As a fire raging in some mountain glen after long drought—
and the dense forest is in a blaze, while the wind carries
great tongues of fire in every direction—
even so furiously did Achilles rage,

wielding his spear as though he were a god,
and giving chase to those whom he would slay,
till the dark earth ran with blood.
Or as one who yokes broad-browed oxen that they may tread barley in a threshing-floor—

and it is soon bruised small under the feet of the lowing cattle—
even so did the horses of Achilles trample on the shields and bodies of the slain.
The axle underneath and the railing that ran round the car were bespattered with clots of blood thrown up by the horses’ hoofs,
and from the tyres of the wheels;

BOOK XX’
THE ILIAD
HOMER