Monday, March 31, 2008

Fagels

Rage--Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,
murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls,
great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion,
feasts for the dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end.
Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed,
Agememnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles.


The opening of The Iliad. Read it next to other translations; Lattimore seems strained and Pope mere doggerel.

RIP, Robert Fagels.

6 comments:

Ubermilf said...

Wasn't that the movie with Brad Pitt?

Fran said...

Off topic but can you offer any commentary on the matter?

I mean, you stir the pot, but credit cards?

Nah...

Or maybe?

Satan said...

FranIAm - I notice a change in your complexion. Have you been spending more time in the sun?

Credit cards - No, I can't claim to have invented them, but I did make some suggestions along the way...

-- Satan

Anonymous said...

I like mine with cream cheese and lox.

Fran said...

Time in the sun? No way.

Time in hell? Possibly. And with more enjoyment than is recommended...

Satan said...

Don't tell me you came to Hell and didn't stop by to say hello!