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451–600

ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα] · What is one to make of these things? What place assign to them in thought?' i. e. how bring them into harmony with our other thoughts? ποῦ δ᾽ αἰνεῖν] ποῦ is used for πῶς by attraction, or the tendency to repeat the same expression (οἷον ῥυμή τις τοῦ λόγου), for which, see E. on L. § 35. p 60. What place can we find for their approval? i. e. How can we acquiesce in them? Cp. Eur. Heracl. 369, ποῦ ταῦτα καλῶς ἂν εἴη;

Since, in seeking to approve the doings of the gods, I find that the gods are evil doers; i. e. In praising the gods I must call them wise and good, but this experience shows them to be either malignant or weak. The tense in ἐπαινῶν has an inceptive or conative force.

Neoptolemus, while still professing hatred of Troy, uses language that is calculated to excite to the utmost the desire of Philoctetes to be taken home. He addresses him with reference to his father and the sacred hill (infr. 729), where he saw the last of Heracles. He speaks of his own isle of Scyros by name, and affects to look forward to the happiness of an unambitious home. He points to the departure of his vessel as imminent.

τηλόθεν εἰσορῶν φυλάξομαι] Will avoid, beholding afar off.' For the indirect expression, see E. on L. § 42. p. 79, and cp. esp. Ο. Τ. 795. ἄστροις. . ἐκμετρούμενος χθόνα, and note: Eur. Hippol. 102, πρόσωθεν αὐτὴν ἁγνὸς ὢν ἀσπάζομαι.

χώ δεινὸς κρατεῖ] 'And power is in the hands of clever rogues.' For this dislike of δεινότης, cp. Thuc. 8. 68, ὑπόπτως τῷ πλήθει διὰ δόξαν δεινότητος διακείμενος: Isocr. Panathen. p. 242, C, ἐπαινεῖν μὲν . . τὴν . . ἀγαθῶν αἰτίαν γεγενημένην, δεινὴν δὲ νομίζειν τὴν αὑτῇ τὰ συμφέροντα διαπραττομένην. Many have preferred δειλός, which involves a very slight change.

ὥστε τέρπεσθαι δόμῳ] ‘And I shall have full contentment in my home.' Cp. Od. 13. 61, σὺ δὲ τέρπεο τῷδ᾽ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ, | παισί τε καὶ λαοῖσι καὶ ᾿Αλκινόῳ βασιλῆϊ.

He again reminds Philoctetes of his father, this time by name.

ὡς μέγιστα] The slight exaggeration shows Neoptolemus' feeling of the hollowness of this farewell.

ὡς αὐτὸς θέλεις] Cp. Od. 6. 180, σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τόσα δοῖεν, ὅσα φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς.

ὡς .. ὁρμώμεθα] 'That we may sail at whatever moment Heaven vouchsafes to yield us a fair voyage.' Cp. Od. 9. 138, 9, εἰσόκε ναυτέων | θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἐπιπνεύσωσιν ἀῆται. The wind is favourable for the voyage to Troy, but not for that to Scyros. Cp. infr. 639, 40, 855, 1450, 1.

καιρός] 'The moment calls upon us,' cp. infr. 1450; καιρός here probably refers to the time of day. Should the wind now shift, he might hope to reach Scyros before night-fall. It cannot mean, 'The chance of a favouring breeze invites us.' Cp. infr. 639, 40.

πλοῦν.. σκοπεῖν] ‘Τo watch the opportunity of sailing not from far off but close at hand.' Cp. Thuc. 4. 23, σκοποῦντες καιρόν, εἴ τις παραπέσοι, ὥστε τοὺς ἄνδρας σῶσαι: Eur. Hec. 901, μένειν ἀνάγκη πλοῦν ὁρῶντας ἡσύχους. We have here another instance of indirect expression. See Essay on L. § 42. p. 79. Οη ἐξ ἀπόπτου, see Aj. 15, and note.

The moment, for which the preceding scene has prepared the spectator, is now come. Philoctetes' agony of supplication is made more pathetic by our knowledge that he is 'working against his own desire,' and running thus eagerly 'to meet what he would most avoid.' πρός ... προσφιλές] Cp. О. С. 250, πρός σ' ὅ τι σοι φίλον ἐκ σέθεν ἄντομαι, and note: Od. 10. 66, πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν.

ὅσοισί τ᾽ ἐξήκουσας] Viz. supr. 263-313; cp. infr. 591, ἅπερ κλύεις.

ἀλλ᾽ ἐν παρέργῳ θοῦ με] (1) 'But stow me away' (or 'dispose of me') * as a supernumerary. θοῦ, sc. ἐν τῇ νηΐ: cp. infr. 481, ἐμβαλοῦ μ᾿ ὅπῃ θέλεις (sc. τῆς νεώς). ἐν παρέργῳ, sc. τῶν φορουμένων: cp. Eur. El. 63, πάρεργ Ορέστην κἀμὲ ποιεῖται δόμων.

'Indeed, as I well know, much annoyance is involved in such a freight.' δυσχέρεια contains the chief predicate. For the genitive, see E. on L. § 9. p. 12, 1a. This line is strangely suspected by Nauck, It exactly expresses the humbleness of Philoctetes in his extreme need.

τοῖσι . . εὐκλεές] Surely the noble heart hates what is base, and appreciates the glory of kindness.' εὐκλεές, while opposed to ἐχθρόν, is partly suggested by αἰσχρόν, so that the whole argument, if drawn out at length, would be τὸ μὲν αἰσχρὸν ἐχθρόν, τὸ δὲ εὐκλεὲς φίλον, τὸ δέ γε χρηστὸν εὐκλεές. Philoctetes perceives that a noble youth like Neoptolemus must be ambitious of the purest renown.

οὐ καλόν] Full of disgrace.' Cp. Trach. 454, κὴρ πρόσεστιν οὐ καλή.

πλεῖστον εὐκλείας γέρας] 'An abundant meed of fair renown.' πλεῖστον rather than μέγιστον, which would agree better with γέρας, because πλεῖστον γέρας εὐκλείας = γέρας πλείστης εὐκλείας. See E. on L. § 42. γ. p. 80. Philoctetes thinks of the gratitude of Poeas and his Melian friends as enough to satisfy any man's ambition.

The expression is modified as the sentence proceeds: "Tis the labour of a day, nay, not of one whole day.'

τόλμησον] 'Take heart to do it.' Cp. Ο. C. 184, τόλμα, κ.τ.λ., and note.

ὅπῃ θέλεις] In what part (of the ship) you will.' ἄγων] 'If you will but take me.' Cp. infr. 590, ποιοῦ λέγων. And see E. on L. § 36. р. 63.

ὅποι, sc. βεβλημένος, or = ἐκεῖσε ὅπου. The construction is attracted to that of the preceding words. See Essay on L. § 35, a. p. 59.

ξυνόντας] Cp. infr. 520, τῆς νόσου ξυνουσίᾳ.

πρὸς αὐτοῦ Ζηνός] Wishing to add something to his previous adjuration, supr. 468, 9, he can only think of Ζεὺς ἱκέσιος himself, whom he now brings forward, ὡς ἐπὶ τούτοις τὸν κολοφῶνα.

γόνασι] (1) 'By falling on my knees,' (instrum. dat.). Or, (2) 'On my knees,' (locative). Cp. γονυπετής. Philoctetes kneels as far as his lameness will allow, and in the same act calls attention to the pitiable weakness which hinders even the posture of supplication.

χωρὶς ἀνθρώπων στίβου] 'Apart from track of men,' i. e. where no man comes. Cp. Ant. 773, ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος.

Philoctetes longs to be taken home (492), but, in order to obtain his petition, he limits it to what is easiest of performance. ἄγων is here unemphatic; not as supr. 481.

Χαλκώδοντος Εὐβοίας σταθμά] To the Euboean dwelling of Chalcodon, i. e. Chalcis. Chalcodon is the father of Elephenor, who led the Euboeans to Troy; Il. 2. 536-541, οἱ δ' Εὔβοιαν ἔχον ... | τῶν αὖθ᾽ ἡγεμόνευ Ελεφήνωρ όζος ῎Αρηος | Χαλκωδοντιάδης, μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς ᾿Αβάντων. The thoughts of Philoctetes are with the older generation (Poeas, Peleus, Telamon, Lycomedes, Chalcodon), who had known Heracles, and were still vigorous when Philoctetes left home for Troy. According to a tradition, which is here ignored, Chalchodon had long since been slain by Amphitryon.

The correction of δειράδα καί (see v.rr.) is very uncertain. δεράς does not occur elsewhere. Other corrections are δειράδ᾽ ἤ (Porson), πρῶνα καί (Wunder), δειράδ' ἐπί (Hermann in one edition), δειράδ' ἀνά (Seyffert). Philoctetes imagines the features of his native land as they would successively disclose themselves in the homeward voyage in l. 488.

πατρὶ . . φίλῳ] 'That so thou mayest give me to my dear father's sight.' ὡς δείξῃς depends on ἔκσωσον in l. 488.

παλαί᾽ ἂν ἐξότου = παλαιὸς χρόνος ἂν εἴη ἐξ ὅτον, is to be joined as an adverbial expression with βεβήκῃ. Cp. Thuc. 1. 6, where οὐ πολὺς χρόνος ἐπειδὴ ἐπαύσαντο φοροῦντες = ἔναγχος ἐφόρουν καὶ οὐ πολὺς χρόνος γέγονεν ἐπειδὴ ἐπαύσαντο. Others read παλαιὸν ἐξ ὅτου. If this is adopted, the phrase is still to be joined to βεβήκη, and not το δέδοικα.

μὴ . · βεβήκη] 'Who, my fears tell me, may be long since gone.' Βεβήκοι might be defended as continuing the construction with ἄν; but this is improbable. μοι is ethical dative. πολλά, adv. τοῖς ἱγμένοις] 'By means of those who had come,' (supr. 301 fol.). Cp. Ant. 164, 5, πομποῖσιν . . ἔστειλα.

ἔστελλον] 'I urged him.' Cp. infr. 623. The imperfect tense represents an endeavour.

αὐτόστολον] 'With a ship and crew of his own providing.' Agreeing with αὐτόν. δόμοις] Wund. conjectured δόμους, perhaps rightly; but for the dative, see Essay on L. § 11. p. 18, 3.

τὰ τῶν διακόνων .. ποιούμενοι] Either (1) τὰ τῶν διακόνων simply = οἱ διάκονοι, with which ποιούμενοι agrees. Or (2) the mode of expression is altered from 'the service of my messengers failed me' (ἐξαπώλετο ἤ τι τοιοῦτον), to 'my messengers cared little for what concerned me, but pushed their homeward voyage, etc.'

ὡς εἰκός] Philoctetes attributes to such involuntary visitants the homesickness which he himself feels. τοὐμὸν . . ποιούμενοι] He says this as feeling bitterly his insignificance. Cp. supr. 254,5.

Seyffert rightly omits the comma after νῦν δ'. Cp. supr. 144, 5. εἰς σὲ .. ἥκω) · I am come to thee,' i e. My fate has brought me to you in the succession of those who come. For the transference of words of place to time, see E. on L. § 24. p. 41, 7. πομπόν τε καὐτὸν ἄγγελον] Who wilt be my guide at the same time that thou dost thyself report concerning me.' αὐτόν belongs to both nouns, i. e. not only to transmit news of me, but to announce me yourself in person; not only to announce me, but to take me home. Philoctetes still clings to the hope that Neoptolemus will bring him all the way to Trachis.

εἰσορῶν] 'Seeing,' in the example now present before you.

δεινά] Sc. ἐστί. How to mortals all things are beset with peril and hazard; there is a chance of good and a chance of the opposite.' Philoctetes has deeply learnt the lesson: 'It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, And that craves wary walking. Neoptolemus must show mercy, and thus avoid provoking the gods. For πάντα δεινά, Wakefield conjectured πάντ' ἄδηλα.

ὁρᾶν] Το be ware of. Schol. εὐλαβεῖσθαι. Cp. Aj. 1313, ὅρα μὴ τοὐμόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ σόν.

διαφθαρείς] Sc. ὁ βίος. Cp. Thuc. 8. 91, λήσειν διαφθαρέντας (sc. ἔφη Θηραμένης τοὺς τειχίζοντας τὴν Ἠετιώνειαν τοῖς ᾿Αθηναίοις).

In the strophe supr. 391-402, the one half-chorus echoed the falsehood of Neoptolemus. The other half-chorus now in similar measures professedly responds to the appeal of Philoctetes, and recommends him to the kindness of Neoptolemus. L. 510 is equivalent, although not identical in metre, with l. 395: Each consists of two dochmiacs.

πόνων ἆθλ'] Cp. Trach. 506, ἄεθλ᾽ ἀγώνων. ὅσσα] Porson's conjecture, οἷα, has been adopted by several editors. Other proposed corrections are ἄσσα and ἄθλους ἅ (Dobree). ὅσσα is at once, So many as,' and 'So great as.' τύχοι] λάχοι, which Nauck reads, would be in a more usual construction. But the change is unnecessary.

πικρούς] Cp. supr. 320-3, 363, 369, 396.

τὸ κείνων μετατιθέμενος] Converting their evil deed into a benefit for him.' According to the pretended situation, the same iniquity which cast Philoctetes forth has sent Neoptolemus from Troy, and Neoptolemus has now the opportunity of taking Philoctetes home. Thus evil may be made the occasion of good. The middle voice in μετατιθέμενος is subjective='On your own part.'

ἐπιμέμονεν] Sc. πορεύεσθαι. Cp. Εl. 1435, ᾗ νοεῖς ἔπειγέ νυν.

ἐπ᾿ εὐστόλου ταχείας νεώς] Οn your trim swift bark.' For the double epithet, see Essay on L. § 23. P. 37.

τὰν *θεῶν] ἐκ (see v.rr.) is required by the same metrical reason which led to Λαερτίου being changed το Λαρτίου in l. 401.

νέμεσιν] The possibility of some Divine retribution following refusal was gently hinted at the conclusion of Philoctetes' speech, ll 501-506.

Consider, lest you who now stand there so goodnaturedly, may show a different spirit from your present words when you are wearied through contact with the disease.' For the 'paratactic' structure, see Essay on L. § 36. p. 68. τις is added to a predicative word as in Ο. Τ. 618, 9, ὅταν ταχύς τις οὑπιβουλεύων λάθρα χωρῇ. The slight redundancy of the expression, for which, cp. Εl. 506, ὡς ἔμολες αἰανή, κ.τ.λ., has suggested an unnecessary doubt whether παρῆς may not be from παρίημι (‘You grant permission').

For αὑτὸς τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις, ср. О. Т. 557, καὶ νῦν ἔθ᾽ αὑτός εἰμι τῷ βουλεύματι, and note.

are spoken by the coryphaeus.

'It were shame if I were found more backward than you are to serve a stranger in his need.' ξένῳ either = τῷ ξένῳ, i. e. ‘Τo Philoctetes,' or, with a slight difference, (2) more generally, 'To a stranger-friend,' -as Philoctetes is. The dative depends on ἐνδεέστερον φανῆναι (= γενέσθαι) and is to be resumed with πονεῖν.

πρὸς τὸ καίριον is an adverbial expression, like πρὸς τὸ κάρτερον, πρὸς τὸ λιπαρές, etc., and the infinitive depends on ἐνδεέστερον.

οὐκ ἀπαρνηθήσεται] (1) He shall not be denied.' This suits the feeling of the passage better than (2) the impersonal sense (The favour shall not be denied'), which, however, is also possible.

The emphatic position of ἡμᾶς at the beginning of the line shows that Neoptolemus deliberately includes Philoctetes in his prayer. βουλοίμεσθα is optative because of the preceding optative (cp. 325, 961) and partakes of the indefiniteness of the wish. Neoptolemus feels that when they leave the shore the intention of his voyage will not be that which he now professes, and he trusts that by that time the wish of Philoctetes may be the same with his own.

*προσκύσαντε εἰσοίκησιν] Schndw. threw suspicion on these words because of the ἅπαξ λεγόμενον εἰσοίκησις, and various modes of alteration have been suggested. But it is idle to object to every ἅπαξ λεγόμενον. And these words give an excellent sense. If ἐξοικεῖν, a rare word, means ἔξω οἰκεῖν (Lys. 187. 29, Dem. 845. 19), why may not εἰσοικεῖν mean ἔσω οἰκεῖν? (It is so used in Anth. P. 7. 320, according to the MS. reading.) Cp. εἰσίδρυμαι, εἰσίζομαι, εἰσοικίζω. In that case ἡ εἰσοίκησις is ἡ ἔσω οἴκησις, and τὴν ἔσω.. εἰσοίκλησιν is merely a common instance of pleonasm, much as when we speak of the interior of a cave. If εἰς οἴκησιν is read, it becomes necessary to suppose a lacuna, for ἴωμεν here can only mean, 'Let us depart.' For the participial expression (προσκύσαντε = ' but first let us pay a farewell visit to'), ср. О. Т. 680, μαθοῦσά γ' ἥτις ἡ τύχη. Philoctetes'attachment to his bare and comfortless dwelling-place shows itself here, together with the longing expressed supr. 251 foll, that the extent of his misery and endurance might be known.

ἀφ᾽ ὧν] ἀπο- as in ἀποζῆν. διέζων] 'I kept life afoot.' δια- of a persevering effort, as in διαμάχεσθαι.

μόνην θέαν] 'Even the mere sight.' The adjective has the force of the adverb μόνον.

προὔμαθον] Either (1) ‘I long since learned,' or (2) 'I learnt by degrees,' i.e. conquering each evil as it met me. Cp. προδιδάσκειν.

These lines are spoken by the coryphaeus. The Σκοπός of supr. 125 is seen approaching, disguised as a ship-master, and accompanied by another of Neoptolemus's crew.

ἀλλόθρους is simply a stranger, 'Not one of ourselves.' The word ξένος (infr. 557) would not apply to the man until they knew whether he was of Scyros or not. He professes afterwards to come from Peparethus.

αὖθις] Blaydes conjectures αὐτίκ'. But αὖθις is 'afterwards,' as αὖτις in Il. 1. 140, ταῦτα μεταφρασόμεσθα καὶ αὖτις. After that, ye shall go in'

τόνδε τὸν ξυνέμπορον] 'This companion of my way,' viz. from the mooring place to before the cave.

ποῦ κυρῶν εἴης] • Where you were at this moment to be found.' A conversational pleonasm.

ἀντέκυρσα] Sc. σοί. ‘Our paths have crossed.' δοξάζων μὲν οὔ] 'Not that I had any thought of such a thing.' For the combination of aorist and imperfect (δοξάζων = ὅτε ἐδόξαζον), cp. Ο. Τ. 1457, θνήσκων ἐσώθην.

ὁρμισθείς] 'Brought to anchor.' He has been baffled by the headwind mentioned infr. 639.

