The Death of Alexander

Each of you have followed me

To the ends of the earth

The corners of the world

And back again- to stand here now.

We built an empire

Forged with blood and bronze

For peace and glory,

So now the empire from east to west

Stretches from the rising sun

To where it sets.

The land is littered

With our comrades’ graves

Who shed their loyal blood

Across unfamiliar Asian plains.

But here at my side, my generals

I can smell your greed.

I know what you whisper at my back

And when I close my eyes,

But I cannot fault you

For friends, I would do the same.

These past few years of pain

Will ensure that we are remembered

As an army undefeated

As an empire unrivaled.

I will be the new Achilles

You will be my proud Myrmidons,

Warrior Achaeans of the black ships.

And just as swift Achilles

Was quickly felled by fate

So too will I fall-

Wait no longer then

For my decision has been made

If my child is a son

Treat him as you would me

A king, commander, like a lion

And give him my empire

This domain we have established

Withhold nothing from him-

Until then, my generals

Take this ring and do not quarrel

For my last command is that it pass

To the strongest.