Antilochus and Achilles^注

Ant. Achilles，what you were saying to Odysseus the other day about death was very poor?spirited；I should have expected better things from a pupil of Chiron and Phoenix. I was listening；you said you would rather be a servant on earth to some poor hind ‘ of scanty livelihood possessed，’ than king of all the dead. Such sentiments might have been very well in the mouth of a poor?spirited cowardly Phrygian，dishonourably in love with life：for the son of Peleus，boldest of all Heroes，so to vilify himself，is a disgrace；it gives the lie to all your life；you might have had a long inglorious reign in Phthia，and your own choice was death and glory.

Ach. In those days，son of Nestor，I knew not this place；ignorant whether of those two was the better，I esteemed that flicker of fame more than life；now I see that it is worthless，let folk up there make what verses of it they will ..Tis dead level among the dead，Antilochus；strength and beauty are no more；we welter all in the same gloom，one no better than another；the shades of Trojans fear me not，Achaeans pay me no reverence；each may say what he will；a man is a ghost，‘or be he churl，or be he peer .’ It irks me；I would fain be a servant，and alive.

Ant. But what help，Achilles？ .tis Nature.s decree that by all means all die. We must abide by her law，and not fret at her commands. Consider too how many of us are with you here；Odysseus comes ere long；how else？ Is there not comfort in the common fate？ .tis something not to suffer alone. See Heracles，Meleager，and many another great one；they，methinks，would not choose return，if one would send them up to serve poor destitute men.

Ach. Ay，your intent is friendly；but I know not，the thought of the past life irks me—and each of you too，if I mistake not. And if you confess it not，the worse for you，smothering your pain.

Ant. Not the worse，Achilles；the better；for we see that speech is unavailing. Be silent，bear，endure—that is our resolve，lest such longings bring mockery on us，as on you.

注：Antilochus，中譯名為安提羅科斯，是荷馬史詩(shī)中的人物。他是古希臘皮羅斯（Pylos）的王子，攻打特洛伊的希臘重要將領(lǐng)之一，以英俊、勇敢著稱。 Achilles，中譯名為阿喀琉斯，是荷馬史詩(shī)中特洛伊戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)的大英雄，被稱為“希臘第一勇士”。