Jove sends a lying dream to Agamemnon, who thereon calls the
      chiefs in assembly, and proposes to sound the mind of his army—In
      the end they march to fight—Catalogue of the Achaean and Trojan
      forces.

      Now the other gods and the armed warriors on the plain slept
      soundly, but Jove was wakeful, for he was thinking how to do
      honour to Achilles, and destroyed much people at the ships of the
      Achaeans. In the end he deemed it would be best to send a lying
      dream to King Agamemnon; so he called one to him and said to it,
      “Lying Dream, go to the ships of the Achaeans, into the tent of
      Agamemnon, and say to him word for word as I now bid you. Tell
      him to get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for he shall take
      Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Juno
      has brought them to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans.”

      The dream went when it had heard its message, and soon reached
      the ships of the Achaeans. It sought Agamemnon son of Atreus and
      found him in his tent, wrapped in a profound slumber. It hovered
      over his head in the likeness of Nestor, son of Neleus, whom
      Agamemnon honoured above all his councillors, and said:—

      “You are sleeping, son of Atreus; one who has the welfare of his
      host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his
      sleep. Hear me at once, for I come as a messenger from Jove, who,
      though he be not near, yet takes thought for you and pities you.
      He bids you get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for you shall
      take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods;
      Juno has brought them over to her own mind, and woe betides the
      Trojans at the hands of Jove. Remember this, and when you wake
      see that it does not escape you.”

      The dream then left him, and he thought of things that were
      surely not to be accomplished. He thought that on that same day
      he was to take the city of Priam, but he little knew what was in
      the mind of Jove, who had many another hard-fought fight in store
      alike for Danaans and Trojans. Then presently he woke, with the
      divine message still ringing in his ears; so he sat upright, and
      put on his soft shirt so fair and new, and over this his heavy
      cloak. He bound his sandals on to his comely feet, and slung his
      silver-studded sword about his shoulders; then he took the
      imperishable staff of his father, and sallied forth to the ships
      of the Achaeans.

      The goddess Dawn now wended her way to vast Olympus that she
      might herald day to Jove and to the other immortals, and
      Agamemnon sent the criers round to call the people in assembly;
      so they called them and the people gathered thereon. But first he
      summoned a meeting of the elders at the ship of Nestor king of
      Pylos, and when they were assembled he laid a cunning counsel
      before them.

      “My friends,” said he, “I have had a dream from heaven in the
      dead of night, and its face and figure resembled none but
      Nestor’s. It hovered over my head and said, ‘You are sleeping,
      son of Atreus; one who has the welfare of his host and so much
      other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep. Hear me at
      once, for I am a messenger from Jove, who, though he be not near,
      yet takes thought for you and pities you. He bids you get the
      Achaeans instantly under arms, for you shall take Troy. There are
      no longer divided counsels among the gods; Juno has brought them
      over to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of
      Jove. Remember this.’ The dream then vanished and I awoke. Let us
      now, therefore, arm the sons of the Achaeans. But it will be well
      that I should first sound them, and to this end I will tell them
      to fly with their ships; but do you others go about among the
      host and prevent their doing so.”

      He then sat down, and Nestor the prince of Pylos with all
      sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: “My friends,” said
      he, “princes and councillors of the Argives, if any other man of
      the Achaeans had told us of this dream we should have declared it
      false, and would have had nothing to do with it. But he who has
      seen it is the foremost man among us; we must therefore set about
      getting the people under arms.”

      With this he led the way from the assembly, and the other
      sceptred kings rose with him in obedience to the word of
      Agamemnon; but the people pressed forward to hear. They swarmed
      like bees that sally from some hollow cave and flit in countless
      throng among the spring flowers, bunched in knots and clusters;
      even so did the mighty multitude pour from ships and tents to the
      assembly, and range themselves upon the wide-watered shore, while
      among them ran Wildfire Rumour, messenger of Jove, urging them
      ever to the fore. Thus they gathered in a pell-mell of mad
      confusion, and the earth groaned under the tramp of men as the
      people sought their places. Nine heralds went crying about among
      them to stay their tumult and bid them listen to the kings, till
      at last they were got into their several places and ceased their
      clamour. Then King Agamemnon rose, holding his sceptre. This was
      the work of Vulcan, who gave it to Jove the son of Saturn. Jove
      gave it to Mercury, slayer of Argus, guide and guardian. King
      Mercury gave it to Pelops, the mighty charioteer, and Pelops to
      Atreus, shepherd of his people. Atreus, when he died, left it to
      Thyestes, rich in flocks, and Thyestes in his turn left it to be
      borne by Agamemnon, that he might be lord of all Argos and of the
      isles. Leaning, then, on his sceptre, he addressed the Argives.

      “My friends,” he said, “heroes, servants of Mars, the hand of
      heaven has been laid heavily upon me. Cruel Jove gave me his
      solemn promise that I should sack the city of Priam before
      returning, but he has played me false, and is now bidding me go
      ingloriously back to Argos with the loss of much people. Such is
      the will of Jove, who has laid many a proud city in the dust, as
      he will yet lay others, for his power is above all. It will be a
      sorry tale hereafter that an Achaean host, at once so great and
      valiant, battled in vain against men fewer in number than
      themselves; but as yet the end is not in sight. Think that the
      Achaeans and Trojans have sworn to a solemn covenant, and that
      they have each been numbered—the Trojans by the roll of their
      householders, and we by companies of ten; think further that each
      of our companies desired to have a Trojan householder to pour out
      their wine; we are so greatly more in number that full many a
      company would have to go without its cup-bearer. But they have in
      the town allies from other places, and it is these that hinder me
      from being able to sack the rich city of Ilius. Nine of Jove’s
      years are gone; the timbers of our ships have rotted; their
      tackling is sound no longer. Our wives and little ones at home
      look anxiously for our coming, but the work that we came hither
      to do has not been done. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say:
      let us sail back to our own land, for we shall not take Troy.”

      With these words he moved the hearts of the multitude, so many of
      them as knew not the cunning counsel of Agamemnon. They surged to
      and fro like the waves of the Icarian Sea, when the east and
      south winds break from heaven’s clouds to lash them; or as when
      the west wind sweeps over a field of corn and the ears bow
      beneath the blast, even so were they swayed as they flew with
      loud cries towards the ships, and the dust from under their feet
      rose heavenward. They cheered each other on to draw the ships
      into the sea; they cleared the channels in front of them; they
      began taking away the stays from underneath them, and the welkin
      rang with their glad cries, so eager were they to return.

      Then surely the Argives would have returned after a fashion that
      was not fated. But Juno said to Minerva, “Alas, daughter of
      aegis-bearing Jove, unweariable, shall the Argives fly home to
      their own land over the broad sea, and leave Priam and the
      Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many
      of the Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about
      at once among the host, and speak fairly to them, man by man,
      that they draw not their ships into the sea.”

      Minerva was not slack to do her bidding. Down she darted from the
      topmost summits of Olympus, and in a moment she was at the ships
      of the Achaeans. There she found Ulysses, peer of Jove in
      counsel, standing alone. He had not as yet laid a hand upon his
      ship, for he was grieved and sorry; so she went close up to him
      and said, “Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, are you going to fling
      yourselves into your ships and be off home to your own land in
      this way? Will you leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still
      keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died
      at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host,
      and speak fairly to them, man by man, that they draw not their
      ships into the sea.”

      Ulysses knew the voice as that of the goddess: he flung his cloak
      from him and set off to run. His servant Eurybates, a man of
      Ithaca, who waited on him, took charge of the cloak, whereon
      Ulysses went straight up to Agamemnon and received from him his
      ancestral, imperishable staff. With this he went about among the
      ships of the Achaeans.

      Whenever he met a king or chieftain, he stood by him and spoke
      him fairly. “Sir,” said he, “this flight is cowardly and
      unworthy. Stand to your post, and bid your people also keep their
      places. You do not yet know the full mind of Agamemnon; he was
      sounding us, and ere long will visit the Achaeans with his
      displeasure. We were not all of us at the council to hear what he
      then said; see to it lest he be angry and do us a mischief; for
      the pride of kings is great, and the hand of Jove is with them.”

      But when he came across any common man who was making a noise, he
      struck him with his staff and rebuked him, saying, “Sirrah, hold
      your peace, and listen to better men than yourself. You are a
      coward and no soldier; you are nobody either in fight or council;
      we cannot all be kings; it is not well that there should be many
      masters; one man must be supreme—one king to whom the son of
      scheming Saturn has given the sceptre of sovereignty over you
      all.”

      Thus masterfully did he go about among the host, and the people
      hurried back to the council from their tents and ships with a
      sound as the thunder of surf when it comes crashing down upon the
      shore, and all the sea is in an uproar.

      The rest now took their seats and kept to their own several
      places, but Thersites still went on wagging his unbridled
      tongue—a man of many words, and those unseemly; a monger of
      sedition, a railer against all who were in authority, who cared
      not what he said, so that he might set the Achaeans in a laugh.
      He was the ugliest man of all those that came before
      Troy—bandy-legged, lame of one foot, with his two shoulders
      rounded and hunched over his chest. His head ran up to a point,
      but there was little hair on the top of it. Achilles and Ulysses
      hated him worst of all, for it was with them that he was most
      wont to wrangle; now, however, with a shrill squeaky voice he
      began heaping his abuse on Agamemnon. The Achaeans were angry and
      disgusted, yet none the less he kept on brawling and bawling at
      the son of Atreus.

      “Agamemnon,” he cried, “what ails you now, and what more do you
      want? Your tents are filled with bronze and with fair women, for
      whenever we take a town we give you the pick of them. Would you
      have yet more gold, which some Trojan is to give you as a ransom
      for his son, when I or another Achaean has taken him prisoner? or
      is it some young girl to hide and lie with? It is not well that
      you, the ruler of the Achaeans, should bring them into such
      misery. Weakling cowards, women rather than men, let us sail
      home, and leave this fellow here at Troy to stew in his own meeds
      of honour, and discover whether we were of any service to him or
      no. Achilles is a much better man than he is, and see how he has
      treated him—robbing him of his prize and keeping it himself.
      Achilles takes it meekly and shows no fight; if he did, son of
      Atreus, you would never again insult him.”

      Thus railed Thersites, but Ulysses at once went up to him and
      rebuked him sternly. “Check your glib tongue, Thersites,” said
      he, “and babble not a word further. Chide not with princes when
      you have none to back you. There is no viler creature come before
      Troy with the sons of Atreus. Drop this chatter about kings, and
      neither revile them nor keep harping about going home. We do not
      yet know how things are going to be, nor whether the Achaeans are
      to return with good success or evil. How dare you gibe at
      Agamemnon because the Danaans have awarded him so many prizes? I
      tell you, therefore—and it shall surely be—that if I again catch
      you talking such nonsense, I will either forfeit my own head and
      be no more called father of Telemachus, or I will take you, strip
      you stark naked, and whip you out of the assembly till you go
      blubbering back to the ships.”

      On this he beat him with his staff about the back and shoulders
      till he dropped and fell a-weeping. The golden sceptre raised a
      bloody weal on his back, so he sat down frightened and in pain,
      looking foolish as he wiped the tears from his eyes. The people
      were sorry for him, yet they laughed heartily, and one would turn
      to his neighbour saying, “Ulysses has done many a good thing ere
      now in fight and council, but he never did the Argives a better
      turn than when he stopped this fellow’s mouth from prating
      further. He will give the kings no more of his insolence.”

      Thus said the people. Then Ulysses rose, sceptre in hand, and
      Minerva in the likeness of a herald bade the people be still,
      that those who were far off might hear him and consider his
      council. He therefore with all sincerity and goodwill addressed
      them thus:—

      “King Agamemnon, the Achaeans are for making you a by-word among
      all mankind. They forget the promise they made you when they set
      out from Argos, that you should not return till you had sacked
      the town of Troy, and, like children or widowed women, they
      murmur and would set off homeward. True it is that they have had
      toil enough to be disheartened. A man chafes at having to stay
      away from his wife even for a single month, when he is on
      shipboard, at the mercy of wind and sea, but it is now nine long
      years that we have been kept here; I cannot, therefore, blame the
      Achaeans if they turn restive; still we shall be shamed if we go
      home empty after so long a stay—therefore, my friends, be patient
      yet a little longer that we may learn whether the prophesyings of
      Calchas were false or true.

      “All who have not since perished must remember as though it were
      yesterday or the day before, how the ships of the Achaeans were
      detained in Aulis when we were on our way hither to make war on
      Priam and the Trojans. We were ranged round about a fountain
      offering hecatombs to the gods upon their holy altars, and there
      was a fine plane-tree from beneath which there welled a stream of
      pure water. Then we saw a prodigy; for Jove sent a fearful
      serpent out of the ground, with blood-red stains upon its back,
      and it darted from under the altar on to the plane-tree. Now
      there was a brood of young sparrows, quite small, upon the
      topmost bough, peeping out from under the leaves, eight in all,
      and their mother that hatched them made nine. The serpent ate the
      poor cheeping things, while the old bird flew about lamenting her
      little ones; but the serpent threw his coils about her and caught
      her by the wing as she was screaming. Then, when he had eaten
      both the sparrow and her young, the god who had sent him made him
      become a sign; for the son of scheming Saturn turned him into
      stone, and we stood there wondering at that which had come to
      pass. Seeing, then, that such a fearful portent had broken in
      upon our hecatombs, Calchas forthwith declared to us the oracles
      of heaven. ‘Why, Achaeans,’ said he, ‘are you thus speechless?
      Jove has sent us this sign, long in coming, and long ere it be
      fulfilled, though its fame shall last for ever. As the serpent
      ate the eight fledglings and the sparrow that hatched them, which
      makes nine, so shall we fight nine years at Troy, but in the
      tenth shall take the town.’ This was what he said, and now it is
      all coming true. Stay here, therefore, all of you, till we take
      the city of Priam.”

      On this the Argives raised a shout, till the ships rang again
      with the uproar. Nestor, knight of Gerene, then addressed them.
      “Shame on you,” he cried, “to stay talking here like children,
      when you should fight like men. Where are our covenants now, and
      where the oaths that we have taken? Shall our counsels be flung
      into the fire, with our drink-offerings and the right hands of
      fellowship wherein we have put our trust? We waste our time in
      words, and for all our talking here shall be no further forward.
      Stand, therefore, son of Atreus, by your own steadfast purpose;
      lead the Argives on to battle, and leave this handful of men to
      rot, who scheme, and scheme in vain, to get back to Argos ere
      they have learned whether Jove be true or a liar. For the mighty
      son of Saturn surely promised that we should succeed, when we
      Argives set sail to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans.
      He showed us favourable signs by flashing his lightning on our
      right hands; therefore let none make haste to go till he has
      first lain with the wife of some Trojan, and avenged the toil and
      sorrow that he has suffered for the sake of Helen. Nevertheless,
      if any man is in such haste to be at home again, let him lay his
      hand to his ship that he may meet his doom in the sight of all.
      But, O king, consider and give ear to my counsel, for the word
      that I say may not be neglected lightly. Divide your men,
      Agamemnon, into their several tribes and clans, that clans and
      tribes may stand by and help one another. If you do this, and if
      the Achaeans obey you, you will find out who, both chiefs and
      peoples, are brave, and who are cowards; for they will vie
      against the other. Thus you shall also learn whether it is
      through the counsel of heaven or the cowardice of man that you
      shall fail to take the town.”

