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 Would he had vanished away from the earth,

Rapt to the skies, or sunk to devouring Hades,

He who first revealed to the Greeks the use of arms

Leagued in fierce confederate war!

Ah, toils eternally breeding toils!

Yea, he was the fiend who wrought man's ruin.

The wretch accurst, what were his gifts?

Neither the glad, festival wreath,

Nor the divine, mirth-giving wine-cup;

No music of flutes, soothing and sweet:

Slumber by night, blissful and calm,

None he bequeathed us.

And love's joys, alas! love did he banish from me.

Here couching alone neglected,

With hair by unceasing dews drenched evermore, we curse

Thy shores, O cruel Ilium.

Erewhile against terror by night,

Javelin or sword, firm was our trust:

He was our shield, valiant Aias.

But now a malign demon of fate

Claims him. Alas! When, when again

Shall joy befall me?

Oh once more to stand, where on the wooded headland

The ocean is breaking, under

The shadow of Sunium's height; thence could I greet from far

The divine city of Athens.

TEUCER

In haste I come; for the captain of the host,

Agamemnon, I have seen hurrying hither.

To a perverse tongue now will he give rein.

AGAMEMNON

Is it you, they tell me, have dared to stretch your lips