by Homer
In rich Onchestus' famous wood, to watery Neptune vowed,
And Arne, where the vine-trees are with vigorous bunches bowed,
With them that dwelt in Midea, and Nissa most divine,
All those whom utmost Anthedon did wealthily confine.
From all these coasts, in general, full fifty sail were sent;
And six score strong Boeotian youths in every burthen went.
But those who in Aspledon dwelt, and Minian Orchomen,
God Mars's sons did lead (Ascalaphus and Ialmen)
Who in Azidon Actor's house did of Astyoche come;
The bashful maid, as she went up into the higher room,
The War-god secretly compressed. In safe conduct of these,
Did thirty liollow-bottomed barks divide the wavy seas.
Brave Schedius and Epistrophus, the Phocian captains were,
(Naubolida-Iphitus' sons) all proof 'gainst any fear;
With them the Cyparissians went, and bold Pythonians,
Men of religious Chrysa's soil, and fat Daulidians,
Panopasans, Anemores/and fierce Hyampolists;
And those that dwell where Cephisus casts up his silken mists
The men that fair Lilsea held, near the Cephisian spring;
All which did forty sable barks to that designment bring.
About th' entoiled Phocensian fleet had these their sail assigned;
And near to the sinister wing the armed Boeotians shined.
Ajax the less, Oileus' son, the Locrians led to war;
Not like to Aj ax Telamon, but lesser man by far,
Little he was, and ever wore a breastplate made of Iinne,
But for the manage of his lance he general praise did win.
The dwellers of Caliarus, of Bessa, Opoen,
The youths of Cynus, Scarphis, and Augias, lovely men,
Of Tarphis, and of Thronius, near flood Boagrius' fall;
Twice twenty martial barks of these, less Ajax sailed withal.
Who near Eubcea's blessed soil their habitations had,
Strength-breathing Abants, who their seats in sweet Euboea made,
The Histiasans rich in grapes, the men of Chalcida,
The Cerinths bordering on the sea, of rich Eretria,
Of Dion's highly-seated town, Charistus, and of Styre,
All these the duke Alphenor led, a flame of Mars's fire,
Surnamed Chalcodontiades, the mighty Abants' guide,
Swift men of foot, whose broad-set backs tlieir trailing hair did hide,
Well seen in fight, and soon could pierce with far extended darts
The breastplates of their enemies, and reach their dearest hearts.
Forty black men of war did sail in this Alphenor's charge.
The soldiers that in Athens dwelt, a city builded large,
The people of Eristhius, whom Jove-sprung Pallas fed,
And plenteous-feeding Tellus brought out of her flowery bed;
Him Pallas placed in her rich fane, and, every ended year,
Of bulls and lambs th' Athenian youths please him with offerings there
Mighty Menestheus, Peteus' son, had their divided care;
For horsemen and for targeteers none could with him compare,
Nor put them into better place, to hurt or to defend;
But Nestor (for he elder was) with him did sole contend;
With him came fifty sable sail. And out of Salamine
Great Ajax brought twelve sail, that with th' Athenians did combine.
Who did in fruitful Argos dwell, or strong Tiryntha keep,
Hermion, or in Asinen whose bosom is so deep,
Trcezena, E'ion, Epidaure where Bacchus crowns his head,
^Egina, and Maseta's soil, did follow Diomod,
And Sthenelus, the dear loved son of famous Capaneus,
Together with Euryalus, heir of Mecisteus,
The king of Talseonides; past whom in deeds of war,
The famous soldier Diomed of all was held by far.
Four score black ships did follow these. The men fair Mycene held,
The wealthy Corinth, Cleon that for beauteous site excelled,
Araethyrea's lovely seat, and in Ornia's plain,
And Sicyona, where at first did king Adrastus reign,
High-seated Gonoessa's towers, and Hyperisius,
That dwelt in fruitful Pellenen, and in divine JEgius,
With all the sea-side borderers, and wide Helice's friends,
To Agamemnon every town her native birth commends,
In double-fifty sable barks. With him a world of men
Most strong and full of valour went, and he in triumph then
Put on his most resplendent arms, since he did overshine
The whole heroic host of Greece, in power of that design.
