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the gushing fount。

    Through the grove of…Artemis; rich with sacrifice; I sped my

course; the red blush mantling on my cheeks from maiden modesty; in my

eagerness to see the soldiers' camp; the tents of the mail…clad Danai;

and their gathered steeds。 Two chieftains there I saw met together

in council; one was Aias; son of Oileus; the other Aias; son of

Telamon; crown of glory to the men of Salamis; and I saw Protesilaus

and Palamedes; sprung from the son of Poseidon; sitting there

amusing themselves with intricate figures at draughts; Diomedes too at

his favourite sport of hurling quoits; and Meriones; the War…god's

son; a marvel to mankind; stood at his side; likewise I beheld the

offspring of Laertes; who came from his island hills; and with him

Nireus; handsomest of all Achaeans; Achilles next; that nimble runner;

swift on his feet as the wind; whom Thetis bore and Chiron trained;

him I saw upon the beach; racing in full armour along the shingle

and straining every nerve to beat a team of four horses; as he sped

round the track on foot; and Eumelus; the grandson of Pheres; their

driver; was shouting when I saw him。 goading on his goodly steeds;

with their bits of chased goldwork; whereof the centre pair; that bore

the yoke; had dappled coats picked out with white; while the

trace…horses; on the outside; facing the turning…post in the course;

were bays with spotted fetlocks。 Close beside them Peleus' son leapt

on his way; in all his harness; keeping abreast the rail by the

axle…box。

    Next I sought the countless fleet; a wonder to behold; that I

might fill my girlish eyes with gazing; a sweet delight。 'the

warlike Myrmidons from Phthia held the right wing with fifty swift

cruisers; upon whose sterns; right at the ends; stood Nereid goddesses

in golden…effigy; the ensign of Achilles' armament。 Near these were

moored the Argive ships in equal numbers; o'er which Mecisteus' son;

whom Taulaus his grandsire reared; and Sthenelus; son of Capaneus;

were in command; next in order; Theseus' son was stationed at the head

of sixty ships from Attica; having the goddess Pallas set in a

winged car drawn by steeds with solid hoof; a lucky sight for

mariners。 Then I saw Boeotia's fleet of fifty sails decked with

ensigns; these had Cadmus at the stern holding a golden dragon at

the beaks of the vessels; and earth…born Leitus was their admiral。

Likewise there were ships from Phocis; and from Locris came the son of

Oileus with an equal contingent; leaving famed Thronium's citadel; and

from Mycenae; the Cyclopes' town; Atreus' son sent a hundred

wellmanned galleys; his brother being with him in command; as friend

with friend; that Hellas might exact on her; who had fled her home

to wed a foreigner。 Also I saw upon Gerenian Nestor's prows twelve

from Pylos the sign of his neighbor Alpheus; four…footed like a

bull。 Moreover there was a squadron of Aenianian sail under King and

next the lords of Elis; stationed near'…them; whom all the people

named Epeians; and Eurytus was lord of these; likewise he led the

Taphian warriors with the white oar…blades; the subjects of Meges; son

of Phyleus; who had left the isles of the Echinades; where sailors

cannot land。 Lastly; Aias; reared in Salamis; was joining his right

wing to the left of those near whom he was posted; closing the line

with his outermost ships…twelve barques obedient to the helm…as I

heard and then saw the crews; no safe return shall he obtain; who

bringeth his barbaric boats to grapple Aias。 There I saw the naval

armament; but some things I heard at home about the gathered host;

whereof I still have a recollection。



                  Enter MENELAUS and ATTENDANT。



  ATTENDANT (As MENELAUS wrests a letter from him)

    Strange daring thine; Menelaus; where thou hast no right。

  MENELAUS

    Stand back! thou carriest loyalty to thy master too far。

  ATTENDANT

    The very reproach thou hast for me is to my credit。

  MENELAUS

    Thou shalt rue it; if thou meddle in matters that concern thee

not。

  ATTENDANT

    Thou hadst no right to open a letter; which I was carrying。

  MENELAUS

    No; nor thou to be carrying sorrow to all Hellas。

  ATTENDANT

    Argue that point with others; but surrender that letter to me。

  MENELAUS

    I shall not let go。

  ATTENDANT

    Nor yet will I let loose my hold。

  MENELAUS

    Why then; this staff of mine will be dabbling thy head with

blood ere long。

  ATTENDANT

    To die in my master's cause were a noble death。

  MENELAUS

    Let go! thou art too wordy for a slave。

  ATTENDANT (Seeing AGAMEMNON approaching)

    Master; he is wronging me; he snatched thy letter violently from

my grasp; Agamemnon; and will not heed the claims of right。



                         Enter AGAMEMNON。



  AGAMEMNON

    How now? what means this uproar at the gates; this indecent

brawling?