      And Agamemnon answered, “Nestor, you have again outdone the sons
      of the Achaeans in counsel. Would, by Father Jove, Minerva, and
      Apollo, that I had among them ten more such councillors, for the
      city of King Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands, and we
      should sack it. But the son of Saturn afflicts me with bootless
      wranglings and strife. Achilles and I are quarrelling about this
      girl, in which matter I was the first to offend; if we can be of
      one mind again, the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a
      day. Now, therefore, get your morning meal, that our hosts join
      in fight. Whet well your spears; see well to the ordering of your
      shields; give good feeds to your horses, and look your chariots
      carefully over, that we may do battle the livelong day; for we
      shall have no rest, not for a moment, till night falls to part
      us. The bands that bear your shields shall be wet with the sweat
      upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary upon your spears,
      your horses shall steam in front of your chariots, and if I see
      any man shirking the fight, or trying to keep out of it at the
      ships, there shall be no help for him, but he shall be a prey to
      dogs and vultures.”

      Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans roared applause. As when the
      waves run high before the blast of the south wind and break on
      some lofty headland, dashing against it and buffeting it without
      ceasing, as the storms from every quarter drive them, even so did
      the Achaeans rise and hurry in all directions to their ships.
      There they lighted their fires at their tents and got dinner,
      offering sacrifice every man to one or other of the gods, and
      praying each one of them that he might live to come out of the
      fight. Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed a fat five-year-old
      bull to the mighty son of Saturn, and invited the princes and
      elders of his host. First he asked Nestor and King Idomeneus,
      then the two Ajaxes and the son of Tydeus, and sixthly Ulysses,
      peer of gods in counsel; but Menelaus came of his own accord, for
      he knew how busy his brother then was. They stood round the bull
      with the barley-meal in their hands, and Agamemnon prayed,
      saying, “Jove, most glorious, supreme, that dwellest in heaven,
      and ridest upon the storm-cloud, grant that the sun may not go
      down, nor the night fall, till the palace of Priam is laid low,
      and its gates are consumed with fire. Grant that my sword may
      pierce the shirt of Hector about his heart, and that full many of
      his comrades may bite the dust as they fall dying round him.”

      Thus he prayed, but the son of Saturn would not fulfil his
      prayer. He accepted the sacrifice, yet none the less increased
      their toil continually. When they had done praying and sprinkling
      the barley-meal upon the victim, they drew back its head, killed
      it, and then flayed it. They cut out the thigh-bones, wrapped
      them round in two layers of fat, and set pieces of raw meat on
      the top of them. These they burned upon the split logs of
      firewood, but they spitted the inward meats, and held them in the
      flames to cook. When the thigh-bones were burned, and they had
      tasted the inward meats, they cut the rest up small, put the
      pieces upon spits, roasted them till they were done, and drew
      them off; then, when they had finished their work and the feast
      was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that
      all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and
      drink, Nestor, knight of Gerene, began to speak. “King
      Agamemnon,” said he, “let us not stay talking here, nor be slack
      in the work that heaven has put into our hands. Let the heralds
      summon the people to gather at their several ships; we will then
      go about among the host, that we may begin fighting at once.”

      Thus did he speak, and Agamemnon heeded his words. He at once
      sent the criers round to call the people in assembly. So they
      called them, and the people gathered thereon. The chiefs about
      the son of Atreus chose their men and marshalled them, while
      Minerva went among them holding her priceless aegis that knows
      neither age nor death. From it there waved a hundred tassels of
      pure gold, all deftly woven, and each one of them worth a hundred
      oxen. With this she darted furiously everywhere among the hosts
      of the Achaeans, urging them forward, and putting courage into
      the heart of each, so that he might fight and do battle without
      ceasing. Thus war became sweeter in their eyes even than
      returning home in their ships. As when some great forest fire is
      raging upon a mountain top and its light is seen afar, even so as
      they marched the gleam of their armour flashed up into the
      firmament of heaven.

      They were like great flocks of geese, or cranes, or swans on the
      plain about the waters of Cayster, that wing their way hither and
      thither, glorying in the pride of flight, and crying as they
      settle till the fen is alive with their screaming. Even thus did
      their tribes pour from ships and tents on to the plain of the
      Scamander, and the ground rang as brass under the feet of men and
      horses. They stood as thick upon the flower-bespangled field as
      leaves that bloom in summer.

      As countless swarms of flies buzz around a herdsman’s homestead
      in the time of spring when the pails are drenched with milk, even
      so did the Achaeans swarm on to the plain to charge the Trojans
      and destroy them.

      The chiefs disposed their men this way and that before the fight
      began, drafting them out as easily as goatherds draft their
      flocks when they have got mixed while feeding; and among them
      went King Agamemnon, with a head and face like Jove the lord of
      thunder, a waist like Mars, and a chest like that of Neptune. As
      some great bull that lords it over the herds upon the plain, even
      so did Jove make the son of Atreus stand peerless among the
      multitude of heroes.

      And now, O Muses, dwellers in the mansions of Olympus, tell
      me—for you are goddesses and are in all places so that you see
      all things, while we know nothing but by report—who were the
      chiefs and princes of the Danaans? As for the common soldiers,
      they were so that I could not name every single one of them
      though I had ten tongues, and though my voice failed not and my
      heart were of bronze within me, unless you, O Olympian Muses,
      daughters of aegis-bearing Jove, were to recount them to me.
      Nevertheless, I will tell the captains of the ships and all the
      fleet together.

      Peneleos, Leitus, Arcesilaus, Prothoenor, and Clonius were
      captains of the Boeotians. These were they that dwelt in Hyria
      and rocky Aulis, and who held Schoenus, Scolus, and the highlands
      of Eteonus, with Thespeia, Graia, and the fair city of
      Mycalessus. They also held Harma, Eilesium, and Erythrae; and
      they had Eleon, Hyle, and Peteon; Ocalea and the strong fortress
      of Medeon; Copae, Eutresis, and Thisbe the haunt of doves;
      Coronea, and the pastures of Haliartus; Plataea and Glisas; the
      fortress of Thebes the less; holy Onchestus with its famous grove
      of Neptune; Arne rich in vineyards; Midea, sacred Nisa, and
      Anthedon upon the sea. From these there came fifty ships, and in
      each there were a hundred and twenty young men of the Boeotians.

      Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Mars, led the people that dwelt
      in Aspledon and Orchomenus the realm of Minyas. Astyoche a noble
      maiden bore them in the house of Actor son of Azeus; for she had
      gone with Mars secretly into an upper chamber, and he had lain
      with her. With these there came thirty ships.

      The Phoceans were led by Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of mighty
      Iphitus the son of Naubolus. These were they that held
      Cyparissus, rocky Pytho, holy Crisa, Daulis, and Panopeus; they
      also that dwelt in Anemorea and Hyampolis, and about the waters
      of the river Cephissus, and Lilaea by the springs of the
      Cephissus; with their chieftains came forty ships, and they
      marshalled the forces of the Phoceans, which were stationed next
      to the Boeotians, on their left.

      Ajax, the fleet son of Oileus, commanded the Locrians. He was not
      so great, nor nearly so great, as Ajax the son of Telamon. He was
      a little man, and his breastplate was made of linen, but in use
      of the spear he excelled all the Hellenes and the Achaeans. These
      dwelt in Cynus, Opous, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe, fair Augeae,
      Tarphe, and Thronium about the river Boagrius. With him there
      came forty ships of the Locrians who dwell beyond Euboea.

      The fierce Abantes held Euboea with its cities, Chalcis, Eretria,
      Histiaea rich in vines, Cerinthus upon the sea, and the
      rock-perched town of Dium; with them were also the men of
      Carystus and Styra; Elephenor of the race of Mars was in command
      of these; he was son of Chalcodon, and chief over all the
      Abantes. With him they came, fleet of foot and wearing their hair
      long behind, brave warriors, who would ever strive to tear open
      the corslets of their foes with their long ashen spears. Of these
      there came fifty ships.

      And they that held the strong city of Athens, the people of great
      Erechtheus, who was born of the soil itself, but Jove’s daughter,
      Minerva, fostered him, and established him at Athens in her own
      rich sanctuary. There, year by year, the Athenian youths worship
      him with sacrifices of bulls and rams. These were commanded by
      Menestheus, son of Peteos. No man living could equal him in the
      marshalling of chariots and foot soldiers. Nestor could alone
      rival him, for he was older. With him there came fifty ships.

      Ajax brought twelve ships from Salamis, and stationed them
      alongside those of the Athenians.

      The men of Argos, again, and those who held the walls of Tiryns,
      with Hermione, and Asine upon the gulf; Troezene, Eionae, and the
      vineyard lands of Epidaurus; the Achaean youths, moreover, who
      came from Aegina and Mases; these were led by Diomed of the loud
      battle-cry, and Sthenelus son of famed Capaneus. With them in
      command was Euryalus, son of king Mecisteus, son of Talaus; but
      Diomed was chief over them all. With these there came eighty
      ships.

      Those who held the strong city of Mycenae, rich Corinth and
      Cleonae; Orneae, Araethyrea, and Licyon, where Adrastus reigned
      of old; Hyperesia, high Gonoessa, and Pellene; Aegium and all the
      coast-land round about Helice; these sent a hundred ships under
      the command of King Agamemnon, son of Atreus. His force was far
      both finest and most numerous, and in their midst was the king
      himself, all glorious in his armour of gleaming bronze—foremost
      among the heroes, for he was the greatest king, and had most men
      under him.

      And those that dwelt in Lacedaemon, lying low among the hills,
      Pharis, Sparta, with Messe the haunt of doves; Bryseae, Augeae,
      Amyclae, and Helos upon the sea; Laas, moreover, and Oetylus;
      these were led by Menelaus of the loud battle-cry, brother to
      Agamemnon, and of them there were sixty ships, drawn up apart
      from the others. Among them went Menelaus himself, strong in
      zeal, urging his men to fight; for he longed to avenge the toil
      and sorrow that he had suffered for the sake of Helen.

      The men of Pylos and Arene, and Thryum where is the ford of the
      river Alpheus; strong Aipy, Cyparisseis, and Amphigenea; Pteleum,
      Helos, and Dorium, where the Muses met Thamyris, and stilled his
      minstrelsy for ever. He was returning from Oechalia, where
      Eurytus lived and reigned, and boasted that he would surpass even
      the Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Jove, if they should sing
      against him; whereon they were angry, and maimed him. They robbed
      him of his divine power of song, and thenceforth he could strike
      the lyre no more. These were commanded by Nestor, knight of
      Gerene, and with him there came ninety ships.

      And those that held Arcadia, under the high mountain of Cyllene,
      near the tomb of Aepytus, where the people fight hand to hand;
      the men of Pheneus also, and Orchomenus rich in flocks; of
      Rhipae, Stratie, and bleak Enispe; of Tegea and fair Mantinea; of
      Stymphelus and Parrhasia; of these King Agapenor son of Ancaeus
      was commander, and they had sixty ships. Many Arcadians, good
      soldiers, came in each one of them, but Agamemnon found them the
      ships in which to cross the sea, for they were not a people that
      occupied their business upon the waters.

      The men, moreover, of Buprasium and of Elis, so much of it as is
      enclosed between Hyrmine, Myrsinus upon the sea-shore, the rock
      Olene and Alesium. These had four leaders, and each of them had
      ten ships, with many Epeans on board. Their captains were
      Amphimachus and Thalpius—the one, son of Cteatus, and the other,
      of Eurytus—both of the race of Actor. The two others were Diores,
      son of Amarynceus, and Polyxenus, son of King Agasthenes, son of
      Augeas.

      And those of Dulichium with the sacred Echinean islands, who
      dwelt beyond the sea off Elis; these were led by Meges, peer of
      Mars, and the son of valiant Phyleus, dear to Jove, who
      quarrelled with his father, and went to settle in Dulichium. With
      him there came forty ships.

      Ulysses led the brave Cephallenians, who held Ithaca, Neritum
      with its forests, Crocylea, rugged Aegilips, Samos and Zacynthus,
      with the mainland also that was over against the islands. These
      were led by Ulysses, peer of Jove in counsel, and with him there
      came twelve ships.

      Thoas, son of Andraemon, commanded the Aetolians, who dwelt in
      Pleuron, Olenus, Pylene, Chalcis by the sea, and rocky Calydon,
      for the great king Oeneus had now no sons living, and was himself
      dead, as was also golden-haired Meleager, who had been set over
      the Aetolians to be their king. And with Thoas there came forty
      ships.

      The famous spearsman Idomeneus led the Cretans, who held Cnossus,
      and the well-walled city of Gortys; Lyctus also, Miletus and
      Lycastus that lies upon the chalk; the populous towns of Phaestus
      and Rhytium, with the other peoples that dwelt in the hundred
      cities of Crete. All these were led by Idomeneus, and by
      Meriones, peer of murderous Mars. And with these there came
      eighty ships.

      Tlepolemus, son of Hercules, a man both brave and large of
      stature, brought nine ships of lordly warriors from Rhodes. These
      dwelt in Rhodes which is divided among the three cities of
      Lindus, Ielysus, and Cameirus, that lies upon the chalk. These
      were commanded by Tlepolemus, son of Hercules by Astyochea, whom
      he had carried off from Ephyra, on the river Selleis, after
      sacking many cities of valiant warriors. When Tlepolemus grew up,
      he killed his father’s uncle Licymnius, who had been a famous
      warrior in his time, but was then grown old. On this he built
      himself a fleet, gathered a great following, and fled beyond the
      sea, for he was menaced by the other sons and grandsons of
      Hercules. After a voyage, during which he suffered great
      hardship, he came to Rhodes, where the people divided into three
      communities, according to their tribes, and were dearly loved by
      Jove, the lord of gods and men; wherefore the son of Saturn
      showered down great riches upon them.

      And Nireus brought three ships from Syme—Nireus, who was the
      handsomest man that came up under Ilius of all the Danaans after
      the son of Peleus—but he was a man of no substance, and had but a
      small following.

      And those that held Nisyrus, Crapathus, and Casus, with Cos, the
      city of Eurypylus, and the Calydnian islands, these were
      commanded by Pheidippus and Antiphus, two sons of King Thessalus
      the son of Hercules. And with them there came thirty ships.

