Achilles Among the Dead (Homer’s The Odyssey, Book 11 – Part 15)

Even so he spake, but I answered him saying, "Son of Atreus, wherefore dost thou ask me straitly of these things? Nay, I know not at all whether he be alive or dead.

It is ill to speak words light as wind." Thus we twain stood sorrowing, holding sad discourse, while big tears fell fast.

And therewithal came the soul of Achilles, son of Peleus, and of Patroclus, and of noble Antilochus, and of Aias, who in face and form was the goodliest of all the Danaans, after the noble son of Peleus.

And the spirit of the son of Aeacus, fleet of foot, knew me again, and making lament spake to me winged words, "Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, man overbold, what new deed and hardier than this wilt thou devise in thy heart? How durst thou come down to the house of Hades, where dwell the senseless dead and the phantoms of men outworn?" So he spake, but I answered him, "Achilles, son of Peleus, mightiest far of the Achaeans, I am come hither to seek Teiresias, if he may tell me any counsel how I may come to rugged Ithaca.

For not yet have I come nigh the Achaean land, nor set foot on mine own soil, but I am still in evil case.

While as for thee, Achilles, none other than thou wast heretofore the most blessed of men, nor shall any be hereafter.

For of old in the days of thy life, we Argives gave thee one honor with the gods.

And now thou art a great prince here among the dead.

Wherefore let not thy death be any grief to thee, Achilles." We are just getting a nonstop, uh, parade of heroes and figures of Greek mythology here.

Achilles, none other than Achilles of the Iliad fame, has arisen from the underworld to speak to Odysseus.