ajax-第7章
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Verily of well…born mother had you been bred；
Superb had been your boasts and high your strut；
Since you； being nought； have championed one who is nought；
Vowing that no authority is ours
By sea or land to rule the Greeks or you。
Are not these monstrous taunts to hear from slaves？
What was this man whose praise you vaunt so loudly？
Whither went he； or where stood he； where I was not？
Among the Greeks are there no men but he？
In evil hour； it seems； did we proclaim
The contest for Achilles' panoply；
If come what may Teucer is to call us knaves；
And if you never will consent； though worsted；
To accept the award that seemed just to most judges；
But either must keep pelting us with foul words；
Or stab us craftily in your rage at losing。
Where such discords are customary； never
Could any law be stablished and maintained；
If we should thrust the rightful winners by；
And bring the rearmost to the foremost place。
But such wrong must be checked。 'Tis not the big
Broad…shouldered men on whom we most rely；
No； 'tis the wise who are masters everywhere。
An ox； however large of rib； may yet
Be kept straight on the road by a little whip。
And this corrective； I perceive； will soon
Descend on you； unless you acquire some wisdom；
Who； though this man is dead； a mere shade now；
Can wag your insolent lips so freely and boldly。
Come to your senses： think what you are by birth。
Bring hither someone else； a man born free；
Who in your stead may plead your cause before us。
For when you speak； the sense escapes me quite：
I comprehend not your barbarian tongue。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Would that you both might learn wisdom and temperance。
There is no better counsel I can give you。
TEUCER
Alas！ how soon gratitude to the dead
Proves treacherous and vanishes from men's minds；
If for thee； Ajax； this man has no more
The least word of remembrance； he for whom oft
Toiling in battle thou didst risk thy life。
But all that is forgotten and flung aside。
Thou who but now wast uttering so much folly；
Hast thou no memory left； how in that hour
When； pent within your lines； you were already
No more than men of nought； routed in battle；
He alone stood forth to save you； while the flames
Were blazing round the stern…decks of the ships
Already； and while Hector； leaping high
Across the trench； charged down upon the hulls？
Who checked this ruin？ Was it not he； who nowhere
So much as stood beside thee； so thou sayest？
Would you deny he acted nobly there？
Or when again chosen by lot； unbidden；
Alone in single combat he met Hector？
For no runaway's lot did he cast in；
No lump of clammy earth； but such that first
It should leap lightly from the crested helm？
His were these exploits； and beside him stood
I the slave； the barbarian mother's son。
Wretch； with what face can you fling forth such taunts？
Know you not that of old your father's father
Was Pelops； a barbarian； and a Phrygian？
That your sire Atreus set before his brother
A feast most impious of his own children's flesh？
And from a Cretan mother you were born；
Whom when her father found her with a paramour；
He doomed her for dumb fishes to devour。
Being such； do you reproach me with my lineage？
Telamon is the father who begat me；
Who； as the foremost champion of the Greeks；
Won as his bride my mother； a princes
By birth； Laomedon's daughter： a chosen spoil
She had been given him by Alcmena's son。
Thus of two noble parents nobly born；
How should I shame one of my blood； whom now；
Laid low by such calamity； you would thrust
Unburied forth； and feel no shame to say it？
But of this be sure： wheresoever you may cast him；
Us three also with him will you cast forth。
For it beseems me in his cause to die
In sight of all； rather than for the sake
Of your wife…or your brother's should I say？
Look then not to my interest； but your own。
For if you assail me； you shall soon wish rather
To have been a coward than too bold against me。
（ODYSSEUS enters。）
LEADER
In good time； King Odysseus； hast thou come；
If 'tis thy purpose not to embroil but reconcile。
ODYSSEUS
What is it； friends？ Far off I heard high words
From the Atreidae over this hero's corpse。
AGAMEMNON
Royal Odysseus； but now from this man
We have been listening to most shameful taunts。
ODYSSEUS
How shameful？ I could find excuse for one
Who； when reviled； retorts with bitter words。
AGAMEMNON
Yes； I repaid his vile deeds with reviling。
ODYSSEUS
What has he done thee whereby thou art wronged？
