8 uses
- Hector approach'd, and on the ashen spear Of Ajax, close behind the head, let fall His mighty sword; right through he clove the wood; And in his hand the son of Telamon The headless shaft held bootless; far away, Loud ringing, fell to earth the brazen point.2.16 — Volume 2 Book 16 (13% in)
- Their pray'rs concluded, and the salt cake strew'd Upon the victims' heads, they drew them back, And slew, and flay'd; then cutting from the thighs The choicest pieces, and in double layers O'erspreading them with fat, above them plac'd The due meat-off'rings; then the aged priest The cleft wood kindled, and libations pour'd Of ruddy wine; arm'd with the five-fork'd prongs Th' attendant ministers beside him stood.1.1 — Volume 1 Book 1 (74% in)
- To whom the godlike Paris thus replied: "Hector, I needs must own thy censure just, Nor without cause; thy dauntless courage knows Nor pause nor weariness; but as an axe, That in a strong man's hand, who fashions out Some naval timber, with unbated edge Cleaves the firm wood, and aids the striker's force; Ev'n so unwearied is thy warlike soul.1.3 — Volume 1 Book 3 (14% in)
- As when two neighbours, in a common field, Each line in hand, within a narrow space, About the limits of their land contend; Between them thus the rampart drew the line; O'er which the full-orb'd shields of tough bull's-hide, And lighter bucklers on the warriors' breasts On either side they clove; and many a wound The pitiless weapons dealt, on some who, turn'd, Their neck and back laid bare; on many more, Who full in front, and through their shields were struck.2.12 — Volume 2 Book 12 (90% in)
- But from the side of Ajax Telamon Stirr'd not a whit Oileus' active son; But as on fallow-land with one accord, Two dark-red oxen drag the well-wrought plough, Streaming with sweat that gathers round their horns; They by the polish'd yoke together held, The stiff soil cleaving, down the furrow strain; So closely, side by side, those two advanc'd.2.13 — Volume 2 Book 13 (82% in)
- ...valiant chief Of num'rous warriors; him a Naiad nymph, In Hyde's fertile vale, beneath the feet Of snow-clad Tmolus, to Otryntes bore; At him, as on he rush'd, Achilles hurl'd, And through his forehead drove his glitt'ring spear; The head was cleft in twain; thund'ring he fell, And o'er him thus Achilles made his boast: "Son of Otryntes, lie thou there, of men The most vain-glorious; here thou find'st thy death, Far from thy place of birth, beside the lake Gygaean; there hadst thou...2.20 — Volume 2 Book 20 (73% in)
- ...who came To meet him, and embrace his knees, and pray To spare his life, in pity of his youth: Little he knew how vain would be his pray'r; For not of temper soft, nor mild of mood Was he, but sternly fierce; and as he knelt And clasp'd his knees, and would his pray'r prefer, Achilles clove him with his mighty sword, Gash'd through the liver; as from out the wound His liver dropp'd, the dark blood gushing forth His bosom fill'd, and darkness clos'd his eyes, As ebb'd his life away.2.20 — Volume 2 Book 20 (89% in)
- Their felling axes in their hands they bore, And twisted ropes; their mules before them driv'n; Now up, now down, now sideways, now aslope, They journey'd on; but when they reach'd the foot Of spring-abounding Ida, they began With axes keen to hew the lofty oaks; They, loudly crashing, fell: the wood they clove, And bound it to the mules; these took their way Through the thick brushwood, hurrying to the plain.2.23 — Volume 2 Book 23 (13% in)
There are no more uses of "cleave" in The Iliad by Homer - (translated by: Edward).
Typical Usage
(best examples)