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THE ILIAD (Ancient Greek)
me man aspoudi ge kai akleios apoloimen
mega rhexas ti kai essomenoisi puthesthai
(Let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle,
but let me first do some great thing)

BEOWULF (Old English)
Ure æghwylc sceal ende
gebidan worolde lifes;
wyrce se þe mote
domes ær deaþe
(Each of us shall endure
this world’s life until the end;
let he who is able
achieve fame before death.)

POPOL VUH (K’iche’)
Nab'e chel iwe,
Nab'e nay puch kixq'ijiloxik
Rumal saqil al,
Saqil k'ajol.
Ta chuxoq.
Mawi chisachik i b'i'.
(You shall be the first to arise,
and you shall be the first to be worshipped
by the sons of the noblemen,
by the civilized vassals.
So it shall be!
Your names shall not be lost.)

RAMAYANA (Sanskrit)
ihaiva nidhanam yamaah
mahaa prasthaanam eva vaa
(Here let us all for death prepare,
Or on the last great journey fare.)