BOOK II
Now all beside, both gods above,
and men with crests of horsetail,
1
All night were resting: only Jove
delicious slumber held not.
But he in fluctuating heart
did ponder, how to honour
Achilles, and a carnage make
along the Achaian galleys.
To his deliberating mind
this counsel wisest seemed,
5
On Agamemnon, Atreus' son,
to send a ghastly Vision;
So duly he accosting him
did winged accents utter:
"Thou ghastly Vision, up! and
seek the sharp Achaian galleys.
Hie to the tent of Atreus' son,
the hero Agamemnon,
And every thing to him declare
exact, as I enjoin thee.
10
Bid him the rout promiscuous
of streaming-hair'd Achaians
Well to array: for now would he
Troy's ample-streeted city
O'ermaster: for the immortal gods,
who hold Olympian dwellings,
No longer doublyminded are:
for supplicating Juno
Hath bent them to her will; and
griefs are fasten'd on the Troians."
15
He spake; and off the Vision fled,
soon as he heard the bidding;
And gliding rapidly attain'd
the sharp Achaian galleys:
Then hied he straight to Agamemnon,
Atreus' son, and found him
Reposing in his tent; and round
was pour'd ambrosial slumber.
There right above his head stood he,
like to the son of Neleus,
20
Nestor; whom most of aged men
did Agamemnon value.
In such similitude, to him
spake the celestial Vision:
"O son of Atreus skilful-hearted
courser-taming, -sleepest?
Not all the night behoveth it
a Counsellor to slumber,
To whom, with such a weight of
care, - the peoples are entrusted.
25
Now speedily discern my word:
from Jove I bring a message,
Who, far asunder, yet for thee
great care and pity feeleth.
He biddeth thee the rout entire
of streaming-hair'd Achaians
Well to array: for now wilt thou
Troy's ample-streeted city
O'ermaster: for the immortal gods,
who hold Olympian dwellings,
30
No longer doubly minded are:
for supplicating Juno
Hath bent them to her will, and griefs
are fasten'd on the Troians
From Jupiter. But thou, when left
by heart-consoling slumber,
Hold this within thy mind, nor let
forgetfulness invade thee."
With such address departed he,
and where he found him, left him,
35
Things in his heart imagining,
for no fulfilment destin'd.
For, simpleton! in that same day
to capture Priam's city
Confided he; nor knew the deeds
which Jove in truth was plotting;
Who held the purpose, to inflict,
by dint of stubborn struggles,
On Troians and on Danaï
new miseries and groanings.
40
He woke from sleep; and round him
stream'd the utterance of heaven.
Upright he rais'd him, and put on
a new and dainty tunic
Goodly of texture: over it
he cast an ample garment,
And underneath his supple feet
he bound the comely sandals.
About his shoulders next he slung
the sword with silver studded;
45
Last, his paternal sceptre took,
for ever undecaying,
And with it went along the ships
of brazen-cloak'd Achaians.
So soon as Morning's heav'nly
Queen was climbing long Olympus,
Announcing light to Jupiter
and other gods immortal;
Did Agamemnon quickly bid
the clear-intoning heralds
50
To summon into public mote
the streaming-hair'd Achaians.
These gave the word of summoning:
right quickly those assembled.
But first a Council took its seat,
of lofty-minded elders,
Close to the galley of the king,
the Pylos-nurtur'd Nestor.
When these together he had call'd,
a canny word disclos'd he:
55
"Listen, my friends! In guise of
dream came a celestial vision
To me, amid the ambrosial night
and most, of godlike Nestor,
In form, in feature and in size,
had narrowly the semblance.
There, right above my head, he stood,
and spake to me his errand:--
"O son of Atreus skilful-hearted
courser-taming, -sleepest?
60
Not all the night behoveth it
a Counsellor to slumber,
To whom, with such a weight of
care, the peoples are entrusted.
Now speedily discern my word:
from Jove I bring a message,
Who, far asunder, yet for thee
great care and pity feeleth.
He biddeth thee the rout entire
of streaming-hair'd Achaians
65
Well to array: for now wilt thou
Troy's ample-streeted city
O'ermaster: for the immortal gods,
who hold Olympian dwellings,
No longer doubly minded are:
for supplicating Juno
Hath bent them to her will; and griefs
are fasten'd on the Troians
From Jupiter: but hold thou this
in heart.-He, thus commanding,
70
Flew off and vanished; and from me
sweet slumber then departed.
But come, if we may cleverly
Achaia's sons accoutre:
And I their temper first will try
with words, as is permitted,
And with their galleys many-bench'd
homeward to flee will counsel.
But ye must, each in different part,
by skilful words detain them,"
75
So much he spake, and down he sat;
but next arose before them
Gerenian Nestor, Neleus' son,
the prince of sandy Pylos;
Who thus with kindly soul harangu'd
and spake his word among them:
"O friends, who to the Argive folk
are governours and leaders,
If, of the Achaians, other man
had told us of this Vision,
80
We might pronounce it falsity,
and rather shun the speaker:
Now he hath seen, who mid the host
claimeth to be supremest.
But come, if we may cleverly
Achaia's sons accoutre."
With such address, he led the way,
and parted from the council.
Then all the sceptre-bearing kings,
unto the people's Shepherd
85
Obedient, dispers'd around,
where rush'd the people streaming.
In fashion as the nations move
of honey-bees incessant,
Which from a smooth and hollow
rock come fresh and fresh for ever,
And settle thickly clustering
upon the vernal flowers;
Here hover some, some flutter there,
tumultuous and boiling:
90
So then of these the many tribes
from out the tents and galleys
Duly in squadron were arrang'd
along the ample bosom
Of sandy beach, for public mote;
and Rumour blaz'd among them,
Jove's messenger, exhorting all
to haste; nor did they loiter.
The assembly all in bristle was;
the ground itself with clatter
95
Groan'd, as the peoples took their seat.
Them heralds nine in number
With clear command were marshalling,
to check the general tumult,
And gain attention to the voice
of the Jove-nurtur'd princes.
Right earnestly the people took
their sittings, each restricted
To several space, and ceas'd from noise.
Then royal Agamemnon
100
Arising, held the sceptre forth,
which toilsome Vulcan fashion'd.
Vulcan to Jupiter the prince,
the son of Saturn, gave it;
Jove gave it to his minister,
the slaughterer of Argus;
Prince Hermeas bestow'd it next
on courser-smiting Pelops.
Pelops again with it adorn'd
Atreus, the people's shepherd,
105
But to Thyestes, rich in rams,
Atreus bequeath'd it dying:
Thyestes yielded it in turn
to Agamemnon's honour,
For lordship over many an isle,
and o'er the whole of Argos.
So resting him on this, he spake
these words among the Argives:
"Friends, heroes of the Danaï
and ministers of Ares!
