Metamorphoses by Ovid

The princes sate; the common troops in crowds Circled them round; when Ajax in the midst, Lord of the seven-fold shield, arose, with rage Uncurb'd. Sigaeum's shores he fiercely view'd; And ship-clad beach, while with extended arms, "O, Jupiter!" he cry'd, "before this fleet "Must then our cause be try'd? With me contends "Ulysses? He who yielded all a prey "To Hector's fires; whom I alone repell'd? "Fires which I from that fleet drove far? More safe "Tis sure with artful language to contend, "Than battle hand to hand. Hard 'tis for me "To speak; for him 'tis no less hard to fight. "And much as I in keen-urg'd blows excel, "And arduous contest, such in words is he. "My deeds, O Grecians! to rehearse what need? "Have you not seen them? Let Ulysses tell "His actions, feats without a witness done; "Night only privy. Mighty is the prize, "I own; but Ajax' glory suffers much, "Striving with such a rival. Granted, great "Its value; where the boast to have obtain'd "What this Ulysses hop'd for? He ev'n now "Enjoys th' advantage of the contest. Foil'd, "His pride will be to boast with me he strove. "But I, if doubtful is my valor deem'd, "Have claims most potent in my noble race: "Sprung from great Telamon, who Troy's proud town, "Neath brave Alcides captur'd; and explor'd "The shores of Colchis in th' Haemonian bark. "His sire was AEaecus, who equal law "Dispenses 'mid the silent shades; where toils "AEoelian Sisyphus beneath his stone. "Well mighty Jove knows AEaecus, and owns "Him son. Thus Ajax ranks but third from Jove. "Nor yet, O, Greeks! should this descent my cause "Assist, save that Achilles claim'd the same. "Of brothers born, a kinsman's right I ask. "Why should one sprung of Sisyphaean blood, "Like his progenitor in theft and fraud, "Ingraft an alien name upon the stock "Of AEaecus? Am I the arms refus'd "That first I join'd the warriors? join'd your host "Betray'd not by informers? Worthier he, "That last his arms he took? with madness feign'd "Shunning the warfare; till more crafty came "Naupliades, though luckless for himself;-- "Who shew'd his coward soul's devices plain; "And hither dragg'd him to the hated wars? "Now let him arms most glorious take, who arms "To wear refus'd. Let me unhonor'd go, "Robb'd of my kindred right, who first arriv'd "To face the perils. Would, ye gods! that true, "Or thought so, his insanity had been. "Then, counsellor of cruel deeds, he ne'er "Had join'd our camp before the Phrygian walls. "Then thou, O Paeaen's son! had Lemnos ne'er "Known--to our shame abandon'd on the shore. "Thou now, so fame reports, in woody caves "Shelter'd, ev'n rocks mov'st with thy rending groans; "Pray'st that Laertes' son his justest meeds "May gain. Ye gods! ye gods! grant ye his prayers "A favoring ear! Now he, by oath combin'd "With us in war; --O, heavens! a leader too! "Heir to employ Alcides' faithful darts, "Sinks both by famine and disease opprest: "By birds sustain'd, and cloth'd by birds, he spends "Upon his feather'd prey, the darts design'd "To end the fate of Troy. Yet still he lives: "For here he never with Ulysses came. "Content had hapless Palamedes been "Deserted so. Life might he have enjoy'd "Perchance; and blameless sure to death had sunk. "He whom this wretch, too mindful of the time "His counterfeited madness was expos'd, "Feign'd had betray'd the Greeks; and prov'd the crime "By forg'd assistance: shewing forth the gold "First bury'd by himself. Thus he destroys "The strength of Greece, by exile or by death. "Thus fights Ulysses; thus must he be fear'd "Who, though old faithful Nestor he surpass'd "In eloquence, not all would e'er avail, "To prove deserting Nestor was no shame: "Who press'd with age, and with a wounded horse "Delay'd, Ulysses' aid besought: behind "His coward comrade left him.