The Two Urns 

“They say two urns abide on Zeus’ doorsill,
urns that hold the gifts the gods bestow,
one urn of harmful gifts, one of good.
When Zeus whose play is thunder gives a mortal
a mixture of the two, he meets some times
with trouble, and at other times with joy.
But when Zeus bestows from the urn of suffering
he makes a mortal an object of contempt;
a vicious stingfly drives him far and wide,
he wanders the lands, disdained by gods and men.
In just this way the gods bestowed their gifts
on Peleus. From birth he had their riches;
he surpassed all others in wealth and happiness;
he ruled in power over the Myrmidons;
and though a mortal, his bedmate was divine.
But even to him the god gave disappointment:
no offspring to inherit his domains,
only one, and he to die too soon.
Now he grows old, and I do nothing for him;
for far from my father’s land, I sit here
in Troy, oppressing you and all your sons.”
[Iliad 24. 527-542]