Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
As when some mighty wave that thunders on the beach when the
west wind has lashed it into fury- it has reared its head afar and
now comes crashing down on the shore; it bows its arching crest
high over the jagged rocks and spews its salt foam in all directionseven
so did the serried phalanxes of the Danaans march steadfastly
to battle. The chiefs gave orders each to his own people, but the
men said never a word; no man would think it, for huge as the host
was, it seemed as though there was not a tongue among them, so
silent were they in their obedience; and as they marched the
armour about their bodies glistened in the sun. But the clamour of
the Trojan ranks was as that of many thousand ewes that stand
waiting to be milked in the yards of some rich flockmaster, and
bleat incessantly in answer to the bleating of their lambs; for they
had not one speech nor language, but their tongues were diverse,
and they came from many different places. These were inspired of
Mars, but the others by Minerva- and with them came Panic, Rout,
and Strife whose fury never tires, sister and friend of murderous
Mars, who, from being at first but low in stature, grows till she
uprears her head to heaven, though her feet are still on earth. She it
was that went about among them and flung down discord to the
waxing of sorrow with even hand between them.
When they were got together in one place shield clashed with
shield and spear with spear in the rage of battle. The bossed
shields beat one upon another, and there was a tramp as of a great
multitude- death-cry and shout of triumph of slain and slayers, and
the earth ran red with blood. As torrents swollen with rain course
madly down their deep channels till the angry floods meet in some
gorge, and the shepherd the hillside hears their roaring from afar-
79