“Do not speak to me soothingly of death, glorious Odysseus. I would rather be a laborer and serve another man—a man with no land and little to live on—than to be king over all the perished dead. But come, tell me of my son. Did he follow me to war to become a leader, or not?”
“‘Don’t talk around the fact that I, in fact, am dead, charming Odysseus. I’d rather work as a hired hand for someone else, some man without a speck of land and very little means, than be the ruler over all these lifeless dead. But come, tell me about my fine son, whether or not he has gone to war and is a leader. And tell me of Peleus, who has no equal, if you’ve heard anything. Does he still maintain his honor among the Myrmidon people, or do they now dishonor him throughout Hellas and Phthia, because old age is holding him down, hand and foot, since I am not up there, under the sun’s rays, to protect him, as I was before when I was fighting for the Argives and killed the very best of the others on the Trojan plains.
‘Don’t give me that facile consolation about death, Odysseus, with your shiny words. I’d rather be on earth and do menial labor for another man, even a man with next to nothing himself, who’s barely scratching out a living, than be the ruler who holds sway over all the withered, wasted dead. But come, tell me the story of that glorious son of mine; did he follow in my footsteps to become the preeminent man in the war, or not? And tell about the irreproachable Peleus if you’ve heard any news of him; does he still hold honor among the multitudes of Myrmidons, or do they look on him with disdain in Phthia and all through Greece now, because old age has him tied down hand and foot? For I’m not there under the bright rays of the sun to be a help and support to him the way I once was to the Argives, defending them on the wide plains of Troy by mowing down hordes of the enemy’s best men.
“Glorious Odysseus: don’t try to reconcile me to my dying. I’d rather serve as another man’s labourer, as a poor peasant without land, and be alive on Earth, than be lord of all the lifeless dead. Give me news of my son, instead. Did he follow me to war, and become a leader? Tell me, too, what you know of noble Peleus. Is he honoured still among the Myrmidons, or because old age ties him hand and foot do Hellas and Phthia fail to honour him. I am no longer up there in the sunlight to help him with that strength I had on Troy’s wide plain, where I killed the flower of their host to defend the Argives.
‘Ah, do not speak lightly of death, Odysseus, and do not rub salt into the wound of my own. Note this: I would rather be the most common slave in the fields for some landless peasant than rule these lifeless dead as their king. No wonder Hades wears such a gloomy look. There is nothing to them but hollow moanings and aimless ramblings. But enough of this melancholy. Give me word about that son of mine. Tell me: Did he follow me to Troy and take a hand in tumbling those topless towers? Do the Myrmidons hold him in such esteem as they did, or is he sneered at in Hellas and Phthie now that age may have twisted his bones and withered his flesh? (For such is the way of mortals that the heroes of today become the forgotten of tomorrow.) I fear for him since I no longer walk in the sunlight to protect him as I once did whole armies, yes, even to laying low the champion of the enemy upon the fields of Troy.
“Do not talk to me lightly of death, glorious Odysseus. I had rather be above earth and a labourer for another, for a man without land of his own and little to live on, than be king over all the lifeless dead. But come, tell me now the news of my proud son – did he follow me to prominence in war, or not? And tell me too if you have heard anything of the noble Peleus, whether he is still held in honour among the host of Myrmidons, or whether they slight him now throughout Hellas and Phthia because old age has taken hold of his hands and feet. If only I were there under the light of the sun to protect him, the man I was when fighting for the Argives in the broad land of Troy and killing the best of the Trojan army.
‘Never try to reconcile me to death, glorious Odysseus. I should choose, so I might live on earth, to serve as the hireling of another, some landless man with hardly enough to live on, rather than to be lord over all the dead that have perished. But come, tell me tidings of my son, that lordly youth, whether or not he followed to the war to be a leader. And tell me of flawless Peleus, if you have heard anything, whether he still has honor among the host of the Myrmidons, or men do him dishonor throughout Hellas and Phthia, because old age binds him hand and foot. For I am not there to bear him aid beneath the rays of the sun in such strength as once was mine in wide Troy, when I slew the best of their army in defence of the Argives.
‘Do not try to talk death away, glorious Odysseus: I would prefer to be on earth, as another’s serf, in the household of a man without land and with nothing much to live on, than be king of all the dead that have perished. But come, tell me what there is to say about my proud son, whether he followed to war to be a leader, or not. Tell me of the excellent Peleus, if you have any knowledge of him, whether he still holds <a position of> honour among the many Myrmidons, or whether they hold him in dishonour throughout Hellas and Phthia because his hands and feet are in the grip of old age. If only I were there to help, in the sunlight, being just as I was once when in broad Troy I killed their best people in protecting the Argives
‘“And do not you make light of death, illustrious Odysseus,” he replied. “I would rather work the soil as a serf on hire to some landless impoverished peasant than be King of all these lifeless dead. Come, give me news of that fine son of mine. Did he follow me to the war to play a leading part or not? And tell me anything you have heard of the noble Peleus. Does the Myrmidon nation still do him homage, or do they dishonour him in Hellas and Phthie because old age has made a cripple of him? For I am not up there in the sunlight to protect him as I once protected the Argives and laid the champions of the enemy low on the broad plains of Troy.