ὡς ναύκληρος, οὐ πολλῷ στόλῳ] 'With the modest outfit of a merchant-man.' This accounts for his approach not having been descried. He is supposed to be a purveyor (infr. 583, 4) of provisions to the army, perhaps of wine from his own vine-clad (εὔβοτρυν) island. Cp. ΙΙ. 7. 467, νῆες δ᾽ ἐκ Λήμνοιο παρέστασαν οἶνον ἄγουσαι. Peparethus is midway between Scyros and the entrance to the Maliac gulf. The same wind that is pretended to have detained Neoptolemus would also delay the merchantman on his homeward voyage.

ὡς νεναυστοληκότες] 'When I had ascertained in the course of conversation that the mariners who had manned the vessel were one and all your men' (σοί, possessive pronoun). So Hermann, Opusc. 8. p. 190, rightly, although the reason which he gives ('Nam sic demum nauclerus tuto referre poterat, quae erat narraturus'), is not required. Dobree conjectured συννεναυστοληκότες (‘That they had all accompanied you in your voyage').

προστυχόντι τῶν ἴσων depends οη τὸν πλοῦν ποιεῖσθαι as an affirmative expression: i. e. ἔδοξέ μοι, φράσαντι καὶ τῶν ἴσων προστυχόντι, οὕτω τὸν πλοῦν ποιεῖσθαι. · When first I had received fair recompense.' For the naiveté of this parenthetical demand, as not unbefitting the relations of the sea-captain to Neoptolemus (who is no less careful to assure him of his gratitude, infr. 557, 8), ср. О. Τ. 1005, 6, καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτ᾽ ἀφικόμην ὅπως | σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι: Trach. 190, 1, ὅπως τοι πρῶτος ἀγγείλας τάδε πρὸς σοῦ τι κερδάναιμι.

οὐδὲν σύ που] The asyndeton marks the urgency of the intelligence.

ἀμφὶ σοῦ * νέα] This emendation of Auratus has been generally received. And although the MS. reading may be possibly defended by the comparison of such phrases as τίνος δὴ χάριν ἕνεκα, etc. (see especially Thuc. 8. 92, ὅσον καὶ ἀπὸ βοῆς ἕνεκα), the meaning as well as the grammar is distinctly improved by the change.

δρώμεν', οὐκέτ᾽ ἐξαργούμενα] Ιn act, no longer left undone.' Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1359, τοῦ δρῶντός ἐστι καὶ τὸ βουλεῦσαι πέρι.

φράσον . . ἔλεξας] Declare at full what you have now mentioned.'

ἀπ᾿ ᾿Αργείων] Sc. φαινόμενον. ἔχεις] Cp. Trach. 318, οὐδ᾽ ὄνομα πρὸς του τῶν ξυνεμπόρων ἔχεις; Ο. C. 1451, μάτην γὰρ οὐδὲν ἀξίωμα δαιμόνων ἔχω φράσαι.

οἱ.. Θησέως κόροι] Acamas and Demophon, said to have been first mentioned in the Ἰλίου πέρσις of Arctinus. These names help to commend the lie to the fancy of the Athenian audience.

λόγοις] By persuasion.' Cp. infr. 612, 623 foll., 629, 30.

These vague replies show that Neoptolemus has not yet seized his cue. Cp. 570, 1 foll.

οὕτω καθ' ὁρμήν] ‘Thus incontinently' (in the old sense); referring to supr. 555. 6.

ὡς ταῦτ᾽ ἐπίστω δρώμεν] i. e. ἐπίστασο, ὡς ταῦτα δρώμενα (sc. ἐστίν). For ἐπίστασο ταῦτα ὡς δρώμενα this would be too violent an inversion.

πρὸς τάδε] 'Hereupon,' i. e. 'When such was the counsel of the Argives.' αὐτάγγελος] ‘'Bringing the message in person;' i. e. αὐτὸς καὶ μὴ δι᾽ ἄλλων ἀγγέλων. Phoenix and the Theseidae were ἄγγελοι of the resolution of the chieftains to Neoptolemus.

ἢ.. νιν] Neoptolemus assumes a spirited tone, and suggests a mean motive in Odysseus, in order to gratify Philoctetes.

ἐπ᾿ ἄλλον ἄνδρα] ‘With designs upon another person.'

When I left the harbour, they were making ready.'

'Who could this be. with a view to whom Odysseus himself was setting forth?' i e. ποῖος ἂν εἴη πρὸς ὃν ἔπλει; So the unusual insertion of ἄν may be explained. See Essay on L. § 27. p. 45. And the meaning is so appropriate, that it seems better to retain the particle, although πρὸς ποῖον αὖ τόν δ' is a conjectural reading involving only a slight change.

'Sir, you have the privilege of seeing here the famous Philoctetes.' Thus Neoptolemus humours the feeling which Philoctetes had shown supra 261, 2, ὅδ᾽ εἴμ᾽ ἐγώ σοι κεῖνος, ὃν κλύεις ἴσως | τῶν Ἡρακλείων ὄντα δεσπότην ὅπλων.

τὰ πλείον'] For the article, cp. Trach. 731, and note.

ἔκπλει σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβών] 'Snatch yourself up and sail away.' Cp. Eur. H. F. 833 foll., ἄλλ' εἶ', ἄτεγκτον ξυλλαβοῦσα καρδίαν . . ἔλαυνε, κίνει, κ.τ.λ.: also Plat. Rep. 1. 336 В, συστρέψας ἑαυτὸν ἧκεν ἐφ' ἡμᾶς. The Ἔμπορος speaks low, as he had charged Neoptolemus to do. This awakens the lively suspicion of Philoctetes, who hears enough to understand that there is a danger of his being left behind. Mr. Paley conjectures, ἔκπλευσον αὐτὸν συλλαβών, comparing infr. 621. But there the case is altered by Neoptolemus having avowed his friendship for Philoctetes in ll. 585, 6.

κατὰ σκότον] 'In secret.' So infr. 581, εἰς φῶς, Openly."

διεμπολᾷ λόγοισι πρός σε] Is treating me dishonestly in his talk with thee.' Cp. Ant. 1036, ἐξημπόλημαι κἀκπεφόρτισμαι.

εἰς φῶς = 'Openly.' Cp. О. Т. 93, ἐς πάντας αύδα. τούσδε τε] The Chorus.

μή με.. ἃ μὴ δεῖ] 'Bring me not into discredit with the army, through my telling what I should keep close; i. e. Do not make me tell, and so make them angry with me. λέγοντα = διὰ τὸ λέγειν, cp. Thuc. 8.87, ἣν εἶπε πρόφασιν οὐ κομίσας (i. e. δι᾽ ὅ, τι οὐκ ἐκόμισεν).

'I. being poor, receive much kindness from them for service which I do.' For γε, which modifies the sentence, to which it gives a pleading tone, see Essay on L. § 26. p. 41. οἱ᾿ ἀνὴρ πένης] (1) As is natural in the case of one who is poor: rather than, (2) 'Such service as a poor man may do.' Cp. supr. 273, and note.

Neoptolemus professes to demand that, if there is danger, the Ἔμπορος should risk it for his and Philoctetes' sake. The Ἔμπορος in his reply insinuates that the danger, if he is made to speak, is common to them all three, and that Neoptolemus will be responsible for the consequences.

καί belongs in meaning to the whole sentence = καὶ δὴ σκοπῶ. ἐγώ] 'Of myself,' without this caution from you.

ποιοῦ λέγων] 'Make me so, if you will but speak. For this emphatic use of the participle, cp. especially O. C. 1038, χωρῶν ἀπείλει νυν, -also supr. 481, and note.

ἅπερ κλύεις] Supr. 570, 1.

ἥ τ᾿ Ὀδυσσέως βία] Cp. supr. 314, 321.

διώμοτοι] 'Expressly sworn.' Cp. Trach. 378, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων διώμνυτο: Ο. Τ. 834, διεῖπε χρῆναι, κ.τ.λ. For the meaning, cp. infr. 618, 9, 623.

ἢ . . κράτος] Or were they to prevail by force.'

δράσειν τάδε is added as a resumption of ταῦτα, depending on λέγοντος (not on θάρσος εἶχε).

i. ε. τίνος δὲ πράγματος χάριν ᾿Ατρείδαι, χρόνῳ τοσῷδε, οὕτως ἄγαν ἐπεστρέφοντο τοῦδε. For the order of the words, see Essay on L. § 41. p. 78, 8.

εἶχον . . *ἐκβεβληκότες] Cp. El. 590, ἐκβαλοῦσ᾽ ἔχεις. The periphrasis serves to fix on the agent the responsibility of the consequences of his act.

Philoctetes. Lewis Campbell. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.

Current edition Experimental

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (English) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 468 focus

πρός νύν νῦν σε πατρός, πρός τε μητρός, ὦ τέκνον,
465

πρός τ' εἴ τί σοι κατ' οἰκόν ἐστι προσφιλές,

ἱκέτης ἱκνοῦμαι, μὴ λίπῃς λείπηισ λίπης μ' οὕτω μόνον,

ἔρημον ἐν κακοῖσι τοῖσδ᾽ οἷοις ὁρᾷς

ὅσοισί τ᾽ ἐξήκουσας ἐνναίοντά ἐννέοντα ἐννέοντα ἐνναίοντα ἐννέποντα με·

ἀλλ᾽ ἐν παρέργῳ θοῦ με. δυσχέρεια μέν,
470

ἔξοιδα, πολλὴ τοῦδε τοῦ φορήματος·

ὅμως δέ δὲ τλῆθι, τοῖσι γενναίοισί τοι

τό τ' αἰσχρὸν ἐχθρὸν καὶ τὸ χρηστὸν εὐκλεές.

σοὶ δ᾽, ἐκλιπόντι τοῦτ᾽, ὄνειδος οὐ καλόν,

δράσαντι δ᾽, ὦ παῖ, πλεῖστον εὐκλείας γέρας,
475

ἐὰν μόλωἐγὼ ζῶν πρὸς Οἰταίαν χθόνα.

ἴθ᾽· ἡμέρας τοι μόχθος οὐχ ὅλης μιᾶς.

τόλμησον, ἐμβαλοῦ ἐκβαλοῦ ἐμβαλοῦ μ᾿ ὅπῃ θέλεις ἄγων,

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΧΟ.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΝΕ.

ΦΙ.

ΝΕ.

ΦΙ.

ΝΕ.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΦΙ.

ΝΕ.

ΦΙ.

ΝΕ.

ΦΙ.

ΝΕ.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

εἰς ἀντλίαν, εἰς πρῷραν, εἰς πρύμνην πρύμναν, ὅποι

ἥκιστα μέλλω τοὺς ξυνόντας ἀλγυνεῖν.
480

νεῦσον, πρὸς αὐτοῦ Ζηνὸς ἱκεσίου, τέκνον,

πείσθητι. προσπίτνω προσπίτνῶ σε γόνασι γούνασι, καίπερ ὢν

ἀκράτωρ ὁ τλήμων, χωλός. ἀλλὰ μή μ᾿ ἀφῇς

ἔρημον οὕτω χωρὶς ἀνθρώπων στίβου·

ἀλλ᾽ ἢ πρὸς οἶκον τὸν σὸν ἔκσωσόν μ᾿ ἄγων,
485

ἢ πρὸς τὰ Χαλκώδοντος Εὐβοίας σταθμά σταθμά,

κἀκεῖθεν οὔ μοι μακρὸς εἰς Οἴτην στόλος

Τραχινίαν τε *δεράδα δειράδα καὶ τὸν εὔροον

Σπερχειὸν ἔσται, πατρί μ᾿ ὡς δείξῃς φίλῳ,

ὃν δὴ παλαί᾽ ἂν παλαιὰν πάλαι ἂν πάλαι ἂν ἐξότου δέδοικ᾽ ἐγὼ
490

μή μοι βεβήκῃ βεβήκοι βεβήκῃ. πολλὰ γὰρ τοῖς ἱγμένοις ἱκμένοισ

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ἔστελλον αὐτὸν ἱκεσίους πέμπων λιτάς,

αὐτόστολον πέμψαντά μ᾽ ἐκσῶσαι δόμοις.

ἀλλ᾽ ἢ τέθνηκεν, ἢ τὰ τῶν διακόνων,

ὡς εἰκός, οἶμαι, τοὐμὸν ἐν σμικρῷ μέρος
495

ποιούμενοι τὸν οἴκαδ᾽ ἤπειγον στόλον.

νῦν δ᾽ εἰς σὲ γὰρ γὰρ πομπόν τε καὐτὸν ἄγγελον

ἥκω, σὺ σῶσον, σύ μ᾽ ἐλέησον, εἰσορῶν

ὡς πάντα δεινὰ κἀπικινδύνως βροτοῖς

κεῖται παθεῖν μὲν εὖ, παθεῖν δὲ θἄτερα.
500

χρὴ δ᾽ ἐκτὸς ὄντα πημάτων τὰ δείν ὁρᾶν,

χὤταν τις εὖ ζῇ, τηνικαῦτα τὸν βίον

σκοπεῖν μάλιστα, μὴ διαφθαρεὶς λάθῃ.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΧΟ.
ἀντ.

Οἴκτειρ᾽, ἄναξ· πολλῶν ἔλεξεν ἔλεξε δυσοίστων πόνων

ἆθλ᾽, ὅσσα μηδεὶς τῶν ἐμῶν τύχοι φίλων.
505

εἰ δὲ πικρούς πικρούς, ἄναξ, ἔχθεις ᾿Ατρείδας,

ἐγὼ μέν, τὸ κείνων κακὸν τῷδε κέρδος

μετατιθέμενος μέγα τιθέμενος μετατιθέμενος, ἔνθαπερ ἐπιμέμονεν ἐπεὶ μέμονεν ἐπεὶ μέμηνεν,

ἐπ᾿ εὐστόλου ταχείας νεὼς

πορεύσαιμ᾽ ἂν ἐς δόμους, τὰν * θεῶν τὰν ἐκ θεῶν
510

νέμεσιν ἐκφυγών.

ΝΕ.

ὅρα σὺ μὴ νῦν μέν τις εὐχερὴς παρῇς,

ὅταν δὲ πλησθῇς τῆς νόσου ξυνουσίᾳ,

τότ᾽ τόθ᾽ τότ' οὐκέθ᾽ αὑτὸς οὐκέθ᾽ αὐτὸσ οὐκ᾿ ἔθ᾽ ὡὐτὸσ τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις φανῇς.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΧΟ.

ἥκιστα. τοῦτ᾽ οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ποτ᾽ εἰς ἐμὲ
515

τοὔνειδος ἕξεις ἕξεις ἔξεις ἐνδίκως ὀνειδίσαι.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ αἰσχρὰ αισχρὰ μέντοι σοῦ γέ μ᾽ ἐνδεέστερον

ξένῳ φανῆναι πρὸς τὸ καίριον πονεῖν.

ἀλλ᾽, εἰ δοκεῖ, πλέωμεν, ὁρμάσθω ταχύς·

χή ναῦς γὰρ ἄξει κοὐκ ἀπαρνηθήσεται.
520

μόνον θεοὶ σώζοιεν ἔκ *τε ἔκ δέ ἔκ γε ἐκ δὲ τῆσδε γῆς

ἡμᾶς ὅποι τ᾽ ἐνθένδε βουλοίμεσθα πλεῖν.

ΦΙ.

ὦ φίλτατον μὲν ἦμαρ, ἥδιστος ἥδιστος δ᾽ ἀνήρ,

φίλοι δὲ ναῦται, πῶς ἂν ὑμὶν ἐμφανὴς

ἔργῳ γενοίμην, ὥς μ᾽ ἔθεσθε προσφιλῆ.
525

ἴωμεν, ὦ παῖ, * προσκύσαντε προσκύσαντεσ προσκύσοντες τὴν ἔσω

ἄοικον εἰσοίκησιν, ὥς με καὶ μάθῃς

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ἀφ᾽ ὧν διέζων, ὥς τ᾽ ἔφυν εὐκάρδιος.

οἶμαι γὰρ οὐδ᾽ ἂν ὄμμασιν μόνην θέαν

ἄλλον λαβόντα πλὴν ἐμοῦ τλῆναι τάδε·
530

ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἀνάγκῃ προὔμαθον στέργειν κακά τάδε.

ΧΟ.

ἐπίσχετον, μάθωμεν. ἄνδρε γὰρ δύο δύω,

ὁ μὲν νεὼς νεὼ νεὼς σῆς ναυβάτης, ὁ δ᾽ ἀλλόθρους,

χωρεῖτον, ὧν μαθόντες αὖθις αὖτις αὖθις εἴσιτον.

ΕΜΠΟΡΟΣ.

᾿Αχιλλέως παῖ, τόνδε τὸν ξυνέμπορον,
535

ὃς ἦν νεὼς σῆς σὺν δυοῖν ἄλλοιν φύλαξ,

ἐκέλευσ᾽ ἐμοί σε ποῦ κυρῶν εἴης φράσαι,

ἐπείπερ ἀντέκυρσα, δοξάζων μὲν οὔ οὖν,

τύχῃ δέ πως πρὸς ταὐτὸν πρὸσ αὐτὸν πρὸστ αὐτὸν πρὸς ταὐτὸν ὁρμισθεὶς πέδον.

πλέων γάρ, ὡς ναύκληρος, οὐ πολλῷ στόλῳ
540

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ἀπ᾿ ἐξ ᾿Ιλίου πρὸς οἶκον ἐς τὴν εὔβοτρυν

Πεπάρηθον, ὡς ἤκουσα τοὺς ναύτας, ὅτι

σοὶ πάντες εἶεν οἱ νεναυστοληκότες,

ἔδοξέ μοι μὴ σίγα, πρὶν φράσαιμί σοι,

τὸν πλοῦν ποιεῖσθαι ποεῖσθαι ποιεῖσθαι, προστυχόντι τῶν ἴσων τὸν ἴσον τῶν ἴσων.
545

οὐδὲν σύ σύ σύ που κάτοισθα τῶν σαυτοῦ πέρι,

ἃ τοῖσιν ᾿Αργείοισιν ἀμφὶ σοῦ *νέα σ' ούνεκα σούνεκα ἀμφὶς εἴνεκα

βουλεύματ᾽ ἐστί ἔστι ἐστὶ, κοὐ μόνον βουλεύματα,

ἀλλ᾽ ἔργα δρώμεν', οὐκέτ᾽ ἐξαργούμενα.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἡ χάρις μὲν τῆς προμηθίας, ξένε,
550

εἰ μὴ κακὸς πέφυκα, προσφιλὴς μενεῖ·

φράσον δ᾽ ἅπερ γ᾽ om. γ' ἔλεξας, ὡς μάθω τί μοι

νεώτερον βούλευμ᾽ βούλευμα ἀπ᾿ ᾿Αργείων ἔχεις.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΕΜ.

φροῦδοι διώκοντές σε ναυτικῷ ναυστικῷ στόλῳ

Φοῖνιξ Φοίνιξ Φοῖνιξ ὁ πρέσβυς οἵ τε Θησέως κόροι.
555

ΝΕ.

ὡς ἐκ βίας μ' ἄξοντες ἢ λόγοις πάλιν ;

ΕΜ.

