Page:Sophocles - Seven Plays, 1900.djvu/104

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70
AIAS
[975–1009

Leader of Ch. Hush! that was Teucer’s cry. Methought I heard
His voice salute this object of dire woe.

Enter Teucer.

Teu. Aias, dear brother, comfort of mine eye,
Hast thou then done even as the rumour holds?

Ch. Be sure of that, Teucer. He lives no more.

Teu. Oh, then how heavy is the lot I bear!

Ch. Yes, thou hast cause—

Teu. O rash assault of woe!—

Ch. To mourn full loud.

Teu. Ay me! and where, oh where
On Trojan earth, tell me, is this man's child?

Ch. Beside the huts, untended.

Teu. (to Tec). Oh, with haste
Go bring him hither, lest some enemy’s hand
Snatch him, as from the lion’s widowed mate
The lion-whelp is taken. Spare not speed.
All soon combine in mockery o’er the dead.

[Exit Tecmessa

Ch. Even such commands he left thee ere he died.
As thou fulfillest by this timely care.

Teu. O sorest spectacle mine eyes e’er saw!
Woe for my journey hither, of all ways
Most grievous to my heart, since I was ware,
Dear Aias, of thy doom, and sadly tracked
Thy footsteps. For there darted through the host,
As from some God, a swift report of thee
That thou wert lost in death. I, hapless, heard,
And mourned even then for that whose presence kills me.
Ay me! But come,
Unveil. Let me behold my misery.
[The corpse of Aias is uncovered
O sight unbearable! Cruelly brave!
Dying, what store of griefs thou sow’st for me!
Where, amongst whom of mortals, can I go,
That stood not near thee in thy troublous horn?
Will Telamon, my sire and thine, receive me

With radiant countenance and favouring brow