By a spear hurl’d from my victorious arm. 
Then fled the rustic multitude, and we
Drove off abundant booty from the plain, 815
Herds fifty of fat beeves, large flocks of goats
As many, with as many sheep and swine,
And full thrice fifty mares of brightest hue,
All breeders, many with their foals beneath. 
All these, by night returning safe, we drove 820
Into Neleian Pylus, and the heart
Rejoiced of Neleus, in a son so young
A warrior, yet enrich’d with such a prize. 
At early dawn the heralds summon’d loud
The citizens, to prove their just demands 825
On fruitful Elis, and the assembled Chiefs
Division made (for numerous were the debts
Which the Epeans, in the weak estate
Of the unpeopled Pylus, had incurr’d;
For Hercules, few years before, had sack’d[24] 830
Our city, and our mightiest slain.  Ourselves
The gallant sons of Neleus, were in all
Twelve youths, of whom myself alone survived;
The rest all perish’d; whence, presumptuous grown,
The brazen-mail’d Epeans wrong’d us oft). 835
A herd of beeves my father for himself
Selected, and a numerous flock beside,
Three hundred sheep, with shepherds for them all. 
For he a claimant was of large arrears
From sacred Elis.  Four unrivall’d steeds 840
With his own chariot to the games he sent,
That should contend for the appointed prize
A tripod; but Augeias, King of men,
Detain’d the steeds, and sent the charioteer
Defrauded home.  My father, therefore, fired 845
At such foul outrage both of deeds and words,
Took much, and to the Pylians gave the rest
For satisfaction of the claims of all. 
While thus we busied were in these concerns,
And in performance of religious rites 850
Throughout the city, came the Epeans arm’d,
Their whole vast multitude both horse and foot
On the third day; came also clad in brass
The two Molions, inexpert as yet
In feats of arms, and of a boyish age. 855
There is a city on a mountain’s head,
Fast by the banks of Alpheus, far remote,
The utmost town which sandy Pylus owns,
Named Thryoessa, and, with ardor fired
To lay it waste, that city they besieged. 860
Now when their host had traversed all the plain,
Minerva from Olympus flew by night
And bade us arm; nor were the Pylians slow
To assemble, but impatient for the fight. 
Me, then, my father suffer’d not to arm, 865
But hid my steeds, for he supposed me raw
As yet, and ignorant how war is waged. 
Yet, even thus, unvantaged and on foot,
Superior honors I that day acquired
To theirs who rode, for Pallas led me on 870
Herself to victory.  There is a stream