Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AJAX: TECMESSA'S APPEAL TO AJAX, by SOPHOCLES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AJAX: TECMESSA'S APPEAL TO AJAX, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Think on thy father in the vale of years
Last Line: Is vile and worthless.


Think on thy father in the vale of years,
Think on thy aged mother, who with vows
Incessant prays the Gods to send thee back
Safe to thy native land: pity thy son,
Without a father in his tender youth
To form his mind, left to the unfriendly hands
Of those who love him not: Alas! what woes
Wilt thou bequeath to me and to thy child!
I have no hope, no stay but thee alone.
Thy hand destroyed my country, and my mother,
Death snatched my father to the realms below;
Deprived of thee what country will receive me,
Or where shall I subsist? Thou art my all,
My only safe-guard: do not, do not leave me!
Nought so becomes a man as gratitude
For goods received, and noble deeds are still
The offspring of benevolence, whilst he
With whom remembrance dies of blessings past
Is vile and worthless.




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