What pressing business has been slackly done?

Teucer enjoined his brother should not forth,

Or quit his tent till he himself should come.

Well, he is gone, and with the best resolve

To make his peace with heaven.

Folly sheer,

If there be sense in Calchas’ prophecy.

What prophecy? what knowest thou thereof?

Thus much I know, for I was there. The seer

Leaving the council of assembled chiefs,

From the Atridae drew aside and laid

His right hand lovingly in Teucer’s hand,

And spake and charged him straitly by all means,

For this one day whose light yet shines, to keep

Ajax within his tent nor let him forth,

If he would see him still a living man.

“Only to-day,” said Calchas, “will the wrath

Of dread Athena vex him, and no more.

O’erweening mortals waxing fat with pride

Fall in their folly, smitten by the gods

With dire disaster” (so the prophet spake),

“Whene’er a mortal born to man’s estate

Exalts himself in thoughts too high for man.