Sophocles, Ajax, Richard Jebb (Translator), 101

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Athena

I see. And the son of Laertes , how does his fortune with respect to you? Has he escaped you?

Ajax

That blasted fox! You ask me where he is?

Athena

Yes, I do. I mean Odysseus, your adversary.

Ajax

My most pleasing prisoner, mistress, he sits inside. I do not wish him to die just yet.
105

Athena

Until you do what? Or win what greater advantage?

Ajax

Until he be bound to a pillar beneath my roof—

Athena

What evil, then, will you inflict on the poor man?

Ajax

—and have his back crimsoned by the lash, before he dies.
110

Athena

Do not abuse the poor man so cruelly!

Ajax

In all else, Athena, I bid you take your pleasure, but he will pay this penalty and no other.

Athena

Well, then, since it delights you to do so, put your arm to use; spare no portion of your plan.

Ajax

I go to my work. And I give you this commission: be always for me the close-standing ally that you have been for me today!

Exit Ajax.

Athena

Do you see, Odysseus, how great is the strength of the gods? Whom could you have found more prudent than this man,

or better able to do what the situation demanded?
120

Odysseus

I know of no one, but in his misery I pity him all the same, even though he hates me, because he is yoked beneath a ruinous delusion—I think of my own lot no less than his.

For I see that all we who live are nothing more than phantoms or fleeting shadow.
125

Athena

Therefore since you witness his fate, see that you yourself never utter an arrogant word against the gods, nor assume any swelling pride, if in the scales of fate you are weightier

than another in strength of hand or in depth of ample wealth. For a day can press down all human things, and a day can raise them up. But the gods embrace men of sense and abhor the evil.
130
Exit Odysseus and Athena.

Ajax. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1893.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Ajax (English) (Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 7: The Ajax. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (4)

Αἴας μαστιγοφόρος First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Aiax. Lobeck Christian, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1866.) — 172-201 focus

str. 1

ΧΟΡΟΣ

1

ᾖ ῥά σε Ταυροπόλα Διὸς Ἄρτεμις,

ὦ μεγάλα φάτις, ὦ

μᾶτερ αἰσχύνας ἐμᾶς,

ὥρμασε πανδάμους ἐπὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
175

ἦ πού τινος νίκας ἀκάρπωτον χάριν,

ἤ ῥα κλυτῶν ἐνάρων

ψευσθεῖσ’, ἀδώροις εἴτ’ ὲλαφηβολἐαις.

ἢ χαλκοθώραξ ἥντιν’ Ἐννυάλιος

μομφὰν ἔχων
180

ξυνοῦ δορὸς, ἐννυχίοις μαχαναῖς

ἐτίσατο λώβαν.

ant. 1

ΧΟΡΟΣ

1

Οὐ, τοτε γὰρ φρενόθεν γ’ ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ,

παῖ Τελαμῶνος, ἔβας

τόσσον ὲν ποίμναις πίτνων·
185

ἥκοι γὰρ ἂν θεία νόσος· ἀλλ’ ἀπερύκοι

καὶ Ζεὺς κακὰν καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀργείων φάτιν ·

εἰ δ’ ὑποβαλλόμενοι

κλέπτουσι μύθους οἱ μεγάλοι βασιλῆς

ἢ τᾶς ἀσώτου Σισυφιδᾶν γενεᾶς,
190

μὴ, μή μ’, ἄναξ,

ἔθ’ ὦδ’ ἐφάλοις κλισίαις ὄμμ’ ἔχων

κακὰν φάτιν ἄρῃ.

ep.

ΧΟΡΟΣ

1

Ἀλλ’ ἄνα ἐς ἐδράνων, ὅπου μακραίωνι

στηρίζει ποτὲ τᾷδ’ ἀγωνίῳ σχολᾷ
195

ἄταν οὐρανίαν φλέγων

ἐχθρῶν δ’ ὕβρις ὧδ’ ἀτάρβηθ’

ὁρμᾶται ὲν εὐανέμοις βάσσαις,

πάντων καγχαζόντων

γλώσσαις βαρυάλγητα·
200

200 ἐμοὶ δ’ ἄχος ἕστακεν.

Αἴας First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Fabulae. Pearson, Alfred Chilton, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.) — 172-200 focus

str. 1

Χορός

1

ἦ ῥά σε Ταυροπόλα Διὸς Ἄρτεμις,

ὦ μεγάλα φάτις, ὦ

μᾶτερ αἰσχύνας ἐμᾶς, ὥρ-

μασε πανδάμους ἐπὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
175

ἦ πού τινος νίκας ἀκάρπωτον χάριν,

ἤ ῥα κλυτῶν ἐνάρων

ψευσθεῖσʼ, ἀδώροις εἴτʼ ἐλαφαβολίαις;

ἢ χαλκοθώραξ εἴ τινʼ Ἐνυάλιος

μομφὰν ἔχων ξυνοῦ δορὸς ἐννυχίοις
180

μαχαναῖς ἐτείσατο λώβαν;

ant. 1

Χορός

1

οὔποτε γὰρ φρενόθεν γʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερά,

παῖ Τελαμῶνος, ἔβας

¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰¹¹

τόσσον ἐν ποίμναις πίτνων· ἥ-

κοι γὰρ ἂν θεία νόσος· ἀλλʼ ἀπερύκοι
185

καὶ Ζεὺς κακὰν καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀργείων φάτιν.

εἰ δʼ ὑποβαλλόμενοι

κλέπτουσι μύθους οἱ μεγάλοι βασιλῆς,

ἢ τᾶς ἀσώτου Σισυφιδᾶν γενεᾶς,

μὴ μηκέτʼ, ὦναξ, ὧδʼ ἐφάλοις κλισίαις
190

ὄμμʼ ἔχων κακὰν φάτιν ἄρῃ.

ep.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ἄνα ἐξ ἑδράνων

ὅπου μακραίωνι

στηρίζει ποτὲ τᾷδʼ ἀγωνίῳ σχολᾷ,

ἄταν οὐρανίαν φλέγων.
195

ἐχθρῶν δʼ ὕβρις ὧδʼ ἀτάρβητα

ὁρμᾶτʼ ἐν εὐανέμοις βάσσαις,

πάντων καχαζόντων

γλώσσαις βαρυάλγητα·

ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ἕστακεν.
200

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 101 focus

εἶεν, τί γὰρ δὴ παῖς ὁ τοῦ Λαερτίου,

ποῦ σοι τύχης ἕστηκεν ἔστηκεν; ἢ πέφευγέ σε;

ΑΙΑΣ.

