Page 42 - the-iliad

hardship, he came to Rhodes, where the people divided
into three communities, according to their tribes, and were
dearly loved by Jove, the lord of gods and men; wherefore
the son of Saturn showered down great riches upon them.
And Nireus brought three ships from Syme—Nireus,
who was the handsomest man that came up under Ilius of
all the Danaans after the son of Peleus—but he was a man
of no substance, and had but a small following.
And those that held Nisyrus, Crapathus, and Casus, with
Cos, the city of Eurypylus, and the Calydnian islands, these
were commanded by Pheidippus and Antiphus, two sons of
King Thessalus the son of Hercules. And with them there
came thirty ships.
Those again who held Pelasgic Argos, Alos, Alope, and
Trachis; and those of Phthia and Hellas the land of fair wom-
en, who were called Myrmidons, Hellenes, and Achaeans;
these had fifty ships, over which Achilles was in command.
But they now took no part in the war, inasmuch as there
was no one to marshal them; for Achilles stayed by his ships,
furious about the loss of the girl Briseis, whom he had taken
from Lyrnessus at his own great peril, when he had sacked
Lyrnessus and Thebe, and had overthrown Mynes and Epi-
strophus, sons of king Evenor, son of Selepus. For her sake
Achilles was still grieving, but ere long he was again to join
them.
And those that held Phylace and the flowery meadows
of Pyrasus, sanctuary of Ceres; Iton, the mother of sheep;
Antrum upon the sea, and Pteleum that lies upon the grass
lands. Of these brave Protesilaus had been captain while he

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