1. The battlefield was stripped of all lords
So the energetic Ajaxes stabbed and struck

2. From Symos all the way to Xanthus
The clashing of swords and thrusting of spears

3. Ajax was first of the soldiers to strike
Splitting the ranks of the enemies

4. Relieving the first anxiety and distress
By slaying Astyoche's son, great Akamas

5. Fiercest in battle, mighty in strength
A stubborn, fearsome giant of a man

6. Ajax pierced him with his spear
Plunging through the breast of great Triketes

7. Splitting to the forehead bone
He fell dead, eyes tightly shut

8. Next was Xanthus' son, fair-haired Thoas
Dweller of lofty Arisbe, generous and noble

9. Along the highway he would roam
Aiding people and hosting guests

10. Above the road he built his house
To honor visitors in proximity

11. He helped but met no aid
And found no spear turned his way

12. Slain by Tisander's sword
And his servant Kalesius with him

13. And so fell Phylakos
By Fyrilampes who captained the fifth legion

14. Charging to attack Asios and Phidas
Grandsons of Hyllus, ally of the Most High

15. In secret Bukleion was raised
By a daughter whom his father loved

16. And when grown, the graybeard
Was loved by one of the water nymphs

17. His heart turned to Barbata
And his love left the twin sisters

18. The son of Mekiste slew them both
And took their weapons for his own use

19. Phyleus shot Asteile
While Eudius wounded Mydon with a spear

20. Lycothas charged, stabbing Phereklos
And Tekmôr sent Ariatos to his death

21. Asteropaios, vassal of vassals, killed
Stout-hearted Ilioneus, a mighty warrior

22. Philacos turned to flee for his life
But met his doom by Lutous' spear

23. And Melanthios roped Oreibates
While Adrestos alive he dragged behind

24. The Trojan army with its wrath and violence
Surged against them at the city gates

25. Adrestos' fleeing horses
Stampeded wildly over the plains

26. Waving a branch of oakwood
His chariot rattled along unguided

27. Crushed was its yoke, the steeds slipped free
Charging now far into the land

28. Flat on the ground is Adrestos since
Facing his stalled cart and tumbling

29. There Maeonius reached and found
As he attempted now to run

30. With his long spear and gleaming sword
He fell to his knees, suddenly meek

31. Saying - Spare me, accept my offer
My father's treasures safely stored

32. Iron and gold and glittering silver
Spare me, and guided to your ship

33. Those riches shall be shown
He gestured toward the vessel to convey him

34. But his brother parted through the ranks
To shame him, though he meant no wrong

35. Curse you Maeonius, why show them grace?
What dishonor have they not shown our race?

36. What grief and woe to us have they not sown?
Let them perish, young and old crone!

37. Let no soul survive, no body stand
Not marked by time, each monument in the sand

38. With fury he berated Maeonius
While Adrestos pushed against him with full force

39. And in his breast Agnomennon thrust
His spear to pierce his vital core

40. Trampling his chest, he pinned him down
As Nestor called to press the attack

41. Myrmidons, kin of Areas, lord of toil
Not one among you now shall recoil

42. From plunder and spoils - take what you can
Return triumphant to the ship each man

43. Destroy the men, leave vacant the martial field
That access and bounty shall be revealed

44. Their spirits raged at his rousing cry
As though they'd scatter and flee awry

45. Had it not been for Hektor's brother
Helenus, wisest of augurs

46. He came to Hektor and Aeneas
Warning them as he saw the rout

47. Since bearing the worst calamities
And leading each campaign are ye

48. With courage against harsh events
And wise counsels in dire events

49. Hold the troops by the fortifications
Lest in fear of annihilation

50. They should retreat to the women's quarters
Shaming themselves before their slaughters

51. Either we show resilience
Foiling our gleeful enemies

52. Or when both sides in battle thrill
We'll stand and defend the parapet still

53. No escape from what fate necessitates
However dismal our desolate states

54. And if all commit with shared will
Hektor, run swiftly, run full tilt

55. To our mother, goddess Trivia
Take the noble ladies, she'll lead ya

56. To the temple atop the citadel
Of Pallas, hastily propel

57. Opening the gates, let them kneel inside
Bearing the finest veils they hide

58. And as calamity draws nigh
Twelve ladies to immolate, cry

59. Though she spares cities from harm
And curbs the tears of women and babes

60. Protecting us with refuge secure
Blocking the doom that shall us lure

61. To thwart Diomedes' razing fury
Portent of ruin and pillars unsteady

62. Yes, I think him our worst foe
