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Ajax
545
Bring him, nay bring him forward; for the sight
545
Of the fresh blood, which from this carnage streams,
545
Will not affright him, if he be my son..
545
Thus early in his father’s rugged lore
545
He shou'd be train'd, and taught to catch the flame
545
That glows within this bosom, my son, to
545
Be happier than thy father: in all else
545
Be like him so thou never canst be base.all
545
In this I deem thee blest, that to these ills
545
Thou art insensible; the sweetest life.
545
Consists in feeling nothing; but by time for
545
Thou will be taught to grieve and to rejoice/
When thou hast reach'd that age, behoves thee show
Among thy father's foes that thou art sprung
Brave from the brave meanwhile may gentle gales
Around thee breathe, and cherish thy young mind
To joy thy mother's soul. This well know
That not a Grecian with disgraceful wrongs f
Will dare oppose thee, though of me bereaved
So firm a guardian o'er thee shall I leave
In Teucer, watchful to protect thy youth,
Though chasing now in distant fields the foe.
But now, my brave associates, train'd to lift
The shield in war, and sweep the surging main,
I charge you all (refuse me not this grace)
Announce my mandate to him, let him lead
This child to Salamis, and show him there
To Telamon, and her that shares his bed,
My mother Eribœa, that their age
He always may support, till they descend
To the dark mansions of the king below.
Nor 'midst contending Chiefs shall umpires sit
My arms the prize of glory to adjudge,
Nor he, my baleful pest: but thou, my son,
Retain my ample shield, its seven strong plates
Unpierced by hostile spear; my other arms
Be buried with me. Take thou now the boy,
And instant lead him hence; nor in the tent
Weep or lament; to wailings nature prompts
A woman's melting soul; compose thy mind:
When ulcer'd wounds the cutting steel require,
No mystic charm the skilful leach applies.
Bring him, nay bring him forward; for the sight
545
Of the fresh blood, which from this carnage streams,
545
Will not affright him, if he be my son..
545
Thus early in his father’s rugged lore
545
He shou'd be train'd, and taught to catch the flame
545
That glows within this bosom, my son, to
545
Be happier than thy father: in all else
545
Be like him so thou never canst be base.all
545
In this I deem thee blest, that to these ills
545
Thou art insensible; the sweetest life.
545
Consists in feeling nothing; but by time for
545
Thou will be taught to grieve and to rejoice/
When thou hast reach'd that age, behoves thee show
Among thy father's foes that thou art sprung
Brave from the brave meanwhile may gentle gales
Around thee breathe, and cherish thy young mind
To joy thy mother's soul. This well know
That not a Grecian with disgraceful wrongs f
Will dare oppose thee, though of me bereaved
So firm a guardian o'er thee shall I leave
In Teucer, watchful to protect thy youth,
Though chasing now in distant fields the foe.
But now, my brave associates, train'd to lift
The shield in war, and sweep the surging main,
I charge you all (refuse me not this grace)
Announce my mandate to him, let him lead
This child to Salamis, and show him there
To Telamon, and her that shares his bed,
My mother Eribœa, that their age
He always may support, till they descend
To the dark mansions of the king below.
Nor 'midst contending Chiefs shall umpires sit
My arms the prize of glory to adjudge,
Nor he, my baleful pest: but thou, my son,
Retain my ample shield, its seven strong plates
Unpierced by hostile spear; my other arms
Be buried with me. Take thou now the boy,
And instant lead him hence; nor in the tent
Weep or lament; to wailings nature prompts
A woman's melting soul; compose thy mind:
When ulcer'd wounds the cutting steel require,
No mystic charm the skilful leach applies.
Ajax. Sophocles. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1820.