Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ILIAD: BOOK 17. THE HORSES OF ACHILLES, by HOMER 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 But from the fight withdrawn, Achilles' steeds Wept, as they heard how in the dust was laid Their charioteer, by Hector's murderous hand.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. | 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 |
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