Sophocles, Ajax, Richard Jebb (Translator), 1316

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Enter Odysseus.

Chorus

Lord Odysseus, you arrive at the right time, if mediation, not division, is your purpose in coming.

Odysseus

What is the trouble, friends? From far off I heard shouting from the Atreidae over this brave man’s corpse.

Agamemnon

Is it not because we, Lord Odysseus, have long had to hear the worst, most shameful language from this man?
1320

Odysseus

How so? I can pardon a man a retaliatory barrage of abuse if another has insulted him.

Agamemnon

I insulted him, since his conduct toward me was of the same stripe.

Odysseus

And what did he do that harmed you?
1325

Agamemnon

He declares that he will not leave this corpse without due burial, but will entomb it in spite of me.

Odysseus

Then may a friend speak the truth, and still remain your helpmate no less than before?

Agamemnon

Speak. Otherwise I would be less than sane, since I count you my greatest friend among all the Greeks.
1330

Odysseus

Listen, then. In the name of the gods, do not let yourself so ruthlessly cast this man out unburied. Do not in any way let the violence of your hatred overcome you

so much that you trample justice under foot. To me, too, this man was once the most hostile enemy in the army from the day on which I beat him for possession of Achilles’ arms. Yet for all that he was hostile towards me, I would not dishonor him in return or refuse to admit
1335

that in all our Greek force at Troy he was, in my view, the best and bravest, excepting Achilles. It would not be just, then, that he should be dishonored by you. It is not he, but the laws given by the gods that you would damage. When a good man is dead, there is no justice
1340

in doing him harm, not even if you hate him.
1345

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 (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1316 focus

ἄναξ Ὀδυσσεῦ, καιρὸν ἴσθ᾽ ἐληλυθώς,

εἰ μὴ ξυνάψων, ἀλλὰ συλλύσων πάρει.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἄνδρες; τηλόθεν γὰρ ᾐσθόμην

βοὴν ᾿Ατρειδῶν τῷδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἀλκίμῳ νεκρῷ.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ.

οὐ γὰρ κλύοντές ἐσμεν κλύοντεσ ἐσμὲν αἰσχίστους λόγους,
1320

ἄναξ Ὀδυσσεῦ, τοῦδ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως;

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

ποίους; ἐγὼ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ συγγνώμην ἔχω

κλύοντι φλαῦρα συμβαλεῖν ἔπη κακά.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ.

ἤκουσεν αἰσχρά· δρῶν γὰρ ἦν τοιαῦτά με.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

τί γάρ σ᾽ γὰρ γὰρ σ' ἔδρασεν, ὥστε καὶ βλάβην ἔχειν;
1325

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ.

οὔ φησ᾽ ἐάσειν τόνδε τὸν νεκρὸν ταφῆς

ἄμοιρον, ἀλλὰ πρὸς βίαν θάψειν ἐμοῦ ἐμοὶ σοῦ θάψειν ἐμοῦ.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

ἔξεστιν οὖν εἰπόντι τἀληθῆ τἀληθῆ· φίλῳ

σοὶ μηδὲν ἦσσον ἢ πάρος ξυνηρετεῖν ξυνηρεμεῖν ξυνηρετμεῖν;

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ.

εἴπ· ἢ γὰρ εἴην ἐπείγ᾽ ἂν εἴην ἦπου γ'᾽ ἂν εἴπ᾿ ἡ γὰρ εἴην οὐκ ἂν εὐ φρονῶν, ἐπεὶ
1330

φίλον σ᾽ ἐγὼ μέγιστον ᾿Αργείων νέμω.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

ἄκουέ νυν. τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδε πρὸς θεῶν

μὴ τλῇς ἄθαπτον ὧδ᾽ ἀναλγήτως βαλεῖν·

μηδ᾽ ἡ βία σε μηδαμῶς νικησάτω

τοσόνδε τὸ σὸν δὲ τοσόνδε μισεῖν ὥστε τὴν δίκην πατεῖν.
1335

κἀμοὶ γὰρ ἦν ποθ᾽ οὗτος ἔχθιστος στρατοῦ,

ἐξ οὗ 'κράτησα κράτησα τῶν ᾿Αχιλλείων ὅπλων·

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὸν ἔμπας ἔμπα ἔμπασ ἔμπης ὅμως ὄντ᾽ ἐγὼ τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμοὶ

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

οὐκ ἀντατιμάσαιμ᾽ ἂν ἀτιμάσαιμ' οὖν ἀτιμάσαιμ᾽ ἀν ἀτιμάσαιμ' ἄν, ὥστε μὴ λέγειν

ἕν᾽ ἄνδρ᾿ ἰδεῖν ἄριστον ᾿Αργείων, ὅσοι
1340

Τροίαν ἀφικόμεσθα, πλὴν ᾿Αχιλλέως.

ὥστ᾽ οὐκ ἂν ἐνδίκως γ᾽ ἀτιμάζοιτό σοι·

οὐ γάρ τι τοῦτον, ἀλλὰ τοὺς θεῶν νόμους

φθείροις ἄν. ἄνδρα δ᾽ οὐ ἀνδρ᾽ οὐ δίκαιον, εἰ θάνοι,

βλάπτειν τὸν ἐσθλόν, οὐδ᾽ ἐὰν μισῶν κυρῇς.
1345

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1316 focus

Χορός

ἄναξ, Ὀδυσσεῦ, καιρὸν ἴσθʼ ἐληλυθώς,

εἰ μὴ ξυνάψων, ἀλλὰ συλλύσων πάρει.

