Which at Arena falls into the sea,
Named Minueius; on that river’s bank
The Pylian horsemen waited day’s approach,
And thither all our foot came pouring down. 875
The flood divine of Alpheus thence we reach’d
At noon, all arm’d complete; there, hallow’d rites
We held to Jove omnipotent, and slew
A bull to sacred Alpheus, with a bull
To Neptune, and a heifer of the herd 880
To Pallas; then, all marshall’d as they were,
From van to rear our legions took repast,
And at the river’s side slept on their arms. 
Already the Epean host had round
Begirt the city, bent to lay it waste, 885
A task which cost them, first, both blood and toil,
For when the radiant sun on the green earth
Had risen, with prayer to Pallas and to Jove,
We gave them battle.  When the Pylian host
And the Epeans thus were close engaged, 890
I first a warrior slew, Mulius the brave,
And seized his coursers.  He the eldest-born
Of King Augeias’ daughters had espoused
The golden Agamede; not an herb
The spacious earth yields but she knew its powers, 895
Him, rushing on me, with my brazen lance
I smote, and in the dust he fell; I leap’d
Into his seat, and drove into the van. 
A panic seized the Epeans when they saw
The leader of their horse o’erthrown, a Chief 900
Surpassing all in fight.  Black as a cloud
With whirlwind fraught, I drove impetuous on,
Took fifty chariots, and at side of each
Lay two slain warriors, with their teeth the soil
Grinding, all vanquish’d by my single arm. 905
I had slain also the Molions, sons
Of Actor, but the Sovereign of the deep
Their own authentic Sire, in darkness dense
Involving both, convey’d them safe away. 
Then Jove a victory of prime renown 910
Gave to the Pylians; for we chased and slew
And gather’d spoil o’er all the champain spread
With scatter’d shields, till we our steeds had driven
To the Buprasian fields laden with corn,
To the Olenian rock, and to a town 915
In fair Colona situate, and named
Alesia.  There it was that Pallas turn’d
Our people homeward; there I left the last
Of all the slain, and he was slain by me. 
Then drove the Achaians from Buprasium home 920
Their coursers fleet, and Jove, of Gods above,
Received most praise, Nestor of men below. 

    Such once was I. But brave Achilles shuts

His virtues close, an unimparted store;
Yet even he shall weep, when all the host, 925
His fellow-warriors once, shall be destroy’d. 
But recollect, young friend! the sage advice
Which when thou earnest from Phthia to the aid
Of Agamemnon, on that selfsame day
Menoetius gave thee.  We were present there,