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With kind and gracious face is like to greet me；
Returned without thee： how else？…he who is wont
Even at good news to smile none the sweeter。
What will he keep back？ What taunt not hurl forth
Against the bastard of a spear…won slave；
Him who through craven cowardice betrayed
Thee； beloved Ajax…or by guile； that so
I might inherit thy kingdom and thy house。
So will he speak； a passionate man； grown peevish
In old age； quick to wrath without a cause。
Then shall I be cast off； a banished man；
Proclaimed no more a freeman but a slave。
Such is the home that waits me； while at Troy
My foes are many； my well…wishers few。
All this will be my portion through thy death。
Ah me； what shall I do？ How draw thee； brother；
From this fell sword； on whose bright murderous point
Thou hast breathed out thy soul？ See how at last
Hector； though dead； was fated to destroy thee！
Consider； I pray； the doom of these two men。
Hector； with that same girdle Ajax gave him
Was lashed fast to Achilles' chariot rail
And mangled till he had gasped forth his life。
And 'twas from him that Ajax had this gift；
The blade by which he perished and lies dead。
Was it not some Erinys forged this sword；
And Hades the grim craftsman wrought that girdle？
I at least would maintain that the gods plan
These things and all things ever for mankind。
But whosoever's judgment likes not this；
Let him uphold his doctrine as I mine。
LEADER
Speak no more； but take counsel how to inter
Our dear lord； and what now it were best to say：
For 'tis a foe I see。 Perchance he comes
To mock our misery； villain that he is。
TEUCER
What chieftain of the host do you behold？
LEADER
Menelaus； for whose sake we voyaged hither。
TEUCER
'Tis he。 I know him well； now he is near。
（MENELAUS enters with his retinue。）
MENELAUS
You； Sir； I warn you； raise not yonder corpse
For burial； but leave it as it lies。
TEUCER
For what cause do you waste such swelling words？
MENELAUS
'Tis my will； and his will who rules the host。
TEUCER
Let us know then what pretext you allege。
MENELAUS
We hoped that we had brought this man from home
To be a friend and champion for the Greeks：
But a worse than Phrygian foe on trial we found him。
Devising death for the whole host； by night
He sallied forth against us； armed for slaughter。
And had not some god baffled this exploit；
Ours would have been the lot which now is his：
While we lay slain by a most shameful doom；
He would have still been living。 But his outrage；
Foiled by a god； has fallen on sheep and herds。
Wherefore there lives no man so powerful
That he shall lay this corpse beneath a tomb；
But cast forth somewhere upon the yellow sands
It shall become food for the sea…shore birds。
Then lift not up your voice in threatening fury。
If while he lived we could not master him；
Yet in death will we rule him； in your despite；
Guiding him with our hands； since in his life
At no time would he hearken to my words。
Yet 'tis a sign of wickedness； when a subject
Deigns not to obey those placed in power above him。
For never can the laws be prosperously
Stablished in cities where awe is not found；
Nor may a camp be providently ruled
Without the shield of dread and reverence。
Yea； though a man be grown to mighty bulk；
Let him look lest some slight mischance o'erthrow him。
He with whom awe and reverence abide；
Doubt not； will flourish in security。
But where outrage and licence are not checked；
Be sure that state； though sped by prosperous winds；
Some day at last will founder in deep seas。
Yes； fear should be established in due season。
Dream not that we can act as we desire；
Yet avoid payment of the price in pain。
Well； fortune goes by turns。 This man was fiery
And insolent once： 'tis mine now to exult。
I charge thee； bury him not； lest by that act
Thou thyself shouldst be digging thine own grave；
LEADER
Menelaus； do not first lay down wise precepts；
Then thyself offer outrage to the dead。
TEUCER （to the CHORUS）
Never； friends； shall I marvel any more；
If one of low birth acts injuriously；
When they who are accounted nobly born
Can utter such injurious calumnies。
（To MENELAUS）
Come； once more speak。 You say you brought him hither？
Took him to be a champion of the Greeks？
Did he not sail as his own master； freely？
How are you his chieftain？ How have you the right
To lord it o'er the folk he brought from home？
As Sparta's lord you came； not as our master。
In no way was it your prerogative
To rule him； any more than he could you。
As vassal of others you sailed hither； not
As captain of us all； still less of Ajax。
Go； rule those whom you may rule： chastise them
With proud words。 But this man； though you forbid me；
Aye； and your fellow…captain； by just right
Will I lay in his grave； scorning your threats。
It was not for the sake of your lost wife
He came to Troy； like your toil…broken serfs；
But for the sake of oaths that he had sworn；
Not for yours。 What cared he for nobodies？
Then come again and bring more heralds hither；
And the captain of the host。 For such as you
I would not turn my head； for all your bluster。
LEADER
Such speech I like not； either； in peril's midst：
For harsh words rankle； be they ne'er so just。
MENELAUS
This bowman； it seems； has pride enough to spare。
TEUCER
Yes； 'tis no mean craft I have made my own。
MENELAUS
How big would be your boasts； had you a shield！
TEUCER
Shieldless； I would outmatch you panoplied。
MENELAUS
How terrible a courage dwells within your tongue！
TEUCER
He may be bold of heart whose side right favours。
MENELAUS
Is it right that my assassin should be honoured？
TEUCER
Assassin？ How strange； if； though slain； you live！
MENELAUS
Heaven saved me： I was slain in his intent。
TEUCER
Do not dishonour then the gods who saved you。
MENELAUS
What； I rebel against the laws of heaven？
TEUCER；
Yes； if you come to rob the dead of burial。
MENELAUS
My own foes！ How could I endure such wrong？
TEUCER
Did Ajax ever confront you as your foe？
MENELAUS
He loathed me； and I him； as well you know。
TEUCER
Because to defraud him you intrigued for votes。
MENELAUS
It was the judges cast him； and not I。
TEUCER
Much secret villainy you could make seem fair。
MENELAUS
That saying will bring someone into trouble。
TEUCER
Not greater trouble than we mean to inflict。
MENELAUS
My one last word： this man must not have burial。
TEUCER
Then hear my answer： burial he shall have。
MENELAUS
Once did I see a fellow bold of tongue；
Who had urged a crew to sail in time of storm；
Yet no voice had you found in him； when winds
Began to blow； but hidden beneath his cloak
The mariners might trample on him at will。
And so with you and your fierce railleries；
Perchance a great storm； though from a little cloud
Its breath proceed； shall quench your blatant outcry。
TEUCER
And I once saw a fellow filled with folly；
Who gloried scornfully in his neighbour's woes。
So it came to pass that someone like myself；
And of like mood； beholding him spoke thus。
〃Man； act not wickedly towards the dead；
Or； if thou dost； be sure that thou wilt rue it。〃
Thus did he monish that infatuate man。
And lo！ yonder I see him； and as I think；
He is none else but thou。 Do I speak riddles？
MENELAUS
I go。 It were disgrace should any know
I had fallen to chiding where I might chastise。
TEUCER
Begone then。 For to me 'twere worst disgrace
That I should listen to a fool's idle blustering。
（MENELAUS and his retinue depart。）
CHORUS （chanting）
Soon mighty and fell will the strife be begun。
But speedily now； Teucer； I pray thee；
Seek some fit place for his hollow grave；
Which men's memories evermore shall praise；
As he lies there mouldering at rest。
（TECMESSA enters with EURYSACES。）
TEUCER
Look yonder； where the child and wife of Ajax
Are hastening hither in good time to tend
The funeral rites of his unhappy corpse。
My child； come hither。 Stand near and lay thy hand
As a sup