οὐκ οἶδ᾽. ἀκούσας δ᾽ ἄγγελος πάρειμί σοι.

ΝΕ.

ἢ ταῦτα δὴ Φοῖνίξ ἢ ταῦτα δὴ φοῖνιξ τε χοί ξυνναυβάται

οὕτω καθ᾽ ὁρμὴν δρῶσιν ᾿Ατρειδῶν χάριν;

ΕΜ.

ὡς ταῦτ᾽ ἐπίστω δρώμεν, οὐ μέλλοντ᾽ ἔτι,
560

ΝΕ.

πῶς οὖν Ὀδυσσεὺς πρὸς τάδ᾽ οὐκ αὐτάγγελος

πλεῖν ἦν ἑτοῖμος; ἢ φόβος τις εἶργέ εἶργε εἶργε νιν;

ΕΜ.

κεῖνός γ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλον ἄνδρ᾽ ὁ Τυδέως τε παῖς

ἔστελλον, ἡνίκ᾽ ἐξανηγόμην ἐγώ ἔσω.

ΝΕ.

πρὸς ποῖον ἂν ἀν ἂν τόνδ᾽ αὐτὸς οὐδυσσεὺς ὁ δυσσεὺς οὑδυσσεὺς ὀδυσσεὺς ἔπλει;
565

ΕΜ.

ἦν δή τις-ἀλλὰ τόνδε μοι πρῶτον φράσον

τίς ἐστίν εστιν· ἂν λέγῃς δὲ μὴ φώνει μέγα.

ΝΕ.

ὅδ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ὁ κλεινός σοι Φιλοκτήτης, ξένε.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΕΜ.

μή νύν μὴ νῦν μ᾽ om. ἔρῃ τὰ πλείον, ἀλλ᾽ ὅσον τάχος

ἔκπλει σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβὼν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

ΦΙ.

τί φησιν, ὦ παῖ; τί με κατὰ σκότον ποτὲ

διεμπολᾷ λόγοισι πρός πρό πρός σ᾽ ὁ ναυβάτης;

ΝΕ.

οὐκ οἶδά πω τί φησι· δεῖ δ᾽ αὐτὸν λέγειν
580

εἰς φῶς ὁ λέξει, πρὸς σὲ κἀμὲ τούσδε τε.

ΕΜ.

ὦ σπέρμ᾽ ᾿Αχιλλέως, μή με διαβάλῃς διαβάλληισ διαβάλῃς στρατῷ

λέγονθ᾽ ἃ μὴ δεῖ· πόλλ᾽ ἐγὼ κείνων ὕπο

δρῶν ἀντιπάσχω χρηστά γ', οἱ᾽ ἀνὴρ πένης.

ΝΕ.

ἐγώ εἰμ' ἐγὼ ᾿μ' ἐγώ εἰμ᾿ ἐγὼ μὲν ᾿Ατρείδαις ἀτρείδαις δυσμενής· οὗτος δέ μοι
585

φίλος μέγιστος, οἵνεκ' ᾿Ατρείδας στυγεῖ.

δεῖ δή σ᾽ ἔμοιγ' ἐλθόντα προσφιλῆ λόγον

κρύψαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἡμᾶσ(δε) ἡμᾶς μηδέν᾽ ὧν ἀκήκοας.

ΕΜ.

ὅρα τί ποιεῖς, παῖ.

NE.

σκοπῶ κἀγὼ πάλαι.
590

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΕΜ.

σὲ θήσομαι τῶνδ᾽ αἴτιον.

NE.

ποιοῦ λέγων.

ΕΜ.

λέγω. ἐπὶ τοῦτον ἄνδρε τώδ᾽ ἅπερ κλύεις,

ὁ Τυδέως παῖς ἥ τ᾿ Οδυσσέως βία,

διώμοτοι πλέουσιν ἢ ή ή μὴν ἢ λόγῳ
595

πείσαντες ἄξειν, ἢ πρὸς ἰσχύος κράτος.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ᾿Αχαιοὶ πάντες ἤκουον σαφῶς

Οδυσσέως λέγοντος, οὗτος γὰρ πλέον

τὸ θάρσος εἶχε θατέρου, δράσειν τάδε.

ΝΕ.

τίνος δ᾽ ᾿Ατρείδαι τοῦδ᾽ ἄγαν οὕτω χρόνῳ
600

τοσῷδ᾽ τοσῷδ᾽ τοσῷδ᾽ ἐπεστρέφοντο πράγματος χάριν,

ὃν *γ' τ' εἶχον ἤδη χρόνιον ἐκβεβληκότες;

τίς ὁ πόθος αὐτοὺς ἵκετ᾽, ἢ θεῶν βία φθόνος

καὶ νέμεσις, οἵπερ ἔργ᾽ ἀμύνουσιν κακά;

ΕΜ.

ἐγώ σε τοῦτ᾽, ἴσως γὰρ οὐκ ἀκήκοας,
605

πᾶν ἐκδιδάξω. μάντις ἦν τις εὐγενής,

Πριάμου μὲν υἱός, ὄνομα δ᾽ ὠνομάζετο

Ἕλενος, ὃν οὗτος νυκτὸς ἐξελθὼν μόνος

ὁ πάντ᾿ ἀκούων αἰσχρὰ καὶ λωβήτ᾽ λωβὴτ᾿ λωβήτ᾿ ἔπη

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

δόλιος Ὀδυσσεὺς εἶλε· δέσμιόν τ' δ' ἄγων
610

ἔδειξ᾽ ᾿Αχαιοῖς ἐς μέσον, θήραν καλήν·

ὃς δὴ τὰ τ᾿ ἄλλ᾽ αὐτοῖσι πάντ᾽ ἐθέσπισεν ἐθέσπισε

καὶ τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμ᾽ ὡς οὐ μή ποτε

πέρσοιεν, εἰ μὴ τόνδε πείσαντες λόγῳ

ἄγοιντο νήσου τῆσδ᾽ ἐφ᾿ ἧς ναίει τὰ νῦν τανῦν.
615

καὶ ταῦθ᾽ ὅπως ἤκουσ᾽ ἤκουσεν ἤκουσ᾽ ὁ Λαέρτου τόκος

τὸν μάντιν εἰπόντ' εἰπόνθ εἰπόντ᾽, εὐθέως ὑπέσχετο

τὸν ἄνδρ᾽ ᾿Αχαιοῖς τόνδε δηλώσειν ἄγων·

οἴοιτο μὲν μάλισθ' μάλιστ' ἑκούσιον λαβών,

εἰ μὴ θέλοι δ᾽, ἄκοντα· καὶ τούτων κάρα
620

τέμνειν ἐφεῖτο τῷ θέλοντι μὴ τυχών.

ἤκουσας, ὦ παῖ, πάντα τὸ σπεύδειν δέ σοι

καὐτῷ παραινῶ κεἴ τινος κήδει κ. ήδει κήδηι κήδη πέρι.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΦΙ.

οἴμοι τάλας. ἢ ή ή κεῖνος, ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη,

ἔμ᾽ εἰς ᾿Αχαιοὺς ὤμοσεν πείσας στελεῖν;
625

πεισθήσομαι γὰρ ὧδε κἀξ "Αιδου θανὼν

πρὸς φῶς ἀνελθεῖν, ὥσπερ οὐκείνου πατήρ.

ΕΜ.

οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταῦτ᾽, ἀλλ᾽ ἐγὼ μὲν εἶμ᾽ ἐπὶ

ναῦν, σφῶν δ᾽ ὅπως ἄριστα συμφέροι θεός.

ΦΙ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 507-518 focus

Χορός

οἴκτιρʼ, ἄναξ· πολλῶν ἔλεξεν δυσοίστων πόνων

ἆθλʼ, οἷα μηδεὶς τῶν ἐμῶν τύχοι φίλων.

εἰ δὲ πικρούς, ἄναξ, ἔχθεις Ἀτρείδας,
510

ἐγὼ μέν, τὸ κείνων κακὸν τῷδε κέρδος

μετατιθέμενος, ἔνθαπερ ἐπιμέμονεν,
515

ἐπʼ εὐστόλου ταχείας νεὼς

πορεύσαιμʼ ἂν ἐς δόμους, τὰν θεῶν

νέμεσιν ἐκφυγών.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὅρα σὺ μὴ νῦν μέν τις εὐχερὴς παρῇς,

ὅταν δὲ πλησθῇς τῆς νόσου ξυνουσίᾳ,
520

τότʼ οὐκέθʼ αὑτὸς τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις φανῇς.

Χορός

ἥκιστα· τοῦτʼ οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως ποτʼ εἰς ἐμὲ

τοὔνειδος ἕξεις ἐνδίκως ὀνειδίσαι.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ αἰσχρὰ μέντοι σοῦ γέ μʼ ἐνδεέστερον

ξένῳ φανῆναι πρὸς τὸ καίριον πονεῖν.
525

ἀλλʼ εἰ δοκεῖ, πλέωμεν, ὁρμάσθω ταχύς·

χἠ ναῦς γὰρ ἄξει κοὐκ ἀπαρνηθήσεται.

μόνον θεοὶ σῴζοιεν ἔκ τε τῆσδε γῆς

ἡμᾶς ὅποι τʼ ἐνθένδε βουλοίμεσθα πλεῖν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ φίλτατον μὲν ἦμαρ, ἥδιστος δʼ ἀνήρ,
530

φίλοι δὲ ναῦται, πῶς ἂν ὑμὶν ἐμφανὴς

ἔργῳ γενοίμην, ὥς μʼ ἔθεσθε προσφιλῆ;

ἴωμεν, ὦ παῖ, προσκύσαντε τὴν ἔσω

ἄοικον εἰσοίκησιν, ὥς με καὶ μάθῃς

ἀφʼ ὧν διέζων ὥς τʼ ἔφυν εὐκάρδιος.
535

οἶμαι γὰρ οὐδʼ ἂν ὄμμασιν μόνην θέαν

ἄλλον λαβόντα πλὴν ἐμοῦ τλῆναι τάδε·

ἐγὼ δʼ ἀνάγκῃ προύμαθον στέργειν κακά.

Χορός

ἐπίσχετον, μάθωμεν· ἄνδρε γὰρ δύο,

ὁ μὲν νεὼς σῆς ναυβάτης, ὁ δʼ ἀλλόθρους,
540

χωρεῖτον, ὧν μαθόντες αὖθις εἴσιτον.

Ἔμπορος

Ἀχιλλέως παῖ, τόνδε τὸν ξυνέμπορον,

ὃς ἦν νεὼς σῆς σὺν δυοῖν ἄλλοιν φύλαξ,

ἐκέλευσʼ ἐμοί σε ποῦ κυρῶν εἴης φράσαι,

ἐπείπερ ἀντέκυρσα, δοξάζων μὲν οὔ,
545

τύχῃ δέ πως πρὸς ταὐτὸν ὁρμισθεὶς πέδον.

πλέων γὰρ ὡς ναύκληρος οὐ πολλῷ στόλῳ

ἀπʼ Ἰλίου πρὸς οἶκον ἐς τὴν εὔβοτρυν

Πεπάρηθον, ὡς ἤκουσα τοὺς ναύτας ὅτι

σοὶ πάντες εἶεν συννεναυστοληκότες,
550

ἔδοξέ μοι μὴ σῖγα, πρὶν φράσαιμί σοι,

τὸν πλοῦν ποεῖσθαι, προστυχόντι τῶν ἴσων.

οὐδὲν σύ που κάτοισθα τῶν σαυτοῦ πέρι,

ἃ τοῖσιν Ἀργείοισιν ἀμφὶ σοῦ νέα

βουλεύματʼ ἐστί, κοὐ μόνον βουλεύματα,
555

ἀλλʼ ἔργα δρώμενʼ, οὐκέτʼ ἐξαργούμενα.

557

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ ἡ χάρις μὲν τῆς προμηθίας, ξένε,

εἰ μὴ κακὸς πέφυκα, προσφιλὴς μενεῖ·

φράσον δʼ ἅπερ, γʼ ἔλεξας, ὡς μάθω τί μοι

νεώτερον, βούλευμʼ ἀπʼ Ἀργείων ἔχεις.
560

Ἔμπορος

φροῦδοι διώκοντές σε ναυτικῷ στόλῳ

Φοῖνιξ ὁ πρέσβυς οἵ τε Θησέως κόροι.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὡς ἐκ βίας μʼ ἄξοντες ἢ λόγοις πάλιν;

Ἔμπορος

οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἀκούσας δʼ ἄγγελος πάρειμί σοι.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἦ ταῦτα δὴ Φοῖνίξ τε χοἰ ξυνναυβάται
565

οὕτω καθʼ ὁρμὴν δρῶσιν Ἀτρειδῶν χάριν;

Ἔμπορος

ὡς ταῦτʼ ἐπίστω δρώμενʼ, οὐ μέλλοντʼ ἔτι.

Νεοπτόλεμος

πῶς οὖν Ὀδυσσεὺς πρὸς τάδʼ οὐκ αὐτάγγελος

πλεῖν ἦν ἕτοιμος; ἢ φόβος τις εἶργέ νιν;

Ἔμπορος

κεῖνός γʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλον ἄνδρʼ ὁ Τυδέως τε παῖς
570

ἔστελλον, ἡνίκʼ ἐξανηγόμην ἐγώ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

πρὸς ποῖον αὖ τόνδʼ αὐτὸς Οὑδυσσεὺς ἔπλει;

Ἔμπορος

ἦν δή τις—ἀλλὰ τόνδε μοι πρῶτον φράσον

τίς ἐστίν· ἃν λέγῃς δὲ μὴ φώνει μέγα.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὅδʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ κλεινός σοι Φιλοκτήτης, ξένε.
575

Ἔμπορος

μή νύν μʼ ἔρῃ τὰ πλείονʼ, ἀλλʼ ὅσον τάχος

ἔκπλει σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβὼν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

Φιλοκτήτης

τί φησιν, ὦ παῖ; τί με κατὰ σκότον ποτὲ

διεμπολᾷ λόγοισι πρός σʼ ὁ ναυβάτης;

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐκ οἶδά πω τί φησι· δεῖ δʼ αὐτὸν λέγειν
580

εἰς φῶς ὃ λέξει, πρὸς σὲ κἀμὲ τούσδε τε.

Ἔμπορος

ὦ σπέρμʼ Ἀχιλλέως, μή με διαβάλῃς στρατῷ

λέγονθʼ ἃ μὴ δεῖ· πόλλʼ ἐγὼ κείνων ὕπο

δρῶν ἀντιπάσχω χρηστά θʼ, οἷʼ ἀνὴρ πένης.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἐγώ εἰμʼ Ἀτρείδαις δυσμενής· οὗτος δέ μοι
585

φίλος μέγιστος, οὕνεκʼ Ἀτρείδας στυγεῖ.

δεῖ δή σʼ ἔμοιγʼ ἐλθόντα προσφιλῆ, λόγων

κρύψαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς μηδένʼ ὧν ἀκήκοας.

Ἔμπορος

ὅρα τί ποιεῖς, παῖ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

σκοπῶ κἀγὼ πάλαι.

Ἔμπορος

σὲ θήσομαι τῶνδʼ αἴτιον.
590

Νεοπτόλεμος

ποιοῦ λέγων.

591

Ἔμπορος

λέγω. ʼπὶ τοῦτον ἄνδρε τώδʼ ὥπερ κλύεις,

ὁ Τυδέως παῖς ἥ τʼ Ὀδυσσέως βία,

διώμοτοι πλέουσιν ἦ μὴν ἢ λόγῳ

πείσαντες ἄξειν ἢ πρὸς ἰσχύος κράτος.

καὶ ταῦτʼ Ἀχαιοὶ πάντες ἤκουον σαφῶς
595

Ὀδυσσέως λέγοντος· οὗτος γὰρ πλέον

τὸ θάρσος εἶχε θατέρου δράσειν τάδε.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τίνος δʼ Ἀτρεῖδαι τοῦδʼ ἄγαν οὕτω χρόνῳ

τοσῷδʼ ἐπεστρέφοντο πράγματος χάριν,

ὅν γʼ εἶχον ἤδη χρόνιον ἐκβεβληκότες;
600

τίς ὁ πόθος αὐτοὺς ἵκετʼ; ἢ θεῶν βία

καὶ νέμεσις, οἵπερ ἔργʼ ἀμύνουσιν κακά;

Ἔμπορος

ἐγώ σε τοῦτʼ, ἴσως γὰρ οὐκ ἀκήκοας,

πᾶν ἐκδιδάξω. μάντις ἦν τις εὐγενής,

Πριάμου μὲν υἱός, ὄνομα δʼ ὠνομάζετο
605

Ἕλενος, ὃν οὗτος νυκτὸς ἐξελθὼν μόνος,

ὁ πάντʼ ἀκούων αἰσχρὰ καὶ λωβήτʼ ἔπη

δόλιος Ὀδυσσεὺς εἷλε· δέσμιόν τʼ ἄγων

ἔδειξʼ Ἀχαιοῖς ἐς μέσον, θήραν καλήν·

ὃς δὴ τά τʼ ἄλλʼ αὐτοῖσι πάντʼ ἐθέσπισεν
610

καὶ τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμʼ ὡς οὐ μή ποτε

πέρσοιεν, εἰ μὴ τόνδε πείσαντες λόγῳ

ἄγοιντο νήσου τῆσδʼ ἐφʼ ἧς ναίει τανῦν.

καὶ ταῦθʼ ὅπως ἤκουσʼ ὁ Λαέρτου τόκος

τὸν μάντιν εἰπόντʼ, εὐθέως ὑπέσχετο
615

τὸν ἄνδρʼ Ἀχαιοῖς τόνδε δηλώσειν ἄγων·

οἴοιτο μὲν μάλισθʼ ἑκούσιον λαβών,

εἰ μὴ θέλοι δʼ, ἄκοντα· καὶ τούτων κάρα

τέμνειν ἐφεῖτο τῷ θέλοντι μὴ τυχών.

ἤκουσας, ὦ παῖ, πάντα· τὸ σπεύδειν δέ σοι
620

καὐτῷ παραινῶ κεἴ τινος κήδει πέρι.

Φιλοκτήτης

οἴμοι τάλας· ἦ κεῖνος, ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη,

ἔμʼ εἰς Ἀχαιοὺς ὤμοσεν πείσας στελεῖν;

πεισθήσομαι γὰρ ὧδε κἀξ Ἅιδου θανὼν

πρὸς φῶς ἀνελθεῖν, ὥσπερ οὑκείνου πατήρ.
625

Ἔμπορος

οὐκ οἶδʼ ἐγὼ ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ μὲν εἶμʼ ἐπὶ

ναῦν, σφῷν δʼ ὅπως ἄριστα συμφέροι θεός.

