Book I - The wrath of Peleus' son

The wrath of Peleus' son, the direful spring

Of all the Grecian woes, O Goddess, sing!

That wrath which hurled to Pluto's gloomy reign

The souls of mighty chiefs untimely slain,

Whose limbs, unburied on the naked shore,

Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore:

Since great Achilles and Atrides strove,

Such was the sovereign doom, and such the will of Jove!