THE CATALOGUE of the SHIPS

The hardy Warriors whom Boeotia bred, Peneleus, Leitus, Prothoënor led: With these Arcesilaus and Clonius stand, Equal in Arms, and equal in Command. These head the Troops that Rocky Aulis yields, And Eteon's Hills, and Hyrie's watry Fields, And Schoenos, Scolos, Graea near the Main, And Mycalessia's ample Piny Plain. Those who in Peteon or Ilesion dwell, Or Harma where Apollo's Prophet fell; Heleon and Hylè, which the Springs o'erflow; And Medeon lofty, and Ocalea low; Or in the Meads of Haliartus stray, Or Thespia sacred to the God of Day. Onchestus, Neptune's celebrated Groves; Copae, and Thisbè, fam'd for silver Doves, For Flocks Erythrae, Glissa for the Vine; Plataea green, and Nisa the divine. And they whom Thebè's well-built Walls inclose, Where Mydè, Eutresis, Coronè rose; And Arnè rich, with purple Harvests crown'd; And Anthedon, Boeotia's utmost Bound. Full fifty Ships they send, and each conveys Twice sixty Warriors thro' the foaming Seas.

To these succeed Aspledon's martial Train, Who plow the spacious Orchomenian Plain. Two valiant Brothers rule th' undaunted Throng, Iälmen and Ascalaphus the strong: Sons of Astyochè the Heav'nly Fair, Whose Virgin Charms subdu'd the God of War: (In Actor's Court as she retir'd to Rest, The Strength of Mars the blushing Maid comprest) Their Troops in thirty sable Vessels sweep With equal Oars, the hoarse-resounding Deep.

The Phocians next in forty Barks repair, Epistrophus and Schedius head the War. From those rich Regions where Cephisus leads His silver Current thro' the flow'ry Meads; From Panopëa, Chrysa the Divine, Where Anemoria's stately Turrets shine, Where Pytho, Daulis, Cyparissus stood, And fair Lilaea views the rising Flood. These rang'd in Order on the floating Tide, Close, on the left, the bold Boeotians side.

Fierce Ajax led the Locrian Squadrons on, Ajax the less, Oïleus' valiant Son; Skill'd to direct the flying Dart aright; Swift in Pursuit, and active in the Fight. Him, as their Chief, the chosen Troops attend, Which Bessa, Thronus, and rich Cynos send: Opus, Calliarus, and Scarphe's Bands; And those who dwell where pleasing Augia stands, And where Boägrius floats the lowly Lands, Or in fair Tarphe's Sylvan Seats reside; In forty Vessels cut the yielding Tide.

Euboea next her martial Sons prepares, And sends the brave Abantes to the Wars: Breathing Revenge, in Arms they take their Way From Chalcis' Walls, and strong Eretria; Th' Isteian Fields for gen'rous Vines renown'd, The fair Carystos, and the Styrian Ground; Where Dios from her Tow'rs o'erlooks the Plain, And high Cerinthus views the Neighb'ring Main. Down their broad Shoulders falls a Length of Hair; Their Hands dismiss not the long Lance in Air; But with portended Spears in fighting Fields, Pierce the tough Cors'lets and the brazen Shields. Twice twenty Ships transport the warlike Bands, Which bold Elphenor, fierce in Arms, commands.

Full fifty more from Athens stem the Main, Led by Menestheus thro' the liquid Plain, (Athens the fair, where great Erectheus sway'd, That ow'd his Nurture to the blue-ey'd Maid, But from the teeming Furrow took his Birth, The mighty Offspring of the foodful Earth. Him Pallas plac'd amidst her wealthy Fane, Ador'd with Sacrifice and Oxen slain; Where as the Years revolve her Altars blaze, And all the Tribes resound the Goddess' Praise.) No Chief like thee, Menestheus! Greece could yield, To martial Armies in the dusty Field, Th' extended Wings of Battel to display, Or close th' embody'd Host in firm Array. Nestor alone, improv'd by Length of Days, For martial Conduct bore an equal Praise.

With these appear the Salaminian Bands, Whom the Gigantic Telamon commands; In twelve black Ships to Troy they steer their Course, And with the great Athenians join their Force.

Next move to War the gen'rous Argive Train, From high Troezenè, and Maseta's Plain, And fair Aegina circled by the Main: Whom strong Tyrinthè's lofty Walls surround, And Epidaure with Viny Harvests crown'd: And where fair Asinen and Hermion show Their Cliffs above, and ample Bay below. These by the brave Euryalus were led, Great Sthenelus, and greater Diomed, But chief Tydides bore the Sov'reign Sway; In fourscore Barks they plow the watry Way.

