Dogs

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 21 Sep 2011 14:42 and updated at 21 Sep 2011 14:42

ILIAD NOUN

ild.01 Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to Dogs and Vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, first fell out with one another.
ild.02 The bands that bear your shields shall be wet with the sweat upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary upon your spears, your Horses shall steam in front of your Chariots, and if I see any man shirking the fight, or trying to keep out of it at the ships, there shall be no help for him, but he shall be a prey to Dogs and Vultures.
ild.03 Menelaus saw him thus stride out before the ranks, and was glad as a hungry Lion that lights on the carcase of some Goat or horned stag, and devours it there and then, though Dogs and youths set upon him.
ild.10 As Sheep Dogs that watch their flocks when they are yarded, and hear a wild beast coming through the mountain forest towards them forthwith there is a hue and cry of Dogs and men, and slumber is broken even so was sleep chased from the eyes of the Achaeans as they kept the watches of the wicked night, for they turned constantly towards the plain whenever they heard any stir among the Trojans.
ild.11 With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and as a huntsman hounds his Dogs on against a Lion or wild boar, even so did Hector, peer of Mars, hound the proud Trojans on against the Achaeans.
ild.12 As a Lion or wild boar turns fiercely on the Dogs and men that attack him, while these form solid wall and shower their javelins as they face him his courage is all undaunted, but his high spirit will be the death of him; many a time does he charge at his pursuers to scatter them, and they fall back as often as he does so even so did Hector go about among the host exhorting his men, and cheering them on to cross the trench.
ild.12 The Trojans led by him and by Iamenus, Orestes, Adamas the son of Asius, Thoon and Oenomaus, raised a loud cry of battle and made straight for the wall, holding their shields of dry ox hide above their heads; for a while the two defenders remained inside and cheered the Achaeans on to stand firm in the defence of their ships; when, however, they saw that the Trojans were attacking the wall, while the Danaans were crying out for help and being routed, they rushed outside and fought in front of the gates like two wild boars upon the mountains that abide the attack of men and Dogs, and charging on either side break down the Wood all round them tearing it up by the roots, and one can hear the clattering of their tusks, till some one hits them and makes an end of them even so did the gleaming Bronze rattle about their breasts, as the weapons fell upon them; for they fought with great fury, trusting to their own prowess and to those who were on the wall above them.
ild.12 He may find the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks with Dogs and spears, but he is in no mind to be driven from the fold till he has had a try for it; he will either spring on a Sheep and carry it off, or be hit by a spear from strong hand even so was Sarpedon fain to attack the wall and break down its battlements.
ild.13 To this Neptune lord of the earthquake made answer, Idomeneus", may he never return from Troy, but remain here for Dogs to batten upon, who is this day wilfully slack in fighting.
ild.15 If I see any man keeping back on the other side the wall away from the ships I will have him killed: his kinsmen and kinsWomen shall not give him his dues of fire, but Dogs shall tear him in pieces in front of our city.
ild.17 Or as some fierce Lion upon the mountains in the pride of his strength fastens on the finest heifer in a herd as it is feeding first he breaks her neck with his strong jaws, and then gorges on her blood and entrails; Dogs and shepherds raise a hue and cry against him, but they stand aloof and will not come close to him, for they are pale with fear even so no one had the courage to face valiant Menelaus.
ild.17 While he was thus in two minds, the Trojans came up to him with Hector at their head; he therefore drew back and left the body, turning about like some bearded Lion who is being chased by Dogs and men from a stockyard with spears and hue and cry, whereon he is daunted and slinks sulkily off even so did Menelaus son of Atreus turn and leave the body of Patroclus.
ild.17 Hector had stripped Patroclus of his armour, and was dragging him away to cut off his head and take the body to fling before the Dogs of Troy.
ild.17 Are you likely, sir, to do anything to help a man of less note, after leaving Sarpedon, who was at once your guest and comrade in arms, to be the spoil and prey of the Danaans? So long as he lived he did good service both to your city and yourself; yet you had no stomach to save his body from the Dogs.
ild.17 I am less concerned for the body of Patroclus, who will shortly become meat for the Dogs and Vultures of Troy, than for the safety of my own head and yours.
