cruisers, upon whose sterns, right at the ends, stood Nereid goddesses
in golden-effigy, the ensign of Achilles' armament. Near these were

moored the Argive ships in equal numbers, o'er which Mecisteus' son,
whom Taulaus his grandsire reared, and Sthenelus, son of Capaneus,

were in command; next in order, Theseus' son was stationed at the head
of sixty ships from Attica, having the goddess Pallas set in a

winged car drawn by steeds with solid hoof, a lucky sight for
mariners. Then I saw Boeotia's fleet of fifty sails decked with

ensigns; these had Cadmus at the stern holding a golden dragon at
the beaks of the vessels, and earth-born Leitus was their admiral.

Likewise there were ships from Phocis; and from Locris came the son of
Oileus with an equal contingent, leaving famed Thronium's citadel; and

from Mycenae, the Cyclopes' town, Atreus' son sent a hundred
wellmanned galleys, his brother being with him in command, as friend

with friend, that Hellas might exact on her, who had fled her home
to wed a foreigner. Also I saw upon Gerenian Nestor's prows twelve

from Pylos the sign of his neighbor Alpheus, four-footed like a
bull. Moreover there was a squadron of Aenianian sail under King and

next the lords of Elis, stationed near'-them, whom all the people
named Epeians; and Eurytus was lord of these; likewise he led the

Taphian warriors with the white oar-blades, the subjects of Meges, son
of Phyleus, who had left the isles of the Echinades, where sailors

cannot land. Lastly, Aias, reared in Salamis, was joining his right
wing to the left of those near whom he was posted, closing the line

with his outermost ships-twelve barques obedient to the helm-as I
heard and then saw the crews; no safe return shall he obtain, who

bringeth his barbaric boats to grapple Aias. There I saw the naval
armament, but some things I heard at home about the gathered host,

whereof I still have a recollection.
Enter MENELAUS and ATTENDANT.

ATTENDANT (As MENELAUS wrests a letter from him)
Strange daring thine, Menelaus, where thou hast no right.

MENELAUS
Stand back! thou carriest loyalty to thy master too far.

ATTENDANT
The very reproach thou hast for me is to my credit.

MENELAUS
Thou shalt rue it, if thou meddle in matters that concern thee

not.
ATTENDANT

Thou hadst no right to open a letter, which I was carrying.
MENELAUS

No, nor thou to be carrying sorrow to all Hellas.
ATTENDANT

Argue that point with others, but surrender that letter to me.
MENELAUS

I shall not let go.
ATTENDANT

Nor yet will I let loose my hold.
MENELAUS

Why then, this staff of mine will be dabbling thy head with
blood ere long.

ATTENDANT
To die in my master's cause were a noble death.

MENELAUS
Let go! thou art too wordy for a slave.

ATTENDANT (Seeing AGAMEMNON approaching)
Master, he is wronging me; he snatched thy letter violently from

my grasp, Agamemnon, and will not heed the claims of right.
Enter AGAMEMNON.

AGAMEMNON
How now? what means this uproar at the gates, this indecent

brawling?
MENELAUS

My tale, not his, has the better right to be spoken.
AGAMEMNON

Thou, Menelaus! what quarrel hast thou with this man, why art thou
haling him hence?

Exit ATTENDANT.
MENELAUS

Look me in the face! Be that the prelude to my story.
AGAMEMNON

Shall I, the son of Atreus, close my eyes from fear?
MENELAUS

Seest thou this scroll, the bearer of a shameful message?
AGAMEMNON

I see it, yes; and first of all surrender it.
MENELAUS

No, not till I have shewn its contents to all the Danai.
AGAMEMNON

What! hast thou broken the seal and dost know already what thou
shouldst never have known?

MENELAUS
Yes, I opened it and know to thy sorrow the secret machinations of

thy heart.
AGAMEMNON

Where didst thou catch my servant? Ye gods what a shameless
heart thou hast!

MENELAUS
I was awaiting thy daughter's arrival at the camp from Argos.

AGAMEMNON
What right hast thou to watch my doings? Is not this a of

shamelessness?
MENELAUS

My wish to do it gave the spur, for I am no slave to thee.
AGAMEMNON

Infamous! Am I not to be allowed the management of my own house?
MENELAUS

No, for thou thinkest crooked thoughts, one thing now, another
formerly, and something different presently.

AGAMEMNON
Most exquisite refining on evil themes! A hateful thing the tongue

of cleverness!
MENELAUS

Aye, but a mind unstable is an unjust possession, disloyal to
friends. Now I am anxious to test thee, and seek not thou from rage to

turn aside from the truth, nor will I on my part overstrain the
case. Thou rememberest when thou wert all eagerness to captain the

Danai against Troy, making a pretence of declining, though eager for
it in thy heart; how humble thou wert then! taking each man by the

hand and keeping open doors for every fellow townsman who cared to
enter, affording each in turn a chance to speak with thee, even though

some desired it not, seeking by these methods to purchase popularity
from all bidders; then when thou hadst secured the command, there came

a change over thy manners; thou wert no longer so cordial before to
whilom friends, but hard of access, seldom to be found at home. But

the man of real worth ought not to change his manners in the hour of
prosperity, but should then show himself most staunch to friends, when

his own good fortune can help them most effectually. This was the
first cause I had to reprove thee, for it was here I first

discovered thy villainy; but afterwards, when thou camest to Aulis
with all the gathered hosts of Hellas, thou wert of no account; no!

the want of a favourable breeze filled thee with consternation at
the chance dealt out by Heaven. Anon the Danai began demanding that

thou shouldst send the fleet away instead of vainly toiling on at
Aulis; what dismay and confusion was then depicted in thy looks, to

think that thou, with a thousand ships at thy command, hadst not
occupied the plains of Priam with thy armies! And thou wouldst ask

my counsel, "What am I to do? what scheme can I devise. where find
one?" to save thyself being stripped of thy command and losing thy