Tlepolem, in his father’s house (for building much renown’d) Brought up to headstrong state of youth, his mother’s brother slew, The flow’r of arms, Licymnius, that somewhat aged grew; Then straight he gather’d him a fleet, assembling bands of men, And fled by sea, to shun the threats that were denouncéd then By other sons and nephews of th’ Alciden fortitude. He in his exile came to Rhodes, driv’n in with tempests rude. The Rhodians were distinct in tribes, and great with Jove did stand, The King of men and Gods, who gave much treasure to their land. Nirëus, out of Syma’s hav’n three well-built barks did bring; Nirëus, fair Aglaia’s son, and Charopes the king; Nirëus was the fairest man that to fair Ilion came Of all the Greeks, save Peleus’ son, who pass’d for gen’ral frame; But weak this was, not fit for war, and therefore few did guide. Who did in Cassus, Nisyrus, and Crapathus, abide, In Co, Eurypylus’s town, and in Calydna’s soils, Phidippus and bold Antiphus did guide to Trojan toils, (The sons of crownéd Thessalus, deriv’d from Hercules) Who went with thirty hollow ships well-order’d to the seas. Now will I sing the sackful troops Pelasgian Argos held, That in deep Alus, Alopé, and soft Trechina dwell’d, In Phthia, and in Hellade where live the lovely dames, The Myrmidons, Hellenians, and Achives, rob’d of fames; All which the great Æacides in fifty ships did lead. For these forgat war’s horrid voice, because they lack’d their head That would have brought them bravely forth; but now at fleet did lie That wind-like user of his feet, fair Thetis’ progeny, Wroth for bright-cheek’d Briseis’ loss, whom from Lyrnessus’ spoils (His own exploit) he brought away as trophy of his toils, When that town was depopulate; he sunk the Theban tow’rs; Myneta, and Epistrophus, he sent to Pluto’s bow’rs, Who came of king Evenus’ race, great Helepiades; Yet now he idly lives enrag’d, but soon must leave his ease. Of those that dwelt in Phylace, and flow’ry Pyrason The wood of Ceres, and the soil that sheep are fed upon Iton, and Antron built by sea, and Pteleus full of grass, Protesilaus, while he liv’d, the worthy captain was, Whom now the sable earth detains; his tear-torn-facéd spouse He woeful left in Phylace, and his half-finish’d house; A fatal Dardan first his life, of all the Greeks, bereft, As he was leaping from his ship; yet were his men unleft Without a chief, for though they wish’d to have no other man But good Protesilay their guide, Podarces yet began To govern them, (Iphitis’ son, the son of Phylacus) Most rich in sheep, and brother to short-liv’d Protesilaus, Of younger birth, less, and less strong, yet serv’d he to direct The companies, that still did more their ancient duke affect. Twice-twenty jetty sails with him the swelling stream did take. But those that did in Pheres dwell, at the Bœbeian lake, In Bœbe, and in Glaphyra, Iaolcus builded fair, In thrice-six ships to Pergamus did through the seas repair,