pay no heed to it; make light of it. Clytemnestra Farewell; I can no longer face you with unfaltering eyes, after being made a liar and suffering undeservedly. Achilles It is farewell I bid you too, lady; and I go within the tent to seek your husband. Old man calling through the tent door. Stranger of the race of Aeacus, stay awhile! Ho there! I mean you, O goddess-born, and you, daughter of Leda. Achilles Who is it calling through the half-opened door? What fear his voice betrays! Old man A slave; of that I am not proud, for fortune does not permit it. Achilles Whose slave are you? not mine; for mine and Agamemnon’s goods are separate. Old man I belong to this lady who stands before the tent, a gift to her from Tyndareus her father. Achilles I am waiting; tell me, if you are desirous, why you have stopped me. Old man Are you really all alone here at the door? Achilles To us alone will you address yourself; come forth from the king’s tent. Old man coming out. O Fortune and my own foresight, preserve whom I desire! Achilles That speech will save Reading σώσει , Monk’s correction for ἀν ὤση . Others read ἀνοίσε with Markland, or ὀνήσει with Böckh. them in the future; it has a certain pompous air. Clytemnestra Delay not for the sake of touching my right hand, if there is anything that you would say to me. Old man Well, you know my character and my devotion to you and your children. Clytemnestra I know you have grown old in the service of my house. Old man Likewise you know it was in your dowry king Agamemnon received me. Clytemnestra Yes, you came to Argos with me, and have been mine this long time past. Old man True; and I bear all goodwill to you, less to your husband. Clytemnestra Come, come, unfold whatever you have to say. Old man Her father, he that begot her, is on the point of slaying your daughter with his own hand. Clytemnestra How? That for your story, old man! you are mad. Old man Severing with a sword the hapless girl’s white throat. Clytemnestra Ah, alas for me! Does my husband happen to have gone mad? Old man No; he is sane, except where you and your daughter are concerned; there he is mad. Clytemnestra What is his reason? what vengeful fiend impels him? Old man Oracles, at least so Calchas says, in order that the army may start— Clytemnestra Where? Alas for me, and for the one her father is going to kill! Old man To the halls of Dardanus, that Menelaus may recover Helen. Clytemnestra So Helen’s return then was fated to affect Iphigenia?