Achilles Chooses Life Over Glory (Homer’s The Odyssey, Book 11 – Part 16)

Even so I spake, and he straightway answered me, and said: Nay, speak not comfortably to me of death, O great Odysseus.

Rather I would live on ground as the hireling of another with a landless man who had no great livelihood than bear sway among all the dead that be departed.

But come, tell me tidings of that lordly son of mine.

Did he follow to the war to be a leader or not? And tell me of noble Peleus, if thou hast heard aught.

Is he yet held in worship among the Myrmidons, or do they dishonor him from Hellas to Phthia, for that old age binds him hand and foot? For I am no longer his champion under the sun, so mighty a man as once I was, when in wide Troy I slew the best of the host, and scoured the Argives.

Ah, could I but come for an hour to my father's house, as then I was, so I would make my might and hands invincible to be hateful to many and one of those who do him despite and keep him from his honor.

Even so he spake, and I answered him, saying: As for noble Peleus, verily I have heard naught of him.

But concerning thy dear son, Neoptolemus, I will tell thee all the truth, according to thy word.

It was I that led him up out of the Skyros in my good hollow ship in the wake of the goodly grieved Achaeans.

Now oft as we took counsel around Troy town, he was ever the first to speak, and no word missed the mark.

The godlike Nestor and I alone surpassed him.

But whensoever we Achaeans did battle on the plain of Troy, he never tarried behind in the throng or the press of men, but ran out far before us all, yielding to none in that might of his.

And many men he slew in warfare dread, but I could not tell of all or name their names, even all the host he slew in scurrying the Argives.

But ah, how he smote with the sword that son of Telephus, the hero Eurypylus, and many Ceteans of his company were slain around him, by reason of a woman's bribe.

He truly was the comeliest man that I ever saw, next to goodly Memnon.

And again when we, the best of the Argives, were about to go down into the horse which Epeus wrought, and the charge of all was laid on me, both to open the door of our good ambush and to shut the same, then did the other princes and counselors of the Danaans wipe away the tears, and the limbs of each one trembled beneath him.

But never once did I see thy son's fair face wax pale, nor did he wipe the tears from his cheeks.

But he besought me often to let him go forth from the horse, and kept handling his sword hilt and his heavy bronze-shod spear, and he was set on mischief against the Trojans.

But after we sacked the steep city of Priam, he embarked unscathed with his share of the spoil, and with a noble prize.

He was not smitten with the sharp spear, and got no wound in close fight.

And many such chances there be in war, for Ares rageth confusedly.