Matt Murphy - Illiad lyrics

The Iliad, Homer, Andrew Lang, Walter Leaf, Litt.D., and Ernest Myers, Gutenberg.org, Book XVIII lines 95-121 This online edition was prepared by Matt Murphy Achilles so far has refused to take part in the fight for Troy, all he has done is sit by his ships. He did allow his best friend who was like a brother to him, Patroklos, to wear his armor into battle to strike fear into the Trojans. Patroklos was k**ed by Hector; who also stripped him of his armor. Achilles has just decided to take part in the war now and avenge Patroklos, and his other fallen comrades by k**ing Hector. This relates to the epic because he's deciding to put his differences with Agamemnon aside to get revenge on the Trojans Hector. This pa**age is also very interesting because Achilles has had two options his whole life to either live a long and happy life or to have his name echo in the halls of eternity but die young. We're actually reading the moment Achilles decides he'd rather die young away from his homeland than go back without his best friend. Achilles feels great guilt he was not there to protect Patroklos from Hector so now he feels as though he doesn't deserve to go home. He also talks about how Zeus's favorite son Herakles couldn't escape the fate that was meant to be his. Achilles tells Thetis that attempts to stop him would be in vein his mind is made up. Then answered unto him Thetis shedding tears: "Short-lived, I ween, must thou be then, my child, by what thou sayest, for straightway after Hector is d**h appointed unto thee."Then mightily moved spake unto her Achilles fleet of foot: "Straightway may I die, since I might not succour my comrade at his slaying. He hath fallen afar from his country and lacked my help in his sore need. Now therefore, since I go not back to my dear native land, neither have at all been succour to Patroklos nor to all my other comrades that have been slain by noble Hector, but I sit beside my ships a profitless burden of the earth, I that in war am such an one as is none else of the mail-clad Achaians, though in council are others better—may strife perish utterly among gods and men, and wrath that stirreth even a wise man to be vexed, wrath that far sweeter than trickling honey waxeth like smoke in the breasts of men, even as I was wroth even now against Agamemnon king of men. But bygones will we let be, for all our pain, curbing the heart in our breasts under necessity. Now go I forth, that I may light on the destroyer of him I loved, on Hector: then will I accept my d**h whensoever Zeus willeth to accomplish it and the other immortal gods. For not even the mighty Herakles escaped d**h, albeit most dear to Kronian Zeus the king, but Fate overcame him and Hera's cruel wrath. So also shall I, if my fate hath been fashioned likewise, lie low when I am dead. But now let me win high renown, let me set some Trojan woman, some deep-bosomed daughter of Dardanos, staunching with both hands the tears upon her tender cheeks and wailing bitterly; yea, let them know that I am come back, though I tarried long from the war. Hold not me then from the battle in thy love, for thou shalt not prevail with me." Works cited