Are basest words like these. For very shame
Leave not thy father in his sad old age;
For shame leave not thy mother, feeble grown
With many years, who ofttimes prays the Gods
That thou may'st live and to thy home return:
Pity, Ο king, thy boy, and think if he,510
Deprived of childhood's nurture, live bereaved,
Beneath unfriendly guardians, what sore grief
Thou, in thy death, dost give to him and me;
For I have nothing now on earth save thee
To which to look; for thou hast swept away
My country with thy spear, and other fate
Has taken both my mother and my sire
To dwell, as dead, in Hades. What to me
Were country in thy stead, or what were wealth?
For I in thee find all deliverance.
Yea, think of me too. Still the good man feels,520
Or ought to feel, the memory of delight;
For gracious favours still do favour win;
But if a man forget the good received,
His soul no more wears stamp of gentle birth.
Chor. I would, Ο Aias, thou could'st pity feel,
As I do. Then would'st thou approve her words.
Aias. Great praise shall she have from me, if she dare
Fully to do the task appointed her.
Tec. Lo! Aias dear, I will obey in all.
Aias. Bring then thy child to me that I may see him.530
Tec. In very fear but now I sent him forth.
Aias. In these late troubles? Or what meanest thou?
Tec. Lest he, poor child, should meet with thee and die.
Aias. That would have been fit pastime for my Fate.
Tec. But I took care against that fate to guard.
