eyes;

       Such darkness from the Greeks' swift feet (made all of dust) did

       rise.

       But, ere stern conflict mix'd both strengths, fair Paris stept

       before

       The Trojan host; athwart his back a panther's hide he wore,

       A crookéd bow, and sword, and shook two brazen-headed darts;

       With which well-arm'd, his tongue provok'd the best of Grecian

       hearts

       To stand with him in single fight. Whom when the man, wrong'd most

       Of all the Greeks, so gloriously saw stalk before the host;

       As when a lion is rejoic'd, (with hunger half forlorn,)

       That finds some sweet prey, as a hart, whose grace lies in his

       horn,

       Or sylvan goat, which he devours, though never so pursu'd

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