With that child, who alone is left alive
Of Aiakus' line. And kings Molossian
From him, one after other long shall reign
In bliss: for, ancient, nowise thus thy line
And mine is destined to be brought to nought: 1250
No, neither Troy; the Gods yet hold her dear,
Albeit by Pallas' eager hate she fell.
Thee too—so learn what grace comes of my couch;
A Goddess I, whose father was a God—
Will I deliver from all mortal ills, 1255
And set thee above decay and death, a God.
Henceforth in Nereus' palace thou with me,
As God with Goddess, shalt for ever dwell.
Thence rising dry-shod from the sea, shalt thou
Behold Achilles, thy beloved son 1260
And mine, abiding in his island home
On the White Strand, within the Euxine Sea.
Now fare thou to the Delphians' God-built burg
Bearing this corpse, and hide it in the ground.
Then seek the deep cave 'neath the ancient rock 1265
Sepias; abide there: tarry till I rise
With fifty chanting Nereids from the sea,
To lead thee thence; for all the doom of fate
Must thou accomplish: Zeus's will is this.
Refrain thou then from grieving for the dead; 1270
For unto all men is this lot ordained
Of heaven: from all the debt of death is due.
Peleus.
O couch-mate mine, O high-born Majesty,
Offspring of Nereus, hail thou! Worthy thee,
Worthy thy children, are the things thou dost. 1275
Goddess, at thy command my grief shall cease.
