And now, O Muses, dwellers in the mansions of Olympus,
tell me— for you are goddesses and are
in all places so that you see all things, while we
know nothing but by report—who were the
chiefs and princes of the Danaans? As for the
common soldiers, they were so that I could not name
every single one of them though I had ten tongues,
and though my voice failed not and my heart were of
bronze within me, unless you, O Olympian Muses, daughters
of aegis-bearing Jove, were to recount them to me.
Nevertheless, I will tell the captains of the ships
and all the fleet together.
Peneleos, Leitus, Arcesilaus, Prothoenor, and Clonius
were captains of the Boeotians. These were they
that dwelt in Hyria and rocky Aulis, and who held
Schoenus, Scolus, and the highlands of Eteonus, with
Thespeia, Graia, and the fair city of Mycalessus.
They also held Harma, Eilesium, and Erythrae; and
they had Eleon, Hyle, and Peteon; Ocalea and the strong
fortress of Medeon; Copae, Eutresis, and Thisbe the
haunt of doves; Coronea, and the pastures of Haliartus;
Plataea and Glisas; the fortress of Thebes the less;
holy Onchestus with its famous grove of Neptune; Arne
rich in vineyards; Midea, sacred Nisa, and Anthedon
upon the sea. From these there came fifty ships,
and in each there were a hundred and twenty young
men of the Boeotians.
Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Mars, led the people
that dwelt in Aspledon and Orchomenus the realm of
Minyas. Astyoche a noble maiden bore them in
the house of Actor son of Azeus; for she had gone
with Mars secretly into an upper chamber, and he had
lain with her. With these there came thirty ships.
The Phoceans were led by Schedius and Epistrophus,
sons of mighty Iphitus the son of Naubolus. These
were they that held Cyparissus, rocky Pytho, holy
Crisa, Daulis, and Panopeus; they also that dwelt
in Anemorea and Hyampolis, and about the waters of
the river Cephissus, and Lilaea by the springs of the
Cephissus; with their chieftains came forty ships,
and they marshalled the forces of the Phoceans, which
were stationed next to the Boeotians, on their left.
Ajax, the fleet son of Oileus, commanded the Locrians.
He was not so great, nor nearly so great, as Ajax
the son of Telamon. He was a little man, and
his breastplate was made of linen, but in use of the
spear he excelled all the Hellenes and the Achaeans.
These dwelt in Cynus, Opous, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe,
fair Augeae, Tarphe, and Thronium about the river
Boagrius. With him there came forty ships of
the Locrians who dwell beyond Euboea.
The fierce Abantes held Euboea with its cities, Chalcis,
Eretria, Histiaea rich in vines, Cerinthus upon the
sea, and the rock-perched town of Dium; with them
were also the men of Carystus and Styra; Elephenor
of the race of Mars was in command of these; he was
son of Chalcodon, and chief over all the Abantes.
With him they came, fleet of foot and wearing their
hair long behind, brave warriors, who would ever strive
to tear open the corslets of their foes with their
long ashen spears. Of these there came fifty
ships.