The proud Mycoenè arms her martial Pow'rs, Cleonè, Corinth, with Imperial Tow'rs, Fair Arethyrea, Ornia's fruitful Plain, And Aegion, and Adrastus' ancient Reign; And those who dwell along the sandy Shore, And where Pellenè yields her fleecy Store, Where Helicè and Hyperesia lie, And Gonoëssa's Spires salute the Sky. Great Agamemnon rules the num'rous Band, A hundred Vessels in long Order stand, And crowded Nations wait his dread Command. High on the Deck the King of Men appears, And his refulgent Arms in Triumph wears; Proud of his Host, unrival'd in his Reign, In silent Pomp he moves along the Main.

His Brother follows, and to Vengeance warms The hardy Spartans, exercis'd in Arms: Phares and Brysia's valiant Troops, and those Whom Lacedaemon's lofty Hills inclose: Or Messè's. Tow'rs for silver Doves renown'd, Amyclae, Laäs, Augia's happy Ground, And those whom Oetylos' low Walls contain, And Helos, on the Margin of the Main. These, o'er the bending Ocean, Helen's Cause In sixty Ships with Menelaus draws: Eager and loud, from Man to Man he flies, Revenge and Fury flaming in his Eyes; While vainly fond, in Fancy oft he hears The Fair one's Grief, and sees her falling Tears.

In ninety Sail, from Pylos' sandy Coast, Nestor the Sage conducts his chosen Host: From Amphigenia's ever-fruitful Land; Where Aepy high, and little Pteleon stand; Where beauteous Arenè her Structures shows, And Thryon's Walls Alphëus' Streams inclose: And Dorion, fam'd for Thamyris' Disgrace, Superior once of all the tuneful Race, 'Till vain of Mortal's empty Praise, he strove To match the Seed of Cloud-compelling Jove. Too daring Bard! whose unsuccessful Pride Th' Immortal Muses in their Art defy'd. Th' avenging Muses of the Light of Day Depriv'd his Eyes, and snatch'd his Voice away; No more his heav'nly Voice was heard to sing; His Hand no more awak'd the silver String.

Where under high Cyllenè crown'd with Wood, The shaded Tomb of old Aepytus stood; From Ripè, Stratie, Tegea's bord'ring Towns, The Phenean Fields, and Orchomenian Downs, Where the fat Herds in plenteous Pasture rove; And Stymphelus with her surrounding Grove; Parrhasia, on her snowy Cliffs reclin'd, And high Enispè shook by wintry Wind, And fair Mantinea's ever-pleasing Site; In sixty Sail th' Arcadian Bands unite. Bold Agapenor glorious at their Head, (Ancoeus' Son) the mighty Squadron led. Their Ships, supply'd by Agamemnon's Care, Thro' roaring Seas the wond'ring Warriors bear; The first to battel on th' appointed Plain, But new to all the Dangers of the Main.

Those, where fair Elis and Buprasium join; Whom Hyrmin, here, and Myrsinus confine, And bounded there, where o'er the Vallies rose Th' Olenian Rock; and where Alisium flows; Beneath four Chiefs (a num'rous Army) came: The Strength and Glory of th' Epean Name. In sep'rate Squadrons these their Train divide, Each leads ten Vessels thro' the yielding Tide. One was Amphimachus, and Thalpius one; (Eurytus' this, and that Teätus' Son) Diores sprung from Amarynceus' Line; And great Polyxenus, of Force divine.

But those who view fair Elis o'er the Seas From the blest Islands of th' Echinades, In forty Vessels under Meges move, Begot by Phyleus, the Belov'd of Jove. To strong Dulichium from his Sire he fled, And thence to Troy his hardy Warriors led.

Ulysses follow'd thro' the watry Road, A Chief, in Wisdom equal to a God. With those whom Cephalenia's Isle inclos'd, Or till'd their Fields along the Coast oppos'd; Or where fair Ithaca o'erlooks the Floods, Where high Neritos shakes his waving Woods, Where Aegilipa's rugged Sides are seen, Crocylia rocky, and Zacynthus green. These in twelve Galleys with Vermillion Prores, Beneath his Conduct sought the Phrygian Shores,

Thoas came next, Andraemon's valiant Son, From Pleuron's Walls and chalky Calydon, And rough Pylenè, and th' Olenian Steep, And Chalcis, beaten by the rolling Deep. He led the Warriors from th' Aetolian Shore, For now the Sons of Oeneus were no more! The Glories of the mighty Race were fled! Oeneus himself, and Meleager dead; To Thoas' Care now trust the martial Train, His forty Vessels follow thro' the Main.

