Seba.Health

The Iliad 23.287–301

The Iliad 23.287–301
and after him upsprang Tydeus' son, mighty Diomedes, and led beneath the yoke the horses of Tros, even them that on a time he had taken from Aeneas, albeit Apollo snatched away Aeneas' self; and after him uprose Atreus' son, fair-haired Menelaus, sprung from Zeus, and led beneath the yoke swift steeds, Aethe, Agamemnon's mare, and his own horse Podargus. The mare had Anchises' son Echepolus given to Agamemnon without price, to the end that he might not follow him to windy Ilios, but might abide at home and take his joy; for great wealth had Zeus given him, and he dwelt in spaclous Sicyon: her Menelaus led beneath the yoke, and exceeding fain was she of the race. And fourth Antilochus made ready his fair-maned horses, he the peerless son of Nestor, the king high of heart, the son of Neleus; and bred at Pylos were the swift-footed horses that drew his car. And his father drew nigh and gave counsel
ὣς φάτο Πηλεΐδης, ταχέες δʼ ἱππῆες ἄγερθεν. ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Εὔμηλος Ἀδμήτου φίλος υἱός, ὃς ἱπποσύνῃ ἐκέκαστο· τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης, ἵππους δὲ Τρῳοὺς ὕπαγε ζυγόν, οὕς ποτʼ ἀπηύρα Αἰνείαν, ἀτὰρ αὐτὸν ὑπεξεσάωσεν Ἀπόλλων. τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ὦρτο ξανθὸς Μενέλαος διογενής, ὑπὸ δὲ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ὠκέας ἵππους Αἴθην τὴν Ἀγαμεμνονέην τὸν ἑόν τε Πόδαργον· τὴν Ἀγαμέμνονι δῶκʼ Ἀγχισιάδης Ἐχέπωλος δῶρʼ, ἵνα μή οἱ ἕποιθʼ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ τέρποιτο μένων· μέγα γάρ οἱ ἔδωκε Ζεὺς ἄφενος, ναῖεν δʼ γʼ ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Σικυῶνι· τὴν γʼ ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἦγε μέγα δρόμου ἰσχανόωσαν. Ἀντίλοχος δὲ τέταρτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθʼ ἵππους,
Lattimore commentary
A minor but illuminating detail, revealing that at least one potential recruit could buy his way out of service at Troy with a gift to the commander.
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