Phthia

Nor at Alope stayed the sons of Hermes, rich in corn-land, well skilled in craftiness, Eurytus and Echiön; and with them on their departure their kinsman Ithalides went as the third.

Him near the streams of Amphrysus Eupolemia bare, the daughter of Myrmidon from Phthia; the two others were sprung from Antianeira, daughter of Mnesus.

From rich Gyrtön came Coroanus, son of Ceneus, brave but not braver than his father.

For bards relate that Ceneus, though still living, perished at the hands of the Centaurs, when apart from other chiefs he routed them; and they, rallying against him, could neither bend nor slay him; but unconquered and unflinching he passed beneath the earth overwhelmed by the downrush of massy pines.

After them came the sons of Aeacus, not both together, nor from the same spot.

For they settled far from Aegina in exile, when in their folly they had slain their brother Phpheus.

Telamon dwelt in the Attic island, but Peleus departed and made his home in Phthia.

After them, from Cecropia, came warlike beauties, son of brave Telion, and Phalerus of the ashen spear.

But I, hearing this enrousing proclamation, bade Talthybius dismiss the whole army, as I should never have the heart to slay my daughter.

Upon this, indeed, my brother, alleging every kind of reasoning, persuaded me to dare the dreadful deed; and having written in the folds of a letter, I sent word to my wife to send her daughter as if to be married to Achilles, both enlarging on the dignity of the man and asserting that he would not sail with the Greeks unless a wife for him from among us should come to Phthia.

For I had this means of persuading my wife, having made up a pretended match for the virgin.

But we alone of the Greeks know how these matters are, Calchas, Ulysses, and Nestor.

Close by which Pelides was running in arms by the orb and wheels of the chariot.

And I came to the multitude of ships, a sight not to be described, that I might satiate the sight of my woman's eyes, a sweet delight.

And at the right horn of the fleet was the Phthiaotic army of the Myrmidons, with fifty valiant ships.

And in golden effigies the myriad goddesses stood on the summit of the poops, the standard of the host of Achilles.

"Unwillingly I go with thee, Peleus." But life in the sea was not for her anymore now that she was mastered.

She went to Peleus's ship, and she went to the Phthia, his country.

And when the hero and the sea goddess were wedded, the immortal gods and goddesses came to their hall and brought the bride and bridegroom wondrous gifts.

The three sisters, who are called the Fates, came also.

The country was spared the ravages of the beast, and the heart of Peleus was uplifted to think that Thetis had hearkened to his prayer and had prevailed upon Psamathe to forego her enmity.

Not altogether unforgiving was his wife to him.

That day he went from the land of the bright valleys, from the land ruled over by the kindly king, the kindly Ceyx, and he came back to rugged Phthia, his own country.

When he came near his halls, he saw two at the doorway waiting him.

Two.

Who brought thee forth in mortal vision, who In Phthia or in Tempe brought thee forth? Out of the sunlight and the sap-full earth What god the simples of thy spirit drew? A goddess rose from the green waves, and threw Her arms about a king, to give thee birth; A centaur, patron of thy boyish mirth, Over the meadows in thy footsteps flew.

Now Thessaly forgets thee; and the deep Thy keeled bark furrowed, answers not thy prayer.

But, far away, new generations keep Thy laurels fresh, where branching Isis hems The lawns of Oxford round about, or where Enchanted Eton sits by pleasant Thames.

Nor at Alope stayed the sons of Hermes, rich in corn land, well skilled in craftiness, Eurytus and Echiön, and with them on their departure their kinsman Ithalides went as the third.

Him near the streams of Amphrysus, Eupolemia bare, the daughter of Myrmidon from Phthia.

The two others were sprung from Antianeira, daughter of Mnesus.

From rich Gyrtone came Coroanus, son of Ceneus, brave but not braver than his father.

For no ill is too remote for mortals to incur, seeing that they buried them in Libya, as far from the Colchians as is the space that is seen between the setting and the rising of the sun.

To him Clytius and Iphitus joined themselves, the warders of Ecalia.

