Page:The Iliad of Homer (Butler).djvu/50

30 ships, and in each there were a hundred and twenty young men of the Bœotians.

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 Phocēans 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 Lilæa by the springs of the Cephissus; with their chieftains came forty ships, and they marshalled the forces of the Phocēans, which were stationed next to the Bœotians, on their left.

Ajax, the fleet son of Oïleus, 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 Achæans. These dwelt in Cynus, Opoüs, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe, fair Augeæ, Tarphe, and Thronium about the river Boagrius. With him there came forty ships of the Locrians who dwell beyond Eubœa.

The fierce Abantes held Eubœa with its cities, Chalcis, Eretria, Histiæa 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 Chalcōdon, 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