with horse-hair plume, That grandly waved on high. Two massive spears He took, that fitted well his grasp, but left The spear which great Achilles only bore, Heavy and huge and strong, and which no arm Among the Greeks save his could poise; his strength Alone sufficed to wield it. ’Twas an ash Which Chiron felled in Pelion’s top, and gave To Peleus, that it yet might be the death Of heroes. Then he called, to yoke with speed The steeds, Automedon, whom he esteemed Next to Achilles, that great scatterer Of armies; for he found him ever firm In battle, breasting faithfully its shock. Automedon led forth to take the yoke Xanthus and Balius, coursers that in speed Were like the wind. Podargè brought them forth To Zephyrus, while she, the Harpy, grazed By ocean’s streams. Upon the outer side He joined to them the noble Pedasus, Brought by Achilles from the captured town Where ruled Eëtion. Though of mortal stock, Well might he match with those immortal steeds.
Meanwhile Achilles armed the Myrmidons, Passing from tent to tent. Like ravening wolves, Terribly strong, that, having slain among The hills an antlered stag of mighty size, Tear and devour it, while their jaws are stained With its red blood, then gather in a herd About some darkly flowing stream, and lap The sullen water with their slender tongues, And drop the clots of blood from their grim mouths And, although gorged, are fierce and fearless still— So came the leaders of the Myrmidons, In rushing crowds, about the valiant friend Of swift Aeacides. Among them stood Achilles, great in war, encouraging The charioteers and warriors armed with shields.
Achilles, dear to Jupiter, had led Fifty swift barques to Ilium, and in each Were fifty men, companions at the oar. O’er these he gave command to five; himself, Supreme in power, was ruler over all. One band the nobly armed Menestheus led, Son of Spercheius. To that river-god, Beautiful Polydora brought him forth, Daughter of Peleus; she, a mortal maid, Met an immortal’s love. Yet Borus, son Of Periëres, owned the boy and took