He flashed around intolerable day.
Alone, untouched, Pelides' javelin stands,
Not to be poised but by Pelides' hands:
From Pelion's shady brow the plant entire
Old Chiron rent, and shaped it for his sire,
Whose son's great arm alone the weapon wields,
The death of heroes, and the dread of fields.
Then brave Automedon, an honoured name,
The second to his lord in love and fame,
In peace his friend, and partner of the war,
The winged coursers harnessed to the car;
Xanthus and Balius, of immortal breed,
Sprung from the wind, and like the wind in speed;
Whom the winged harpy, swift Podarge, bore,
By Zephyr pregnant on the breezy shore.
Swift Pedasus was added to their side,
Once great Eetion's, now Achilles' pride,
Who, like in strength, in swiftness, and in grace,
A mortal courser, matched the immortal race.
Achilles speeds from tent to tent, and warms
His hardy Myrmidons to blood and arms.
All breathing death, around their chief they stand,
A grim, terrific, formidable band;
Grim as voracious wolves that seek the springs,
When scalding thirst their burning bowels wrings,[1]
When some tall stag, fresh slaughtered in the wood,
Has drenched their wide insatiate throats with blood;
To the black fount they rush, a hideous throng,
With paunch distended and with lolling tongue;
Fire fills their eyes, their black jaws belch the gore,
And, gorged with slaughter, still they thirst for more.
Like furious rushed the Myrmidonian crew,
Such their dread strength, and such their dreadful view.
High in the midst the great Achilles stands,
Directs their order, and the war commands.
He, loved of Jove, had launched for Ilion's shores
Full fifty vessels, manned with fifty oars:
Five chosen leaders the fierce bands obey,
Himself supreme in valour, as in sway.
First marched Menestheus, of celestial birth,
Derived from thee, whose waters wash the earth,
Divine Sperchius! Jove-descended flood!
A mortal mother mixing with a god.
Such was Menestheus, but miscalled by fame
The son of Borus, that espoused the dame.
Eudorus next; whom Polymele the gay,
Famed in the graceful dance, produced to day.
Her, sly Gyllenius loved; on her would gaze,
- ↑ Pope has "wings."
