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the gushing fount。
Through the grove of…Artemis； rich with sacrifice； I sped my
course； the red blush mantling on my cheeks from maiden modesty； in my
eagerness to see the soldiers' camp； the tents of the mail…clad Danai；
and their gathered steeds。 Two chieftains there I saw met together
in council； one was Aias； son of Oileus； the other Aias； son of
Telamon； crown of glory to the men of Salamis； and I saw Protesilaus
and Palamedes； sprung from the son of Poseidon； sitting there
amusing themselves with intricate figures at draughts； Diomedes too at
his favourite sport of hurling quoits； and Meriones； the War…god's
son； a marvel to mankind； stood at his side； likewise I beheld the
offspring of Laertes； who came from his island hills； and with him
Nireus； handsomest of all Achaeans； Achilles next； that nimble runner；
swift on his feet as the wind； whom Thetis bore and Chiron trained；
him I saw upon the beach； racing in full armour along the shingle
and straining every nerve to beat a team of four horses； as he sped
round the track on foot； and Eumelus； the grandson of Pheres； their
driver； was shouting when I saw him。 goading on his goodly steeds；
with their bits of chased goldwork； whereof the centre pair； that bore
the yoke； had dappled coats picked out with white； while the
trace…horses； on the outside； facing the turning…post in the course；
were bays with spotted fetlocks。 Close beside them Peleus' son leapt
on his way； in all his harness； keeping abreast the rail by the
axle…box。
Next I sought the countless fleet； a wonder to behold； that I
might fill my girlish eyes with gazing； a sweet delight。 'the
warlike Myrmidons from Phthia held the right wing with fifty swift
cruisers； upon whose sterns； right at the ends； stood Nereid goddesses
in golden…effigy； the ensign of Achilles' armament。 Near these were
moored the Argive ships in equal numbers； o'er which Mecisteus' son；
whom Taulaus his grandsire reared； and Sthenelus； son of Capaneus；
were in command； next in order； Theseus' son was stationed at the head
of sixty ships from Attica； having the goddess Pallas set in a
winged car drawn by steeds with solid hoof； a lucky sight for
mariners。 Then I saw Boeotia's fleet of fifty sails decked with
ensigns； these had Cadmus at the stern holding a golden dragon at
the beaks of the vessels； and earth…born Leitus was their admiral。
Likewise there were ships from Phocis； and from Locris came the son of
Oileus with an equal contingent； leaving famed Thronium's citadel； and
from Mycenae； the Cyclopes' town； Atreus' son sent a hundred
wellmanned galleys； his brother being with him in command； as friend
with friend； that Hellas might exact on her； who had fled her home
to wed a foreigner。 Also I saw upon Gerenian Nestor's prows twelve
from Pylos the sign of his neighbor Alpheus； four…footed like a
bull。 Moreover there was a squadron of Aenianian sail under King and
next the lords of Elis； stationed near'…them； whom all the people
named Epeians； and Eurytus was lord of these； likewise he led the
Taphian warriors with the white oar…blades； the subjects of Meges； son
of Phyleus； who had left the isles of the Echinades； where sailors
cannot land。 Lastly； Aias； reared in Salamis； was joining his right
wing to the left of those near whom he was posted； closing the line
with his outermost ships…twelve barques obedient to the helm…as I
heard and then saw the crews； no safe return shall he obtain； who
bringeth his barbaric boats to grapple Aias。 There I saw the naval
armament； but some things I heard at home about the gathered host；
whereof I still have a recollection。
Enter MENELAUS and ATTENDANT。
ATTENDANT （As MENELAUS wrests a letter from him）
Strange daring thine； Menelaus； where thou hast no right。
MENELAUS
Stand back！ thou carriest loyalty to thy master too far。
ATTENDANT
The very reproach thou hast for me is to my credit。
MENELAUS
Thou shalt rue it； if thou meddle in matters that concern thee
not。
ATTENDANT
Thou hadst no right to open a letter； which I was carrying。
MENELAUS
No； nor thou to be carrying sorrow to all Hellas。
ATTENDANT
Argue that point with others； but surrender that letter to me。
MENELAUS
I shall not let go。
ATTENDANT
Nor yet will I let loose my hold。