  MENELAUS

    My tale; not his; has the better right to be spoken。

  AGAMEMNON

    Thou; Menelaus! what quarrel hast thou with this man; why art thou

haling him hence?



                                                      Exit ATTENDANT。



  MENELAUS

    Look me in the face! Be that the prelude to my story。

  AGAMEMNON

    Shall I; the son of Atreus; close my eyes from fear?

  MENELAUS

    Seest thou this scroll; the bearer of a shameful message?

  AGAMEMNON

    I see it; yes; and first of all surrender it。

  MENELAUS

    No; not till I have shewn its contents to all the Danai。

  AGAMEMNON

    What! hast thou broken the seal and dost know already what thou

shouldst never have known?

  MENELAUS

    Yes; I opened it and know to thy sorrow the secret machinations of

thy heart。

  AGAMEMNON

    Where didst thou catch my servant? Ye gods what a shameless

heart thou hast!

  MENELAUS

    I was awaiting thy daughter's arrival at the camp from Argos。

  AGAMEMNON

    What right hast thou to watch my doings? Is not this a of

shamelessness?

  MENELAUS

    My wish to do it gave the spur; for I am no slave to thee。

  AGAMEMNON

    Infamous! Am I not to be allowed the management of my own house?

  MENELAUS

    No; for thou thinkest crooked thoughts; one thing now; another

formerly; and something different presently。

  AGAMEMNON

    Most exquisite refining on evil themes! A hateful thing the tongue

of cleverness!

  MENELAUS

    Aye; but a mind unstable is an unjust possession; disloyal to

friends。 Now I am anxious to test thee; and seek not thou from rage to

turn aside from the truth; nor will I on my part overstrain the

case。 Thou rememberest when thou wert all eagerness to captain the

Danai against Troy; making a pretence of declining; though eager for

it in thy heart; how humble thou wert then! taking each man by the

hand and keeping open doors for every fellow townsman who cared to

enter; affording each in turn a chance to speak with thee; even though

some desired it not; seeking by these methods to purchase popularity

from all bidders; then when thou hadst secured the command; there came

a change over thy manners; thou wert no longer so cordial before to

whilom friends; but hard of access; seldom to be found at home。 But

the man of real worth ought not to change his manners in the hour of

prosperity; but should then show himself most staunch to friends; when

his own good fortune can help them most effectually。 This was the

first cause I had to reprove thee; for it was here I first

discovered thy villainy; but afterwards; when thou camest to Aulis

with all the gathered hosts of Hellas; thou wert of no account; no!

the want of a favourable breeze filled thee with consternation at

the chance dealt out by Heaven。 Anon the Danai began demanding that

thou shouldst send the fleet away instead of vainly toiling on at

Aulis; what dismay and confusion was then depicted in thy looks; to

think that thou; with a thousand ships at thy command; hadst not

occupied the plains of Priam with thy armies! And thou wouldst ask

my counsel; 〃What am I to do? what scheme can I devise。 where find

one?〃 to save thyself being stripped of thy command and losing thy

fair fame。 Next when Calchas bade thee offer thy daughter in sacrifice

to Artemis; declaring that the Danai should then sail; thou wert

overjoyed; and didst gladly undertake to offer the maid; and of

thine own accord…never allege compulsion!…thou art sending word to thy

wife to despatch thy daughter hither on pretence of wedding

Achilles。 This is the same air that heard thee say it; and after all

thou turnest round and hast been caught recasting thy letter to this

effect; 〃I will no longer be my daughter's murderer。〃 Exactly so!

Countless others have gone through this phase in their conduct of

public affairs; they make an effort while in power; and then retire

dishonourably; sometimes owing to the senselessness of the citizens;

sometimes deservedly; because they are too f

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