The Iliad: Book 3 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFAGHIJKLMKCNOEP FQRKKAOOSTOUVWCXTFXX KOYXKCOKKKXOXOZOKA2B 2C2TD2XCKA2VKKOKTCE2 F2XA2G2XEUH2ODOI2KTO SJ2K2SQOSJ2A2HL2YXXX XM2OOXOTON2TXA2A2OMM 2TXA2OE

When the companies were thus arrayed each under its own captainA
the Trojans advanced as a flight of wild fowl or cranes that screamB
overhead when rain and winter drive them over the flowing waters ofC
Oceanus to bring death and destruction on the Pygmies and theyD
wrangle in the air as they fly but the Achaeans marched silentlyE
in high heart and minded to stand by one anotherF
As when the south wind spreads a curtain of mist upon the mountainA
tops bad for shepherds but better than night for thieves and a manG
can see no further than he can throw a stone even so rose the dustH
from under their feet as they made all speed over the plainI
When they were close up with one another Alexandrus came forward asJ
champion on the Trojan side On his shoulders he bore the skin of aK
panther his bow and his sword and he brandished two spears shodL
with bronze as a challenge to the bravest of the Achaeans to meetM
him in single fight Menelaus saw him thus stride out before theK
ranks and was glad as a hungry lion that lights on the carcase ofC
some goat or horned stag and devours it there and then though dogsN
and youths set upon him Even thus was Menelaus glad when his eyesO
caught sight of Alexandrus for he deemed that now he should beE
revenged He sprang therefore from his chariot clad in his suitP
of armourF
Alexandrus quailed as he saw Menelaus come forward and shrank inQ
fear of his life under cover of his men As one who starts backR
affrighted trembling and pale when he comes suddenly upon aK
serpent in some mountain glade even so did Alexandrus plunge into theK
throng of Trojan warriors terror stricken at the sight of the sonA
AtreusO
Then Hector upbraided him Paris said he evil hearted ParisO
fair to see but woman mad and false of tongue would that you hadS
never been born or that you had died unwed Better so than live toT
be disgraced and looked askance at Will not the Achaeans mock at usO
and say that we have sent one to champion us who is fair to see butU
who has neither wit nor courage Did you not such as you are getV
your following together and sail beyond the seas Did you not fromW
your a far country carry off a lovely woman wedded among a people ofC
warriors to bring sorrow upon your father your city and yourX
whole country but joy to your enemies and hang dog shamefacedness toT
yourself And now can you not dare face Menelaus and learn what mannerF
of man he is whose wife you have stolen Where indeed would be yourX
lyre and your love tricks your comely locks and your fair favourX
when you were lying in the dust before him The Trojans are aK
weak kneed people or ere this you would have had a shirt of stonesO
for the wrongs you have done themY
And Alexandrus answered Hector your rebuke is just You areX
hard as the axe which a shipwright wields at his work and cleaves theK
timber to his liking As the axe in his hand so keen is the edge ofC
your scorn Still taunt me not with the gifts that golden Venus hasO
given me they are precious let not a man disdain them for theK
gods give them where they are minded and none can have them for theK
asking If you would have me do battle with Menelaus bid theK
Trojans and Achaeans take their seats while he and I fight in theirX
midst for Helen and all her wealth Let him who shall be victoriousO
and prove to be the better man take the woman and all she has to bearX
them to his home but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peaceO
whereby you Trojans shall stay here in Troy while the others goZ
home to Argos and the land of the AchaeansO
When Hector heard this he was glad and went about among theK
Trojan ranks holding his spear by the middle to keep them back andA2
they all sat down at his bidding but the Achaeans still aimed atB2
him with stones and arrows till Agamemnon shouted to them sayingC2
Hold Argives shoot not sons of the Achaeans Hector desires toT
speakD2
They ceased taking aim and were still whereon Hector spoke HearX
from my mouth said he Trojans and Achaeans the saying ofC
Alexandrus through whom this quarrel has come about He bids theK
Trojans and Achaeans lay their armour upon the ground while he andA2
Menelaus fight in the midst of you for Helen and all her wealth LetV
him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man take theK
woman and all she has to bear them to his own home but let theK
rest swear to a solemn covenant of peaceO
Thus he spoke and they all held their peace till Menelaus of theK
loud battle cry addressed them And now he said hear me tooT
for it is I who am the most aggrieved I deem that the parting ofC
Achaeans and Trojans is at hand as well it may be seeing how muchE2
have suffered for my quarrel with Alexandrus and the wrong he didF2
me Let him who shall die die and let the others fight no moreX
Bring then two lambs a white ram and a black ewe for Earth andA2
Sun and we will bring a third for Jove Moreover you shall bid PriamG2
come that he may swear to the covenant himself for his sons areX
high handed and ill to trust and the oaths of Jove must not beE
transgressed or taken in vain Young men's minds are light as air butU
when an old man comes he looks before and after deeming that whichH2
shall be fairest upon both sidesO
The Trojans and Achaeans were glad when they heard this for theyD
thought that they should now have rest They backed their chariotsO
toward the ranks got out of them and put off their armour laying itI2
down upon the ground and the hosts were near to one another with aK
little space between them Hector sent two messengers to the city toT
bring the lambs and to bid Priam come while Agamemnon told TalthybiusO
to fetch the other lamb from the ships and he did as Agamemnon hadS
saidJ2
Meanwhile Iris went to Helen in the form of her sister in lawK2
wife of the son of Antenor for Helicaon son of Antenor hadS
married Laodice the fairest of Priam's daughters She found her inQ
her own room working at a great web of purple linen on which she wasO
embroidering the battles between Trojans and Achaeans that Mars hadS
made them fight for her sake Iris then came close up to her and saidJ2
Come hither child and see the strange doings of the Trojans andA2
Achaeans till now they have been warring upon the plain mad with lustH
of battle but now they have left off fighting and are leaning uponL2
their shields sitting still with their spears planted beside themY
Alexandrus and Menelaus are going to fight about yourself and you areX
to the the wife of him who is the victorX
Thus spoke the goddess and Helen's heart yearned after her formerX
husband her city and her parents She threw a white mantle overX
her head and hurried from her room weeping as she went not aloneM2
but attended by two of her handmaids Aethrae daughter of PittheusO
and Clymene And straightway they were at the Scaean gatesO
The two sages Ucalegon and Antenor elders of the people wereX
seated by the Scaean gates with Priam Panthous Thymoetes LampusO
Clytius and Hiketaon of the race of Mars These were too old toT
fight but they were fluent orators and sat on the tower like cicalesO
that chirrup delicately from the boughs of some high tree in a woodN2
When they saw Helen coming towards the tower they said softly toT
one another Small wonder that Trojans and Achaeans should endureX
so much and so long for the sake of a woman so marvellously andA2
divinely lovely Still fair though she be let them take her andA2
go or she will breed sorrow for us and for our children after usO
But Priam bade her draw nigh My child said he take your seatM
in front of me that you may see your former husband your kinsmenM2
and your friends I lay no blame upon you it is the gods not you whoT
are to blame It is they that have brought about this terrible warX
with the Achaeans Tell me then who is yonder huge hero so great andA2
goodly I have seen men taller by a head but none so comely and soO
royal Surely he must beE

Homer



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