110
Saturnius hath mightily
in dire annoy enchain'd me;
Cruel; who formerly to me
with word and nod assented,
To storm wellfenced Ilium
and bear away the booty.
But now an evil artifice
hath plotted, and doth urge me
Argos to seek, ignoble; sith
I many lives have wasted.
115
So seemeth it the will to be
of Jupiter o'ermatching,
Who hath the lofty pinnacles
of many a city lower'd,
And yet will lower; for his sway
is mightiest to mortals.
But this is eke to future age
an ignominious rumour,
That, after effort impotent,
a people of Achaians,
120
So choice and multitudinous,
was foil'd in war and combat
Against a town of fewer men:
nor see we end in prospect.
For if, by joint agreement, we,
both Troians and Achaians,
A faithful treaty chose to strike,
and each to count their numbers;
If Troians severally cull'd
the hearthmen of the city,
125
And we, the Achaians, into troops
of half a score were marshall'd,
And every troop a man of Troy
to bear the wine selected;
Full many a demi-score, I ween,
would lack the cup-presenter.
So much superiour, I say,
Achaia's sons in number
Are than the city-dwelling throng
of Troians: but, to aid them,
130
From many a friendly city, men
spear-brandishing are present,
Who mightily distract my hands,
nor suffer me, though eager,
1
2
3
To storm and pillage Ilium,
that thickly-peopled fortress.
Nine circling times of lofty Jove
already are accomplish'd;
Sapp'd are the timbers of our ships,
and rotted is the tackle.
135
Meanwhile, I trow, our consorts dear,
and eke our childish offspring,
Sit in the halls expecting us;
but, as ye see, the purpose
For us is unfulfill'd, for which
we made the voyage hither.
But come! as I the word shall speak,
let all compliant follow:
Unto our native land belov'd
upon the galleys hie we;
140
For ample-streeted Ilium
no longer shall we capture."
Thus speaking, agitated he,
the soul within their bosom
To all among the multitude,
who had not heard the Council.
Upon the assembly movements vast
fell, as on long sea-billows
Amid the depths of Icarus;
which East and South together
145
Tumultuate, from out the clouds
of Jove the Father darting.
And as, when on a cornfield deep
the West wind rushing sudden
Bestirreth it with squally plunge,
and every ear depresseth;
So agitated was the mote
entire; and they with clatter
Stream'd to the galleys: everywhere
beneath their feet ascended
150
Dust as a cloud; and each to each
made mutual exhorting
To cleanse the channels of the ships;
to lend the hand, and drag them
Down to the briny flood divine:
their shouting reach'd the heaven,
As home they hurried. Forth they pull'd
the props beneath the galleys.-
Then unpredestin'd homeward flight
had Argive fates defeated,
155
But that the danger Juno saw,
and thus address'd Athene:
"Ah me! unweariable child
of Jove the ægis-holder!
Say! to their native land belov'd,
shall Argives thus betake them,
Over the sea's broad-swelling backs
in homeward voyage fleeing?
Then would they for a glory leave
to Priam and the Troians
160
The Argive Helen; whom to win,
Achaia's sons so many,
Far from their native land belov'd,
on Troian soil have perish'd.
But now proceed amid the host
of brazen-cloak'd Achaians,
And by thy gentle arguments
each warriour arrest thou,
Nor let them launch upon the brine
the easy-steering galleys."
165
She spake, nor uncompliant found
Athene, grey-ey'd goddess.
Down from Olympus' summits she
with sudden rush descended,
And gliding rapidly attain'd
the sharp Achaian galleys:
Ulysses there she met, to Jove
an equipoise in counsel,
Standing; nor forward did he stretch
to the dark well-deck'd galley
170
His hand; sith as a pang of grief
his heart and soul had enter'd.
And him Athene grey-ey'd goddess,
standing near, accosted:
"O Jove-deriv'd, Laertes' son,
Ulysses much-contriving,
Say! shall ye thus, intent on home
and native land beloved,
Rushing, take flight disorderly
on galleys many-benched?
175
Then would ye for a glory leave
to Priam and the Troians
The Argive Helen; whom to win,
Achaia's sons so many
Far from their native land belov'd,
on Troian soil have perish'd.
But now amid the Achaian host
proceed, and from them start not,
And by thy gentle arguments
each warriour arrest thou,
180
Nor let them launch upon the brine
the easy-steering galleys."
So counsell'd she; and hediscern'd
the goddess' voice which call'd him.
To run preparing, off his cloak
he cast; but it the herald
Eurybates of Ithaca,
attending him, recover'd.
Himself, appearing straight before
Atrides Agamemnon,
185
Receiv'd from him his father's
sceptre, ever undecaying,
And with it went along the ships
of brazen-cloak'd Achaians.
Whatever leading warriour
or monarch he encounter'd,
Him he with gesture of respect
and gentle words arrested:
"O elf-possess'd! for thee to quail
as coward, not beseemeth:
190
But tranquil sit thyself, and cause
the people to be tranquil.
For not yet clearly knowest thou
what was Atrides' meaning:
Achaia's sons now tempteth he,
but soon perchance will punish:
Nor did we all in council hear,
the deeds which he projected.
Beware, lest on Achaia's sons
his anger work some evil.
195
And troth! of such Jove-nurtur'd king
exalted is the spirit:
From Jove his honour is; and Jove,
the Counsellor, befriends him."
But whomsoe'er of common folk he
active found and shouting,
Him with the sceptre he chastis'd,
and word of menace added:
"O elf-possessed wight! be still,
and hear the word of others, 200,
200
4
Who are thy betters far; but thou
unwarlike art and feeble,
Who no esteem canst arrogate
in battle nor in council.
'Tis not for all Achaians here,
I trow, to play the monarch.
Not good is many-headed rule:
let one alone be ruler,
Let one be king, to whom the child
of crooked-witted Saturn
205
Sceptre and ordinances gives,
for royal sway among them."
Thus hewith princely governance
went marshalling the army;
But they, from galleys and from tents,
again to mote were rushing,
With murmurings; as when a wave
of the tumultuous ocean
Screecheth upon the mightystrand,
and all the floods rebellow.
210
Then did the others take their seats,
confin'd to rightful places;
But still, incontinent of word,
chatter'd alone Thersites,
Who with disorderly discourse
and cleverness illomen'd,
Disdainful of decorum, knew
against the kings to wrangle.
Whatever might the Argives stir
to laughter, that he utter'd;
215
And of the host which came to Troy
none was as he so ugly.
One of his eyes was fix'd awry;
one foot of his was crippled;
His shoulders round and bunching were,
toward his breast contracted:
Sharp was his head; and downy hair,
but scanty, budded o'er it,
With Achileus he chiefly was
in feud, and with Ulysses;
220
For chiefly them revil'd he: now
at godlike Agamemnon
He keen invectives screech'd aloud.