ἢ τοὐπίτριπτον κίναδος ἐξήρου μ' ὅπου;

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

ἔγωγ᾽· ᾿Ὀδυσσέα τὸν σὸν ἐνστάτην λέγω.

ΑΙΑΣ.

ἥδιστος, ὦ δέσποινα, δεσμώτης ἔσω
105

θακεῖ θανεῖν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὔ τί πω θέλω.

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

πρὶν ἂν τί δράσῃς ἢ τί κερδάνῃς κερδάνηισ κερδάνηις κερδάνεῖς πλέον ;

ΑΙΑΣ.

πρὶν ἂν δεθεὶς πρὸς κίον ἑρκείου ἑρκίου στέγης

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

τί δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ἐργάσει ἐργάση ἐργάσῃ κακόν;

ΑΙΑΣ.

μάστιγι πρῶτον νῶτα φοινιχθεὶς θάνῃ.
110

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

μὴ δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ὧδέ γ' αἰκίσῃ.

ΑΙΑΣ.

χαίρειν, ᾿Αθάνα, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγώ σ᾽ ἐγωγέσ᾽ ἔγωγέ σ' ἐφίεμαι·

κεῖνος δὲ τίσει τήνδε κοὐκ ἄλλην δίκην.

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

σὺ δ᾽ οὖν, ἐπειδὴ τέρψις ἥδε σοι τὸ δρᾶν,

χρῶ χειρί, φείδου μηδὲν ὧνπερ ἐννοεῖς ἐννέπεισ νοεῖς.
115

ΑΙΑΣ.

χωρῶ πρὸς ἔργον· τοῦτό σοι δ᾽ ἐφίεμαι,

τοιάνδ᾽ ἀεί μοι σύμμαχον παρεστάναι.

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

ὁρᾷς, Ὀδυσσεῦ, τὴν θεῶν ἰσχὺν ὅση;

τούτου τίς ἄν σοι τἀνδρὸς ἢ προνούστερος,

ἢ δρᾶν ἀμείνων εὑρέθη τὰ καίρια;
120

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐδέν᾽ οἶδ᾽· ἐποικτείρω δέ νιν

δύστηνον ἔμπης ἔμπας δύστηνον· ἔμπης καίπερ ὄντα δυσμενή,

ὁθούνεκ' ὁθ᾽ οἵνεκ᾽ ὁθούνεκ' ἄτῃ συγκατέζευκται κακῇ,

οὐδὲν τὸ τούτου μᾶλλον ἢ τοὐμὸν σκοπῶν.

ὁρῶ γὰρ ἡμᾶς οὐδὲν ὄντας ἄλλο πλὴν
125

εἴδωλ᾽ εἴδωλα εἴδωλ', ὅσοιπερ ζῶμεν, ἢ κούφην σκιάν.

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

τοιαῦτα τοίνυν εἰσορῶν ὑπέρκοπον ὑπέρκομπον

μηδέν ποτ' εἴπῃς αὐτὸς εἰς θεοὺς ἔπος,

μηδ᾽ ὄγκον ἄρῃ ἄρῃ ἄρης μηδέν', εἴ τινος πλέον

ἢ χειρὶ βρίθεις ἢ μακροῦ πλούτου βάθει βάρει.
130

ὡς ἡμέρα κλίνει τε κἀνάγει πάλιν

ἅπαντα τἀνθρώπεια· τοὺς δὲ σώφρονας

θεοὶ φιλοῦσι καὶ στυγοῦσι τοὺς κακούς.

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 101 focus

Ἀθήνα

εἶεν, τί γὰρ δὴ παῖς ὁ τοῦ Λαερτίου,

ποῦ σοι τύχης ἕστηκεν; ἢ πέφευγέ σε;

Αἴας

ἦ τοὐπίτριπτον κίναδος ἐξήρου μʼ ὅπου;

Ἀθήνα

ἔγωγʼ· Ὀδυσσέα τὸν σὸν ἐνστάτην λέγω.

Αἴας

ἥδιστος, ὦ δέσποινα, δεσμώτης ἔσω
105

θακεῖ· θανεῖν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὔ τί πω θέλω.

Ἀθήνα

πρὶν ἂν τί δράσῃς ἢ τί κερδάνῃς πλέον;

Αἴας

πρὶν ἂν δεθεὶς πρὸς κίονʼ ἑρκείου στέγης.

Ἀθήνα

τί δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ἐργάσει κακόν;

Αἴας

μάστιγι πρῶτον νῶτα φοινιχθεὶς θάνῃ.
110

Ἀθήνα

μὴ δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ὧδέ γʼ αἰκίσῃ.

Αἴας

χαίρειν, Ἀθάνα, τἄλλʼ ἐγώ σʼ ἐφίεμαι·

κεῖνος δὲ τίσει τήνδε κοὐκ ἄλλην δίκην.

Ἀθήνα

σὺ δʼ οὖν, ἐπειδὴ τέρψις ἥδε σοι τὸ δρᾶν,

χρῶ χειρί, φείδου μηδὲν ὧνπερ ἐννοεῖς.
115

Αἴας

χωρῶ πρὸς ἔργον· σοὶ δὲ τοῦτʼ ἐφίεμαι,

τοιάνδʼ ἀεί μοι σύμμαχον παρεστάναι.

Ἀθήνα

ὁρᾷς, Ὀδυσσεῦ, τὴν θεῶν ἰσχὺν ὅση;

τούτου τίς ἄν σοι τἀνδρὸς ἢ προνούστερος

ἢ δρᾶν ἀμείνων ηὑρέθη τὰ καίρια;
120

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐδένʼ οἶδʼ· ἐποικτίρω δέ νιν

δύστηνον ἔμπας, καίπερ ὄντα δυσμενῆ,

ὁθούνεκʼ ἄτῃ συγκατέζευκται κακῇ,

οὐδὲν τὸ τούτου μᾶλλον ἢ τοὐμὸν σκοπῶν·

ὁρῶ γὰρ ἡμᾶς οὐδὲν ὄντας ἄλλο πλὴν
125

εἴδωλʼ ὅσοιπερ ζῶμεν ἢ κούφην σκιάν.

