Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/414

316 Might victory win; but I, I trust, shall grasp

Without their aid that glory for myself."

Such boast he uttered; and a second time,

When great Athena urged him to the fight,

And bade him turn his hand against his foes,

He answered her with words one fears to speak:

"O queen, stand thou the other Argives near;

The tide of battle will not sweep us down."

With words like these, not thinking as a man

Should think, he roused the Goddess to fierce wrath;

But if he lives this day, with help of God,

We might be his deliverers. Thus the seer

Spake, and then Teucros gives me this command

For thee to keep. But if we miss our mark,

Our lord is lost, or Calchas is not wise.

Chor. Ah, poor Tecmessa! child of misery,

Come thou, and hear what words are these he speaks;

The knife has touched the quick, and joy is gone.

Tec. Why rouse ye me, so lately freed from woe,

Woe very grievous, once again to grieve?

Chor. Hear thou this man, who now has tidings brought

About our Aias, which I grieve to hear.

Tec. Ah me! Ο man, what say'st thou? Are we lost?

Mess. Of thy estate I know not, but for him

I have small hope, if he is not within.

Tec. Within he is not; so thy words bring woe.

Mess. Teucros doth bid thee keep thy husband safe

Within his tent, nor let him forth alone.

Tec. And where is Teucros? Why does he say this?

Mess. He has but just now come, and says he fears

Lest this departure bring to Aias death.