If you are one of earthโs inhabitants, how blest your father, and your gentle mother, blest all your kin. I know what happiness must send the warm tears to their eyes, each time they see their wondrous child go to the dancing! But one manโs destiny is more than blestโhe who prevails, and takes you as his bride. Never have I laid eyes on equal beauty in man or woman. I am hushed indeed.
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