Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
wretch, not even in death shall your father and mother close your
eyes, but the ravening vultures shall enshroud you with the
flapping of their dark wings and devour you. Whereas even
though I fall the Achaeans will give me my due rites of burial.”
So saying he drew Socus’s heavy spear out of his flesh and from his
shield, and the blood welled forth when the spear was withdrawn
so that he was much dismayed. When the Trojans saw that Ulysses
was bleeding they raised a great shout and came on in a body
towards him; he therefore gave ground, and called his comrades to
come and help him. Thrice did he cry as loudly as man can cry, and
thrice did brave Menelaus hear him; he turned, therefore, to Ajax
who was close beside him and said, “Ajax, noble son of Telamon,
captain of your people, the cry of Ulysses rings in my ears, as
though the Trojans had cut him off and were worsting him while he
is single-handed. Let us make our way through the throng; it will
be well that we defend him; I fear he may come to harm for all his
valour if he be left without support, and the Danaans would miss
him sorely.”
He led the way and mighty Ajax went with him. The Trojans had
gathered round Ulysses like ravenous mountain jackals round the
carcase of some homed stag that has been hit with an arrow- the
stag has fled at full speed so long as his blood was warm and his
strength has lasted, but when the arrow has overcome him, the
savage jackals devour him in the shady glades of the forest. Then
heaven sends a fierce lion thither, whereon the jackals fly in terror
and the lion robs them of their prey- even so did Trojans many and
brave gather round crafty Ulysses, but the hero stood at bay and
kept them off with his spear. Ajax then came up with his shield
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