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 allotted 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 wrath appointed for me at my birth

    engulfed 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 inter 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 dice.

    Pêleus， master of horse， adopted me

    and reared me kindly， naming me your squire.

    So may the same urn hide our bones， the one

    of gold your gracious mother gave."