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I tell thee, Teucer,
As once I was his foe : e'en now I mean
To join with thee, a fellow-labourer
In all the pious offices of love,
Nor would omit, what every man should pay,
The honours due to sucli exalted virtue !
1380
I tell thee, Teucer,
As once I was his foe : e'en now I mean
To join with thee, a fellow-labourer
In all the pious offices of love,
Nor would omit, what every man should pay,
The honours due to sucli exalted virtue !
1380
Teucer
O best of men I thou hast my thanks and
praise,
And well deserv'st them, for thou hast transcended
My utmost hopes. 1 little thought the worst
Of all his foes among the Grecian host
Would thus alone defend, alone protect
1385
The dead from insult, when these thundering leaders
United came to cast his body forth
With infamy ; but may the god who i-ules
O'er high Olympus, and the vengeful Furies,
Daughters ot J ove, the guilt-rewarding sisters,
1390
With all-deciding justice soon repay
1390
The hauglity tyrants. For thy ofiered aid,
Son of Laertes, in the funeral rites.
Perhaps it might offend the honoured shade
Of our dead friend — it cannot be accepted.
For all beside we thank thee. If thou will'st
1395
To send assistance from the Grecian camp,
'Twill bo received ; the rest shall be my care.
Thou hast performed the duty of a friend,
And we acknowledge it.
O best of men I thou hast my thanks and
praise,
And well deserv'st them, for thou hast transcended
My utmost hopes. 1 little thought the worst
Of all his foes among the Grecian host
Would thus alone defend, alone protect
1385
The dead from insult, when these thundering leaders
United came to cast his body forth
With infamy ; but may the god who i-ules
O'er high Olympus, and the vengeful Furies,
Daughters ot J ove, the guilt-rewarding sisters,
1390
With all-deciding justice soon repay
1390
The hauglity tyrants. For thy ofiered aid,
Son of Laertes, in the funeral rites.
Perhaps it might offend the honoured shade
Of our dead friend — it cannot be accepted.
For all beside we thank thee. If thou will'st
1395
To send assistance from the Grecian camp,
'Twill bo received ; the rest shall be my care.
Thou hast performed the duty of a friend,
And we acknowledge it.
Ulysses
I would have lent
1400
My willing aid, but since it must not be,
1400
I shall submit. Farewell ! [Exit Ui-ysses.
I would have lent
1400
My willing aid, but since it must not be,
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I shall submit. Farewell ! [Exit Ui-ysses.
Agamemnon
Scene JII.
Menelaus, Teuoer, Efrysaces, Chorus.
Menelaus, Teuoer, Efrysaces, Chorus.
Teucer
Thus far is right.
The time already past doth chide our sloth :
My friends, be vigilant. Let some prepare
The hollow fosse, some o'er the sacred flame
Place the rich tripod for the funeral bath ;
Forth from the camp a chosen band must bear
1405
His glittering arms and trophies of the war.
Do thou, my child, if thou hast strength, uplift
Thy father's body. See, the veins, yet warm,
Spout forth with blood. Haste ! Help, assist me, all
Who bear the name of friends, and pay with me
For never was on earth a better man.
Thus far is right.
The time already past doth chide our sloth :
My friends, be vigilant. Let some prepare
The hollow fosse, some o'er the sacred flame
Place the rich tripod for the funeral bath ;
Forth from the camp a chosen band must bear
1405
His glittering arms and trophies of the war.
Do thou, my child, if thou hast strength, uplift
Thy father's body. See, the veins, yet warm,
Spout forth with blood. Haste ! Help, assist me, all
Who bear the name of friends, and pay with me
For never was on earth a better man.
Chorus
\To EURYSACESc
Whate'er of good or ill weak mortals know
Must from their best of guides, experience, fl.ow.
Seek then no farther ; for to man is given
The present state, the future left to Heaven.
1405
DRAMATIS PERSONS.
non and Glytemnestra.
1'VLA.BES, Frund of Orestes.
Governor of Orestes.
Whate'er of good or ill weak mortals know
Must from their best of guides, experience, fl.ow.
Seek then no farther ; for to man is given
The present state, the future left to Heaven.
1405
DRAMATIS PERSONS.
non and Glytemnestra.
1'VLA.BES, Frund of Orestes.
Governor of Orestes.
Clytemnestra
Wife to JJ'.gis-
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thus.
Chrysothemts, Sister of Elec-
tra.
^GiSTiius, King ofArgos and
1415
MycencB.
Wife to JJ'.gis-
1410
thus.
Chrysothemts, Sister of Elec-
tra.
^GiSTiius, King ofArgos and
1415
MycencB.
Chorus
composed of the j>rin-
cipal Ladies of Mycena.
composed of the j>rin-
cipal Ladies of Mycena.
Orestes
SCENE.— Mycex^, before the Palace o/^gisthus.
ACT I.
Scene I.
Py lades, Governor of Orestes.
Py lades, Governor of Orestes.
Ajax. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.