      Those again who held Pelasgic Argos, Alos, Alope, and Trachis;
      and those of Phthia and Hellas the land of fair women, who were
      called Myrmidons, Hellenes, and Achaeans; these had fifty ships,
      over which Achilles was in command. But they now took no part in
      the war, inasmuch as there was no one to marshal them; for
      Achilles stayed by his ships, furious about the loss of the girl
      Briseis, whom he had taken from Lyrnessus at his own great peril,
      when he had sacked Lyrnessus and Thebe, and had overthrown Mynes
      and Epistrophus, sons of king Evenor, son of Selepus. For her
      sake Achilles was still grieving, but ere long he was again to
      join them.

      And those that held Phylace and the flowery meadows of Pyrasus,
      sanctuary of Ceres; Iton, the mother of sheep; Antrum upon the
      sea, and Pteleum that lies upon the grass lands. Of these brave
      Protesilaus had been captain while he was yet alive, but he was
      now lying under the earth. He had left a wife behind him in
      Phylace to tear her cheeks in sorrow, and his house was only half
      finished, for he was slain by a Dardanian warrior while leaping
      foremost of the Achaeans upon the soil of Troy. Still, though his
      people mourned their chieftain, they were not without a leader,
      for Podarces, of the race of Mars, marshalled them; he was son of
      Iphiclus, rich in sheep, who was the son of Phylacus, and he was
      own brother to Protesilaus, only younger, Protesilaus being at
      once the elder and the more valiant. So the people were not
      without a leader, though they mourned him whom they had lost.
      With him there came forty ships.

      And those that held Pherae by the Boebean lake, with Boebe,
      Glaphyrae, and the populous city of Iolcus, these with their
      eleven ships were led by Eumelus, son of Admetus, whom Alcestis
      bore to him, loveliest of the daughters of Pelias.

      And those that held Methone and Thaumacia, with Meliboea and
      rugged Olizon, these were led by the skilful archer Philoctetes,
      and they had seven ships, each with fifty oarsmen all of them
      good archers; but Philoctetes was lying in great pain in the
      Island of Lemnos, where the sons of the Achaeans left him, for he
      had been bitten by a poisonous water snake. There he lay sick and
      sorry, and full soon did the Argives come to miss him. But his
      people, though they felt his loss were not leaderless, for Medon,
      the bastard son of Oileus by Rhene, set them in array.

      Those, again, of Tricca and the stony region of Ithome, and they
      that held Oechalia, the city of Oechalian Eurytus, these were
      commanded by the two sons of Aesculapius, skilled in the art of
      healing, Podalirius and Machaon. And with them there came thirty
      ships.

      The men, moreover, of Ormenius, and by the fountain of Hypereia,
      with those that held Asterius, and the white crests of Titanus,
      these were led by Eurypylus, the son of Euaemon, and with them
      there came forty ships.

      Those that held Argissa and Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone, and the white
      city of Oloosson, of these brave Polypoetes was leader. He was
      son of Pirithous, who was son of Jove himself, for Hippodameia
      bore him to Pirithous on the day when he took his revenge on the
      shaggy mountain savages and drove them from Mt. Pelion to the
      Aithices. But Polypoetes was not sole in command, for with him
      was Leonteus, of the race of Mars, who was son of Coronus, the
      son of Caeneus. And with these there came forty ships.

      Guneus brought two and twenty ships from Cyphus, and he was
      followed by the Enienes and the valiant Peraebi, who dwelt about
      wintry Dodona, and held the lands round the lovely river
      Titaresius, which sends its waters into the Peneus. They do not
      mingle with the silver eddies of the Peneus, but flow on the top
      of them like oil; for the Titaresius is a branch of dread Orcus
      and of the river Styx.

      Of the Magnetes, Prothous son of Tenthredon was commander. They
      were they that dwelt about the river Peneus and Mt. Pelion.
      Prothous, fleet of foot, was their leader, and with him there
      came forty ships.

      Such were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans. Who, then, O
      Muse, was the foremost, whether man or horse, among those that
      followed after the sons of Atreus?

      Of the horses, those of the son of Pheres were by far the finest.
      They were driven by Eumelus, and were as fleet as birds. They
      were of the same age and colour, and perfectly matched in height.
      Apollo, of the silver bow, had bred them in Perea—both of them
      mares, and terrible as Mars in battle. Of the men, Ajax, son of
      Telamon, was much the foremost so long as Achilles’ anger lasted,
      for Achilles excelled him greatly and he had also better horses;
      but Achilles was now holding aloof at his ships by reason of his
      quarrel with Agamemnon, and his people passed their time upon the
      sea-shore, throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark, and in
      archery. Their horses stood each by his own chariot, champing
      lotus and wild celery. The chariots were housed under cover, but
      their owners, for lack of leadership, wandered hither and thither
      about the host and went not forth to fight.

      Thus marched the host like a consuming fire, and the earth
      groaned beneath them when the lord of thunder is angry and lashes
      the land about Typhoeus among the Arimi, where they say Typhoeus
      lies. Even so did the earth groan beneath them as they sped over
      the plain.

      And now Iris, fleet as the wind, was sent by Jove to tell the bad
      news among the Trojans. They were gathered in assembly, old and
      young, at Priam’s gates, and Iris came close up to Priam,
      speaking with the voice of Priam’s son Polites, who, being fleet
      of foot, was stationed as watchman for the Trojans on the tomb of
      old Aesyetes, to look out for any sally of the Achaeans. In his
      likeness Iris spoke, saying, “Old man, you talk idly, as in time
      of peace, while war is at hand. I have been in many a battle, but
      never yet saw such a host as is now advancing. They are crossing
      the plain to attack the city as thick as leaves or as the sands
      of the sea. Hector, I charge you above all others, do as I say.
      There are many allies dispersed about the city of Priam from
      distant places and speaking divers tongues. Therefore, let each
      chief give orders to his own people, setting them severally in
      array and leading them forth to battle.”

      Thus she spoke, but Hector knew that it was the goddess, and at
      once broke up the assembly. The men flew to arms; all the gates
      were opened, and the people thronged through them, horse and
      foot, with the tramp as of a great multitude.

      Now there is a high mound before the city, rising by itself upon
      the plain. Men call it Batieia, but the gods know that it is the
      tomb of lithe Myrine. Here the Trojans and their allies divided
      their forces.

      Priam’s son, great Hector of the gleaming helmet, commanded the
      Trojans, and with him were arrayed by far the greater number and
      most valiant of those who were longing for the fray.

      The Dardanians were led by brave Aeneas, whom Venus bore to
      Anchises, when she, goddess though she was, had lain with him
      upon the mountain slopes of Ida. He was not alone, for with him
      were the two sons of Antenor, Archelochus and Acamas, both
      skilled in all the arts of war.

      They that dwelt in Telea under the lowest spurs of Mt. Ida, men
      of substance, who drink the limpid waters of the Aesepus, and are
      of Trojan blood—these were led by Pandarus son of Lycaon, whom
      Apollo had taught to use the bow.

      They that held Adresteia and the land of Apaesus, with Pityeia,
      and the high mountain of Tereia—these were led by Adrestus and
      Amphius, whose breastplate was of linen. These were the sons of
      Merops of Percote, who excelled in all kinds of divination. He
      told them not to take part in the war, but they gave him no heed,
      for fate lured them to destruction.

      They that dwelt about Percote and Practius, with Sestos, Abydos,
      and Arisbe—these were led by Asius, son of Hyrtacus, a brave
      commander—Asius, the son of Hyrtacus, whom his powerful dark bay
      steeds, of the breed that comes from the river Selleis, had
      brought from Arisbe.

      Hippothous led the tribes of Pelasgian spearsmen, who dwelt in
      fertile Larissa—Hippothous, and Pylaeus of the race of Mars, two
      sons of the Pelasgian Lethus, son of Teutamus.

      Acamas and the warrior Peirous commanded the Thracians and those
      that came from beyond the mighty stream of the Hellespont.

      Euphemus, son of Troezenus, the son of Ceos, was captain of the
      Ciconian spearsmen.

      Pyraechmes led the Paeonian archers from distant Amydon, by the
      broad waters of the river Axius, the fairest that flow upon the
      earth.

      The Paphlagonians were commanded by stout-hearted Pylaemanes from
      Enetae, where the mules run wild in herds. These were they that
      held Cytorus and the country round Sesamus, with the cities by
      the river Parthenius, Cromna, Aegialus, and lofty Erithini.

      Odius and Epistrophus were captains over the Halizoni from
      distant Alybe, where there are mines of silver.

      Chromis, and Ennomus the augur, led the Mysians, but his skill in
      augury availed not to save him from destruction, for he fell by
      the hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus in the river, where he
      slew others also of the Trojans.

      Phorcys, again, and noble Ascanius led the Phrygians from the far
      country of Ascania, and both were eager for the fray.

      Mesthles and Antiphus commanded the Meonians, sons of Talaemenes,
      born to him of the Gygaean lake. These led the Meonians, who
      dwelt under Mt. Tmolus.

      Nastes led the Carians, men of a strange speech. These held
      Miletus and the wooded mountain of Phthires, with the water of
      the river Maeander and the lofty crests of Mt. Mycale. These were
      commanded by Nastes and Amphimachus, the brave sons of Nomion. He
      came into the fight with gold about him, like a girl; fool that
      he was, his gold was of no avail to save him, for he fell in the
      river by the hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, and Achilles
      bore away his gold.

      Sarpedon and Glaucus led the Lycians from their distant land, by
      the eddying waters of the Xanthus.


