The Iliad

but now old age, The common lot of mortals, weighs thee down;

Ye slaves! ye coward souls! Women of Greece! I will not call you men!

How wouldst thou render vain, and void of fruit, My weary labour and my horses' toil, To stir the people, and on Priam's self, And Priam's offspring, bring disastrous fate? Do as thou wilt! yet not with our consent."

but the Gods On man bestow not all their gifts at once;

yet nought avail'd His gold to save him from the doom of death;

If he be not indeed a God, incens'd Against the Trojans for neglected rites; For fearful is the vengeance of a God."

the lesson thou shalt learn Shall cause thee shudder but to hear it nam'd."

"Expect not, Juno, all my mind to know; My wife thou art, yet would such knowledge be Too much for thee; whate'er I deem it fit That thou shouldst know, nor God nor man shall hear Before thee; but what I in secret plan, Seek not to know, nor curiously inquire."

"Atrides, speak not falsely: well thou know'st The truth, that we our fathers far surpass.