Shall sway them: for the same speech carrieth no
Like weight from men contemned and men revered.295
Chorus.
There is no human nature so relentless
That, hearkening to thy groanings and thy wails
Long lengthened out, would not let fall the tear.
Odysseus.
Receive instruction, Hecuba, nor him
For wrath count foe, who wisely counselleth.300
Thy life, through whom I found deliverance,
Ready am I to save; I stand thereto.
But what to all I said, I unsay not—
That now, Troy taken, we should yield thy child,
At our great champion's claim, for sacrifice.305
For of this cometh weakness in most states,
That, though a man be brave and patriot-souled,
No guerdon gains he more than baser men.
But we, we deem Achilles honour-worthy,
Who died for Hellas nobly as man may.310
Were this not shame then, as a friend to treat
Him living, but no more when he is gone?
Yea, what will one say then, if once again
The host must gather for the strife with foes.
"Fight shall we," will they cry, "or cling to life,315
Beholding how unhonoured go the dead?"
Yea, for myself, how scant soe'er in life
My fare for daily need, this should suffice:
Yet fain would I my tomb were reverence-crowned—
Mine; for no fleeting gratitude is this.320
But, if thou plain of hardship, hear mine answer:
With us there be grey matrons, agèd sires,