628

Φιλοκτήτης

οὔκουν τάδʼ, ὦ παῖ, δεινά, τὸν Λαερτίου

ἔμʼ ἐλπίσαι ποτʼ ἂν λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς

δεῖξαι νεὼς ἄγοντʼ ἐν Ἀργείοις μέσοις;
630

οὔ· θᾶσσον ἂν τῆς πλεῖστον ἐχθίστης ἐμοὶ

κλύοιμʼ ἐχίδνης, ἥ μʼ ἔθηκεν ὧδʼ ἄπουν.

ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἐκείνῳ πάντα λεκτά, πάντα δὲ

τολμητά· καὶ νῦν οἶδʼ ὁθούνεχʼ ἵξεται.

ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, χωρῶμεν, ὡς ἡμᾶς πολὺ
635

πέλαγος ὁρίζῃ τῆς Ὀδυσσέως νεώς.

ἴωμεν· ἥ τοι καίριος σπουδὴ πόνου

λήξαντος ὕπνον κἀνάπαυλαν ἤγαγεν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐκοῦν ἐπειδὰν πνεῦμα τοὐκ πρῴρας ἀνῇ,

τότε στελοῦμεν· νῦν γὰρ ἀντιοστατεῖ.
640

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀεὶ καλὸς πλοῦς ἔσθʼ, ὅταν φεύγῃς κακά.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀκείνοισι ταῦτʼ ἐναντία.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐκ ἔστι λῃσταῖς πνεῦμʼ ἐναντιούμενον,

ὅταν παρῇ κλέψαι τι χἀρπάσαι βίᾳ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ εἰ δοκεῖ, χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβὼν
645

ὅτου σε χρεία καὶ πόθος μάλιστʼ ἔχει.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ὧν δεῖ, καίπερ οὐ πολλῶν ἄπο.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί τοῦθʼ ὃ μὴ νεώς γε τῆς ἐμῆς ἔπι;

Φιλοκτήτης

φύλλον τί μοι πάρεστιν, ᾧ μάλιστʼ ἀεὶ

κοιμῶ τόδʼ ἕλκος, ὥστε πραΰνειν πάνυ.
650

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ ἔκφερʼ αὐτό. τί γὰρ ἔτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν;

Φιλοκτήτης

εἴ μοί τι τόξων τῶνδʼ ἀπημελημένον

παρερρύηκεν, ὡς λίπω μή τῳ λαβεῖν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἦ ταῦτα γὰρ τὰ κλεινὰ τόξʼ ἃ νῦν ἔχεις;

Φιλοκτήτης

ταῦτʼ, οὐ γὰρ ἄλλʼ ἔστʼ, ἀλλʼ ἃ βαστάζω χεροῖν.
655

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἆρʼ ἔστιν ὥστε κἀγγύθεν θέαν λαβεῖν

καὶ βαστάσαι με προσκύσαι θʼ ὥσπερ θεόν;

Φιλοκτήτης

σοί γʼ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ τοῦτο κἄλλο τῶν ἐμῶν

ὁποῖον ἄν σοι ξυμφέρῃ γενήσεται.

Νεοπτόλεμος

καὶ μὴν ἐρῶ γε, τὸν δʼ ἔρωθʼ οὕτως ἔχω·
660

εἴ μοι θέμις, θέλοιμʼ ἄν· εἰ δὲ μή, πάρες.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὅσιά τε φωνεῖς ἔστι τʼ, ὦ τέκνον, θέμις,

ὅς γʼ ἡλίου τόδʼ εἰσορᾶν ἐμοὶ φάος

μόνος δέδωκας, ὃς χθόνʼ Οἰταίαν ἰδεῖν,

ὃς πατέρα πρέσβυν, ὃς φίλους, ὃς τῶν ἐμῶν
665

ἐχθρῶν μʼ ἔνερθεν ὄντʼ ἀνέστησας πέρα.

θάρσει, παρέσται ταῦτά σοι καὶ θιγγάνειν

καὶ δόντι δοῦναι κἀξεπεύξασθαι βροτῶν

ἀρετῆς ἕκατι τῶνδʼ ἐπιψαῦσαι μόνον·

εὐεργετῶν γὰρ καὐτὸς αὔτʼ ἐκτησάμην.
670

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐκ ἄχθομαί σʼ ἰδών τε καὶ λαβὼν φίλον·

ὅστις γὰρ εὖ δρᾶν εὖ παθὼν ἐπίσταται,

παντὸς γένοιτʼ ἂν κτήματος κρείσσων φίλος. χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω.

Φιλοκτήτης

καὶ σέ γʼ εἰσάξω· τὸ γὰρ

νοσοῦν ποθεῖ σε ξυμπαραστάτην λαβεῖν.
675

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 468 focus

Now, by thy father, by thy mother,—nay,
465

By all thy love e’er cherished in thy home,
465

Suppliant I beg thee, leave me not thus lone,
465

Forlorn in all my misery which thou seest,
465

In all thou hast heard of here surrounding me!

Stow me with other freightage. Full of care,

I know, and burdensome the charge may prove.

Yet venture! Surely to the noble mind

All shame is hateful and all kindness blest.

And shame would be thy meed, didst thou fail here

But, doing this, thou shalt have glorious fame,

When I return alive to Oeta’s vale.

Come, ’tis the labour not of one whole day.

So thou durst take me, fling me where thou wilt

O’ the ship, in hold, prow, stern, or wheresoe’er

I least may trouble those on board with me.

Ah! by great Zeus, the suppliant’s friend, comply,

My son, be softened! See, where I am fall’n

Thus on my knees before thee, though so weak,
470

Crippled and powerless. Ah! forsake me not
470

Thus far from human footstep. Take me, take me!
470

If only to thy home, or to the town
470

Of old Chalcodon in Euboea.—From thence

I have not far to Oeta, and the ridge

Of Trachis, and Spercheius’ lordly flood.

So thou shalt bless my father with my sight.

And yet long since I fear he may be gone.

For oft I sent him suppliant prayers by men

Who touched this isle, entreating him to fetch

And bear me safely home with his own crew.

But either he is dead, or else, methinks,

It well may be, my messengers made light

Of my concerns, and hastened onward home.

But now in thee I find both messenger

And convoy, thou wilt pity me and save.

For, well thou knowest, danger never sleeps,

And fear of dark reverse is always nigh.
475

Mortals, when free, should look where mischief lurks,
475

And in their happiest hour consider well
475

Their life, lest ruin unsuspected come.
475

Pity him, O my king!

Many a crushing woe

He telleth, such as I pray

None of my friends may know.

And if, dear master, thou mislikest sore

Yon cruel-hearted lordly pair, I would,

Turning their plan of evil to his good,

On swift ship bear him to his native shore,

Meeting his heart’s desire; and free thy path

From fear of heavenly wrath.

NEO

Thou mak’st small scruple here; but be advised:

Lest, when this plague on board shall weary thee,

Thy voice should alter from this liberal tone.

CH

No, truly! Fear not thou shalt ever have

Just cause to utter such reproach on me.

NEO

Then sure ’twere shame, should I more backward prove

Than thou, to labour for the stranger’s need.

Come, if thou wilt, let us make voyage, and he,

Let him set forth with speed. Our ship shall take him.
520

He shall not be refused. Only may Heaven

Lead safely hence and to our destined port!

PHI

O morning full of brightness! Kindest friend,

Sweet mariners, how can I make you feel,

In act, how dearly from my heart I love you!

Ye have won my soul. Let us be gone, my son,—

First having said farewell to this poor cave,
525

My homeless dwelling-place, that thou may’st know,
525

How barely I have lived, how firm my heart!

Methinks another could not have endured

The very sight of what I bore. But I

Through strong necessity have conquered pain.

CH

Stay: let us understand. There come two men

A stranger, with a shipmate of thy crew.

When ye have heard them, ye may then go in.

MERCHANTMAN
Enter Messenger , disguised as a merchantman.

Son of Achilles, my companion here,
535

Who with two more remained to guard thy ship,
535

Agreed to help me find thee where thou wert,
535

Since unexpectedly, through fortune’s will,

I meet thee, mooring by the self-same shore.

For like a merchantman, with no great sail,

Making my course from Ilion to my home,

Grape-clustered Peparethos, when I heard

The mariners declare that one and all

Were of thy crew, I would not launch again,

Without a word, till we had told our news.—

Methinks thou knowest nought of thine own case,

What new devices of the Argive chiefs

Surround thee; nor devices only now,
540

But active deeds, no longer unperformed.
540

NEO

Well, stranger, for the kindness thou hast shown,—
550

Else were I base,—my heart must thank thee still.

But tell me what thou meanest, that I may learn

What new-laid plot thou bring’st me from the camp.

MER

Old Phoenix, Acamas and Demophon

Are gone in thy pursuit with ships and men.
555

NEO

To bring me back with reasons or perforce?

MER

I know not. What I heard, I am here to tell.

NEO

How? And is this in act? Are they set forth

To please the Atridae, Phoenix and the rest?

MER

The thing is not to do, but doing now.
560

NEO

What kept Odysseus back, if this be so,

From going himself? Had he some cause for fear?

MER

He and the son of Tydeus, when our ship

Hoist sail, were gone to fetch another man.

NEO

For whom could he himself be sailing forth?
565

MER

For some one,—but first tell me, whispering low

Whate’er thou speakest,—who is this I see?

NEO

().

This, sir, is Philoctetes the renowned.

MER

().

Without more question, snatch thyself away

And sail forth from this land.

PHI

What saith he, boy?

Through what dark traffic is the mariner

Betraying me with whispering in thine ear?

NEO

I have not caught it, but whate’er he speaks
580

He must speak openly to us and thee.

MER

Seed of Achilles, let me not offend

The army by my words! Full many a boon,

Being poor, I reap from them for service done.

NEO

The Atridae are my foes; the man you see
585

Is my fast friend, because he hates them sore.

Then, if you come in kindness, you must hide

Nothing from him or me of all thou hast heard.

MER

Look what thou doest, my son!

NEO

I mark it well.
590

MER

Thou shalt be answerable.

NEO

Content: but speak.

MER

Then hear me. These two men whom I have named,

Diomedes and Odysseus, are set forth

Engaged on oath to bring this man by force
595

If reasons fail. The Achaeans every one

Have heard this plainly from Odysseus’ mouth.

He was the louder and more confident.

NEO

Say, for what cause, after so long a time,
600

Can Atreus’ sons have turned their thoughts on him,

Whom long they had cast forth? What passing touch

Of conscience moved them, or what stroke from Heaven,

Whose wrath requites all wicked deeds of men?

MER

Methinks thou hast not heard what I will now
605

Unfold to thee. There was a princely seer,
605

A son of Priam, Helenus by name,
605

Whom he for whom no word is bad enough,
605

Crafty Odysseus, sallying forth alone

One night, had taken, and in bonds displayed

‘Fore all the Achaeans, a right noble prey.

He, ’mid his other prophecies, foretold

No Grecian force should sack Troy’s citadel,

Till with fair reasons they had brought this man

From Lemnos isle, his lonely dwelling-place.

When thus the prophet spake, Laërtes’ son

Straight undertook to fetch this man, and show him

To all the camp:—he hoped, with fair consent:

But else, perforce.—And, if he failed in this,

Whoever would might smite him on the head.

My tale is told, dear youth. I counsel speed

To thee and to the friend for whom thou carest.

PHI

Ah me, unhappy! has that rascal knave

Sworn to fetch me with reasons to their camp?
625

As likely might his reasons bring me back,

Like his begetter, from the house of death.

MER

You talk of what I know not. I will go

Shipward. May God be with you for all good.

PHI

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 468 focus

Bei deinem Vater, bei der Mutter, liebes Kind,

Und allem Andern, was daheim dir theuer ist,

Beschwör' ich dich und flehe, laß nicht so allein,
460

Hülflos in meinem Leide mich, das, wie du siehst,

Und wie du hörtest, grauenvoll mich hier umringt:

Als Nebenlast nur nimm mich! Zwar, ich weiß es wohl,

Vielfach beschwerlich wird dir solche Bürde sein;

Doch wag' es muthvoll! Hochgesinnte finden nur
465

Das Edle rühmlich, hassenswerth das Schändliche.

Dir, Jüngling, bringt es keinen Nuhm, versagst du mir's;

Und thust du's, ist der höchste Lohn der Ehre dein,

Wenn lebend heim ich kehre nach dem Detaland.

Auf! Keines vollen Tages Frist währt solche Noth:
470

So wag' es, nimm und wirf mich hin, wo dir's gefällt,

In den Bauch des Schiffes, hinten oder vorne, wo

Ich euch, die Fahrtgenossen, nicht belästige.

Bei Zeus, dem Gott der Fleh'nden, Sohn, gewähre mir's,

Erhöre mich! An deine Kniee sink' ich hier,
475

Ich Armer, wenn auch schwach und lahm; o laß mich nicht

In solcher Dede, die der Menschen Tritte flieh'n!

Zu deiner Heimat rette mich, ach, oder hin

In's reiche Land Euböa, wo Chalkodon herrscht.¹

Von dort zum Deta führte mich kein weiter Weg,
480

Zu Trachis' Hügeln und dem stolzhinrollenden²

Spercheios: wieder bringe mich dem Vater dort,

Um den die Sorge lange schon mich quält, er sei

Dahingegangen. Alle, die hier landeten,

Hab' ich mit heißen Bitten oft an ihn gesandt,
485

Selbst herzusegeln und mich heim zu retten: doch

Er ist gestorben, oder meine Boten sind,

So muß ich leider glauben, weil sie meine Noth

Für klein geachtet, ihrer Heimat zugeschifft.

Nun fleh' ich, sei du Bote, sei du Führer mir,
490

Erbarm dich meiner, rette mich; du siehest ja,

Wie drohend Alles, voll Gefahr, der Menschen Pfad

Umlagert, hier das Ungemach und dort das Glück.

Wer frei von Leid ist, blicke fürchtend auf das Leid,

Und wer das Glück hat, schaue frei mit wachem Blick
495

In's Leben, daß nicht ungeahnt der Fluch ihn trifft.

Gegenstrophe.

Der Chor.

Erbarmen, Herr! Vielfachen Kampf, herbe Noth klagt er uns,

Wie keinen unsrer Freunde je sie treffen soll!

Hassest du, Herr, Atreus' feindlich Geschlecht so sehr,

So würd' ich das Unheil, das Werk ihres Frevels,
500

Wandeln in Heil ihm, führt' in schnellsegelndem,

Geschmücktem Schiff zu dem ersehnten Port

Der Heimat ihn hin, flöhe den Nachefluch,

Der von den Göttern droht.

Neoptolemos.

Sieh, daß du jezt nicht allzuleicht dich willig zeigst,
505

Und, wann der Krankheit Nähe dich mit Ekel füllt,

Nicht als derselbe mehr erscheinst, der dieses sprach.

Der Chor.

Mit nichten: niemals soll der Tag erscheinen, wo

Du solchen Vorwurf wider mich mit Grund erhebſt.

Neoptolemos.

Traun, Schande wär' es, fände man mich säumiger,
510

Als euch, dem Fremdling beizusteh'n zur guten Zeit.

Drum wenn's gefällt, so geh'n wir; schnell bereit' er sich;

Auch wird das Schiff ihn tragen ohne Weigerung.

Daß nur die Götter rettend uns aus diesem Land

Dorthin an unsrer Wünsche Ziel geleiteten!
515

Philoktetes.

meiner Tage schönster, du mein bester Mann,

Ihr theuren Schiffer, könnt' ich euch doch durch die That

Darthun, wie eure Liebe mich verpflichtet hat!

Wir geh'n, o Jüngling, wenn wir mein unwohnliches

Wohnhaus zuvor begrüßten, daß dir Kunde wird,
520

Wovon ich lebte, wie beherzt mein Leben trug.

Ein Andrer, glaub' ich, außer mir, ertrüg' es nicht,

Auch nur mit Augen dieses Elend anzuseh'n:

Der Noth mich fügen, lehrte mich die strenge Noth.

Der Chor.

Verweilt, wir wollen hören: denn zwei Männer nah'n,
525

Ein Schiffer deines Schiffes und der Andre fremd;

Die mögt ihr hören, eh' ihr euch hinein verfügt.

Der Späher, als Schiffsherr verkleidet. Ein Schiffer.

Die Vorigen.

Der Schiffsherr.

O Sohn Achillens, diesem Fahrtgenossen hier,

Der deines Schiffes Wächter mit zwei andern war,

Gebot ich, mir zu sagen, wo du selbst verweilst,
530

Nachdem ich euch begegnet, nicht mit Willen zwar,

Nein, wohl vom Zufall hergelenkt zum gleichen Strand.

Ich bin ein Schiffsherr, segle, nicht mit großem Zug,

Von Troja heim zu Peparethos' Nebenland;³

Und weil ich hörte, daß die Schiffer allzumal
535

Dir angehören, welche hier gelandet sind,

Schien mir's, ich dürfe schweigend, eh' ich sprach mit dir,

Nicht weiter segeln, müss' empfah'n des Boten Lohn.

Wohl hast du nicht erfahren, was dich nah berührt,

Welch neuen Anschlag über dich die Danaer
540

Ersonnen haben, aber nicht Anschläge bloß,

Vielmehr bereits vollbrachte, nicht verschob'ne That.

Neoptolemos.

Für diese Sorgfalt wartet dein liebreicher Dank,

O Freund, so wahr ich edel bin von edler Art.

Doch sage, was du meintest; denn ich wüßte gern,
545

Welch neuen Anschlag über mich das Heer gefaßt.

Der Schiffsherr.

Der greise Phönix und des Theseus Söhne sind⁴

Mit Schiffen ausgezogen, dich verfolgend, Herr.

Neoptolemos.

Durch Bitten oder mit Gewalt mich fortzuzieh'n?

Der Schiffsherr.

Weiß nicht; ich komm' und melde, was ich selbst gehört.
550

Neoptolemos.

Und sollte Phönix und die Schiffsgefährten dies

Mit solchem Eifer für des Atreus Söhne thun?

Der Schiffsherr.

Schon wird's gethan von ihnen, soll nicht erst gescheh'n.

Neoptolemos.

So war Odysseus nicht bereit, selbst auszugeh'n

Auf diese Sendung? Oder hielt ihn Furcht zurück?
555

Der Schiffsherr.

Er ging mit Deneus' Enkel einen andern Mann

Zu suchen, als ich auf die Fahrt von dannen zog.

Neoptolemos.

Nach welchem Manne fuhr Odysseus selbst hinaus?

Es war

(halblaut)

Der Schiffsherr.

vor Allem sage mir, wer dieser Mann

Hier ist, und sprich nur leise, was du sagen willst.
560
(laut)

Das ist des Pöas hochgepries'ner Sohn, o Freund.

So frage mich nicht weiter, nein, in Eile dich

Zusammenraffend, segle fort aus diesem Land.

Philoktetes.

Was sagt er, Jüngling? Was verkauft im Dunkel mich

Mit seinen Neden hier an dich der Handelsherr?
565

Neoptolemos.

Noch nicht versteh' ich, was er meint; doch muß er selbst

An's Licht es sagen, dir und mir und diesen da.

Der Schiffsherr.