Against him were the Achaians
Smitten with indignation
and marvellously wrathful.
But he with brawling insolence
then rail'd at Agamemnon:
"What farther, son of Atreus, now
complainest thou, or lackest?
225
Of copper, lo! thy tents are full;
and women pick'd for beauty
Within thy curtains numerous
are found, whom we the Achaians
On thee preeminent bestow,
when we some fortress capture.
Or gold dost need beside, which some
of courser-taming Troians
May haply bear from Ilium,
as ransom for his offspring,
230
Whom I in bonds may lead away,
or other of the Achaians?
Or youthful damsel needest thou
for dalliance of fondness,
Whom thou detainest at thy will,
unjustly?-yet, a chieftain
Nowise beseemeth it, in ill
to plunge Achaia's children.
O gentle hearts! Achaia's shame!
no longer men, but women!
235
Home with our galleys let us go;
leave this man, here remaining,
O'er his prerogatives to brood,
in Troy: till he discover,
Whether in aught his mightiness
from us derives protection;
Who now dishonour casts upon
a man, than him far better,一
Achilles: for his prize he holds
himself is the despoiler.
240
Not bitter-hearted is in truth
Achilles, but indulgent;
Else, verily, Atrides! this
were now thy final outrage."
Thersites thus with mockery
revil'd the people's shepherd,
Atrides; but beside him quick
stood the divine Ulysses,
Who with indignant utterance
and scowling glance reproach'd him:
245
"O thou promiscuous in talk!
although a fluent speaker,
Refrain, Thersites! nor desire
alone with kings to wrangle.
For of the army which in Troy
with Atreus' children landed,
I well believe, is found, than thee,
no other mortal viler.
'Tis safer therefore, not with Kings
within thy teeth to chatter,
250
And spit reproachful words on them,
and watch the homeward voyage.
Nor yet distinctly know we all,
how these affairs are ending,
And whether we, Achaia's sons,
return for good or evil.
Against Atrides Agamemnon,
shepherd of the people,
Reproach thou therefore utterest,
because the Argive heroes,
255
Many good gifts on him bestow;
and thou with chiding railest.
But roundly will I say, and this
shall be a fact accomplish'd:
If e'er again I light on thee
as now, the dotard playing,
May then the head no longer stay
on shoulders of Ulysses,
Nor of Telemachus may I
be longer call'd the father,
260
But I on thee will seize, and strip
the pleasant garments off thee,
The cloak and tunic, and whate'er
hideth thy shame from daylight;
And from the assembly driving thee
with ignominious lashes,
Send thee to champ thy grief beside
the swift-careering galleys."
Thus spake he, and with sceptre stout
across his back and shoulders
265
Smote him: Thersites writh'd; and quick
fell from his eyes a teardrop.
The crush'd and lacerated flesh
beneath the golden sceptre
Rose on his back with stains of blood:
and down he sat, and trembled.
5
6
Tortur'd with pain, he wip'd the tear,
with blank and silly visage.
The rest, though grieving, pleasantly
in laughter turn'd against him.
270
And thus spake one, with eye that glanc'd
upon some other near him:
"Kind Spirits! troth! unending is
Ulysses' noble service,
Who doth in canny counsel lead,
and brazen War arrayeth.
And now hath he this best of deeds
achiev'd among the Argives,
To hinder from his jabberings
this ribald-blurting rascal.
275
His haughty spirit will not soon
again, I trow, impel him
Against the kings his spite to vent
in insolent invective."
Thus spake the crowd: but rising up,
Ulysses city-rieving
The sceptre held; and at his side
Athene, grey-ey'd goddess,
Unto a herald like in form,
the people call'd to silence,
280
That all Achaia's sons who stood
the nearest or the farthest
Might hear at once the speaker's voice,
and ponder on his counsel;
Who thus with kindly soul harangu'd,
and spake his word among them:
"Atrides! now to all the race
of voice-dividing mortals
Most ignominious, O prince!
the Achaians seek to make thee;
285
Nor longer care they to fulfil
the vow, which erst they promis'd
When hitherward on voyage bent
from courser-feeding Argos, -
To storm well-fenced Ilium
and bear away the booty.
For now, in guise as children weak,
or like to widow women,
With soft remembrances of home
they whimper each to other.
290
And homeward, verily! the toil
might drive us in vexation.
For one, who but a single Moon
from his own wife is parted,
Upon his galley many-bench'd,
which yon tempestuous water
And stormy whirlwinds drive about,
— hath plentiful annoyance:
But nine times over, now to us
the Sun's revolving circle,
295
While here we stay, is passing; hence
I blame not, that the Achaians
Beside their crested galleys feel
annoyance; still, disgraceful
Is it, in all case, long to stay,
and homeward hurry empty.
Endure, my friends, and wait awhile;
until we know with surety,
Whether in truth the word divine,
or falsely, Calchas telleth.
300
For this in all our minds is fix'd-
and all of you may witness,
Who stand from fates of death exempt,
which rushing carried others
On yester-eve or days before:-
that, when the Achaian galleys
Gather'd at Aulis, bearing woe
to Priam and the Troians,
And we, beneath a planetree fair,
beside the sacred altar,
305
With gift of perfect hecatombs
did worship the immortals,
Around, upon a fountain-brink,
whence rippled brilliant water;
There did a mighty sign appear:
a serpent, streak'd with purple,
Terrific, whom the Olympian
himself sent forth to daylight,
Shot from the altar's under-side,
and on the planetree darted.
310
But thereupon were little ones,
the nestlings of a sparrow,
Crouching to hide beneath the leaves
toward the branchy summit;
Eight was their number; ninth was she,
the parent of the younglings:
There he devour'd them one by one,
while piteous their twitter.
The mother flitted round and round,
her darling ones bewailing;
315
But by the wing, with rapid coil,
he caught the orphan mourner.
When thus the sparrow and her young
he finally had swallow'd,
The god, who sent him forth to light,
made him a signal token;
For crooked-witted Saturn's child
in stony form enchain'd him:
And we in wonderment stood by,
to see the deeds which follow'd,
320
When thus dire monsters of the gods
our hecatombs invaded.
But Calchas instantly harangu'd,
the oracles expounding:-
Why dumb in silence are ye held,
O streaming-hair'd Achaians?
To us hath Jove the Counsellor
display'd this mighty portent,
Late seen, and in fulfilment late,
whose glory ne'er shall perish.
325
As did the snake the sparrow's self
devour with all her offspring,
In number eight, but ninth was she,
the parent of the children;
So here, by like account, shall we
years just so many combat,
But in the tenth shall we o'erpow'r
the ample-streeted city.-
So Calchas then interpreted;
which all is now accomplish'd.
330
But come ye! patiently abide,
O dapper-greav'd Achaians!
Here on the spot; until we storm
the ample walls of Priam."
