This degradation of Apollo used to be commemorated in the theoria in honour of the god. See Müller Dor. vol. i. p. 233.
Footnote 136: (return) Such was the glitter of their arms.
Footnote 137: (return) See Arnold.
Footnote 138: (return) A volcanic district of Mysia.
But swift-footed Iris came from aegis-bearing Jove, a messenger to the Trojans, with a woeful announcement. They all, collected together, both young and old, were holding councils at the gates of Priam. But swift-footed Iris standing near, accosted them: and she likened herself in voice to Polites, son of Priam, who, trusting to the swiftness of his feet, sat at watch for the Trojans on the top of the tomb 139 of old Æsyetus, watching when the Greeks should set forth from the ships. To him having likened herself, swift-footed Iris addressed them:
"Old man, ever are injudicious words pleasing to thee, as formerly in time of peace: but now has an inevitable war arisen. Truly I have already very often been present at the conflicts of heroes, but never have I beheld such brave and numerous forces. For very like unto the leaves or the sand proceed they through the plain, about to fight for the city. Hector, for it is to thee in particular I give advice: and do thou act thus; for many are the allies through the great city of Priam; and different are the languages 140 of the widely-spread men. Let then each hero command those of whom he is the chief: but do thou, marshalling the citizens, be leader of them."
Thus she said. But Hector was not ignorant of the voice of the goddess; and he instantly dismissed the council, and they rushed to arms. And the portals were opened, and the troops rushed out, both foot and horse; and much tumult arose.
Now there is a certain lofty mound before the city, far in the plain, that may be run round, 141 which men indeed call Batiea, but the immortals, the tomb of nimbly-springing Myrinna. There the Trojans and their allies were then marshalled separately.
Footnote 139: (return) On the height of the ancient tombs, see my note on Odyss. ii. p. 21, n. 35, ed. Bohn.
Footnote 140: (return) Cf. iv. 437, where this variety of dialects is again mentioned, and Müller, Greek Lit. i. § 4.
Footnote 141: (return) I.e. standing clear on all sides.
The Trojans, in the first place, great helmet-nodding Hector, son of Priam, commanded. With him far the most numerous and the bravest troops were armed, ardent with their spears.
The Dardanians, in the next place, Æneas, the gallant son of Anchises, commanded (him to Anchises the divine goddess Venus bore, couched with him a mortal on the tops of Ida): not alone, but with him the two sons of Antenor, Archelochus and Acamas, skilled in every kind of fight.
But the Trojans who inhabited Zeleia, 142 beneath the lowest foot of Ida, wealthy and drinking the dark water of Æsepus, these Pandarus, the valiant son of Lycaon, commanded, to whom even Apollo himself gave his bow.
Footnote 142: (return) Cf. iv. 119. "The inhabitants of Zeleia worshipped Apollo, and Zeleia was also called Lycia; facts which show that there was a real connection between the name of Lycia and the worship of Apollo, and that it was the worship of Apollo which gave the name to this district of Troy, as it had done to the country of the Solymi."--Müller, Dor. vol. i. p. 248.
Those who possessed Adrestæ, and the city of Apæsus, and possessed Pityea, and the lofty mountain Tercia; these Adrastus and linen-mailed Amphius commanded, the two sons of Percosian Merops, who was skilled in prophecy above all others; nor was he willing to suffer his sons to go into the man-destroying fight. But they did not obey him, for the fates of sable death impelled them.
Those who dwelt around Percote and Practius, and possessed Sestos and Abydos, and divine Arisbe; these Asius, son of Hyrtacus, prince of heroes, commanded: Asius, son of Hyrtacus, whom large and fiery steeds bore from Arisbe, from the river Selleïs.
Hippothoüs led the tribes of the spear-skilled Pelasgians, of those who inhabited fertile Larissa; Hippothoüs and Pylæus of the line of Mars, the two sons of Pelasgian Lethus, son of Teutamus, commanded these.
But Acamus and the hero Piroüs led the Thracians, all that the rapidly flowing Hellespont confines within.
Euphemus, son of heaven-descended Trœzenus, son of Ceas, was commander of the warlike Cicones.
But Pyræchmes led the Pæonians, who use darts fastened by a thong, far from Amydon, from wide-flowing Axius, from Axius, whose stream is diffused the fairest over the earth.
But the sturdy heart of Pylæmenes from the Eneti, whence is the race of wild mules, led the Paphlagonians, those who possessed Cytorus, and dwelt around Sesamus, and inhabited the famous dwellings around the river Parthenius, and Cromna, Ægialus, and the lofty Erythine hills.
But Hodius and Epistrophus, far from Alybe, whence is a rich product of silver, commanded the Halizonians. Chromis and the augur Ennomus commanded the Mysians, but he avoided not sable death through his skill in augury, for he was laid low by the hands of Achilles in the river, where he made havoc of the other Trojans also.
Phorcys and godlike Ascanius far from Ascania, led the Phrygians, and they eagerly desired to engage in battle.
But Mesthles and Antiphus led the Mæonians, both sons of Talæmeneus, whom the lake Gygæa bore; these led the Mæonians, born beneath Mount Tmolus.
Nastes commanded the barbarous-voiced Carians, who possessed Miletus, and the leaf-topped mountain of Pethiri, and the streams of Mæander, and the lofty tops of Mycale. These indeed Amphimachus and Nastes commanded, Nastes and Amphimachus the famous sons of Nomion, who foolish went to battle decked with gold like a young girl 143; nor did this by any means ward off bitter death; but he was laid low by the hands of the swift-footed son of Æacus at the river, and warlike Achilles took away the gold.
Footnote 143: (return) It was customary for virgins to wear golden ornaments in great profusion. See Porson on Eur. Hec. 153.
But Sarpedon and gallant Glaucus from Lycia afar, from the eddying Xanthus, led the Lycians.
BOOK THE THIRD
ARGUMENT.
Just as the armies are on the point of engaging, Paris proposes a single combat,
