Book 13

Summary

Ajax and Ulysses Compete for the Arms of Achilles (II)

[miniature, fol. 324v: the dispute over the arms of achilles]

{T}he dukes, lords, noble princes, and great men were seated, with their people standing in a ring around them. Ajax did not wait any longer: he stood up and looked to the shore, extending his hands toward the ships, and began to speak contemptuously, with an air of impatience and wrath: [1–10]

“By great god, you have seen us here competing to have the arms of Achilles. From here, Ulysses can see the ships, and still he opposes me. He had no stomach for a fight when Hector and his followers set fire to the fleet. He strove at being the fastest to run away. He never made any effort to save the fleet from the Trojans! I jousted against mighty Hector. I drove the enemy away from the ships after they set fire to them. Ulysses is more skilled at wagging his tongue than at hand-to-hand fighting. He can use this to his advantage, for I know nothing of oratory. I would be better at jousting. But now he had better give a true account of the acts of valor he has performed. There is no need to have mine recited to you first, in this place: each of you has firsthand knowledge of my acts of valor and my efforts. You have seen how stalwart I have been in championing the Greek cause. I have put my body in jeopardy to perform many onerous feats. I know very well that what I am seeking is a great gift. But then, Ulysses degrades it massively by presuming to demand and claim the arms for his; there is not much honor in winning something Ulysses is after, no matter how great the thing is in itself. But this debate will forever stand to his credit, if only because he thought to challenge me, even if he falls short of his hopes. For, in faith, it will be a great honor for him to have competed with me. [11–52]

“Now, if I had less valor, I am nonetheless of great gentility and very great nobility. I am the son of Telamon, who once took the city of Troy by his efforts at the side of mighty Hercules, and went to Colchis with Jason to seek the Golden Fleece.