H. Rider Haggard, The sound of the rolling lines seemed to make my blood stand still

I GNOSI bound the diadem upon his brows, and then advancing placed his foot upon the broad chest of his headless foe and broke out into a chant, or rather a paean of victory, so beautiful, and yet so utterly savage, that I despair of being able to give an adequate idea of it. I once heard a scholar with a fine voice read aloud from the Greek poet Homer, and I remember that the sound of the rolling lines seemed to make my blood stand still. Ignosi's chant, uttered as it was in a language as beautiful and sonorous as the old Greek, produced exactly the same effect on me, although I was exhausted with toil and many emotions.

Greek Forum: Post a question / Start a discussion

Promote Greek Learning

Reference address : http://ellopos.net/elpenor/greeks-us/haggard-old-greek.asp