Ἀθήνα

τοιαῦτα τοίνυν εἰσορῶν ὑπέρκοπον

μηδέν ποτʼ εἴπῃς αὐτὸς εἰς θεοὺς ἔπος,

μηδʼ ὄγκον ἄρῃ μηδένʼ, εἴ τινος πλέον

ἢ χειρὶ βρίθεις ἢ μακροῦ πλούτου βάθει.
130

ὡς ἡμέρα κλίνει τε κἀνάγει πάλιν

ἅπαντα τἀνθρώπεια· τοὺς δὲ σώφρονας

θεοὶ φιλοῦσι καὶ στυγοῦσι τοὺς κακούς.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 101 focus

Good. Next inform us of Laërtes’ son;

How stands his fortune? Hast thou let him go?

AI

The accursed fox! Dost thou inquire of him?

ATH

Ay, of Odysseus, thy late adversary.

AI

He sits within, dear lady, to my joy,
105

Bound; for I mean him not just yet to die.

ATH

What fine advantage wouldst thou first achieve?

AI

First, tie him to a pillar of my hall—

ATH

Poor wretch! What torment wilt thou wreak on him?

AI

Then stain his back with scourging till he die.
110

ATH

Nay, ’tis too much. Poor caitiff! Not the scourge!

AI

Pallas, in all things else have thou thy will,

But none shall wrest Odysseus from this doom.

ATH

Well, since thou art determined on the deed,

Spare nought of thine intent: indulge thy hand!
115

AI

(.)

I go! But thou, I charge thee, let thine aid

Be evermore like valiant as to-day.

ATH

The gods are strong, Odysseus. Dost thou see?

What man than Aias was more provident,

Or who for timeliest action more approved?
120

OD

I know of none. But, though he hates me sore,

I pity him, poor mortal, thus chained fast

To a wild and cruel fate,—weighing not so much

His fortune as mine own. For now I feel

All we who live are but an empty show
125

And idle pageant of a shadowy dream.

ATH

Then, warned by what thou seest, be thou not rash

To vaunt high words toward Heaven, nor swell thy port

Too proudly, if in puissance of thy hand

Thou passest others, or in mines of wealth.
130

Since Time abases and uplifts again

All that is human, and the modest heart

Is loved by Heaven, who hates the intemperate will.

CHORUS
CHORUS (entering). CHORUS.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 101 focus

Gut; welches Schicksal aber traf Laertes' Sohn?

Was thatst du diesem? Oder ist er dir entfloh'n?

Ajas.

Nach jenem schlau durchtriebnen Fuchse fragst du mich?

Athene.

Ja wohl; Odysseus mein' ich, der dein Gegner iſt.

Ajas.

Der sizt, o Herrin, drinnen, gar ein süßer Fang,
105

Gebunden: sterben soll er mir noch nicht so schnell.

Athene.

Was willst du schaffen, was gewinnen noch zuvor?

Ajas.

Ich will ihn fesseln an die Säul' in meinem Zelt -

Athene.

Und welches Uebel willst du da dem Armen thun?

Ajas.

Vom Geißeln roth den Rücken, soll er sterben dort!
110

Athene.

nicht so grausam schalte mit dem armen Mann!

Ajas.

Gern' stell' ich alles Andre dir, o Pallas, heim;

Doch also büßt der seine Schuld, und anders nicht!

Athene.

Nun, wenn du Wohlgefallen hast an solchem Thun,

Brauch deinen Arm, thu' Alles, wie du's ausgedacht!
115

Ajas.

Ich geh' an's Werk, doch Eines bitt' ich noch von dir:

Wie heute, sei mir allezeit hülfreich gesellt!

Athene. Odysseus. (ab in das Zelt.)

Athene.

Du siehst, Odysseus, wie der Götter Macht so groß:

Wer ward erfunden weiser einst, als dieser Mann,

Volführte besser, was der Augenblick gebot?
120

Odysseus.

Ich wüßte keinen Andern, und mich jammert sein,

Des Armen, ob mich feindlich auch sein Haß verfolgt,

Daß ihn die grausam herbe Noth gebunden hält.

Denn mehr auf ihn nicht schau' ich, als auf mein Geschick.

Wir alle, die wir leben, sind nichts Anderes,
125

Als Scheingestalten, als ein flüchtig Schattenbild.

Athene.

Auf solches achtend, rede denn niemals ein Wort

Des Uebermuthes wider uns Unsterbliche,

Noch blähe dich voll Dünkel, wenn du mehr an Kraft,

An goldnen Schäzen mehr gewannst als Andere.
130

Ein kurzer Tag senkt nieder alles Menschenwerk,

Und hebt es wieder; aber nur dem frommen Mann

Sind hold die Götter, und den Bösen hassen sie.

(Athene verschwindet; Odysseus geht ab; der Chor tritt auf.)

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 101 focus

Did th' Atridae feel

Thy vengeful arm ?

Minerva

If I understand thee,

They are both dead.

And take my arms away.

Laertes' son, hath he escaped thy wrath ?

Ajax

Talkst thou of him, that fox accursed ?

Minerva

I mean

Thy foe, Ulysses.

The fairest of my spoils ; I have him here ;

He shall not perish yet.

Minerva

What 'vantage then

M eanst thou to draw from his confinement ?

I'll have him bound to the pillar.

Minerva

And what then
110

Wouldst thou inflict ?
110

With many a bloody stripe, he shall be slain.
110

Minerva

Do not torment him thus.

Minerva

would I gratify thy will,

But this, and this alone must be his fate.

Minerva

Since 'tis so pleasing to thee, be it so.

Nor quit thy purpose.

Thus, great Minerva, mayst thou ever smile
115

Propitious on me, and assist thy Ajax ! [Exit.
115

Minerva
Scene III.

Ulysses.

Minerva

Behold, Ulysses, here the mighty strength

Of power divine : lived there a man more wise,

Ulysses

None, none indeed ; alas ! I pity him ;

E'en in a foe I pity such distress.

For he is wedded to the worst of woes :

His hapless state reminds me of my own.

And tells me that frail mortals are no more
125

Than a vain image and an empty shade.

Minerva

Let such examples teach thee to beware

Against the gods thou utter aught profane ;

And if perchance in riches or in power

Thou shin'st superior, be not insolent ;

For, know, a day sufficeth to exalt

Or to depress the state of mortal man :

The wise and good are by the gods beloved,

But those who practise evil they abhor, [^Exeunt.

