“Illustrious son of Peleus, if indeed Thou wilt return, nor carest to repel From our swift galleys the consuming fire, Because thou art offended, how shall I, Dear child, remain without thee? When at first Peleus, the aged knight, from Phthia sent Thee, yet a boy, to Agamemnon’s aid, Unskilled as then thou wert in cruel war And martial councils⁠—where men also gain A great renown⁠—he sent me with thee, charged To teach thee both, that so thou mightst become In words an orator, in warlike deeds An actor. Therefore, my beloved child, Not willingly shall I remain behind; Not even though a god should promise me That, overcoming the decays of age, I might become a beardless youth again, As when from Hellas and its companies Of lovely maids I came a fugitive, And left Amyntor, son of Ormenus⁠— My father⁠—angry with me for the sake Of a fair-tressed wanton, whom he loved, Treating my mother basely. To my knees My mother came and prayed me ceaselessly,