And tell to the Argives all I show thee here.
Only stand firm and shrink not; I will turn
His eyes askance, not to distinguish thee;
Fear nought.—Ho! thou that bindest to thy will
The limbs of those thy captives, come thou forth!
Aias! advance before thy palace-gate!
Od. My Queen! what dost thou? Never call him forth.
Ath. Hush, hush! Be not so timorous, but endure.
Od. Nay, nay! Enough. He is there, and let him bide.
Ath. What fear you? Dates his valour from to-day?
Od. He was and is my valiant enemy.
Ath. Then is not laughter sweetest o’er a foe?
Od. No more! I care not he should pass abroad.
Ath. You flinch from seeing the madman in full view.
Od. When sane, I ne’er had flinched before his face.
Ath. Well, but even now he shall not know thee near.
Od. How, if his eyes be not transformed or lost?
Ath. I will confound his sense although he see.
Od. Well, nothing is too hard for Deity.
Ath. Stand still and keep thy place without a word.
Od. I must. Would I were far away from here!
Ath. Aias! Again I summon thee. Why pay
So scanty heed to her who fights for thee?
Enter Aias with a bloody scourge.
Aias. Hail, offspring of the Highest! Pallas, hail!
Well hast thou stood by me. Triumphal gold
Shall crown thy temple for this lordly prey.
Ath. A fair intention! But resolve me this:
Hast dyed thy falchion deep in Argive blood?
Ai. There is my boast; that charge I’ll ne’er deny.
Ath. Have Atreus’ sons felt thy victorious might?
Ai. They have. No more they’ll make a scorn of me!
Ath. I take it, then, they are dead.
Ai. Ay, now they are dead,
Let them arise and rob me of mine arms!