MENELAUS
Why then； this staff of mine will be dabbling thy head with
blood ere long。
ATTENDANT
To die in my master's cause were a noble death。
MENELAUS
Let go！ thou art too wordy for a slave。
ATTENDANT （Seeing AGAMEMNON approaching）
Master； he is wronging me； he snatched thy letter violently from
my grasp； Agamemnon； and will not heed the claims of right。
Enter AGAMEMNON。
AGAMEMNON
How now？ what means this uproar at the gates； this indecent
brawling？
MENELAUS
My tale； not his； has the better right to be spoken。
AGAMEMNON
Thou； Menelaus！ what quarrel hast thou with this man； why art thou
haling him hence？
Exit ATTENDANT。
MENELAUS
Look me in the face！ Be that the prelude to my story。
AGAMEMNON
Shall I； the son of Atreus； close my eyes from fear？
MENELAUS
Seest thou this scroll； the bearer of a shameful message？
AGAMEMNON
I see it； yes； and first of all surrender it。
MENELAUS
No； not till I have shewn its contents to all the Danai。
AGAMEMNON
What！ hast thou broken the seal and dost know already what thou
shouldst never have known？
MENELAUS
Yes； I opened it and know to thy sorrow the secret machinations of
thy heart。
AGAMEMNON
Where didst thou catch my servant？ Ye gods what a shameless
heart thou hast！
MENELAUS
I was awaiting thy daughter's arrival at the camp from Argos。
AGAMEMNON
What right hast thou to watch my doings？ Is not this a of
shamelessness？
MENELAUS
My wish to do it gave the spur； for I am no slave to thee。
AGAMEMNON
Infamous！ Am I not to be allowed the management of my own house？
MENELAUS
No； for thou thinkest crooked thoughts； one thing now； another
formerly； and something different presently。
AGAMEMNON
Most exquisite refining on evil themes！ A hateful thing the tongue
of cleverness！
MENELAUS
Aye； but a mind unstable is an unjust possession； disloyal to
friends。 Now I am anxious to test thee； and seek not thou from rage to
turn aside from the truth； nor will I on my part overstrain the
case。 Thou rememberest when thou wert all eagerness to captain the
Danai against Troy； making a pretence of declining； though eager for
it in thy heart； how humble thou wert then！ taking each man by the
hand and keeping open doors for every fellow townsman who cared to
enter； affording each in turn a chance to speak with thee； even though
some desired it not； seeking by these methods to purchase popularity
from all bidders； then when thou hadst secured the command； there came
a change over thy manners； thou wert no longer so cordial before to
whilom friends； but hard of access； seldom to be found at home。 But
the man of real worth ought not to change his manners in the hour of
prosperity； but should then show himself most staunch to friends； when
his own good fortune can help them most effectually。 This was the
first cause I had to reprove thee； for it was here I first
discovered thy villainy； but afterwards； when thou camest to Aulis
with all the gathered hosts of Hellas； thou wert of no account； no！
the want of a favourable breeze filled thee with consternation at
the chance dealt out by Heaven。 Anon the Danai began demanding that
thou shouldst send the fleet away instead of vainly toiling on at
Aulis； what dismay and confusion was then depicted in thy looks； to
think that thou； with a thousand ships at thy command； hadst not
occupied the plains of Priam with thy armies！ And thou wouldst ask
my counsel； 〃What am I to do？ what scheme can I devise。 where find
one？〃 to save thyself being stripped of thy command and losing thy
fair fame。 Next when Calchas bade thee offer thy daughter in sacrifice
to Artemis； declaring that the Danai should then sail； thou wert
overjoyed； and didst gladly undertake to offer the maid； and of
thine own accord…never allege compulsion！…thou art sending word to thy
wife to despatch thy daughter hither on pretence of wedding
Achilles。 This is the same air that heard thee say it； and after all
thou turnest round and hast been caught recasting thy letter to this
effect； 〃I will no longer be my daughter's murderer。〃 Exactly so！
Countless others have gone through this phase in their conduct of
public affairs； they make an effort while in power； and then retire
dishonourably； sometimes owing to the senselessness of the citizens；
sometimes deservedly； because they are too f