O Sohn Achillens, klage nicht im Heer mich an,

Sag' ich Verbot'nes. Manches Gute thun sie mir

Und thu' ich ihnen wieder, wie's ein Armer kann.
570

Neoptolemos.

Ich bin des Atreus Söhnen feind, und dieser ist

Der liebste Freund mir, weil er Atreus' Söhne haßt.

So darfst du, wenn du kamest als mein Freund, vor uns

Kein Wort von dem verhehlen, was dein Ohr vernahm.

Der Schiffsherr.

Sieh, was du thust, Kind!
575

Neoptolemos.

Ich erwog es lange schon.

Der Schiffsherr.

Die Schuld von Allem bleibe dein!

Neoptolemos.

Sei's: rede nur!

Der Schiffsherr.

Nun gut! Nach dem zieh'n Beide, die ich dir genannt,

Der Sohn des Tydeus und Odysseus' Kraft, hinaus;

Sie schwuren, ihn zu bringen, sei's mit klugem Wort

Ihn überredend, oder durch der Stärke Macht.
580

Und deutlich hörten aus Odysseus' Munde dies

Die Wehrgenossen alle; denn er hatte mehr

Vertrau'n, die That zu wagen, als der Andere.

Neoptolemos.

Was ist es, daß auf diesen nach so langer Zeit

Die zween Atriden wiederum den Sinn gelenkt,
585

Nachdem er längst von ihnen ausgestoßen ward?

Was trieb sie? Welch Verlangen? War's der Götter Macht

Und Strafe, die der Missethat des Frevlers wehrt?

Der Schiffsherr.

Das will ich (denn vernruthlich hast du's nicht gehört)

Dir alles kundthun. Ein erlauchter Seher war,
590

Der Priamide Helenos, so hieß der Mann:

Ihn fing Odysseus, dieser schmachbedeckte Schalk,

Der Mann des Hohnes, als er einst auf nächtlichem,

Einsamem Pfade streifte, schlug in Fesseln ihn,

Und stellt ihn Argos' Volke dar als schönen Fang.
595

Da deutet' ihnen Allerlei der Seher aus,

Und sagte dann auch, daß sie Troja's Veste nie

Zerstörten, wenn sie diesen Mann durch kluges Wort

Nicht aus dem Eiland lockten, das er jezt bewohnt.

Und als Laertes' Sprößling aus des Sehers Mund
600

Den Spruch vernommen, da verhieß er, ungesäumt

Den Mann zu stellen vor das Angesicht des Heers;

Er hoffe sicher ihn zu fah'n mit gutem Wort,

Und widersteh' er, mit Gewalt; mißling' es ihm,

Wer wolle, mög' ihm dann das Haupt von Rumpfe hau'n.
605

Mein Sohn, du hörtest Alles: Eile rath' ich nun

Dir selbst und Jedem, dessen Wohl dir Sorge macht.

Philoktetes.

Weh, weh mir! Also schwur der Allverderbliche,

Beredend mich zu locken in's Achäerheer?

So wenig folg' ich, als ich todt aus Hades' Haus
610

Zum Lichte wiederkehre, wie sein Vater einst!⁵

Der Schiffsherr.

Da siehe du zu; doch ich eile nun zum Schiff;

Und euch gewähre, was am besten frommt, ein Gott!

Philoktetes. Neoptolemos. Der Chor.

Philoktetes.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 519 focus

And the Atridse will I live remote.

I would not see the man I cannot love.

My barren Scyros shall afford me refuge,

And home-felt joys delight my future days.

So, fare thee well, and may th' indulgent gods

no

Heal thy sad wound, and grant thee every wish

Thy soul can form ! Once more, farewell ! I go,

The first propitious gale.

PjiiL. What ! now, my son ?
520

So soon?

Meg. Immediately; the time demands

Wo should be near, and ready to depart.

Philoctetes

Now, by the memory of thy lionoured sire,
465

By thy loved mother, ])y whate'er remains
465

On earth most dear to thee, oh ! hear me now.
465

Thy suppliant ! Do not, do not thus forsake me,

Alone, oppressed, deserted, as thou seest.

In this sad place. I shall, I know it must, be

A burthen to thee. But, oh ! bear it kindly \

For ever doth the noble mind abhor

Th' ungenerous deed, and loves humanity ;

Disgrace attends thee if thou dost forsake me.

If not, immortal fame rewards thy goodness.

Thou mayst convey me safe to CEta's shores

In one short day ; I'll trouble you no longer.
470

Hide mo in any part where I may least
470

Molest you. Hear me ! By the guardian god
470

Of the poor suppliant, all protecting Jove,

I beg. Behold me at thy feet, infirm,

And wretched as I am, I clasp thy knees.

Leave me not here then, where there is no mark

Of human footstep — take me to thy home !

Or to Eubooa's port, to CEta, thence

Of Sperchius' gentle stream, to meet my father,

If yet he lives ; for, oh ! I begged him oft

By those who hither came, to fetch me hence —

Or is he dead, or they neglectful bent
475

Their hasty course to their own native soil.
475

Be thou my better guide ! Pity and save

The poor and wretched. Think, my son, how frail

And full of danger is the state of man —

Now prosperous, now adverse. Who feels no ills

Should therefore fear them ; and when fortune smiles

Be doubly cautious, lest destruction come

Remorseless on him, and he fall unpitied.

Chorus

Oh, pity him, my lord, for bitterest woes

And trials most severe he hath recounted ;

Far be such sad distress from those I love !
505

Oh ! if thou hat'st the base Atridae, now

Revenge thee on them, serve their deadliest foe ;

Bear the poor suppliant to his native soil ;

So shalt thou bless thy friend, and 'scape the wrath

Of the just gods, who still protect the wretched.

Ned. Your proffered kindness, friends, may cost you

dear ;
510

When you shall feel his dreadful malady
510

Oppress you sore, you will repent it.

Chorus

Never
515

Shall that reproach be ours.
515

Ned. In generous pity
515

Of the afflicted thus to be o'ercome
515

Were most disgraceful to me ; he shall go.

May the kind gods speed our departure hence,

And guide our vessels to the wished-for shore !

Philoctetes

O happy hour ! O kindest, best of men !

And you my dearest friends ! how shall I thank you ?

What shall I do to show my grateful heart ?

Let us be gone ! But, oh ! permit me first

To take a last farewell of my poor hut,
525

Where 1 so long have lived. Perhaps you'll say
525

I must have had a noble mind to bear it.

The very sight to any eyes but mine

Were horrible, but sad necessity

At length prevailed, and made it pleasing to me

Chorus

One from our ship, my lord, and with him

Son of great Acliilles,
535

Know, chance alone hath brought me hither, driven
535

By adverse winds to where thy vessels lay,

As home I sailed from Troy. There did I meet

This my companion, who informed me where

Thou mightst be found. Hence to pursue my course

And not to tell thee what concerns thee near

Had been ungenerous, thou perhaps meantime
540

Of Greece and of her counsels naught suspecting.
540

Counsels against thee not by threats alone

Or words enforced, but now in execution.
555

Neoptolemus

Now by my virtue, stranger, for thy news
550

I am much bound to thee, and will repay

Thy service. Tell me what the Greeks have done.

Merchant

a fleet already sails to fetch thee back,

Conducted by old Phoenix, and the sons

Of valiant Theseus.

Neoptolemus

Come they then to force me ?

Oi- am I to be won by their persuasion ?

Merchant

I know not that ; you have what I could learn.
560

Neoptolemus

And did th' Atridse send them ?

Merchant

Sent they are,

And will be with you soon.

Neoptolemus

But wherefore then
565

Came not Ulysses ? Did his courage fail ?
565

Merchant

He, ere I left the camp, with Diomed^

On some important embassy sailed forth

In search —

Neoptolemus

Of whom?

Merchant

There was a man — but stay,

Who is thy friend here, tell me, but speak softly.

SpY: Ha ! begone then !

Ask me no more — away, immediately !

Philoctetes
[Whispering him.

What do these dark mysterious whispers mean ?

Concern they me, my son ?

Neoptolemus

I know not what
580

He means to say, but I would have him speak
580

Boldly before us all, whate'er it be.

Merchant

Do not betray me to the Grecian host,

Nor make me speak what I would fain conceal.

I am but poor — they have befriended me.

Neoptolemus

In me thou seest an enemy confest
585

To the Atridse. This is my best friend

Because he hates them too ; if thou art mine,

Hide nothing then.

Merchant

Consider first.

Neoptolemus

I have.
590

Merchant

The blame will be on you.

Neoptolemus

Why, let it be ;

But speak, I charge thee.

Merchant

Since I must then, know,

In solemn league combined, the bold Ulysses

And gallant Diomede have sworn by force
595

Or by persuasion to bring back thy friend :

The Grecians heard Laertes' son declare

His purpose ; far more resolute he seemed

Than Diomede, and surer of success.

Neoptolemus

But why th' Atridae, after so long time.
600

Again should wish to see this wretched exile ?

Whence this desire? Came it from th' angry gods

To punish thus their inhumanity ]

Merchant

I can inform you ; for perhaps from Greece
605

Of late you have not heard. There was a prophet,

Son of old Priam, Helenus by name,

Him, in his midnight walks, the wily chief

Ulysses

curse of every tongue, espied ;
605

Took him, and led him captive, to the Greeks
605

A welcome spoil. Much he foretold to all,
605

And added last that Troy should never fall

Ulysses heard, and instant promise gave

To fetch him hence ; he hoped by gentle means

To gain him ; those successless, force at last

Could but compel him. He would go, he cried,

And if lio failed his liead should pay the forfeit.

I've told thee all, and warn thee to be gone,

Thou and thy friend, if thou wouldst wish to save him.

Philoctetes

And does the traitor think he can persuade me ?

As well might he persuade me to return
625

From death to life, as his base father did.

Merchant

Of tliat I know not : I must to my ship.

Farewell, and may the gods protect you both ! \_ExiL

Philoctetes

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 468 focus

Now by thy father's honour'd shade, my son,
465

And by thy mother, by whate'er thy house.
465

Holds dear to thee, thy suppliant I implore
465

Thy pity, do not leave me thus alone,

Abandon'd in these ills, which now thou seest,

And with which thou hast heard I long have had

My dwelling here. Receive me in thy bark,

Allow me there a place; this freight, I know;

Will be offensive; yet disdain it not:

Whate'er is base the noble mind abhors,

But glories in the kind and generous deed.

Not to perform this kindness were reproach.

To thee, and shame; but granting my request,

High honour waits thee. If I reach alive

The land of Eta, I shall burden thee

Not one whole day; refuse not my request;
470

Throw me where'er thou wilt, into the hold,
470

The prow, the stern, where least I may annoy!".
470

The mariners; assent, my son, by Jove

Protector of the suppliant, grant my pray'r.

Infirm, and lame, and wretched as I am,

Low at thy knees I fall; forsake me not

Far from the haunt of men abandon'd thus

But save me, bear me to thy friendly shore,

Or to Chalcodon's ports that deep indenti

Euboœa; thence the passage is not long

To Eta, and to Trachin's rocky heights,

And to Sperchius, beauteous-rolling stream.

Show me to my loved father; yet long since

The tomb, I fear, received him; for to those,

Who reach'd this coast, I oft gave charge, and oft
475

Sent my request that he would speed a bark.
475

To bear me hence in safety to my home.
475

But he is dead, or they perchance, (for this

Might be expected) on whose promised aid

I built my hopes, of my disastrous state

Made small account, and steer'd their onward course

To their own ports. But now I come to thee

To bear my message, nay, to bear me hence. 1.

Save me, have pity on me; for thou seest.

The dangers, and the horrible events

Attendant

prosperous now, anon

In misery sunk. Behoves it then the man,

A stranger now to ill, on ills to come

Forward to look; then most when fortune smiles,

To have a sense of man's uncertain state,

Lest ruin steal upon him, and he fall.

Chorus

Have pity on him, king; for he hath told

Of hard encounters with severest toils

Beyond man's sufferance: ne'er may one I love
505

Endure the like! And if, O king, thou hate

The stern Atridæ, I would turn their ill

To his great good; and since his wish is urged

So strongly, in my swift well-furnish'd bark

Convey him to his mansion, and avoid
510

The righteous vengeance of th' offended gods..

Neoptolemus

Take heed lest now too gentle be thy mind,

But when, embark'd together, his diseasejut

Long time annoys thee, other be thy thoughts.

Chorus

Never, oh never: nor shalt thou have cause
515

To charge my stedfast mind wtth such reproach.

Neoptolemus

Nay, I should blush indeed, should I appear

Less prompt than thou with generous toil to aid

In his distress a stranger. We will sail,

Neoptolemus

If such thy judgment: let him come with speed;

Merchant

My bark shall bear him hence, nor shall he find

Neoptolemus

Denial: may the gods direct our course! mo

Merchant

Safe to the shore on which we wish to land

Philoctetes

O welcome day! Most courteous thou of men!

And you, ye friendly mariners, what thanks

Can I return you? With what words express

The gratitude that glows within my heart?...

But let us go, my son, and pay within "

A farewell greeting to this cheerless cave,id
525

Dwelling unmeet for man; that thou may'st know
525

Where I have lived, and what I have sustain'd

With a firm heart: the sight alone, I think,

Horror on others must impress; but me

Necessity hath taught to love e'en this.

Chorus

Restrain your steps awhile: two men advance, , . ,

One to thy bark belongs, a stranger oneli

es podt of IC

First hear their tidings; visit then the cave.)

MERC. Son of Achilles, to this mariner,

Who with two others guarded thy tall bark,

I made request that he would show me where

Merchant

Thou might'st be found; since thus I light on thee THIA
535

Where least expected, driv'n by chance to land
535

On the same shore'; for I, as master, steer'd
535

My little galley homeward from the coast

Of Troy to Peparethus cloth'd with vines

Rich with the purple grape. But when I heard

That all thy naval train was waiting here,d

I deem'd it meet in silence not to sail,

But first to tell thee things perchance to thee

Unknown, and much importing thee to know;

What late resolves the Grecian Chiefs have form'd

Against thee; not resolves alone, but acts
540

With vigour and without delay enforced. T
540

Neoptolemus
MERCHANT, MARINER, NEOPTOLEMUS, PHILOCTETES, CHORUS.

In grateful memory, stranger, I shall hold

Thy kind concern for me, else 1 were base.”

What thou hast hinted speak at large, 'gainst me

The councils by the Grecians lately form'd.

Merchant

MERC. The sons of Theseus, and the aged Chiefs dhid
560

Phœnix, pursue thee with a well-arm'd fleet:
560

Neoptolemus

By force to lead me back, or suasive words?

Merchant

MERC. I know not: what I heard I came to speak

Neoptolemus

Doth Phoenix this, and they who with him sail,)
565

Obsequious to th' Atridæ's royal will?
565

Merchant

MERC. Be thou assured they speed without delay.

Whence is it that Ulysses came not, prompt

To sail with them? Hath fear restrain'd his zeal?

MERC. He and the son of Tydeus, when I sail'd, to count

Against some other plough'd the foaming main.

Neoptolemus

On what adventure was Ulysses bound?

Merchant

MERC. There was a man...... But tell me, who is this?T

I would first know: but speak it not aloud.

Neoptolemus

This, friend, is Philoctetes the renown'd.

Merchant

MERC. Nay then no further question: with all speed

Hoist every sail, and hie thee from this land.

Neoptolemus

What says this merchant? What design, my son,

Merchant

'Gainst me conveys that whisper to thy ear?

Neoptolemus

What he would say I know not; let him speak
590

Clear and aloud to thee, and me, and these.
590

MERC. Son of Achilles, to the Grecian host
590

Betray me not, as what I should conceal
590

Merchant

Disclosing; many favours at their hands

Have I received for services by mea

To them perform'd, such as a poor man may.h

Neoptolemus

I hate the sons of Atreus; and this man,

Because he hates them, is my dearest friend.

Merchant

Behoves thee, since to me thou comest a friend,

Nought, which a friend can tell us, to conceal.T

MERC. See what thou dost.

That long hath been my care

MERC. On thee I charge the blame.
595

Charge it, but speak
595

MERC. Then I will speak. Against this man the son I

Of Tydeus, and the stern Ulysses speed

Their sails; their purpose ratified by oath

By soft persuasion or compulsive force

To bring him back: this all the Grecians heard-

Ulysses speak aloud; for bolder hoperidoli

Was his, and firm assurance of successo di

Neoptolemus

After such length of time what cause hath moved
600

The sons of Atreus to such anxious care
600

For one, an outcast, whom so long they left?

Whence this desire? Or have the gods by force

Impell'd them, thus avenging impious deeds?...

MERC. Of this I will inform thee, things perchance

By thee not heard. There was a noble Seer,

The son of Priam, Helenus his name;

Him this dark plotter cursed by every tongue,

As in the night he prowling roved alone,

Ulysses

and brought his glorious prize
605

Bound to the Grecians: all the dark decrees.
605

Of fate he open'd to them, and declared
605

That never should they raze the tow'rs of Troy,

Till by persuasion they should lead this man

From his lone dwelling in this rocky isle.

This when Ulysses heard the seer declare,..

Instant he pledged his faith to lead him hence,

And show him to the Grecian camp: his hopes

Are warm to win his willing mind; if not,

He will recur to force; and for success

Hath pledged his head. Thou hast heard all: now haste,

Thou and whoe'er is dear to thee: be warn'd.

Philoctetes

What, hath this vile accurs'd deceiver sworn

To show me to the Grecians? Were I dead,

Philoctetes

Then might persuasion bring me from the realms

Of Pluto, like his father, back to light.

Merchant

MERC. I know not that. My bark demands me now

May the best blessings of the gods be yours.!:)

Philoctetes
PHILOCTETES, NEOPTOLEMUS, CHORUS.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 507-515 focus

Chorus

Have pity, my king! He has told of a struggle with sufferings manifold and oppressive—may the like befall no friend of mine!

And if, my king, you hate the hateful Atreids, then, turning their wrongdoing to this man’s gain,
510

I would take him in your swift, well-rigged ship to the home for which he longs, and so escape the god’s just wrath.
515

Neoptolemus

Though now as a casual spectator you are compliant,

beware lest later, when filled with his disease by its constant company, you prove no longer constant to these sentiments.
520

Chorus

That will not happen. You will never have just cause to rebuke me for that!

Neoptolemus

Well, then, it would shame me if the stranger were to find

me less ready than you are to toil for his good. Come, if it pleases you, let us sail. Let the man set out at once; our ship, for her part, will carry him, and will not refuse. Only may the gods give us safe passage from this land, and from here to whatever destination we choose!
525

Philoctetes

O day of joy unsurpassed! Most delightful man, and you good sailors! If only I could show you in deeds what a true friend you have made in me! Let us be going, my son, when we two have made a solemn farewell to my homeless home inside, so that you may also learn
530

by what means I sustained my life, and how stout of heart I was born. For I believe that the mere sight would have deterred any other man but me from enduring these sufferings. But I have been slowly schooled by necessity to endure misery. Neoptolemus is about to follow Philoctetes into the cave.
535

Chorus

Wait, let us listen to the two men who are coming!