Sons of Eurytus the ruthless Eurytus to whom the far-shooting god gave his bow but he had no joy of the gift for of his own choice he strove even with the giver after them came the sons of Aeacus not both together nor from the same spot for they settled far from Aegina in exile when in their folly they had slain their brother Phpheus Telamon dwelt in the Attic island but Peleus departed and made his home in Phthia after them from Cecropia came warlike Butes son of brave Tileon and Phalerus of the ashen spear Alcon his father sent him forth yet no other sons had he to care for his old age and livelihood but him his well-beloved and only son he sent forth that amid bold heroes he might shine conspicuous but Theseus who surpassed all the sons of Erichthius an unseen bond kept beneath the land of Taenarus for he had followed that path with Pirithous assuredly both would have lightened for all the fulfilment of their toil Tiphys son of Hegneus left the Siphean people of the Thespians well skilled to foretell the rising wave on the broad sea and well skilled to infer from sun and star the stormy winds and the time for sailing Tritonian Athena herself urged him to join the band of chiefs and he came among them a welcome comrade she herself too fashioned the swift ship and with her Argus son of Arista wrought it by her counsels wherefore it proved the most excellent of all ships that have made trial of the sea with oars after them came Phlegyas from Erythrae where he dwelt in affluence by the favour of his father Dionysus in his home by the springs of Asopus from Argos came Talaus and Areius sons of Bias and mighty Leodocus all of whom Pero daughter of Neleus bare on her account the Aeolid Melampus endured sore affliction in the steading of Iphiclus nor do we learn that Heracles of the mighty heart disregarded the eager summons of Iason's son but when he heard a report of the heroes gathering and had reached Lercaean Argos from Arcadia by the road along which he carried the boar alive that fed in the thickets of Lympia near the vast Erymanthian swamp the boar bound with chains he put down from his huge shoulders at the entrance to the marketplace of Mycenae and himself of his own will set out against the purpose of Eurystheus and with him went Hylas a brave comrade in the flower of youth to bear his arrows and to guard his bow next to him came a scion of the race of divine Danaus Nauplius he was the son of Clytoneus son of Nobilus Nobilus was son of Lernus Lernus we know was the son of Prytus son of Nauplius and once Amymone daughter of Danaus wedded to Poseidon bare Nauplius who surpassed all men in naval skill Idmon came last of all them that dwelt at Argos for though he had learned his own fate by augury he came that the people might not grudge him fair renown he was not in truth the son of Abas but Leto's son himself begat him to be numbered among the illustrious Aeolids and himself taught him the art of prophecy to pay heed to birds and to observe the signs of the burning sacrifice moreover Aetolian Leda sent from Sparta strong Polydeuces and Castor skilled to guide swift-footed steeds these her dearly loved sons she bare at one birth in the house of Tyndareus nor did she forbid their departure for she had thoughts worthy of the bride of Zeus the son of Aphareus Lynceus and proud Idas came from Oeni both exulting in their great strength and Lynceus too excelled in keenest sight if the report is true that that hero could easily direct his sight even beneath the earth and with them Pylean Periclymenus set out to come eldest of all the sons of godlike Neleus who were born at Pylos Poseidon had given him boundless strength and granted him that whatever shape he should crave during the fight that he should take in the stress of battle moreover from Arcadia came Amphidamas and Cepheus who inhabited Tegea and the allotment of Ophietus two sons of Aldus and Enceus followed them as the third whom his father Lycurgus sent the brother older than both but he was left in the city to care for Alectryone now growing old while he gave his son to join his brothers Antaeus went clad in the skin of a Maenalian bear and wielding in his right hand a huge two-edged battle-axe for his armour his grandsire had hidden in the house's innermost recess to see if he might by some means still stay his departure There came also Ogyges, whom fame declared to be the son of Helios.

He reigned over the Eleans, glorying in his wealth, and greatly he desired to behold the Colchian land and Aeetes himself, the ruler of the Colchians.

With what heart can any of the Achaeans do your bidding, either on foray or in open fighting? I came not warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me; I had no quarrel with them.

They have not raided my cattle nor my horses, nor cut down my harvests on the rich plains of Phthia; for between me and them there is a great space, both mountain and sounding sea.

We have followed you, Sir Insolence, for your pleasure not ours, to gain satisfaction from the Trojans for your shameless self and for Menelaus.

You forget this, and threaten to rob me of the prize for which I have toiled, and which the sons of the Achaeans have given me.

Never when the Achaeans sack any rich city of the Trojans do I receive so good a prize as you do, though it is my hands that do the better part of the fighting.

When the sharing comes, your share is far the largest; and I, forsooth, must go back to my ships, take what I can get and be thankful, when my labour of fighting is done.

Now, therefore, I shall go back to Phthia; it will be much better for me to return home with my ships; for I will not stay here dishonoured, to gather gold and substance for you." And Agamemnon answered, "Fly if you will; I shall make you no prayers to stay you.

I have others here who will do me honour, and above all Jove, the lord of counsel.