Death & Dying

Epitaph III. — For Ajax

by Decimus Magnus Ausonius c. AD 310 – c. 395

Translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White (1919–21) · From Book VI. — Epitaphs on the Heroes who took part in the Trojan War

Death & Dying

At Ajax' tomb I, Valour, lie o'erwhelmed along with him. Here, over the mound which marks my obsequies, I weep with hair all torn and towsled, because the mean son of Atreus forced me to yield to his calculated wiles. Now will I make to spring from this noble blood a ruddy flower that with a word of woe bears witness to that unrighteous judgment.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Ausonius, Decimus Magnus. “Epitaph III. — For Ajax.” Translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/ausonius/68/.

Chicago

Ausonius, Decimus Magnus. “Epitaph III. — For Ajax.” Translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/ausonius/68/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Decimus Magnus Ausonius