Ai. Teucer I call! Where ’s Teucer? Will he ne’er
Come from the chase, but leave me to my doom?
Ch. Not madness now. Disclose him. Let us look.
Haply the sight of us may calm his soul.
Tec. There, then; I open to your view the form
Of Aias, and his fortunes as they are.
Ai. Dear comrades of the deep, whose truth and love I 1
Stand forth alone unbroken in my woe,
Behold what gory sea
Of storm-lashed agony
Doth round and round me flow!
Ch. (to Tec.) Too true thy witness: for the fact cries out
Wild thoughts were here and Reason’s lamp extinct.
Ai. Strong helpers of sea-speed, whose nimble hand I 2
Plied hither the salt oar with circling stroke,
No shepherd there was found
To give the avenging wound.
Come, lay me with the flock!
Ch. Speak no rash word! nor curing ill with ill
Augment the plague of this calamity.
Ai. Mark ye the brave and bold, II 1
Whom none could turn of old,
When once he set his face to the fierce fight?
Now beasts that thought no harm
Have felt this puissant arm.
O laughter of my foes! O mockery of my might!
Tec. Aias, my lord! I entreat thee, speak not so!
Ai. Thou here! Away! begone, and trouble me not!
O! O!
Ch. Be softened! bear a steadier mind!
Ai. O heaven-accursèd hand
That let the ruffians go,
But falling ’midst the horn’d and bleating band,
Made darkling blood-streams flow!
