Eksodos
Chorus
Long ago I would have left you to go to my ship, had I not seen
Odysseus approaching, and the son of Achilles, too, coming here for us.
1220
Odysseus
Will you not tell me why you make this return journey with such eager speed?
Neoptolemus
I come to undo the mistake that I made earlier.
Odysseus
Your words alarm me—what mistake was that?
1225
Neoptolemus
The one I made when I obeyed you and all the army.
Odysseus
What did you do that was unworthy of you?
Neoptolemus
I captured a man by disgraceful deceits and treachery.
Odysseus
What man? Oh! Can you be planning something rash?
Neoptolemus
Rash, no. But to Poeas’ son—
1230
Odysseus
What are you going to do? Suddenly a certain fear comes over me.
Neoptolemus
—From whom I took this bow, back to him—
Odysseus
Zeus! What will you say? Certainly you do not intend to give it back?
Neoptolemus
Yes, I do, because disgracefully and unjustly I got hold of it.
Odysseus
In the name of the gods, are you saying this to mock me?
1235
Neoptolemus
If it is mockery to speak the truth.
Odysseus
What do you mean, Neoptolemus? What are you saying?
Neoptolemus
Must I repeat the same words twice and three times?
Odysseus
I would not have wished to hear them even once.
Neoptolemus
Know for certain that I have nothing more to say.
1240
Odysseus
There is someone, I tell you, who will prevent your deed.
Neoptolemus
What do you mean? Who will oppose me in this?
Odysseus
The whole host of the Achaeans, and I for one.
Neoptolemus
Wise though you were born, your threats are void of wisdom.
Odysseus
And your words are not wise, nor is that which you want to do.
1245
Neoptolemus
And yet if they are just, they are better than wise.
Odysseus
And how is it just for you to give up what was won by means of my plans?
Neoptolemus
My error was to my dishonor, and now I must try to retrieve it.
Odysseus
The army of the Achaeans causes you no fear, when you do this?
1250
Neoptolemus
With justice on my side, I do not tremble at the terrors you name.