The Argives, when he thus harangu'd,
skirl'd loudly; and the galleys
Responded with terrific crash,
beneath the Achaians shouting,
That exhortation to applaud
of the divine Ulysses.
335
Also with them the charioteer
Gerenian Nestor pleaded:
"O gods and spirits! verily
at random do ye prattle
Like silly children, ignorant
of deeds of warlike prowess,
7
Whither are gone the oaths for us?
and whither are the treaties?
In fire should our advice be cast,
and prudent men's decisions,
340
The pure libations, and the pledg'd
right hands in which we trusted?
For vainly wrangle we with words
incessant, nor are able
An equal remedy to find,
tho' long time here abiding.
But still, as erst, Atrides! thou,
holding unshaken counsel,
Over the Argives play the chief
amid their stubborn warfare!
345
And if some one or two consult
apart from thy Achaians,
To Argos earlier to go,
before they may discover
Whether the word be true or false
of Jove the ægis-holder, -
Leave these to pine and vanish; sith
to them is no fulfilment.
For Saturn's child o'ermastering,
I say, approval nodded,
350
High on the right hand lightening,
tokens of favour showing,
Upon the day, when Argives erst
their swift-careering galleys
Ascended, carnage and despair
unto the Troians bearing.
Therefore, let none be willing here
in homeward course to hurry,
Before that every one have seiz'd
some Troian wife as booty,
355
On sake of Helen to avenge
our scurry and disasters.
Or if among you one for home
be marvellously eager,
Let him his hand put out to touch
his welldeck'd dusky galley,
That he before the others may
slaughter and fate encounter.
But prince! wise counsel take thyself,
and hear another wisely:
360
The word, which I will speak to thee,
shall not deserve rejection.
By tribes and brotherhoods thy men
distinguish, Agamemnon!
Let brotherhood from brotherhood,
and tribe from tribe, have succour.
If such be thy command, and if
the Achaians show compliance,
The coward then shalt thou discern, -
of chieftains or of people, -
365
And also who is brave; for each
will fight his proper battle:
And whether by unearthly will
a city scape thy pillage,
Or by the people's cowardice
and ignorance of combat."
To him in words reciprocal
spake royal Agamemnon:
"Troth! still thou in debate, old friend!
Achaia's sons surpassest.
370
Would that I had, - O father
Jove, Athene and Apollo!
Ten counsellors who might with thee
compete, among the Achaians:
8
Then quickly should king Priam's city
bow the head before me,
Captur'd and pillag'd mightily
beneath the hands of Argives.
But griefs on me are come from Jove,
Saturnian, ægis-holder,
375
Who into strife entangleth me
and quarrel unaccomplish'd.
Sith for a damsel's sake have I
with Achileus contended
By altercation opposite;
and I in rage was foremost.
But if in counsel we again
ever be join'd, no longer
Shall Troy postponement earn of woe,
for e'en a scanty moment.
380
But now to banquet come, that next
we may the battle summon.
Let each man sharpen well his spear,
and each adjust his buckler,
Each to his nimble-footed steeds
duly supply the fodder,
Each keenly eye his chariot,
and well prepare for battle,
That all of us the livelong day
with Ares stern may bargain.
385
For no cessation will we give,
for e'en a scanty moment,
Till haply intervening Night
men's controversy sunder.
Now over many a breast the strap
of the man-hiding buckler
Shall sweat, and clinging to the spear
shall many a hand be weary;
And many a courser too shall sweat,
the polish'd chariot trailing.
390
But whomsoe'er my eye shall see
wishing to shun the battle,
And loiter by the crested ships,
for him it were not easy
Against the dogs and ravining birds
to find a safe protection."
At this harangue the Argive host
skirl'd loudly, as a billow,
When by the rushing South impell'd,
upon the lofty margin
395
Of a sea-jutting craggy rock
which never waves abandon,
Tho' veer the winds to every side,
hither or thither blowing.
Then rising mov'd they rapidly,
along the galleys scatter'd,
And rais'd a smoke from every tent,
and set themselves to dinner.
To diverse gods of birth eternal
they their worship offer'd,
400
With vows imploring to escape
death and turmoil of Ares.
But a fat bull, five years in age,
the princely Agamemnon
To Saturn's overswaying son
in sacrifice devoted,
And Pan-Achaia's elder chiefs
he to the banquet summon'd;
Nestor, of all the first: but prince
Idomeneus was second;
405
The two Ajaces next were call'd,
and then the son of Tydeus;
9
Ulysses was the sixth, to Jove
an equipoise in counsel.
But Menelaus, good at need,
came of his proper motion;
For well he knew his brother's soul,
by many cares distracted.
Around the bull these stationed them,
and barley-cakes uplifted;
410
Then amid all, the general vow
spake royal Agamemnon:
"O Jove, most glorious and great!
cloud-wrapt! in heaven dwelling!
Let not the sun go sooner down
and yield the world to darkness,
Before that Priam's royal hall
I headlong cast to ruin
Buried in ashes, and consume
with foeman's fire the pillars;
415
And round the breast of Hector's self
the tunic soft be mangled
By griding brass; and many a man
among his trusty comrades
Into the dust thrown headlong, seize
the earth with bite convulsive."
So spake he; nor did Saturn's child
as yet the vow accomplish:
The sacrifice accepted he,
but toil ungrudging added.
420
Then after pray'r was made, and they
the barley-cakes threw forward,
The victims' necks they backward drew,
and slaughter'd them and skinn'd
And parted out the thighs; but these
in double fold they cover'd them,
With fragrant fat, and over them
arrang'd the choicer pieces.
And these they roasted with the flame
from leafless faggots kindled,
425
But pierc'd the vitals, and above
the might of Vulcan held them.
Now when the joints were roasted well,
and they the vitals tasted,
The rest they slash'd in smaller bits,
and spitted every morsel,
And broil'd them all right cleverly,
and drew them off perfected.
After the toil had found its end,
and all the feast was ready,
430
They banqueted, nor did their soul
lack well-proportion'd banquet.
But when desire importunate
of food and drink were ended,
To them the Pylian charioteer,
Nestor, began advices:
"O Agamemnon, prince of men,
most glorious Atrides!
No more debate admit we here,
nor longer by postponement
435
Lose we the action, which the God
within our hands entrusteth.
But come ye! to the general throng
of brazen-cloak'd Achaians
Now let the heralds notify
a levy at the galleys:
And for ourselves, patrol we through
Achaia's ample army
Thus in a troop, that quicker
we may waken eager Ares."
440
10
He spake; nor found the prince of men
reluctant to obey him:
But Agamemnon quickly bade
the clear-intoning heralds
To summon to the ranks of war
the streaming-hair'd Achaians.
These gave the word of summoning:
right quickly those assembled.
