Page:The Iliad of Homer Faithfully Translated Into Unrhymed English Metre.djvu/465

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BOOK XXIV.]
THE ILIAD.
435


Friendly or mild abideth yet ; bat all that meet me shudder." 775 So spake she weeping: after her the countless people moaned. Then aged Priam to the folk address'd a word of bidding : '* Now from the forests, TroiansI bring fuel into the city ; Nor fear from Argive ambuscade : for verily Achilles, When from the dusky galleys back he sent me, gave commandment, 780 On us to wreak no noyance, till twelve times the Momhave dawned." So spake he: then beneath their wains they yok'd the mules and oxen. And quick before the city-walls thereafter were assembled. Nine days successive heaped they a boundless store of fuel : But when the Mom a tenth time rose to carry light to mortals, 785 Then they with weeping bare abroad bold Hector from his chambers, And lodg'd upon the topmost pile his corpse, for flames to kindle. But when the rosy-finger*d Mom, the Early-bora, returned, Then round illustrious Hector's pile the folk was duly summoned. And soon as they assembling came and all were met together, 790 Tirst, wheresoe'er along the pile abode the flame in fury, [afler With streams of sparkling wine throughout they quench'd it ; but there- His kinsmen and companions duly his white bones gathered. All phiintive, and adown their cheek did the fresh teardrop trickle. These, wrapt in purple raiment soft, within a golden casket 795 They lodg'd, and to a hollow pit entmsted : but above it A broad foundation paved they of mighty stones and many ; And on it rais'd a barrow-mound, while watchers sat around it. Lest earlier a raid advance of dapper-greav'd Achaians. 800 Then, when the tomb was rais'd, again they parted ; but thereafter. With due celebrity recall'd, to Hector's honour feasted Full royally, within the halls of Priam, godlike monarch. So tended they the burial of courser-taming Hector. FINIS.