The Iliad by Homer

So spake Thersites,

reviling Agamemnon shepherd of the host.

But goodly Odysseus came straight to his side,

and looking sternly at him with hard words rebuked him:

“Thersites,

reckless in words,

shrill orator though thou art,

refrain thyself,

nor aim to strive singly against kings.

For I deem that no mortal is baser than thou of all that with the sons of Atreus came before Ilios.

Therefore were it well that thou shouldest not have kings in thy mouth as thou talkest,

and utter revilings against them and be on the watch for departure.

We know not yet clearly how these things shall be,

whether we sons of the Achaians shall return for good or ill.

Therefore now dost thou revile continually Agamemnon son of Atreus,

shepherd of the host,

because the Danaan warriors give him many gifts,

and so thou talkest tauntingly.

But I will tell thee plain,

and that I say shall even be brought to pass:

if I find thee again raving as now thou art,

then may Odysseus’ head no longer abide upon his shoulders,

nor may I any more be called father of Telemachos,

if I take thee not and strip from thee thy garments,

thy mantle and tunic that cover thy nakedness,

and for thyself send thee weeping to the fleet ships,

and beat thee out of the assembly with shameful blows.”

So spake he,

and with his staff smote his back and shoulders:

and he bowed down and a big tear fell from him,

and a bloody weal stood up from his back beneath the golden sceptre.

Then he sat down and was amazed,

and in pain with helpless look wiped away the tear.

But the rest,

though they were sotty,

laughed lightly at him,

and thus would one speak looking at another standing by:

“Go to,

of a truth Odysseus hath wrought good deeds without number ere now,

standing foremost in wise counsels and setting battle in array,

but now is this thing the best by far that he hath wrought among the Argives,

to wit,

that he hath stayed this prating railer from his harangues.

Never again, forsooth,

will his proud soul henceforth bid him revile the kings with slanderous words.”

So said the common sort;

but up rose Odysseus waster of cities,

with sceptre in his hand.

And by his side bright-eyed Athene in the likeness of a herald bade the multitude keep silence,

that the sons of the Achaians,

both the nearest and the farthest,

might hear his words together and give heed to his counsel.

He of good intent made harangue to them and said:

“Atreides,

now surely are the Achaians for making thee,

O king,

most despised among all mortal men,

nor will they fulfil the promise that they pledged thee when they still were marching hither from horse-pasturing Argos;

that thou shouldest not return till thou hadst laid well-walled Ilios waste.

For like young children or widow women do they wail each to the other of returning home.

Yea, here is toil to make a man depart disheartened.

For he that stayeth away but one single month far from his wife in his benched ship fretteth himself when winter storms and the furious sea imprison him;

but for us,

the ninth year of our stay here is upon us in its course.

Therefore do I not marvel that the Achaians should fret beside their beaked ships;

yet nevertheless is it shameful to wait long and to depart empty.

Be of good heart,

my friends,

and wait a while,

until we learn whether Kalchas be a true prophet or no.

For this thing verily we know well in our hearts,

and ye all are witnesses thereof,

even as many as the fates of death have not borne away.

It was as it were but yesterday or the day before that the Achaians’ ships were gathering in Aulis,

freighted with trouble for Priam and the Trojans;

and we round about a spring were offering on the holy altars unblemished hecatombs to the immortals,

beneath a fair plane-tree whence flowed bright water,

when there was seen a great portent:

a snake blood-red on the back,

terrible,

whom the god of Olympus himself had sent forth to the light of day,

sprang from beneath the altar and darted to the plane-tree.

Now there were there the brood of a sparrow,

tender little ones,

upon the topmost branch,

nestling beneath the leaves;

eight were they and the mother of the little ones was the ninth,

and the snake swallowed these cheeping pitifully.

And the mother fluttered around wailing for her dear little ones;

but he coiled himself and caught her by the wing as she screamed about him.

Now when he had swallowed the sparrow’s little ones and the mother with them,

the god who revealed him made of him a sign;

for the son of crooked-counselling Kronos turned him to stone,

and we stood by and marvelled to see what was done.

So when the dread portent brake in upon the hecatombs of the gods,

then did Kalchas forthwith prophesy,

and said:

‘Why hold ye your peace,

ye flowing-haired Achaians?

To us hath Zeus the counsellor shown this great sign,

late come, of late fulfilment,

the fame whereof shall never perish.

Even as he swallowed the sparrow’s little ones and herself,

the eight wherewith the mother that bare the little ones was the ninth,

so shall we war there so many years, but in the tenth year shall we take the wide-wayed city.’

