Epeisodion 3
Achilles
Where is Achaea’s general? Which of his servants will announce to him that Achilles, the son of Peleus, is at his gates seeking him? For this delay at the Euripus is not the same for all of us;
there are some, for instance, who, bing still unwed, have left their houses desolate and are idling here upon the beach, while others are married but without children;Reading καὶ παῖδας with Musgrave for ἄπαιδες. so strange the longing for this expedition that has fallen on their hearts by the will of the gods.τῆσδε στρατείας οὐκ ἄνευ θεῶν τινός. Hennig rejects 11. 805-9.
805
My own just plea I must declare, and whoever else has any wish will speak for himself. Though I have left Pharsalia, and Peleus, still I lingerKirchhoff marks a lacuna of three lines after 1. 812 on the authority of one MS.; it is possible, however, that the passage is continuous, and an attempt has been made here to treat it as such. here by reason of these light breezes at the Euripus, restraining my Myrmidons, while they are always pressing on me,
810
saying: Why do we tarry, Achilles? how much longer must we count the days to the start for Ilium? do something if you are so minded; or lead home your men, and do not wait for the tardy action of these Atridae.
815
Clytemnestra
Hail to you, son of the Nereid goddess! I heard your voice
from within the tent and came forth.
820
Achilles
O modesty revered! who can this lady be whom I behold, so richly dowered with beauty’s gifts?
Clytemnestra
No wonder you do not know me, seeing I am one you have never before set eyes on; I praise your reverent address to modesty.
Achilles
Who are you, and why have you come to the mustering of the Danaids—you, a woman, to a fenced camp of men?
825
Clytemnestra
I am the daughter of Leda; my name is Clytemnestra; and my husband king Agamemnon.
Achilles
Well and shortly answered on all important points,
but it is shameful for me to stand talking to women.
830
Clytemnestra
Stay; why seek to escape? give me your hand, a prelude to a happy marriage.
Achilles
What is it you say? I give you my hand? To lay a finger where I have no right, I could never meet Agamemnon’s eye.
Clytemnestra
The best of rights you have, seeing it is my child you will wed, O son of the sea-goddess, daughter of Nereus.
835
Achilles
What wedding do you speak of? Words fail me, lady; can your wits have gone astray and are you inventing this?
Clytemnestra
All men are naturally shy in the presence of new relations,
when these remindμεμνημένους, so Hermann and Dindorf; if μεμνημένοις be retained from the MSS., the meaning must be when they call their marriage to mind; the latter is preferred by Kirchhoff and Monk. them of their wedding.
840
Achilles
Lady, I have never courted your daughter, nor have the sons of Atreus ever mentioned marriage to me.
Clytemnestra
What can it mean? Your turn now to marvel at my words, for yours are very strange to me.
Achilles
Hazard a guess; that we can both do in this matter; for it may be we are both correct in our statements.i.e., we may both be right, but at cross purposes. Markland proposes ἐφευδόμεθα, we may both have been deceived in what we say.
845
Clytemnestra
What! have I suffered such indignity? The marriage I am courting has no reality it seems; I am ashmed of it.
Achilles
Some one perhaps has made a mock of you and me;
pay no heed to it; make light of it.
850
Clytemnestra
Farewell; I can no longer face you with unfaltering eyes, after being made a liar and suffering undeservedly.
Achilles
It is farewell I bid you too, lady; and I go within the tent to seek your husband.
[Episode]
Stranger of the race of Aeacus, stay awhile! Ho there! I mean you, O goddess-born, and you, daughter of Leda.
855
Achilles
Who is it calling through the half-opened door? What fear his voice betrays!
Old man
A slave; of that I am not proud, for fortune does not permit it.
Achilles
Whose slave are you? not mine; for mine and Agamemnon’s goods are separate.