Thereafter, those Jove-nurtur'd
kings around the son of Atreus
445
Arrang'd and pick'd the people:
them grey-ey'd Athene aided,
With costly ægis on her arm,
immortal, undecaying.
A hundred fringes, all of gold,
around it were suspended;
All were of dainty broidery,
each worth a hundred bullocks.
With this she glancing flash'd, and
pass'd through all Achaia's people,
450
Exciting them to tramp of war;
and every heart among them
She fill'd with vigour, ceaselessly
to toil in war and combat.
And sweeter suddenly became
the battle, than the voyage
Unto their native land belov'd
on smoothly-hollow galleys.
As balefully a fire may blaze
amid a countless forest,
455
Along the ridgy mountain-tops,
and cast afar its splendour;
So then, as march'd the companies,
from off their brazen smoothness
Irradiance unearthly shot,
and reach'd the lofty heaven.
In fashion as of feather'd birds
the motley-crowding nations, -
Of geese, or cranes, or long-neck'd
swans, within the Asian meadow,
460
Whereon Cäyster standeth wide
with over-brimming water, -
Hither and thither flit about
exulting in their pennons,
Or with loud screams alight in front,
and all the mead is noisy;
So then of these the many tribes
from out the tents and galleys
Into Scamander's ample plain
were pouring; but beneath them
465
From feet of horses and of men
the earth terrific rumbled.
Thus stood they on the meadow-banks
of flowery Scamander
By tens of thousands, as in spring
bud forth the leaves and blossoms.
Like as the many races are
of buzzing flies incessant,
Which rambling dart about, where'er
the cattle are in station,
470
Within the vernal period,
when pails with milk are wetted;
So many then upon the plain
the streaming-hair'd Achaians
11
Stood forth the Troians to confront,
all eagerness to crush them.
And as, amid vast herds of goats,
right easily the herdsmen
Distinguish each his proper flock,
when mix'd are they in pasture;
475
So these the leaders, parting well,
hither and thither marshall'd
For mell of war; and mid them mov'd
the royal Agamemnon,
Wearing of thunder-loving Jove,
in eyes and head, the semblance,
Of Neptune at his shoulder-breadth,
of Ares at his girdle.
In fashion as amid the herd
stands out by far the foremost
480
The bull, pre-eminent of rank
among the kine collected;
So on that day pre-eminent
did Jove exalt Atrides,
Chosen above the common throng
and amid heroes chiefest.
Utter for me, ye Muses, now,
who dwell in high Olympus, -
For ye in truth are goddesses,
all-present, and all-knowing,
485
But we a rumour only hear,
nor know we aught for certain;-
Who mid the host of Danaï
were governours and leaders.
But for the multitude, not I
might tell their tale, or name them,
Not, if I had a tenfold mouth
and tenfold tongue within it,
And tho' my chest were made of brass,
and naught my voice could shatter,
490
Unless the Olympian Muses,
who of Jove the ægis-holder
Are daughters, those commemorate
who under Troy were warring.
Now will I all the ships rehearse,
and all their chiefs, in order.
Of the Boeotian galleys was
Peneleos commander,
Arkesilas and Clonius,
Leitus and Prothöenor.
495
All who in Hyria had lot,
all who in rocky Aulis,
In Eteonus many-slop'd,
in Scoenus or in Scolus,
On Mycalessus' ample floor,
in Thespia and Graia;
All who Erythrae occupied,
Eilesius, or Harma,
And all who dwelt at Eleon,
at Peteon or Hyla,
500
At Ocale and Medeon,
a nobly builded fortress;
In Thisbe, land of turtle-doves,
in Copae or Eutresis;
All who in Coroneia dwelt
and grassy Haliartus,
And all who Glisan occupied,
and all Plataea's people,
And all who Hypothebe held,
a nobly builded fortress;
505
12
Or who in bright Onchestus dwelt,
domain to Neptune sacred,
And all who held Mideia's soil
and grape-abounding Arne;
All who in heav'nly Nisa dwelt
and in remote Anthedon;-
By these were fifty galleys mann'd;
and youths, six score in number,
Of the Boeotians embark'd
on board of every galley.
510
Aspledon, and Orchomenus,
the Minyeian city,
Were by two sons of Ares rul'd,
whom in the house of Actor
Astyoche, a maid august,
into her chamber mounting,
To Ares fierce produc'd; but he
her secret bed had enter'd.
One son was nam'd Ascalaphus,
Ialmenus the other;
515
And thirty smoothly-hollow ships
contain'd their train of people.
Epistrophus and Schedius
of Phocis were commanders,
Sprung from the son of Naubolus,
the lofty-soul'd Ipheitus.
All who in Kyparissus dwelt
and in the rocky Pytho,
In Daulis and in Panopeus
and in the heav'nly Crisa,
520
All who around Hyampolis
or round Anemoreia
Inhabited, or who beside
divine Kephisus' river,
Or who Lilaia occupied
close to Kephisus' sources:
From these a company was made
of forty dusky galleys.
Their leaders moving busily
the Phocians were ranging,
525
Who close to the Boeotians
were on the left accoutred.
But over Locris Ajax swift,
Oïleus' son, was leader,
In bulk and stature not so large
as Telamonian Ajax,
But greatly smaller: slight was he,
and girt with linen corslet,
But with the spear excell'd mid all
Hellenes and Achaians.
530
In Opus and Calliarus
and Kynus dwelt his people,
In Bessa and in Scarphe and
in beautiful Augeia,
By waters of Boagrius
at Thronius and Tarphe.
Of Locrians, who dwell against
Euboea's sacred island
On adverse coast, with him in train
came forty dusky galleys.
535
As for Euboea's proper folk,
the Abantes breathing courage,
In Chalkis or Eretria
and vineclad Histiaea;
Who dwelt at Dium's fortress steep
and maritime Kerinthus,
Or who Carystus tenanted
or held their lot at Styra,
These Elephenor, branch of Ares,
rul'd beneath his sceptre,
540
Calchodon's offspring, leader o'er
the lofty-soul'd Abantes.
And in his train the Abantes mov'd,
with long hair backward streaming,
Spear-wielding rapid warriours,
with ashen shafts extended
Eager to burst the corslet through
upon the foeman's bosom.
With him there came a company
of forty dusky galleys.
545
Them who Athene's city held,
a nobly builded fortress,
Land of the mighty-hearted king
Erechtheus, whom Athene,
Jove's daughter, nurtur'd(tho' to him
life-giving Earth was mother),
But she in Athens planted him
within her own rich temple,
Where, as the circling years are full,
by gift of rams and bullocks
550
The youths of the Athenians
do pleasure to the goddess;-
O'er these the son of Peteos,
Menestheus, was commander.
To him not yet upon the earth
a man had risen equal
To marshal chariots in rank
and buckler-wielding heroes:
Nestor alone his rival was,
and Nestor was his elder.
