Book IV

who had lost by death Already a most gracious husband, one Who bore a lion heart and who was graced With every virtue, greatly eminent Among the Greeks, and widely famed abroad Through Hellas and all Argos. Now my son, He whom I loved, is driven before the storms From home, inglorious, and I was not told Of his departure. Ye too, worthless crew! Ye took no thought, not one of you, to call Me from my sleep, although ye must have known Full well when he embarked in his black ship. And if it had been told me that he planned This voyage, then, impatient as he was To sail, he would have certainly remained, Or else have left me in these halls a corpse. And now let one of my attendants call The aged Dolius, whom, when first I came To this abode, my father gave to me To be my servant, and who has in charge My orchards. Let him haste and take his place Beside Laertes, and to him declare All that has happened, that he may devise Some fitting remedy, or go among The people, to deplore the dark designs Of those who now are plotting to destroy The heir of great Ulysses and his own.”