Ὀδυσσεύς

τί δʼ ἔστιν, ἄνδρες; τηλόθεν γὰρ ᾐσθόμην

βοὴν Ἀτρειδῶν τῷδʼ ἐπʼ ἀλκίμῳ νεκρῷ.

Ἀγαμέμνων

οὐ γὰρ κλύοντές ἐσμεν αἰσχίστους λόγους,
1320

ἄναξ Ὀδυσσεῦ, τοῦδʼ ὑπʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως;

Ὀδυσσεύς

ποίους; ἐγὼ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ συγγνώμην ἔχω

κλύοντι φλαῦρα συμβαλεῖν ἔπη κακά.

Ἀγαμέμνων

ἤκουσεν αἰσχρά· δρῶν γὰρ ἦν τοιαῦτά με.

Ὀδυσσεύς

τί γάρ σʼ ἔδρασεν, ὥστε καὶ βλάβην ἔχειν;
1325

Ἀγαμέμνων

οὔ φησʼ ἐάσειν τόνδε τὸν νεκρὸν ταφῆς

ἄμοιρον, ἀλλὰ πρὸς βίαν θάψειν ἐμοῦ.

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἔξεστιν οὖν εἰπόντι τἀληθῆ φίλῳ

σοὶ μηδὲν ἧσσον ἢ πάρος ξυνηρετεῖν;

Ἀγαμέμνων

εἴπʼ· ἦ γὰρ εἴην οὐκ ἂν εὖ φρονῶν, ἐπεὶ
1330

φίλον σʼ ἐγὼ μέγιστον Ἀργείων νέμω.

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἄκουέ νυν. τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδε πρὸς θεῶν

μὴ τλῇς ἄθαπτον ὧδʼ ἀναλγήτως βαλεῖν·

μηδʼ ἡ βία σε μηδαμῶς νικησάτω

τοσόνδε μισεῖν ὥστε τὴν δίκην πατεῖν.
1335

κἀμοὶ γὰρ ἦν ποθʼ οὗτος ἔχθιστος στρατοῦ,

ἐξ οὗ ʼκράτησα τῶν Ἀχιλλείων ὅπλων,

ἀλλʼ αὐτὸν ἔμπας ὄντʼ ἐγὼ τοιόνδʼ ἐμοὶ

οὐκ ἀντατιμάσαιμʼ ἄν, ὥστε μὴ λέγειν

ἕνʼ ἄνδρʼ ἰδεῖν ἄριστον Ἀργείων, ὅσοι
1340

Τροίαν ἀφικόμεσθα, πλὴν Ἀχιλλέως.

ὥστʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐνδίκως γʼ ἀτιμάζοιτό σοι·

οὐ γάρ τι τοῦτον, ἀλλὰ τοὺς θεῶν νόμους

φθείροις ἄν. ἄνδρα δʼ οὐ δίκαιον, εἰ θάνοι,

βλάπτειν τὸν ἐσθλόν, οὐδʼ ἐὰν μισῶν κυρῇς.
1345

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1316 focus

Hail, Lord Odysseus! thou art come in time

Not to begin, but help to end, a fray.

OD
Enter ODYSSEUS .

What quarrel, sirs? I well perceived from far

The kings high-voicing o’er the valiant dead.

AG

Yea, Lord Odysseus, for our ears are full
1320

Of this man’s violent heart-offending talk.

OD

What words have passed? I cannot blame the man

Who meets foul speech with bitterness of tongue.

AG

My speech was bitter, for his deeds were foul.

OD

What deed of his could harm thy sovereign head?
1325

AG

He boldly says this corse shall not be left

Unburied, but he’ll bury it in our spite.

OD

May I then speak true counsel to my friend,

And pull with thee in policy as of yore?

AG

Speak. I were else a madman; for no friend
1330

Of all the Argeians do I count thy peer.

OD

Then hear me in Heaven’s name! Be not so hard

Thus without ruth tombless to cast him forth;

Nor be so vanquished by a vehement will,

That to thy hate even Justice’ self must bow.
1335

I, too, had him for my worst enemy,

Since I gained mastery o’er Pelides’ arms.

But though he used me so, I ne’er will grudge

For his proud scorn to yield him thus much honour,

That, save Achilles’ self, I have not seen
1340

So noble an Argive on the fields of Troy.

Then ’twere not just in thee to slight him now;

Nor would thy treatment wound him, but confound

The laws of Heaven. No hatred should have scope

To offend the noble spirits of the dead.
1345

AG

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1316 focus

O Fürst Odysseus, recht zur Zeit erscheinst du hier,

Wenn du den Streit versöhnen, nicht entflammen willst.
1270

Odysseus.

Was ist es, Männer? Denn entfernt vernahm ich schon

Das Schrei'n der Feldherrn bei des Helden Leiche hier.

Agamemnon.

Und mußt' ich denn nicht eben Schmach der schnödsten Art,

O Fürst Odysseus, hören von dem Manne da?

Odysseus.

Und welche? Nachsicht hab' ich wohl für einen Mann,
1275

Der schlimmer Rede böses Wort entgegensezt.

Agamemnon.

Er hörte Schnödes; denn er that mir Schnödes an.

