Indeed I chose my path, but it was one of two that was laid out for me by Fate, as I often heard from my mother Thetis the silver-footed goddess: I would win glory in war but live no longer, or I would live a life of peace and ebb away in old age with no glory to my name. But long ere I was begat it was foretold that the son born of my mother would surpass his father in strength and greatness. Then was it not Fate's design that I should be the best of warriors?