So spake the seer;

and now are all these things being fulfilled.

So come, abide ye all,

ye well-greaved Achaians,

even where ye are,

until we have taken the great city of Priam.”

So spake he,

and the Argives shouted aloud,

and all round the ships echoed terribly to the voice of the Achaians as they praised the saying of god-like Odysseus.

And then spake among them knightly Nestor of Gerenia:

“Out on it;

in very truth ye hold assembly like silly boys that have no care for deeds of war.

What shall come of our covenants and our oaths?

Let all counsels be cast into the fire and all devices of warriors and the pure drink-offerings and the right hands of fellowship wherein we trusted.

For we are vainly striving with words nor can we find any device at all,

for all our long tarrying here.

Son of Atreus,

do thou still,

as erst,

keep steadfast purpose and lead the Argives amid the violent fray;

and for these,

let them perish,

the one or two Achaians that take secret counsel—to depart to Argos first,

before they know whether the promise of aegis-bearing Zeus be a lie or no.

Yea,

for I say that most mighty Kronion pledged us his word that day when the Argives embarked upon their fleet ships,

bearing unto the Trojans death and fate;

for by his lightning upon our right he manifested signs of good.

Therefore let Trojal’s wife and paid back his strivings and groans for Helel’s sake.

But if any man is overmuch desirous to depart homewards,

let him lay his hand upon his decked black ship,

that before all men he may encounter death and fate.

But do thou,

my king,

take good counsel thyself,

and whate’er it be,

shall not be cast away.

Separate thy warriors by tribes and by clans,

Agamemnon,

that clan may give aid to clan and tribe to tribe.

If thou do thus and the Achaians hearken to thee,

then wilt thou know who among thy captains and who of the common sort is a coward,

and who too is brave;

for they will fight each after their sort.

So wilt thou know whether it is even by divine command that thou shalt not take the city,

or by the baseness of thy warriors and their ill skill in battle.”

And lord Agamemnon answered and said to him:

“Verily hast thou again outdone the sons of the Achaians in speech,

old man.

Ah,

father Zeus and Athene and Apollo,

would that among the Achaians I had ten such councillors;

then would the city of king Priam soon bow beneath our hands,

captive and wasted.

But aegis-bearing Zeus,

the son of Kronos,

hath brought sorrows upon me,

in that he casteth my lot amid fruitless wranglings and strifes.

For in truth I and Achilles fought about a damsel with violent words,

and I was first to be angry;

but if we can only be at one in council,

then will there no more be any putting off the day of evil for the Trojans,

no not for an instant.

But now go ye to your meal that we may join battle.

Let each man sharpen well his spear and bestow well his shield,

and let him well give his fleet-footed steeds their meal,

and look well to his chariot on every side and take thought for battle,

that all day long we may contend in hateful war.

For of respite shall there intervene no,

not a whit,

only that the coming of night shall part the fury of warriors.

On each mal’s breast shall the baldrick of his covering shield be wet with sweat,

and his hand shall grow faint about the spear,

and each mal’s horse shall sweat as he draweth the polished chariot.

And whomsoever I perceive minded to tarry far from the fight beside the beaked ships,

for him shall there be no hope hereafter to escape the dogs and birds of prey.”

So spake he,

and the Argives shouted aloud,

like to a wave on a steep shore,

when the south wind cometh and stirreth it;

even on a jutting rock, that is never left at peace by the waves of all winds that rise from this side and from that.

And they did sacrifice each man to one of the everlasting gods,

praying for escape from death and the tumult of battle.

But Agamemnon king of men slew a fat bull of five years to most mighty Kronion,

and called the elders,

the princes of the Achaian host,

Nestor first and king Idomeneus,

and then the two Aiantes and Tydeus’ son,

and sixthly Odysseus peer of Zeus in counsel.

And Menelaos of the loud war-cry came to him unbidden,

for he knew in his heart how his brother toiled.

Then stood they around the bull and took the barley-meal.

And Agamemnon made his prayer in their midst and said:

“Zeus,

most glorious,

most great,

god of the storm-cloud,

that dwellest in the heaven,

vouchsafe that the sun set not upon us nor the darkness come near,

till I have laid low upon the earth Priam’s palace smirched with smoke,

and burnt the doorways thereof with consuming fire,

and rent on Hector’s breast his doublet cleft with the blade;

and about him may full many of his comrades prone in the dust bite the earth.”