Of illustrious Telamon,

Monarch of the sea-girt isle,

I'^iiir Salamis, if fortune smile

C)n thee, I raise the tributary song,

For praise and virtue still to thee belong :

But when, inflicted by the wrath of Jove,

Grecian slander blasts thy fame,

And foul reproach attaints thy name,

Then do I tremble like the fearful dove.

80, the last unhappy night,

Glamours loud did reach mine ear

And filled my anxious heart with fear,

Which talked of Grecian cattle slain,

Pleased at his prey, rejoicing at the sight.

Thus false Ulysses can prevail,

Whisp'ring to all his artful tale.

His tale alas ! too willingly received ;

Whilst those who hear are glad to know

And happy to insult thy woe.

For who asperse the great are easily believed.

The poor like us alone are free

From the darts of calumny.

Whilst envy still attends on high estate :
130

Small is the aid which we can lend,
130

Without the rich and powerful friend ;
130

Tlie great support the low, the low assist the great.
130

But 'tis a truth which fools will never know ;
130

From such alone the clamours came
130

Which strove to hurt thy spotless fame,
130

Whilst we can only weep, and not relieve thy woe.
130

Happy to 'scape thy piercing sight,
130

Behold them wing their rapid flight,
130

As trembling birds from hungry vultures fly,

Sudden again shouldst thou appear,

The cowards would be mute with fear.

And all their censures in a moment die.

Cynthia, goddess of the grove.

Daughter of immortal Jove,

To whom at Tauris frequent altars rise,

Indignant might inspire the deed,

And bid the guiltless cattle bleed,

Deprived of incense due, and wonted sacrifice.

Perhaps, sad cause of all our grief and shame !

The god of war with brazen shield,

For fancied inj'ries in the field,

Might thus avenge the wrong, and brand thy name,

For never in his perfect mind

On flocks and herds his rage had never spent ;

It was inflicted from above :

May Phoebus and all-powerful Jove

Avert the crime, or stop the punishment !

If to th' Atridse the bold fiction came

From Sisyphus' detested race,

But from thy tents come forth, and vindicate thy

fame.

Adds new vigour to thy foes,

As flames from aiding winds still fiercer grow ;

Whilst the loose laugh, and shameless Ue,

And all their bitter calumny,

AVith double weight oppress and fill our hearts with

woe.

Tecmessa
ACT 11. Scene I.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 101 focus

Well: but that other from Laertes sprung.

Ajax

What fate is his? Hath he escaped thy hand?

Ajax

Where that accurst inveigler dost thou ask?

I of thy rival, of Ulysses speak.

Ajax

With joy I hold him, goddess, in my tent

Minerva

In chains; I would not that he yet should die.

What wou'dst thou do? What more wou'dst thou obtain?

Ajax

Bound to the pillar which supports my tent......

Minerva

What further vengeance would thy rage assign?

Ajax

His back the scourge shall gore; then let him die.
110

Minerva

Nay, thus severely torture not the wretch.

Ajax

In all besides I yield me to thy will;

This vengeance, and none other, he shall feel.

Minerva

Since to do this is pleasing to thee, use

Thy hand, and nothing of thy purpose spare.
115

Ajax

I go to do it; but entreat this grace,

Minerva

Always, as now, my firm associate stand.

Thou seest, Ulysses, what the pow'r of gods.

Who was of thought more prudent than this man?

Who, when occasion call'd, in act more brave?
120

Ulysses
MINERVA, ULYSSES.

I know not any; and I pity him,

Minerva

Since now unhappy, though to me a foe,

For in the chain of ruin he is bound.

And this respects his state not more than mine.

For all that live, I see, are nothing more

Than phantoms form'd of air, and shadows light.

Hast thou a sense of this? Against the gods

Utter no vaunt profane; nor swell with pride,
130

More puissant if thy hand, or thy wealth rise

In ampler stores. All human things a day

In darkness sinks, a day to light restores.

The gods too love the sober, modest mind,

The arrogant and impious they abhor.

Chorus

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-81-1 εἶεν ¹

mvp-comment-81-2 τί γὰρ δὴ ²

mvp-comment-81-3 ποῦ σοι τύχης ἕστηκεν ³

mvp-comment-81-4 σοι ⁴

mvp-comment-82-1 τοὐπίτριπτον ⁵ κίναδος ⁶

mvp-comment-82-2 ἐξήρου μ’ ὅπου ⁷

mvp-comment-83-1 ἔγωγ’ ⁸

mvp-comment-83-2 Ὀδυσσέα ⁹

mvp-comment-83-3 ἐνστάτην ¹⁰

mvp-comment-84-1 ἥδιστος ¹¹

mvp-comment-85-1 κίον’ ἑρκείου στέγης ¹² κίον’ ¹³

mvp-comment-85-2 δεθεὶς πρὸς κίον’ ¹⁴

mvp-comment-85-3

δεῖν πρὸς κίονα

(properly, ‘to take and bind to a pillar’), not πρὸς κίονι ¹⁵

mvp-comment-86-1 ἐργάσει ¹⁶ ἐργάσῃ ¹⁷

mvp-comment-87-1 πρὶν ἂν … φοινιχθεὶς θάνῃ ¹⁸

mvp-comment-87-2 φοινιχθεὶς ¹⁹

mvp-comment-88-1 αἰκίσῃ ²⁰

mvp-comment-89-1 χαίρειν … σ’ ἐφίεμαι ²¹

mvp-comment-89-2 χαίρειν … τἄλλα ²²

mvp-comment-90-1 σὺ σ’ οὖν ²³

mvp-comment-90-2 τέρψις ἥδε σοι τὸ δρᾶν ²⁴

mvp-comment-90-3 χρῶ χειρί, φείδου ²⁵

mvp-comment-90-4 μηδὲν ²⁶ ὧν ²⁷

mvp-comment-91-1 τοῦτο σοὶ δ’ ἐφίεμαι ²⁸

mvp-comment-92-1 ὁρᾷς ²⁹ τὴν … ἰσχὺν ὅση ³⁰

mvp-comment-92-2 τὴν θεῶν ἰσχὺν ³¹

mvp-comment-93-1 τίς ἂν ηὑρέθη ³²

mvp-comment-93-2 προνούστερος ³³

mvp-comment-93-3 δρᾶν … τὰ καίρια ³⁴

mvp-comment-94-1 ἐγὼ μὲν ³⁵ καίπερ ³⁶

mvp-comment-95-1 ἄτῃ συγκατέζευκται ³⁷

mvp-comment-96-1 οὐδὲν τὸ τούτου ³⁸

mvp-comment-97-1 εἴδωλ’ … σκιάν ³⁹

mvp-comment-98-1 αὐτὸς ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-99-1 ὄγκον ⁴¹

mvp-comment-99-2 ἄρῃ ⁴² α^ ⁴³ ἄρῃς ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-100-1 βρίθεις ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-100-2 μακροῦ ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-100-3 πλούτου βάθει ⁴⁷ βάρει ⁴⁸

