Ajax
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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Tecmessa
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Yes, because I am afraid, my king!
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Tecmessa
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In the name of the gods, be softened!
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if you plan so late to begin schooling my temper.
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Chorus
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O famous Salamis, you, I know, have your happy seat among the waves that beat your shore, eternally conspicuous in the eyes of all men.
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But I, miserable, have long been delayed here, still making my bed through countless months in the camp on the fields of Ida.
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I am worn by time and with anxious expectation still of a journey to Hades the abhorred, the unseen.
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Chorus
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And now a new struggle awaits me, ah, me!—a match with
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Ajax, hard to cure, sharing his tent with a madness of divine origin. It is he whom mighty in bold war you dispatched from you once far in the past. But now he is changed; he grazes his thoughts in isolated places
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and has been found a heavy sorrow for his friends. His hands’ former achievements, deeds of prowess supreme,
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have fallen without friends, without friends, before the unfriendly, miserable Atreidae.
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Ajax
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All things the long and countless years first draw from darkness, and then bury from light; and there is nothing which man should not expect: the dread power of oath is conquered, as is unyielding will.
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For even I, who used to be so tremendously strong—yes, like tempered iron—felt my tongue’s sharp edge emasculated by this woman’s words, and I feel the pity of leaving her a widow and the boy an orphan among my enemies. But I will go to the bathing-place and
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the meadows by the shore so that by purging my defilements I may escape the heavy anger of the goddess. Then I will find some isolated spot, and bury this sword of mine, most hateful weapon, digging down in the earth where none can see.
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Let Night and Hades keep it underground! For ever since I took into my hand this gift from Hector, my greatest enemy, I have gotten no good from the Greeks. Yes, men’s proverb is true:
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the gifts of enemies are no gifts and bring no good. And so hereafter I shall, first, know how to yield to the gods, and, second, learn to revere the Atreidae. They are rulers, so we must submit. How could it be otherwise? Things of awe and might
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submit to authority. So it is that winter with its snow-covered paths gives place to fruitful summer; night’s dark orbit makes room for day with her white horses to kindle her radiance; the blast of dreadful winds
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allows the groaning sea to rest; and among them all, almighty Sleep releases the fettered sleeper, and does not hold him in a perpetual grasp. And we men—must we not learn self-restraint? I, at least, will learn it, since I am newly aware that an enemy is to be hated only as far as
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suits one who will in turn become a friend. Similarly to a friend I would wish to give only so much help and service as suits him who will not forever remain friendly. For the masses regard the haven of comradeship as treacherous. But concerning these things it will be well. You, wife,
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go inside and pray to the gods that the desires of my heart be completed to the very end. Exit Tecmessa. You also, my comrades, honor my wishes just as she does, and command Teucer, when he comes, to take care of us, and to be kind to you at the same time.
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I am going to where my journey inexorably leads. But you do as I say, and before long, perhaps, though I now suffer, you will hear that I have found rest and peace.
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Chorus
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I shiver with rapture; I soar on the wings of sudden joy!
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O Pan, O Pan, appear to us, sea-rover, from the stony ridge of snow-beaten Cyllene. King, dancemaker for the gods, come, so that joining with us you may set on the Nysian and the Cnosian steps,
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your self-taught dances. Now I want to dance. And may Apollo, lord of Delos, step over the Icarian sea
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and join me in his divine form, in eternal benevolence!
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Chorus
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Ares has dispelled the cloud of fierce trouble from our eyes. Joy, joy! Now, Zeus, now can the white radiance of prosperous days approach
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our swift, sea-speeding ships, since Ajax forgets his pain anew, and has instead fully performed all prescribed sacrifices to the gods with worship and strict observance. The strong years make all things fade.
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And so I would not say that anything was beyond belief, when beyond our hopes, Ajax has been converted from his fury and mighty struggles against the Atreidae.
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Messenger
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Friends, my first news is this:
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Teucer has just now returned from the Mysian heights. He has come to the generals’ quarters mid-camp, and is being shouted at by all the Greeks at once. Recognizing him from a distance as he approached, they gathered around him
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and then pelted him with jeers from every side—no one held back—calling him the brother of the maniac, of the plotter against the army, and saying that he would not be able to avoid entirely losing flesh and life before their flying stones. In this way they had come to the point where swords
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had been plucked from sheaths and were drawn in their hands. But then the conflict, when it had nearly run its full course, was halted by the conciliatory words of the elders. But where shall I find Ajax, to tell him this? To our lord I must tell all.