555
With him there came a company
of fifty dusky galleys.
Ajax, the prince from Salamis,
was of twelve galleys leader,
And where the bands of Athens stood,
thither he plac'd his comrades.
But them who Argos tenanted
and wall-encircled Tiryns,
Hermione and Asine
in inward gulf retreating,
560
And Troezen and Eïones
and vineclad Epidaurus;
And all Achaia's youth who dwelt
in Mases or Aegina;
These Diomedes, good at need,
beneath his sceptre marshall'd,
And Sthenelus, the darling son
of Capaneus the famous.
As third with these, Euryalus,
a godlike man, proceeded,
565
Whose sire the prince Mekisteus
was, and Taläus his grandsire.
But Diomedes, good at need,
the bands collective guided:
Of these there came a company
of eighty dusky galleys.
But those who in Mycenae dwelt,
a nobly builded fortress,
Or in Cleonae's goodly walls
or in the wealthy Corinth,
570
In lovely Araethurea
or in Orneiae dwelling,
And Sikyon, where formerly
Adrastus held the kingdom;
All who in Hyperesia
and lofty Gonoessa
Or in Pellene dwelt, or held
round Aegium possessions
13
Or widely-spreading Helike,
and up the whole sea-margin;
575
From these a hundred ships were led
by royal Agamemnon,
Atrides: peoples in his train
most numerous and noblest
Follow'd; and mid them shone himself
with dazzling brass invested,
In matchless glory triumphing,
preeminent of heroes,
Because-that mightiest was he
and led the greatest peoples.
580
Those who the mountain-hollows
held of clifted Lacedaemon,
Messa, the land of turtle-doves,
or Sparta and Bryseia;
And all who Pharis occupied
and beautiful Augeia;
Who had their lots round Oetylus
and Laas, or were planted
At Helus, fortress maritime,
and Amyclæ;-their peoples
585
Did Menelaus, good at need,
his brother, lead behind him
In sixty galleys; but his bands
had separate equipment.
Among them mov'd he actively,
by his own zeal excited,
Urging to battle; and his heart
was vehemently eager,
On sake of Helen to avenge
his scurry and disasters.
590
But those who Pylos tenanted
and beautiful Arene,
Thryum, a ford of Alpheus,
and Aepy's goodly buildings;
Who dwelt at Kyparissëeis
and round Amphigeneia,
Pteleion, Helus, Dorium;-
where formerly the Muses
Met Thamyris the Thracian
and stopt him from his warblings,
595
When from Oechalian Eurytus
out of Oechalia wending:
For boastfully he undertook
to conquer, if the Muses,
Daughters of ægis-holding Jove,
themselves his song would rival;
But they in anger marr'd his eyes
to sightlessness, and ravish'd
His song celestial, and made
his hand forget its harping. -
600
The bands of these the charioteer
Gerenian Nestor guided,
And ninetysmoothly-hollow ships
were rang'd beneath his order.
But all who held Arcadia,
beneath Kyllene's mountain
Lofty and steep, beside the tomb
Aepytus; where heroes,
Hand to hand combating, are found;
and all who dwelt at Ripe,
605
Pheneion, or Orchomenus
with flocks of sheep abounding;-
All who at Tegea had lot
or lovely Mantineia,
Windy Enispe, Stratie,
Parrhasia, Stymphalus;
O'er these Anchaius' son bare rule,
the royal Agapenor,
In sixty galleys: and on board
of every galley mounted
610
Men of Arcadia numerous,
with feats of war acquainted.
For Agamemnon, prince of men,
himself, the son of Atreus,
The welldeck'd galleys gave to them,
across the purple waters
To voyage; since Arcadians
marine employment know not.
But those who o'er Buprasium
were spread, and sacred Elis,
615
Contained within Aleisium
and limit of Hyrmine,
From the tall rock of Olenus
to Myrsinus remotest;
Also to these were chieftains four;
and every chief was follow'd
By ten swift ships, on board of which
many Epeians mounted.
Over two parts Amphimachus
and Thalpius were leaders;
620
To this man Cteatus, to that
was Eurytus the father:
The third did strong Diores lead,
the son of Amarynkeus:
Over the fourth, command was held
by godlike Polyxeinus,
Whose father was Agasthenes,
his grandsire prince Augeias.
But those who from Dulichium,
and from the sacred islands
625
The Echinæ, come, across the sea,
which lie oppos'd to Elis;
Meges the captain was of these,
an equipoise to Ares,
Son of a chief by Jove belov'd,
the charioteering Phyleus,
Who to Dulichium withdrew,
embitter'd with his father.
With Meges came a company
of forty dusky galleys.
630
The high-soul'd Kephallenians
were by Ulysses marshall'd;
Who at leaf-shaking Neritus
or Ithaca were planted,
All who in Crokyleia dwelt
or Aegilips the rugged,
And who round Samos held their lot,
or dwelt upon Zakynthus,
And tenants of the continent,
the adverse coast possessing;
635
All these Ulysses led, to Jove
an equipoise in prudence.
With him there went in company
twelve scarlet-sided galleys.
Thoas, Andraemon's offspring, o'er
the Aetolians was leader,
Who held their lot at Olenus,
and Pleuron and Pylene,
And Chalkis, hard upon the sea,
and Calydon the rocky.
640
For neither did the sons survive
of mighty-hearted Oeneus,
Nor Oeneus'self; but death had seiz'd
on auburn Meleager.
To Thoas then was princely rule
o'er all Aetolia granted,
And with him came a company
of forty dusky galleys.
By spear-renown'd Idomeneus
the Cretans were commanded.
645
Whoever Gnossus tenanted
or wall-encircled Gortyn,-
Who Lyctus and Miletus held
and chalky-soil'd Lycastus, -
Dwellers of Rhytium or Phaestus,
thickly-peopled cities;
And who in hundred-citied Crete
elsewheremaintain'd their dwellings;
These spear-renown'd Idomeneus
beneath his sceptre guided,
650
And Merion, an equipoise
for hero-slaying Ares.
With them there came a company
of eighty dusky galleys.
Tlepolemus, of Heracles
the tall and goodly offspring,
Led of the haughty Rhodians
from Rhodes nine dusky galleys.
These over Rhodes possessionsheld,
into three States divided,
655
Of Lindus and Ielysus
and chalky-soil'd Cameirus.
Their armies by Tlepolemus
the spear-renown'd were guided,
To whom, by mighty Heracles,
Astyoche was mother,
Whom out of Ephyra he brought,
from the Sellëis river,
When of Jove-nurtur'd warriours
he many a town had ravag'd.
660
But in the palace tightly built
Tlepolemus to manhood
Scarcely was nurtur'd, when he slew
his sire's maternal uncle,
A branch of Ares, now decay'd,
Likymnius beloved.
