Ajax, Oileus’ son, the Locrians led; Swift-footed, less than Ajax Telamon, Of stature low, with linen breastplate arm’d: But skill’d to throw the spear o’er all who dwell In Hellas or Achaia: these were they From Cynos, Opus, and Calliarus, Bessa, and Scarpha, and Augaea fair, Tarpha, and Thronium, by Boagrius’ stream. Him from beyond Euboea’s sacred isle, Of Locrians follow’d forty dark-ribb’d ships. Breathing firm courage high, th’ Abantian host, Who from Euboea and from Chalcis came, Or who in vine-clad Histiaea dwelt, Eretria, and Cerinthus maritime, And who the lofty fort of Dium held, And in Carystus and in Styra dwelt: These Elephenor led, true plant of Mars, Chalcodon’s son, the brave Abantian chief. Him, all conspicuous with their long black hair, The bold Abantians follow’d: spearmen skill’d, Who through the foemen’s breastplates knew full well, Held in firm grasp, to drive the ashen spear. In his command came forty dark-ribb’d ships. Those who in Athens’ well-built city dwelt, The noble-soul’d Erectheus’ heritage; Child of the fertile soil, by Pallas rear’d, Daughter of Jove, who him in Athens plac’d In her own wealthy temple; there with blood Of bulls and lambs, at each revolving year, The youths of Athens do him sacrifice; These by Menestheus, Peteus’ son, were led. With him might none of mortal men compare, In order due of battle to array Chariots and buckler’d men; Nestor alone Perchance might rival him, his elder far. In his command came fifty dark-ribb’d ships. Twelve ships from Salamis with Ajax came, And they beside th’ Athenian troops were rang’d. Those who from Argos, and the well-wall’d town Of Tyrins came, and from Hermione, And Asine, deep-bosom’d in the bay; And from Troezene and Eione, And vine-clad Epidaurus; and the youths Who dwelt in Mases, and Ægina’s isle; O’er all of these the valiant Diomed Held rule; and Sthenelus, th’ illustrious son Of far-fam’d Capaneus; with these, the third, A godlike warrior came, Euryalus, Son of Mecistheus, Talaus’ royal son. Supreme o’er all was valiant Diomed. In their command came eighty dark-ribb’d ships. Who in Mycenæ’s well-built fortress dwelt, And wealthy Corinth, and Cleone fair, Orneia, and divine Araethure, And Sicyon, where Adrastus reign’d of old, And Gonoessa’s promontory steep, And Hyperesia, and Pellene’s rock; Ægina, and the scatter’d towns that lie Along the beach, and wide-spread Helice; Of these a hundred ships obey’d the rule Of mighty Agamemnon, Atreus’ son. The largest and the bravest host was his; And he himself, in dazzling armour clad, O’er all the heroes proudly eminent, Went forth exulting in his high estate, Lord of the largest host, and chief of chiefs.