Next eighty Barks the Cretan King commands, Of Gnossus, Lyctus, and Gortyna's Bands, And those who dwell where Rhytion's Domes arise, Or white Lycastus glitters to the Skies, Or where by Phoestus silver Jardan runs; Crete's hundred Cities pour forth all her Sons. These march'd, Idomeneus, beneath thy Care, And Merion, dreadful as the God of War.

Tlepolemus, the Son of Hercules, Led nine swift Vessels thro' the foamy Seas; From Rhodes with everlasting Sunshine bright, Jalyssus, Lindus, and Camirus white. His captive Mother fierce Alcides bore From Ephyr's Walls, and Sellè's winding Shore, Where mighty Towns in Ruins spread the Plain, And saw their blooming Warriors early slain. The Hero, when to Manly Years he grew, Alcides' Uncle, old Lycimnius, slew; For this, constrain'd to quit his native Place, And shun the Vengeance of th' Herculean Race, A Fleet he built, and with a num'rous Train Of willing Exiles wander'd o'er the Main; Where many Seas, and many Suff'rings past, On happy Rhodes the Chief arriv'd at last: There in three Tribes divides his native Band, And rules them peaceful in a foreign Land: Encreas'd and prosper'd in their new Abodes, By mighty Jove, the Sire of Men and Gods; With Joy they saw the growing Empire rise, And Show'rs of Wealth descending from the Skies.

Three Ships with Nireus sought the Trojan Shore, Nireus, whom Agläe to Charopus bore, Nireus, in faultless Shape, and blooming Grace, The loveliest Youth of all the Grecian Race; Pelides only match'd his early Charms; But few his Troops, and small his Strength in Arms.

Next thirty Galleys cleave the liquid Plain, Of those Calydnoe's Sea-girt Isles contain; With them the Youth of Nisyrus repair, Casus the strong, and Crapathus the fair; Cos, where Eurypylus possest the Sway, 'Till great Alcides made the Realms obey: These Antiphus and bold Phidippus bring, Sprung from the God, by Thessalus the King.

Now Muse recount Pelasgic Argos' Pow'rs, From Alos, Alopè, and Trechin's Tow'rs; From Pthia's spacious Vales; and Hella, blest With Female Beauty far beyond the rest. Full fifty Ships beneath Achilles' Care Th' Achaians, Myrmidons, Helleneans bear, Thessalians all, tho' various in their Name, The same their Nation, and their Chief the same. But now inglorious, stretch'd along the Shore, They hear the brazen Voice of War no more; No more the Foe they face in dire Array; Close in his Fleet their angry Leader lay: Since fair Briseïs from his Arms was torn, The noblest Spoil from sack'd Lyrnessus born, Then, when the Chief the Theban Walls o'erthrew, And the bold Sons of great Evenus slew. There mourn'd Achilles, plung'd in Depth of Care, But soon to rise in Slaughter, Blood, and War.

To these the Youth of Phylacè succeed, Itona, famous for her fleecy Breed, And grassy Pteleon deck'd with chearful Greens, The Bow'rs of Ceres, and the Sylvan Scenes, Sweet Pyrrhasus, with blooming Flourets crown'd, And Antron's watry Dens and cavern'd Ground. These own'd as Chief Protesilas the brave, Who now lay silent in the gloomy Grave: The first who boldly touch'd the Trojan Shore, And dy'd a Phrygian Lance with Grecian Gore: There lies, far distant from his native Plain; Unfinish'd his proud Palaces remain, And his sad Consort beats her Breast in vain. His Troops in forty Ships Podarces led, Iphiclus' Son, and Brother to the Dead; Nor he unworthy to command the Host; Yet still they mourn'd their ancient Leader lost.

The Men who Glaphyra's fair Soil partake, Where Hills encircle Boebe's lowly Lake, Where Pherae hears the neighb'ring Waters fall, Or proud Iölcus lifts her Airy Wall: In ten black Ships embark'd for Ilion's Shore, With bold Eumelus, whom Alcestè bore. All Pelias' Race Alcestè far outshin'd, The Grace and Glory of the beauteous Kind.

The Troops Methonè, or Thaumacia yields, Olyzon's Rocks, or Moelibaea's Fields, With Philoctetes sail'd, whose matchless Art From the tough Bow directs the feather'd Dart. Sev'n were his Ships; each Vessel fifty row, Skill'd in his Science of the Dart and Bow. But he lay raging on the Lemnian Ground, A pois'nous Hydra gave the burning Wound, There groan'd the Chief in agonizing Pain; Whom Greece at length shall wish, nor wish in vain. His Forces Medon led from Lemnos' Shore, Oïleus' Son whom beauteous Rhena bore.