Who did in Lacedsemon's rule th' unmeasured concave hold,
High Pharis, Sparta, Messe's towers for doves so much extolled,
Bryseia's and Augia's grounds, strong Laa, Oetylon,
Amyclas, Helos' harbour-town that Neptune beats upon,
All these did Menelaus lead (his brother, that in cries
Of war was famous). Sixty ships conveyed these enemies
To Troy in chief, because their king was chiefly injured there,
In Helen's rape, and did his best to make them buy it dear.
Who dwelt in Pylos' sandy soil, and Arene the fair,
In Thryon, near Alphasus' flood, and Aepy full of air,
In Cyparisseus, Amphigen, and little Pteleon,
The town where all the Iliots dwelt, and famous Doreon,
Where all the Muses, opposite, in strife of poesy,
To ancient Thamyris of Thrace, did use him cruelly,
(He coming from Urytus' court, the wise (Echalian king,)
Because he proudly durst affirm he could more sweetly sing
Than that Pierian race of Jove; who, angry with his vaunt,
Bereft his eyesight, and his song, that did the ear enchant,
And of bis skill to touch his harp disfurnished his hand.
All these in ninety hollow keels grave Nestor did command.
The richly blest inhabitants of the Arcadian land
Below Cyllene's mount (that by Epytus' tomb did stand)
Where dwelt the bold near-fighting men, who did in Phseneus live,
And Orchomen, where flocks of sheep the shepherds clust'ring drive,
In Ripe, and in Stratie, the fair Mantinian town,
And strong Enispe, that for height is ever weather-blown,
Tegea, and in Stymphalus, Parrhasia strongly walled,
All these Alcseus' son to field (king Agapenor) called;
In sixty barks he brought them on, and every bark well manned
With fierce Arcadians, skilled to use the utmost of a band.
King Agamemnon, on these men, did well-built ships bestow
To pass the gulfy purple sea, that did no sea rites know.
. They who in Hermin, Buphrasis, and Elis, did remain,
What Olen's cliffs, Alisius, and Myrsin did coutain,
Were led to war by twice two dukes (and each ten ships did bring,
Which many venturous Epians did serve for burthening,)
Beneath Amphimachus's charge, and valiant Thalpius,
(Son of Eurytus-Actor one, the other, Cteatus,)
Diores Amaryncides the other did employ,
The fourth divine Polixenus (Agasthenes's joy).
The king of fair Angeiades, who from Dulichius came,
And from Echinaus' sweet isles, which hold their holy frame
By ample Elis region, Meges Phylides led;
Whom duke Phyleus, Jove's beloved, begat, and whilom fled
To large Dulichius, for the wrath that fired his father's breast.
Twice twenty ships with ebon sails were in his charge addressed.
The warlike men of Cephale, and those of Ithaca,
Woody Neritus, and the men of w
et Crocylia,
Sharp iEgilipa, Samos' isle, Zacynthus, sea enclosed,
Epirus, and the men that hold the continent opposed,
All these did wise LTlysses lead, in counsel peer to Jove;
Twelve ships he brought, which in their course vermilion sterns did move.
Thoas, Andremon's well-spoke son, did guide th' JStolians well,
Those that in Pleuron, Olenon, and strong Pylene dwell,
Great Chalcis that by sea-side stands, and stony Calydon;
(For now no more of CEneus' sons survived; they all were gone;
No more his royal self did live, no more his noble son
The golden Meleager now, their glasses all were run)
All things were left to him in charge, the .ZEtolians' chief he was,
And forty ships to Trojan wars the seas with him did pass.
The royal soldier Idomen did lead the Cretans stout,
The men of Gnossus, and the town Gortyna walled about,
Of Lictus, and Miletus' towers, of white Lycastus' state,
Of Phsestus, and of Rhytias, the cities fortunate,
And all the rest inhabiting the hundred towns of Crete;
Whom warlike Idomen did lead, co-partner in the fleet,
With kill-man Merion. Eighty ships with them did Troy invade.
