might tell me by what means To reach my rugged Ithaca again; For yet have I not trod my native coast, Nor even have drawn nigh to Greece. I meet Misfortunes everywhere. But as for thee, Achilles, no man lived before thy time, Nor will hereafter live, more fortunate Than thou—for while alive we honored thee As if thou wert a god, and now again In these abodes thou rulest o’er the dead; Therefore, Achilles, shouldst thou not be
“I spake; Achilles quickly answered me:—
‘Noble Ulysses, speak not thus of death, As if thou couldst console me. I would be A laborer on earth, and serve for hire Some man of mean estate, who makes scant cheer, Rather than reign o’er all who have gone down To death. Speak rather of my noble son, Whether or not he yet has joined the wars To fight among the foremost of the host. And tell me also if thou aught hast heard Of blameless Peleus—whether he be yet Honored among his many Myrmidons, Or do they hold him now in small esteem In Hellas and in Phthia, since old age Unnerves his hands and feet, and I no more Am there, beneath the sun, to give him aid, Strong as I was on the wide plain of Troy, When warring for the Achaian cause I smote That valiant people. Could I come again, But for a moment, with my former strength, Into my father’s palace, I would make That strength and these unconquerable hands A terror to the men who do him wrong, And rob him of the honor due a king.’
“He spake; I answered: > ‘Nothing have I heard Of blameless Peleus, but I will relate The truth concerning Neoptolemus, Thy son, as