One is a crewman of your ship, the other a stranger. Go in after you hear their report.
540

Enter the Merchant, on the spectators’ left, accompanied by a Sailor.

Merchant

Son of Achilles, I asked my companion here, when he was guarding your ship with two others, to tell me where you might be found,

since I have chanced upon you unexpectedly by the good fortune of coming to anchor off this very coast. With no great company I am homeward bound on my trader’s voyage from Ilium to Peparethus with its cluster-laden vines, but when I heard that the sailors
545

were all of your crew, I resolved not to continue my voyage in silence, without first giving you my news and getting the due reward. You know nothing, I suspect, of your own affairs: the new designs the Greeks
550

have regarding you, and not only designs, but deeds in progress and no longer postponed.
555

557

Neoptolemus

The service you have done me by your forethought, sir, unless I am unworthy, will remain in my grateful thoughts. But tell me just what the designs are that you mentioned, so that I may understand

what is the strange plan of the Greeks that you know.
560

Merchant

Pursuers are on the way in search of you with a fleet. They are the aged Phoenix and the sons of Theseus.

Neoptolemus

To bring me back by force, or through persuasion?

Merchant

I do not know; but I have come to tell you what I did hear.

Neoptolemus

Are Phoenix and his comrades really so eager to do this favor for the Atreids?
565

Merchant

Be sure that it is being done, and without delay.

Neoptolemus

Then why was Odysseus not ready to sail on this mission, and bring the message himself? Or did some fear hold him back?

Merchant

Oh, he and the son of Tydeus were readying for pursuit of another man, just as I was leaving port.
570

Neoptolemus

Who is this other after whom Odysseus himself was sailing?

Merchant

There was a man. . . . But tell me first who that is over there. And whatever you say, do speak quietly.

Neoptolemus

There, sir, before your eyes is the renowned Philoctetes.
575

Merchant

Then do not question me further, but get yourself out of here as quickly as possible and sail away.

Philoctetes

What is he saying, boy? Why does the sailor traffic with you about me in these dark whispers?

Neoptolemus

His meaning yet eludes me. But, whatever he will say, he must say openly—to you, me and my men here.
580

Merchant

Seed of Achilles, do not stir the army’s resentment against me for saying what I should not. I receive many benefits for what services I do them, as a poor man may.

Neoptolemus

I am the enemy of the Atreids, and this man is my closest friend precisely because he hates them. Since, then, you have come kindly disposed towards me, you must not hide from us any part of their plans that you have heard.
585

Merchant

Beware of what you are doing, boy.

Neoptolemus

I am well aware.

Merchant

I will hold you accountable.
590

Neoptolemus

Do so, but speak.

591

Merchant

I will. It is after this man that those two whom I named to you, Diomedes and forceful Odysseus, are sailing. They are oath-bound to retrieve him, either by winning words or by overpowering might.

And all the Achaeans heard this clearly from the mouth Odysseus, for his confidence of success in this action was higher than his comrade’s.
595

Neoptolemus

And for the sake of what did the Atreids after so long a time turn their thoughts so urgently towards this man,

whom they were long since keeping an outcast? What was the desire that came over them, or what force? What avenging spirit sent by the gods to exact payment for evil deeds?
600

Merchant

I will inform you of all that, since it seems that you have not heard. There was a seer of noble birth,

a son of Priam, called Helenus, whom that man, out on a solitary night raid—that deceitful Odysseus, whose repute is all shame and dishonor—captured. Leading him back in bonds, he displayed him publicly to the Achaeans as his glorious prey.
605

Helenus then prophesied for them whatever matter they asked, and, pertaining to Troy , he foretold that they would never sack its towers, unless by winning words they should bring Philoctetes here from the island where he now dwells. And, as soon as he heard the seer prophecy this, Laertes ’ son
610

immediately promised that he would bring the man and show him to the Achaeans. He thought it most likely that he would get him willingly, but, if unwilling, then by force, and he added that, were he to fail in this, whoever wished it might sever his head.
615

You have heard everything, boy, and I advise speed for you, and for any man for whom you care.
620

Philoctetes

Alas! Has he, the utter plague, sworn to fetch me back to the Achaeans by persuasion? For if that were to happen, I could be persuaded, when dead, to come back up

from Hades into the light, as his father did!
625

Merchant

I know nothing about that. But for my part I must return to ship, while for you I pray that god may help you in every possible way. Exit Merchant.

628

Philoctetes

Now is it not astounding, boy, that Odysseus would ever have expected by means of soft words

to lead me from his ship and show me in the middle of the Greeks? No! I would sooner listen to that greatest and worst of my enemies, the viper which made me crippled as I am! But there is nothing that he would not say or dare. And now I know that he is coming here.
630

Come, son, let us be moving, so that a wide sea may part us from the ship of Odysseus. Let us go! Good speed in good season brings sleep and rest when toil is finished.
635

Neoptolemus

Then as soon as the wind is not at our prow,

we will sail. At present it blows against us.
640

Philoctetes

The sailing is always fair, when you flee trouble.

Neoptolemus

Not so; this weather is against them also.

Philoctetes

No wind stands in the way of pirates who sense a chance to steal and plunder by force.

Neoptolemus

Well, if you are so resolved, let us go, once you have taken from the cave whatever you need or desire most.
645

Philoctetes

Yes, there are some things that I need, though the choice is not large.

Neoptolemus

What is there that will not be available on board my ship?

Philoctetes

I have a store of a certain herb, whereby I can always

best lull this wound, until it is wholly tamed.
650

Neoptolemus

Fetch it, then. Now, what else do you wish to take?

Philoctetes

Any of these arrows that may have been forgotten, and may have slipped away from me, so that I not leave it for another to take.

Neoptolemus

Is that indeed the famous bow which you hold?

Philoctetes

This, and no other, that I carry in my hand.
655

Neoptolemus

Is there any way that I might have a closer view of it—and handle it, and salute it as divine?

Philoctetes

To you alone, my son, this shall be granted, along with anything else in my power that is in your interest.

Neoptolemus

I do indeed crave to touch it, but my craving takes this form: if it is lawful, I would be glad. If not, think no more of it.
660

Philoctetes

Your words are reverent, son, and your wish is lawful. For you alone have given to my eyes the light of life and the hope of seeing the land of Oeta, of seeing

my aged father and my friends; and you alone, when I lay beneath the feet of my enemies, have lifted me beyond their reach. Be bold. The bow shall be yours to handle and to return to the hand that gave it, and you will be able to boast aloud that in reward for your goodness, you alone of mortals have touched it.
665

Yes, it was by a good deed that I myself won it.
670

Neoptolemus

I am not sorry that I found you and have gained your friendship, since whoever knows how to render benefit for a benefit received must prove a friend more valuable than any possession. Please, do go inside.

Philoctetes

Agreed, and I will bring you also.

My sickness craves the comfort of your presence. Philoctetes and Neoptolemus enter the cave.
675

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-250-1 ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ¹

mvp-comment-250-2 ποῦ δ’ αἰνεῖν ²

mvp-comment-250-3 ὅταν ³ ἐπαινῶν ⁴

mvp-comment-250-4 Theognis, in a similar strain, asks how a mortal is to revere the gods when he sees good men afflicted and bad men prosperous (743—752).

mvp-comment-251-1 ἐγὼ μὲν ⁵

mvp-comment-251-2 Οἰταίου ⁶

mvp-comment-252-1 τηλόθεν … εἰσορῶν ⁷

mvp-comment-252-2 φυλάξομαι ⁸

mvp-comment-253-1 ὅπου ⁹ τούτους ¹⁰

mvp-comment-253-2 δειλὸς ¹¹ δεινὸς ¹² δεινός ¹³

mvp-comment-254-1 Σκῦρος ¹⁴

mvp-comment-254-2 ἐξαρκοῦσά μοι … ὥστε ¹⁵ τέρπεσθαι δόμῳ ¹⁶

mvp-comment-255-1 χαῖρε ¹⁷ ὡς μέγιστα ¹⁸

mvp-comment-255-2 μεταστήσειαν ¹⁹

mvp-comment-255-3 ὡς αὐτὸς θέλεις ²⁰

mvp-comment-256-1 πλοῦν ἡμὶν εἴκῃ ²¹ πλοῦν ²² πλεῖν ²³

mvp-comment-257-1 καιρὸς ²⁴ καλεῖ ²⁵

mvp-comment-258-1 πλοῦν … σκοπεῖν ²⁶

mvp-comment-258-2 μὴ )ξ ἀπόπτου ²⁷

mvp-comment-259-1 πρός νύν σε πατρὸς ²⁸ πρός τ’ εἴ τι ²⁹

mvp-comment-260-1 ἱκέτης ³⁰ ἱκνοῦμαι ³¹

mvp-comment-261-1 οἵοις ὁρᾷς … ἐνναίοντα ³² ὅσοισί τ’ ἐξήκουσας ³³

mvp-comment-262-1 ἐν παρέργῳ θοῦ με ³⁴

mvp-comment-262-2 ἐν παρέργῳ ³⁵

mvp-comment-262-3 δυσχέρεια ³⁶

mvp-comment-263-1 ἔξοιδα ³⁷

mvp-comment-263-2 φορήματος ³⁸

mvp-comment-264-1 τό τ’ αἰσχρὸν ³⁹ εὐκλεές ⁴⁰ εὐκλεές ⁴¹ τοῖσι γενναίοισι ⁴²

mvp-comment-265-1 ἐκλιπόντι τοῦτ’ ⁴³

mvp-comment-265-2 ὄνειδος ⁴⁴ οὐ καλόν ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-266-1 πλεῖστον ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-266-2 μόλω )γὼ ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-267-1 ἴθ’ ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-267-2 ἡμέρας … μιᾶς ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-268-1 τόλμησον ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-268-2 ὅπῃ ⁵¹ ὅποι ⁵² ἐμβαλοῦ ⁵³ ἄγων ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-269-1 ἀντλίαν ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-269-2 πρῷραν … πρύμνην ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-269-3 ὅπου ⁵⁷ ὅποι ⁵⁸ υ ⁵⁹ ι ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-269-4 μέλλω … ἀλγυνεῖν ⁶¹

mvp-comment-270-1 ἱκεσίου ⁶²

mvp-comment-270-2 γόνασι ⁶³

mvp-comment-271-1 ἀκράτωρ ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-272-1 ἢ πρὸς οἶκον τὸν σὸν ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-272-2 τὰ Χαλκώδοντος Εὐβοίας σταθμά ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-272-3 Schneidewin remarks that Philoctetes, the former comrade of Heracles, might naturally name Chalcodon, who had been the companion of Heracles in an expedition against the Eleans ( Paus. 8. 15. 6 ). But that was merely a local Arcadian myth; and Pausanias finds it inconsistent with the better-known Theban tradition, according to which Chalcodon was slain by Amphitryon in a war between the Euboeans and Thebans (9. 19. 3). At any rate the Attic poet might think of the Attic legend, according to which Theseus had sent his sons for protection to Chalcodon's son Elephenor, before retiring from Athens to Scyros ( Plut. Thes. 35 ).

mvp-comment-273-1 εἰς Οἴτην ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-274-1 Τραχινίαν … δειράδα ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-274-2 All MSS. have δειράδα καὶ τὸν ⁶⁹ δεράδα ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-274-3 I am more disposed to think that δειράδα ⁷¹ καὶ τὸν ⁷²

mvp-comment-274-4 εὔροον ⁷³

mvp-comment-274-5 Like the Homeric

ἐΰρροος, ἐυ·ρρείτης

, the epithet refers simply to the beauty of the river, not to that swiftness (

σπέρχομαι

) from which it takes its name ( Il. 16. 176

Σπερχειῷ ἀκάμαντι

: Lucan 6. 366 Ferit amne citato | Maliacas Spercheus aquas). Rising at the foot of Typhrestus, and fed by affluents from Othrys and Oeta, the Spercheius has a considerable volume of water even in the hot season (Tozer, Geo. of Greece, p. 81).

mvp-comment-275-1 ὃν ⁷⁴ δέδοικ’ ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-275-2 παλαιὸν ⁷⁶ ἐξ ὅτου ⁷⁷ παλαἴ ἂν ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-276-1 μή μοι βεβήκῃ ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-276-2 τοῖς ἱγμένοις ⁸⁰ ἔστελλον ⁸¹

mvp-comment-277-1 αὐτόστολον πέμψαντα ⁸² αὐτόστολον ⁸³ πέμψαντα ⁸⁴ ἐκσῶσαι ⁸⁵ πλεύσαντα ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-277-2 δόμους ⁸⁷ δόμοις ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-277-3 497 ff. After τὰ τῶν διακόνων ⁸⁹ ποιούμενοι ⁹⁰ τὸ ⁹¹ τὰ ⁹²

mvp-comment-277-4 ὡς εἰκός ⁹³ οἶμαι ⁹⁴ οἴμοι ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-277-5 ἐν σμικρῷ ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-277-6 μέρος ⁹⁷ μέρει ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-277-7 ἤπειγον ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-278-1 πομπόν τε καὐτὸν ἄγγελον ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-278-2 ἥκω ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-279-1 δεινὰ κἀπικινδύνως … κεῖται ¹⁰² παθεῖν ¹⁰³ παθεῖν μὲν εὖ, παθεῖν δὲ θάτερα ¹⁰⁴

mvp-comment-279-2 θάτερα ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-280-1 ἐκτὸς ὄντα ¹⁰⁶ τὰ δείν’ ὁρᾶν ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-281-1 εὖ ζῇ ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-281-2 τὸν βίον ¹⁰⁹ λάθῃ ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-282-1 : antistrophe to 391—402. The pity expressed by the Chorus may well be sincere; but in this utterance of it, their first aim is to aid their master's design. Verse 510 shows this.

mvp-comment-282-2 πόνων ἆθλα ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-282-3 οἷα ¹¹² οἷα ¹¹³ ἅσσα ¹¹⁴ τύχοι ¹¹⁵ λάχοι ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-283-1 πικρούς ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-284-1 ἐγὼ μὲν ¹¹⁸ πορεύσαιμ’ ἂν ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-284-2 τὸ κείνων κακὸν ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-284-3 μετατιθέμενος ¹²¹

mvp-comment-284-4 ἐπιμέμονεν ¹²²

mvp-comment-285-1 εὐστόλου ¹²³

mvp-comment-286-1 τὰν θεῶν νέμεσιν ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-287-1 νῦν μὲν … ὅταν δὲ ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-287-2 εὐχερὴς ¹²⁶ τις ¹²⁷ παρῇς ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-288-1 τῆς νόσου ¹²⁹ πλησθῇς· ξυνουσίᾳ ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-288-2 αὑτὸς τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις ¹³¹

mvp-comment-289-1 οὐκ ἔσθ’ ὅπως ¹³²

mvp-comment-290-1 ἀλλὰ … μέντοι ¹³³

mvp-comment-290-2 αἰσχρὰ ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-290-3 σοῦ γέ μ’ ¹³⁵ σοῦ γ’ ἔμ’ ¹³⁶

mvp-comment-290-4 πρὸς τὸ καίριον ¹³⁷

mvp-comment-290-5 πονεῖν ¹³⁸

mvp-comment-291-1 ὁρμάσθω ¹³⁹ ταχύς ¹⁴⁰ χἡ ναῦς ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-291-2 ἀπαρνηθήσεται ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-292-1 μόνον ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-292-2 βουλοίμεσθα ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-293-1 ὦ φίλτατον μὲν ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-293-2 πῶς ἂν … γενοίμην ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-294-1 ἴωμεν ¹⁴⁷ ἴωμεν ¹⁴⁸ ἴωμεν ¹⁴⁹ εἰσοίκησιν ¹⁵⁰ προσκύσαντε ¹⁵¹ εἰς οἴκησιν ¹⁵² προσκύσαντε ¹⁵³

mvp-comment-294-2 ὡς … καὶ ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-295-1 ἀφ’ ὧν ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-295-2 διέζων ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-296-1 οἶμαι γὰρ ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-296-2 μόνην ¹⁵⁸ μόνον ¹⁵⁹ τάδε ¹⁶⁰ θέαν λαβόντα ¹⁶¹ τλῆναι ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-297-1 προὔμαθον ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-298-1 ἐπίσχετον ¹⁶⁴ μάθωμεν ¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-298-2 ἀλλόθρους ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-298-3 ὧν μαθόντες ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-298-4 αὖθις ¹⁶⁸ εἴσιτον ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-298-5 542 Odysseus said that he would send back the

σκοπός

, disguised as a merchant captain, if N. seemed to be tarrying too long (126 ff.). The actor who now comes on as

ἔμπορος

would not, however, be the same who played the

σκοπός

(a mute person), but the tritagonist, who played Odysseus. The sailor who accompanies him is a mute person; and that part may have been taken by the former representative of the

σκοπός

mvp-comment-298-6 As N. has already ensnared Ph. , and is on the point of starting with him, there is no actual need for the intervention of the

ἔμπορος

. But Odysseus, at the ship, could not know this; and we are to suppose that he had become impatient. The scene which follows heightens the dramatic interest by bringing out the horror with which Ph. regards the idea of returning to Troy.

