The Iliad of Homer Translated into English Blank Verse by William Cowper

Not from cowardice, but from a sense of guilt towards Menelaus. At the head of an army he challenges the boldest of the enemy; and Hector, at the end of the Sixth Book, confesse...

The games all closed, the people went dispersed Each to his ship; they, mindful of repast, And to enjoy repose; but other thoughts Achilles’ mind employ’d: he still deplored Wit...

Such mourning was in Troy; meantime the Greeks Their galleys and the shores of Hellespont Regaining, each to his own ship retired. But not the Myrmidons; Achilles them Close ran...

Then Athenæan Pallas on the son Of Tydeus,[1] Diomede, new force conferr’d And daring courage, that the Argives all He might surpass, and deathless fame achieve. Fires on his he...

Such contest for that gallant bark they waged. Meantime Patroclus, standing at the side Of the illustrious Chief Achilles, wept Fast as a crystal fountain from the height Of som...

[1]All night both Gods and Chiefs equestrian slept, But not the Sire of all. He, waking soon, Mused how to exalt Achilles, and destroy No few in battle at the Grecian fleet. Thi...

Aurora from Tithonus’ side arose With light for heaven and earth, when Jove dispatch’d Discord, the fiery signal in her hand Of battle bearing, to the Grecian fleet. High on Uly...

[1]When Jove to Hector and his host had given Such entrance to the fleet, to all the woes And toils of unremitting battle there He them abandon’d, and his glorious eyes Averting...

But when the flying Trojans had o’erpass’d Both stakes and trench, and numerous slaughtered lay By Grecian hands, the remnant halted all Beside their chariots, pale, discomfited...

Nor Menelaus, Atreus’ valiant son, Knew not how Menœtiades had fallen By Trojan hands in battle; forth he rush’d All bright in burnish’d armor through his van, And as some heife...

So watch’d the Trojan host; but thoughts of flight, Companions of chill fear, from heaven infused, Possess’d the Grecians; every leader’s heart Bled, pierced with anguish insupp...

Achilles sing, O Goddess! Peleus’ son; His wrath pernicious, who ten thousand woes Caused to Achaia’s host, sent many a soul Illustrious into Ades premature, And Heroes gave (so...

Thus burn’d the battle like devouring fire. Meantime, Antilochus with rapid steps Came to Achilles. Him he found before His lofty barks, occupied, as he stood, With boding fears...

[1]But when they came, at length, where Xanthus winds His stream vortiginous from Jove derived, There, separating Ilium’s host, he drove Part o’er the plain to Troy in the same...

All night the leaders of the host of Greece Lay sunk in soft repose, all, save the Chief,[1] The son of Atreus; him from thought to thought Roving solicitous, no sleep relieved....

Thus was the field forsaken by the Gods. And now success proved various; here the Greeks With their extended spears, the Trojans there Prevail’d alternate, on the champain sprea...

The saffron-mantled morning[1] now was spread O’er all the nations, when the Thunderer Jove On the deep-fork’d Olympian topmost height Convened the Gods in council, amid whom He...

Now, on the golden floor of Jove’s abode The Gods all sat consulting; Hebe them, Graceful, with nectar served;[1] they pledging each His next, alternate quaff’d from cups of gol...

Nor was that cry by Nestor unperceived Though drinking, who in words wing’d with surprise The son of Æsculapius thus address’d. Divine Machaon! think what this may bode. The cry...

Thus they, throughout all Troy, like hunted fawns Dispersed, their trickling limbs at leisure cool’d, And, drinking, slaked their fiery thirst, reclined Against the battlements....

The Grecians, thus, before their lofty ships Stood arm’d around Achilles, glorious Chief Insatiable with war, and opposite The Trojans on the rising-ground appear’d.[1] Meantime...

So saying, illustrious Hector through the gates To battle rush’d, with Paris at his side, And both were bent on deeds of high renown. As when the Gods vouchsafe propitious gales...

So was Menœtius’ gallant son employ’d Healing Eurypylus. The Greeks, meantime, And Trojans with tumultuous fury fought. Nor was the foss ordain’d long time to exclude The host o...

[1]Now marshall’d all beneath their several chiefs, With deafening shouts, and with the clang of arms, The host of Troy advanced. Such clang is heard Along the skies, when from...

Now rose the morn in saffron vest attired From ocean, with new day for Gods and men, When Thetis at the fleet of Greece arrived, Bearing that gift divine. She found her son All...

Jove calls a council, in which he forbids all interference of the Gods between the Greeks and Trojans. He repairs to Ida, where, having consulted the scales of destiny, he direc...

The book opens with an account of a pestilence that prevailed in the Grecian camp, and the cause of it is assigned. A council is called, in which fierce altercation takes place...

Neptune engages on the part of the Grecians. The battle proceeds. Deiphobus advances to combat, but is repulsed by Meriones, who losing his spear, repairs to his tent for anothe...

In a Council of the Gods, a dispute arises between Jupiter and Juno, which is at last compromised, Jove consenting to dispatch Minerva with a charge to incite some Trojan to a v...

The battle is continued. The Trojans being closely pursued, Hector by the advice of Helenus enters Troy, and recommends it to Hecuba to go in solemn procession to the temple of...

Agamemnon distinguishes himself. He is wounded, and retires. Diomede is wounded by Paris; Ulysses by Socus. Ajax with Menelaus flies to the relief of Ulysses, and Eurypylus, soo...

Achilles having separated the Trojans, and driven one part of them to the city and the other into the Scamander, takes twelve young men alive, his intended victims to the manes...

Jupiter, in pursuance of his purpose to distress the Grecians in answer to the prayer of Thetis, deceives Agamemnon by a dream. He, in consequence of it, calls a council, the re...

The armies meet. Paris throws out a challenge to the Grecian Princes. Menelaus accepts it. The terms of the combat are adjusted solemnly by Agamemnon on the part of Greece, and...

Jove, awaking and seeing the Trojans routed, threatens Juno. He sends Iris to admonish Neptune to relinquish the battle, and Apollo to restore health to Hector. Apollo armed wit...

Sharp contest ensues around the body of Patroclus. Hector puts on the armor of Achilles. Menelaus, having dispatched Antilochus to Achilles with news of the death of Patroclus,...

Agamemnon and the other wounded Chiefs taking Nestor with them, visit the battle. Juno having borrowed the Cestus of Venus, first engages the assistance of Sleep, then hastens t...

Achilles, at the suit of Patroclus, grants him his own armor, and permission to lead the Myrmidons to battle. They, sallying, repulse the Trojans. Patroclus slays Sarpedon, and...

Priam, by command of Jupiter, and under conduct of Mercury, seeks Achilles in his tent, who admonished previously by Thetis, consents to accept ransom for the body of Hector. He...

By permission of Jupiter the Gods descend into the battle, and range themselves on either side respectively. Neptune rescues Æneas from death by the hand of Achilles, from whom...

By advice of Nestor, Agamemnon sends Ulysses, Phœnix, and Ajax to the tent of Achilles with proposals of reconciliation. They execute their commission, but without effect. Phœni...