Parodos
[Choral 1]
and I saw Protesilaus and Palamedes, sprung from the son of Poseidon, sitting there amusing themselves with intricate figures at checkers; Diomedes too
195
Chorus
at his favorite sport of hurling quoits; and Meriones, Ares’ son, a marvel to mankind, stood at his side; likewise I beheld the son of Laertes, who came from his island hills, and with him Nireus,
200
handsomest of the Achaeans.
205
[Choral]
Achilles next, that nimble runner, swift on his feet as the wind, whom Thetis bore and Chiron trained, I saw
Chorus
upon the beach, racing in full armor along the shingle, and straining every nerve to beat a team of four horses,
210
as he sped round the track on foot; and Eumelus, the grandson of Pheres, their driver, was shouting when I saw him, goading on his lovely steeds,
215
with their bits of chased gold-work; the center pair, that bore the yoke, had dappled coats picked out with white, while the tracehorses, on the outside, facing the turning-post in the course,To turn the post without losing ground would require the driver to rein in his near trace-horse and let the outer one come round on a curve, facing the turning-post.
220
were bays with spotted fetlocks. Close beside them Peleus’ son leapt on his way, in all his harness, keeping abreast
225
the rail by the axle-box.
230
[Choral 2]
Next I sought the countless fleet, a wonder to behold, that I might fill my girlish eyes with gazing, a sweetThe reading μείλινον ἁδονάν of the MSS. cannot be right, nor are may of the proposed emendations much more probable; in the absence of anything more intelligible, Markland’s μείλιχον is here adopted. delight.
Chorus
The warlike Myrmidons from Phthia held the right wing with fifty swift cruisers, upon whose sterns, right at the ends, stood Nereid goddesses
235
in golden effigy, the ensign of Achilles’ armament.
240
Near these were moored the Argive ships in equal numbers, over which Mecisteus’
son, whom Talaus his grandfather reared, and Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, were in command; next in order, Theseus’ son was stationed at the head of sixty ships from Attica, having the goddess
245
Pallas set in a winged chariot drawn by steeds with solid hoof, a lucky sight for mariners.
250
[Choral 3]
Then I saw Boeotia’s fleet of fifty sails
Chorus
decked with ensigns; these had Cadmus at the stern holding a golden dragon at the beaks of the vessels, and earth-born Leitus
255
was their admiral. And there were ships from Phocis; and from Locris came the son of Oileus with an equal contingent, leaving famed Thronium’s citadel.
260
And from Mycenae, the Cyclopes’ town, Atreus’ son sent a hundred well-manned galleys, and Adrastoshis brotherPaley reads ἀδελφὸς with Markland for Ἄδραστος of the old copies. was with him in command, as friend with friend,
265
that Hellas might exact vengeance on the one who had fled her home to wed a foreigner. Also I saw upon Gerenian Nestor’s prows from Pylos
270
the ensign of his neighbour Alpheus, four-footed like a bull.
275
[Choral 4]
Moreover there was a squadron of twelve Aenianian sail under King Gouneus; and then near them
Chorus
the lords of Elis, whom all the people named Epeians; and Eurytus was lord of these; Iikewise he led the Taphian warriors with the white oar-blades, the subjects of Meges,
280
son of Phyleus, who had left the isles of the Echinades, where sailors cannot land.
285
Lastly, Aias, reared in Salamis,
was joining his right wing to the leftThis line is corrupt, and perhaps the next also. The attempted version follows Weil. of those near whom he was posed, closing the line with his outermost ships, twelve barques obedient to the helm, as I heard and then
290
saw the crews; the one who brings his barbaric boats to grapple Aias shall obtain no safe return. There I sawThe word ἄιον before εἰδόμαν is probably a gloss on that verb. Some editors adopt Hermann’s οἶον, but there is no certainty in it.
295
the naval armament, but some things I heard at home about the gathered army, of which I still have a recollection.
300