Fiercest in strength and might to throw

63. Though the goddess bore a noble son
See him burning, raging on

64. None can equal his fiery wake
Nor match his power, the toll he'll take

65. He barely spoke when Hektor
Sped away in alarmed fervor

66. Sandals slapping foot to calf
As to Trivia's shrine he raced off

67. Glaukos broke into the ranks of men
And so did Diomedes, seeking them

68. Meeting amid the hosts in the melee's swell
Glaukos called out, questioning him as well

69. Who are you, o strongest of men?
Never before have we met in the din

70. Though now I know you best them all
Since you have no fear of my fall

71. A curse on fathers if no son is born
For grief shall surely cause them to mourn

72. If you descend from the deathless ones
Speak truth and I shall hasten home

73. Let those who sucked the wine god wither
On Nysa's cliffs, stone renders them tither

74. Each drunkard god lives blessed beyond
Save Lykurgus - doom proved his own

75. When Zephyrus witnessed victory graced
To Dionysus, whom he disgraced

76. Whipping his nurses over the stone
Until they dropped their wands and fled

77. Dionysus plunged into the sea
Where Thetis tucked him safely under her

78. So perish each presumptuous god
Far from the blissful, nectared abode

79. I seek no glory, no shining deeds
The wise find rapture, rest from their needs

80. If you but feed on the dust of earth
Then come, taste destruction by my hand's worth

81. Why ask my lineage and breed?
We are as leaves on the trees indeed

82. Some are scattered lifeless by the wind
Others still growing on healthy stems

83. Each year withered plants are replaced
By new blooms in the woods and glades

84. As generations arise and expire
The old passes, the young sprouts higher

85. But if you wish to know me, I descend
From a place and race of great legend

86. For Gyphera is a land proclaimed
On the fringes of Argos, steeped in fame

87. Where Sisyphus ruled, shrewdest of men
Scion of Aeolus, exalted ken

88. To him Glaukos was a son stolen
As Bellerophontes, who rose swollen

89. With beauty and battle skills supreme
Beyond all men, if truth be seen

90. But Sisyphus, seizing power alone
Drove him away from the throne

91. And Sisyphus' wife tried to seduce
Noble Bellerophontes, who refused

92. Scornful of dishonor, he rejected her advance
So vile Anteia devised a vengeful stance

93. Reporting to Sisyphus claims of threats
Kill me, she said, or the upstart

94. Deceitful Sisyphus filled with ire
Sent him to perish, as the letter ordered dire

95. To the king of Lycia, hospitality proferred
But with secret designs for death conferred

96. To slay the innocent guest prescribed
A Chimera on the mountain peaks maligned

97. With head of lion and snake for a tail
Torso of goat on its pasture trail

98. From its mouth it spewed flames to fan
Incinerating all except the deathless clan

99. But trusting the exalted gods
It and all others he overcame with aplomb

100. Next, Sisyphus demanded newly
Slaying the Solymi of lofty brow

101. And thirdly, the horrific Amazon's quick death
Whose slaughter stopped his vital breath

102. But no sooner commanded than defied
Arms folded in failure, plans awry

103. Seeing his might, the king was shaken
Exalting, marrying his daughter forthwith

104. The kingdom shared, the people's love redoubled
His glory and stature thereby trebled

105. Granting him great riches
Fine orchards and ample lands

106. To Bellerophontes were born two sons of worth
Isandros and Hippolochos high of birth

107. And Laodameia, the finely formed
Zeus fancied and took her as his own

108. From their line came Sarpedon the sublime
Though Bellerophontes met tragic time

109. Wandering, spurning human company
Far from people, friends, or family

110. Amongst the deathless, some act awry
Thus fallen, was he scorned on high

111. Isandros by Ares met his death
In the Solymi's fateful martial breath

112. And Laodameia - Artemis shot her dead
No longer counting her among the living's thread

113. Hippolochus survived for my father's line
Who charged me to march and meet each sign

114. To raise my ancestors' proud banners
Attaining their glory, augmenting their honors

115. For they shook each age with feats abounding
In Lycia and Gyphera, victories astounding

116. So you see, I have lineage accounting me
My roots and branches, as you asked to see

117. Satisfied, Diomedes smiled pleasantly
Anchoring his weapon, no threat intently

118. Calling him friend and embraced unfeigned
Their pact sealed, outstanding faith obtained

119. Fair Glaukos, knowing Zeus blessed with equilibrium
Took bronze, and gave back gold in equal portion

120. His armor's worth hundred oxen shown
While Diomedes' only nine had grown