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Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

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<strong>Homer</strong>’s <strong>Iliad</strong><br />

loom, your distaff, and the ordering of your servants; for war is<br />

man’s matter, and mine above all others of them that have been<br />

born in Ilius.”<br />

He took his plumed helmet from the ground, and his wife went<br />

back again to her house, weeping bitterly and often looking back<br />

towards him. When she reached her home she found her maidens<br />

within, and bade them all join in her lament; so they mourned<br />

Hector in his own house though he was yet alive, for they deemed<br />

that they should never see him return safe from battle, and from the<br />

furious hands of the Achaeans.<br />

Paris did not remain long in his house. He donned his goodly<br />

armour overlaid with bronze, and hasted through the city as fast as<br />

his feet could take him. As a horse, stabled and fed, breaks loose<br />

and gallops gloriously over the plain to the place where he is wont<br />

to bathe in the fair-flowing river- he holds his head high, and his<br />

mane streams upon his shoulders as he exults in his strength and<br />

flies like the wind to the haunts and feeding ground of the mareseven<br />

so went forth Paris from high Pergamus, gleaming like<br />

sunlight in his armour, and he laughed aloud as he sped swiftly on<br />

his way. Forthwith he came upon his brother Hector, who was then<br />

turning away from the place where he had held converse with his<br />

wife, and he was himself the first to speak. “Sir,” said he, “I fear<br />

that I have kept you waiting when you are in haste, and have not<br />

come as quickly as you bade me.”<br />

“My good brother,” answered Hector, you fight bravely, and no<br />

man with any justice can make light of your doings in battle. But<br />

you are careless and wilfully remiss. It grieves me to the heart to<br />

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