1  ἄλλοι μέν ῥα θεοί τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἱπποκορυσταὶ
2  εὗδον παννύχιοι, Δία δʼ οὐκ ἔχε νήδυμος ὕπνος,
3  ἀλλʼ ὅ γε μερμήριζε κατὰ φρένα ὡς Ἀχιλῆα
4  τιμήσῃ, ὀλέσῃ δὲ πολέας ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.
5  ἥδε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή,
6  πέμψαι ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι οὖλον ὄνειρον·
7  καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
8  βάσκʼ ἴθι οὖλε ὄνειρε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν·
9  ἐλθὼν ἐς κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
10  πάντα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορευέμεν ὡς ἐπιτέλλω·
11  θωρῆξαί ἑ κέλευε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς
12  πανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοι πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν
13  Τρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες
14  ἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας
15  Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεʼ ἐφῆπται.
16  ὣς φάτο, βῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὄνειρος ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσε·
17  καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵκανε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,
18  βῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα· τὸν δὲ κίχανεν
19  εὕδοντʼ ἐν κλισίῃ, περὶ δʼ ἀμβρόσιος κέχυθʼ ὕπνος.
20  στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς Νηληΐῳ υἷι ἐοικώς
21  Νέστορι, τόν ῥα μάλιστα γερόντων τῖʼ Ἀγαμέμνων·
22  τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσεφώνεε θεῖος ὄνειρος·
23  εὕδεις Ἀτρέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο·
24  οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον εὕδειν βουληφόρον ἄνδρα
25  ᾧ λαοί τʼ ἐπιτετράφαται καὶ τόσσα μέμηλε·
26  νῦν δʼ ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα· Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,
27  ὃς σεῦ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδʼ ἐλεαίρει.
28  θωρῆξαί σε κέλευσε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς
29  πανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοις πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν
30  Τρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες
31  ἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας
32  Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεʼ ἐφῆπται
33  ἐκ Διός· ἀλλὰ σὺ σῇσιν ἔχε φρεσί, μηδέ σε λήθη
34  αἱρείτω εὖτʼ ἄν σε μελίφρων ὕπνος ἀνήῃ.
35  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπεβήσετο, τὸν δὲ λίπʼ αὐτοῦ
36  τὰ φρονέοντʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἅ ῥʼ οὐ τελέεσθαι ἔμελλον·
37  φῆ γὰρ ὅ γʼ αἱρήσειν Πριάμου πόλιν ἤματι κείνῳ
38  νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὰ ᾔδη ἅ ῥα Ζεὺς μήδετο ἔργα·
39  θήσειν γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμελλεν ἐπʼ ἄλγεά τε στοναχάς τε
40  Τρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι διὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.
41  ἔγρετο δʼ ἐξ ὕπνου, θείη δέ μιν ἀμφέχυτʼ ὀμφή·
42  ἕζετο δʼ ὀρθωθείς, μαλακὸν δʼ ἔνδυνε χιτῶνα
43  καλὸν νηγάτεον, περὶ δὲ μέγα βάλλετο φᾶρος·
44  ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
45  ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον·
46  εἵλετο δὲ σκῆπτρον πατρώϊον ἄφθιτον αἰεὶ
47  σὺν τῷ ἔβη κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·
48  ἠὼς μέν ῥα θεὰ προσεβήσετο μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον
49  Ζηνὶ φόως ἐρέουσα καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισιν·
50  αὐτὰρ ὃ κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε
51  κηρύσσειν ἀγορὴν δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς·
52  οἳ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δʼ ἠγείροντο μάλʼ ὦκα·
53  βουλὴν δὲ πρῶτον μεγαθύμων ἷζε γερόντων
54  Νεστορέῃ παρὰ νηῒ Πυλοιγενέος βασιλῆος·
55  τοὺς ὅ γε συγκαλέσας πυκινὴν ἀρτύνετο βουλήν·
56  κλῦτε φίλοι· θεῖός μοι ἐνύπνιον ἦλθεν ὄνειρος
57  ἀμβροσίην διὰ νύκτα· μάλιστα δὲ Νέστορι δίῳ
58  εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε φυήν τʼ ἄγχιστα ἐῴκει·
59  στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί με πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
60  εὕδεις Ἀτρέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο·
61  οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον εὕδειν βουληφόρον ἄνδρα,
62  ᾧ λαοί τʼ ἐπιτετράφαται καὶ τόσσα μέμηλε·
63  νῦν δʼ ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα· Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,
64  ὃς σεῦ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδʼ ἐλεαίρει·
65  θωρῆξαί σε κέλευσε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς
66  πανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοις πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν
67  Τρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες
68  ἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας
69  Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεʼ ἐφῆπται
70  ἐκ Διός· ἀλλὰ σὺ σῇσιν ἔχε φρεσίν· ὣς ὃ μὲν εἰπὼν
71  ᾤχετʼ ἀποπτάμενος, ἐμὲ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν.
72  ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ αἴ κέν πως θωρήξομεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν·
73  πρῶτα δʼ ἐγὼν ἔπεσιν πειρήσομαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,
74  καὶ φεύγειν σὺν νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι κελεύσω·
75  ὑμεῖς δʼ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος ἐρητύειν ἐπέεσσιν.
76  ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη
77  Νέστωρ, ὅς ῥα Πύλοιο ἄναξ ἦν ἠμαθόεντος,
78  ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
79  ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
80  εἰ μέν τις τὸν ὄνειρον Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ἔνισπε
81  ψεῦδός κεν φαῖμεν καὶ νοσφιζοίμεθα μᾶλλον·
82  νῦν δʼ ἴδεν ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν εὔχεται εἶναι·
83  ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ αἴ κέν πως θωρήξομεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.
84  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας βουλῆς ἐξῆρχε νέεσθαι,
85  οἳ δʼ ἐπανέστησαν πείθοντό τε ποιμένι λαῶν
86  σκηπτοῦχοι βασιλῆες· ἐπεσσεύοντο δὲ λαοί.
87  ἠΰτε ἔθνεα εἶσι μελισσάων ἁδινάων
88  πέτρης ἐκ γλαφυρῆς αἰεὶ νέον ἐρχομενάων,
89  βοτρυδὸν δὲ πέτονται ἐπʼ ἄνθεσιν εἰαρινοῖσιν·
90  αἳ μέν τʼ ἔνθα ἅλις πεποτήαται, αἳ δέ τε ἔνθα·
91  ὣς τῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων
92  ἠϊόνος προπάροιθε βαθείης ἐστιχόωντο
93  ἰλαδὸν εἰς ἀγορήν· μετὰ δέ σφισιν ὄσσα δεδήει
94  ὀτρύνουσʼ ἰέναι Διὸς ἄγγελος· οἳ δʼ ἀγέροντο.
95  τετρήχει δʼ ἀγορή, ὑπὸ δὲ στεναχίζετο γαῖα
96  λαῶν ἱζόντων, ὅμαδος δʼ ἦν· ἐννέα δέ σφεας
97  κήρυκες βοόωντες ἐρήτυον, εἴ ποτʼ ἀϋτῆς
98  σχοίατʼ, ἀκούσειαν δὲ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων.
99  σπουδῇ δʼ ἕζετο λαός, ἐρήτυθεν δὲ καθʼ ἕδρας
100  παυσάμενοι κλαγγῆς· ἀνὰ δὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
101  ἔστη σκῆπτρον ἔχων τὸ μὲν Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων.
102  Ἥφαιστος μὲν δῶκε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι,
103  αὐτὰρ ἄρα Ζεὺς δῶκε διακτόρῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ·
104  Ἑρμείας δὲ ἄναξ δῶκεν Πέλοπι πληξίππῳ,
105  αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτε Πέλοψ δῶκʼ Ἀτρέϊ ποιμένι λαῶν,
106  Ἀτρεὺς δὲ θνῄσκων ἔλιπεν πολύαρνι Θυέστῃ,
107  αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτε Θυέστʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι λεῖπε φορῆναι,
108  πολλῇσιν νήσοισι καὶ Ἄργεϊ παντὶ ἀνάσσειν.
109  τῷ ὅ γʼ ἐρεισάμενος ἔπεʼ Ἀργείοισι μετηύδα·
110  ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες Ἄρηος
111  Ζεύς με μέγα Κρονίδης ἄτῃ ἐνέδησε βαρείῃ,
112  σχέτλιος, ὃς πρὶν μέν μοι ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσεν
113  Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντʼ εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι,
114  νῦν δὲ κακὴν ἀπάτην βουλεύσατο, καί με κελεύει
115  δυσκλέα Ἄργος ἱκέσθαι, ἐπεὶ πολὺν ὤλεσα λαόν.
116  οὕτω που Διὶ μέλλει ὑπερμενέϊ φίλον εἶναι,
117  ὃς δὴ πολλάων πολίων κατέλυσε κάρηνα
118  ἠδʼ ἔτι καὶ λύσει· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.
119  αἰσχρὸν γὰρ τόδε γʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι
120  μὰψ οὕτω τοιόνδε τοσόνδε τε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν
121  ἄπρηκτον πόλεμον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι
122  ἀνδράσι παυροτέροισι, τέλος δʼ οὔ πώ τι πέφανται·
123  εἴ περ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλοιμεν Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τε
124  ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες ἀριθμηθήμεναι ἄμφω,
125  Τρῶας μὲν λέξασθαι ἐφέστιοι ὅσσοι ἔασιν,
126  ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐς δεκάδας διακοσμηθεῖμεν Ἀχαιοί,
127  Τρώων δʼ ἄνδρα ἕκαστοι ἑλοίμεθα οἰνοχοεύειν,
128  πολλαί κεν δεκάδες δευοίατο οἰνοχόοιο.
129  τόσσον ἐγώ φημι πλέας ἔμμεναι υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
130  Τρώων, οἳ ναίουσι κατὰ πτόλιν· ἀλλʼ ἐπίκουροι
131  πολλέων ἐκ πολίων ἐγχέσπαλοι ἄνδρες ἔασιν,
132  οἵ με μέγα πλάζουσι καὶ οὐκ εἰῶσʼ ἐθέλοντα
133  Ἰλίου ἐκπέρσαι εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθρον.
134  ἐννέα δὴ βεβάασι Διὸς μεγάλου ἐνιαυτοί,
135  καὶ δὴ δοῦρα σέσηπε νεῶν καὶ σπάρτα λέλυνται·
136  αἳ δέ που ἡμέτεραί τʼ ἄλοχοι καὶ νήπια τέκνα
137  εἵατʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ποτιδέγμεναι· ἄμμι δὲ ἔργον
138  αὔτως ἀκράαντον οὗ εἵνεκα δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεσθα.
139  ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες·
140  φεύγωμεν σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
141  οὐ γὰρ ἔτι Τροίην αἱρήσομεν εὐρυάγυιαν.
142  ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε
143  πᾶσι μετὰ πληθὺν ὅσοι οὐ βουλῆς ἐπάκουσαν·
144  κινήθη δʼ ἀγορὴ φὴ κύματα μακρὰ θαλάσσης
145  πόντου Ἰκαρίοιο, τὰ μέν τʼ Εὖρός τε Νότος τε
146  ὤρορʼ ἐπαΐξας πατρὸς Διὸς ἐκ νεφελάων.
147  ὡς δʼ ὅτε κινήσῃ Ζέφυρος βαθὺ λήϊον ἐλθὼν
148  λάβρος ἐπαιγίζων, ἐπί τʼ ἠμύει ἀσταχύεσσιν,
149  ὣς τῶν πᾶσʼ ἀγορὴ κινήθη· τοὶ δʼ ἀλαλητῷ
150  νῆας ἔπʼ ἐσσεύοντο, ποδῶν δʼ ὑπένερθε κονίη
151  ἵστατʼ ἀειρομένη· τοὶ δʼ ἀλλήλοισι κέλευον
152  ἅπτεσθαι νηῶν ἠδʼ ἑλκέμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,
153  οὐρούς τʼ ἐξεκάθαιρον· ἀϋτὴ δʼ οὐρανὸν ἷκεν
154  οἴκαδε ἱεμένων· ὑπὸ δʼ ᾕρεον ἕρματα νηῶν.
155  ἔνθά κεν Ἀργείοισιν ὑπέρμορα νόστος ἐτύχθη
156  εἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίην Ἥρη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
157  ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη,
158  οὕτω δὴ οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
159  Ἀργεῖοι φεύξονται ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,
160  κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιεν
161  Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλοὶ Ἀχαιῶν
162  ἐν Τροίῃ ἀπόλοντο φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης·
