αἰ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ. καὶ Ἀθηναίη: καὶ Ἄπολλον.
ἡβῷμ' ὡς ὅτ' ἐπ' ὠκυρόω Κελά´δοντι μάχοντο
ἀγρόμενοι Πύλιοί τε καὶ Ἁρκάδες ἐγχεσίμωροι
Φειᾶς παρ τείχεσσιν. Ϊαρδάνου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα:
τοῖσι δ`' Ἐρευθαλίων, πρόμος ἵ̈στατο ἰ̈σόθεος φὼς
τεύχε' ἔχων ὤμοισιν Ἀρηϊθόοιο ἄνακτος:
δίου Ἀρηϊθόου, τὸν ἐπίκλησιν κορυνήτην
ἄνδρες κίκλησκον, καλλίζωνοί τε γυναῖκες.
οὕνεκ' ὰρ οὐ τόξοισι μαχέσκετο. δουρί τε μακρῷ.
ἀλλὰ σιδηρείῃ κορύνῃ ῥήγνυσκε φάλαγγας:
τὸν Λυκόοργος ἔπεφνε δόλῳ: οὔ τι κράτεΐ γε
στεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ: ὅθ' ὰρ οὐ κορύνη οἱ ὄλεθρον
χραῖσμε σιδηρείη: πρὶν γὰρ Λυκόοργος ὑποφθὰς
δουρὶ μέσον περόνησεν. ὁ δ' ὕπτιος ούδει ἐρεισθη:
τεύχεα δ`' ἐξενάριξε. τά οἱ πόρε χάλκεος Ἄρης:
καὶ τὰ μὲν αὐτὸς ἔπειτα φόρει μετὰ μῶλον Ἄρηος:
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Λυκόοργος ἐνι μεγάροισιν ἐγήρᾱ:
δῶκε δ' Ἐρευθαλίωνι φίλῳ θεράποντι φορῆναι:
τοῦ ὅ γε τεύχε' ἔχων. προκαλίζετο πάντας ἀρίστους:
οἱ δὲ μάλ' ἐτρόμεον καὶ ἐδείδισαν. οὐδέ τις ἔτλη:
ἀλλ' ἐμὲ θυμὸς ἀνῆκε πολυτλήμων πολεμίζειν
θάρσει ᾧ: γενεῇ δὲ νεώτατος ἔσκον ἁπάντων:
καὶ μαχόμην οἱ ἐγὼ, δῶκεν δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀθήνη:
τὸν δὴ μήκιστον καὶ κάρτιστον κτάνον ἄνδρα:
πολλὸς γάρ τις ἔκειτο παρήορος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα:
εἴθ' ὡς ἡβώοιμι: βίη δέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη:
τῶ κε τάχ' ἀντήσειε μάχης κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ:
ὑμέων δ' οἵ περ έασιν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν:
οὐδ' οἳ προφρονέως μέμαθ' Ἕκτορος ἀντίον ἐλθεῖν:
"I would, O father Zeus and Athene and Apollo, that I were young as when beside swift-flowing Celadon the Pylians and Arcadians that rage with spears gathered together and fought beneath the walls of Pheia about the streams of Iardanus. On their side stood forth Ereuthalion as champion, a godlike man, bearing upon his shoulders the armour of king Areithous, goodly Areithous that men and fair-girdled women were wont to call the mace-man, for that he fought not with bow or long spear, but with a mace of iron brake the battalions. Him Lycurgus slew by guile and nowise by might, in a narrow way, where his mace of iron saved him not from destruction. For ere that might be Lycurgus came upon him at unawares and pierced him through the middle with his spear, and backward was he hurled upon the earth; and Lycurgus despoiled him of the armour that brazen Ares had given him. This armour he thereafter wore himself amid the turmoil of Ares, but when Lycurgus grew old within his halls he gave it to Ereuthalion, his dear squire, to wear. And wearing this armour did Ereuthalion challenge all the bravest; but they trembled sore and were afraid, nor had any man courage to abide him. But me did my enduring heart set on to battle with him in my hardihood, though in years I was youngest of all. So fought I with him, and Athene gave me glory. The tallest was he and the strongest man that ever I slew: as a huge sprawling bulk he lay stretched this way and that. Would I were now as young and my strength as firm, then should Hector of the flashing helm soon find one to face him. Whereas ye that are chieftains of the whole host of the Achaeans, even ye are not minded with a ready heart to meet Hector face to face."