So spake he,

but not as yet would Kronion grant him fulfilment;

he accepted the sacrifice,

but made toil to wax increasingly.

Now when they had prayed and sprinkled the barley-meal they first drew back the bull’s head and cut his throat and flayed him,

and cut slices from the thigh’s and wrapped them in fat,

making a double fold,

and laid raw collops thereon.

And these they burnt on cleft wood stript of leaves,

and spitted the vitals and held them over Hephaistos’ flame.

Now when the thighs were burnt and they had tasted the vitals,

then sliced they all the rest and pierced it through with spits,

and roasted it carefully and drew all off again.

So when they had rest from the task and had made ready the banquet,

they feasted,

nor was their heart aught stinted of the fair banquet.

But when they had put away from them the desire of meat and drink,

then did knightly Nestor of Gerenia open his saying to them:

“Most noble son of Atreus,

Agamemnon king of men,

let us not any more hold long converse here,

nor for long delay the work that god putteth in our hands;

but come,

let the heralds of the mail-clad Achaians make proclamation to the folk and gather them throughout the ships;

and let us go thus in concert through the wide host of the Achaians,

that the speedier we may arouse keen war.”

So spake he and Agamemnon king of men disregarded not.

Straightway he bade the clear-voiced heralds summon to battle the flowing-haired Achaians.

So those summoned and these gathered with all speed.

And the kings,

the fosterlings of Zeus that were about Atreus’ son,

eagerly marshalled them,

and bright-eyed Athene in the midst,

bearing the holy aegis that knoweth neither age nor death,

whereon wave an hundred tassels of pure gold,

all deftly woven and each one an hundred oxen worth.

Therewith she passed dazzling through the Achaian folk,

urging them forth;

and in every mal’s heart she roused strength to battle without ceasing and to fight.

So was war made sweeter to them than to depart in their hollow ships to their dear native land.

Even as ravaging fire kindleth a boundless forest on a mountail’s peaks,

and the blaze is seen from afar,

even so as they marched went the dazzling gleam from the innumerable bronze through the sky even unto the heavens.

And as the many tribes of feathered birds,

wild geese or cranes or long-necked swans,

on the Asian mead by Kaystrios’ stream,

fly hither and thither joying in their plumage,

and with loud cries settle ever onwards,

and the mead resounds;

even so poured forth the many tribes of warriors from ships and huts into the Skamandrian plain.

And the earth echoed terribly beneath the tread of men and horses.

So stood they in the flowery Skamandrian plain,

unnumbered as are leaves and flowers in their season.

Even as the many tribes of thick flies that hover about a herdsmal’s steading in the spring season,

when milk drencheth the pails,

even in like number stood the flowing-haired Achaians upon the plain in face of the Trojans,

eager to rend them asunder.

And even as the goatherds easily divide the ranging flocks of goats when they mingle in the pasture,

so did their captains marshal them on this side and that,

to enter into the fray,

and in their midst lord Agamemnon,

his head and eyes like unto Zeus whose joy is in the thunder,

and his waist like unto Ares and his breast unto Poseidon.

Even as a bull standeth out far foremost amid the herd,

for his is pre-eminent amid the pasturing kine,

even such did Zeus make Atreides on that day,

pre-eminent among many and chief amid heroes.

Tell me now,

ye Muses that dwell in the mansions of Olympus—seeing that ye are goddesses and are at hand and know all things,

but we hear only a rumour and know not anything—who were the captains of the Danaans and their lords.

But the common sort could I not number nor name,

nay,

not if ten tongues were mine and ten mouths,

and a voice unwearied,

and my heart of bronze within me,

did not the Muses of Olympus,

daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus,

put into my mind all that came to Ilios.

So will I tell the captains of the ships and all the ships in order.

Of the Boiotians Peneleos and Leitos were captains,

and Arkesilaos and Prothoenor and Klonios;

these were they that dwelt in Hyria and rocky Aulis and Schoinos and Skolos and Eteonos full of ridges,

Thespeia and Graia and Mykalessos with wide lawns;

and that dwelt about Harma and Eilesion and Erythrai,

and they that possessed Eleon and Peteon and Hyle,

Okalea and the stablished fortress of Medeon,

Kopai and Eutresis and Thisbe haunt of doves;

and they of Koroneia and grassy Haliartos,

and that possessed Plataia and that dwelt in Glisas,

and that possessed the stablished fortress of lesser Thebes and holy Onchestos,

Poseidol’s bright grove;

and that possessed Arne rich in vineyards,

and Mideia and sacred Nisa and Anthedon on the furthest borders.

