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 TEUCER

Noble Odysseus, for thy words I praise thee

Without stint. Wholly hast thou belied my fears.

Thou, his worst foe among the Greeks, hast yet

Alone stood by him staunchly, nor thought fit

To glory and exult over the dead,

Like that chief crazed with arrogance, who came,

He and his brother, hoping to cast forth

The dead man shamefully without burial.

May therefore the supreme Olympian Father,

The remembering Fury and fulfilling Justice

Destroy these vile men vilely, even as they

Sought to cast forth this hero unjustly outraged.

But pardon me, thou son of old Laertes,

That I must scruple to allow thine aid

In these rites, lest I so displease the dead.

In all else share our toil; and wouldst thou bring

Any man from the host, we grudge thee not.

What else remains, I will provide. And know

That thou towards us hast acted generously.

ODYSSEUS

It was my wish. But if my help herein

Pleases you not, so be it, I depart. [Exit .]

TEUCER

'Tis enough. Too long is the time we have wasted

In talk. Haste some with spades to the grave:

Speedily hollow it. Some set the cauldron

On high amid wreathing flames ready filled

For pious ablution.

Then a third band go, fetch forth from the tent

All the armour he once wore under his shield.

Thou too, child, lovingly lay thy hand

On thy father's corpse, and with all thy strength

Help me to lift him: for the dark blood-tide