Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
Thus did he pause and ponder. But Lycaon came up to him dazed
and trying hard to embrace his knees, for he would fain live, not
die. Achilles thrust at him with his spear, meaning to kill him, but
Lycaon ran crouching up to him and caught his knees, whereby the
spear passed over his back, and stuck in the ground, hungering
though it was for blood. With one hand he caught Achilles’ knees
as he besought him, and with the other he clutched the spear and
would not let it go. Then he said, “Achilles, have mercy upon me
and spare me, for I am your suppliant. It was in your tents that I
first broke bread on the day when you took me prisoner in the
vineyard; after which you sold away to Lemnos far from my father
and my friends, and I brought you the price of a hundred oxen. I
have paid three times as much to gain my freedom; it is but twelve
days that I have come to Ilius after much suffering, and now cruel
fate has again thrown me into your hands. Surely father Jove must
hate me, that he has given me over to you a second time. Short of
life indeed did my mother Laothoe bear me, daughter of aged
Altes- of Altes who reigns over the warlike Lelegae and holds steep
Pedasus on the river Satnioeis. Priam married his daughter along
with many other women and two sons were born of her, both of
whom you will have slain. Your spear slew noble Polydorus as he
was fighting in the front ranks, and now evil will here befall me, for
I fear that I shall not escape you since heaven has delivered me
over to you. Furthermore I say, and lay my saying to your heart,
spare me, for I am not of the same womb as Hector who slew your
brave and noble comrade.”
With such words did the princely son of Priam beseech Achilles;
but Achilles answered him sternly. “Idiot,” said he, “talk not to me
of ransom. Until Patroclus fell I preferred to give the Trojans
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