Of these there came fifty ships,

and in each one embarked young men of the Boiotians an hundred and twenty.

And they that dwelt in Aspledon and Orchomenos of the Minyai were led of Askalaphos and Ialmenos,

sons of Ares,

whom Astyoche conceived of the mighty god in the palace of Aktor son of Azeus,

having entered her upper chamber,

a stately maiden;

for mighty Ares lay with her privily.

And with them sailed thirty hollow ships.

And the Phokians were led of Schedios and Epistrophos,

sons of great-hearted Iphitos son of Naubolos;

these were they that possessed Kyparissos and rocky Pytho and sacred Krisa and Daulis and Panopeus,

and they that dwelt about Anemoreia and Hyampolis, yea,

and they that lived by the goodly river Kephisos and possessed Lilaia by Kephisos’ springs.

And with them followed thirty black ships.

So they marshalled the ranks of the Phokians diligently,

and had their station hard by the Boiotians on the left.

And of the Lokrians the fleet son of Oileus was captain,

Aias the less,

that was not so great as was the Telamonian Aias but far less.

Small was he,

with linen corslet,

but with the spear he far outdid all the Hellenes and Achaians.

These were they that dwelt in Kynos and Opus and Kalliaros and Bessa and Skarphe and lovely Augeiai and Tarphe and Thronion,

about the streams of Boagrios.

And with Aias followed forty black ships of the Lokrians that dwell over against holy Euboia.

And the Abantes breathing fury,

they that possessed Euboia and Chalkis and Eiretria and Histiaia rich in vines,

and Kerinthos by the sea and the steep fortress of Dios and they that possessed Karytos,

and they that dwelt in Styra,

all these again were led of Elephenor of the stock of Ares,

even the son of Chalkodon,

and captain of the proud Abantes.

And with him followed the fleet Abantes with hair flowing behind,

spearmen eager with ashen shafts outstretched to tear the corslets on the breasts of the foes.

And with him forty black ships followed.

And they that possessed the goodly citadel of Athens,

the domain of Erechtheus the high-hearted,

whom erst Athene daughter of Zeus fostered when Earth,

the grain-giver,

brought him to birth;

—and she gave him a resting-place in Athens in her own rich sanctuary;

and there the sons of the Athenians worship him with bulls and rams as the years turn in their courses—these again were led of Menestheus son of Peteos.

And there was no man upon the face of earth that was like him for the marshalling of horsemen and warriors that bear the shield.

Only Nestor rivalled him,

for he was the elder by birth.

And with him rivalled him,

for he was the elder by birth.

And with him fifty black ships followed.

And Aias led twelve ships from Salamis,

[and brought them and set them where the battalions of the Athenians stood.]

And they that possessed Argos and Tiryns of the great walls,

Hermione and Asine that enfold the deep gulf,

Troizen and Eionai and Epidauros full of vines,

and the youths of the Achaians that possessed Aigina and Mases,

these were led of Diomedes of the loud war-cary and Sthenelos,

dear son of famous Kapaneus.

And the third with them came Euryalos,

a godlike warrior,

the son of king Mekisteus son of Talaos.

But Diomedes of the loud war-cry was lord over all.

And with them eighty black ships followed.

And of them that possessed the stablished fortress of Mykene and wealthy Corinth and stablished Kleonai,

and dwelt in Orneiai and lovely Araithyrea and Sikyon,

wherein Adrestos was king at the first;

and of them that possessed Hyperesie and steep Gonoessa and Pellene,

and dwelt about Aigion and through all the coast-land and about broad Helike,

of them did lord Agamemnon son of Atreus lead an hundred ships.

With him followed most and goodliest folk by far;

and in their midst himself was clad in flashing bronze,

all glorious,

and was pre-eminent amid all warriors,

because he was goodliest and led folk far greatest in number.

And of them that possessed Lakedaimon lying low amid the rifted hills,

and Pharis and Sparta and Messe,

the haunt of doves,

and dwelt in Bryseiai and lovely Augeiai,

and of them too that possessed Amyklai and the sea-coast fortress of Helos,

and that possessed Laas and dwelt about Oitylos,

of these was the king’s brother leader,

even Menelaos of the loud war-cry,

leader of sixty ships,

and these were arrayed apart.

And himself marched among them confident in his zeal,

urging his men to battle:

and his heart most of all was set to take vengeance for his strivings and groans for Helel’s sake [Or, “for Helel’s searchings of heart and groans.”].