Then galleys instantly he built,
and, many folk collecting,
Went o'er the deep a fugitive:
for deadly threats were utter'd
665
By other sons, and sons of sons,
of Heracles the mighty.
Drifting at random, fill'd with pangs,
on Rhodes at length he landed:
There, tribe by tribe, three-fold they
dwelt, and greatly were they favour'd
By Jupiter, who over gods
and over mortals reigneth;
And upon them Saturnius
unearthly riches shower'd.
670
Nireus again from Syme led
three even-balanc'd galleys,
Nireus, of Charopus the prince,
and of Aglaia, offspring:
Nireus, of all the Danaï
that under Troy were warring,
The man of fairest form, except
the spotless son of Peleus.
But easy of despoil was he,
and scant his train of people.
675
But all who at Nisurus dwelt
and Crapathus and Casus,
And Cos, Eurypylus' abode,
and the Calydna islands,
Over their bands Pheidippus was,
with Antiphus, the leader,
14
Two sons of Thessalus, a son
of Heracles the princely:
And thirty smoothly-hollow ships
were rang'd beneath their guidance.
680
Now, as for those who habited
in the Pelasgian Argos,
In Alus or in Alope,
or had their lot in Trachis;
And all who Phthia occupied,
and Hellas, fair with women,
Who were entitled Myrmidons,
Hellenes and Achaians;
Of fifty galleys mann'd from these
was Achileus the leader.
685
But them, of harshly yelling war
no memory excited,
For none stood forward in their ranks,
to marshal and command them:
For at his galleys lay, divine
Achilles foot-reliant,
Swelling at heart to lose the maid,
the comely-hair'd Briseis,
Whom, by much toil, select he won,
as booty from Lyrnessus,
690
When of Lyrnessus spoil he made,
and storm'd the walls of Thebe,
And cast to earth those spearmen keen
Epistrophus and Mynes,
Whose sire Euenus was, and prince
Selepius their grandsire.
So, grieving for the maid, he lay;
but soon to rise was destin'd.
But those who dwelt at Phylake
and that domain of Ceres,
695
The flower-spangled Pyrasus,
—Ito, of flocks the parent,
And Antron, hard upon the sea,
and grassy-couch'd Pteleion;
Of these again commander was
the brave Protesilaüs,
While living; but already then
the earth's dark bosom held him.
His spouse with mangled cheeks remain'd
in Phylake deserted,
700
Within his half-completed house:
but him a Dardan hero
Slew, when from off his ship he leapt,
far foremost of the Achaians.
Nor yet, e'en so, unled were they, -
though for their leader pining, -
But them in ranks of war array'd
Podarkes, branch of Ares,
Whose father Iphiclus was son
of sheep-abounding Phylax.
705
Unto the mighty-hearted slain
own-brother was Podarkes,
But of more tender age; but he
was loftier and braver,
Protesilaüs, martial chief:
nor did, in sooth, the people
Suffer from lack of governance;
yet long'd they for their hero.
With him there came a company
of forty dusky galleys.
710
But those who Pheræ occupied,
beside the marsh of Boebe,
And Boebe's self and Glaphyræ,
and nobly-built Iolcus
15
These did Admetus' darling son
lead in eleven galleys,
Eumelus; whom Alkestis bare,-
fairest of all her sisters,
Divine of women, Pelias' child, -
to steed-renown'd Admetus.
715
But those who in Thaumakia
held lots, and in Methone,
And Meliboea occupied
and rugged-soil'd Olisdon,
All these did Philoctetes lead,
in archery accomplish'd.
O'er seven galleys bare he rule,
and each with fifty rowers
Was well equipp'd, in archery
for stalwart fight distinguish'd.
720
But he upon an island lay,
enduring stubborn anguish,
Upon the heav'nly Lemnos, where
Achaia's children left him,
Tormented by the evil sore
of that malignant hydra.
There lay he anguish-struck; but soon
the Argives by their galleys
Were doom'd remembrance to regain
of princely Philoctetes.
725
Nor yet, e'en so, unled were they,
though for their leader pining,
But Medon did their ranks array,
Oïleus' bastard offspring,
Whom for his city-rieving sire
Rhene his mother nurtur'd.
All who in Tricca dwelt, and in
Oechalia, the city
Of Eurytus the Oechalian,
and many-knoll'd Ithome;-
730
Two sons of Aesculapius,
Podaleiris and Machaon,
Excelling in the healing art,
were over these the leaders:
And thirty smoothly-hollow ships
were rang'd beneath their guidance.
But those who held Ormenius
and Hypereia's fountain,
And who Asterium possess'd
and Titan's whity summits;
735
Of these Eurypylus was chief,
Euaemon's brilliant offspring;
And with him came a company
of forty dusky galleys.
But those who at Gyrtone dwelt
or occupied Argissa,
And Olöosson, city white,
and Ortha and Elona,
'These Polypoetes, firm in war,
beneath his sceptre guided,
740
Son of Peirithoüs, to whom
immortal Jove was father:-
(This offspring to Peirithoüs
renown'd Hippodameia
Bare on the day, on which the Beasts
with downy hides he punish'd,
Which he thrust out from Pelium
and to the Aethîkes drove them:)-
Not singlehanded; but, with
him Leonteus, branch of Ares;
745
The offspring he of Caeneus' son,
the haughty-soul'd Coronus.
16
Of these there came a company
of forty dusky galleys.
But two and twenty galleys swift
did Guneus lead from Kyphus:
Him the Peraebi, firm in war,
and Enienes follow'd,
Who fix'd their dwellings round about
the winter-land Dodone,
750
Or joyful tillage tended near
delightful Titaresus,
Who poureth in Peneius' lap
his dainty-streaming water,
Nor with the silver-eddying
Peneius ever mingleth,
But, alway sundered, as oil
along the surface floateth;
For-that it streameth from the Styx,
which gods invoking shudder.
755
Of the Magnetes Prothoüs
Tenthredon's son was leader,
An eager hero: these were spread
along Peneius' currents,
Or held their homes where Pelion
his head leaf-shaking reareth.
With Prothoüs in company
came forty dusky galleys.
These of the Danaï were nam'd
the governours and leaders.
760
But Muse! do thou declare for me
who among all were noblest,
Both men and steeds, which companied
in train of the Atridæ.
Preeminent of coursers shone
the famous breed of Pheres,
Which drew Eumelus' chariot,
and vied with birds in fleetness:
Like were their manes, and like their
age; their height of equal measure.
765
These erst were in Pieria rear'd
by silver-bow'd Apollo,
Both of the gentler sex; yet they
spread fear and flight before them.
But of the men preeminent
was Telamonian Ajax,
While-as Achilles stood away:
for no one with Achilles
Might vie, nor with the steeds that
drew the spotless child of Peleus.
