Francisci Porti Cretensis... In omnes Sophoclis tragoedias prolegomena, ut vulgo vocantur

the chorus-leader, that is, the parent and author of tragedy. But now let us come to the argument of the play.

Ajax the Whip-Bearer is the title, because Ajax is introduced onto the stage carrying whips in his hands.

The Argument of the Play.

After the death of Achilles, a huge contention arose between Ajax and Ulysses regarding his arms. Each laid claim to them by his own right; one relied on merits, Ajax on kinship and merits. A trial was instituted concerning this matter, and the case was argued with great contention.

The trial is described by Ovid in most brilliant verses in the 13th book of the Metamorphoses. These are his words:

The leaders sat, and with the common crowd standing in a circle,
Ajax, master of the sevenfold shield, rises to them, etc.

Finally, judgment was passed, and the arms were given to Ulysses. Ajax bore this matter so painfully that his grief turned into madness. Therefore, already mad at night, he leaps out of his tent and rushes into the meadows and pastures where the cattle of the Greeks were grazing. He makes an attack on the herds and flocks, thinking they are the Greeks, so that he might avenge his own injury and avenge the unjust judgment. He slaughters whatever cattle he finds. He even brings some tied up to his tent, among which was a huge ram, which he thought was Ulysses, whom he lashes with whips tied to a pillar. This Ajax does at night. But the Greeks, at the break of day and having learned of the slaughter of the cattle, send Ulysses to scout out the author of the slaughter. He learns by the indication of Minerva that Ajax committed the slaughter. Then Ajax returns to his senses; and having learned of his own insanity, he mourns his lot and decides to die by his own hand. Therefore, he pretends that he wants to go to the river to wash away the blood with which he was splattered; but having progressed to a deserted place, he kills himself. This is the summary of the play, although it has some other things inserted: namely, conversations held between Tecmessa, the concubine of Ajax, and the Salaminian sailors; the altercation of Teucer with Menelaus and Agamemnon, who wanted to forbid the body of Ajax from being buried; and some other things.

The events are acted as if in the Trojan field, in the Greek naval camp, at the tent of Ajax.