Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/66

64 And high Cerinthus views the neighbouring main,

Down their broad shoulders falls a length of hair;

Their hands dismiss not the long lance in air:

But with portended spears, in fighting fields,

Pierce the tough corselets and the brazen shields.

Twice twenty ships transport the warlike bands,

Which bold Elphenor, fierce in arms, commands.

Full fifty more from Athens stem the main,

Led by Menestheus through the liquid plain—

Athens the fair, where great Erectheus swayed,

That owed his nurture to the blue-eyed Maid,

But from the teeming furrow took his birth,

The mighty offspring of the foodful earth.

Him Pallas placed amidst her wealthy fane,

Adored with sacrifice and oxen slain;

Where as the years revolve her altars blaze,

And all the plains resound the goddess' praise.

No chief like thee, Menestheus! Greece could yield,

To marshal armies in the dusty field,

The extended wings of battle to display,

Or close the embodied host in firm array.

Nestor alone, improved by length of days,

For martial conduct bore an equal praise.

With these appear the Salaminian bands,

Whom the gigantic Telamon commands;

In twelve black ships to Troy they steer their course,

And with the great Athenians join their force.

Next move to war the generous Argive train

From high Trœzenè, and Maseta's plain,

And fair Ægina circled by the main:

Whom strong Tirynthè's lofty walls surround.

And Epidaure with viny harvests crowned:

And where fair Asinen and Hermion shew

Their cliffs above, and ample bay below.

These by the brave Euryalus were led,

Great Sthenelus, and greater Diomed,

But chief Tydides bore the sovereign sway;

In fourscore barks they plough the watery way.

The proud Mycenæ arms her martial powers,

Cleonè, Corinth, with imperial towers,

Fair Aræthyrea, Ornia's fruitful plain,

And Ægion, and Adrastus' ancient reign;

And those who dwell along the sandy shore,

And where Pellenè yields her fleecy store,

Where Helicè and Hyperesia lie,

And Gonoëssa's spires salute the sky.

Great Agamemnon rules the numerous band,

A hundred vessels in long order stand,

And crowded nations wait his dread command.