mvp-comment-298-7 ξυνέμπορον ¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-299-1 φράσαι σε, ποῦ ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-299-2 κυρῶν εἴης ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-300-1 δοξάζων μὲν οὔ ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-300-2 ὁρμισθεὶς ¹⁷⁴ ταὐτὸν … πέδον ¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-301-1 οὐ πολλῷ στόλῳ ¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-302-1 Πεπάρηθον ¹⁷⁷ εὔβοτρυν ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-302-2 ἤκουσα τοὺς ναύτας ὅτι ¹⁷⁹ πάντες ¹⁸⁰ συννεναυστοληκότες ¹⁸¹ οἱ νεναυστοληκότες ¹⁸² σοὶ ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-303-1 ἔδοξέ μοι ¹⁸⁴ προστυχόντι ¹⁸⁵ ποεῖσθαι ¹⁸⁶ μὴ σῖγα, πρὶν φράσαιμι ¹⁸⁷ προστυχόντι ¹⁸⁸ προστυχόντι ¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-303-2 τῶν ἴσων ¹⁹⁰ προστυχόντι ¹⁹¹ σοι ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-304-1 ἃ τοῖσιν ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-304-2 vέα ¹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-305-1 οὐκέτ’ ἐξαργούμενα ¹⁹⁵ ἔργα ¹⁹⁶ δρώμενα ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-306-1 ἀλλ’ ¹⁹⁸ ἡ χάρις … τῆς προμηθίας ¹⁹⁹ προμηθίας ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-306-2 εἰ μὴ κακὸς πέφυκα ²⁰¹

mvp-comment-306-3 προσφιλὴς ²⁰² χάρις ²⁰³

mvp-comment-307-1 ἅπερ γ’ ²⁰⁴ ἅπερ κἄλεξας ²⁰⁵ γε ²⁰⁶ ἅπερ ²⁰⁷

mvp-comment-308-1 νεώτερον ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-308-2 ἀπ’ Ἀργείων ²⁰⁹ βούλευμα ²¹⁰ ἔχεις ²¹¹ μοι ²¹²

mvp-comment-309-1 φοῖνιξ ²¹³

mvp-comment-309-2 οἵ τε Θησέως κόροι ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-310-1 ἐκ βίας ²¹⁵

mvp-comment-310-2 λόγοις ²¹⁶ δόλοις ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-311-1 καθ’ ὁρμὴν ²¹⁸

mvp-comment-312-1 ὡς ταῦτ’ ἐπίστω δρώμεν’ ²¹⁹

mvp-comment-313-1 πρὸς τάδ’ ²²⁰

mvp-comment-313-2 αὐτάγγελος ²²¹

mvp-comment-314-1 κεῖνός γ’ ²²²

mvp-comment-314-2 ὁ Τυδέως παῖς ²²³ ἔστελλον ²²⁴

mvp-comment-315-1 πρὸς ποῖον αὖ τόνδ’ … ἔπλει ²²⁵ αὖ ²²⁶ αὖ ²²⁷ ἂν ²²⁸

mvp-comment-315-2 If ἂν ²²⁹

mvp-comment-316-1 σοι ²³⁰

mvp-comment-317-1 τὰ πλείον’ ²³¹

mvp-comment-317-2 σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβὼν ²³²

mvp-comment-318-1 τί με ²³³ διεμπολᾷ … πρός σε ²³⁴ τί με ²³⁵ τί δὲ ²³⁶ διεμπολᾷ ²³⁷

mvp-comment-319-1 εἰς φῶς ²³⁸ καί … τε ²³⁹

mvp-comment-320-1 σπέρμ’ ²⁴⁰

mvp-comment-320-2 στρατῷ ²⁴¹

mvp-comment-320-3 ἃ μὴ δεῖ ²⁴²

mvp-comment-320-4 δρῶν ἀντιπάσχω ²⁴³ οἷ’ ἀνὴρ πένης ²⁴⁴

mvp-comment-320-5 χρηστά θ’ ²⁴⁵

mvp-comment-321-1 ἐγώ εἰμ’ ²⁴⁶

mvp-comment-321-2 φίλος μέγιστος ²⁴⁷

mvp-comment-322-1 λόγων ²⁴⁸ λόγον ²⁴⁹ ὧν ²⁵⁰

mvp-comment-323-1 ὅρα ²⁵¹

mvp-comment-323-2 πάλαι ²⁵²

mvp-comment-324-1 ποιοῦ ²⁵³

mvp-comment-324-2 λέγων ²⁵⁴

mvp-comment-325-1 λέγω ²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-325-2 )πὶ τοῦτον ²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-325-3 τοῦτον ²⁵⁷

mvp-comment-325-4 592 Although Odysseus and Diomedes had been named in 570, it is obviously natural that their names should be repeated in this more explicit statement.

mvp-comment-326-1 διώμοτοι ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-326-2 ἦ μὴν ²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-327-1 πείσαντες ²⁶⁰ πρὸς ²⁶¹

mvp-comment-328-1 πλέον ²⁶²

mvp-comment-328-2 θατέρου ²⁶³

mvp-comment-329-1 τίνος … πράγματος χάριν ²⁶⁴

mvp-comment-329-2 χρόνῳ τοσῷδε ²⁶⁵

mvp-comment-329-3 ἐπεστρέφοντο ²⁶⁶

mvp-comment-329-4 ἄγαν οὕτω ²⁶⁷

mvp-comment-329-5 The order of the words is remarkable, not only because τίνος ²⁶⁸ πράγματος ²⁶⁹ τοῦδ’ ²⁷⁰

mvp-comment-330-1 εἶχον … ἐκβεβληκότες ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-330-2 χρόνιον ²⁷²

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

391-402;507-518. mvp-comment-280-1 The Chorus show their interest and support Neoptolemus by these strains, which are interwoven with the action, like those in O. T. 660 foll., 689 foll., О. С. 1447-1456, 1477-1485. They wish to assist their master by simulating hatred of the Atreidae and sympathy with Philoctetes. That both feelings are merely assumed, and that the Chorus really understand the situation, is obvious from the exaggerated strength of expression in 510, εἰ δὲ πικρούς, ἄναξ, ἔχθεις ᾿Ατρείδας. Their feigned excitement, to which the mixture of dochmiac and iambo-bacchic metre is well suited, was no doubt expressed with gestures accompanying the recitation, by the two half-choruses, of strophe and antistrophe severally.

447. mvp-comment-319-1 εὐ περιστέλλουσιν αὐτά] ‘Carefully defend them from harm.' αὐτά] Sc. τὰ κακά, which, like τὰ .. πανούργα καὶ παλιντριβῆ refers to persons. Cp. τὰ μέσα τῶν πολιτῶν and similar expressions.

448. mvp-comment-320-1 καί πως] Cp. Eur. Med. 119. παλιντριβή] • Froward.' The notion in παλιντριβής is that of something which resists treatment: cp. ἀντίτυπος.

449. mvp-comment-321-1 ἀναστρέφοντες ἐξ "Αιδου] “In turning back, i. e. when on their way thither. Like his father Sisyphus, who intrigued himself out of Hades (infr. 625), Odysseus bears a charmed life.

451. mvp-comment-322-1 ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα] · What is one to make of these things? What place assign to them in thought?' i. e. how bring them into harmony with our other thoughts? ποῦ δ᾽ αἰνεῖν] ποῦ is used for πῶς by attraction, or the tendency to repeat the same expression (οἷον ῥυμή τις τοῦ λόγου), for which, see E. on L. § 35. p 60. What place can we find for their approval? i. e. How can we acquiesce in them? Cp. Eur. Heracl. 369, ποῦ ταῦτα καλῶς ἂν εἴη;

452. mvp-comment-323-1 Since, in seeking to approve the doings of the gods, I find that the gods are evil doers; i. e. In praising the gods I must call them wise and good, but this experience shows them to be either malignant or weak. The tense in ἐπαινῶν has an inceptive or conative force.

453-465. mvp-comment-324-1 Neoptolemus, while still professing hatred of Troy, uses language that is calculated to excite to the utmost the desire of Philoctetes to be taken home. He addresses him with reference to his father and the sacred hill (infr. 729), where he saw the last of Heracles. He speaks of his own isle of Scyros by name, and affects to look forward to the happiness of an unambitious home. He points to the departure of his vessel as imminent.

454-455. mvp-comment-325-1 τηλόθεν εἰσορῶν φυλάξομαι] Will avoid, beholding afar off.' For the indirect expression, see E. on L. § 42. p. 79, and cp. esp. Ο. Τ. 795. ἄστροις. . ἐκμετρούμενος χθόνα, and note: Eur. Hippol. 102, πρόσωθεν αὐτὴν ἁγνὸς ὢν ἀσπάζομαι.

457. mvp-comment-326-1 χώ δεινὸς κρατεῖ] 'And power is in the hands of clever rogues.' For this dislike of δεινότης, cp. Thuc. 8. 68, ὑπόπτως τῷ πλήθει διὰ δόξαν δεινότητος διακείμενος: Isocr. Panathen. p. 242, C, ἐπαινεῖν μὲν . . τὴν . . ἀγαθῶν αἰτίαν γεγενημένην, δεινὴν δὲ νομίζειν τὴν αὑτῇ τὰ συμφέροντα διαπραττομένην. Many have preferred δειλός, which involves a very slight change.

460. mvp-comment-327-1 ὥστε τέρπεσθαι δόμῳ] ‘And I shall have full contentment in my home.' Cp. Od. 13. 61, σὺ δὲ τέρπεο τῷδ᾽ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ, | παισί τε καὶ λαοῖσι καὶ ᾿Αλκινόῳ βασιλῆϊ.

461. mvp-comment-328-1 He again reminds Philoctetes of his father, this time by name.

462. mvp-comment-329-1 ὡς μέγιστα] The slight exaggeration shows Neoptolemus' feeling of the hollowness of this farewell.

463. mvp-comment-330-1 ὡς αὐτὸς θέλεις] Cp. Od. 6. 180, σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τόσα δοῖεν, ὅσα φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς.

464-465. mvp-comment-331-1 ὡς .. ὁρμώμεθα] 'That we may sail at whatever moment Heaven vouchsafes to yield us a fair voyage.' Cp. Od. 9. 138, 9, εἰσόκε ναυτέων | θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἐπιπνεύσωσιν ἀῆται. The wind is favourable for the voyage to Troy, but not for that to Scyros. Cp. infr. 639, 40, 855, 1450, 1.

466. mvp-comment-332-1 καιρός] 'The moment calls upon us,' cp. infr. 1450; καιρός here probably refers to the time of day. Should the wind now shift, he might hope to reach Scyros before night-fall. It cannot mean, 'The chance of a favouring breeze invites us.' Cp. infr. 639, 40.

467. mvp-comment-333-1 πλοῦν.. σκοπεῖν] ‘Τo watch the opportunity of sailing not from far off but close at hand.' Cp. Thuc. 4. 23, σκοποῦντες καιρόν, εἴ τις παραπέσοι, ὥστε τοὺς ἄνδρας σῶσαι: Eur. Hec. 901, μένειν ἀνάγκη πλοῦν ὁρῶντας ἡσύχους. We have here another instance of indirect expression. See Essay on L. § 42. p. 79. Οη ἐξ ἀπόπτου, see Aj. 15, and note.

468ff. mvp-comment-334-1 The moment, for which the preceding scene has prepared the spectator, is now come. Philoctetes' agony of supplication is made more pathetic by our knowledge that he is 'working against his own desire,' and running thus eagerly 'to meet what he would most avoid.' πρός ... προσφιλές] Cp. О. С. 250, πρός σ' ὅ τι σοι φίλον ἐκ σέθεν ἄντομαι, and note: Od. 10. 66, πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν.

472. mvp-comment-335-1 ὅσοισί τ᾽ ἐξήκουσας] Viz. supr. 263-313; cp. infr. 591, ἅπερ κλύεις.

473. mvp-comment-336-1 ἀλλ᾽ ἐν παρέργῳ θοῦ με] (1) 'But stow me away' (or 'dispose of me') * as a supernumerary. θοῦ, sc. ἐν τῇ νηΐ: cp. infr. 481, ἐμβαλοῦ μ᾿ ὅπῃ θέλεις (sc. τῆς νεώς). ἐν παρέργῳ, sc. τῶν φορουμένων: cp. Eur. El. 63, πάρεργ Ορέστην κἀμὲ ποιεῖται δόμων.

474. mvp-comment-337-1 'Indeed, as I well know, much annoyance is involved in such a freight.' δυσχέρεια contains the chief predicate. For the genitive, see E. on L. § 9. p. 12, 1a. This line is strangely suspected by Nauck, It exactly expresses the humbleness of Philoctetes in his extreme need.

475-476. mvp-comment-338-1 τοῖσι . . εὐκλεές] Surely the noble heart hates what is base, and appreciates the glory of kindness.' εὐκλεές, while opposed to ἐχθρόν, is partly suggested by αἰσχρόν, so that the whole argument, if drawn out at length, would be τὸ μὲν αἰσχρὸν ἐχθρόν, τὸ δὲ εὐκλεὲς φίλον, τὸ δέ γε χρηστὸν εὐκλεές. Philoctetes perceives that a noble youth like Neoptolemus must be ambitious of the purest renown.

477. mvp-comment-339-1 οὐ καλόν] Full of disgrace.' Cp. Trach. 454, κὴρ πρόσεστιν οὐ καλή.

478. mvp-comment-340-1 πλεῖστον εὐκλείας γέρας] 'An abundant meed of fair renown.' πλεῖστον rather than μέγιστον, which would agree better with γέρας, because πλεῖστον γέρας εὐκλείας = γέρας πλείστης εὐκλείας. See E. on L. § 42. γ. p. 80. Philoctetes thinks of the gratitude of Poeas and his Melian friends as enough to satisfy any man's ambition.

480. mvp-comment-341-1 The expression is modified as the sentence proceeds: "Tis the labour of a day, nay, not of one whole day.'

481. mvp-comment-342-1 τόλμησον] 'Take heart to do it.' Cp. Ο. C. 184, τόλμα, κ.τ.λ., and note.

478-481. mvp-comment-343-1 ὅπῃ θέλεις] In what part (of the ship) you will.' ἄγων] 'If you will but take me.' Cp. infr. 590, ποιοῦ λέγων. And see E. on L. § 36. р. 63.

482. mvp-comment-344-1 ὅποι, sc. βεβλημένος, or = ἐκεῖσε ὅπου. The construction is attracted to that of the preceding words. See Essay on L. § 35, a. p. 59.

483. mvp-comment-345-1 ξυνόντας] Cp. infr. 520, τῆς νόσου ξυνουσίᾳ.

484. mvp-comment-346-1 πρὸς αὐτοῦ Ζηνός] Wishing to add something to his previous adjuration, supr. 468, 9, he can only think of Ζεὺς ἱκέσιος himself, whom he now brings forward, ὡς ἐπὶ τούτοις τὸν κολοφῶνα.

485. mvp-comment-347-1 γόνασι] (1) 'By falling on my knees,' (instrum. dat.). Or, (2) 'On my knees,' (locative). Cp. γονυπετής. Philoctetes kneels as far as his lameness will allow, and in the same act calls attention to the pitiable weakness which hinders even the posture of supplication.

487. mvp-comment-348-1 χωρὶς ἀνθρώπων στίβου] 'Apart from track of men,' i. e. where no man comes. Cp. Ant. 773, ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος.

488-489. mvp-comment-349-1 Philoctetes longs to be taken home (492), but, in order to obtain his petition, he limits it to what is easiest of performance. ἄγων is here unemphatic; not as supr. 481.

489. mvp-comment-350-1 Χαλκώδοντος Εὐβοίας σταθμά] To the Euboean dwelling of Chalcodon, i. e. Chalcis. Chalcodon is the father of Elephenor, who led the Euboeans to Troy; Il. 2. 536-541, οἱ δ' Εὔβοιαν ἔχον ... | τῶν αὖθ᾽ ἡγεμόνευ Ελεφήνωρ όζος ῎Αρηος | Χαλκωδοντιάδης, μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς ᾿Αβάντων. The thoughts of Philoctetes are with the older generation (Poeas, Peleus, Telamon, Lycomedes, Chalcodon), who had known Heracles, and were still vigorous when Philoctetes left home for Troy. According to a tradition, which is here ignored, Chalchodon had long since been slain by Amphitryon.

491. mvp-comment-351-1 The correction of δειράδα καί (see v.rr.) is very uncertain. δεράς does not occur elsewhere. Other corrections are δειράδ᾽ ἤ (Porson), πρῶνα καί (Wunder), δειράδ' ἐπί (Hermann in one edition), δειράδ' ἀνά (Seyffert). Philoctetes imagines the features of his native land as they would successively disclose themselves in the homeward voyage in l. 488.

492. mvp-comment-352-1 πατρὶ . . φίλῳ] 'That so thou mayest give me to my dear father's sight.' ὡς δείξῃς depends on ἔκσωσον in l. 488.

493. mvp-comment-353-1 παλαί᾽ ἂν ἐξότου = παλαιὸς χρόνος ἂν εἴη ἐξ ὅτον, is to be joined as an adverbial expression with βεβήκῃ. Cp. Thuc. 1. 6, where οὐ πολὺς χρόνος ἐπειδὴ ἐπαύσαντο φοροῦντες = ἔναγχος ἐφόρουν καὶ οὐ πολὺς χρόνος γέγονεν ἐπειδὴ ἐπαύσαντο. Others read παλαιὸν ἐξ ὅτου. If this is adopted, the phrase is still to be joined to βεβήκη, and not το δέδοικα.

494. mvp-comment-354-1 μὴ . · βεβήκη] 'Who, my fears tell me, may be long since gone.' Βεβήκοι might be defended as continuing the construction with ἄν; but this is improbable. μοι is ethical dative. πολλά, adv. τοῖς ἱγμένοις] 'By means of those who had come,' (supr. 301 fol.). Cp. Ant. 164, 5, πομποῖσιν . . ἔστειλα.

495. mvp-comment-355-1 ἔστελλον] 'I urged him.' Cp. infr. 623. The imperfect tense represents an endeavour.

496. mvp-comment-356-1 αὐτόστολον] 'With a ship and crew of his own providing.' Agreeing with αὐτόν. δόμοις] Wund. conjectured δόμους, perhaps rightly; but for the dative, see Essay on L. § 11. p. 18, 3.

497-499. mvp-comment-357-1 τὰ τῶν διακόνων .. ποιούμενοι] Either (1) τὰ τῶν διακόνων simply = οἱ διάκονοι, with which ποιούμενοι agrees. Or (2) the mode of expression is altered from 'the service of my messengers failed me' (ἐξαπώλετο ἤ τι τοιοῦτον), to 'my messengers cared little for what concerned me, but pushed their homeward voyage, etc.'

498. mvp-comment-358-1 ὡς εἰκός] Philoctetes attributes to such involuntary visitants the homesickness which he himself feels. τοὐμὸν . . ποιούμενοι] He says this as feeling bitterly his insignificance. Cp. supr. 254,5.

500. mvp-comment-359-1 Seyffert rightly omits the comma after νῦν δ'. Cp. supr. 144, 5. εἰς σὲ .. ἥκω) · I am come to thee,' i e. My fate has brought me to you in the succession of those who come. For the transference of words of place to time, see E. on L. § 24. p. 41, 7. πομπόν τε καὐτὸν ἄγγελον] Who wilt be my guide at the same time that thou dost thyself report concerning me.' αὐτόν belongs to both nouns, i. e. not only to transmit news of me, but to announce me yourself in person; not only to announce me, but to take me home. Philoctetes still clings to the hope that Neoptolemus will bring him all the way to Trachis.

501. mvp-comment-360-1 εἰσορῶν] 'Seeing,' in the example now present before you.

502-503. mvp-comment-361-1 δεινά] Sc. ἐστί. How to mortals all things are beset with peril and hazard; there is a chance of good and a chance of the opposite.' Philoctetes has deeply learnt the lesson: 'It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, And that craves wary walking. Neoptolemus must show mercy, and thus avoid provoking the gods. For πάντα δεινά, Wakefield conjectured πάντ' ἄδηλα.

504. mvp-comment-362-1 ὁρᾶν] Το be ware of. Schol. εὐλαβεῖσθαι. Cp. Aj. 1313, ὅρα μὴ τοὐμόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ σόν.

506. mvp-comment-363-1 διαφθαρείς] Sc. ὁ βίος. Cp. Thuc. 8. 91, λήσειν διαφθαρέντας (sc. ἔφη Θηραμένης τοὺς τειχίζοντας τὴν Ἠετιώνειαν τοῖς ᾿Αθηναίοις).

507-518. mvp-comment-364-1 In the strophe supr. 391-402, the one half-chorus echoed the falsehood of Neoptolemus. The other half-chorus now in similar measures professedly responds to the appeal of Philoctetes, and recommends him to the kindness of Neoptolemus. L. 510 is equivalent, although not identical in metre, with l. 395: Each consists of two dochmiacs.

