All the below by Archilochus, who admittedly lived long before the EB timeframe. He was a mercenary.
"I don't like a tall general nor one in braids
or proud with his curls or part shaved under the chin,
but for me he should be short and around his knees
bowlegged to behold, standing firm on his feet, full of heart."
see link, p.29, for this fragment in Greek
http://community.middlebury.edu/~harris/Archilochus.pdf
"Not many bowstrings will be stretched nor slingshot
flying thick, when Ares makes his killing field
On the plain. Then it will be the grievous work of the sword.
They are the Lords of this kind of battle ---
The spear-famed Lords of Euboea."
same link p.33.
"Some Thracian is delighted with the shield, which beside a bush
I left unwillingly, an excellent and perfect armament.
Myself I saved! Why should that shield be important to me?
The hell with it! I'll get another again, just as good."
Ibid p.38
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