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

101. mvp-comment-76-1 εἰεν, τί γὰρ δή] «Enough. For I would know.' She professes to turn her thoughts from the Atreidae to Odysseus, who is more interesting as the especial enemy of Ajax.

102. mvp-comment-77-1 ποῦ σοι τύχης ἕστηκεν ;] · What have you done with him? Where stands he now?' σοι implies that Odysseus is in Ajax' power.

103. mvp-comment-78-1 τοὐπίτριπτον κίναδος] «The accursed fox.' The verbal, by a sort of prolepsis, expresses what ought to be. Cp. the Homeric οὐλόμενος. -The fox is at once noxious and cunning.

104. mvp-comment-79-1 The stop after ἔγωγ' makes the expression more pointed, and agrees better with the use of λέγω than if ἔγωγ᾽ Οδυσσέα, κ.τ.λ. were read. ἐνστάτην] 'Opponent.' Cp. Thuc. 8. 69, ἤν τις ἐνιστῆται τοῖς ποιουμένοις.

105. mvp-comment-80-1 ἥδιστος] 'Most welcome.' Cp. Εl. 929, ἡδύς, οὐδὲ μητρὶ δυσχερής.

106. mvp-comment-81-1 θακεῖ] The ram taken for Odysseus had already been made to sit upwards against the pillar ( infr. 240, cp. 108).

107. mvp-comment-82-1 κερδάνῃς] This is said in bitter irony. Ajax is not gaining but losing all.

108. mvp-comment-83-1 κίον᾿ ἑρκείου στέγης] ‘The roof-supporting pillar of my house.'

110. mvp-comment-84-1 It has been thought necessary to alter this line because of the pleonasm of θάνῃ, which, however, is natural enough after the interruption. Cp. Trach. 1130-3, τέθνηκεν . . πρὶν ὡς χρῆν σφ᾽ ἐξ ἐμῆς θανεῖν χερός: Phil. 1329-1334, παῦλαν .. μήποτ᾿ ἂν τυχεῖν | νόσου βαρείας.. | πρὶν ἂν | τῶν παρ᾿ ἡμῖν ἐντυχὼν ᾿Ασκληπιδῶν | νόσου μαλαχθῇς τῆσδε. The principal notion is expressed by the participle. 'He shall not die till he is whipped to death.' πρῶτον resumes πρὶν ἄν, l. 108. φοινιχθείς] «Crimsoned.' The word conveys the murderous energy of Ajax' mood.

111. mvp-comment-85-1 Athena affects pity for Odysseus in order to rouse Ajax more, and so to make the situation more striking to Odysseus.

112. mvp-comment-86-1 'In all else, Athena, I would have thee to enjoy thy will.' For the construction, cp. Aesch. Cho. 1038-9.

114. mvp-comment-87-1 σὺ δ᾽ οὖν] 'Well, and you for your part.' τέρψις ἥδε.. τὸ δρᾶν] i. e. τέρψις τὸ δρᾶν ὧδε. Essay on L. § 35. p. 60.

116. mvp-comment-88-1 τοῦτό σοι δ' ἐφίεμαι] These words have been unnecessarily altered by some editors because of the postponement of δέ. For the omission of the vocative, giving a tone of peremptoriness and familiarity, cp. O. Τ. 637, οὐκ εἰ σύ τ' οἴκους, κ.τ.λ. The proximity of ἐφίεμαι in 112 suggests the repetition of the word in a slightly different sense.

117. mvp-comment-89-1 Ajax retires into the hut.

119-120. mvp-comment-90-1 τίς ἄν σοι.. εὑρέθη] 'Whom could you have found, if you had sought for such a one formerly?' The aorist with av here denotes possibility in past time, as in Trach. 707, 8, πόθεν γὰρ ἂν .. | ἐμοὶ παρέσχ᾽ εὔνοιαν? προνούστερος] The Ajax of Sophocles is clear-sighted as well as prompt in action. This touch prepares us for his profound feeling of the situation, when he awakes from his madness. Cp. Il. 7. 197, where Ajax says, Οὐ γάρ τις με βίῃ γε ἑκὼν ἀέκοντα δίηται, | οὐδὲ μὲν ἰδρείῃ, κ.τ.λ.

121. mvp-comment-91-1 For this division of the senarius, cp. El. 1302.

122. mvp-comment-92-1 ἔμπης (or ἔμπας) is to be joined in sense with ἐποικτείρω. It is strange that Hermann should have joined it to δύστηνον. Like ὅμως, εὐθύς, and other words, which strictly belong to the apodosis, ἔμπας verbally adheres to the protasis. Cp. infr. 563.

123. mvp-comment-93-1 'Because he is fast yoked with an evil doom.' The calamity from which he cannot disengage himself is imagined as a yokefellow of Ajax that is too strong for him.

128. mvp-comment-94-1 αὐτός] Odysseus is warned not to do as Ajax had done. Cp. infr. 773. Hence the emphatic pronoun.

129. mvp-comment-95-1 μηδ' ὄγκον ἄρῃ μηδέν'] 'Nor take on thee a lofty mien.' The middle voice (see above, l. 75) is here more appropriate. Cp. the expression ὄγκον περιθείναί τινι, Plut. Pericl. 4.

130. mvp-comment-96-1 χειρί] 'In might.' μακροῦ πλούτου βάθει] The v. r. βάρει may be supported from Eur. El. 1287, δότω πλούτου βάρος, but is less likely with βρίθεις preceding than βάθει, for which, cp. βαθύπλουτος. μακρός in poetry is often equivalent to μέγας. L. and S. s. v. 1. 4. Some new verb, such as πληθύεις, is to be supplied with βάθει.