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Chorus
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He is not inside, but is recently departed. He has yoked a new purpose to his new mood.
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Messenger
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No! Oh, no! Too late, then, was he who sent me on this errand, or I myself came too slowly.
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Chorus
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What is this urgent matter? What part of it has been neglected?
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Messenger
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Teucer declared that Ajax should not slip out of the house, until he himself arrives.
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Chorus
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Well, he is departed, I repeat, bent on the purpose that is best for him—to be rid of his anger at the gods.
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Messenger
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These words betray great foolishness, if there is any wisdom in the prophecies of Calchas.
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Chorus
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What does he prophesy? What knowledge of this affair do you bring?
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Messenger
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This much I know and witnessed on the spot. Leaving the royal circle of the chiefs who sat in council,
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Calchas separated himself from the Atreidae and put his right hand with all kindness into the hand of Teucer. The prophet then addressed him and strictly commanded him to use every possible resource to keep Ajax inside his tent for the duration of this day that now shines on us, and to prevent him from moving about
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if he wished ever to look on him alive. For this day alone will the anger of divine Athena lash at him. That was the prophet’s warning. Yes, the seer went on to explain, lives that have grown too proud and no longer yield good fall on grave difficulties sent from the gods,
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especially when someone born to man’s estate forgets that fact by thinking thoughts too high for man. And Ajax, even at the time he first set out from home, showed himself foolish, when his father advised him well. For Telamon told him, My son, seek victory in arms, but always seek it with the help of god. Then with a tall boast and foolishly he replied, Father, with the help of the gods even a worthless man might achieve victory; but I, even without that help, fully trust to bring that glory within my grasp.
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So much he boasted. Then once again in answer to divine Athena—at a time when she was urging him forward and telling him to turn a deadly hand against the enemy—he answered her with words terrible and blasphemous, Queen, stand beside the other Greeks; where Ajax stands, battle will never break our line. It was by such words, you must know, that he won for himself the intolerable anger of the goddess since his thoughts were too high for man. But if he survives this day, perhaps with the god’s help we may find means to save him.
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With those words the seer finished, and at once Teucer rose from his seat and sent me with these orders for you to follow. But if I have been cheated of success, Ajax does not live. Otherwise Calchas has no skill.
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Chorus
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Poor Tecmessa, born to misery,
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come out and see this man and his news. The razor lies close at our throat, poised to cut off all joy.
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Tecmessa
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Why do you stir me from my place of rest, when I have just found peace from those relentless troubles?
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Chorus
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Listen to this man, and
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hear the news of Ajax that he has brought us—news at which I felt sudden grief.
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Tecmessa
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Oh, no, what is your news, man? Surely we are not ruined?
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Messenger
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I have no clue of your condition, but know only that, if Ajax is away, I have little hope for him.
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Tecmessa
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But he is away, so I am in agony to know what you mean.
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Messenger
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Teucer strictly commands that you keep Ajax under shelter of his tent and not allow him to go out alone.
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Tecmessa
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But where is Teucer? And why these orders?
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Messenger
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He has just now returned, and he suspects that such a departure carries death for Ajax.
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Tecmessa
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Oh, misery! From whom can he have learned this?
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Messenger
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From Thestor’s son, the prophet. His prophecy applies to today, when the issue is one of life or death for Ajax.
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Tecmessa
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Ah, me! My friends, protect me from the doom threatened by fate! Hurry, some of you, to speed Teucer’s coming;
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let others go to the westward bays, and others to the eastward, and there seek the man’s disastrous path. I see now that I have been deceived by my husband and cast out of the favor that I once had with him. Ah, my child, what shall I do? I must not sit idle.
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I too will go as far as my strength will carry me. Move, let us be quick, this is no time to sit still, if we wish to save a man who is eager for death.
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Chorus
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I am ready to help, and I will show it in more than word. Speed of action and speed of foot will follow together.
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Ajax
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The sacrificial killer stands planted in the way that will cut most deeply—if I have the leisure for even this much reflection. First, it is the gift of Hector, that enemy-friend who was most hateful to me and most hostile to my sight; next, it is fixed in enemy soil, the land of Troy,
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newly-whetted on the iron-devouring stone; and finally I have planted it with scrupulous care, so that it should prove most kind to me by a speedy death. Yes, we are well equipped. And so, O Zeus, be the first to aid me, as is proper.
