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1367—1388] adjudged the hapless Ajax inferior to Odysseus:]—after that, wilt thou go to fight at their side,—and wouldest thou constrain me to do likewise?

Nay, do not so, my son; but rather, as thou hast sworn to me, convey me home; and, abiding in Scyros thyself, leave those evil men to their evil doom. So shalt thou win double thanks from me, as from my sire, and shalt not seem, through helping bad men, to be like them in thy nature.

. There is reason in what thou sayest; nevertheless, I would have thee put thy trust in the gods and in my words, and sail forth from this land with me, thy friend.

. What! to the plains of Troy, and to the abhorred son of Atreus,—with this wretched foot?

. Nay, but to those who will free thee and thine ulcered limb from pain, and will heal thy sickness.

. Thou giver of dire counsel, what canst thou mean?

. What I see is fraught with the best issue for us both.

. Hast thou no shame that the gods should hear those words?

. Why should a man be ashamed of benefiting his friends?

. Is this benefit to the Atreidae, or for me?

. For thee, I ween: I am thy friend, and speak in friendship.

. How so, when thou would'st give me up to my foes?

. Prithee, learn to be less defiant in misfortune.

. Thou wilt ruin me, I know thou wilt, with these words.