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Athena I see. And the son of Laertes , how does his fortune with respect to you? Has he escaped you?

Ajax That blasted fox! You ask me where he is?

Athena Yes, I do. I mean Odysseus, your adversary.

Ajax My most pleasing prisoner, mistress, he sits inside. I do not wish him to die just yet. 105

Athena Until you do what? Or win what greater advantage?

Ajax Until he be bound to a pillar beneath my roof—

Athena What evil, then, will you inflict on the poor man?

Ajax —and have his back crimsoned by the lash, before he dies. 110

Athena Do not abuse the poor man so cruelly!

Ajax In all else, Athena, I bid you take your pleasure, but he will pay this penalty and no other.

Athena Well, then, since it delights you to do so, put your arm to use; spare no portion of your plan.

Ajax I go to my work. And I give you this commission: be always for me the close-standing ally that you have been for me today! Exit Ajax.

Athena Do you see, Odysseus, how great is the strength of the gods? Whom could you have found more prudent than this man, or better able to do what the situation demanded? 120

Odysseus I know of no one, but in his misery I pity him all the same, even though he hates me, because he is yoked beneath a ruinous delusion—I think of my own lot no less than his. For I see that all we who live are nothing more than phantoms or fleeting shadow. 125

Current edition Experimental

εἶεν, τί γὰρ δὴ παῖς ὁ τοῦ Λαερτίου, ποῦ σοι τύχης ἕστηκεν ἔστηκεν; ἢ πέφευγέ σε;

ΑΙΑΣ. ἢ τοὐπίτριπτον κίναδος ἐξήρου μ' ὅπου;

ΑΘΗΝΑ. ἔγωγ᾽· ᾿Ὀδυσσέα τὸν σὸν ἐνστάτην λέγω.

ΑΙΑΣ. ἥδιστος, ὦ δέσποινα, δεσμώτης ἔσω 105 θακεῖ θανεῖν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὔ τί πω θέλω.

ΑΘΗΝΑ. πρὶν ἂν τί δράσῃς ἢ τί κερδάνῃς κερδάνηισ κερδάνηις κερδάνεῖς πλέον ;

ΑΙΑΣ. πρὶν ἂν δεθεὶς πρὸς κίον ἑρκείου ἑρκίου στέγης

ΑΘΗΝΑ. τί δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ἐργάσει ἐργάση ἐργάσῃ κακόν;

ΑΙΑΣ. μάστιγι πρῶτον νῶτα φοινιχθεὶς θάνῃ. 110

ΑΘΗΝΑ. μὴ δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ὧδέ γ' αἰκίσῃ.

ΑΙΑΣ. χαίρειν, ᾿Αθάνα, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγώ σ᾽ ἐγωγέσ᾽ ἔγωγέ σ' ἐφίεμαι· κεῖνος δὲ τίσει τήνδε κοὐκ ἄλλην δίκην.

ΑΘΗΝΑ. σὺ δ᾽ οὖν, ἐπειδὴ τέρψις ἥδε σοι τὸ δρᾶν, χρῶ χειρί, φείδου μηδὲν ὧνπερ ἐννοεῖς ἐννέπεισ νοεῖς. 115

ΑΙΑΣ. χωρῶ πρὸς ἔργον· τοῦτό σοι δ᾽ ἐφίεμαι, τοιάνδ᾽ ἀεί μοι σύμμαχον παρεστάναι.

ΑΘΗΝΑ. ὁρᾷς, Ὀδυσσεῦ, τὴν θεῶν ἰσχὺν ὅση; τούτου τίς ἄν σοι τἀνδρὸς ἢ προνούστερος, ἢ δρᾶν ἀμείνων εὑρέθη τὰ καίρια; 120

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

Ἀθήνα εἶεν, τί γὰρ δὴ παῖς ὁ τοῦ Λαερτίου, ποῦ σοι τύχης ἕστηκεν; ἢ πέφευγέ σε;

Αἴας ἦ τοὐπίτριπτον κίναδος ἐξήρου μʼ ὅπου;

Ἀθήνα ἔγωγʼ· Ὀδυσσέα τὸν σὸν ἐνστάτην λέγω.

Αἴας ἥδιστος, ὦ δέσποινα, δεσμώτης ἔσω 105 θακεῖ· θανεῖν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὔ τί πω θέλω.

Ἀθήνα πρὶν ἂν τί δράσῃς ἢ τί κερδάνῃς πλέον;

Αἴας πρὶν ἂν δεθεὶς πρὸς κίονʼ ἑρκείου στέγης.

Ἀθήνα τί δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ἐργάσει κακόν;

Αἴας μάστιγι πρῶτον νῶτα φοινιχθεὶς θάνῃ. 110

Ἀθήνα μὴ δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ὧδέ γʼ αἰκίσῃ.

Αἴας χαίρειν, Ἀθάνα, τἄλλʼ ἐγώ σʼ ἐφίεμαι· κεῖνος δὲ τίσει τήνδε κοὐκ ἄλλην δίκην.

Ἀθήνα σὺ δʼ οὖν, ἐπειδὴ τέρψις ἥδε σοι τὸ δρᾶν, χρῶ χειρί, φείδου μηδὲν ὧνπερ ἐννοεῖς. 115

Αἴας χωρῶ πρὸς ἔργον· σοὶ δὲ τοῦτʼ ἐφίεμαι, τοιάνδʼ ἀεί μοι σύμμαχον παρεστάναι.

Ἀθήνα ὁρᾷς, Ὀδυσσεῦ, τὴν θεῶν ἰσχὺν ὅση; τούτου τίς ἄν σοι τἀνδρὸς ἢ προνούστερος ἢ δρᾶν ἀμείνων ηὑρέθη τὰ καίρια; 120

Good. Next inform us of Laërtes’ son; How stands his fortune? Hast thou let him go?

AI The accursed fox! Dost thou inquire of him?

ATH Ay, of Odysseus, thy late adversary.

AI He sits within, dear lady, to my joy, 105 Bound; for I mean him not just yet to die.

ATH What fine advantage wouldst thou first achieve?

AI First, tie him to a pillar of my hall—

ATH Poor wretch! What torment wilt thou wreak on him?

AI Then stain his back with scourging till he die. 110

ATH Nay, ’tis too much. Poor caitiff! Not the scourge!

