Agamemnon: Speak: I should be witless else; for thee
Of all the Greeks I count the greatest friend.
Odysseus: Then listen. For the gods' sake venture not
Thus ruthlessly to cast forth this man unburied:
And in no wise let violence compel thee
To such deep hate that thou shouldst tread down justice.
Once for me too this man was my worst foe,
From that hour when I won Achilles' arms;
Yet, though he was such towards me, I would not so
Repay him with dishonour as to deny
That of all Greeks who came to Troy, no hero
So valiant save Achilles have I seen.
So it is not just thou shouldst dishonour him.
Not him wouldst thou be wronging, but the laws
Of heaven. It is not righteousness to outrage
A brave man dead, not even though thou hate him.
Agamemnon: Thou, Odysseus, champion him thus against me?
Odysseus: Yes; but I hated him while hate was honourable.
Agamemnon: Shouldst thou not also trample on him when dead?
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