163  ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·
164  σοῖς ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυε φῶτα ἕκαστον,
165  μηδὲ ἔα νῆας ἅλα δʼ ἑλκέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.
166  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
167  βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα·
168  καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵκανε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.
169  εὗρεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντον
170  ἑσταότʼ· οὐδʼ ὅ γε νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης
171  ἅπτετʼ, ἐπεί μιν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἵκανεν·
172  ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
173  διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
174  οὕτω δὴ οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
175  φεύξεσθʼ ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι πεσόντες,
176  κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιτε
177  Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλοὶ Ἀχαιῶν
178  ἐν Τροίῃ ἀπόλοντο φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης;
179  ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν, μηδʼ ἔτʼ ἐρώει,
180  σοῖς δʼ ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυε φῶτα ἕκαστον,
181  μηδὲ ἔα νῆας ἅλα δʼ ἑλκέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.
182  ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ ξυνέηκε θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης,
183  βῆ δὲ θέειν, ἀπὸ δὲ χλαῖναν βάλε· τὴν δὲ κόμισσε
184  κῆρυξ Εὐρυβάτης Ἰθακήσιος ὅς οἱ ὀπήδει·
185  αὐτὸς δʼ Ἀτρεΐδεω Ἀγαμέμνονος ἀντίος ἐλθὼν
186  δέξατό οἱ σκῆπτρον πατρώϊον ἄφθιτον αἰεί·
187  σὺν τῷ ἔβη κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.
188  ὅν τινα μὲν βασιλῆα καὶ ἔξοχον ἄνδρα κιχείη
189  τὸν δʼ ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρητύσασκε παραστάς·
190  δαιμόνιʼ οὔ σε ἔοικε κακὸν ὣς δειδίσσεσθαι,
191  ἀλλʼ αὐτός τε κάθησο καὶ ἄλλους ἵδρυε λαούς·
192  οὐ γάρ πω σάφα οἶσθʼ οἷος νόος Ἀτρεΐωνος·
193  νῦν μὲν πειρᾶται, τάχα δʼ ἴψεται υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.
194  ἐν βουλῇ δʼ οὐ πάντες ἀκούσαμεν οἷον ἔειπε.
195  μή τι χολωσάμενος ῥέξῃ κακὸν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν·
196  θυμὸς δὲ μέγας ἐστὶ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων,
197  τιμὴ δʼ ἐκ Διός ἐστι, φιλεῖ δέ ἑ μητίετα Ζεύς.
198  ὃν δʼ αὖ δήμου τʼ ἄνδρα ἴδοι βοόωντά τʼ ἐφεύροι,
199  τὸν σκήπτρῳ ἐλάσασκεν ὁμοκλήσασκέ τε μύθῳ·
200  δαιμόνιʼ ἀτρέμας ἧσο καὶ ἄλλων μῦθον ἄκουε,
201  οἳ σέο φέρτεροί εἰσι, σὺ δʼ ἀπτόλεμος καὶ ἄναλκις
202  οὔτέ ποτʼ ἐν πολέμῳ ἐναρίθμιος οὔτʼ ἐνὶ βουλῇ·
203  οὐ μέν πως πάντες βασιλεύσομεν ἐνθάδʼ Ἀχαιοί·
204  οὐκ ἀγαθὸν πολυκοιρανίη· εἷς κοίρανος ἔστω,
205  εἷς βασιλεύς, ᾧ δῶκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω
206  σκῆπτρόν τʼ ἠδὲ θέμιστας, ἵνά σφισι βουλεύῃσι.
207  ὣς ὅ γε κοιρανέων δίεπε στρατόν· οἳ δʼ ἀγορὴν δὲ
208  αὖτις ἐπεσσεύοντο νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων
209  ἠχῇ, ὡς ὅτε κῦμα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης
210  αἰγιαλῷ μεγάλῳ βρέμεται, σμαραγεῖ δέ τε πόντος.
211  ἄλλοι μέν ῥʼ ἕζοντο, ἐρήτυθεν δὲ καθʼ ἕδρας·
212  Θερσίτης δʼ ἔτι μοῦνος ἀμετροεπὴς ἐκολῴα,
213  ὃς ἔπεα φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἄκοσμά τε πολλά τε ᾔδη
214  μάψ, ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον, ἐριζέμεναι βασιλεῦσιν,
215  ἀλλʼ ὅ τι οἱ εἴσαιτο γελοίϊον Ἀργείοισιν
216  ἔμμεναι· αἴσχιστος δὲ ἀνὴρ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθε·
217  φολκὸς ἔην, χωλὸς δʼ ἕτερον πόδα· τὼ δέ οἱ ὤμω
218  κυρτὼ ἐπὶ στῆθος συνοχωκότε· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε
219  φοξὸς ἔην κεφαλήν, ψεδνὴ δʼ ἐπενήνοθε λάχνη.
220  ἔχθιστος δʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ μάλιστʼ ἦν ἠδʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ·
221  τὼ γὰρ νεικείεσκε· τότʼ αὖτʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳ
222  ὀξέα κεκλήγων λέγʼ ὀνείδεα· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
223  ἐκπάγλως κοτέοντο νεμέσσηθέν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.
224  αὐτὰρ ὃ μακρὰ βοῶν Ἀγαμέμνονα νείκεε μύθῳ·
225  Ἀτρεΐδη τέο δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπιμέμφεαι ἠδὲ χατίζεις;
226  πλεῖαί τοι χαλκοῦ κλισίαι, πολλαὶ δὲ γυναῖκες
227  εἰσὶν ἐνὶ κλισίῃς ἐξαίρετοι, ἅς τοι Ἀχαιοὶ
228  πρωτίστῳ δίδομεν εὖτʼ ἂν πτολίεθρον ἕλωμεν.
229  ἦ ἔτι καὶ χρυσοῦ ἐπιδεύεαι, ὅν κέ τις οἴσει
230  Τρώων ἱπποδάμων ἐξ Ἰλίου υἷος ἄποινα,
231  ὅν κεν ἐγὼ δήσας ἀγάγω ἢ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν,
232  ἠὲ γυναῖκα νέην, ἵνα μίσγεαι ἐν φιλότητι,
233  ἥν τʼ αὐτὸς ἀπονόσφι κατίσχεαι; οὐ μὲν ἔοικεν
234  ἀρχὸν ἐόντα κακῶν ἐπιβασκέμεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.
235  ὦ πέπονες κάκʼ ἐλέγχεʼ Ἀχαιΐδες οὐκέτʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
236  οἴκαδέ περ σὺν νηυσὶ νεώμεθα, τόνδε δʼ ἐῶμεν
237  αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ γέρα πεσσέμεν, ὄφρα ἴδηται
238  ἤ ῥά τί οἱ χἠμεῖς προσαμύνομεν ἦε καὶ οὐκί·
239  ὃς καὶ νῦν Ἀχιλῆα ἕο μέγʼ ἀμείνονα φῶτα
240  ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.
241  ἀλλὰ μάλʼ οὐκ Ἀχιλῆϊ χόλος φρεσίν, ἀλλὰ μεθήμων·
242  ἦ γὰρ ἂν Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν ὕστατα λωβήσαιο·
243  ὣς φάτο νεικείων Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶν,
244  Θερσίτης· τῷ δʼ ὦκα παρίστατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
245  καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν χαλεπῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·
246  Θερσῖτʼ ἀκριτόμυθε, λιγύς περ ἐὼν ἀγορητής,
247  ἴσχεο, μηδʼ ἔθελʼ οἶος ἐριζέμεναι βασιλεῦσιν·
248  οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ σέο φημὶ χερειότερον βροτὸν ἄλλον
249  ἔμμεναι, ὅσσοι ἅμʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθον.
250  τὼ οὐκ ἂν βασιλῆας ἀνὰ στόμʼ ἔχων ἀγορεύοις,
251  καί σφιν ὀνείδεά τε προφέροις, νόστόν τε φυλάσσοις.
252  οὐδέ τί πω σάφα ἴδμεν ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα,
253  ἢ εὖ ἦε κακῶς νοστήσομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
254  τὼ νῦν Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν
255  ἧσαι ὀνειδίζων, ὅτι οἱ μάλα πολλὰ διδοῦσιν
256  ἥρωες Δαναοί· σὺ δὲ κερτομέων ἀγορεύεις.
257  ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
258  εἴ κʼ ἔτι σʼ ἀφραίνοντα κιχήσομαι ὥς νύ περ ὧδε,
259  μηκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ κάρη ὤμοισιν ἐπείη,
260  μηδʼ ἔτι Τηλεμάχοιο πατὴρ κεκλημένος εἴην,
261  εἰ μὴ ἐγώ σε λαβὼν ἀπὸ μὲν φίλα εἵματα δύσω,
262  χλαῖνάν τʼ ἠδὲ χιτῶνα, τά τʼ αἰδῶ ἀμφικαλύπτει,
263  αὐτὸν δὲ κλαίοντα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἀφήσω
264  πεπλήγων ἀγορῆθεν ἀεικέσσι πληγῇσιν.
265  ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, σκήπτρῳ δὲ μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμω
266  πλῆξεν· ὃ δʼ ἰδνώθη, θαλερὸν δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε δάκρυ·
267  σμῶδιξ δʼ αἱματόεσσα μεταφρένου ἐξυπανέστη
268  σκήπτρου ὕπο χρυσέου· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο τάρβησέν τε,
269  ἀλγήσας δʼ ἀχρεῖον ἰδὼν ἀπομόρξατο δάκρυ.
270  οἳ δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενοί περ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν·
271  ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
272  ὢ πόποι ἦ δὴ μυρίʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἐσθλὰ ἔοργε
273  βουλάς τʼ ἐξάρχων ἀγαθὰς πόλεμόν τε κορύσσων·
274  νῦν δὲ τόδε μέγʼ ἄριστον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔρεξεν,
275  ὃς τὸν λωβητῆρα ἐπεσβόλον ἔσχʼ ἀγοράων.
276  οὔ θήν μιν πάλιν αὖτις ἀνήσει θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
277  νεικείειν βασιλῆας ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν.
278  ὣς φάσαν ἣ πληθύς· ἀνὰ δʼ ὃ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺς
279  ἔστη σκῆπτρον ἔχων· παρὰ δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
280  εἰδομένη κήρυκι σιωπᾶν λαὸν ἀνώγει,
281  ὡς ἅμα θʼ οἳ πρῶτοί τε καὶ ὕστατοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
282  μῦθον ἀκούσειαν καὶ ἐπιφρασσαίατο βουλήν·
283  ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
284  Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν δή σε ἄναξ ἐθέλουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ
285  πᾶσιν ἐλέγχιστον θέμεναι μερόπεσσι βροτοῖσιν,
286  οὐδέ τοι ἐκτελέουσιν ὑπόσχεσιν ἥν περ ὑπέσταν
287  ἐνθάδʼ ἔτι στείχοντες ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο
288  Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντʼ εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι.
289  ὥς τε γὰρ ἢ παῖδες νεαροὶ χῆραί τε γυναῖκες
290  ἀλλήλοισιν ὀδύρονται οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι.
291  ἦ μὴν καὶ πόνος ἐστὶν ἀνιηθέντα νέεσθαι·
292  καὶ γάρ τίς θʼ ἕνα μῆνα μένων ἀπὸ ἧς ἀλόχοιο
293  ἀσχαλάᾳ σὺν νηῒ πολυζύγῳ, ὅν περ ἄελλαι
294  χειμέριαι εἰλέωσιν ὀρινομένη τε θάλασσα·
295  ἡμῖν δʼ εἴνατός ἐστι περιτροπέων ἐνιαυτὸς
296  ἐνθάδε μιμνόντεσσι· τὼ οὐ νεμεσίζομʼ Ἀχαιοὺς
297  ἀσχαλάαν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔμπης
298  αἰσχρόν τοι δηρόν τε μένειν κενεόν τε νέεσθαι.
299  τλῆτε φίλοι, καὶ μείνατʼ ἐπὶ χρόνον ὄφρα δαῶμεν
300  ἢ ἐτεὸν Κάλχας μαντεύεται ἦε καὶ οὐκί.
301  εὖ γὰρ δὴ τόδε ἴδμεν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἐστὲ δὲ πάντες
302  μάρτυροι, οὓς μὴ κῆρες ἔβαν θανάτοιο φέρουσαι·
303  χθιζά τε καὶ πρωΐζʼ ὅτʼ ἐς Αὐλίδα νῆες Ἀχαιῶν
304  ἠγερέθοντο κακὰ Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ φέρουσαι,
305  ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀμφὶ περὶ κρήνην ἱεροὺς κατὰ βωμοὺς
306  ἕρδομεν ἀθανάτοισι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας
307  καλῇ ὑπὸ πλατανίστῳ ὅθεν ῥέεν ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ·
308  ἔνθʼ ἐφάνη μέγα σῆμα· δράκων ἐπὶ νῶτα δαφοινὸς
309  σμερδαλέος, τόν ῥʼ αὐτὸς Ὀλύμπιος ἧκε φόως δέ,
310  βωμοῦ ὑπαΐξας πρός ῥα πλατάνιστον ὄρουσεν.
311  ἔνθα δʼ ἔσαν στρουθοῖο νεοσσοί, νήπια τέκνα,
312  ὄζῳ ἐπʼ ἀκροτάτῳ πετάλοις ὑποπεπτηῶτες
313  ὀκτώ, ἀτὰρ μήτηρ ἐνάτη ἦν ἣ τέκε τέκνα·
314  ἔνθʼ ὅ γε τοὺς ἐλεεινὰ κατήσθιε τετριγῶτας·
315  μήτηρ δʼ ἀμφεποτᾶτο ὀδυρομένη φίλα τέκνα·
316  τὴν δʼ ἐλελιξάμενος πτέρυγος λάβεν ἀμφιαχυῖαν.
317  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ τέκνα φάγε στρουθοῖο καὶ αὐτήν,
318  τὸν μὲν ἀρίζηλον θῆκεν θεὸς ὅς περ ἔφηνε·
319  λᾶαν γάρ μιν ἔθηκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω·
320  ἡμεῖς δʼ ἑσταότες θαυμάζομεν οἷον ἐτύχθη.
321  ὡς οὖν δεινὰ πέλωρα θεῶν εἰσῆλθʼ ἑκατόμβας,
322  Κάλχας δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα θεοπροπέων ἀγόρευε·
323  τίπτʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένεσθε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί;
324  ἡμῖν μὲν τόδʼ ἔφηνε τέρας μέγα μητίετα Ζεὺς
325  ὄψιμον ὀψιτέλεστον, ὅου κλέος οὔ ποτʼ ὀλεῖται.
326  ὡς οὗτος κατὰ τέκνα φάγε στρουθοῖο καὶ αὐτὴν
327  ὀκτώ, ἀτὰρ μήτηρ ἐνάτη ἦν ἣ τέκε τέκνα,
328  ὣς ἡμεῖς τοσσαῦτʼ ἔτεα πτολεμίξομεν αὖθι,
