He is something of a coward, and fears the army too much.AchillesStill argument overthrows argument.ClytemnestraCold hope indeed; but tell me what I must do.AchillesSupplicate him first not to slay his children; and if he is stubborn, come to me. ForDindorf marks 11. 1017-23 as spurious; the only wonder is, says Paley, that he tolerated the preceding part. if he consents to your request, my intervention need go no further, since this consent insures your safety. I too shall show myself in a better light to my friend,and the army will not blame me, if I arrange the matter by reason rather than force; while, should things turn out well, the result will prove satisfactory both to you and your friends, even without my interference.ClytemnestraHow sensibly you speak! I must act as seems best to you;but should I fail of my object, where am I to see you again, where? Must I turn my wretched steps and find you ready to champion my distress?AchillesI will keep watch to guard you, where occasion calls, that none may see you passing through the army of Danaidswith that scared look. Do not shame your father’s house; for Tyndareus does not deserve not to be ill spoken of, being a mighty man in Hellas.Line 1032 is inclosed in brackets by Nauck.ClytemnestraIt will be so.ἔστιν τάδ᾽. So Paley; but others, with Markland, read ἔσται τάδ᾽ i.e., I will do as you say. Command me; I must play the slave to you. If there are gods, you for your righteous dealingwill find them favorable; if there are none, what need to toil? Exeunt Achilles and Clytemnestra.

ChorusWhat wedding-hymn was that which raised its strains to the sound of Libyan flutes, to the music of the dancer’s lyre, and the note of the pipe of reeds?It was on the day Pieria’s lovely-haired choir came over the slopes of Pelion to the wedding of Peleus, beating the ground with print of golden sandals at the banquet of the gods,and hymning in dulcet strains the praise of Thetis and the son of Aeacus, over the Centaurs’ hill, down woods of Pelion.There was the Dardanian boy,dainty morsel of Zeus’ bed, drawing off the wine he mixed in the depths of golden bowls, Ganymede the Phrygian; while, along the gleaming sand,the fifty daughters of Nereus graced the marriage with their dancing, circling in a mazy ring.

ChorusThe revel-rout of Centaurs came too, mounted on horses, to the feast of the gods and the mixing-bowl of Bacchus,leaning on fir-trees, withReading ἀνὰ δ᾽ ἐλάταις σὺν with Weil. wreaths of green foliage round their heads; and Chiron cried loudly: Daughter of Nereus, you shall bear a son, a dazzling light to Thessaly; and the prophet,skilled in arts inspired by Phoebus, gave his name; for he shall come with an army of Myrmidon spearmen to the famous land of Priam,