thou requirest. Him I took From Scyros in a gallant barque to join The well-armed Greeks. Know, then, that when we sat In council, planning to conduct the war Against the city of Troy, he always rose The first to speak, nor were his words unwise. The godlike Nestor and myself alone Rivalled him in debate. And when we fought About the city walls, he loitered not Among the others in the numerous host, But hastened on before them, giving place To no man there in valor. Many men He slew in desperate combat, whom to name Were past my power, so many were they all Whom in the cause of Greece he struck to earth. Yet one I name, Eurypylus, the son Of Telephus, who perished by his sword With many of his band, Citeians, led To war because of liberal gifts bestowed Upon their chieftain’s wife; the noblest he Of men, in form, whom I have ever seen, Save Memnon. When into the wooden steed, Framed by Epeius, we the chiefs of Greece Ascended, and to me was given the charge Of all things there, to open and to shut The close-built fraud, while others of high rank Among the Greeks were wiping off their tears, And their limbs shook, I never saw thy son Turn pale in his fine face, or brush away A tear, but he besought me earnestly That he might leave our hiding-place, and grasped His falchion’s hilt, and lifted up his spear Heavy with brass, for in his mind he smote The Trojan crowd already. When at last We had o’erthrown and sacked the lofty town Of Priam, he embarked upon a ship, With all his share of spoil—a large reward— Unhurt, not touched in combat hand to hand, Nor wounded from afar, as oftentimes Must be the fortune of a fight, for Mars Is wont to rage without regard to
“I spake. The soul of swift Aeacides Over the meadows thick with asphodel Departed with long strides, well pleased to hear From me the story of his son’s renown.