I found them hurling insults at one another, Alcaeus’ house and servants in an uproar. I hurried into the library and had to pound on the door.
“I can thank you for this!” shouted Charaxos, the moment he saw me.
“Leave, Sappho. I asked him to come and now I’ll have him thrown out,” Alcaeus bawled, lunging across the table.
“Our hero!” snorted Charaxos.
“Enough. Get out!”
“Suppose you and I have a private word elsewhere,” said Charaxos to me, bitterly. “As for you, old battle ax, I’ll settle with you another time. I’m sick of your trouble-making. Maybe one exile was not enough...”
Quick as a flash, I slapped him. He eyed me grimly, then turned and left.
Naturally, Alcaeus refused to tell me what the visit was about.
All this is contemptible.
I can not forget the scene of the angry men, the threat.