And so I’ll go to the bathing waters by the sea shore and wash off my defilement. I will deflect the weighty anger of the goddess there. When I leave, I’ll find some isolated place and then inter my sword, of all my weapons the one I most despise. I’ll dig the earth where no one else will see. Then let Night and Hades keep it there below the ground. For ever since I’ve held it in my grip, this gift from Hector, my greatest enemy, I’ve won no prizes from the Argives
The Book Club selection for this month is the Ajax of Sophocles. The discussion will start in the forum, and we will meet via Google+ Hangout at 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 29; the link will be posted in the forum at that time.
As always, you can read this tragedy in any translation you like. Here are links to some free online versions:
- Translated by Sir Richard Jebb, at Perseus (his commentary is also available)
- Translated by Ian Johnston (with the option to download)
- Translated by George Theodoridis, at Poetry in Translation
The Campbell translation is available as an audiobook at Librivox (downloadable in various formats) or on on YouTube
For those who wish to look at the Greek, the text is available at Perseus; and
Jebb’s edition with the Greek on one side and his translation on the other, with notes at the bottom of the page, is available at archive.org to view online or to download.
Happy readings!