“Odysseus, do not gloss over death to me. I would rather be above ground still and labouring for some poor portionless man, than be lord over all the lifeless dead. But tell me now all that you know of my princely son. Did he follow me to the wars to become a chieftain, or did he not? And tell me also what news you have of noble Peleus. Is he honoured still among the thronging Myrmidons, or do they despise him in Hellas and in Phthia because old age has fettered his hands and feet? If only I might return to help him, return to the sunlight as once I was when in the wide land of Troy I championed the Argives and slew the bravest of the foe!
‘Do not be commending death to me, glorious Odysseus. I would rather be on earth as a hired laborer for a landless man who had slight means for living than to be king over all the dead who have died. But come! Tell me about my admirable son, whether he followed us to war to be a leader or not. And tell me about royal Peleus, if you have any news of him, whether he is still held in honor among the cities of the Myrmidons, or is slighted throughout Hellas and Phthia because old age now grips his hands and feet. I am not now his defender in the land where the sun shines, even though I once was such a person as to slay the bravest people in spacious Troy while defeating the Argives.
‘“My lord Odysseus,” he replied, “spare me your praise of Death. Put me on earth again, and I would rather be a serf in the house of some landless man, with little enough for himself to live on, than king of all these dead men that have done with life. But enough. Tell me what news there is of that fine son of mine. Did he follow me to the war and play a leading part or not? And tell me anything you have heard of the noble Peleus. Does the Myrmidon nation still do him homage, or do they look down on him in Hellas and Phthie now that old age has made a cripple of him? For I am not up there in the sunlight to protect him with the mighty arms that once did battle for the Argives and laid the champions of the enemy low on the broad plains of Troy.
‘Don’t bepraise death to me, Odysseus. I would rather be plowman to a yeoman farmer on a small holding than lord Paramount in the kingdom of the dead.
“‘But do tell me something about that fine son of mine. Did he go to the war and take a leading place, or not? And tell me of my noble old father; have you heard anything of Peleus? Does he still hold his honourable place among the Myrmidons, or have they lost respect for him throughout the land because his hands and feet are stiff with age? For I am no longer under the sun to help him, strong as I once was on the battlefield of Troy, when I struck down the best of them and defended our people.
‘Do not make light of Death before me, O shining Odysseus. Would that I were on earth a menial, bound to some insubstantial man who must pinch and scrape to keep alive! Life so were better than King of Kings among these dead men who have had their day and died. Enough—give me news of my admirable son! Did he get to the war and prove himself a leader; or not yet? Also of noble Peleus, if you have heard—do the Myrmidons still honour him or is he despitefully seen from Hellas to Phthia, because old age has crippled his hands and feet? No longer can I stand up in the eye of day his champion, the prodigy who succoured the Argives in the plains of Troy and brought death upon the stoutest Trojans.
“‘Speak not to me consolingly of death, I pray you, glorious Odysseus,’ he instantly answered. ‘I would rather be bound to the soil as a day laborer for some very poor man, than rule over all the dead. But come, give me some word of my illustrious son; whether he went to the war to be a leader, or not. And tell me if you have heard anything of noble Peleus; whether he still has honor in the cities of the Myrmidons, or they slight him now throughout Hellas and Phthia because old age hampers him, hand and foot. For I am not his helper now upon the earth, nor such an one as once I was when on the Trojan plain I slew the bravest men while succoring the Greeks.
‘Speak not lightly to me of death, renowned Odysseus; I would rather labor on the land, the serf of some poor man with scant livelihood, than be lord of all the dead that are no more. But come, give me tidings of my valiant son. Did he go to the war as a chieftain, or not? And tell me if you have had tidings of noble Peleus, whether he is still held in honor among the Myrmidon hosts, or is he of no account throughout Hellas and Phthia, because in hand and foot he feels the weight of age? For no longer am I in the light of the sun to stand by him, as when in time past I slew the bravest amongst the hosts on the wide plains of Troy, fighting for the Argives.
‘Nay, seek not to speak soothingly to me of death, glorious Odysseus. I should choose, so I might live on earth, to serve as the hireling of another, of some portionless man whose livelihood was but small, rather than to be lord over all the dead that have perished. But come, tell me tidings of my son, that lordly youth, whether or not he followed to the war to be a leader. And tell me of noble Peleus, if thou hast heard aught, whether he still has honour among the host of the Myrmidons, or whether men do him dishonour throughout Hellas and Phthia, because old age binds him hand and foot. For I am not there to bear him aid beneath the rays of the sun in such strength as once was mine in wide Troy, when I slew the best of the host in defence of the Argives.
