Ulysses Meets Achilles among the Shades

But as for thee, Achilles! never man

Hath known felicity like thine, or shall,

Whom living we all honour’d as a God,

And who maintain’st here, resident, supreme

Controul among the dead; indulge not then,

Achilles, causeless grief that thou hast died.

I ceased, and answer thus instant received.

Renown’d Ulysses! Think not death a theme

Of consolation; I had rather live

The servile hind for hire, and eat the bread

Of some man scantily himself sustain’d,

Than sov’reign empire hold o’er all the shades.

The Odyssy, trs. W. Cowper: 1791

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