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It is no large prize that I ask you to award me. Send on my behalf some messenger with news of my downfall to Teucer, so that he may be the first to raise me once I have fallen on this sword and made it newly-wet, and so that I am not first spotted by some enemy
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and cast out and exposed as prey to the dogs and birds. For this much, Zeus, I appeal to you. I call also on Hermes, guide to the underworld, to lay me softly to sleep with one quick, struggle-free leap, when I have broken open my side on this sword.
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And I call for help to the eternal maidens who eternally attend to all sufferings among mortals, the dread, far-striding Erinyes, asking them to learn how my miserable life is destroyed by the Atreidae.
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And may they seize those wicked men with most wicked destruction, just as they see me fall slain by my own hand, so slain by their own kin may they perish at the hand of their best-loved offspring. Come, you swift and punishing Erinyes, devour all the assembled army and spare nothing!
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And you, Helios, whose chariot-wheels climb the steep sky, when you see the land of my fathers, draw in your rein spread with gold and tell my disasters and my fate to my aged father and to the unhappy woman who nursed me.
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Poor mother! Indeed, I think, when she hears this news, she will sing a song of loud wailing throughout the entire city. But it is not for me to weep in vain like this. No, the deed must quickly have its beginning. O Death, Death, come now and lay your eyes on me!
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And yet I will meet you also in that other world and there address you. But you, beam of the present bright day, I salute you and the Sun in his chariot for the last time and never again. O light! O sacred soil
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of my own Salamis, firm seat of my father’s hearth! O famous Athens, and your race kindred to mine! And you, springs and rivers of this land—and you plains of Troy I salute you also—farewell, you who have nurtured me! This is the last word that Ajax speaks to you.
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The rest he will tell to the shades in Hades.
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First Semichorus
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Toil follows toil yielding toil! Where, where have I not trudged? And still no place can say that I have shared its secret.
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Listen! A sudden thud!
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Second Semichorus
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We made it, we shipmates of your voyage.
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Semichorus 1
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What news, then?
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Semichorus 2
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All the westward flank of the ships has been scoured for tracks.
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Semichorus 1
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And did you find anything?
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Semichorus 2
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Only an abundance of toil. There was nothing more to see.
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Semichorus 1
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Neither, as a matter of fact, has the man been seen along the path that faces the shafts of the morning sun.
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Chorus
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Who, then, can guide me? What toiling
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fisherman, busy about his sleepless hunt, what nymph of the Olympian heights or of the streams that flow toward
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Bosporus, can say whether she has anywhere seen the wanderings of fierce-hearted Ajax? It is cruel that I, who have roamed with such great toil, cannot come near him with a fair course,
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but fail to see where the enfeebled man is.
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Tecmessa
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Ah, me, ah, me!
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Chorus
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Whose cry broke from that nearby grove?
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Tecmessa
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Ah, misery!
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Chorus
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There, I see his unfortunate young bride, who was the prize of his spear,
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Tecmessa, dissolved in that pitiful wailing.
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Tecmessa
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I am lost, destroyed, razed to the ground, my friends!
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Chorus
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What is it?
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Tecmessa
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Here is our Ajax—his blood newly shed, he lies folded around the sword, burying it.
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Chorus
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Ah, no! Our homecoming is lost! Ah, my king, you have killed me, the comrade of your voyage! Unhappy man—broken-hearted woman!
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Tecmessa
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His condition demands that we cry aiai.
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Chorus
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But by whose hand can the ill-fated man have contrived this end?
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Tecmessa
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He did it with his own hand; it is obvious. This sword which he planted in the ground and on which he fell convicts him.
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Chorus
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Ah, what blind folly I have displayed! All alone, then, you bled, unguarded by your friends! And I took no care, so entirely dull was I, so totally stupid. Where, where lies inflexible Ajax, whose name means anguish?
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Tecmessa
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No, he is not to be looked at! I will cover him over entirely with this enfolding shroud, since no one—no one, that is, who loves him—could bear to see him spurt the darkened gore of his self-inflicted slaughter up his nostrils and out of the bloody gash.
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Ah, what shall I do? What loved one is there to lift you in his arms? Where is Teucer? How timely would be his arrival, if he would but come to compose the corpse of his brother here! Ah, unlucky Ajax, from so great a height you are fallen so low!
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Even among your enemies you are worthy of mourning!