Odysseus.

Und was begann er Arges, das dir kränkend war?

Agamemnon.

Nicht lassen will er ohne Grab den Todten dort,

Nein, mir zum Troze, sagt er, ihn beerdigen.
1280

Odysseus.

Vergönnst du wohl dem Freunde, wenn er Wahres spricht,

Nicht minder dein Genosse, denn zuvor, zu sein?

Agamemnon.

Sprich immer; thöricht wär' ich sonst und achte ja

Als meiner Freunde besten dich in Argos' Heer.

Odysseus.

So höre denn. Bei allen Göttern, laß den Mann
1285

Nicht ohne Grab himwerfen so fühllosen Sinns;

Auch laß dich niemals durch die Macht bewältigen

Zu solchem Hasse, daß du kühn das Recht zertrittst.

Auch mich vor Allen haßt' er einst in Argos' Heer,

Seitdem Achilleus' Waffen ich als Preis gewann;
1290

Und dennoch möcht' ich, war er auch mein bittrer Feind,

Ihn also nicht beschimpfen, daß ich läugnete,

Daß unter Allen, die geschifft vor Ilion,

Er, außer Peleus' großem Sohn, der beste war.

Drum wär' es unrecht, würd' er jezt von dir beschimpft.
1295

Du würdest ihn nicht, aber wohl der Götter Recht

In ihm verlezen; Frevel ist's, den edlen Mann

Zu schmäh'n im Tode, wenn wir ihn auch einst gehaßt.

Agamemnon.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1316 focus

Thy cause ; for know, the language which thou tallest
1320

Is barbai'ous, and I understand thee not.

Chorus

I can but wish that wisdom may attend

To guide you both.

Teucer

Alas ! how very soon

Are all the merits of the dead forgotten !

Already lost, e'en by the man for whom

Thy life so oft was ventured in the field?

But now 'tis past, and buried in oblivion.

Thou wordy slanderer ! Canst thou not remember

When, biiffled and unequal to the foe,

Close pent within the walls our forces lay —

Canst thou not call to mind who came alone

To your deliverance, when devouring flames

Towered o'er our ships, when Hector leaped the fosse

And rushed amongst us? Then who fought for Greece?

Who drove him back, but Ajax, who, thou sayst,

Could never fight ? Did he not fight for you ]

He met the noble Hector hand to hand,

Unbidden dared the fortune of the field.

He scorned the coward's art to fix his lot

In the moist earth : fortli from the crested helmet

It sprang the first. Such were the deeds of Ajax,

And I was witness of them — I, the slave.

For so thou call'st me, sprung from a barbarian.

How dares a wretch like thee to talk of birth 1

Who was thy grandsire ? Canst thou not remember

That old barbarian, Phrygian Pelops, tell me?

Who was thy father — Atreus, was he not?

That worst of men, who at a brother's table

Served up his children — horrible repast !

Thy mother, too, a Cretan and a slave —

A vile adultress, whom thy father caught

And headlong cast into the sea, Shalt thou

Talk then to me of birth — to me, the son

Of valiant Telamon, renowned in war.

And wedded to a queen, the royal race

Of great Laomedon, and fairest gift

Of famed Alcides 1 Thus of noble blood

From either parent sprung, shall I disgrace

The man whom thou, inhuman, wouldst still keep

Unburied here 1 Dost thou not blush to think on't ?

But, mark me well ! If thou dost cast him forth,

Not he alone inglorious on the plain

Shall lie — together we will perish all :

To die with glory in a brother's cause

la better far than fighting for the wife

Of AgJimemnou or of Menolaus :

For thy own snke, aiul not for mine, remember,

If thou provoke me, thou' It be sorry for it,

And wish thou'dst rather feared than angered Teu(;er.

Ulysses
Scene II.

Agamemnon, Menelaus, Teucer, Chorus.

CiiOR. IJlysses, if thou meanst not to inflame,

But to compose this dreadful strife, thou com'st

In happiest hour.

Ulysses

Far ofi" I heard the voice

Of the Atride o’er this wretched course ;

Whence rose the clamour, friends 1

Menelaus

With bitterest words

This Teucer here, Ulysses, has reviled me.

Ulysses

What words 1 For if he heard the same from
1325

thee,
1325

I blame him not.
1325

Agamemnon

He did provoke me to it.

Ulysses

What injury hath he done thee ?

Agamemnon

He declares
1330

The body shall have sepulture, himself
1330

And of my power.

Ulysses

Shall I be free, and speak

The truth to thee, without reproach or blame ?

Agamemnon

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1316 focus

In happy hour, Ulysses, art thou come,

If not to heighten, but allay this strife.

Ulysses

Soldiers, what strife? for our imperial chief

Loud o'er this brave man's corse I heard from far.

Agamemnon

E'en now, O king Ulysses, from this man
1320

The basest language of reproach I heard.

Ulysses

Reproach! I blame not him who, when reviled,

Retorts indignant the ungracious words.

Agamemnon

Him I rebuked for his base deeds to me.

Ulysses

What hath he done to merit such rebuke?
1325

Agamemnon

He will not suffer, he declares, this corse

To lie unhonour'd with sepulchral rites,

But will entomb it, and defies my pow'r.

Ulysses

Is then a friend allow'd to speak the truth,

The former bond of concord yet preserved ?

