ARGUMENT.
Aias, the son of Telamon and Eribæa, was mighty among the heroes
whom Agamemnon led against Troia, giant-like in stature and in
strength; and in the pride of his heart he waxed haughty, and
scorned the help of the Gods, and turned away from Pallas Athena
when she would have protected him, and so provoked her wrath.
Now when Achilles died, and it was proclaimed that his armour
should be given to the bravest and best of all the host, Aias claimed
them as being indeed the worthiest, and as having rescued the corpse
of Achilles from shameful wrong. But the armour (so Athena willed)
was given by the chief of the Hellenes not to him but to Odysseus,
and, being very wroth thereat, he sought to slay the Atreidæ who
had so wronged him, and would have so done, had not Athena darkened
his eyes, and turned him against the flocks and herds of the
host.
