Dialogi mortuorum

Agamemnon If you went mad and wrought your own destruction, Ajax, in default of that you designed for us all, why put the blame on Odysseus? Why would you not vouchsafe him a look or a word, when he came to consult Tiresias that day? you stalked past your old comrade in arms as if he was beneath your notice.

Ajax Had I not good reason? My madness lies at the door of my solitary rival for the arms.

Agamemnon Did you expect to be unopposed, and carry it over us all without a contest?

Ajax Surely, in such a matter. The armour was mine by natural right, seeing I was Achilles’s cousin. The rest of you, his undoubted superiors, refused to compete, recognizing my claim. It was the son of Laertes, he that I had rescued scores of times when he would have been cut to pieces by the Phrygians, who set up for a better man and a stronger claimant than I.

Agamemnon Blame Thetis, then, my good sir; it was she who, instead of delivering the inheritance to the next of kin, brought the arms and left the ownership an open question.

Ajax No, no; the guilt was in claiming them—alone, I mean.

Agamemnon Surely, Ajax, a mere man may be forgiven the sin of coveting honour—that sweetest bait for which each one of us adventured; nay, and he outdid you there, if a Trojan verdict counts.

Ajax Who inspired that verdict[*](Athene is meant. The allusion is to Homer, Od. xi. 547, a passage upon the contest for the arms of Achilles, in which Odysseus states that ‘The judges were the sons of the Trojans, and Pallas Athene.’)? I know, but about the Gods we may not speak. Let that pass; but cease to hate Odysseus? ’tis not in my power, Agamemnon, though Athene’s self should require it of me.

Minos Sostratus, the pirate here, can be dropped into Pyriphlegethon, Hermes; the temple-robber shall be clawed by the Chimera; and lay out the tyrant alongside of Tityus, there to have his liver torn by the vultures. And you honest fellows can make the best of your way to Elysium and the Isles of the Blest; this it is to lead righteous lives.

Sostratus A word with you, Minos. See if there is not some justice in my plea.

Minos What, more pleadings? Have you not been convicted of villany and murder without end?

Sostratus I have. Yet consider whether my sentence is just.

Minos Is it just that you should have your deserts? If so, the sentence is just.

Sostratus Well, answer my questions; I will not detain you long.

Minos Say on, but be brief; I have other cases waiting for me.

Sostratus The deeds of my life—were they in my own choice, or were they decreed by Fate?

Minos Decreed, of course.

Sostratus Then all of us, whether we passed for honest men or rogues, were the instruments of Fate in all that we did?

Minos Certainly; Clotho prescribes the conduct of every man at his birth.

Sostratus Now suppose a man commits a murder under compulsion of a power which he cannot resist, an executioner, for instance, at the bidding of a judge, or a bodyguard at that of a tyrant. Who is the murderer, according to you?

Minos The judge, of course, or the tyrant. As well ask whether the sword is guilty, which is but the tool of his anger who is prime mover in the affair.

Sostratus I am indebted to you for a further illustration of my argument. Again: a slave, sent by his master, brings me gold or silver; to whom am I to be grateful? who goes down on my tablets as a benefactor?

Minos The sender; the bringer is but his minister.