Generations of men are like the leaves. In winter, winds blow them down to earth, but then, when spring season comes again, the budding wood grows more. And so with men: one generation grows, another dies away.
HomerA generation of men is like a generation of leaves; the wind scatters some leaves upon the ground, while others the burgeoning wood brings forth - and the season of spring comes on. So of men one generation springs forth and another ceases.
HomerLike a girl, a baby running after her mother, begging to be picked up, and she tugs on her skirts, holding her back as she tries to hurry offโall tears, fawning up at her, till she takes her in her armsโฆ Thatโs how you look, Patroclus, streaming live tears.
HomerBut you, Achilles,/ There is not a man in the world more blest than you--/ There never has been, never will be one./ Time was, when you were alive, we Argives/ honored you as a god, and now down here, I see/ You Lord it over the dead in all your power./ So grieve no more at dying, great Achilles.โ I reassured the ghost, but he broke out protesting,/ โNo winning words about death to me, shining Odysseus!/ By god, Iโd rather slave on earth for another man--/ Some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep aliveโthan rule down here over all the breathless dead.
Homer