770
But he, enraged at Agamemnon,
shepherd of the people,
By his sea-coursing crested ships
lay indolently listless;
And all his people, straying loose
along the rough sea-margin,
Took their amusement at the quoit
or darting with the jav'lin
And arrows; while by every car
unharness'd stood the horses,
775
Munching their grassy lotus-food
and marsh-engender'd parsley,
17
18
19
Tranquil: and in the princes' tents
the chariots well-cover'd
Idly repos'd; and they themselves,
their warlike leader missing,
Stroll'd and patroll'd along the camp,
nor join'd the moving army.
But it, as fire along the fields
invading, hurried onward.
780
Rumbled the ground beneath their
tread, as when around Typhôeus
The thunder-loving Jupiter
the earth in anger scourgeth
Mid Arim hills, where (rumour saith)
Typhôeus lies extended:
So then beneath the feet of these
rumbled the earth deep-thrilling,
As on they went; and speedily
the breadth of plain travérs'd they.
785
But Iris swift with feet of wind
on message to the Troians
From ægis-holding Jupiter
came down with painful tiding.
And they in general mote were met
before the doors of Priam,
The younger and the elder men,
in full assembly gather'd.
Then Iris swift of foot drew near,
and stood, and spake her message.
790
In voice she did the semblance take
of Priam's son Polites,
Who, to his fleetness trusting,
sat as watcher for the Troians
On summit of the barrow-hill
of ancient Aesyetes,
To espy, if e'er the Achaian host
rush'd forth to leave their galleys.
In such resemblance Iris swift
her message spake to Priam.
795
"Oh father, undecisive talk
to thee is alway grateful,
As formerly in peace; but war
inevitable riseth.
For verily I oft have gone
through many a fight of heroes,
But never people yet saw I
so many and so mighty.
For troth! like to the forest-leaves
or to the sands in number,
800
Now move they through the plain, to fight,
and make the prize our city.
Thee, Hector! chiefly would I charge,
whom so to act behoveth:
For Priam's ample city is
by many allies defended,
But men from diverse race deriv'd
to diverse language listen.
Let every chieftain give the word
to those who know his guidance,
805
And each his proper citizens
in several order marshal."
Thus spake she; nor did Hector doubt
the goddess' voice which call'd him;
But quickly he the mote dismiss'd,
and to their arms they hurried.
Then open all the gates were flung,
and out the folk came rushing,
The footmen and the horsemen both,
and rous'd unmeasur'd riot.
810
In front a steep and lofty knoll
before the city riseth,
Standing apart amid the plain,
by chariot roads encircled;
Which truly is by earthly men
entitled Batiaea,
But by the gods, the monument
of nimble-limb'd Myrine:
There were the Troians and allies
in several order marshall'd.
815
Hector with helm of motley work
was to the Troians leader,
Offspring of Priam; tribes of men
most numerous and noblest
Were after him array'd for war,
with ashen lances eager.
Next stood Anchises' bonny child
as captain of the Dardans,-
Æneias, whom on Ida's slopes
immortal Aphrodite
820
Bare to Anchises, -goddess bright
unto a mortal wedded.
Nor lonely stood he; with him stood
Antenor's double offspring,
Archelochus and Acamas,
well skill'd in various battle.
But those who in Zeleia dwelt
beneath the foot of Ida,
Troians of wealthy race, who drank
Aisepus' darkling water;
825
O'er those Lycaon's brilliant son,
young Pandarus, was leader,
On whom Apollo's self of yore
bestow'd his archer weapons.
But those who Adrasteia held
and country of Apaesus,
Or who in Pityeia dwelt
and Tere's lofty mountain,
These did two sons of Merops lead,
Adrastus, and Ampheius
830
With linen corslet. Verily
their sire, Percotan Merops, -
Who above all men divinations
knew, forbad his children
To hero-wasting war to march:
but they his word obey'd not;
For why? the Fates to gloomy death
the youths unknowing hurried.
But those who occupied their lots
round Practis and Percota,
835
And Sestus and Abydus held
and glorious Arisba;
Over their armies Asius,
a chief of men, was leader;
Asius, son of Hyrtacus,
whom coursers from Arisba,
Flame-hued and stately, bare along,
from the Selleïs river.
20
21
As for the tribes of warriours,
Pelasgians spear-frenzied,
840
Who dwelt upon the massy clods
of loamy-soil'd Larissa
These did Hippothoüs conduct,
and Pylas, branch of Ares,
Whose sire Pelasgian Lethus was,
and Teutamus their grandsire.
Next Acamas and Peiröos,
the Thracians conducted,
All whom within its noble stream
the Hellespont embraceth.
845
But of the warrior Kicones
Euphemus was commander,
Whose sire Troezenus, rear'd by
Jove, claim'd Keas for his father.
The bending-bow'd Pæonians
were by Pyraechmes guided
From widely-flowing Axius
and Amydon's recesses,
From Axius, whose stream is shed
the daintiest to mortals.
850
Pylæmenes of shaggy heart
the Paphlagonians marshall'd,
Where a wild breed of mules among
the Eneti is nurtur'd;
Men who in Sesamus had lot,
and tenants of Kytorus,
Or who on banks of Parthenus
maintain'd illustrious dwellings,
And Cromna and Ægialus
and lofty Erythini.
855
But Hodius and Epistrophus
the Halizones guided
From distant Alybe, wherein
a fount of silver lieth.
The Mysi Chromis own'd as chief,
and Ennomus the augur;
Nor he by arts of augury
black destiny averted.
But him Pelides, fleet of foot
with hand relentless slaughter'd
860
Within the river, where his might
to many more was deadly.
The Phryges next, with Phorcys and
Ascanius the godlike,
Came from Ascania's distant land,
all eager for the combat.
But Antiphus and Mesthles o'er
the Mæones were leaders,
Twain offspring to Talaemenes
bestow'd by lake Gygaea,
865
Who marshall'd the Mæonians
born at the foot of Tmolus.
The Carians with barbarous voice
by Nastes were commanded,
Who at Miletus dwelt, and held
the leafy mount of Phthiræ,
And Mycale with lofty tops
and currents of Mæander.
Over their bands Amphimachus
and Nastes were commanders,
870
22
Both Nastes and Amphimachus,
Nomion's brilliant children;
Nastes, who enter'd war, with gold
bedizen'd like a damsel,
O simpleton! nor this at all
sad destiny averted:
But him amid the river's flood
Aeacides swift-footed
Subdued; and skilful Achileus
bare off the golden booty.
875
Sarpedon and unblemish'd Glaucus
led the Lycian heroes,
Who came afar, from Lycia,
from banks of whirling Xanthus.
23
24
On the reverse side of the coin:
Inscription: ΘΗΒΑΙΩΝ.
Pictured: the Greek hero Protesilaos, the first Achaean to step on Trojan soil and, according to the myth, the first to die in the Trojan War.
The myth is retold in Iliad 2.695–709.