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 ODYSSEUS

What has he done thee whereby thou art wronged?

AGAMEMNON

He says he will not leave yon corpse unhonoured

By sepulture, but will bury it in my spite.

ODYSSEUS

May now a friend speak out the truth, yet still

As ever ply his oar in stroke with thine?

AGAMEMNON

Speak: I should be witless else; for thee

Of all the Greeks I count the greatest friend.

ODYSSEUS.

Then listen. For the gods' sake venture not

Thus ruthlessly to cast forth this man unburied:

And in no wise let violence compel thee

To such deep hate that thou shouldst tread down justice.

Once for me too this man was my worst foe,

From that hour when I won Achilles' arms;

Yet, though he was such towards me, I would not so

Repay him with dishonour as to deny

That of all Greeks who came to Troy, no hero

So valiant save Achilles have I seen.

So it is not just thou shouldst dishonour him.

Not him wouldst thou be wronging, but the laws

Of heaven. It is not righteousness to outrage

A brave man dead, not even though thou hate him.

AGAMEMNON

Thou, Odysseus, champion him thus against me?

ODYSSEUS

Yes; but I hated him while hate was honourable.

AGAMEMNON

Shouldst thou not also trample on him when dead?