Homer's Iliad

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 edition. Excerpt: ...of the Greeks Stoutest and bravest. Now let any one 95 Whose soul magnanimous to stand the fight Singly with me, impels him, hither come, In presence of you all, to Hector's strength Oppos'd in arms! But this I now propose: (Be mighty Jove a witness for us both,) 100 If he shall slay me with his brazen lance, Let him possess my armor as his prize, And bear it to the navy, but restore My breathless body, home to be conveyed, That Trojan men and Trojan dames may give 105 The portion of the dead, a funeral fire. And, with Apollo's aid, if him I slay, His armor I will bear to sacred Troy, And there suspend it, as an offering due To Phosbus' splendid shrine; but to the fleet 110 His corse I will relinquish, that the Greeks May there perform exequial rites, and raise A mound of earth, memorial of the dead, Upon the shore of wide-spread Hellespont. Hereafter, mariners of other timesf 115 From ours remote, as in their well-oar'd bark They plough the dark-blue waves, may say, Behold " A warrior's tomb, who fell in ages past, By glorious Hector slain, with him in fight L/-i'. ( C/ Boldly contending! Such will be the tale Hereafter, and my fame shall never die! He spoke, and all the Greeks amaz'd, remain'd In silence wrapp'd, unwilling to refuse That challenge fierce, yet dreading to accept. At length the Spartan monarch, stung with shame, 125 And groaning from his inmost soul arose And thus indignant cried:--O boasters vain! Women of Greece, for ye of men the name No longer merit! Ah! what dire disgrace, What shame unutterable would be ours, 130 If no one of Achaia's host would meet Hector in combat! But ye cowards vile, A heartless race, inglorious here may sit Till earth and water ye again become, While I against that boastful chief will arm. 135...