Tlepolemus Heraclides, right strong and bigly made,
Brought nine tall ships of war from Rhodes, which haughty Rhodians manned,
Who dwelt in three dissevered parts of that most pleasant land,
Which Lyndus, and Jalissus were, and bright Camirus, called.
Tlepolemus commanded these, in battle unappalled,
Whom fair Astyoche brought forth, by force of Hercules,
Let out of Ephyr with his hand, from river Sellees,
When many towns of princely youths he levelled with the ground.
Tlepolem, in his father's house (for building much renowned)
Brought up to headstrong state of youth, bis mother's brother slew,
The flower of arms, Licymnius, that somewhat aged grew;
Then straight he gathered him a fleet, assembling bands of men,
And fled by sea, to shun the threats that were denounced then
By other sons and nephews of th' Alciden fortitude.
He in his exile came to Rhodes, driven in with tempests rude.
The Rhodians were distinct in tribes, and great with Jove did stand,
The King of men and Gods, who gave much treasure to their land.
Nireus' out of Syma's haven three well-built barks did bring;
Nireus, fair Aglaia's son, and Charopes' the king;
Nireus was the fairest man that to fair Ilion came
Of all the Greeks, save Peleus' son, who passed for general frame.
But weak this was, not fit for war, and therefore few did guide.
Who did in Cassus, Nisyrus, and Crapathus abide,
In Co, Eurypylus's town, and in Calydna's soils,
Phidippus and bold Antiphus did guide to Trojan toils
(The sons of crowned Thessalus, derived from Hercules),
Who went with thirty hollow ships well-ordered to the seas.
Now will I sing the sackful troops Pelasgian Argos held,
That in deep Alus, A lope, and soft Trechina dwelled,
In Phthia, and in Hellade where live the lovely dames,
The Myrmidons, Hellenians, and Achives, robbed of fames;
All which the great Aeacides in fifty ships did lead.
For these forgat war's horrid voice, because they lacked their head
That would have brought them bravely forth; but now at fleet did lie
That wind-like user of his feet, fair Thetis' progeny,
Wroth for bright-cheeked Briseis' loss, who from Lyrnessus' spoils
(His own exploit) he brought away as trophy of his toils,
When that town was depopulate; he sunk the Theban towers;
Myneta and Epistrophus he sent to Pluto's bowers,
Who came of King Evenus' race, great Helepiades;
Yet now he idly lives enraged, but soon must leave his ease.
Of those that dwelt in Phylace, and flow'ry Pyrason
The wood of Ceres, and the soil that sheep are fed upon
Iton, and Antron built by sea, and Pteleus full of grass,
Protesilaus, while he lived, the worthy captain was,
Whom now the sable earth detains. His tear-torn-faced spouse
He woful left in Phylace, and his half-finished house;
A fatal Dardan first his life, of all the Greeks, bereft,
As he was leaping from his ship; yet were his men unleft
Without a chief, for though they wished to have no other man
But good Protesilay their guide, Podarces yet began
To govern them (Iphitis' son the son of Phylacus),
Most rich in sheep, and brother to short-lived Protesilaus,
Of younger birth, less, and less strong, yet served he to direct
The companies, that still did more their ancient duke affect.
Twice twenty jetty sails with him the swelling stream did take.
But those that did in Pheres dwell, at the Boebeian lake,
In Bcebe, and in Glaphyra, Iaolcus builded fair,
In thrice six ships to Pergamus did through the seas repair,
With old Admetus' tender son, Eumelus, whom he bred
Of Alcest, Pelius' fairest child of all his female seed.
The soldiers that before the siege Methone's vales did hold,
Thaumacie, flow'ry Meliboe, and Olison the cold,
Duke Philoctetes governed, in darts of finest sleight;
Seven vessels in his charge conveyed their honourable freight,
By fifty rowers in a bark, most expert in the bow;
But he in sacred Lemnos lay, brought miserably low
By torment of an ulcer grown with Hydra's poisoned blood,
Whose sting was such, Greece left him there in most impatient mood
Yet thought they on him at his ship, and choosed to lead his men,
Medon, Oileus' bastard son, brought forth to him by Rhen.
