Togail na Tebe = The Thebiad of Statius : the Irish text

THE THEBAIDbands of the Epidaurians ;and with him also came good-spiritedsoldiers of the city of Dyme, and close well-drilled bands of thecity of Pylos, whereof was Nestor, son of Neleus, son of Poseidon,head of Greek wisdom ; and he was young then, yet though hewas young, he refused to go and sack Thebes at that time. ButHippomedon through the heroism of his hand moved all thepeople of the city with him unto the war. And thus was Hippomedonwith a beautiful brass helmet on his head with threeequally lofty helmet-crests, so that it was like snow for itsexceeding whiteness on hishead, and the whole body of thathero was girt with arms. For thus was he with a glitteringflaming round shield upon him, with figures of the children ofDanaus and of Belus. And thus were these two brothers germanwith an angry feud between them. Fifty daughters had Danaus,and Belus a number equal to that of sons : and Danaus said tohis daughters : " I shall give you to the sons of Belus, and doye slay them in the night." And thus it was done save by onewife only, and she did not slay her husband, to wit, Lynceus.And there were figures of that band, and in many a settingmany other figures in that shield depicted on it. And it waslike as if the woods were shaking and the excellent easilytraversed hills were humbled under the feet of that hero as heshook his shield among the gatherings before delivering anattack. And who is the man who could number those warlikenations, the battle-champions, and the many arms of those highspiritedsoldiers ? But further, three hundred young dexterousboys came from Hercules' city, to wit, Tiryns ; and there, too,came along with him Agylleus, son of Hercules, from the samecity along with Hippomedon. And though the inhabitants ofthat city were fewer, they were taller and more veteran for atime of conflict. And no long thonged javelins for hurling werecarried by that band, or steel swords for mangling in battle, butonly the spoils of mangling lions, and the heavy stems of fir93