Ares Altar

Men fight not for the grudge they bear
nor for the lures of the bounties offered.
Was it not Hector that fought for his people,
and for his duty.
Was it not Achilles that fought for his glory,
and his immortality.
Was it not Ajax that died out of shame,
for the pride that was lost.

Men fight for an indifferent cause,
for, what is Helen's beauty to Hector,
and what is Menelaus's honour to Achilles.
But those were the men that fought,
- that killed and that died -
bound by the word and driven by glory,
for the honours sake, they shed their blood,
young men at arms, at the ares altar.