Ajax (1 of 36)
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AJAX
BY SOPHOCLES
TRANSLATED BY LEWIS CAMPBELL
THE PERSONS
ATHENA.
ODYSSEUS.
AJAX, _the son of Telamon._
CHORUS _of Salaminian Mariners._
TECMESSA.
_A Messenger._
TEUCER, _half brother of Ajax._
MENELAUS.
AGAMEMNON.
EURYSAKES, _the child of Ajax and Tecmessa, appears, but does not
speak._
SCENE. Before the encampment of Ajax on the shore of the Troad.
Afterwards a lonely place beyond Rhoeteum.
Time, towards the end of the Trojan War.
ATHENA (_above_). ODYSSEUS.
ATHENA. Oft have I seen thee, Laertiades,
Intent on some surprisal of thy foes;
As now I find thee by the seaward camp,
Where Ajax holds the last place in your line,
Lingering in quest, and scanning the fresh print
Of his late footsteps, to be certified
If he keep house or no. Right well thy sense
Hath led thee forth, like some keen hound of Sparta!
The man is even but now come home, his head
And slaughterous hands reeking with ardent toil.
Thou, then, no longer strain thy gaze within
Yon gateway, but declare what eager chase
Thou followest, that a god may give thee light.
ODYSSEUS. Athena, 'tis thy voice! Dearest in heaven,
How well discerned and welcome to my soul
From that dim distance doth thine utterance fly
In tones as of Tyrrhenian trumpet clang!
Rightly hast thou divined mine errand here,
Beating this ground for Ajax of the shield,
The lion-quarry whom I track to day.
For he hath wrought on us to night a deed
Past thought--if he be doer of this thing;
We drift in ignorant doubt, unsatisfied--
And I unbidden have bound me to this toil.
Brief time hath flown since suddenly we knew
That all our gathered spoil was reaved and slaughtered,
Flocks, herds, and herdmen, by some human hand,
All tongues, then, lay this deed at Ajax' door.
And one, a scout who had marked him, all alone,
With new-fleshed weapon bounding o'er the plain,
Gave me to know it, when immediately
I darted on the trail, and here in part
I find some trace to guide me, but in part
I halt, amazed, and know not where to look.
Thou com'st full timely. For my venturous course,
Past or to come, is governed by thy will.
ATHENA. I knew thy doubts, Odysseus, and came forth
Zealous to guard thy perilous hunting-path.
ODYSSEUS. Dear Queen! and am I labouring to an end?
ATHENA. Thou schem'st not idly. This is Ajax' deed.
ODYSSEUS. What can have roused him to a work so wild?
ATHENA. His grievous anger for Achilles' arms.
ODYSSEUS. But wherefore on the flock this violent raid?
ATHENA. He thought to imbrue his hands with your heart's blood.
ODYSSEUS. What? Was this planned against the Argives, then?
