Greek Texts & Translations

13. The Euboeans excelled in standing ^note fight, which was also called close fight, ^note and fight hand to hand. ^note They used spears extended at length according to the words of the poet; warriors eager to break through breastplates with extended ashen spears. ^note The missile weapons were perhaps of different kinds, as, probably, was the ashen spear of Pelion, which, as the poet says, Achilles alone knew how to hurl. ^note
Il. xix. 389. When the poet says, I strike farther with a spear than any other person with an arrow, ^note
Od. viii. 229. he means with a missile spear. They, too, who engage in single combat, are first introduced as using missile spears, and then having recourse to swords. But they who engage in single combat do not use the sword only, but a spear also held in the hand, as the poet describes it, he wounded him with a polished spear, pointed with brass, and unbraced his limbs. ^note He represents the Euboeans as fighting in this manner; but he describes the Locrian mode as contrary to this; It was not their practice to engage in close fight, but they followed him to Ilium with their bows, clothed in the pliant fleece of the sheep. ^note An answer of an oracle is commonly repeated, which was returned to the Aegienses; a Thessalian horse, a Lacedaemonian woman, and the men who drink the water of the sacred Arethusa, meaning the Chalcideans as superior to all other people, for Arethusa belongs to them. 14

At present the rivers of Euboea are the Cereus and Neleus. The cattle which drink of the water of the former become white, and those that drink of the water of the latter become black. We have said that a similar effect is produced by the water of the Crathis. ^note 15

As some of the Euboeans, on their return from Troy, were driven out of their course among the Illyrians; pursued their journey homewards through Macedonia, and stopped in the neighbourhood of Edessa; having assisted the people in a war, who had received them hospitably; they founded a city,