Th' Oechalian Race, in those high Tow'rs contain'd, Where once Eurytus in proud Triumph reign'd, Or where her humbler Turrets Trica rears, Or where Ithomè, rough with Rocks, appears; In thirty Sail the sparkling Waves divide, Which Podalirius and Machaon guide. To these his Skill their Parent-God imparts, Divine Professors of the Healing Arts.

The bold Ormenian and Asterian Bands In forty Barks Eurypilus commands, Where Titan hides his hoary Head in Snow, And where Hyperia's silver Fountains flow.

Thy Troops, Argissa, Polyphaetes leads, And Eleon, shelter'd by Olympus' Shades, Girtonè's Warriors; and where Orthè lies, And Oloösson's chalky Cliffs arise. Sprung from Pirithoüs of immortal Race, The Fruit of fair Hippodamè's Embrace, (That Day, when hurl'd from Pelion's cloudy Head, To distant Dens the shaggy Centaurs fled) With Polypaetes join'd in equal Sway Leonteus leads, and forty Ships obey.

In twenty Sail the bold Perrhebians came From Cyphus, Guneus was their Leader's Name. With these the Aenians join'd, and those who freeze Where cold Dodona lifts her Holy Trees; Or where the pleasing Titaresius glides, And into Peneus rolls his easy Tides; Yet o'er the silver Surface pure they flow, The sacred Stream unmix'd with Streams below, Sacred and awful! From the dark Abodes Styx pours them forth, the dreadful Oath of Gods!

Last under Prothous the Magnesians stood, Prothous the swift, of old Tenthredon's Blood; Who dwell where Pelion crown'd with Piny Boughs Obscures the Glade, and nods his shaggy Brows, Or where thro' flow'ry Tempè Peneus stray'd, (The Region stretch'd beneath his mighty Shade) In forty sable Barks they stem'd the Main; Such were the Chiefs, and such the Grecian Train.

Say next O Muse! of all Achaïa breeds, Who bravest fought, or rein'd the noblest Steeds? Eumelus' Mares were foremost in the Chace, As Eagles fleet, and of Pheretian Race; Bred where Pieria's fruitful Fountains flow, And train'd by Him who bears the Silver Bow. Fierce in the Fight, their Nostrils breath'd a Flame, Their Height, their Colour, and their Age the same; O'er Fields of Death they whirl the rapid Car, And break the Ranks, and thunder thro' the War. Ajax in Arms the first Renown acquir'd, While stern Achilles in his Wrath retir'd: (His was the Strength that mortal Might exceeds, And his, th' unrival'd Race of Heav'nly Steeds) But Thetis' Son now shines in Arms no more; His Troops, neglected on the sandy Shore, In empty Air their sportive Jav'lins throw, Or whirl the Disk, or bend an idle Bow: Unstain'd with Blood his cover'd Chariots stand; Th' Immortal Coursers graze along the Strand; But the brave Chiefs th' inglorious Life deplor'd, And wand'ring o'er the Camp, requir'd their Lord

Now, like a Deluge, cov'ring all around, The shining Armies swept along the Ground; Swift as a Flood of Fire, when Storms arise, Floats the wide Field, and blazes to the Skies. Earth groan'd beneath them; as when angry Jove Hurls down the forky Light'ning from above, On Arimè when he the Thunder throws, And fires Typhoeus with redoubled Blows, Where Typhon, prest beneath the burning Load, Still feels the Fury of th' avenging God.

But various Iris, Jove's Commands to bear, Speeds on the Wings of Winds thro' liquid Air; In Priam's Porch the Trojan Chiefs she found, The Old consulting, and the Youths around. Polites' Shape, the Monarch's Son, she chose, Who from Aesetes' Tomb observ'd the Foes; High on the Mound; from whence in Prospect lay The Fields, the Tents, the Navy, and the Bay. In this dissembled Form, she hasts to bring Th' unwelcome Message to the Phrygian King.

Cease to consult, the Time for Action calls, War, horrid War, approaches to your Walls! Assembled Armies oft' have I beheld; But ne'er 'till now such Numbers charg'd a Field. Thick as Autumnal Leaves, or driving Sand, The moving Squadrons blacken all the Strand. Thou, Godlike Hector! all thy Force employ, Assemble all th' united Bands of Troy; In just Array let ev'ry Leader call The foreign Troops: This Day demands them all.

