ajax-第4章
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Nor rendering meaner service by my deeds；
Dishonoured by the Argives perish thus。
Yet this methinks I know for truth； were now
Achilles living and called on to adjudge
As the award of valour his own arms；
No man's hand would have grasped them before mine。
But now the Atreidae to a scheming knave
Have dealt them； thrusting by my valiant deeds。
And if these eyes； these wits had not in frenzy
Swerved from my purpose； never would they thus
Pervert judgment against another man。
But the irresistible fierce…eyed goddess； even
As I was arming my right hand to slay them；
Foiled me； smiting me with a maddening plague；
So that I stained my hand butchering these cattle。
Thus my foes mock me； escaped beyond my reach；
Through no goodwill of mine： but if a god
Thwart vengeance； even the base may escape the nobler。
And what should I now do； who manifestly
To Heaven am hateful； whom the Greeks abhor；
Whom every Trojan hates； and this whole land？
Shall I desert the beached ships； and abandoning
The Atreidae； sail home o'er the Aegean sea？
With what face shall I appear before my father
Telamon？ How will he find heart to look
On me； stripped of my championship in war；
That mighty crown of fame that once was his？
No； that I dare not。 Shall I then assault
Troy's fortress； and alone against them all
Achieve some glorious exploit and then die？
No； I might gratify the Atreidae thus。
That must not be。 Some scheme let me devise
Which may prove to my aged sire that I；
His son； at least by nature am no coward。
For 'tis base for a man to crave long life
Who endures never…varying misery。
What joy can be in day that follows day；
Bringing us close then snatching us from death？
As of no worth would I esteem that man
Who warms himself with unsubstantial hopes。
Nobly to live； or else nobly to die
Befits proud birth。 There is no more to say。
LEADER
The word thou hast uttered； Ajax； none shall call
Bastard； but the true offspring of thy soul。
Yet pause。 Let those who love thee overrule
Thy resolution。 Put such thoughts aside。
TECMESSA
O my lord Ajax； of all human ills
Greatest is fortune's wayward tyranny。
Of a free father was I born the child；
One rich and great as any Phrygian else。
Now am I a slave； for so the gods； or rather
Thy warrior's hand； would have it。 Therefore since
I am thy bedfellow； I wish thee well；
And I entreat thee by domestic Zeus；
And by the embraces that have made me thine；
Doom me not to the cruel taunts of those
Who hate thee； left a bond…slave in strange hands。
For shouldst thou perish and forsake me in death；
That very day assuredly I to
Shall be seized by the Argives； with thy son
To endure henceforth the portion of a slave。
Then one of my new masters with barbed words
Shall wound me scoffing： 〃See the concubine
Of Ajax； who was mightiest of the host；
What servile tasks are hers who lived so daintily！〃
Thus will men speak； embittering my hard lot；
But words of shame for thee and for thy race。
Nay； piety forbid thee to forsake
Thy father in his drear old age…thy mother
With her sad weight of years； who many a time
Prays to the gods that thou come home alive。
And pity； O king； thy son； who without thee
To foster his youth； must live the orphaned ward
Of loveless guardians。 Think how great a sorrow
Dying thou wilt bequeath to him and me。
For I have nothing left to look to more
Save thee。 By thy spear was my country ravaged；
And by another stroke did fate lay low
My mother and my sire to dwell with Hades。
Without thee then what fatherland were mine？
What wealth？ On thee alone rests all my hope。
O take thought for me too。 Do we not owe
Remembrance； where we have met with any joy？
For kindness begets kindness evermore
But he who from whose mind fades the memory
Of benefits； noble is he no more。
LEADER
Ajax； would that thy soul would feel compassion；
As mine does； so wouldst thou approve her words。
AJAX
Verily my approval shall she win；
If only she find heart to do my bidding。
TECMESSA
Dear Ajax； in all things will I obey。
AJAX
Then bring me here my son； for I would see him。
TECMESSA
Nay； but I sent him from me in my fears。
AJAX
During my late affliction； is that thy meaning？
TECMESSA
Lest by ill chance he should meet thee and so perish。
AJAX
Yes； that would have been worthy of my fate。
TECMESSA
That at least I was watchful to avert。
AJAX
I praise thine act and the foresight thou hast shown。
TECMESSA
Since that is so； what shall I do to serve thee？
AJAX
Let me speak to him and behold his face。
TECMESSA
He is close by in the attendants' charge。
AJAX
Why is his coming then so long delayed？
TECMESSA （calling）
My son； thy father calls thee。…Bring him thither
Whichever of you is guiding the child's steps。
AJAX
Is the man coming？ Has he heard thy call？
TECMESSA
See； he is here already with the child。
（An attendant enters； leading the child； EURYSACES。）
AJAX
Lift him up； lift him hither。 He will not shrink
In terror at sight of yonder new…spilt blood；
If he be rightly mine； his father's son。
Early must he be broken to his sire's
Stern rugged code； and grow like…natured with him。
O son； mayst thou prove happier than thy father；
In all else like him； and thou'lt prove not base。
Yet even now might I envy thee herein；
That of these woes thou hast no sense at all。
For the life that is unconscious is most sweet…
Until we learn what joy and sorrow are。
But that once learnt； then midst thy father's foes
Thou must show what thou art； and of what breed。
Till then be nurtured on soft airs； cherishing
Thy tender life； and be thy mother's joy。
None of the Greeks； I know； will do thee wrong
With cruel outrage； even though I be gone。
So trusty a guardian will I leave thee； Teucer；
Who will not stint his loving care； though now
He is gone far away； in chase of foes。
But you； my warriors； comrades in seafaring；
On you too I impose this task of love；
And fail not to announce my will to Teucer；
That to my home he take the child and show him
To Telamon and my mother Eriboea；
That henceforth he may comfort their old age。
And charge him that no game…steward make my arms
A prize for the Greeks…nor he who ruined me。
But this take thou； my son Eurysaces；
Hold it and wield it by its firm…stitched thong；
This sevenfold spear…proof shield； whence comes thy name。
But else with me my arms shall be interred。
（Speaking now to TECMESSA）
Come； take the child hence quickly； and bolt the doors：
And let there be no weeping and lamenting
Before the hut。 Women love tears too well。
Close quickly。 It is not for a skilful leech
To drone charms o'er a wound that craves the knife。
LEADER
I am fearful； listening to this eager mood。
The sharp edge of thy tongue； I like it not。
TECMESSA
O my lord Ajax； what art thou purposing？
AJAX
Question me not。 To be discreet is best。
TECMESSA
Ah me； heavy is my heart。 Now by thy child；
By the gods； I entreat； forsake us not。
AJAX
Vex me no further。 Know'st thou not that I
To the gods owe no duty any more？
TECMESSA
Utter no proud words。
AJAX
Speak to those who listen。
TECMESSA
Wilt thou not heed？
AJAX
