Phyleus

Guneus, king of Aenian men, Marshalled galleys two and ten; Hard thereby the bulwarks tower Of the lords of Elis' power, Whom the host Epeians name; Areïtus to lead them came.

Led the Taphian's argent oar Therewithal which own for lord Phyleus' scion Megas, Who from the Echinad Isles where to no man sails His war-host drew.

Aias Salamis' fosterling Held in touch his rightward wing With their left who nearest lay; Helm-obeying keels were they, Twelve, which marshalled uttermost Closed the line that fringed the coast, As I heard; and now might mark, Whoso with barbaric bark Meets him from the grapple stern, Never home shall he return.

Lo, the goodly sea array That mine eyes have seen to-day! Erst the great war-muster's story Through mine home rang; now its glory In mine heart shall live for aye.

The chosen men of the Athenians were in the van, led by Menestius son of Pedios, with whom were also Phaedrus, Stichius, and stalwart Bias.

Meges the son of Phyleus, Amphion, and Dracius commanded the Epeans, while Medon and Sthenelus Podarces led the men of Phthia.

Of these, Medon was bastard son to Oileus and brother of Ajax, but he lived in Phylacia away from his own country, for he had killed the brother of his stepmother Eropos, the wife of Oileus.

The other Podarces was the son of Iphiclus, son of Flacus.

The point went clean through and broke the bone so that he fell forward.

Meanwhile, Menelaus struck Thoas in the chest, where it was exposed near the rim of his shield, and he fell dead.

The son of Phyleus saw Amphiclus about to attack him, and ere he could do so, took aim at the upper part of his thigh, where the muscles are thicker than in any other part.

The spear tore through all the sinews of the leg, and his eyes were closed in darkness.

But there were twelve beaks of Aenian ships which King Gyneus led, and near these again the chieftains of Elis, whom all the people named Achaeans, and o'er these Eurystheus had power.

But the white-oared Taphian host led, which Meges ruled, the offspring of Phyleus, leaving the isle Achinades, inaccessible to sailors.

And Ajax, the foster child of Salamis, joined the right horn to the left, to which he was stationed nearest, joining them with his furthermost ships, with twelve most swift vessels, as I heard, and beheld the naval people.

To which if anyone add the barbarian barques, it will not obtain a return.

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And none of his household was with Augeas when he gave the promise, except Phyleus, his young son.

So the false king, who thought his son was even such as himself, now called for Iamos and said, "Let the seer judge between us, for he is just and holy." And Iamos said, "Is there not a witness who can say which of the two speaks truly, King Augeas or the stranger?" "Here is Phyleus, my son," answered the king, "who was present at our talk together and can bear witness that I did not promise the 100 oxen." But the young prince blushed red with shame for his father's guile and said, "Nay, my father, you did promise them, for I heard you." At that, Augeas was wroth, and for all Iamos could say against it, he banished his son out of the land on pain of death and commanded his servants to drive both him and Heracles forth from the palace.

Heracles could have overcome them all single-handed, yet for the sake of Phyleus, and lest harm should come to him, he departed without another word, taking the lad with him.

But Iamos shook off the dust from his sandals on the king's threshold and said, "Woe to this house, and woe to Augeas, because of the thing he has done this day.

I say to you, O perjured king, that I will see your face no more, for the God whom I serve abhors lying and deceit." Augeas had a mind to slay him for these words, but he feared to lay hands on him, because he was a prophet and beloved of all the folk, and he let him go back to his own place.

The chosen men of the Athenians were in the van, led by Menestius son of Pedios, with whom were also Phaedrus, Stichius, and stalwart Bias.

Meges the son of Phyleus, Amphion, and Dracius commanded the Epeans, while Medon and Sthenelus led the men of Phthia.

Of these, Medon was bastard son to Oileus and brother of Ajax, but he lived in Phylace away from his own country, for he had killed the brother of his stepmother Eropos, the wife of Oileus.

The other Podarces was the son of Iphiclus, son of Flacus.

The point went clean through and broke the bone so that he fell forward.

Meanwhile Menelaus struck Thoas in the chest, where it was exposed near the rim of his shield, and he fell dead.

The son of Phyleus saw Amphiclus about to attack him, and ere he could do so took aim at the upper part of his thigh, where the muscles are thicker than in any other part.

The spear tore through all the sinews of the leg, and his eyes were closed in darkness.