AI Pallas, in all things else have thou thy will, But none shall wrest Odysseus from this doom.

ATH Well, since thou art determined on the deed, Spare nought of thine intent: indulge thy hand! 115

AI (.) I go! But thou, I charge thee, let thine aid Be evermore like valiant as to-day.

ATH The gods are strong, Odysseus. Dost thou see? What man than Aias was more provident, Or who for timeliest action more approved? 120

OD I know of none. But, though he hates me sore, I pity him, poor mortal, thus chained fast To a wild and cruel fate,—weighing not so much His fortune as mine own. For now I feel All we who live are but an empty show 125 And idle pageant of a shadowy dream.

CHORUS CHORUS (entering). CHORUS.

Gut; welches Schicksal aber traf Laertes' Sohn? Was thatst du diesem? Oder ist er dir entfloh'n?

Ajas. Nach jenem schlau durchtriebnen Fuchse fragst du mich?

Athene. Ja wohl; Odysseus mein' ich, der dein Gegner iſt.

Ajas. Der sizt, o Herrin, drinnen, gar ein süßer Fang, 105 Gebunden: sterben soll er mir noch nicht so schnell.

Athene. Was willst du schaffen, was gewinnen noch zuvor?

Ajas. Ich will ihn fesseln an die Säul' in meinem Zelt -

Athene. Und welches Uebel willst du da dem Armen thun?

Ajas. Vom Geißeln roth den Rücken, soll er sterben dort! 110

Athene. nicht so grausam schalte mit dem armen Mann!

Ajas. Gern' stell' ich alles Andre dir, o Pallas, heim; Doch also büßt der seine Schuld, und anders nicht!

Athene. Nun, wenn du Wohlgefallen hast an solchem Thun, Brauch deinen Arm, thu' Alles, wie du's ausgedacht! 115

Ajas. Ich geh' an's Werk, doch Eines bitt' ich noch von dir: Wie heute, sei mir allezeit hülfreich gesellt! Athene. Odysseus. (ab in das Zelt.)

Athene. Du siehst, Odysseus, wie der Götter Macht so groß: Wer ward erfunden weiser einst, als dieser Mann, Volführte besser, was der Augenblick gebot? 120

Der Chor.

Did th' Atridae feel Thy vengeful arm ?

Minerva If I understand thee, They are both dead. And take my arms away. Laertes' son, hath he escaped thy wrath ?

Ajax Talkst thou of him, that fox accursed ?

Minerva I mean Thy foe, Ulysses. The fairest of my spoils ; I have him here ; He shall not perish yet.

Minerva What 'vantage then M eanst thou to draw from his confinement ? I'll have him bound to the pillar.

Minerva And what then 110 Wouldst thou inflict ? 110 With many a bloody stripe, he shall be slain. 110

Minerva Do not torment him thus.

Athena

I see. And the son of Laertes , how does his fortune with respect to you? Has he escaped you?

Ajax

That blasted fox! You ask me where he is?

Athena

Yes, I do. I mean Odysseus, your adversary.

Ajax

My most pleasing prisoner, mistress, he sits inside. I do not wish him to die just yet.
105

Athena

Until you do what? Or win what greater advantage?

Ajax

Until he be bound to a pillar beneath my roof—

Athena

What evil, then, will you inflict on the poor man?

Ajax

—and have his back crimsoned by the lash, before he dies.
110

Athena

Do not abuse the poor man so cruelly!

Ajax

In all else, Athena, I bid you take your pleasure, but he will pay this penalty and no other.

Athena

Well, then, since it delights you to do so, put your arm to use; spare no portion of your plan.

Ajax

I go to my work. And I give you this commission: be always for me the close-standing ally that you have been for me today!

Exit Ajax.

Athena

Do you see, Odysseus, how great is the strength of the gods? Whom could you have found more prudent than this man,

or better able to do what the situation demanded?
120

Odysseus

I know of no one, but in his misery I pity him all the same, even though he hates me, because he is yoked beneath a ruinous delusion—I think of my own lot no less than his.

For I see that all we who live are nothing more than phantoms or fleeting shadow.
125

εἶεν, τί γὰρ δὴ παῖς ὁ τοῦ Λαερτίου,

ποῦ σοι τύχης ἕστηκεν ἔστηκεν; ἢ πέφευγέ σε;

ΑΙΑΣ.

ἢ τοὐπίτριπτον κίναδος ἐξήρου μ' ὅπου;

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

ἔγωγ᾽· ᾿Ὀδυσσέα τὸν σὸν ἐνστάτην λέγω.

ΑΙΑΣ.

ἥδιστος, ὦ δέσποινα, δεσμώτης ἔσω
105

θακεῖ θανεῖν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὔ τί πω θέλω.

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

πρὶν ἂν τί δράσῃς ἢ τί κερδάνῃς κερδάνηισ κερδάνηις κερδάνεῖς πλέον ;

ΑΙΑΣ.

πρὶν ἂν δεθεὶς πρὸς κίον ἑρκείου ἑρκίου στέγης

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

τί δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ἐργάσει ἐργάση ἐργάσῃ κακόν;

ΑΙΑΣ.

μάστιγι πρῶτον νῶτα φοινιχθεὶς θάνῃ.
110

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

μὴ δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ὧδέ γ' αἰκίσῃ.

ΑΙΑΣ.

χαίρειν, ᾿Αθάνα, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγώ σ᾽ ἐγωγέσ᾽ ἔγωγέ σ' ἐφίεμαι·

κεῖνος δὲ τίσει τήνδε κοὐκ ἄλλην δίκην.

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

σὺ δ᾽ οὖν, ἐπειδὴ τέρψις ἥδε σοι τὸ δρᾶν,

χρῶ χειρί, φείδου μηδὲν ὧνπερ ἐννοεῖς ἐννέπεισ νοεῖς.
115

ΑΙΑΣ.

χωρῶ πρὸς ἔργον· τοῦτό σοι δ᾽ ἐφίεμαι,

τοιάνδ᾽ ἀεί μοι σύμμαχον παρεστάναι.

ΑΘΗΝΑ.