“‘Say not a word,’ he answered, ‘in death’s favour; I would rather be a paid servant in a poor man’s house and be above ground than king of kings among the dead. But give me news about my son; is he gone to the wars and will he be a great soldier, or is this not so? Tell me also if you have heard anything about my father Peleus—does he still rule among the Myrmidons, or do they show him no respect throughout Hellas and Phthia now that he is old and his limbs fail him? Could I but stand by his side, in the light of day, with the same strength that I had when I killed the bravest of our foes upon the plain of Troy
‘Mock not at death, glorious Odysseus. Better to be the hireling of a stranger, and serve a man of mean estate whose living is but small, than be the ruler over all these dead and gone. No, tell me tales of my proud son, whether or not he followed to the war to be a leader; tell what you know of gallant Peleus, whether he still has honor in the cities of the Myrmidons; or do they slight him now in Hellas and in Phthia, because old age has touched his hands and feet? I am myself no longer in the sunlight to defend him, nor like what I once was when on the Trojan plain I routed a brave troop in rescuing the Argives.
‘Nay, speak not comfortably to me of death, oh great Odysseus. Rather would I 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 dishonour 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 succoured the Argives.
“Do not to me, at least, speak lightly of death, O illustrious Ulysses! I would wish, being on the earth, to serve for hire with another man, destitute of inheritance, to whom there did not belong much property, rather than to rule over all the departed dead. But come, relate to me an account of my noble son; did he follow to the war so as to be a chief or not? and tell me if you have heard anything of the blameless Peleus; whether has he still honour amongst many Myrmidonians? or do they dishonour him both throughout Hellas and Phthia, because old age has laid hold of him both in his hands and in his feet? for I am not an assistant to him under the beams of the sun, being such a one as when I slew the best of the people in wide Troy, fighting for the Grecians.
“Μη δη παραυδα do not make light of θανατον γε death at least μοι to me, φαιδιμ’ Οδυσσευ illustrious Ulysses; βουλοιμην κε I would be willing εων being επαρούρος on earth θητευεμεν to be a servant αλλω παρ’ ανδρι with another man ακληρω without inheritance, ω to whom μη ειη there belonged not βιοτος πολυς much sustenance, η [rather] than ανασσειν to reign πασι νεκυσσι καταφθμενοισιν over all the departed dead. Αλλα but αγε come ενισπε tell μοι me μυθον a word του παιδος αγανου of my noble boy; η επετο did he follow ες πολεμον to the war εμμεναι to be προμος a chief, ηε or και ουκι even not. Ειπε δε and μοι tell me, ει if πεπυσσαι thou hast learnt τι any thing Πηληος αμυμονος of blameless Peleus, η whether ετι εχει he still has τιμην honour πολεσι μετα Μυρμιδονεσσιν amongst the many Myrmidons, η or whether ατιμαζουσι they dishonour μιν him αν’ ‘Ελλαδα τε throughout both Hellas Φθιην τε and Phthia, οὑνεκα because γηρας old age κατεχει holds μιν him χειρας τε both in hands ποδας τε and in feet? εγων γαρ for I ουκ [am] not επαρωγος a helper υπ’ αυγας under the beams ηελοιο of the sun, εων being τοιος such, οιος as ποτε once ενι Τροιη ευρειη in broad Troy πεφνον I slew αριστον λαον the chief people, αμυνων fighting for Αργειοισι the Argives.
‘Do not, O illustrious Ulysses, speak to me of death; I would wish, being on earth, to serve for hire with another man of no estate, who had not much livelihood, rather than rule over all the departed dead. But come, tell me an account of my noble son; did he follow to the war so as to be a chief or not? and, tell me if thou hast heard any thing of blameless Peleus; whether has he still honour amongst the many Myrmidonians? or do they dishonour him in Greece and Pthia, because old age possesses his hands and feet? for I am not assistant to him under the beams of the sun, being such a one, as when I slew the best of the people in wide Troy, fighting for the Grecians.
‘Do not, O illustrious Ulysses, speak to me of death; I would wish being on the earth, to serve for hire with another poor man, who had not much property, rather than rule over all the departed dead. But come tell me an account of my noble son; did he follow to the war so as to be a chief or not? and, tell me if you have heard any thing of the spotless Peleus; whether has he still honour amongst many Myrmidonians? or do they dishonour him in Greece and Phthia, because old age has laid hold of his hands and feet? for I am not an assistant to him under the beams of the sun, being such a one, as when I slew the best of the people in wide Troy, fighting for the Grecians.