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ATHENA
What evil wilt thou inflict on the poor wretch？
AJAX
His back the scourge must crimson ere he dies。
ATHENA
Nay； do not torture so the wretched man。
AJAX
Athena； in all else will I do thy will；
But his shall be no other doom than this。
ATHENA
Thou then； since thy delight is to act thus；
Smite； spare not； abate nought of thy intent。
AJAX
To my work I return： and thus I charge thee；
As now； so always fight thou upon my side。
（AJAX goes back into the tent。）
ATHENA
Seest thou； Odysseus； how great the strength of gods？
Whom couldst thou find more prudent than this man；
Or whom in act more valiant； when need called？
ODYSSEUS
I know none nobler； and I pity him
In his misery； albeit he is my foe；
Since he is yoked fast to an evil doom。
My own lot I regard no less than his。
For I see well； nought else are we but mere
Phantoms； all we that live； mere fleeting shadows。
ATHENA
Warned therefore by his fate； never do thou
Thyself utter proud words against the gods；
Nor swell with insolence； if thou shouldst vanquish
Some rival by main strength or by wealth's power。
For a day can bring all mortal greatness low；
And a day can lift it up。 But the gods love
The wise of heart； the froward they abhor。
（ATHENA vanishes and ODYSSEUS departs。 The CHORUS OF SALAMINIANS
enters。）
CHORUS （singing）
Son of Telamon； lord of Salamis' isle；
On its wave…washed throne mid the breaking sea；
I rejoice when fair are thy fortunes：
But whene'er thou art smitten by the stroke of Zeus；
Or the vehement blame of the fierce…tongued Greeks；
Then sore am I grieved； and for fear I quake；
As a fluttering dove with a scared eye。
Even so by rumour murmuring loud
Of the night late…spent our ears are assailed。
'Tis a tale of shame； how thou on the plains
Where the steeds roam wild； didst ruin the Danaan
Flocks and herds；
Our spear…won booty as yet unshared；
With bright sword smiting and slaughtering。
Such now are the slanders Odysseus forges
And whispers abroad into all men's ears；
Winning easy belief： so specious the tale
He is spreading against thee； and each new hearer
Rejoices more than he who told；
Exulting in thy degradation。
For the shaft that is aimed at the noble of soul
Smites home without fail： but whoe'er should accuse me
Of such misdeeds； no faith would he win。
'Tis the stronger whom creeping jealousy strikes。
Yet small men reft of help from the mighty
Can ill be trusted to guard their walls。
Best prosper the lowly in league with the great；
And the great have need to be served by the less。
But none to the knowledge of such plain truths
May lead minds witless and froward。
Even such are the men who murmur against thee：
And vainly without thine aid； O King；
We strive to repel their accusing hate。
For whene'er they are safe from the scorn of thy glance；
They chatter and screech like bids in a flock：
But smitten with dread of the powerful vulture；
Doubtless at once； should'st thou but appear；
They will cower down dumbly in silence。
strophe
Was it the Tauric Olympian Artemis；
（Oh； the dread rumour of woe；
Parent of my grievous shame！）
Who drove thee forth to slaughter the herds of the people；
In wrath perchance for some unpaid…for victory；
Whether defrauded of glorious spoil； or offerings
Due for a stag that was slain？
Or did the bronze…clad Demon of battle； aggrieved
On him who scorned the might of his succouring spear；
Plot revenge by nightly deception？
antistrophe
Ne'er of itself had thy heart； son of Telamon；
Strayed into folly so far
As to murder flocks and herds。
Escape from heaven…sent madness is none： yet Apollo
And Zeus avert these evil rumours of the Greeks。
But should the story be false； these crafty slanders
Spread by the powerful kings；
And by the child of the infamous Sisyphid line；
No more； my master； thus in the tent by the sea
Hide thy countenance； earning an ill fame。
epode
Nay； but arise from thy seat； where'er so long wrapt in
Brooding pause from the battle thou hast lurked： arise；
Heaven…high kindle the flame of death。
But the insolence of thy foes boldly
Thus wanders abroad in the wind…swept glens。
Meanwhile all men mocking
With venomous tongues taunt thee：
But grief in my heart wanes not。
（TECMESSA enters。 The following lines between TECMESSA and
the CHORUS are chanted responsively。）
TECMESSA
Liegemen of Ajax； ship…companions；
Ye children of earth…sprung Erechthid race；
Lamentation is now our portion； to whom
Dear is the far…off house of Telamon；
Now that the stern and terrible Ajax
Lies whelmed by a storm
Of turbid wildering fury。
CHORUS
To what evil change from the day's woe now
Has night given birth？
Thou daughter of Phrygian Teleutas； speak；
For a constant love has valiant Ajax
Borne thee； his spear…won prisoner bride。
Then hide from us nought that thou knowest。
TECMESSA
How to utter a tale of unspeakable things！
For disastrous as death is the hap you will hear。
In the darkness of night madness has seized
Our glorious Ajax： he is ruined and lost。
Hereof in the tent may proof be seen；
Sword…slain victims in their own blood bathed；
By his hand sacrificially slaughtered。
CHORUS
strophe
What tidings of the fiery warrior tellest thou；
Not to be borne； nor yet to be disputed；
Rumoured abroad by the chiefs of the Danaan host；
Mightily still spreading and waxing！
Woe's me！ I dread the horror to come。 Yea； to a public death
doomed
Will he die； if in truth his be the hand that wielded
The red sword that in frenzy hath slain the herds and mounted
herdsmen。
TECMESSA
Ah me！ Thence was it； thence that he came to me
Leading his captive flock from the pastures！
Thereof in the tent some did he slaughter；
Others hewed he asunder with slashing sword；
Then he caught up amain two white…footed rams；
Sliced off from the one both the head and the tongue；
And flings them away；
But the other upright to a pillar he binds；
Then seizing a heavy horse…harnessing thong
He smites with the whistling doubled lash；
Uttering