Agamemnon

Speak; I were else unwise: for thee I deem
1330

Of all the Grecians most my faithful friend.

Ulysses

Then hear me. By the gods, remorseless thus

Form not the thought to cast this body forth

Unburied; nor let violence transport

Thy soul so far to hate, as under foot

To trample justice. Once he was to me
1335

Of all the camp most hostile, from the time

I triumph'd in the contest for the arms

Of lost Achilles: yet, though such his mind

To me averse, I would not wrong his worth,

Refusing to his valour this just praise,

That him, of all the Grecian chiefs who march'd
1340

To Troy, I saw the bravest in the field,

Except Achilles. Such a man by thee

Unjustly were dishonour'd: not to him,

But to the gods, and to their sacred laws

This were offence. A brave man, when no more,

Though hated once, it is unjust to wrong.
1345

Agamemnon

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-779-1 καιρὸν ¹ ξυνάψων ² συλλύσων ³

mvp-comment-779-2 1318 f. The conciliatory temper of Odysseus is marked at once by the courteous form of address,

ἄνδρες

,—by the honourable patronymic

Ἀτρειδῶν

,—and by the designation of Ajax as

ἄλκιμος

mvp-comment-779-3 βοὴν Ἀτρειδῶν ⁴

mvp-comment-780-1 οὐ γὰρ ⁵

mvp-comment-780-2 κλύοντές ἐσμεν ⁶

mvp-comment-780-3 ἀρτίως ⁷

mvp-comment-781-1 φλαῦρα ⁸

mvp-comment-781-2 συμβαλεῖν ἔπη κακά ⁹

mvp-comment-781-3 κακά ¹⁰

mvp-comment-782-1 ἤκουσεν αἰσχρά ¹¹

mvp-comment-783-1 ὥστε καὶ βλάβην ἔχειν ¹²

mvp-comment-784-1 οὐ φήσ’ ἐάσειν ¹³ ἀλλὰ … θάψειν ¹⁴

mvp-comment-784-2 ταφῆς ἄμοιρον ¹⁵

mvp-comment-785-1 ξυνηρετεῖν ¹⁶ ξυνηρετμεῖν ¹⁷ ξυνηρετεῖν ¹⁸

mvp-comment-785-2 For the metaphor, cp. Ant. 541

ξύμπλουν

(n.). In Aesch. Ag. 842 the king says of Odysseus,

ζευχθεὶς ἕτοιμος ἦν ἐμοὶ σειραφόρος

mvp-comment-786-1 ἦ γὰρ εἴην οὐκ ἂν εὖ φρονῶν ¹⁹ οὐκ ²⁰

mvp-comment-787-1 φίλον … μέγιστον ²¹

mvp-comment-788-1 τλῇς ²²

mvp-comment-788-2 βαλεῖν ²³

mvp-comment-789-1 ἡ βία ²⁴ νικησάτω ²⁵

mvp-comment-789-2 πατεῖν ²⁶

mvp-comment-790-1 ἔχθιστος ²⁷

mvp-comment-790-2 )κράτησα ²⁸

mvp-comment-791-1 ἔμπας ²⁹

mvp-comment-791-2 ἀντατιμάσαιμ’ ³⁰ οὔ τἂν ἀτιμάσαιμ’ ³¹ οὔκουν ³² οὐκ οὖν ³³

mvp-comment-792-1 ἕν’ ἄνδρ’ … ἄριστον ³⁴

mvp-comment-793-1 πλὴν Ἀχιλλέως ³⁵

mvp-comment-794-1 τοὺς θεῶν νόμους ³⁶

mvp-comment-795-1 τὸν ἐσθλὸν ἄνδρα ³⁷

mvp-comment-795-2 εἰ θάνοι ³⁸

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

1316. mvp-comment-843-1 καιρόν] For this adverbial accusative, cp. supr. 34 and note: Pind. Pyth. 1. 156, καιρὸν εἰ φθέγξαιο.

1316-1317. mvp-comment-844-1 (1) 'If you are come not to entangle, but to assist in adjusting this matter.' Or, (2) 'If not in time to begin the fray, at all events you are here to help in ending it.' The expression seems in either case to be proverbial. In support of (2) it may be said that the Chorus can have no doubt that the coming of Odysseus will help to compose strife. In this case (2) the verbs ἴσθι, πάρει, without connecting particle, may be either viewed as an asyndeton, or πάρει may be regarded as a resumption of ἐληλυθώς, returning to the indicative mood. The interpretation turns upon the question, which is the more natural image, that of a knot (or complication), for which, cp. Ant. 40, λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ 'φάπτουσα, or that of joining battle ( ξυνάπτειν τινὰς ἐς μάχην, νείκεα λύειν). 'Odysseus comes at the end of a fray.'

1319. mvp-comment-845-1 τῷδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἀλκίμῳ νεκρῷ] The difference of Odysseus' spirit is at once seen in this tribute to the valour of his enemy. The part taken by him here is in accordance with his feeling in Od. 11. 548-51, ὡς δὴ μὴ ὄφελον νικᾶν τοιῷδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἀέθλῳ· | τοίην γὰρ κεφαλὴν ἕνεκ᾿ αὐτῶν γαῖα κατέσχεν, | Αἴανθ', ὃς πέρι μὲν εἶδος, πέρι δ᾽ ἔργα τέτυκτο | τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν, μετ᾿ ἀμύμονα Πηλείωνα.

