A Friend Consigned to Death

    Akhilleus. Never was I uncared for

    in life but am in death. Accord me burial

    in all haste： let me pass the gates of Death.

    Shades that are images of used-up men

    motion me away， will not receive me

    among their hosts beyond the river. I wander

    about the wide gates and the hall of Death.

    Give me your hand. I sorrow.

    When thou shalt have allotted¹ me my fire

    I will not fare here from the dark again.

    As living men we'll no more sit apart

    from our companions， making plans. The day

    of wrath² appointed for me at my birth

    engulfed³ and took me down. Thou too， Akhilleus，

    face iron destiny， godlike as thou art，

    to die under the wall of highborn Trojans.

    One more message， one behest， I leave thee：

    not to inter⁴ my bones apart from thine

    but close together， as we grew together，

    in thy family's hall. Menoitios

    from Opoeis had brought me， under a cloud，

    a boy still， on the day I killed the son

    of Lord Amphídamas——though I wished it not——

    in childish anger over a game of dice⁵.

    Pêleus， master of horse， adopted me

    and reared me kindly⁶， naming me your squire⁷.

    So may the same urn⁸ hide our bones， the one

    of gold your gracious mother gave."