Argue that point with others, but surrender that letter to me.MenelausI shall not let go.Old manNor will I let loose my hold.MenelausWhy then, this staff of mine will be dabbling your head with blood before long.Old manTo die in my master’s cause would be a noble death.MenelausLet go! you are too wordy for a slave.Old manseeing Agamemnon approachingMaster, he is wronging me; he snatchedyour letter violently from my grasp, Agamemnon, and will not heed the claims of right.

AgamemnonAh! what is this uproar at the gates, this indecent brawling?MenelausMy tale, not his, has the better right to be spoken.AgamemnonYou, Menelaus! what quarrel do you have with this man, why are you dragging him here? Exit ATTENDANT.MenelausLook me in the face! May that be the prelude to my story.AgamemnonShall I, the son of Atreus, close my eyes from fear?The point lies in the play on the name Ἀτρεύς, i.e., the fearless, shall I the son of fearlessness, fear, etc.?MenelausDo you see this tablet, the bearer of a shameful message?AgamemnonI see it, yes; now, you first of all surrender it.MenelausNo, not till I have shown its contents to all the army.AgamemnonWhat! have you broken the seal and know already what you should never have known?MenelausYes, I opened it and know to your sorrow the secret machinations of your heart.AgamemnonWhere did you get it? O gods! what shameless heart you have!MenelausI was awaiting your daughter’s arrival at the camp in Argos.