And of them that dwelt in Pylos and lovely Arene and Thryon the fording-place of Alpheios,

and in established Aipy,

and were inhabitants of Kyparisseis and Amphigeneia and Pteleos and Helos and Dorion—where the Muses met Thamyris the Thracian,

and made an end of his singing,

as he was faring from Oichalia,

from Eurytos the Oichalian;

for he averred with boasting that he would conquer,

even did the Muses themselves sing against him,

the daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus;

but they in their anger maimed him,

moreover they took from him the high gift of song and made him to forget his harping—of all these was knightly Nestor of Gerenia leader,

and with him sailed ninety hollow ships.

And of them that possessed Arkadia beneath the steep mountain of Kyllene,

beside the tomb of Aipytos,

where are warriors that fight hand to hand;

and of them that dwelt in Pheneos and Orchomenos abounding in flocks,

and Rhipe and Stratie and windy Enispe, and that possessed Tegea and lovely Mantineia,

and possessed Stymphelos and dwelt in Parhasie,

of these was Ankaios’ son lord Agapenor leader,

even of sixty ships;

and in each ship embarked many Arkadian warriors skilled in fight.

For Agamemnon king of men himself gave them benched ships wherewith to cross the wine-dark sea,

even he the son of Atreus;

for matters of seafaring concerned them not.

And they too that inhabited Bouprasion and goodly Elis,

so much thereof as Hyrmine and Myrsinos upon the borders and the Olenian rock and Aleision bound between them,

of these men there were four captains,

and ten swift ships followed each one,

and many Epeians embarked thereon.

So some were led of Amphimachos and Thalpios,

of the lineage of Aktor,

sons one of Kteatos and one of Eurytos;

and of some was stalwart Diores captain,

son of Amarynkes;

and of the fourth company godlike Polyxeinos was captain,

son of king Agasthenes Augeias’ son.

And them of Doulichion and the holy Echinean Isles that stand beyond the sea over against Elis,

even these did Meges lead,

the peer of Ares,

Phyleides to wit,

for he was begotten of knightly Phyleus dear to Zeus,

him that erst changed his habitation to Doulichion for anger against his father.

And with him followed forty black ships.

And Odysseus led the great-hearted Kephallenians,

them that possessed Ithaka and Neriton with quivering leafage,

and dwelt in Krokyleia and rugged Aigilips,

and them that possessed Zakynthos and that dwelt in Samos,

and possessed the mainland and dwelt in the parts over against the isles.

Them did Odysseus lead,

the peer of Zeus in counsel,

and with him followed twelve ships with vermillion prow.

And of the Aitolians Thoas was captain,

the son of Andraimon,

even of them that dwelt in Pleuron and Olenos and Pylene,

and Chalkis on the sea-shore and rocky Kalydon.

For the sons of great-hearted Oineus were no more,

neither did he still live,

and golden-haired Meleagros was dead,

to whose hands all had been committed,

for him to be king of the Aitolians.

And with Thoas there followed forty black ships.

And of the Cretans Idomeneus the famous spearman was leader,

even of them that possessed Knosos and Gortys of the great walls,

Lyktos and Miletos and chalky Lykastos and Phaistos and Rhytion,

stablished cities all;

and of all others that dwelt in Crete of the hundred cities.

Of these men was Idomeneus the famous spearman leader,

and Meriones peer of the man-slaying war-god.

With these followed eighty black ships.

And Tlepolemmos,

Herakles’ son goodly and tall,

led from Rhodes nine ships of the lordly Rhodians,

that dwelt in Rhodes in threefold ordering,

in Lindos and Ialysos and chalky Kameiros.

These were led of Tlepolemos the famous spearman,

that was born to great Herakles by Astyocheia,

whom he had brought away from Ephyre by the river Selleeis,

when he laid waste many cities of strong men,

fosterlings of Zeus.

Now when Tlepolemos had grown to manhood within the strong palace walls,

anon he slew his own father’s dear uncle,

an old man now,

Likymnios of the stock of Ares.

Then with speed built he ships and gathered much folk together,

and went fleeing across the deep,

because the other sons and grandsons of great Herakles threatened him.

So he came to Rhodes a wanderer,

enduring hardships,

and his folk settled by kinship in three tribes,

and were loved of Zeus that is king among gods and men;

and Kronion poured upon them exceeding great wealth.

Nireus, moreover,

led three trim ships from Syme,

Nireus son of Aglaia and king Charopos,

Nireus the most beauteous man that came up under Ilios of all the Danaans,

after the noble son of Peleus.

