 | Aias |  |
348–427.
Aias.Stroph. I.
O sailors dear to me, my true friends still,
483
Ye see how o'er me waves of deadly ill
Go surging round and round.
Chorus.
Ah me! Too well thou speakest all the truth.
[Aside.]
Yet his acts show how frenzied is his soul.
Aias.
Antistroph. I.
O race of men who with my good ship sailed,
Who came and plied the oar,
Ye only have in trouble never failed;
Now slay me, I implore.
Chorus.
Hush, hush! nor seek fresh ill on ill to pour,
Nor make the weight of sorrow more and more.
Aias.
Stroph. II.
Thou see'st the brave and bold,
(Fearless in fight was he,)
His prowess show on brute beasts of the field:
Ah me! What scorn and outrage fall on me!
Tecmessa.
Dear lord! I pray thee, Aias, speak not thus.
Aias.
Away! Wilt thou not go?
Away with thee! ... Woe, woe!
Tecmessa.
Nay, by the Gods, be calm and yield to us.
484
O wretched fool, whose hands have failed to keep
My foe's accursèd brood,
And falling on horn'd kine and goodly sheep,
Poured out their purple blood!
Chorus.
Why wilt thou grieve at what is past and done?
These things can never be but as they are.
Aias.
O thou, who spy'st out all,
Thou son of Lartios, tool for all things vile,
Of all the host to shame the meanest thrall,
For joy of heart, I trow, thou now wilt smile.
Chorus.
It is through God we all or smile or wail.
Aias.
Ah! might I see him near,
Sore vexèd though I be with grief and fear. ...
Chorus.
Hush thy rash speech. What! See'st not where thou art?
Aias.
O Zeus, my father's God! Ah would that I,
Might on that scoundrel foe
And those two kings my vengeance work, and die
Myself by that same blow!
485
When this thou prayest, pray for my death too.
Why should I care for life when thou art dead?
Aias.
Stroph. III.
O dark that art my light!
O gloom that art to me supremely bright!
Oh, take me, I entreat,
Take me to dwell with you; I am not meet
To look to Heaven's high race
For any helping grace,
Nor yet to men whose brief days swiftly fleet.
But She, the mighty One,
Daughter of Zeus on high,
With shameful contumely,
My life to death hath done.
Where, where is room for flight?
Or whither roam and stay?
If evil day still follows evil night,
And we are hunting for a madman's prey,
Then should the whole host, hurling thrice strong spear,
Smite me and slay me here.
Tecmessa.
Ah misery! That one so brave and good
Should say the things he never dared before!
Aias.
Antistroph. III.
O ye paths of the waves!
Grove on the shore, and sea-encompassed caves!
Long time ye held me bound,
Imprisoned long, too long, on Troïa's ground,
486
As long as life shall flow;
This let him know with whom is wisdom found;
And ye, O streams, that glide,
Scamandros, murmuring near,
Friend to the Argives dear,
No longer at your side
Shall ye this hero see,
Of whom I dare proclaim,
Though great the boast, that of all Hellenes he
To Troïa came of mightiest name and fame;
But now, disgraced and whelmed with infamy,
All helpless here I lie.
| Aias | |