The Voice Divine the mighty Chief alarms; The Council breaks, the Warriors rush to Arms. The Gates unfolding pour forth all their Train, Nations on Nations fill the dusky Plain, Men, Steeds, and Chariots shake the trembling Ground; The Tumult thickens, and the Skies resound. Amidst the Plain in sight of Ilion stands A rising Mount the Work of human Hands, (This for Myrinnè's Tomb th' Immortals know, Tho' call'd Bateïa in the World below) Beneath their Chiefs in martial Order here, Th' Auxiliar Troops and Trojan Hosts appear.

The Godlike Hector, high above the rest, Shakes his huge Spear, and nods his Plumy Crest: In Throngs around his native Bands repair, And Groves of Lances glitter in the Air.

Divine Aenëas brings the Dardan Race, Anchises' Son, by Venus' stol'n Embrace, Born in the Shades of Ida's secret Grove, (A Mortal mixing with the Queen of Love) Archilochus and Achamas divide The Warrior's Toils, and combate by his side.

Who fair Zeleia's wealthy Vallies till, Fast by the Foot of Ida's sacred Hill: Or drink, Aesepus, of thy sable Flood; Were led by Pandarus, of Royal Blood. To whom his Art Apollo deign'd to show, Grac'd with the Present of his Shafts and Bow.

From rich Apaesus and Adrestia's Tow'rs, High Teree's Summits, and Pityea's Bow'rs; From these the congregated Troops obey Young Amphius and Adrastus' equal Sway; Old Merops Sons; whom skill'd in Fate to come The Sire forewarn'd, and prophecy'd their Doom: Fate urg'd them on! the Sire forewarn'd in vain, They rush'd to War, and perish'd on the Plain.

From Practius' Stream, Percotè's Pasture Lands, And Sestos and Abydos' neighb'ring Strands, From great Arisba's Walls and Sellè's Coast, Asius Hyrtacides conducts his Host: High on his Car he shakes the flowing Reins, His fiery Coursers thunder o'er the Plains.

The fierce Pelasgi next, in War renown'd, March from Larissa's ever-fertile Ground: In equal Arms their Brother-Leaders shine, Hippothous bold, and Pyleus the Divine.

Next Acamas and Pyrous lead their Hosts In dread Array, from Thracia's wintry Coasts; Round the bleak Realms where Hellespontus roars, And Boreas beats the hoarse-resounding Shores.

With great Euphemus the Ciconians move, Sprung from Trezenian Ceus, lov'd by Jove.

Pyrechmes the Poeonian Troops attend, Skill'd in the Fight their crooked Bows to bend; From Axius' ample Bed he leads them on, Axius, that laves the distant Amydon, Axius, that swells with all his neighb'ring Rills, And wide around the floated Region fills.

The Paphlagonians Pylaemenes rules, Where rich Henetia breeds her savage Mules, Where Erythinus' rising Clifts are seen, Thy Groves of Box, Cytorus! ever green; And where Aegyalus and Cromna lie, And lofty Sesamus invades the Sky; And where Parthenius, roll'd thro' Banks of Flow'rs, Reflects her bord'ring Palaces and Bow'rs.

Here march'd in Arms the Halizonian Band, Whom Odius and Epistrophus command, From those far Regions where the Sun refines The ripening Silver in Alybean Mines.

There, mighty Chromis led the Mysian Train, And Augur Ennomus, inspir'd in vain, For stern Achilles lopt his sacred Head, Roll'd down Scamander with the Vulgar Dead.

Phorcys and brave Ascanius here unite Th' Ascanian Phrygians, eager for the Fight.

Of those who round Moeonia's Realms reside, Or whom the Vales in Shade of Tmolus hide, Mestles and Antiphus the Charge partake; Born on the Banks of Gyges' silent Lake. There, from the Fields where wild Maeander flows, High Mycalè, and Latmos' shady Brows, And proud Miletus, came the Carian Throngs, With mingled Clamors, and with barb'rous Tongues. Amphimachus and Naustes guide the Train, Naustes the bold, Amphimachus the vain, Who trick'd with Gold, and glitt'ring on his Car, Rode like a Woman to the Field of War. Fool that he was! by fierce Achilles slain, The River swept him to the briny Main: There whelm'd with Waves the gawdy Warrior lies; The valiant Victor seiz'd the golden Prize.

The Forces last in fair Array succeed, Which blameless Glaucus and Sarpedon lead; The warlike Bands that distant Lycia yields, Where gulphy Xanthus foams along the Fields.