VI
[6arg] An evident mistake in the second book of Cicero On Glory, in the place where he has written about Hector and Ajax.IN Cicero's second book On Glory there is an evident mistake, of no great importance-a mistake [p. 77] which it does not require a man of learning to detect, but merely one who has read the seventh book of Homer. Therefore I am not so much surprised that Marcus Tullius erred in that matter, as that it was not noticed later and corrected either by Cicero himself or by Tiro, his freedman, a most careful man, who gave great attention to his patron's books. Now, in that book the following passage occurs: 1 “The same poet says that Ajax, when about to engage with Hector in combat, arranges for his burial in case he should chance to be defeated, declaring that he wishes that those who pass his tomb even after many ages should thus speak: 2
Here lies a man of life's light long bereft,” But the verses to this purport, which Cicero has turned into the Latin tongue, Ajax does not utter in Homer, nor is it Ajax who plans his burial, but Hector speaks the lines and arranges for burial, before he knows whether Ajax will meet him in combat.
Who slain by Hector's sword fell long ago.
This, one shall say; my glory ne'er shall die.
