Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Jebb 1917).djvu/200

188 . Seest thou the bold, the strong of heart, the dauntless in battles with the foe,—seest thou how I have shown my prowess on creatures that feared no harm? Alas, the mockery! How then have I been shamed!

. Ajax, my lord, I implore thee, speak not thus!

. Hence! out with thee! avaunt—begone!—Woe is me ! woe is me!

. For the gods' love, yield to counsel, and learn wisdom!

. Wretch that I am, who suffered the accursed men to slip through my hands, but fell on horned kine and goodly flocks, and made their dark blood flow!

. Why grieve when the deed is past recall?These things can never be but as they are.

. Ah, thou who watchest all things, thou ready tool of every crime, ah, son of Lartius, thou foulest knave in all the host, I warrant thou laughest loud and long for joy!

. As the god gives, so every man laughs or mourns.

. Yet would that I could see him, shattered though I am! Ah me, ah me!

. Speak no proud word: seest thou not to what a plight thou hast come?

. O Zeus, father of my sires, would that I might slay that deep dissembler, that hateful knave, and the two brother-chiefs, and lastly die myself also!

. When thou makest that prayer, pray therewith for me also that I die: wherefore should I live when thou art dead?