1322-1323. mvp-comment-846-1 Odysseus will not commit himself to a condemnation of Teucer till he knows what has been said. 'Perhaps he only spoke under provocation.' Ср. O. T. 523, 4, ἀλλ᾽ ἦλθε μὲν δὴ τοῦτο τοῦνειδος τάχ᾽ ἂν | ὀργῇ βιασθὲν μᾶλλον ἢ γνώμῃ φρενῶν.

1323. mvp-comment-847-1 συμβαλεῖν] For this epexegetic inf. cp. Thuc. 3. 40. § 1, ξυγγνώμην ἁμαρτεῖν ἀνθρωπίνως λήψονται. συμβαλεῖν] Sc. τοῖς φλαύροις.

1324-1325. mvp-comment-848-1 Teucer had as yet done nothing, but only expressed an intention which Agamemnon treats as an act. Odysseus ironically professes not to understand him. He is not aware that Teucer has done any harm.

1326-1327. mvp-comment-849-1 Here, as in Ant. 485, εἰ ταῦτ᾽ ἀνατὶ τῇδε κείσεται κράτη, the defence of a right is censured by the tyrant as an act of tyranny.

1328. mvp-comment-850-1 φίλῳ may be taken in three ways, (1) agreeing with the subject of εἰπόντι, 'May a friend say the truth without offence?' or (2) agreeing with the remote object of εἰπόντι, 'May one speak the truth to a friend without offence?' or (3) agreeing with σοί in l. 1329, 'May one speak the truth and still work with you as my friend?' The choice lies between (1) and (2): and the comparison of l. 1331, φίλον σ᾽ ἐγώ, κ.τ.λ., inclines the balance in favour of (1).

1329. mvp-comment-851-1 Although ξυνηρεμεῖν, the reading of L pr. is not a vox nihili, —see L. and S., ξυνηρετεῖν, following the analogy of ὑπηρετεῖν, is much more probable, and the letter erased above the μ in L (see v. rr.) was probably T, so that ξυνηρετμεῖν has arisen from a confusion of the two readings. It has been tolerated even by some modern editors, though less supported by analogy than either ξυνηρετεῖν or ξυνηρεμεῖν.

1330. mvp-comment-852-1 εἴην . . φρονῶν] Sc. εἰ μὴ οὕτως εἶχεν, according to a common idiom.

1334. mvp-comment-853-1 ἡ βία] 'The spirit of tyranny.' Cp. infr. 1357. For a similar use of ἀρχή, cp. Thuc. 3. 82. § 16.

1335. mvp-comment-854-1 τοσόνδε μισεῖν] 'To carry hate so far.' The absolute use of the verb is noticeable. Cp. El. 357, σὺ δ' ἡμὶν ἡ μισοῦσα μισεῖς μὲν λόγῳ.

1336. mvp-comment-855-1 καμοί] 'To me also,' as well as to you and Menelaus.

1337. mvp-comment-856-1 Cp. Phil. 1292, πρότεινε χεῖρα, καὶ κράτει τῶν σῶν ὅπλων: Thuc. 3. 47, ἐπειδή τε ὅπλων ἐκράτησεν.

1339. mvp-comment-857-1 οὐκ *ἀντατιμάσαιμ' ἄν] This reading, though found in no MS., is nearer to the first hand of L, and also more pointed, than οὔκουν ἀτ. ἄv, the reading of C and some inferior MSS. ἀντατιμάζω does not occur elsewhere, but is supported by the analogy of ἀνταδικεῖν.

1340. mvp-comment-858-1 ἕν᾿ ἄνδρ᾿ ἰδεῖν ἄριστον ᾿Αργείων] 'That he stood alone, so far as I could see, as the noblest of the Argives.' ἕν᾿ ἄνδρα is here intensive. Cp. Aesch. Pers. 327, εἰς ἀνὴρ πλεῖστον πόνον . . παρασχών.

1341. mvp-comment-859-1 πλὴν ᾿Αχιλλέως] Cp. the lines of the 11th Odyssey quoted above, note on 1319; and Alcaeus, Fr. 48, τὸν ἄριστον πέδ᾽ ᾿Αχίλλεα: Pind. Nem. 7. 40, κράτιστον ᾿Αχιλέος ἄτερ.

1342. mvp-comment-860-1 ἀτιμάζοιτο] The passive, while emphasizing the verb, avoids the 2nd person. (E. on L. § 31. p. 1. 53 a, p. 1. 54 b.)

1344-1345. mvp-comment-861-1 εἰ θάνοι] For the optative in supposing a general case, see Essay on L. § 36. p. 61a (1) . Join ἄνδρα . . τὸν ἐσθλόν.

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Chorus Lord Odysseus, you arrive at the right time, if mediation, not division, is your purpose in coming.

Odysseus What is the trouble, friends? From far off I heard shouting from the Atreidae over this brave man’s corpse.

Agamemnon Is it not because we, Lord Odysseus, have long had to hear the worst, most shameful language from this man? 1320

Odysseus How so? I can pardon a man a retaliatory barrage of abuse if another has insulted him.

Agamemnon I insulted him, since his conduct toward me was of the same stripe.

Odysseus And what did he do that harmed you? 1325

Agamemnon He declares that he will not leave this corpse without due burial, but will entomb it in spite of me.

Odysseus Then may a friend speak the truth, and still remain your helpmate no less than before?