ild.17 Jove, moreover, hid the brightness of their helmets in a thick cloud, for he had borne no grudge against the son of Menoetius while he was still alive and squire to the descendant of Aeacus; therefore he was loth to let him fall a prey to the Dogs of his foes the Trojans, and urged his comrades on to defend him.
ild.17 Menelaus"," said she, "it will be shame and dishonour to you, if Dogs tear the noble comrade of Achilles under the walls of Troy.
ild.18 Up, then, and bide here no longer; shrink from the thought that Patroclus may become meat for the Dogs of Troy.
ild.18 Glad indeed will he be who can escape and get back to Ilius, and many a Trojan will become meat for Dogs and Vultures may I never live to hear it.
ild.18 Neither will he ever sack it, Dogs shall devour him ere he do so.
ild.18 Along with the Cattle there went four shepherds, all of them in Gold, and their Nine fleet Dogs went with them.
ild.18 Two terrible Lions had fastened on a bellowing Bull that was with the foremost cows, and bellow as he might they haled him, while the Dogs and men gave chase: the Lions tore through the Bull s thick hide and were gorging on his blood and bowels, but the herdsmen were afraid to do anything, and only hounded on their Dogs; the Dogs dared not fasten on the Lions but stood by barking and keeping out of harm s way.
ild.22 Monster that he is; would indeed that the Gods loved him no better than I do, for so, Dogs and Vultures would soon devour him as he lay stretched on earth, and a load of grief would be lifted from my heart, for many a brave son has he reft from me, either by killing them or selling them away in the islands that are beyond the sea: even now I miss two sons from among the Trojans who have thronged within the city, Lycaon and Polydorus, whom Laothoe peeress among Women bore me.
ild.22 When a young man falls by the sword in battle, he may lie where he is and there is nothing unseemly; let what will be seen, all is honourable in death, but when an old man is slain there is nothing in this world more pitiable than that Dogs should defile his grey hair and beard and all that men hide for shame.
ild.22 Should the wretch kill you, neither I nor your richly dowered wife shall ever weep, dear offshoot of myself, over the bed on which you lie, for Dogs will devour you at the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.22 The Achaeans shall give him all due funeral rites, while Dogs and Vultures shall work their will upon yourself.
ild.22 Then Hector said, as the life ebbed out of him, "I pray you by your life and knees, and by your parents, let not Dogs devour me at the ships of the Achaeans, but accept the rich treasure of Gold and Bronze which my father and mother will offer you, and send my body home, that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire when I am dead.
ild.22 Achilles glared at him and answered, Dog", talk not to me neither of knees nor parents; would that I could be as sure of being able to cut your flesh into pieces and eat it raw, for the ill have done me, as I am that nothing shall save you from the Dogs it shall not be, though they bring Ten or Twenty fold ransom and weigh it out for me on the spot, with promise of yet more hereafter.
ild.22 Though Priam son of Dardanus should bid them offer me your weight in Gold, even so your mother shall never lay you out and make lament over the son she bore, but Dogs and Vultures shall eat you utterly up.
ild.22 The wriggling writhing worms will now eat you at the ships, far from your parents, when the Dogs have glutted themselves upon you.
ild.23 I will now do all that I erewhile promised you; I will drag Hector hither and let Dogs devour him raw; Twelve noble sons of Trojans will I also slay before your pyre to avenge you.
ild.23 The dead hero had had house Dogs; two of them did Achilles slay and threw upon the pyre; he also put Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans to the sword and laid them with the rest, for he was full of bitterness and fury.
ild.23 Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans shall the flames consume along with yourself, but Dogs, not fire, shall devour the flesh of Hector son of Priam.
ild.23 Thus did he vaunt, but the Dogs came not about the body of Hector, for Jove s daughter Venus kept them off him night and day, and anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh might not be torn when Achilles was dragging him about.
ild.24 Let us then weep Hector from afar here in our own house, for when I gave him birth the threads of overruling fate were spun for him that Dogs should eat his flesh far from his parents, in the house of that terrible man on whose liver I would fain fasten and devour it.

Arise Greece! from thy silent sleep, 2000 years long it is! Forget not, thy ancient culture, beautiful and marvelous it is!

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