Teu. E'en so; I practise no ungentle craft.
Mene. Had'st thou a shield, thy boast would soar indeed.
Teu. With thee, full-armed, I'll match myself light-armed.
Mene. How mightily thy tongue doth school thy thought.
Teu. With right on our side we may well be proud.
Mene. That he, slaying me, should prosper, was that right?
Teu. "Slaying thee!" 'Twere strange if thou wert dead, who liv'st.
Mene. God saves me still; in his intent I 'm slain.
Teu. Saved by the Gods, put not the Gods to shame.
Mene. What? Find I fault with laws of those in heaven?1130
Teu. Yes, if thou stopp'st my burying of the dead.
Mene. The burial of my foes: for 'tis not well.
Teu. And when was Aias ever found thy foe?
Mene. He hated me; I him; and this thou know'st.
Teu. Yes; for 'twas thou did'st cheat with juggling votes.
Mene. That fault was with the judges, not with me.
Teu. With goodly stealth, then, thou would'st work much ill.
Mene. This speech shall bring a bitter grief to some.
Teu. Not one whit more, 'twould seem, than we shall cause.
Mene. I say but this, thou shalt not bury him.1140
Teu. And hear thou this, that buried he shall be.
Mene. I once did see a man full bold of speech,
thrown it into the background; and in Sparta it was used only by the Periœci; in Athens, by the foreigners (chiefly Scythians and Thracians) who were employed as a home-police.
