Eksodos
could I disgrace my own flesh and blood, whom even as he lies here subdued by such massive troubles, you, making your pronouncements without a blush of shame, would thrust out without burial? Now consider this well: wherever you cast him away, with him you will also cast our three corpses.
1305
It is right for me to die before all men’s eyes while I am toiling in his cause, rather
than for your wife—or should I say your brother’s? With this in mind, then,
look not to my safety, but to yours instead, since if you cause me any grief
at all, you will soon wish
1310
that you had been more timid than bold when confronting me.
1315
Chorus
Lord Odysseus, you arrive at the right time, if mediation, not division, is your purpose in coming.
Odysseus
What is the trouble, friends? From far off I heard shouting from the Atreidae over this
brave man’s corpse.
Agamemnon
Is it not because we, Lord Odysseus, have long had to hear the worst, most shameful language from this man?
1320
Odysseus
How so? I can pardon a man a retaliatory barrage of abuse if another has insulted him.
Agamemnon
I insulted him, since his conduct toward me was of the same stripe.
Odysseus
And what did he do that harmed you?
1325
Agamemnon
He declares that he will not leave this corpse without due burial, but will entomb it in spite of me.
Odysseus
Then may a friend speak the truth, and still remain your helpmate no less than before?
Agamemnon
Speak. Otherwise I would be less than sane, since I count you my greatest friend among all the Greeks.
1330
Odysseus
Listen, then. In the name of the gods, do not let yourself so ruthlessly cast this man out unburied. Do not in any way let the violence of your hatred overcome you
so much that you trample justice under foot. To me, too, this man was once the most
hostile enemy in the army from the day on which I beat him for possession of
Achilles’ arms. Yet for all that he was hostile towards me, I would not
dishonor him in return or refuse to admit
1335
that in all our Greek force at Troy he was, in my view, the best and bravest, excepting Achilles. It would not be just, then, that he should be dishonored by you. It is not he, but the laws given by the gods that you would damage. When a good man is dead, there is no justice
1340
in doing him harm, not even if you hate him.
1345
Agamemnon
You, Odysseus—do you champion him against me in this battle?
Odysseus
I do, though I did hate him, when it was honorable for me to hate.
Agamemnon
But should you not also trample him now that he is dead?
Odysseus
Do not take delight, son of Atreus, in that superiority which brings no honor.
