The people of Eristhius, whom Jove-sprung Pallas fed, And plenteous-feeding Tellus brought out of her flow’ry bed; Him Pallas placed in her rich fane, and, ev’ry ended year, Of bulls and lambs th’ Athenian youths please him with off’rings there; Mighty Menestheus, Peteus’ son, had their divided care; For horsemen and for targeteers none could with him compare, Nor put them into better place, to hurt or to defend; But Nestor (for he elder was) with him did sole contend; With him came fifty sable sail. And out of Salamine Great Ajax brought twelve sail, that with th’ Athenians did combine. Who did in fruitful Argos dwell, or strong Tiryntha keep, Hennion, or in Asinen whose bosom is so deep, Trœzena, Eïon, Epidaure where Bacchus crowns his head, Ægina, and Maseta’s soil, did follow Diomed, And Sthenelus, the dear-lov’d son of famous Capaneus Together with Euryalus, heir of Mecisteus, The king of Talæonides; past whom in deeds of war, The famous soldier Diomed of all was held by far. Four score black ships did follow these. The men fair Mycene held, The wealthy Corinth, Cleon that for beauteous site excell’d, Aræthyrea’s lovely seat, and in Ornia’s plain, And Sicyona, where at first did king Adrastus reign, High-seated Gonoëssa’s towers, and Hyperisius, That dwelt in fruitful Pellenen, and in divine Ægius, With all the sea-side borderers, and wide Helice’s friends, To Agamemnon ev’ry town her native birth commends, In double-fifty sable barks. With him a world of men Most strong and full of valour went, and he in triumph then Put on his most resplendent arms, since he did over-shine The whole heroic host of Greece, in pow’r of that design. Who did in Lacedæmon’s rule th’ unmeasur’d concave hold, High Pharis, Sparta, Messe’s tow’rs, for doves so much extoll’d, Bryseia’s and Augia’s grounds, strong Laa, Oetylon, Amyclas, Helos’ harbour-town, that Neptune beats upon, All these did Menelaus lead (his brother, that in cries Of war was famous). Sixty ships convey’d these enemies To Troy in chief, because their king was chiefly injur’d there, In Helen’s rape, and did his best to make them buy it dear. Who dwelt in Pylos’ sandy soil, and Arene the fair, In Thryon, near Alpheus’ flood, and Aepy full of air, In Cyparisscus, Amphigen, and little Pteleon, The town where all the Iliots dwelt, and famous Doreon, Where all the Muses, opposite, in strife of poesy, To ancient Thamyris of Thrace, did use him cruelly, (He coming from Eurytus’ court, the wise Œchalian king,) Because he proudly durst affirm he could more sweetly sing Than that Pierian race of Jove; who, angry with his vaunt, Bereft his eyesight, and his song, that did the ear enchant, And of his skill to touch his harp disfurnishéd his hand. All these in ninety hollow keels grave Nestor did command. The richly-blest inhabitants of the Arcadian land Below Cyllene’s mount (that by Epytus’ tomb did stand) Where dwelt the bold near-fighting men, who did in Phæneus live,