ILIAD VI. 466-580.
Thus spake illustrious Hector, and stretched forth his arms to take fondly
His son; but the boy, seized with dread, shrank back to his fair nurse’s bosom,
Crying, shrank back, scared thus at the sight of his helmeted father,
Fearful was he of the horse-hair plume o’er the dread helmet waving.
Then did the fond parents smile at the babe, and illustrious Hector
Quickly removed from his head the glittering helmet, and placed it
Gleaming upon the ground, then received he his dear child and kissed him.
Playfully tossing him up, he prayed thus to all the immortals:
“Hear me, O Zeus, and ye other gods, grant that my son may be honored,
Honored for valorous deeds as I ’mong the Trojans am honored!
Grant him to rule with might over Troy, and may he hereafter
Greater be called than his father! Grant, that he when returning
Homeward from battles well fought, may bear rich spoil from the conquered,
Cheering the heart of his mother with deeds of valor and glory!”
The Dying Slave[G]
(From the introduction to a Greek prize ode.)
I.
LEAVE thy gates of darkness, Death,
Come to take my fleeting breath;
Haste, oh, haste to set me free!—
Fettered thus to misery.
II.
Thou shalt not be greeted here
With pallid cheek and gushing tear—
Here no funeral ululation,
Sound of woe or lamentation.