From Tricce, bleak Ithomen's cliffs, and hapless Oechaly
(Eurytus' city, ruled by him in wilful tyranny),
In charge of iEsculapius' sons, physician highly praised,
Machaon, Podalirius, were thirty vessels raised.
Who near Hyperia's fountain dwelt, and in Ormenius,
The snowy tops of Titanus, and in Asterius,
Evemon's son, Eurypylus, did lead into the field;
Whose towns did forty,black-sailed ships to that encounter yield.
Who Gyrton and Argissa held, Orthen, and Elon's seat,
And chalky Olooessone, were led by Polypoete,
The issue of Pirithous, the son of Jupiter.
Him the Athenian Theseus' friend Hippodamy did bear,
When he the bristled savages did give Ramnusia;
And drove them out of Pelius, as far as ^Ethica.
He came not single, but with him Leonteus, Coron's son,
An arm of Mars, and Coron's life Ceneus' seed begun.
Twice twenty ships attended these. Guneus next did bring
From Cyphus twenty sail and two; the Enians following;
And fierce Peraebi, that about Dodone's frozen mould
Did plant their houses; and the men that did the meadows hold
Which Titaresius decks with flowers, and his sweet current leads
Into the bright Peneius, that hath the silver heads,
Yet with his admirable stream doth not his waves commix,
But glides aloft on it like oil; for 'tis the flood of Styx,
By which the immortal Gods do swear. Teuthredon's honoured birth,
Prothous, led the Magnets forth, who near the shady earth
Of Pelius and Peneion dwelt; forty revengeful sail
Did follow him. These were the dukes and pr
inces of avail
That came from Greece. But now the man that overshined them all,
Sing, Muse, and their most famous steeds to my recital call,
That both th' Atrides followed. Fair Pheretiades
The bravest mares did bring by much; Eumelius managed these,
Swift of their feet as birds of wings, both of one hair did shine,
Both of an age, both of a height, as measured by a line,
Whom silver-bowed Apollo bred in the Pierian mead,
Both slick and dainty, yet were both in war of wondrous dread.
Great Ajax Telamon for strength passed all the peers of war,
While vexed Achilles was away; but he surpassed him far.
The horse that bore that faultless man were likewise past compare;
Yet lay he at the crooked-sterned ships, and fury was his fare,
For Atreus' son's ungracious deed; his men yet pleased their hearts
With throwing of the holed stone, with hurling of their darts,
And shooting fairly on the shore; their horse at chariots fed
On greatest parsley, and on sedge that in the fens is bred.
His princes' tents their chariots held, that richly covered were.
His princes, amorous of their chief, walked storming here and there
About the host, and scorned to fight; their breaths as they did pass
Before them flew as if a fire fed on the trembling grass;
Who in Zelia dwelt beneath the sacred foot of Ide,
That drank of black iEsepus' stream, and wealth made full of pride,
The Aphnii, Lycaon's son, whom Phoebus gave his bow,
Prince Pandarus did lead to field. Who Adrestinus owe,
Apesus' city, Pityas, and mount Tereies,
Adrestus and stout Amphius led; who did their sire displease
(Merops Percosius, that excelled all Troy in heavenly skill
Of futures-searching prophecy), for, much against his will,
His sons were agents in those arms; whom since they disobeyed
The fates, in letting slip their threads, their hasty valours stayed.
Who in Percotes, Practius, Arisba, did abide,
Who Sestus and Abydus bred, Hyrtacides did guide;
Prince Asius Hyrtacides that, through great Selees' force,
Brought from Arisba to that fight the great and fiery horse.
Pylaeus and Hippothous, the stout Pelasgians led,
Of them Larissa's fruitful soil before had nourished;
These were Pelasgian Pithus' sons, son of Teutamidas.
The Thracian guides were Pirous, and valiant Acamas,
Of all that the impetuous flood of Hellespont enclosed.