Old war-horse,
if only your knees could match the spirit in your chest
and your body’s strength were planted firm as rock,
but the great leveler, age, has worn you down.
If only some other fighter had your years
and you could march with the younger, fitter men!
– Homer
The Iliad, Book 4, lines 360-365. All the fighters in the Iliad understand that sooner or later death comes knocking on their door. Here Agamemnon is speaking to the wise elder and counselor Nestor. Nestor’s mind and spirit as just as strong as the younger soldiers, but physically he has been worn down by old age.