Page:Sophocles - Seven Plays, 1900.djvu/268

234

Crafty Odysseus, sallying forth alone

One night, had taken, and in bonds displayed

’Fore all the Achaeans, a right noble prey.

He, ’mid his other prophecies, foretold

No Grecian force should sack Troy’s citadel,

Till with fair reasons they had brought this man

From Lemnos isle, his lonely dwelling-place.

When thus the prophet spake, Laërtes’ son

Straight undertook to fetch this man, and show him

To all the camp:—he hoped, with fair consent:

But else, perforce.—And, if he failed in this,

Whoever would might smite him on the head.

My tale is told, dear youth. I counsel speed

To thee and to the friend for whom thou carest.

. Ah me, unhappy! has that rascal knave

Sworn to fetch me with reasons to their camp?

As likely might his reasons bring me back,

Like his begetter, from the house of death.

You talk of what I know not. I will go

Shipward. May God be with you for all good.

. Is not this terrible, Laërtes’ son

Should ever think to bring me with, soft words

And show me from his deck to all their host?

No! Sooner will I listen to the tongue

Of the curs’d basilisk that thus hath maim’d me

Ay, but he’ll venture anything in word

Or deed. And now I know he will be here.

Come, O my son, let us be gone, while seas

And winds divide us from Odysseus’ ship.

Let us depart. Sure timely haste brings rest

And quiet slumber when the toil is done.

. Shall we not sail when this south-western wind

Hath fallen, that now is adverse to our course?

. All winds are fair to him who flies from woe.

. Nay, but this head-wind hinders them no less.

. No head-wind hinders pirates on their way,

When violence and rapine lead them on.

. Well, then, let us be going, if you will;