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CH.
Hail, Lord Odysseus! thou art come in time
Not to begin, but help to end, a fray.

[Enter ODYSSEUS.]

OD.
What quarrel, sirs? I well perceived from far
The kings high-voicing o’er the valiant dead.

AG.
Yea, Lord Odysseus, for our ears are full
Of this man’s violent heart-offending talk.

OD.
What words have passed? I cannot blame the man
Who meets foul speech with bitterness of tongue.

AG.
My speech was bitter, for his deeds were foul.

OD.
What deed of his could harm thy sovereign head?

AG.
He boldly says this corse shall not be left
Unburied, but he’ll bury it in our spite.

OD.
May I then speak true counsel to my friend,
And pull with thee in policy as of yore?

AG.
Speak. I were else a madman; for no friend
Of all the Argeians do I count thy peer.

OD.
Then hear me in Heaven’s name! Be not so hard
Thus without ruth tombless to cast him forth;
Nor be so vanquished by a vehement will,
That to thy hate even Justice’ self must bow.
I, too, had him for my worst enemy,
Since I gained mastery o’er Pelides’ arms.
But though he used me so, I ne’er will grudge
For his proud scorn to yield him thus much honour,
That, save Achilles’ self, I have not seen
So noble an Argive on the fields of Troy.
Then ’twere not just in thee to slight him now;
Nor would thy treatment wound him, but confound
The laws of Heaven. No hatred should have scope
To offend the noble spirits of the dead.

AG.
Wilt thou thus fight against me on his side?

OD.
Yea, though I hated him, while hate was comely.

AG.
Why, thou shouldst trample him the more, being dead.

OD.
Rejoice not, King, in feats that soil thy fame!

AG.
‘Tis hard for power to observe each pious rule.

OD.
Not hard to grace the good words of a friend.

AG.
The ‘noble spirit’ should hearken to command.

OD.
No more! ‘Tis conquest to be ruled by love.

AG.
Remember what he was thou gracest so.

OD.
A noisome enemy; but his life was great.

AG.
And wilt thou honour such a pestilent corse?

OD.
Hatred gives way to magnanimity.

AG.
With addle-pated fools.

OD.
Full many are found
Friends for an hour, yet bitter in the end.

AG.
And wouldst thou have us gentle to such friends?

OD.
I would not praise ungentleness in aught.

AG.
We shall be known for weaklings through thy counsel.

OD.
Not so, but righteous in all Grecian eyes.

AG.
Thou bidst me then let bury this dead man?

OD.
I urge thee to the course myself shall follow.

AG.
Ay, every man for his own line! That holds.

OD.
Why not for my own line? What else were natural?

AG.
‘Twill be thy doing then, ne’er owned by me.

OD.
Own it or not, the kindness is the same.