Epode.
But rise from this thy seat, where all too long
*Thou stay'st, in rest that brings the ills of strife,
Fresh kindling Heaven's fierce wrath;
And so the haughtiness of those thy foes
Speeds on unshrinking as in forest glades
Where the wind gently blows,
While all, with chattering tongues,
Speak words of woe and shame,
And sorrow dwells with me.200
Enter Tecmessa from the tent.
Tec. Ο ye who comrades sailed in Aias' ship,
Sprung from the ancient race
Who claim the old Erectheus as their sire,[1]
We, who afar from home
Watch over him, yon child of Telamon,
Have sorrows in good store;
For now the dread, the great, the mighty one,
Aias, with tempest wild, lies smitten sore.
Chor. What change hath night then brought
*From fair and prosperous state?210
Child of Teleutas old, of Phrygia,
Speak thou, and tell thy tale;
For mighty Aias loves and honours thee,
His captive and his bride:
Thou wilt not speak as one that knoweth not.
Tec. How shall I speak what is unspeakable?
For thou wilt learn a sorrow sharp as death:
Our Aias, noble, brave,
His soul to madness stung,
Was brought to shame this night.
Such slaughter wrought by him,
- ↑ "Who claim . . . ." sc., who are true citizens of Attica.