329  τῷ δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν αἱρήσομεν εὐρυάγυιαν.
330  κεῖνος τὼς ἀγόρευε· τὰ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.
331  ἀλλʼ ἄγε μίμνετε πάντες ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
332  αὐτοῦ εἰς ὅ κεν ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἕλωμεν.
333  ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγʼ ἴαχον, ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆες
334  σμερδαλέον κονάβησαν ἀϋσάντων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν,
335  μῦθον ἐπαινήσαντες Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
336  τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
337  ὦ πόποι ἦ δὴ παισὶν ἐοικότες ἀγοράασθε
338  νηπιάχοις οἷς οὔ τι μέλει πολεμήϊα ἔργα.
339  πῇ δὴ συνθεσίαι τε καὶ ὅρκια βήσεται ἥμιν;
340  ἐν πυρὶ δὴ βουλαί τε γενοίατο μήδεά τʼ ἀνδρῶν
341  σπονδαί τʼ ἄκρητοι καὶ δεξιαί, ᾗς ἐπέπιθμεν·
342  αὔτως γὰρ ἐπέεσσʼ ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδέ τι μῆχος
343  εὑρέμεναι δυνάμεσθα, πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντες.
344  Ἀτρεΐδη σὺ δʼ ἔθʼ ὡς πρὶν ἔχων ἀστεμφέα βουλὴν
345  ἄρχευʼ Ἀργείοισι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας,
346  τούσδε δʼ ἔα φθινύθειν ἕνα καὶ δύο, τοί κεν Ἀχαιῶν
347  νόσφιν βουλεύωσʼ· ἄνυσις δʼ οὐκ ἔσσεται αὐτῶν·
348  πρὶν Ἄργος δʼ ἰέναι πρὶν καὶ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο
349  γνώμεναι εἴ τε ψεῦδος ὑπόσχεσις εἴ τε καὶ οὐκί.
350  φημὶ γὰρ οὖν κατανεῦσαι ὑπερμενέα Κρονίωνα
351  ἤματι τῷ ὅτε νηυσὶν ἐν ὠκυπόροισιν ἔβαινον
352  Ἀργεῖοι Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες
353  ἀστράπτων ἐπιδέξιʼ ἐναίσιμα σήματα φαίνων.
354  τὼ μή τις πρὶν ἐπειγέσθω οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι
355  πρίν τινα πὰρ Τρώων ἀλόχῳ κατακοιμηθῆναι,
356  τίσασθαι δʼ Ἑλένης ὁρμήματά τε στοναχάς τε.
357  εἰ δέ τις ἐκπάγλως ἐθέλει οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι
358  ἁπτέσθω ἧς νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης,
359  ὄφρα πρόσθʼ ἄλλων θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ.
360  ἀλλὰ ἄναξ αὐτός τʼ εὖ μήδεο πείθεό τʼ ἄλλῳ·
361  οὔ τοι ἀπόβλητον ἔπος ἔσσεται ὅττί κεν εἴπω·
362  κρῖνʼ ἄνδρας κατὰ φῦλα κατὰ φρήτρας Ἀγάμεμνον,
363  ὡς φρήτρη φρήτρηφιν ἀρήγῃ, φῦλα δὲ φύλοις.
364  εἰ δέ κεν ὣς ἕρξῃς καί τοι πείθωνται Ἀχαιοί,
365  γνώσῃ ἔπειθʼ ὅς θʼ ἡγεμόνων κακὸς ὅς τέ νυ λαῶν
366  ἠδʼ ὅς κʼ ἐσθλὸς ἔῃσι· κατὰ σφέας γὰρ μαχέονται.
367  γνώσεαι δʼ εἰ καὶ θεσπεσίῃ πόλιν οὐκ ἀλαπάξεις,
368  ἦ ἀνδρῶν κακότητι καὶ ἀφραδίῃ πολέμοιο.
369  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
370  ἦ μὰν αὖτʼ ἀγορῇ νικᾷς γέρον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.
371  αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον
372  τοιοῦτοι δέκα μοι συμφράδμονες εἶεν Ἀχαιῶν·
373  τώ κε τάχʼ ἠμύσειε πόλις Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος
374  χερσὶν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσιν ἁλοῦσά τε περθομένη τε.
375  ἀλλά μοι αἰγίοχος Κρονίδης Ζεὺς ἄλγεʼ ἔδωκεν,
376  ὅς με μετʼ ἀπρήκτους ἔριδας καὶ νείκεα βάλλει.
377  καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν Ἀχιλεύς τε μαχεσσάμεθʼ εἵνεκα κούρης
378  ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσιν, ἐγὼ δʼ ἦρχον χαλεπαίνων·
379  εἰ δέ ποτʼ ἔς γε μίαν βουλεύσομεν, οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα
380  Τρωσὶν ἀνάβλησις κακοῦ ἔσσεται οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν.
381  νῦν δʼ ἔρχεσθʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἵνα ξυνάγωμεν Ἄρηα.
382  εὖ μέν τις δόρυ θηξάσθω, εὖ δʼ ἀσπίδα θέσθω,
383  εὖ δέ τις ἵπποισιν δεῖπνον δότω ὠκυπόδεσσιν,
384  εὖ δέ τις ἅρματος ἀμφὶς ἰδὼν πολέμοιο μεδέσθω,
385  ὥς κε πανημέριοι στυγερῷ κρινώμεθʼ Ἄρηϊ.
386  οὐ γὰρ παυσωλή γε μετέσσεται οὐδʼ ἠβαιὸν
387  εἰ μὴ νὺξ ἐλθοῦσα διακρινέει μένος ἀνδρῶν.
388  ἱδρώσει μέν τευ τελαμὼν ἀμφὶ στήθεσφιν
389  ἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης, περὶ δʼ ἔγχεϊ χεῖρα καμεῖται·
390  ἱδρώσει δέ τευ ἵππος ἐΰξοον ἅρμα τιταίνων.
391  ὃν δέ κʼ ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε μάχης ἐθέλοντα νοήσω
392  μιμνάζειν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν, οὔ οἱ ἔπειτα
393  ἄρκιον ἐσσεῖται φυγέειν κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνούς.
394  ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγʼ ἴαχον ὡς ὅτε κῦμα
395  ἀκτῇ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῇ, ὅτε κινήσῃ Νότος ἐλθών,
396  προβλῆτι σκοπέλῳ· τὸν δʼ οὔ ποτε κύματα λείπει
397  παντοίων ἀνέμων, ὅτʼ ἂν ἔνθʼ ἢ ἔνθα γένωνται.
398  ἀνστάντες δʼ ὀρέοντο κεδασθέντες κατὰ νῆας,
399  κάπνισσάν τε κατὰ κλισίας, καὶ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο.
400  ἄλλος δʼ ἄλλῳ ἔρεζε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων
401  εὐχόμενος θάνατόν τε φυγεῖν καὶ μῶλον Ἄρηος.
402  αὐτὰρ ὃ βοῦν ἱέρευσε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
403  πίονα πενταέτηρον ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι,
404  κίκλησκεν δὲ γέροντας ἀριστῆας Παναχαιῶν,
405  Νέστορα μὲν πρώτιστα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα,
406  αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ Αἴαντε δύω καὶ Τυδέος υἱόν,
407  ἕκτον δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντον.
408  αὐτόματος δέ οἱ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·
409  ᾔδεε γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀδελφεὸν ὡς ἐπονεῖτο.
410  βοῦν δὲ περιστήσαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας ἀνέλοντο·
411  τοῖσιν δʼ εὐχόμενος μετέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
412  Ζεῦ κύδιστε μέγιστε κελαινεφὲς αἰθέρι ναίων
413  μὴ πρὶν ἐπʼ ἠέλιον δῦναι καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἐλθεῖν
414  πρίν με κατὰ πρηνὲς βαλέειν Πριάμοιο μέλαθρον
415  αἰθαλόεν, πρῆσαι δὲ πυρὸς δηΐοιο θύρετρα,
416  Ἑκτόρεον δὲ χιτῶνα περὶ στήθεσσι δαΐξαι
417  χαλκῷ ῥωγαλέον· πολέες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι
418  πρηνέες ἐν κονίῃσιν ὀδὰξ λαζοίατο γαῖαν.
419  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ οἱ ἐπεκραίαινε Κρονίων,
420  ἀλλʼ ὅ γε δέκτο μὲν ἱρά, πόνον δʼ ἀμέγαρτον ὄφελλεν.
421  αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο,
422  αὐέρυσαν μὲν πρῶτα καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν,
423  μηρούς τʼ ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν
424  δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπʼ αὐτῶν δʼ ὠμοθέτησαν.
425  καὶ τὰ μὲν ἂρ σχίζῃσιν ἀφύλλοισιν κατέκαιον,
426  σπλάγχνα δʼ ἄρʼ ἀμπείραντες ὑπείρεχον Ἡφαίστοιο.
427  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρε κάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,
428  μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,
429  ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.
430  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα
431  δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.
432  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
433  τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
434  Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,
435  μηκέτι νῦν δήθʼ αὖθι λεγώμεθα, μηδʼ ἔτι δηρὸν
436  ἀμβαλλώμεθα ἔργον ὃ δὴ θεὸς ἐγγυαλίζει.
437  ἀλλʼ ἄγε κήρυκες μὲν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
438  λαὸν κηρύσσοντες ἀγειρόντων κατὰ νῆας,
439  ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀθρόοι ὧδε κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν
440  ἴομεν ὄφρα κε θᾶσσον ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.
441  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων.
442  αὐτίκα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε
443  κηρύσσειν πόλεμον δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς·
444  οἳ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δʼ ἠγείροντο μάλʼ ὦκα.
445  οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀτρεΐωνα διοτρεφέες βασιλῆες
446  θῦνον κρίνοντες, μετὰ δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
447  αἰγίδʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐρίτιμον ἀγήρων ἀθανάτην τε,
448  τῆς ἑκατὸν θύσανοι παγχρύσεοι ἠερέθονται,
449  πάντες ἐϋπλεκέες, ἑκατόμβοιος δὲ ἕκαστος·
450  σὺν τῇ παιφάσσουσα διέσσυτο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν
451  ὀτρύνουσʼ ἰέναι· ἐν δὲ σθένος ὦρσεν ἑκάστῳ
452  καρδίῃ ἄλληκτον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.
453  τοῖσι δʼ ἄφαρ πόλεμος γλυκίων γένετʼ ἠὲ νέεσθαι
454  ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
455  ἠΰτε πῦρ ἀΐδηλον ἐπιφλέγει ἄσπετον ὕλην
456  οὔρεος ἐν κορυφῇς, ἕκαθεν δέ τε φαίνεται αὐγή,
457  ὣς τῶν ἐρχομένων ἀπὸ χαλκοῦ θεσπεσίοιο
458  αἴγλη παμφανόωσα διʼ αἰθέρος οὐρανὸν ἷκε.
459  τῶν δʼ ὥς τʼ ὀρνίθων πετεηνῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ
460  χηνῶν ἢ γεράνων ἢ κύκνων δουλιχοδείρων
461  Ἀσίω ἐν λειμῶνι Καϋστρίου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα
462  ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ποτῶνται ἀγαλλόμενα πτερύγεσσι
463  κλαγγηδὸν προκαθιζόντων, σμαραγεῖ δέ τε λειμών,
464  ὣς τῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων
465  ἐς πεδίον προχέοντο Σκαμάνδριον· αὐτὰρ ὑπὸ χθὼν
466  σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε ποδῶν αὐτῶν τε καὶ ἵππων.
467  ἔσταν δʼ ἐν λειμῶνι Σκαμανδρίῳ ἀνθεμόεντι
468  μυρίοι, ὅσσά τε φύλλα καὶ ἄνθεα γίγνεται ὥρῃ.
469  ἠΰτε μυιάων ἁδινάων ἔθνεα πολλὰ
470  αἵ τε κατὰ σταθμὸν ποιμνήϊον ἠλάσκουσιν
471  ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ ὅτε τε γλάγος ἄγγεα δεύει,
472  τόσσοι ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
473  ἐν πεδίῳ ἵσταντο διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες.
474  τοὺς δʼ ὥς τʼ αἰπόλια πλατέʼ αἰγῶν αἰπόλοι ἄνδρες
475  ῥεῖα διακρίνωσιν ἐπεί κε νομῷ μιγέωσιν,
476  ὣς τοὺς ἡγεμόνες διεκόσμεον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
477  ὑσμίνην δʼ ἰέναι, μετὰ δὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
478  ὄμματα καὶ κεφαλὴν ἴκελος Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ,
479  Ἄρεϊ δὲ ζώνην, στέρνον δὲ Ποσειδάωνι.
480  ἠΰτε βοῦς ἀγέληφι μέγʼ ἔξοχος ἔπλετο πάντων
481  ταῦρος· ὃ γάρ τε βόεσσι μεταπρέπει ἀγρομένῃσι·
482  τοῖον ἄρʼ Ἀτρεΐδην θῆκε Ζεὺς ἤματι κείνῳ
483  ἐκπρεπέʼ ἐν πολλοῖσι καὶ ἔξοχον ἡρώεσσιν.
484  ἔσπετε νῦν μοι Μοῦσαι Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχουσαι·
485  ὑμεῖς γὰρ θεαί ἐστε πάρεστέ τε ἴστέ τε πάντα,
486  ἡμεῖς δὲ κλέος οἶον ἀκούομεν οὐδέ τι ἴδμεν·
487  οἵ τινες ἡγεμόνες Δαναῶν καὶ κοίρανοι ἦσαν·
488  πληθὺν δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,
489  οὐδʼ εἴ μοι δέκα μὲν γλῶσσαι, δέκα δὲ στόματʼ εἶεν,
490  φωνὴ δʼ ἄρρηκτος, χάλκεον δέ μοι ἦτορ ἐνείη,
491  εἰ μὴ Ὀλυμπιάδες Μοῦσαι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο
492  θυγατέρες μνησαίαθʼ ὅσοι ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθον·
493  ἀρχοὺς αὖ νηῶν ἐρέω νῆάς τε προπάσας.
494  Βοιωτῶν μὲν Πηνέλεως καὶ Λήϊτος ἦρχον
495  Ἀρκεσίλαός τε Προθοήνωρ τε Κλονίος τε,
496  οἵ θʼ Ὑρίην ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αὐλίδα πετρήεσσαν
497  Σχοῖνόν τε Σκῶλόν τε πολύκνημόν τʼ Ἐτεωνόν,
498  Θέσπειαν Γραῖάν τε καὶ εὐρύχορον Μυκαλησσόν,
