Offspring of Sperchius heaven-descended stream. 
  Him Polydora, Peleus’ daughter, bore
  To ever-flowing Sperchius, compress’d,
  Although a mortal woman, by a God. 
  But his reputed father was the son 210
  Of Perieres, Borus, who with dower
  Enrich’d, and made her openly his bride. 
  Warlike Eudorus led the second band. 
  Him Polymela, graceful in the dance,
  And daughter beautiful of Phylas, bore, 215
  A mother unsuspected of a child. 
  Her worshiping the golden-shafted Queen
  Diana, in full choir, with song and dance,
  The valiant Argicide[6] beheld and loved. 
  Ascending with her to an upper room, 220
  All-bounteous Mercury[7] clandestine there
  Embraced her, who a noble son produced
  Eudorus, swift to run, and bold in fight. 
  No sooner Ilithya, arbitress
  Of pangs puerperal, had given him birth, 225
  And he beheld the beaming sun, than her
  Echechleus, Actor’s mighty son, enrich’d
  With countless dower, and led her to his home;
  While ancient Phylas, cherishing her boy
  With fond affection, reared him as his own. 230
  The third brave troop warlike Pisander led,
  Offspring of Maimalus; he far excell’d
  In spear-fight every Myrmidon, the friend
  Of Peleus’ dauntless son alone except. 
  The hoary Phoenix of equestrian fame 235
  The fourth band led to battle, and the fifth
  Laerceus’ offspring, bold Alcimedon. 
  Thus, all his bands beneath their proper Chiefs
  Marshall’d, Achilles gave them strict command—­
    Myrmidons! all that vengeance now inflict, 240
  Which in this fleet ye ceased not to denounce
  Against the Trojans while my wrath endured. 
  Me censuring, ye have proclaim’d me oft
  Obdurate.  Oh Achilles! ye have said,
  Thee not with milk thy mother but with bile 245
  Suckled, who hold’st thy people here in camp
  Thus long imprison’d.  Unrelenting Chief! 
  Even let us hence in our sea-skimming barks
  To Phthia, since thou can’st not be appeased—­
  Thus in full council have ye spoken oft. 250
  Now, therefore, since a day of glorious toil
  At last appears, such as ye have desired,
  There lies the field—­go—­give your courage proof. 
    So them he roused, and they, their leader’s voice
  Hearing elate, to closest order drew. 255
  As when an architect some palace wall
  With shapely stones upbuilds, cementing close
  A barrier against all the winds of heaven,
  So wedged, the helmets and boss’d bucklers stood;
  Shield, helmet, man, press’d helmet, man, and shield, 260
  And every bright-arm’d warrior’s bushy crest
  Its fellow swept, so dense was their array.