A-10-Simonides Poem by Lynn W. Petty

With Quintus of Tagea I concur.
What prospers us to fight to save these lands?
For some Athenian I should incur
The wrath of fate and die by Persian hands?
While my blood flows he rests behind the lines?
I rather face the Furies than allow
A coward to escape my rage. He whines
About the terrors he must face. I vow
If I should live I shall seek out and kill
Those facial images that scorch my mind.
My anger fills my heart, effects my skill
At arms. Revenge has caused my thoughts to blind
My reason. Now, we die that he be spared
To trample on our bones, that he enjoys
What we have bled to save? We Spartans erred.
I say we leave before this horde destroys
Us all, so I may turn my hate against
A weak and ineffective ally we call Greeks.