Hómēros

Using Twitter for literate communication is about as likely as firing up a CB radio and hearing some guy recite ‘The Iliad’ - Bruce Sterling

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

To make the Danaans pay for the tears I have shed."//Thus he prayed, and Phobus Apollo heard him.

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

To you of rich thigh-pieces from bulls or goats,//Fulfill this prayer of mine by using your arrows

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

And mightily rule in Tenedos - O Smintheus, if ever//I built a temple that pleased you, or made burnt-offering

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

"Hear me, O god of the silver bow, you//Yhat bestride in your power Chryse and sacred Cilla

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

But when he had gone some distance he fervently prayed//To his lord Apollo, whom lovely-haired Leto bore:

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

At this the old priest was afraid//And did as the King bade him do. Without a word//He walked off along the shore of the loud-booming sea,

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

Her own native land, working at the loom and sharing//My bed. Now go, old man! an you'll go much safer//if you don't provoke me"

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

In the sacred staff and fillet. The girl I will not//Let go! Before that she'll grow old in Argos, far from

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

Don't let me find you,//Old man, by the hollow ships, neither loitering now//Nor coming back later, or you will find small protection

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

Agamemnon was far from pleased. Roughly he sent him//Away with these harsh words:

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

All the other Achaeans//Supported the priest and shouted to reverence him//And accept the splendid ransom. But Atreus' Son

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

Your homes in safety. But reverance the son of Zeus,//Apollo who strikes from afar - take this ransom//and return my precious daughter"

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

"O Atreus' sons and you other//Well-greaved Achaeans, may the gods who live on Olympus//Allow you to sasck the city pf Priam and reach

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

Of far-darting Apollo, and he made his plea to all//The Achaeans, especially to the two osons of Atreus,//Marshallers of many:

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

And the ransom he bore was boundless. In suppliant hands//on a staff of gold he held the sacred fillet

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

And many people were dying. Chryses had come//To the swift Achaean ships to ransom his daughter,

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

With King Agamemnon for failing to honor Chryses//His priest, Apollo sent a plague on the soldiers,

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

Which of the gods caused two such men to contend?//The son of Zeus and Leto. Deeply incensed

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

Agamemnon, son of Atreus, and Godlike Achilles

[Hómēros @TheIliad]

Their bodies the prey of dogs and carrion birds.//The will of Zeus was done from the moment they quarrelled,