499  οἵ τʼ ἀμφʼ Ἅρμʼ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Εἰλέσιον καὶ Ἐρυθράς,
500  οἵ τʼ Ἐλεῶνʼ εἶχον ἠδʼ Ὕλην καὶ Πετεῶνα,
501  Ὠκαλέην Μεδεῶνά τʼ ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
502  Κώπας Εὔτρησίν τε πολυτρήρωνά τε Θίσβην,
503  οἵ τε Κορώνειαν καὶ ποιήενθʼ Ἁλίαρτον,
504  οἵ τε Πλάταιαν ἔχον ἠδʼ οἳ Γλισᾶντʼ ἐνέμοντο,
505  οἵ θʼ Ὑποθήβας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
506  Ὀγχηστόν θʼ ἱερὸν Ποσιδήϊον ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος,
507  οἵ τε πολυστάφυλον Ἄρνην ἔχον, οἵ τε Μίδειαν
508  Νῖσάν τε ζαθέην Ἀνθηδόνα τʼ ἐσχατόωσαν·
509  τῶν μὲν πεντήκοντα νέες κίον, ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῃ
510  κοῦροι Βοιωτῶν ἑκατὸν καὶ εἴκοσι βαῖνον.
511  οἳ δʼ Ἀσπληδόνα ναῖον ἰδʼ Ὀρχομενὸν Μινύειον,
512  τῶν ἦρχʼ Ἀσκάλαφος καὶ Ἰάλμενος υἷες Ἄρηος
513  οὓς τέκεν Ἀστυόχη δόμῳ Ἄκτορος Ἀζεΐδαο,
514  παρθένος αἰδοίη ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα
515  Ἄρηϊ κρατερῷ· ὃ δέ οἱ παρελέξατο λάθρῃ·
516  τοῖς δὲ τριήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.
517  αὐτὰρ Φωκήων Σχεδίος καὶ Ἐπίστροφος ἦρχον
518  υἷες Ἰφίτου μεγαθύμου Ναυβολίδαο,
519  οἳ Κυπάρισσον ἔχον Πυθῶνά τε πετρήεσσαν
520  Κρῖσάν τε ζαθέην καὶ Δαυλίδα καὶ Πανοπῆα,
521  οἵ τʼ Ἀνεμώρειαν καὶ Ὑάμπολιν ἀμφενέμοντο,
522  οἵ τʼ ἄρα πὰρ ποταμὸν Κηφισὸν δῖον ἔναιον,
523  οἵ τε Λίλαιαν ἔχον πηγῇς ἔπι Κηφισοῖο·
524  τοῖς δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
525  οἳ μὲν Φωκήων στίχας ἵστασαν ἀμφιέποντες,
526  Βοιωτῶν δʼ ἔμπλην ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ θωρήσσοντο.
527  Λοκρῶν δʼ ἡγεμόνευεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας
528  μείων, οὔ τι τόσος γε ὅσος Τελαμώνιος Αἴας
529  ἀλλὰ πολὺ μείων· ὀλίγος μὲν ἔην λινοθώρηξ,
530  ἐγχείῃ δʼ ἐκέκαστο Πανέλληνας καὶ Ἀχαιούς·
531  οἳ Κῦνόν τʼ ἐνέμοντʼ Ὀπόεντά τε Καλλίαρόν τε
532  Βῆσσάν τε Σκάρφην τε καὶ Αὐγειὰς ἐρατεινὰς
533  Τάρφην τε Θρόνιον τε Βοαγρίου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα·
534  τῷ δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο
535  Λοκρῶν, οἳ ναίουσι πέρην ἱερῆς Εὐβοίης.
536  οἳ δʼ Εὔβοιαν ἔχον μένεα πνείοντες Ἄβαντες
537  Χαλκίδα τʼ Εἰρέτριάν τε πολυστάφυλόν θʼ Ἱστίαιαν
538  Κήρινθόν τʼ ἔφαλον Δίου τʼ αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον,
539  οἵ τε Κάρυστον ἔχον ἠδʼ οἳ Στύρα ναιετάασκον,
540  τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ Ἐλεφήνωρ ὄζος Ἄρηος
541  Χαλκωδοντιάδης μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς Ἀβάντων.
542  τῷ δʼ ἅμʼ Ἄβαντες ἕποντο θοοὶ ὄπιθεν κομόωντες
543  αἰχμηταὶ μεμαῶτες ὀρεκτῇσιν μελίῃσι
544  θώρηκας ῥήξειν δηΐων ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι·
545  τῷ δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
546  οἳ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον
547  δῆμον Ἐρεχθῆος μεγαλήτορος, ὅν ποτʼ Ἀθήνη
548  θρέψε Διὸς θυγάτηρ, τέκε δὲ ζείδωρος ἄρουρα,
549  κὰδ δʼ ἐν Ἀθήνῃς εἷσεν ἑῷ ἐν πίονι νηῷ·
550  ἔνθα δέ μιν ταύροισι καὶ ἀρνειοῖς ἱλάονται
551  κοῦροι Ἀθηναίων περιτελλομένων ἐνιαυτῶν·
552  τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ υἱὸς Πετεῶο Μενεσθεύς.
553  τῷ δʼ οὔ πώ τις ὁμοῖος ἐπιχθόνιος γένετʼ ἀνὴρ
554  κοσμῆσαι ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀσπιδιώτας·
555  Νέστωρ οἶος ἔριζεν· ὃ γὰρ προγενέστερος ἦεν·
556  τῷ δʼ ἅμα πεντήκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
557  Αἴας δʼ ἐκ Σαλαμῖνος ἄγεν δυοκαίδεκα νῆας,
558  στῆσε δʼ ἄγων ἵνʼ Ἀθηναίων ἵσταντο φάλαγγες.
559  οἳ δʼ Ἄργός τʼ εἶχον Τίρυνθά τε τειχιόεσσαν
560  Ἑρμιόνην Ἀσίνην τε, βαθὺν κατὰ κόλπον ἐχούσας,
561  Τροιζῆνʼ Ἠϊόνας τε καὶ ἀμπελόεντʼ Ἐπίδαυρον,
562  οἵ τʼ ἔχον Αἴγιναν Μάσητά τε κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν,
563  τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης
564  καὶ Σθένελος, Καπανῆος ἀγακλειτοῦ φίλος υἱός·
565  τοῖσι δʼ ἅμʼ Εὐρύαλος τρίτατος κίεν ἰσόθεος φὼς
566  Μηκιστέος υἱὸς Ταλαϊονίδαο ἄνακτος·
567  συμπάντων δʼ ἡγεῖτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
568  τοῖσι δʼ ἅμʼ ὀγδώκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
569  οἳ δὲ Μυκήνας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον
570  ἀφνειόν τε Κόρινθον ἐϋκτιμένας τε Κλεωνάς,
571  Ὀρνειάς τʼ ἐνέμοντο Ἀραιθυρέην τʼ ἐρατεινὴν
572  καὶ Σικυῶνʼ, ὅθʼ ἄρʼ Ἄδρηστος πρῶτʼ ἐμβασίλευεν,
573  οἵ θʼ Ὑπερησίην τε καὶ αἰπεινὴν Γονόεσσαν
574  Πελλήνην τʼ εἶχον ἠδʼ Αἴγιον ἀμφενέμοντο
575  Αἰγιαλόν τʼ ἀνὰ πάντα καὶ ἀμφʼ Ἑλίκην εὐρεῖαν,
576  τῶν ἑκατὸν νηῶν ἦρχε κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
577  Ἀτρεΐδης· ἅμα τῷ γε πολὺ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι
578  λαοὶ ἕποντʼ· ἐν δʼ αὐτὸς ἐδύσετο νώροπα χαλκὸν
579  κυδιόων, πᾶσιν δὲ μετέπρεπεν ἡρώεσσιν
580  οὕνεκʼ ἄριστος ἔην πολὺ δὲ πλείστους ἄγε λαούς.
581  οἳ δʼ εἶχον κοίλην Λακεδαίμονα κητώεσσαν,
582  Φᾶρίν τε Σπάρτην τε πολυτρήρωνά τε Μέσσην,
583  Βρυσειάς τʼ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αὐγειὰς ἐρατεινάς,
584  οἵ τʼ ἄρʼ Ἀμύκλας εἶχον Ἕλος τʼ ἔφαλον πτολίεθρον,
585  οἵ τε Λάαν εἶχον ἠδʼ Οἴτυλον ἀμφενέμοντο,
586  τῶν οἱ ἀδελφεὸς ἦρχε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
587  ἑξήκοντα νεῶν· ἀπάτερθε δὲ θωρήσσοντο·
588  ἐν δʼ αὐτὸς κίεν ᾗσι προθυμίῃσι πεποιθὼς
589  ὀτρύνων πόλεμον δέ· μάλιστα δὲ ἵετο θυμῷ
590  τίσασθαι Ἑλένης ὁρμήματά τε στοναχάς τε.
591  οἳ δὲ Πύλον τʼ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Ἀρήνην ἐρατεινὴν
592  καὶ Θρύον Ἀλφειοῖο πόρον καὶ ἐΰκτιτον Αἰπὺ
593  καὶ Κυπαρισσήεντα καὶ Ἀμφιγένειαν ἔναιον
594  καὶ Πτελεὸν καὶ Ἕλος καὶ Δώριον, ἔνθά τε Μοῦσαι
595  ἀντόμεναι Θάμυριν τὸν Θρήϊκα παῦσαν ἀοιδῆς
596  Οἰχαλίηθεν ἰόντα παρʼ Εὐρύτου Οἰχαλιῆος·
597  στεῦτο γὰρ εὐχόμενος νικησέμεν εἴ περ ἂν αὐταὶ
598  Μοῦσαι ἀείδοιεν κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο·
599  αἳ δὲ χολωσάμεναι πηρὸν θέσαν, αὐτὰρ ἀοιδὴν
600  θεσπεσίην ἀφέλοντο καὶ ἐκλέλαθον κιθαριστύν·
601  τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
602  τῷ δʼ ἐνενήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.
603  οἳ δʼ ἔχον Ἀρκαδίην ὑπὸ Κυλλήνης ὄρος αἰπὺ
604  Αἰπύτιον παρὰ τύμβον ἵνʼ ἀνέρες ἀγχιμαχηταί,
605  οἳ Φενεόν τʼ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Ὀρχομενὸν πολύμηλον
606  Ῥίπην τε Στρατίην τε καὶ ἠνεμόεσσαν Ἐνίσπην
607  καὶ Τεγέην εἶχον καὶ Μαντινέην ἐρατεινὴν
608  Στύμφηλόν τʼ εἶχον καὶ Παρρασίην ἐνέμοντο,
609  τῶν ἦρχʼ Ἀγκαίοιο πάϊς κρείων Ἀγαπήνωρ
610  ἑξήκοντα νεῶν· πολέες δʼ ἐν νηῒ ἑκάστῃ
611  Ἀρκάδες ἄνδρες ἔβαινον ἐπιστάμενοι πολεμίζειν.
612  αὐτὸς γάρ σφιν δῶκεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
613  νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους περάαν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον
614  Ἀτρεΐδης, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφι θαλάσσια ἔργα μεμήλει.
615  οἳ δʼ ἄρα Βουπράσιόν τε καὶ Ἤλιδα δῖαν ἔναιον
616  ὅσσον ἐφʼ Ὑρμίνη καὶ Μύρσινος ἐσχατόωσα
617  πέτρη τʼ Ὠλενίη καὶ Ἀλήσιον ἐντὸς ἐέργει,
618  τῶν αὖ τέσσαρες ἀρχοὶ ἔσαν, δέκα δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ
619  νῆες ἕποντο θοαί, πολέες δʼ ἔμβαινον Ἐπειοί.
620  τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἀμφίμαχος καὶ Θάλπιος ἡγησάσθην
621  υἷες ὃ μὲν Κτεάτου, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ Εὐρύτου, Ἀκτορίωνε·
622  τῶν δʼ Ἀμαρυγκεΐδης ἦρχε κρατερὸς Διώρης·
623  τῶν δὲ τετάρτων ἦρχε Πολύξεινος θεοειδὴς
624  υἱὸς Ἀγασθένεος Αὐγηϊάδαο ἄνακτος.
625  οἳ δʼ ἐκ Δουλιχίοιο Ἐχινάων θʼ ἱεράων
626  νήσων, αἳ ναίουσι πέρην ἁλὸς Ἤλιδος ἄντα,
627  τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευε Μέγης ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ
628  Φυλεΐδης, ὃν τίκτε Διῒ φίλος ἱππότα Φυλεύς,
629  ὅς ποτε Δουλίχιον δʼ ἀπενάσσατο πατρὶ χολωθείς·
630  τῷ δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
631  αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἦγε Κεφαλλῆνας μεγαθύμους,
632  οἵ ῥʼ Ἰθάκην εἶχον καὶ Νήριτον εἰνοσίφυλλον
633  καὶ Κροκύλειʼ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αἰγίλιπα τρηχεῖαν,
634  οἵ τε Ζάκυνθον ἔχον ἠδʼ οἳ Σάμον ἀμφενέμοντο,
635  οἵ τʼ ἤπειρον ἔχον ἠδʼ ἀντιπέραιʼ ἐνέμοντο·
636  τῶν μὲν Ὀδυσσεὺς ἦρχε Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντος·
637  τῷ δʼ ἅμα νῆες ἕποντο δυώδεκα μιλτοπάρῃοι.
638  Αἰτωλῶν δʼ ἡγεῖτο Θόας Ἀνδραίμονος υἱός,
639  οἳ Πλευρῶνʼ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Ὤλενον ἠδὲ Πυλήνην
640  Χαλκίδα τʼ ἀγχίαλον Καλυδῶνά τε πετρήεσσαν·
641  οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ Οἰνῆος μεγαλήτορος υἱέες ἦσαν,
642  οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ αὐτὸς ἔην, θάνε δὲ ξανθὸς Μελέαγρος·
643  τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ πάντʼ ἐτέταλτο ἀνασσέμεν Αἰτωλοῖσι·
644  τῷ δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
645  Κρητῶν δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἡγεμόνευεν,
646  οἳ Κνωσόν τʼ εἶχον Γόρτυνά τε τειχιόεσσαν,
647  Λύκτον Μίλητόν τε καὶ ἀργινόεντα Λύκαστον
648  Φαιστόν τε Ῥύτιόν τε, πόλεις εὖ ναιετοώσας,
649  ἄλλοι θʼ οἳ Κρήτην ἑκατόμπολιν ἀμφενέμοντο.
650  τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἰδομενεὺς δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἡγεμόνευε
651  Μηριόνης τʼ ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ·
652  τοῖσι δʼ ἅμʼ ὀγδώκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
653  Τληπόλεμος δʼ Ἡρακλεΐδης ἠΰς τε μέγας τε
654  ἐκ Ῥόδου ἐννέα νῆας ἄγεν Ῥοδίων ἀγερώχων,
655  οἳ Ῥόδον ἀμφενέμοντο διὰ τρίχα κοσμηθέντες
656  Λίνδον Ἰηλυσόν τε καὶ ἀργινόεντα Κάμειρον.
657  τῶν μὲν Τληπόλεμος δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἡγεμόνευεν,
658  ὃν τέκεν Ἀστυόχεια βίῃ Ἡρακληείῃ,
659  τὴν ἄγετʼ ἐξ Ἐφύρης ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος
660  πέρσας ἄστεα πολλὰ διοτρεφέων αἰζηῶν.
661  Τληπόλεμος δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τράφʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ εὐπήκτῳ,
662  αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἑοῖο φίλον μήτρωα κατέκτα
663  ἤδη γηράσκοντα Λικύμνιον ὄζον Ἄρηος·
664  αἶψα δὲ νῆας ἔπηξε, πολὺν δʼ ὅ γε λαὸν ἀγείρας
665  βῆ φεύγων ἐπὶ πόντον· ἀπείλησαν γάρ οἱ ἄλλοι
666  υἱέες υἱωνοί τε βίης Ἡρακληείης.
667  αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἐς Ῥόδον ἷξεν ἀλώμενος ἄλγεα πάσχων·
668  τριχθὰ δὲ ᾤκηθεν καταφυλαδόν, ἠδὲ φίληθεν
669  ἐκ Διός, ὅς τε θεοῖσι καὶ ἀνθρώποισιν ἀνάσσει,
670  καί σφιν θεσπέσιον πλοῦτον κατέχευε Κρονίων.
671  Νιρεὺς αὖ Σύμηθεν ἄγε τρεῖς νῆας ἐΐσας
672  Νιρεὺς Ἀγλαΐης υἱὸς Χαρόποιό τʼ ἄνακτος
673  Νιρεύς, ὃς κάλλιστος ἀνὴρ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθε
674  τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα·
675  ἀλλʼ ἀλαπαδνὸς ἔην, παῦρος δέ οἱ εἵπετο λαός.
676  οἳ δʼ ἄρα Νίσυρόν τʼ εἶχον Κράπαθόν τε Κάσον τε
677  καὶ Κῶν Εὐρυπύλοιο πόλιν νήσους τε Καλύδνας,
678  τῶν αὖ Φείδιππός τε καὶ Ἄντιφος ἡγησάσθην
679  Θεσσαλοῦ υἷε δύω Ἡρακλεΐδαο ἄνακτος·
680  τοῖς δὲ τριήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.
681  νῦν αὖ τοὺς ὅσσοι τὸ Πελασγικὸν Ἄργος ἔναιον,
682  οἵ τʼ Ἄλον οἵ τʼ Ἀλόπην οἵ τε Τρηχῖνα νέμοντο,
683  οἵ τʼ εἶχον Φθίην ἠδʼ Ἑλλάδα καλλιγύναικα,
684  Μυρμιδόνες δὲ καλεῦντο καὶ Ἕλληνες καὶ Ἀχαιοί,
