ATHENA
SON of Laertes, ever do I behold thee Scheming to snatch some vantage o'er thy foes.
And now among the tents that guard the ships Of Ajax, camped at the army's outmost verge, Long have I watched thee hunting in his trail, And scanning his fresh prints, to learn if now He be within or forth. Skilled in the chase Thou seemest, as a keen-nosed Spartan hound.
For the man but now has passed within, his face And slaughterous hands streaming with sweat and blood.
No further need for thee to peer about Inside these doors. But say what eager quest Is thine, that I who know may give thee light.
ODYSSEUS
Voice of Athena, dearest of Gods to me, How clearly, though thou be invisible, Do I hear thy call, and seize it with my soul, As when a bronze-mouthed Tyrrhene trumpet sounds!
Rightly thou judgest that on a foe's trail, Broad-shielded Ajax, I range to and fro.
Him, and no other, I have long been tracking.
This very night against us he has wrought A deed incredible, if in truth 'tis he.
For we know nothing sure, but drift in doubt.
Gladly I assumed the burden of this task.
For not long since we found that our whole spoil Had been destroyed, both herds and flocks, slaughtered By some man's hand, their guardians dead beside them.
Now 'tis on him that all men lay this guilt:
And a scout who had seen him swiftly bounding Across the plain alone with reeking sword, Informed me and bore witness. I forthwith, Darting in hot chase, now pick out his tracks, But now, bewildered, know not whose they are.
Timely thou comest. As in past days, so In days to come I am guided by thy hand.
ATHENA
I know it, Odysseus: so on the path betimes A sentinel friendly to thy chase I came.
ODYSSEUS
Dear mistress, do I labour to good purpose?
ATHENA
Know 'twas by yonder man these deeds were wrought.
ODYSSEUS
And why did he so brandish a frenzied hand?
ATHENA
In grievous wrath for Achilles' panoply.
ODYSSEUS
Why then upon the flocks did he make this onslaught?
ATHENA
Your blood he deemed it was that stained his hand.
ODYSSEUS
Was this outrage designed against the Greeks?
ATHENA
He had achieved it too, but for my vigilance.
ODYSSEUS
What bold scheme could inspire such reckless daring?
ATHENA
By night he meant to steal on you alone.
ODYSSEUS
Did he come near us? Did he reach his goal?
ATHENA
He stood already at the two chiefs' doors.
ODYSSEUS
What then withheld his eager hand from bloodshed?
ATHENA
'Twas I restrained him, casting on his eyes O'ermastering notions of that baneful ecstasy, That turned his rage on flocks and mingled droves Of booty yet unshared, guarded by herdsmen.
Then plunging amid the thronging horns he slew, Smiting on all sides; and one while he fancied The Atreidae were the captives he was slaughtering, Now 'twas some other chief on whom he fell.
And I, while thus he raved in maniac throes, Urged him on, drove him into the baleful toils.
Thereafter, when he had wearied of such labours, He bound with thongs such oxen as yet lived, With all the sheep, and drove them to his tents, As though his spoil were men, not horned cattle.
Now lashed together in the hut he tortures them.
But to thee too will I expose this madness, That seeing thou mayst proclaim it to all the Greeks.
Boldly await him here, nor apprehend Mischance; for I will turn aside his eyes, Foiling his vision lest he see thy face.
(She calls to AJAX within the tent.)
Hearken, thou who art pinioning with cords The wrists of captives; hither, I bid thee, come.
Thou, Ajax, hear me: come to thy tent's door.
ODYSSEUS
What dost thou, Athena? Do not summon him forth.
ATHENA
Abide in silence. Earn not the name of coward.
ODYSSEUS
Nay, by the Gods, let him remain within.
ATHENA
What dost thou dread? Was he not once a man?
ODYSSEUS
Yes, and to me a foeman, and still is.
ATHENA
To mock foes, is not that the sweetest mockery?
ODYSSEUS
I am content he should remain indoors.
ATHENA
To look upon a madman art thou afeard?
ODYSSEUS
Had he been sane, no fear had made me shrink.
ATHENA
Even now he shall not see thee, near as thou art.
ODYSSEUS
How so, if still with the same eyes he sees?
ATHENA
His orbs will I make dark, though vision is theirs.
ODYSSEUS
Well, all is possible, when 'tis a god contrives.
ATHENA
Stand then silent, abiding as thou art.
ODYSSEUS
Stay I must; yet I fain would be far hence.
ATHENA
Ho, Ajax! Once again I summon thee.
So slight is thy regard for thine ally?
(AJAX appears in the tent door, with a blood-stained scourge in his hand.)AJAX
Oh hail, Athena! Hail thou Zeus-born maid!
Nobly hast thou stood by me. Now will I crown thee With trophies all of gold for this rich conquest.
ATHENA
Thy words are welcome. But now tell me this:
Hast thou dyed well thy sword in the Argive host?
AJAX
Such vaunt is mine. I disclaim not that glory.
ATHENA
Against the Atreidae didst thou arm thy hand?
AJAX
So that Ajax nevermore shall they insult.
ATHENA
The men are dead, if rightly I take thy meaning.
AJAX
Yes, dead. Now let them rob me of my arms.
ATHENA
'Tis well. And what then of Laertes' son?
In what plight does he stand? Or has he escaped thee?
AJAX
Wouldst thou know where is that accursed fox?
ATHENA
Even so-Odysseus, thine old adversary.
AJAX
Goddess, a most dear captive in my tent He sits. I do not mean him to die yet.
ATHENA
Till thou hast done what, gained what further vantage?
AJAX
Till bound fast to a pillar beneath my roof-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.
