Day 14: An Angry God...

Lines 43-47
ὦς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
βῆ δὲ κατ' Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων χωόμενος κῆρ,
τόξ' ὤοισιν ἔχων ἀμφηρεφέα τε φαρέτρην.
ἔκλαγξαν δ' ἄρ ὀιστοὶ ἐπ' ὤμων χωομένοιο
αὐτοῦ κινηθεντος. ὁ δ' ἤιε νυκτὶ ἐοικώς.

Thus the prayer was spoken, and Phoebus Apollo heard it
And down he went from the peaks of Olympus wrath in his heart
Carrying a bow and quiver covered at both ends on his shoulders.
The arrows rattled upon the shoulders of the angry god himself.
And stirred to action, he came like unto night.


A brilliant portrait of an angry god about to strike. This passage must have riveted an ancient listener sitting in a room lit only by dim firelight.