685  τῶν αὖ πεντήκοντα νεῶν ἦν ἀρχὸς Ἀχιλλεύς.
686  ἀλλʼ οἵ γʼ οὐ πολέμοιο δυσηχέος ἐμνώοντο·
687  οὐ γὰρ ἔην ὅς τίς σφιν ἐπὶ στίχας ἡγήσαιτο·
688  κεῖτο γὰρ ἐν νήεσσι ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
689  κούρης χωόμενος Βρισηΐδος ἠϋκόμοιο,
690  τὴν ἐκ Λυρνησσοῦ ἐξείλετο πολλὰ μογήσας
691  Λυρνησσὸν διαπορθήσας καὶ τείχεα Θήβης,
692  κὰδ δὲ Μύνητʼ ἔβαλεν καὶ Ἐπίστροφον ἐγχεσιμώρους,
693  υἱέας Εὐηνοῖο Σεληπιάδαο ἄνακτος·
694  τῆς ὅ γε κεῖτʼ ἀχέων, τάχα δʼ ἀνστήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν.
695  οἳ δʼ εἶχον Φυλάκην καὶ Πύρασον ἀνθεμόεντα
696  Δήμητρος τέμενος, Ἴτωνά τε μητέρα μήλων,
697  ἀγχίαλόν τʼ Ἀντρῶνα ἰδὲ Πτελεὸν λεχεποίην,
698  τῶν αὖ Πρωτεσίλαος ἀρήϊος ἡγεμόνευε
699  ζωὸς ἐών· τότε δʼ ἤδη ἔχεν κάτα γαῖα μέλαινα.
700  τοῦ δὲ καὶ ἀμφιδρυφὴς ἄλοχος Φυλάκῃ ἐλέλειπτο
701  καὶ δόμος ἡμιτελής· τὸν δʼ ἔκτανε Δάρδανος ἀνὴρ
702  νηὸς ἀποθρῴσκοντα πολὺ πρώτιστον Ἀχαιῶν.
703  οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδʼ οἳ ἄναρχοι ἔσαν, πόθεόν γε μὲν ἀρχόν·
704  ἀλλά σφεας κόσμησε Ποδάρκης ὄζος Ἄρηος
705  Ἰφίκλου υἱὸς πολυμήλου Φυλακίδαο
706  αὐτοκασίγνητος μεγαθύμου Πρωτεσιλάου
707  ὁπλότερος γενεῇ· ὁ δʼ ἅμα πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων
708  ἥρως Πρωτεσίλαος ἀρήϊος· οὐδέ τι λαοὶ
709  δεύονθʼ ἡγεμόνος, πόθεόν γε μὲν ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα·
710  τῷ δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
711  οἳ δὲ Φερὰς ἐνέμοντο παραὶ Βοιβηΐδα λίμνην
712  Βοίβην καὶ Γλαφύρας καὶ ἐϋκτιμένην Ἰαωλκόν,
713  τῶν ἦρχʼ Ἀδμήτοιο φίλος πάϊς ἕνδεκα νηῶν
714  Εὔμηλος, τὸν ὑπʼ Ἀδμήτῳ τέκε δῖα γυναικῶν
715  Ἄλκηστις Πελίαο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστη.
716  οἳ δʼ ἄρα Μηθώνην καὶ Θαυμακίην ἐνέμοντο
717  καὶ Μελίβοιαν ἔχον καὶ Ὀλιζῶνα τρηχεῖαν,
718  τῶν δὲ Φιλοκτήτης ἦρχεν τόξων ἐῢ εἰδὼς
719  ἑπτὰ νεῶν· ἐρέται δʼ ἐν ἑκάστῃ πεντήκοντα
720  ἐμβέβασαν τόξων εὖ εἰδότες ἶφι μάχεσθαι.
721  ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἐν νήσῳ κεῖτο κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων
722  Λήμνῳ ἐν ἠγαθέῃ, ὅθι μιν λίπον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
723  ἕλκεϊ μοχθίζοντα κακῷ ὀλοόφρονος ὕδρου·
724  ἔνθʼ ὅ γε κεῖτʼ ἀχέων· τάχα δὲ μνήσεσθαι ἔμελλον
725  Ἀργεῖοι παρὰ νηυσὶ Φιλοκτήταο ἄνακτος.
726  οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδʼ οἳ ἄναρχοι ἔσαν, πόθεόν γε μὲν ἀρχόν·
727  ἀλλὰ Μέδων κόσμησεν Ὀϊλῆος νόθος υἱός,
728  τόν ῥʼ ἔτεκεν Ῥήνη ὑπʼ Ὀϊλῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ.
729  οἳ δʼ εἶχον Τρίκκην καὶ Ἰθώμην κλωμακόεσσαν,
730  οἵ τʼ ἔχον Οἰχαλίην πόλιν Εὐρύτου Οἰχαλιῆος,
731  τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγείσθην Ἀσκληπιοῦ δύο παῖδε
732  ἰητῆρʼ ἀγαθὼ Ποδαλείριος ἠδὲ Μαχάων·
733  τοῖς δὲ τριήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.
734  οἳ δʼ ἔχον Ὀρμένιον, οἵ τε κρήνην Ὑπέρειαν,
735  οἵ τʼ ἔχον Ἀστέριον Τιτάνοιό τε λευκὰ κάρηνα,
736  τῶν ἦρχʼ Εὐρύπυλος Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·
737  τῷ δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
738  οἳ δʼ Ἄργισσαν ἔχον καὶ Γυρτώνην ἐνέμοντο,
739  Ὄρθην Ἠλώνην τε πόλιν τʼ Ὀλοοσσόνα λευκήν,
740  τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευε μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης
741  υἱὸς Πειριθόοιο τὸν ἀθάνατος τέκετο Ζεύς·
742  τόν ῥʼ ὑπὸ Πειριθόῳ τέκετο κλυτὸς Ἱπποδάμεια
743  ἤματι τῷ ὅτε Φῆρας ἐτίσατο λαχνήεντας,
744  τοὺς δʼ ἐκ Πηλίου ὦσε καὶ Αἰθίκεσσι πέλασσεν·
745  οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε Λεοντεὺς ὄζος Ἄρηος
746  υἱὸς ὑπερθύμοιο Κορώνου Καινεΐδαο·
747  τοῖς δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
748  Γουνεὺς δʼ ἐκ Κύφου ἦγε δύω καὶ εἴκοσι νῆας·
749  τῷ δʼ Ἐνιῆνες ἕποντο μενεπτόλεμοί τε Περαιβοὶ
750  οἳ περὶ Δωδώνην δυσχείμερον οἰκίʼ ἔθεντο,
751  οἵ τʼ ἀμφʼ ἱμερτὸν Τιταρησσὸν ἔργα νέμοντο
752  ὅς ῥʼ ἐς Πηνειὸν προΐει καλλίρροον ὕδωρ,
753  οὐδʼ ὅ γε Πηνειῷ συμμίσγεται ἀργυροδίνῃ,
754  ἀλλά τέ μιν καθύπερθεν ἐπιρρέει ἠΰτʼ ἔλαιον·
755  ὅρκου γὰρ δεινοῦ Στυγὸς ὕδατός ἐστιν ἀπορρώξ.
756  Μαγνήτων δʼ ἦρχε Πρόθοος Τενθρηδόνος υἱός,
757  οἳ περὶ Πηνειὸν καὶ Πήλιον εἰνοσίφυλλον
758  ναίεσκον· τῶν μὲν Πρόθοος θοὸς ἡγεμόνευε,
759  τῷ δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
760  οὗτοι ἄρʼ ἡγεμόνες Δαναῶν καὶ κοίρανοι ἦσαν·
761  τίς τὰρ τῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἔην σύ μοι ἔννεπε Μοῦσα
762  αὐτῶν ἠδʼ ἵππων, οἳ ἅμʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἕποντο.
763  ἵπποι μὲν μέγʼ ἄρισται ἔσαν Φηρητιάδαο,
764  τὰς Εὔμηλος ἔλαυνε ποδώκεας ὄρνιθας ὣς
765  ὄτριχας οἰέτεας σταφύλῇ ἐπὶ νῶτον ἐΐσας·
766  τὰς ἐν Πηρείῃ θρέψʼ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
767  ἄμφω θηλείας, φόβον Ἄρηος φορεούσας.
768  ἀνδρῶν αὖ μέγʼ ἄριστος ἔην Τελαμώνιος Αἴας
769  ὄφρʼ Ἀχιλεὺς μήνιεν· ὃ γὰρ πολὺ φέρτατος ἦεν,
770  ἵπποι θʼ οἳ φορέεσκον ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.
771  ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσι ποντοπόροισι
772  κεῖτʼ ἀπομηνίσας Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν
773  Ἀτρεΐδῃ· λαοὶ δὲ παρὰ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης
774  δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες
775  τόξοισίν θʼ· ἵπποι δὲ παρʼ ἅρμασιν οἷσιν ἕκαστος
776  λωτὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι ἐλεόθρεπτόν τε σέλινον
777  ἕστασαν· ἅρματα δʼ εὖ πεπυκασμένα κεῖτο ἀνάκτων
778  ἐν κλισίῃς· οἳ δʼ ἀρχὸν ἀρηΐφιλον ποθέοντες
779  φοίτων ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα κατὰ στρατὸν οὐδὲ μάχοντο.
780  οἳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἴσαν ὡς εἴ τε πυρὶ χθὼν πᾶσα νέμοιτο·
781  γαῖα δʼ ὑπεστενάχιζε Διὶ ὣς τερπικεραύνῳ
782  χωομένῳ ὅτε τʼ ἀμφὶ Τυφωέϊ γαῖαν ἱμάσσῃ
783  εἰν Ἀρίμοις, ὅθι φασὶ Τυφωέος ἔμμεναι εὐνάς·
784  ὣς ἄρα τῶν ὑπὸ ποσσὶ μέγα στεναχίζετο γαῖα
785  ἐρχομένων· μάλα δʼ ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο.
786  Τρωσὶν δʼ ἄγγελος ἦλθε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις
787  πὰρ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο σὺν ἀγγελίῃ ἀλεγεινῇ·
788  οἳ δʼ ἀγορὰς ἀγόρευον ἐπὶ Πριάμοιο θύρῃσι
789  πάντες ὁμηγερέες ἠμὲν νέοι ἠδὲ γέροντες·
790  ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις·
791  εἴσατο δὲ φθογγὴν υἷϊ Πριάμοιο Πολίτῃ,
792  ὃς Τρώων σκοπὸς ἷζε ποδωκείῃσι πεποιθὼς
793  τύμβῳ ἐπʼ ἀκροτάτῳ Αἰσυήταο γέροντος,
794  δέγμενος ὁππότε ναῦφιν ἀφορμηθεῖεν Ἀχαιοί·
795  τῷ μιν ἐεισαμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις·
796  ὦ γέρον αἰεί τοι μῦθοι φίλοι ἄκριτοί εἰσιν,
797  ὥς ποτʼ ἐπʼ εἰρήνης· πόλεμος δʼ ἀλίαστος ὄρωρεν.
798  ἤδη μὲν μάλα πολλὰ μάχας εἰσήλυθον ἀνδρῶν,
799  ἀλλʼ οὔ πω τοιόνδε τοσόνδέ τε λαὸν ὄπωπα·
800  λίην γὰρ φύλλοισιν ἐοικότες ἢ ψαμάθοισιν
801  ἔρχονται πεδίοιο μαχησόμενοι προτὶ ἄστυ.
802  Ἕκτορ σοὶ δὲ μάλιστʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι, ὧδε δὲ ῥέξαι·
803  πολλοὶ γὰρ κατὰ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμου ἐπίκουροι,
804  ἄλλη δʼ ἄλλων γλῶσσα πολυσπερέων ἀνθρώπων·
805  τοῖσιν ἕκαστος ἀνὴρ σημαινέτω οἷσί περ ἄρχει,
806  τῶν δʼ ἐξηγείσθω κοσμησάμενος πολιήτας.
807  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἕκτωρ δʼ οὔ τι θεᾶς ἔπος ἠγνοίησεν,
808  αἶψα δʼ ἔλυσʼ ἀγορήν· ἐπὶ τεύχεα δʼ ἐσσεύοντο·
809  πᾶσαι δʼ ὠΐγνυντο πύλαι, ἐκ δʼ ἔσσυτο λαὸς
810  πεζοί θʼ ἱππῆές τε· πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει.
811  ἔστι δέ τις προπάροιθε πόλιος αἰπεῖα κολώνη
812  ἐν πεδίῳ ἀπάνευθε περίδρομος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
813  τὴν ἤτοι ἄνδρες Βατίειαν κικλήσκουσιν,
814  ἀθάνατοι δέ τε σῆμα πολυσκάρθμοιο Μυρίνης·
815  ἔνθα τότε Τρῶές τε διέκριθεν ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι.
816  Τρωσὶ μὲν ἡγεμόνευε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ
817  Πριαμίδης· ἅμα τῷ γε πολὺ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι
818  λαοὶ θωρήσσοντο μεμαότες ἐγχείῃσι.
819  Δαρδανίων αὖτʼ ἦρχεν ἐῢς πάϊς Ἀγχίσαο
820  Αἰνείας, τὸν ὑπʼ Ἀγχίσῃ τέκε δῖʼ Ἀφροδίτη
821  Ἴδης ἐν κνημοῖσι θεὰ βροτῷ εὐνηθεῖσα,
822  οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω Ἀντήνορος υἷε
823  Ἀρχέλοχός τʼ Ἀκάμας τε μάχης εὖ εἰδότε πάσης.
824  οἳ δὲ Ζέλειαν ἔναιον ὑπαὶ πόδα νείατον Ἴδης
825  ἀφνειοὶ πίνοντες ὕδωρ μέλαν Αἰσήποιο
826  Τρῶες, τῶν αὖτʼ ἦρχε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς
827  Πάνδαρος, ᾧ καὶ τόξον Ἀπόλλων αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν.
828  οἳ δʼ Ἀδρήστειάν τʼ εἶχον καὶ δῆμον Ἀπαισοῦ
829  καὶ Πιτύειαν ἔχον καὶ Τηρείης ὄρος αἰπύ,
830  τῶν ἦρχʼ Ἄδρηστός τε καὶ Ἄμφιος λινοθώρηξ
831  υἷε δύω Μέροπος Περκωσίου, ὃς περὶ πάντων
832  ᾔδεε μαντοσύνας, οὐδὲ οὓς παῖδας ἔασκε
833  στείχειν ἐς πόλεμον φθισήνορα· τὼ δέ οἱ οὔ τι
834  πειθέσθην· κῆρες γὰρ ἄγον μέλανος θανάτοιο.
835  οἳ δʼ ἄρα Περκώτην καὶ Πράκτιον ἀμφενέμοντο
836  καὶ Σηστὸν καὶ Ἄβυδον ἔχον καὶ δῖαν Ἀρίσβην,
837  τῶν αὖθʼ Ὑρτακίδης ἦρχʼ Ἄσιος ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,
838  Ἄσιος Ὑρτακίδης ὃν Ἀρίσβηθεν φέρον ἵπποι
839  αἴθωνες μεγάλοι ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος.
840  Ἱππόθοος δʼ ἄγε φῦλα Πελασγῶν ἐγχεσιμώρων
841  τῶν οἳ Λάρισαν ἐριβώλακα ναιετάασκον·
842  τῶν ἦρχʼ Ἱππόθοός τε Πύλαιός τʼ ὄζος Ἄρηος,
843  υἷε δύω Λήθοιο Πελασγοῦ Τευταμίδαο.
844  αὐτὰρ Θρήϊκας ἦγʼ Ἀκάμας καὶ Πείροος ἥρως
845  ὅσσους Ἑλλήσποντος ἀγάρροος ἐντὸς ἐέργει.
846  Εὔφημος δʼ ἀρχὸς Κικόνων ἦν αἰχμητάων
847  υἱὸς Τροιζήνοιο διοτρεφέος Κεάδαο.
848  αὐτὰρ Πυραίχμης ἄγε Παίονας ἀγκυλοτόξους
849  τηλόθεν ἐξ Ἀμυδῶνος ἀπʼ Ἀξιοῦ εὐρὺ ῥέοντος,
850  Ἀξιοῦ οὗ κάλλιστον ὕδωρ ἐπικίδναται αἶαν.
851  Παφλαγόνων δʼ ἡγεῖτο Πυλαιμένεος λάσιον κῆρ
852  ἐξ Ἐνετῶν, ὅθεν ἡμιόνων γένος ἀγροτεράων,
853  οἵ ῥα Κύτωρον ἔχον καὶ Σήσαμον ἀμφενέμοντο
854  ἀμφί τε Παρθένιον ποταμὸν κλυτὰ δώματʼ ἔναιον
855  Κρῶμνάν τʼ Αἰγιαλόν τε καὶ ὑψηλοὺς Ἐρυθίνους.
856  αὐτὰρ Ἁλιζώνων Ὀδίος καὶ Ἐπίστροφος ἦρχον
857  τηλόθεν ἐξ Ἀλύβης, ὅθεν ἀργύρου ἐστὶ γενέθλη.
858  Μυσῶν δὲ Χρόμις ἦρχε καὶ Ἔννομος οἰωνιστής·
859  ἀλλʼ οὐκ οἰωνοῖσιν ἐρύσατο κῆρα μέλαιναν,
860  ἀλλʼ ἐδάμη ὑπὸ χερσὶ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
861  ἐν ποταμῷ, ὅθι περ Τρῶας κεράϊζε καὶ ἄλλους.
862  Φόρκυς αὖ Φρύγας ἦγε καὶ Ἀσκάνιος θεοειδὴς
863  τῆλʼ ἐξ Ἀσκανίης· μέμασαν δʼ ὑσμῖνι μάχεσθαι.
864  Μῄοσιν αὖ Μέσθλης τε καὶ Ἄντιφος ἡγησάσθην
865  υἷε Ταλαιμένεος τὼ Γυγαίη τέκε λίμνη,
866  οἳ καὶ Μῄονας ἦγον ὑπὸ Τμώλῳ γεγαῶτας.
867  Νάστης αὖ Καρῶν ἡγήσατο βαρβαροφώνων,
868  οἳ Μίλητον ἔχον Φθιρῶν τʼ ὄρος ἀκριτόφυλλον
869  Μαιάνδρου τε ῥοὰς Μυκάλης τʼ αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα·
870  τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἀμφίμαχος καὶ Νάστης ἡγησάσθην,
871  Νάστης Ἀμφίμαχός τε Νομίονος ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,
872  ὃς καὶ χρυσὸν ἔχων πόλεμον δʼ ἴεν ἠΰτε κούρη
873  νήπιος, οὐδέ τί οἱ τό γʼ ἐπήρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,
874  ἀλλʼ ἐδάμη ὑπὸ χερσὶ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
875  ἐν ποταμῷ, χρυσὸν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ἐκόμισσε δαΐφρων.
876  Σαρπηδὼν δʼ ἦρχεν Λυκίων καὶ Γλαῦκος ἀμύμων
877  τηλόθεν ἐκ Λυκίης, Ξάνθου ἄπο δινήεντος.