AGAMEMNON
He says he will not leave yon corpse unhonoured
By sepulture； but will bury it in my spite。
ODYSSEUS
May now a friend speak out the truth； yet still
As ever ply his oar in stroke with thine？
AGAMEMNON
Speak： I should be witless else； for thee
Of all the Greeks I count the greatest friend。
ODYSSEUS
Then listen。 For the gods' sake venture not
Thus ruthlessly to cast forth this man unburied：
And in no wise let violence compel thee
To such deep hate that thou shouldst tread down justice。
Once for me too this man was my worst foe；
From that hour when I won Achilles' arms；
Yet； though he was such towards me； I would not so
Repay him with dishonour as to deny
That of all Greeks who came to Troy； no hero
So valiant save Achilles have I seen。
So it is not just thou shouldst dishonour him。
Not him wouldst thou be wronging； but the laws
Of heaven。 It is not righteousness to outrage
A brave man dead； not even though thou hate him。
AGAMEMNON
Thou； Odysseus； champion him thus against me？
ODYSSEUS
Yes； but I hated him while hate was honourable。
AGAMEMNON
Shouldst thou not also trample on him when dead？
ODYSSEUS
Atreides； glory not in dishonouring triumphs。
AGAMEMNON
'Tis hard for a king to act with piety。
ODYSSEUS
Yet not hard to respect a friend's wise counsel。
AGAMEMNON
A good man should obey those who bear rule。
ODYSSEUS
Relent。 'Tis no defeat to yield to friends。
AGAMEMNON
Reflect who it is to whom thou dost this grace。
ODYSSEUS
This man was once my foe； yet was he noble。
AGAMEMNON
Can it be thou wilt reverence a dead foe？
ODYSSEUS
His worth with me far outweighs enmity。
AGAMEMNON
Unstable of impulse are such men as thou。
ODYSSEUS
Many are friends now and hereafter foes。
AGAMEMNON
Do you then praise such friends as worth the winning？
ODYSSEUS
I am not wont to praise a stubborn soul。
AGAMEMNON
Cowards you would have us show ourselves this day。
ODYSSEUS
Not so； but just men before all the Greeks。
AGAMEMNON
You bid me then permit these funeral rites？
ODYSSEUS
Even so： for I myself shall come to this。
AGAMEMNON
Alike in all things each works for himself。
ODYSSEUS
And for whom should I work； if not myself？
AGAMEMNON
Let it be known then as your doing； not mine。
ODYSSEUS
So be it。 At least you will have acted nobly。
AGAMEMNON
Nay； but of this be certain； that to thee
Willingly would I grant a greater boon。
Yet he； in that world as in this； shall be
Most hateful to me。 But act as you deem fit。
（AGAMEMNON and his retinue go out。）
LEADER
After such proof； Odysseus； a fool only
Could say that inborn wisdom was not thine。
ODYSSEUS
Let Teucer know that I shall be henceforth
His friend； no less than I was once his foe。
And I will join in burying this dead man；
And share in all due rites； omitting none
Which mortal men to noblest heroes owe。
TEUCER
Noble Odysseus； for thy words I praise thee
Without stint。 Wholly hast thou belied my fears。
Thou； his worst foe among the Greeks； hast yet
Alone stood by him staunchly； nor thought fit
To glory and exult over the dead；
Like that chief crazed with arrogance； who came；
He and his brother； hoping to cast forth
The dead man shamefully without burial。
May therefore the supreme Olympian Father；
The remembering Fury and fulfilling Justice
Destroy these vile men vilely； even as they
Sought to cast forth this hero unjustly outraged。
But pardon me； thou son of old Laertes；
That I must scruple to allow thine aid
In these rites； lest I so displease the dead。
In all else share our toil； and wouldst thou bring
Any man from the host； we grudge thee not。
What else remains； I will provide。 And know
That thou towards us hast acted generously。
ODYSSEUS
It was my wish。 But if my help herein
Pleases you not； so be it； I depart。
（ODYSSEUS goes out。）
TEUCER
'Tis enough。 Too long is the time we have wasted
In talk。 Haste some with spades to the grave：
Speedily hollow it。 Some set the cauldron
On high amid wreathing flames ready filled
For pious ablution。
Then a third band go； fetch forth from the tent
All the armour he once wore under his shield。
Thou too； child； lovingly lay thy hand
On thy father's corpse； and with all thy strength
Help me to lift him： for the dark blood…tide
Still upward is streaming warm through the arteries。
All then who openly now would appear
Friends to the dead； come； hasten forwards。
To our valiant lord this labour is due。
We have served none nobler among men。
CHORUS （chanting）
Unto him who has seen may manifold knowledge
Come； but before he sees； no man
May divine what destiny awaits him。
…THE END…
。
