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Messenger
Thus far I know, for I was witness of it :
Chalcas, retiring from the assembled chiefs
Apart from the Atridte, gently pressed
The hand of Teucer, and in tenderest friendship
Besought him that by every human art
And means to be devised he would prevent
If he did ever wish to see him more.
This day alone, he said, Minerva's wrath
Would last against him. Oft the mighty fall
In deep affliction, smit by angry heaven.
When, mortal-born, to human laws they yield nor
As mortals ought, submissively : thus spake
To have a mind disturbed. When first he left
His native soil, " Be conqueror, O my child ! "
His father said, " but conquer under God."
Impious and proud his answer was : " The worst
Of men," he cried, " assisted by the gods
May conquer ; I shall do the work without them."
Such were his boastings ; and when Pallas once
With kind assistance urged him to the fight,
Dreadful and horrible was his reply :
*' Go, queen, to other Grecians lend thy aid,
The foe will never come." By words like these,
And pride ill-suited to a mortal's pow'r.
Did he offend the vengeful deity ;
But if he lives, we may preserve him still,
The gods assisting. So the prophet spake ;
And Teucer bade me say, you all should try
To keep him liere ; but if that cannot he,
And Chalcas judge aright, he is no more.
CiiOR. [to Tecmessa ivithm]. What ho ! Tecmessa,
most unhappy woman !
Come forth and hear the tidings that he brings ;
They wound us deep, and all our joys are gone.
Thus far I know, for I was witness of it :
Chalcas, retiring from the assembled chiefs
Apart from the Atridte, gently pressed
The hand of Teucer, and in tenderest friendship
Besought him that by every human art
And means to be devised he would prevent
If he did ever wish to see him more.
This day alone, he said, Minerva's wrath
Would last against him. Oft the mighty fall
In deep affliction, smit by angry heaven.
When, mortal-born, to human laws they yield nor
As mortals ought, submissively : thus spake
To have a mind disturbed. When first he left
His native soil, " Be conqueror, O my child ! "
His father said, " but conquer under God."
Impious and proud his answer was : " The worst
Of men," he cried, " assisted by the gods
May conquer ; I shall do the work without them."
Such were his boastings ; and when Pallas once
With kind assistance urged him to the fight,
Dreadful and horrible was his reply :
*' Go, queen, to other Grecians lend thy aid,
The foe will never come." By words like these,
And pride ill-suited to a mortal's pow'r.
Did he offend the vengeful deity ;
But if he lives, we may preserve him still,
The gods assisting. So the prophet spake ;
And Teucer bade me say, you all should try
To keep him liere ; but if that cannot he,
And Chalcas judge aright, he is no more.
CiiOR. [to Tecmessa ivithm]. What ho ! Tecmessa,
most unhappy woman !
Come forth and hear the tidings that he brings ;
They wound us deep, and all our joys are gone.
Ajax. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.