ATHENA. Oft have I seen thee, Laertiades, Intent on some surprisal of thy foes; As now I find thee by the seaward camp, Where Aias holds the last place in your line, Lingering in quest, and scanning the fresh print Of his late footsteps, to be certified If he keep house or no. Right well thy sense Hath led thee forth, like some keen hound of Sparta! The man is even but now come home, his head And slaughterous hands reeking with ardent toil. Thou, then, no longer strain thy gaze within Yon gateway, but declare what eager chase Thou followest, that a god may give thee light. ODYSSEUS. Athena, 'tis thy voice! Dearest in heaven, How well discerned and welcome to my soul From that dim distance doth thine utterance fly In tones as of Tyrrhenian trumpet clang! Rightly hast thou divined mine errand here, Beating this ground for Aias of the shield, The lion-quarry whom I track to day. For he hath wrought on us to night a deed Past thought--if he be doer of this thing; We drift in ignorant doubt, unsatisfied-- And I unbidden have bound me to this toil. Brief time hath flown since suddenly we knew That all our gathered spoil was reaved and slaughtered, Flocks, herds, and herdmen, by some human hand, All tongues, then, lay this deed at Aias' door. And one, a scout who had marked him, all alone, With new-fleshed weapon bounding o'er the plain, Gave me to know it, when immediately I darted on the trail, and here in part I find some trace to guide me, but in part I halt, amazed, and know not where to look. Thou com'st full timely. For my venturous course, Past or to come, is governed by thy will. ATH. I knew thy doubts, Odysseus, and came forth Zealous to guard thy perilous hunting-path. OD. Dear Queen! and am I labouring to an end? ATH. Thou schem'st not idly. This is Aias' deed. OD. What can have roused him to a work so wild? ATH. His grievous anger for Achilles' arms. OD. But wherefore on the flock this violent raid? ATH. He thought to imbrue his hands with your heart's blood. OD. What? Was this planned against the Argives, then? ATH. Planned, and performed, had I kept careless guard. OD. What daring spirit, what hardihood, was here! ATH. Alone by night in craft he sought your tents. OD. How? Came he near them? Won he to his goal? ATH. He stood in darkness at the generals' gates. OD. What then restrained his eager hand from murder?