Agamemnon Speak. Otherwise I would be less than sane, since I count you my greatest friend among all the Greeks. 1330

Current edition Experimental

ἄναξ Ὀδυσσεῦ, καιρὸν ἴσθ᾽ ἐληλυθώς, εἰ μὴ ξυνάψων, ἀλλὰ συλλύσων πάρει.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ. τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἄνδρες; τηλόθεν γὰρ ᾐσθόμην βοὴν ᾿Ατρειδῶν τῷδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἀλκίμῳ νεκρῷ.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ. οὐ γὰρ κλύοντές ἐσμεν κλύοντεσ ἐσμὲν αἰσχίστους λόγους, 1320 ἄναξ Ὀδυσσεῦ, τοῦδ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως;

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ. ποίους; ἐγὼ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ συγγνώμην ἔχω κλύοντι φλαῦρα συμβαλεῖν ἔπη κακά.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ. ἤκουσεν αἰσχρά· δρῶν γὰρ ἦν τοιαῦτά με.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ. τί γάρ σ᾽ γὰρ γὰρ σ' ἔδρασεν, ὥστε καὶ βλάβην ἔχειν; 1325

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ. οὔ φησ᾽ ἐάσειν τόνδε τὸν νεκρὸν ταφῆς ἄμοιρον, ἀλλὰ πρὸς βίαν θάψειν ἐμοῦ ἐμοὶ σοῦ θάψειν ἐμοῦ.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ. ἔξεστιν οὖν εἰπόντι τἀληθῆ τἀληθῆ· φίλῳ σοὶ μηδὲν ἦσσον ἢ πάρος ξυνηρετεῖν ξυνηρεμεῖν ξυνηρετμεῖν;

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ. εἴπ· ἢ γὰρ εἴην ἐπείγ᾽ ἂν εἴην ἦπου γ'᾽ ἂν εἴπ᾿ ἡ γὰρ εἴην οὐκ ἂν εὐ φρονῶν, ἐπεὶ 1330 φίλον σ᾽ ἐγὼ μέγιστον ᾿Αργείων νέμω.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ.

Χορός ἄναξ, Ὀδυσσεῦ, καιρὸν ἴσθʼ ἐληλυθώς, εἰ μὴ ξυνάψων, ἀλλὰ συλλύσων πάρει.

Ὀδυσσεύς τί δʼ ἔστιν, ἄνδρες; τηλόθεν γὰρ ᾐσθόμην βοὴν Ἀτρειδῶν τῷδʼ ἐπʼ ἀλκίμῳ νεκρῷ.

Ἀγαμέμνων οὐ γὰρ κλύοντές ἐσμεν αἰσχίστους λόγους, 1320 ἄναξ Ὀδυσσεῦ, τοῦδʼ ὑπʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως;

Ὀδυσσεύς ποίους; ἐγὼ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ συγγνώμην ἔχω κλύοντι φλαῦρα συμβαλεῖν ἔπη κακά.

Ἀγαμέμνων ἤκουσεν αἰσχρά· δρῶν γὰρ ἦν τοιαῦτά με.

Ὀδυσσεύς τί γάρ σʼ ἔδρασεν, ὥστε καὶ βλάβην ἔχειν; 1325

Ἀγαμέμνων οὔ φησʼ ἐάσειν τόνδε τὸν νεκρὸν ταφῆς ἄμοιρον, ἀλλὰ πρὸς βίαν θάψειν ἐμοῦ.

Ὀδυσσεύς ἔξεστιν οὖν εἰπόντι τἀληθῆ φίλῳ σοὶ μηδὲν ἧσσον ἢ πάρος ξυνηρετεῖν;

Ἀγαμέμνων εἴπʼ· ἦ γὰρ εἴην οὐκ ἂν εὖ φρονῶν, ἐπεὶ 1330 φίλον σʼ ἐγὼ μέγιστον Ἀργείων νέμω.

Hail, Lord Odysseus! thou art come in time Not to begin, but help to end, a fray.

OD Enter ODYSSEUS . What quarrel, sirs? I well perceived from far The kings high-voicing o’er the valiant dead.

AG Yea, Lord Odysseus, for our ears are full 1320 Of this man’s violent heart-offending talk.

OD What words have passed? I cannot blame the man Who meets foul speech with bitterness of tongue.

AG My speech was bitter, for his deeds were foul.

OD What deed of his could harm thy sovereign head? 1325

AG He boldly says this corse shall not be left Unburied, but he’ll bury it in our spite.

OD May I then speak true counsel to my friend, And pull with thee in policy as of yore?

AG Speak. I were else a madman; for no friend 1330 Of all the Argeians do I count thy peer.

AG

O Fürst Odysseus, recht zur Zeit erscheinst du hier, Wenn du den Streit versöhnen, nicht entflammen willst. 1270

Odysseus. Was ist es, Männer? Denn entfernt vernahm ich schon Das Schrei'n der Feldherrn bei des Helden Leiche hier.

Agamemnon. Und mußt' ich denn nicht eben Schmach der schnödsten Art, O Fürst Odysseus, hören von dem Manne da?

Odysseus. Und welche? Nachsicht hab' ich wohl für einen Mann, 1275 Der schlimmer Rede böses Wort entgegensezt.

Agamemnon. Er hörte Schnödes; denn er that mir Schnödes an.