Howbeit he was a weakling,

and a scanty host followed him.

And of them that possessed Nisyros and Krapathos and Kasos and Kos the

city of Eurypylos, and the Kalydnian Isles, of them Pheidippos and

Antiphos were leaders, the two sons of king Thessalos son of Herakles.

With them were arrayed thirty hollow ships.

Now all moreover that dwelt in the Pelasgian Argos and inhabited Alos and Alope and Trachis and possessed Phthia and Hellas the home of fair women,

and were called Myrmidons and Hellenes and Achaians;

of all these,

even fifty ships,

Achilles was captain.

But these took no thought of noisy war;

for there was no man to array them in line of battle.

For fleet-footed goodly Achilles lay idle amid the ships,

wroth for the sake of a damsel,

Briseis of the lovely hair,

whom he had won from Lyrnessos and the walls of Thebe,

and overthrew Mynes and Epistrophos,

warriors that bare the spear,

sons of king Euenos Selepos’ son.

For her sake lay Achilles sorrowing;

but soon was he to arise again.

And of them that possessed Phylake and flowery Pyrasos,

Demeter’s sanctuary,

and Iton mother of flocks,

and Antron by the sea-shore and Pteleos couched in grass,

of all these was warlike Protesilaos leader while yet he lived;

but now ere this the black earth held him fast.

His wife with marred visage was left alone in Phylake,

yea,

and his bridal chamber half builded;

for a Dardanian warrior slew him as he leapt from his ship far first of the Achaians.

Yet neither were his men leaderless,

though they sorrowed for their leader;

for Podarkes of the stock of Ares marshalled them,

son of Phylakos’ son Iphiklos was he,

the lord of many flocks,

own brother of great-hearted Protesilaos,

and younger-born than he: but the other was alike the elder and the braver,

even Protesilaos,

that mighty man of war.

Yet did not the host lack at all a leader,

only they yearned for the noble dead.

With him followed forty black ships.

And of them that dwelt in Pherai by the Boibeian mere, in Boibe and

Glaphyre and stablished Iolkos, of them, even eleven ships, Admetos’

dear son was leader, Eumelos whom Alkestis, fair among women, bare to

Admetos, she that was most beauteous to look upon of the daughters of

Pelias.

And of them that dwelt in Methone and Thaumakie,

and possessed Meliboia and rugged Olizon,

of these,

even seven ships,

was Philoktetes leader,

the cunning archer;

and in each ship sailed fifty oarsmen skilled to fight amain with the bow.

But their captain lay enduring sore pain in the isle of goodly Lemnos,

where the sons of the Achaians left him sick of a grievous wound from a deadly water-snake.

There lay he pining;

yet were the Argives soon to bethink them beside their ships of king Philoktetes.

Yet neither were his men leaderless,

only they sorrowed for their leader;

but Medon marshalled them,

Oileus’ bastard son,

whom Rhene bare to Oileus waster of cities.

And of them that possessed Trikke and terraced ithome and that possessed Oichalia city of Eurytos the Oichalian,

of these again Asklepios’ two sons were leaders,

the cunning leeches Podaleirios and Machaon.

And with them were arrayed thirty hollow ships.

And of them that possessed Ormenios and the fountain of Hypereia,

and possessed Asterion and the white crests of Titanos,

of these was Eurypylos leader,

Euaimol’s glorious son;

and with him,

forty black ships followed.

And of them that possessed Argissa and dwelt in Gyrtona,

Orthe and Elone and the white city of Olooson,

of these was captain unflinching Polypoites,

son of Peirithoos that immortal Zeus begat:

and Polypoites did famed Hippodameia conceive of Peirithoos on that day when he took vengeance of the shaggy wild folk,

and thrust them forth from Pelion and drave them to the Aithikes.

And Polypoites ruled not alone,

but with him was Leonteus of the stock of Ares,

son of high-hearted Koronos Kaineus’ son.

And with them forty black ships followed.

And Gouneus from Kyphos led two-and-twenty ships,

and with him followed the Enienes and unflinching Peraibians that had pitched their homes about wintry Dodona,

and dwelt on the tilth about lovely Titaresios that poureth his fair-flowing stream into Peneios.

Yet doth he not mingle with the silver eddies of Peneios, but floweth on over him like unto oil,

seeing that he is an offspring from the water of Styx,

the dread river of the oath.

And the Magnetes were led of Prothoos son of Tenthredon,

even they that dwelt about Peneios and Pelion with trembling leafage.

These did fleet Prothoos lead,

and with him forty black ships followed.