Offspring of Sperchius heaven-descended
stream.
Him Polydora, Peleus’ daughter, bore
To ever-flowing Sperchius, compress’d,
Although a mortal woman, by a God.
But his reputed father was the son 210
Of Perieres, Borus, who with dower
Enrich’d, and made her openly his bride.
Warlike Eudorus led the second band.
Him Polymela, graceful in the dance,
And daughter beautiful of Phylas, bore, 215
A mother unsuspected of a child.
Her worshiping the golden-shafted Queen
Diana, in full choir, with song and dance,
The valiant Argicide[6] beheld and loved.
Ascending with her to an upper room, 220
All-bounteous Mercury[7] clandestine there
Embraced her, who a noble son produced
Eudorus, swift to run, and bold in fight.
No sooner Ilithya, arbitress
Of pangs puerperal, had given him birth, 225
And he beheld the beaming sun, than her
Echechleus, Actor’s mighty son, enrich’d
With countless dower, and led her to his home;
While ancient Phylas, cherishing her boy
With fond affection, reared him as his own. 230
The third brave troop warlike Pisander led,
Offspring of Maimalus; he far excell’d
In spear-fight every Myrmidon, the friend
Of Peleus’ dauntless son alone except.
The hoary Phoenix of equestrian fame 235
The fourth band led to battle, and the fifth
Laerceus’ offspring, bold Alcimedon.
Thus, all his bands beneath their proper Chiefs
Marshall’d, Achilles gave them strict command—
Myrmidons! all that vengeance now inflict, 240
Which in this fleet ye ceased not to denounce
Against the Trojans while my wrath endured.
Me censuring, ye have proclaim’d me oft
Obdurate. Oh Achilles! ye have said,
Thee not with milk thy mother but with bile 245
Suckled, who hold’st thy people here in camp
Thus long imprison’d. Unrelenting Chief!
Even let us hence in our sea-skimming barks
To Phthia, since thou can’st not be appeased—
Thus in full council have ye spoken oft. 250
Now, therefore, since a day of glorious toil
At last appears, such as ye have desired,
There lies the field—go—give your courage proof.
So them he roused, and they, their leader’s voice
Hearing elate, to closest order drew. 255
As when an architect some palace wall
With shapely stones upbuilds, cementing close
A barrier against all the winds of heaven,
So wedged, the helmets and boss’d bucklers stood;
Shield, helmet, man, press’d helmet, man, and shield, 260
And every bright-arm’d warrior’s bushy crest
Its fellow swept, so dense was their array.
Him Polydora, Peleus’ daughter, bore
To ever-flowing Sperchius, compress’d,
Although a mortal woman, by a God.
But his reputed father was the son 210
Of Perieres, Borus, who with dower
Enrich’d, and made her openly his bride.
Warlike Eudorus led the second band.
Him Polymela, graceful in the dance,
And daughter beautiful of Phylas, bore, 215
A mother unsuspected of a child.
Her worshiping the golden-shafted Queen
Diana, in full choir, with song and dance,
The valiant Argicide[6] beheld and loved.
Ascending with her to an upper room, 220
All-bounteous Mercury[7] clandestine there
Embraced her, who a noble son produced
Eudorus, swift to run, and bold in fight.
No sooner Ilithya, arbitress
Of pangs puerperal, had given him birth, 225
And he beheld the beaming sun, than her
Echechleus, Actor’s mighty son, enrich’d
With countless dower, and led her to his home;
While ancient Phylas, cherishing her boy
With fond affection, reared him as his own. 230
The third brave troop warlike Pisander led,
Offspring of Maimalus; he far excell’d
In spear-fight every Myrmidon, the friend
Of Peleus’ dauntless son alone except.
The hoary Phoenix of equestrian fame 235
The fourth band led to battle, and the fifth
Laerceus’ offspring, bold Alcimedon.
Thus, all his bands beneath their proper Chiefs
Marshall’d, Achilles gave them strict command—
Myrmidons! all that vengeance now inflict, 240
Which in this fleet ye ceased not to denounce
Against the Trojans while my wrath endured.
Me censuring, ye have proclaim’d me oft
Obdurate. Oh Achilles! ye have said,
Thee not with milk thy mother but with bile 245
Suckled, who hold’st thy people here in camp
Thus long imprison’d. Unrelenting Chief!
Even let us hence in our sea-skimming barks
To Phthia, since thou can’st not be appeased—
Thus in full council have ye spoken oft. 250
Now, therefore, since a day of glorious toil
At last appears, such as ye have desired,
There lies the field—go—give your courage proof.
So them he roused, and they, their leader’s voice
Hearing elate, to closest order drew. 255
As when an architect some palace wall
With shapely stones upbuilds, cementing close
A barrier against all the winds of heaven,
So wedged, the helmets and boss’d bucklers stood;
Shield, helmet, man, press’d helmet, man, and shield, 260
And every bright-arm’d warrior’s bushy crest
Its fellow swept, so dense was their array.