Odysseus. Und was begann er Arges, das dir kränkend war?

Agamemnon. Nicht lassen will er ohne Grab den Todten dort, Nein, mir zum Troze, sagt er, ihn beerdigen. 1280

Odysseus. Vergönnst du wohl dem Freunde, wenn er Wahres spricht, Nicht minder dein Genosse, denn zuvor, zu sein?

Agamemnon. Sprich immer; thöricht wär' ich sonst und achte ja Als meiner Freunde besten dich in Argos' Heer.

Agamemnon.

Thy cause ; for know, the language which thou tallest 1320 Is barbai'ous, and I understand thee not.

Chorus I can but wish that wisdom may attend To guide you both.

Ulysses Scene II. Agamemnon, Menelaus, Teucer, Chorus. CiiOR. IJlysses, if thou meanst not to inflame, But to compose this dreadful strife, thou com'st In happiest hour.

Ulysses Far ofi" I heard the voice Of the Atride o’er this wretched course ; Whence rose the clamour, friends 1

Menelaus With bitterest words This Teucer here, Ulysses, has reviled me.

Ulysses What words 1 For if he heard the same from 1325 thee, 1325 I blame him not. 1325

Agamemnon He did provoke me to it.

Ulysses What injury hath he done thee ?

Agamemnon He declares 1330 The body shall have sepulture, himself 1330 And of my power.

Ulysses Shall I be free, and speak The truth to thee, without reproach or blame ?

Agamemnon

In happy hour, Ulysses, art thou come, If not to heighten, but allay this strife.

Ulysses Soldiers, what strife? for our imperial chief Loud o'er this brave man's corse I heard from far.

Agamemnon E'en now, O king Ulysses, from this man 1320 The basest language of reproach I heard.

Ulysses Reproach! I blame not him who, when reviled, Retorts indignant the ungracious words.

Agamemnon Him I rebuked for his base deeds to me.

Ulysses What hath he done to merit such rebuke? 1325

Agamemnon He will not suffer, he declares, this corse To lie unhonour'd with sepulchral rites, But will entomb it, and defies my pow'r.

Ulysses Is then a friend allow'd to speak the truth, The former bond of concord yet preserved ?

Agamemnon Speak; I were else unwise: for thee I deem 1330 Of all the Grecians most my faithful friend.

Agamemnon

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Chorus

Lord Odysseus, you arrive at the right time, if mediation, not division, is your purpose in coming.

Odysseus

What is the trouble, friends? From far off I heard shouting from the Atreidae over this brave man’s corpse.

Agamemnon

Is it not because we, Lord Odysseus, have long had to hear the worst, most shameful language from this man?
1320

Odysseus

How so? I can pardon a man a retaliatory barrage of abuse if another has insulted him.

Agamemnon

I insulted him, since his conduct toward me was of the same stripe.

Odysseus

And what did he do that harmed you?
1325

Agamemnon

He declares that he will not leave this corpse without due burial, but will entomb it in spite of me.

Odysseus

Then may a friend speak the truth, and still remain your helpmate no less than before?

Agamemnon

Speak. Otherwise I would be less than sane, since I count you my greatest friend among all the Greeks.
1330

ἄναξ Ὀδυσσεῦ, καιρὸν ἴσθ᾽ ἐληλυθώς,

εἰ μὴ ξυνάψων, ἀλλὰ συλλύσων πάρει.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἄνδρες; τηλόθεν γὰρ ᾐσθόμην

βοὴν ᾿Ατρειδῶν τῷδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἀλκίμῳ νεκρῷ.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ.

οὐ γὰρ κλύοντές ἐσμεν κλύοντεσ ἐσμὲν αἰσχίστους λόγους,
1320

ἄναξ Ὀδυσσεῦ, τοῦδ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως;

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

ποίους; ἐγὼ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ συγγνώμην ἔχω

κλύοντι φλαῦρα συμβαλεῖν ἔπη κακά.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ.

ἤκουσεν αἰσχρά· δρῶν γὰρ ἦν τοιαῦτά με.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

τί γάρ σ᾽ γὰρ γὰρ σ' ἔδρασεν, ὥστε καὶ βλάβην ἔχειν;
1325

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ.

οὔ φησ᾽ ἐάσειν τόνδε τὸν νεκρὸν ταφῆς

ἄμοιρον, ἀλλὰ πρὸς βίαν θάψειν ἐμοῦ ἐμοὶ σοῦ θάψειν ἐμοῦ.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

ἔξεστιν οὖν εἰπόντι τἀληθῆ τἀληθῆ· φίλῳ

σοὶ μηδὲν ἦσσον ἢ πάρος ξυνηρετεῖν ξυνηρεμεῖν ξυνηρετμεῖν;

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ.

εἴπ· ἢ γὰρ εἴην ἐπείγ᾽ ἂν εἴην ἦπου γ'᾽ ἂν εἴπ᾿ ἡ γὰρ εἴην οὐκ ἂν εὐ φρονῶν, ἐπεὶ
1330

φίλον σ᾽ ἐγὼ μέγιστον ᾿Αργείων νέμω.

Χορός

ἄναξ, Ὀδυσσεῦ, καιρὸν ἴσθʼ ἐληλυθώς,

εἰ μὴ ξυνάψων, ἀλλὰ συλλύσων πάρει.

