f
Cayster, fly on this side and on that, disporting with their wings,
alighting beside each other clamorously, and the meadow resounds--so the
numerous nations of these [the Greeks] from the ships and tents poured
themselves forth into the plain of Scamander, countless as the flowers
and leaves are produced in spring.

As the numerous swarms of clustering flies which congregate round the
shepherd's pen in the spring season, when too the milk overflows the
pails; so numerous stood the head-crested Greeks upon the plain against
the Trojans, eager to break [their lines].

And these,[118] as goat-herds easily separate the broad flocks of the
goats, when they are mingled in the pasture, so did the generals here
and there marshal them to go to battle; and among them commander
Agamemnon, resembling, as to his eyes and head, the thunder-delighting
Jove, as to his middle, Mars, and as to his breast, Neptune.

[Footnote 118: In [Greek: tous de] there is an anacoluthon
similar to the one in vs. 459]

As a bull in the herd is greatly eminent above all, for he surpasses the
collected cattle, such on that day did Jove render Agamemnon,
distinguished amongst many, and conspicuous amongst heroes.

Tell me now, ye Muses, who possess the Olympian mansions (for ye are
goddesses, and are [ever] present, and ken all things, whilst we hear
but a rumour, nor know anything[119]), who were the leaders and chiefs
of the Greeks. For I could not recount nor tell the multitude, not even
if ten tongues, and ten mouths were mine, [not though] a voice
unwearied,[120] and a brazen heart were within me; unless the Olympic
Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Jove, reminded me of how many came to
Ilium. However, I will rehearse the commanders of the ships, and all the
ships.

[Footnote 119: Cf. AEn. vii. 644:--

"Et meministis enim, Divae, et memorare potestis:
Ad nos vix tenuis famae perlabitur aura."

Milton, Par. Lost, i. 27:--

"Say first, for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view,
Nor the deep tract of Hell----"]

[Footnote 120: Cf. AEn. vi. 625 sqq.; Georg. ii. 42; Valer. Flacc,
vi. 36; Silius, iv. 527; Claudian, 6 Cons. Hon. 436. This
hyperbolical mode of excusing poetic powers is ridiculed by
Persius, Sat. vi. 1.]

THE CATALOGUE OF THE SHIPS.

Peneleus, and Leitus, and Arcesilaus, and Prothoenor, and Clonius,
commanded the Boeotians; both those who tilled Hyrie,