ὁρᾷς, Ὀδυσσεῦ, τὴν θεῶν ἰσχὺν ὅση;

τούτου τίς ἄν σοι τἀνδρὸς ἢ προνούστερος,

ἢ δρᾶν ἀμείνων εὑρέθη τὰ καίρια;
120

Ἀθήνα

εἶεν, τί γὰρ δὴ παῖς ὁ τοῦ Λαερτίου,

ποῦ σοι τύχης ἕστηκεν; ἢ πέφευγέ σε;

Αἴας

ἦ τοὐπίτριπτον κίναδος ἐξήρου μʼ ὅπου;

Ἀθήνα

ἔγωγʼ· Ὀδυσσέα τὸν σὸν ἐνστάτην λέγω.

Αἴας

ἥδιστος, ὦ δέσποινα, δεσμώτης ἔσω
105

θακεῖ· θανεῖν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὔ τί πω θέλω.

Ἀθήνα

πρὶν ἂν τί δράσῃς ἢ τί κερδάνῃς πλέον;

Αἴας

πρὶν ἂν δεθεὶς πρὸς κίονʼ ἑρκείου στέγης.

Ἀθήνα

τί δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ἐργάσει κακόν;

Αἴας

μάστιγι πρῶτον νῶτα φοινιχθεὶς θάνῃ.
110

Ἀθήνα

μὴ δῆτα τὸν δύστηνον ὧδέ γʼ αἰκίσῃ.

Αἴας

χαίρειν, Ἀθάνα, τἄλλʼ ἐγώ σʼ ἐφίεμαι·

κεῖνος δὲ τίσει τήνδε κοὐκ ἄλλην δίκην.

Ἀθήνα

σὺ δʼ οὖν, ἐπειδὴ τέρψις ἥδε σοι τὸ δρᾶν,

χρῶ χειρί, φείδου μηδὲν ὧνπερ ἐννοεῖς.
115

Αἴας

χωρῶ πρὸς ἔργον· σοὶ δὲ τοῦτʼ ἐφίεμαι,

τοιάνδʼ ἀεί μοι σύμμαχον παρεστάναι.

Ἀθήνα

ὁρᾷς, Ὀδυσσεῦ, τὴν θεῶν ἰσχὺν ὅση;

τούτου τίς ἄν σοι τἀνδρὸς ἢ προνούστερος

ἢ δρᾶν ἀμείνων ηὑρέθη τὰ καίρια;
120

Good. Next inform us of Laërtes’ son;

How stands his fortune? Hast thou let him go?

AI

The accursed fox! Dost thou inquire of him?

ATH

Ay, of Odysseus, thy late adversary.

AI

He sits within, dear lady, to my joy,
105

Bound; for I mean him not just yet to die.

ATH

What fine advantage wouldst thou first achieve?

AI

First, tie him to a pillar of my hall—

ATH

Poor wretch! What torment wilt thou wreak on him?

AI

Then stain his back with scourging till he die.
110

ATH

Nay, ’tis too much. Poor caitiff! Not the scourge!

AI

Pallas, in all things else have thou thy will,

But none shall wrest Odysseus from this doom.

ATH

Well, since thou art determined on the deed,

Spare nought of thine intent: indulge thy hand!
115

AI

(.)

I go! But thou, I charge thee, let thine aid

Be evermore like valiant as to-day.

ATH

The gods are strong, Odysseus. Dost thou see?

What man than Aias was more provident,

Or who for timeliest action more approved?
120

OD

I know of none. But, though he hates me sore,

I pity him, poor mortal, thus chained fast

To a wild and cruel fate,—weighing not so much

His fortune as mine own. For now I feel

All we who live are but an empty show
125

And idle pageant of a shadowy dream.

CHORUS
CHORUS (entering). CHORUS.

Gut; welches Schicksal aber traf Laertes' Sohn?

Was thatst du diesem? Oder ist er dir entfloh'n?

Ajas.

Nach jenem schlau durchtriebnen Fuchse fragst du mich?

Athene.

Ja wohl; Odysseus mein' ich, der dein Gegner iſt.

Ajas.

Der sizt, o Herrin, drinnen, gar ein süßer Fang,
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Gebunden: sterben soll er mir noch nicht so schnell.

Athene.

Was willst du schaffen, was gewinnen noch zuvor?

Ajas.

Ich will ihn fesseln an die Säul' in meinem Zelt -

Athene.

Und welches Uebel willst du da dem Armen thun?

Ajas.

Vom Geißeln roth den Rücken, soll er sterben dort!
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Athene.

nicht so grausam schalte mit dem armen Mann!

Ajas.

Gern' stell' ich alles Andre dir, o Pallas, heim;

Doch also büßt der seine Schuld, und anders nicht!

Athene.

Nun, wenn du Wohlgefallen hast an solchem Thun,

Brauch deinen Arm, thu' Alles, wie du's ausgedacht!
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Ajas.

Ich geh' an's Werk, doch Eines bitt' ich noch von dir:

Wie heute, sei mir allezeit hülfreich gesellt!

Athene. Odysseus. (ab in das Zelt.)

Athene.

Du siehst, Odysseus, wie der Götter Macht so groß:

Wer ward erfunden weiser einst, als dieser Mann,

Volführte besser, was der Augenblick gebot?
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Did th' Atridae feel

Thy vengeful arm ?

Minerva

If I understand thee,

They are both dead.

And take my arms away.

Laertes' son, hath he escaped thy wrath ?

Ajax

Talkst thou of him, that fox accursed ?

Minerva

I mean

Thy foe, Ulysses.

The fairest of my spoils ; I have him here ;

He shall not perish yet.

Minerva

What 'vantage then

M eanst thou to draw from his confinement ?

I'll have him bound to the pillar.

Minerva

And what then
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Wouldst thou inflict ?
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With many a bloody stripe, he shall be slain.
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Minerva

Do not torment him thus.

Minerva

would I gratify thy will,

But this, and this alone must be his fate.

Minerva

Since 'tis so pleasing to thee, be it so.

Nor quit thy purpose.

Thus, great Minerva, mayst thou ever smile
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Propitious on me, and assist thy Ajax ! [Exit.
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Minerva
Scene III.

Ulysses.

Minerva

Behold, Ulysses, here the mighty strength

Of power divine : lived there a man more wise,

Ulysses

None, none indeed ; alas ! I pity him ;

E'en in a foe I pity such distress.

For he is wedded to the worst of woes :

His hapless state reminds me of my own.

And tells me that frail mortals are no more
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Than a vain image and an empty shade.