Ὀδυσσεύς

τί δʼ ἔστιν, ἄνδρες; τηλόθεν γὰρ ᾐσθόμην

βοὴν Ἀτρειδῶν τῷδʼ ἐπʼ ἀλκίμῳ νεκρῷ.

Ἀγαμέμνων

οὐ γὰρ κλύοντές ἐσμεν αἰσχίστους λόγους,
1320

ἄναξ Ὀδυσσεῦ, τοῦδʼ ὑπʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως;

Ὀδυσσεύς

ποίους; ἐγὼ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ συγγνώμην ἔχω

κλύοντι φλαῦρα συμβαλεῖν ἔπη κακά.

Ἀγαμέμνων

ἤκουσεν αἰσχρά· δρῶν γὰρ ἦν τοιαῦτά με.

Ὀδυσσεύς

τί γάρ σʼ ἔδρασεν, ὥστε καὶ βλάβην ἔχειν;
1325

Ἀγαμέμνων

οὔ φησʼ ἐάσειν τόνδε τὸν νεκρὸν ταφῆς

ἄμοιρον, ἀλλὰ πρὸς βίαν θάψειν ἐμοῦ.

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἔξεστιν οὖν εἰπόντι τἀληθῆ φίλῳ

σοὶ μηδὲν ἧσσον ἢ πάρος ξυνηρετεῖν;

Ἀγαμέμνων

εἴπʼ· ἦ γὰρ εἴην οὐκ ἂν εὖ φρονῶν, ἐπεὶ
1330

φίλον σʼ ἐγὼ μέγιστον Ἀργείων νέμω.

Hail, Lord Odysseus! thou art come in time

Not to begin, but help to end, a fray.

OD
Enter ODYSSEUS .

What quarrel, sirs? I well perceived from far

The kings high-voicing o’er the valiant dead.

AG

Yea, Lord Odysseus, for our ears are full
1320

Of this man’s violent heart-offending talk.

OD

What words have passed? I cannot blame the man

Who meets foul speech with bitterness of tongue.

AG

My speech was bitter, for his deeds were foul.

OD

What deed of his could harm thy sovereign head?
1325

AG

He boldly says this corse shall not be left

Unburied, but he’ll bury it in our spite.

OD

May I then speak true counsel to my friend,

And pull with thee in policy as of yore?

AG

Speak. I were else a madman; for no friend
1330

Of all the Argeians do I count thy peer.

O Fürst Odysseus, recht zur Zeit erscheinst du hier,

Wenn du den Streit versöhnen, nicht entflammen willst.
1270

Odysseus.

Was ist es, Männer? Denn entfernt vernahm ich schon

Das Schrei'n der Feldherrn bei des Helden Leiche hier.

Agamemnon.

Und mußt' ich denn nicht eben Schmach der schnödsten Art,

O Fürst Odysseus, hören von dem Manne da?

Odysseus.

Und welche? Nachsicht hab' ich wohl für einen Mann,
1275

Der schlimmer Rede böses Wort entgegensezt.

Agamemnon.

Er hörte Schnödes; denn er that mir Schnödes an.

Odysseus.

Und was begann er Arges, das dir kränkend war?

Agamemnon.

Nicht lassen will er ohne Grab den Todten dort,

Nein, mir zum Troze, sagt er, ihn beerdigen.
1280

Odysseus.

Vergönnst du wohl dem Freunde, wenn er Wahres spricht,

Nicht minder dein Genosse, denn zuvor, zu sein?

Agamemnon.

Sprich immer; thöricht wär' ich sonst und achte ja

Als meiner Freunde besten dich in Argos' Heer.

Thy cause ; for know, the language which thou tallest
1320

Is barbai'ous, and I understand thee not.

Chorus

I can but wish that wisdom may attend

To guide you both.

Ulysses
Scene II.

Agamemnon, Menelaus, Teucer, Chorus.

CiiOR. IJlysses, if thou meanst not to inflame,

But to compose this dreadful strife, thou com'st

In happiest hour.

Ulysses

Far ofi" I heard the voice

Of the Atride o’er this wretched course ;

Whence rose the clamour, friends 1

Menelaus

With bitterest words

This Teucer here, Ulysses, has reviled me.

Ulysses

What words 1 For if he heard the same from
1325

thee,
1325

I blame him not.
1325

Agamemnon

He did provoke me to it.

Ulysses

What injury hath he done thee ?

Agamemnon

He declares
1330

The body shall have sepulture, himself
1330

And of my power.

Ulysses

Shall I be free, and speak

The truth to thee, without reproach or blame ?

In happy hour, Ulysses, art thou come,

If not to heighten, but allay this strife.

Ulysses

Soldiers, what strife? for our imperial chief

Loud o'er this brave man's corse I heard from far.

Agamemnon

E'en now, O king Ulysses, from this man
1320

The basest language of reproach I heard.

Ulysses

Reproach! I blame not him who, when reviled,

Retorts indignant the ungracious words.

Agamemnon

Him I rebuked for his base deeds to me.

Ulysses

What hath he done to merit such rebuke?
1325

Agamemnon

He will not suffer, he declares, this corse

To lie unhonour'd with sepulchral rites,

But will entomb it, and defies my pow'r.

Ulysses

Is then a friend allow'd to speak the truth,

The former bond of concord yet preserved ?

Agamemnon

Speak; I were else unwise: for thee I deem
1330

Of all the Grecians most my faithful friend.