eir warlike youth by Podalirius led
And by Machaon, healers both expert
Of all disease, and thirty ships were theirs.
The men of Ormenus, and from beside 900
The fountain Hypereia, from the tops
Of chalky Titan, and Asteria's band;
Them ruled Eurypylus, Evaemon's son
Illustrious, whom twice twenty ships obeyed.
Orthe, Gyrtone, Olooesson white, 905
Argissa and Helone; they their youth
Gave to control of Polypoetes, son
Undaunted of Pirithoues, son of Jove.
Him, to Pirithoues, (on the self-same day
When he the Centaurs punish'd and pursued 910
Sheer to AEthicae driven from Pelion's heights
The shaggy race) Hippodamia bore.
Nor he alone them led. With him was join'd
Leonteus dauntless warrior, from the bold
Coronus sprung, who Caeneus call'd his sire. 915
Twice twenty ships awaited their command.
Guneus from Cyphus twenty and two ships
Led forth; the Enienes him obey'd,
And the robust Peroebi, warriors bold,
And dwellers on Dodona's wintry brow. 920
To these were join'd who till the pleasant fields
Where Titaresius winds; the gentle flood
Pours into Peneus all his limpid stores,
But with the silver-eddied Peneus flows
Unmixt as oil;[27] for Stygian is his stream, 925
And Styx is the inviolable oath.
Last with his forty ships, Tenthredon's son,
The active Prothoues came. From the green banks
Of Peneus his Magnesians far and near
He gather'd, and from Pelion forest-crown'd. 930
These were the princes and the Chiefs of Greece.
Say, Muse, who most in personal desert
Excell'd, and whose were the most warlike steeds
And of the noblest strain. Their hue, their age,
Their height the same, swift as the winds of heaven 935
And passing far all others, were the mares
Which drew Eumelus; on Pierian hills
The heavenly Archer of the silver bow,
Apollo, bred them. But of men, the chief
Was Telamonian Ajax, while wrath-bound 940
Achilles lay; for he was worthier far,
And more illustrious were the steeds which bore
The noble son of Peleus; but revenge
On Agamemnon leader of the host
Was all his thought, while in his gallant ships 945
Sharp-keel'd to cut the foaming flood, he lay.
Meantime, along the margin of the deep