Stasimon 4
[Choral]
Who was that man who slipped away? Who was he that will loudly boast his daring in escaping me?
Chorus
How shall I catch him now? To whom shall I liken him, the man who came by night with fearless step passing through our ranks and the guard we set? Is he a Thessalian or
695
a dweller in some seacoast town of Locris? Or does he make his living among the islands scattered in the sea? Who was he? Where from? What is his fatherland? What god does he avow as lord of all the rest?
700
Whose work is this? is it the deed of Odysseus?
If one may conjecture from his former acts, of course it is.
705
What strength? Whom are you praising?
Do not praise the crafty weapons that a robber uses.
Once before he came into this city, with swimming bleary eyes, clad in rags and tatters, his sword hidden in his cloak.
710
And like some vagrant menial he slunk about begging his living, his head rough and dirty; and he spoke bitterly of the royal house of the Atreidae—as though he were really opposed to those chiefs!
715
Would, oh! would he had perished, as was his due, before he set foot on Phrygia’s soil!
720
Whether it was really Odysseus or not, I am afraid;
for Hector will blame us sentinels.
What have we done? Why are you afraid?
725
The ones who came this night to the Phrygian army.