508-509. mvp-comment-365-1 πόνων ἆθλ'] Cp. Trach. 506, ἄεθλ᾽ ἀγώνων. ὅσσα] Porson's conjecture, οἷα, has been adopted by several editors. Other proposed corrections are ἄσσα and ἄθλους ἅ (Dobree). ὅσσα is at once, So many as,' and 'So great as.' τύχοι] λάχοι, which Nauck reads, would be in a more usual construction. But the change is unnecessary.

510. mvp-comment-366-1 πικρούς] Cp. supr. 320-3, 363, 369, 396.

511. mvp-comment-367-1 τὸ κείνων μετατιθέμενος] Converting their evil deed into a benefit for him.' According to the pretended situation, the same iniquity which cast Philoctetes forth has sent Neoptolemus from Troy, and Neoptolemus has now the opportunity of taking Philoctetes home. Thus evil may be made the occasion of good. The middle voice in μετατιθέμενος is subjective='On your own part.'

515. mvp-comment-368-1 ἐπιμέμονεν] Sc. πορεύεσθαι. Cp. Εl. 1435, ᾗ νοεῖς ἔπειγέ νυν.

516. mvp-comment-369-1 ἐπ᾿ εὐστόλου ταχείας νεώς] Οn your trim swift bark.' For the double epithet, see Essay on L. § 23. P. 37.

517. mvp-comment-370-1 τὰν *θεῶν] ἐκ (see v.rr.) is required by the same metrical reason which led to Λαερτίου being changed το Λαρτίου in l. 401.

518. mvp-comment-371-1 νέμεσιν] The possibility of some Divine retribution following refusal was gently hinted at the conclusion of Philoctetes' speech, ll 501-506.

519. mvp-comment-372-1 Consider, lest you who now stand there so goodnaturedly, may show a different spirit from your present words when you are wearied through contact with the disease.' For the 'paratactic' structure, see Essay on L. § 36. p. 68. τις is added to a predicative word as in Ο. Τ. 618, 9, ὅταν ταχύς τις οὑπιβουλεύων λάθρα χωρῇ. The slight redundancy of the expression, for which, cp. Εl. 506, ὡς ἔμολες αἰανή, κ.τ.λ., has suggested an unnecessary doubt whether παρῆς may not be from παρίημι (‘You grant permission').

521. mvp-comment-373-1 For αὑτὸς τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις, ср. О. Т. 557, καὶ νῦν ἔθ᾽ αὑτός εἰμι τῷ βουλεύματι, and note.

522-523. mvp-comment-374-1 are spoken by the coryphaeus.

524-525. mvp-comment-375-1 'It were shame if I were found more backward than you are to serve a stranger in his need.' ξένῳ either = τῷ ξένῳ, i. e. ‘Τo Philoctetes,' or, with a slight difference, (2) more generally, 'To a stranger-friend,' -as Philoctetes is. The dative depends on ἐνδεέστερον φανῆναι (= γενέσθαι) and is to be resumed with πονεῖν.

525. mvp-comment-376-1 πρὸς τὸ καίριον is an adverbial expression, like πρὸς τὸ κάρτερον, πρὸς τὸ λιπαρές, etc., and the infinitive depends on ἐνδεέστερον.

527. mvp-comment-377-1 οὐκ ἀπαρνηθήσεται] (1) He shall not be denied.' This suits the feeling of the passage better than (2) the impersonal sense (The favour shall not be denied'), which, however, is also possible.

529. mvp-comment-378-1 The emphatic position of ἡμᾶς at the beginning of the line shows that Neoptolemus deliberately includes Philoctetes in his prayer. βουλοίμεσθα is optative because of the preceding optative (cp. 325, 961) and partakes of the indefiniteness of the wish. Neoptolemus feels that when they leave the shore the intention of his voyage will not be that which he now professes, and he trusts that by that time the wish of Philoctetes may be the same with his own.

533. mvp-comment-379-1 *προσκύσαντε εἰσοίκησιν] Schndw. threw suspicion on these words because of the ἅπαξ λεγόμενον εἰσοίκησις, and various modes of alteration have been suggested. But it is idle to object to every ἅπαξ λεγόμενον. And these words give an excellent sense. If ἐξοικεῖν, a rare word, means ἔξω οἰκεῖν (Lys. 187. 29, Dem. 845. 19), why may not εἰσοικεῖν mean ἔσω οἰκεῖν? (It is so used in Anth. P. 7. 320, according to the MS. reading.) Cp. εἰσίδρυμαι, εἰσίζομαι, εἰσοικίζω. In that case ἡ εἰσοίκησις is ἡ ἔσω οἴκησις, and τὴν ἔσω.. εἰσοίκλησιν is merely a common instance of pleonasm, much as when we speak of the interior of a cave. If εἰς οἴκησιν is read, it becomes necessary to suppose a lacuna, for ἴωμεν here can only mean, 'Let us depart.' For the participial expression (προσκύσαντε = ' but first let us pay a farewell visit to'), ср. О. Т. 680, μαθοῦσά γ' ἥτις ἡ τύχη. Philoctetes'attachment to his bare and comfortless dwelling-place shows itself here, together with the longing expressed supr. 251 foll, that the extent of his misery and endurance might be known.

535. mvp-comment-380-1 ἀφ᾽ ὧν] ἀπο- as in ἀποζῆν. διέζων] 'I kept life afoot.' δια- of a persevering effort, as in διαμάχεσθαι.

536. mvp-comment-381-1 μόνην θέαν] 'Even the mere sight.' The adjective has the force of the adverb μόνον.

538. mvp-comment-382-1 προὔμαθον] Either (1) ‘I long since learned,' or (2) 'I learnt by degrees,' i.e. conquering each evil as it met me. Cp. προδιδάσκειν.

539-541. mvp-comment-383-1 These lines are spoken by the coryphaeus. The Σκοπός of supr. 125 is seen approaching, disguised as a ship-master, and accompanied by another of Neoptolemus's crew.

540. mvp-comment-384-1 ἀλλόθρους is simply a stranger, 'Not one of ourselves.' The word ξένος (infr. 557) would not apply to the man until they knew whether he was of Scyros or not. He professes afterwards to come from Peparethus.

541. mvp-comment-385-1 αὖθις] Blaydes conjectures αὐτίκ'. But αὖθις is 'afterwards,' as αὖτις in Il. 1. 140, ταῦτα μεταφρασόμεσθα καὶ αὖτις. After that, ye shall go in'

542. mvp-comment-386-1 τόνδε τὸν ξυνέμπορον] 'This companion of my way,' viz. from the mooring place to before the cave.

544. mvp-comment-387-1 ποῦ κυρῶν εἴης] • Where you were at this moment to be found.' A conversational pleonasm.

545. mvp-comment-388-1 ἀντέκυρσα] Sc. σοί. ‘Our paths have crossed.' δοξάζων μὲν οὔ] 'Not that I had any thought of such a thing.' For the combination of aorist and imperfect (δοξάζων = ὅτε ἐδόξαζον), cp. Ο. Τ. 1457, θνήσκων ἐσώθην.

546. mvp-comment-389-1 ὁρμισθείς] 'Brought to anchor.' He has been baffled by the headwind mentioned infr. 639.

547. mvp-comment-390-1 ὡς ναύκληρος, οὐ πολλῷ στόλῳ] 'With the modest outfit of a merchant-man.' This accounts for his approach not having been descried. He is supposed to be a purveyor (infr. 583, 4) of provisions to the army, perhaps of wine from his own vine-clad (εὔβοτρυν) island. Cp. ΙΙ. 7. 467, νῆες δ᾽ ἐκ Λήμνοιο παρέστασαν οἶνον ἄγουσαι. Peparethus is midway between Scyros and the entrance to the Maliac gulf. The same wind that is pretended to have detained Neoptolemus would also delay the merchantman on his homeward voyage.

549-550. mvp-comment-391-1 ὡς νεναυστοληκότες] 'When I had ascertained in the course of conversation that the mariners who had manned the vessel were one and all your men' (σοί, possessive pronoun). So Hermann, Opusc. 8. p. 190, rightly, although the reason which he gives ('Nam sic demum nauclerus tuto referre poterat, quae erat narraturus'), is not required. Dobree conjectured συννεναυστοληκότες (‘That they had all accompanied you in your voyage').

552. mvp-comment-392-1 προστυχόντι τῶν ἴσων depends οη τὸν πλοῦν ποιεῖσθαι as an affirmative expression: i. e. ἔδοξέ μοι, φράσαντι καὶ τῶν ἴσων προστυχόντι, οὕτω τὸν πλοῦν ποιεῖσθαι. · When first I had received fair recompense.' For the naiveté of this parenthetical demand, as not unbefitting the relations of the sea-captain to Neoptolemus (who is no less careful to assure him of his gratitude, infr. 557, 8), ср. О. Τ. 1005, 6, καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτ᾽ ἀφικόμην ὅπως | σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι: Trach. 190, 1, ὅπως τοι πρῶτος ἀγγείλας τάδε πρὸς σοῦ τι κερδάναιμι.

553. mvp-comment-393-1 οὐδὲν σύ που] The asyndeton marks the urgency of the intelligence.

554. mvp-comment-394-1 ἀμφὶ σοῦ * νέα] This emendation of Auratus has been generally received. And although the MS. reading may be possibly defended by the comparison of such phrases as τίνος δὴ χάριν ἕνεκα, etc. (see especially Thuc. 8. 92, ὅσον καὶ ἀπὸ βοῆς ἕνεκα), the meaning as well as the grammar is distinctly improved by the change.

556. mvp-comment-395-1 δρώμεν', οὐκέτ᾽ ἐξαργούμενα] Ιn act, no longer left undone.' Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1359, τοῦ δρῶντός ἐστι καὶ τὸ βουλεῦσαι πέρι.

559. mvp-comment-396-1 φράσον . . ἔλεξας] Declare at full what you have now mentioned.'

560. mvp-comment-397-1 ἀπ᾿ ᾿Αργείων] Sc. φαινόμενον. ἔχεις] Cp. Trach. 318, οὐδ᾽ ὄνομα πρὸς του τῶν ξυνεμπόρων ἔχεις; Ο. C. 1451, μάτην γὰρ οὐδὲν ἀξίωμα δαιμόνων ἔχω φράσαι.

562. mvp-comment-398-1 οἱ.. Θησέως κόροι] Acamas and Demophon, said to have been first mentioned in the Ἰλίου πέρσις of Arctinus. These names help to commend the lie to the fancy of the Athenian audience.

563. mvp-comment-399-1 λόγοις] By persuasion.' Cp. infr. 612, 623 foll., 629, 30.

563,565. mvp-comment-400-1 These vague replies show that Neoptolemus has not yet seized his cue. Cp. 570, 1 foll.

566. mvp-comment-401-1 οὕτω καθ' ὁρμήν] ‘Thus incontinently' (in the old sense); referring to supr. 555. 6.

567. mvp-comment-402-1 ὡς ταῦτ᾽ ἐπίστω δρώμεν] i. e. ἐπίστασο, ὡς ταῦτα δρώμενα (sc. ἐστίν). For ἐπίστασο ταῦτα ὡς δρώμενα this would be too violent an inversion.

568. mvp-comment-403-1 πρὸς τάδε] 'Hereupon,' i. e. 'When such was the counsel of the Argives.' αὐτάγγελος] ‘'Bringing the message in person;' i. e. αὐτὸς καὶ μὴ δι᾽ ἄλλων ἀγγέλων. Phoenix and the Theseidae were ἄγγελοι of the resolution of the chieftains to Neoptolemus.

569. mvp-comment-404-1 ἢ.. νιν] Neoptolemus assumes a spirited tone, and suggests a mean motive in Odysseus, in order to gratify Philoctetes.

570. mvp-comment-405-1 ἐπ᾿ ἄλλον ἄνδρα] ‘With designs upon another person.'

571. mvp-comment-406-1 When I left the harbour, they were making ready.'

572. mvp-comment-407-1 'Who could this be. with a view to whom Odysseus himself was setting forth?' i e. ποῖος ἂν εἴη πρὸς ὃν ἔπλει; So the unusual insertion of ἄν may be explained. See Essay on L. § 27. p. 45. And the meaning is so appropriate, that it seems better to retain the particle, although πρὸς ποῖον αὖ τόν δ' is a conjectural reading involving only a slight change.

575. mvp-comment-408-1 'Sir, you have the privilege of seeing here the famous Philoctetes.' Thus Neoptolemus humours the feeling which Philoctetes had shown supra 261, 2, ὅδ᾽ εἴμ᾽ ἐγώ σοι κεῖνος, ὃν κλύεις ἴσως | τῶν Ἡρακλείων ὄντα δεσπότην ὅπλων.

576. mvp-comment-409-1 τὰ πλείον'] For the article, cp. Trach. 731, and note.

577. mvp-comment-410-1 ἔκπλει σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβών] 'Snatch yourself up and sail away.' Cp. Eur. H. F. 833 foll., ἄλλ' εἶ', ἄτεγκτον ξυλλαβοῦσα καρδίαν . . ἔλαυνε, κίνει, κ.τ.λ.: also Plat. Rep. 1. 336 В, συστρέψας ἑαυτὸν ἧκεν ἐφ' ἡμᾶς. The Ἔμπορος speaks low, as he had charged Neoptolemus to do. This awakens the lively suspicion of Philoctetes, who hears enough to understand that there is a danger of his being left behind. Mr. Paley conjectures, ἔκπλευσον αὐτὸν συλλαβών, comparing infr. 621. But there the case is altered by Neoptolemus having avowed his friendship for Philoctetes in ll. 585, 6.

578. mvp-comment-411-1 κατὰ σκότον] 'In secret.' So infr. 581, εἰς φῶς, Openly."

579. mvp-comment-412-1 διεμπολᾷ λόγοισι πρός σε] Is treating me dishonestly in his talk with thee.' Cp. Ant. 1036, ἐξημπόλημαι κἀκπεφόρτισμαι.

581. mvp-comment-413-1 εἰς φῶς = 'Openly.' Cp. О. Т. 93, ἐς πάντας αύδα. τούσδε τε] The Chorus.

582-583. mvp-comment-414-1 μή με.. ἃ μὴ δεῖ] 'Bring me not into discredit with the army, through my telling what I should keep close; i. e. Do not make me tell, and so make them angry with me. λέγοντα = διὰ τὸ λέγειν, cp. Thuc. 8.87, ἣν εἶπε πρόφασιν οὐ κομίσας (i. e. δι᾽ ὅ, τι οὐκ ἐκόμισεν).

583-584. mvp-comment-415-1 'I. being poor, receive much kindness from them for service which I do.' For γε, which modifies the sentence, to which it gives a pleading tone, see Essay on L. § 26. p. 41. οἱ᾿ ἀνὴρ πένης] (1) As is natural in the case of one who is poor: rather than, (2) 'Such service as a poor man may do.' Cp. supr. 273, and note.

585ff. mvp-comment-416-1 Neoptolemus professes to demand that, if there is danger, the Ἔμπορος should risk it for his and Philoctetes' sake. The Ἔμπορος in his reply insinuates that the danger, if he is made to speak, is common to them all three, and that Neoptolemus will be responsible for the consequences.

589. mvp-comment-417-1 καί belongs in meaning to the whole sentence = καὶ δὴ σκοπῶ. ἐγώ] 'Of myself,' without this caution from you.

590. mvp-comment-418-1 ποιοῦ λέγων] 'Make me so, if you will but speak. For this emphatic use of the participle, cp. especially O. C. 1038, χωρῶν ἀπείλει νυν, -also supr. 481, and note.

591. mvp-comment-419-1 ἅπερ κλύεις] Supr. 570, 1.

592. mvp-comment-420-1 ἥ τ᾿ Ὀδυσσέως βία] Cp. supr. 314, 321.

593. mvp-comment-421-1 διώμοτοι] 'Expressly sworn.' Cp. Trach. 378, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων διώμνυτο: Ο. Τ. 834, διεῖπε χρῆναι, κ.τ.λ. For the meaning, cp. infr. 618, 9, 623.

594. mvp-comment-422-1 ἢ . . κράτος] Or were they to prevail by force.'

597. mvp-comment-423-1 δράσειν τάδε is added as a resumption of ταῦτα, depending on λέγοντος (not on θάρσος εἶχε).

598-599. mvp-comment-424-1 i. ε. τίνος δὲ πράγματος χάριν ᾿Ατρείδαι, χρόνῳ τοσῷδε, οὕτως ἄγαν ἐπεστρέφοντο τοῦδε. For the order of the words, see Essay on L. § 41. p. 78, 8.

600. mvp-comment-425-1 εἶχον . . *ἐκβεβληκότες] Cp. El. 590, ἐκβαλοῦσ᾽ ἔχεις. The periphrasis serves to fix on the agent the responsibility of the consequences of his act.

601-602. mvp-comment-426-1 'Whence came they thus to wish him back again? Or were they moved by a mighty impulse from the angry gods: the gods, who requite evil deeds?' For θεῶν βία, cp. Aesch. Suppl. 97, βίαν . . τὰν ἄπονον δαιμονίαν (?).

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ΧΟ. ἥκιστα. τοῦτ᾽ οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ποτ᾽ εἰς ἐμὲ 515 τοὔνειδος ἕξεις ἕξεις ἔξεις ἐνδίκως ὀνειδίσαι.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΧΟ. ἐπίσχετον, μάθωμεν. ἄνδρε γὰρ δύο δύω, ὁ μὲν νεὼς νεὼ νεὼς σῆς ναυβάτης, ὁ δ᾽ ἀλλόθρους, χωρεῖτον, ὧν μαθόντες αὖθις αὖτις αὖθις εἴσιτον.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΝΕ.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΕΜ. φροῦδοι διώκοντές σε ναυτικῷ ναυστικῷ στόλῳ Φοῖνιξ Φοίνιξ Φοῖνιξ ὁ πρέσβυς οἵ τε Θησέως κόροι. 555

ΝΕ. ὡς ἐκ βίας μ' ἄξοντες ἢ λόγοις πάλιν ;

ΕΜ. οὐκ οἶδ᾽. ἀκούσας δ᾽ ἄγγελος πάρειμί σοι.

ΝΕ. ἢ ταῦτα δὴ Φοῖνίξ ἢ ταῦτα δὴ φοῖνιξ τε χοί ξυνναυβάται οὕτω καθ᾽ ὁρμὴν δρῶσιν ᾿Ατρειδῶν χάριν;

ΕΜ. ὡς ταῦτ᾽ ἐπίστω δρώμεν, οὐ μέλλοντ᾽ ἔτι, 560

ΝΕ. πῶς οὖν Ὀδυσσεὺς πρὸς τάδ᾽ οὐκ αὐτάγγελος πλεῖν ἦν ἑτοῖμος; ἢ φόβος τις εἶργέ εἶργε εἶργε νιν;

ΕΜ. κεῖνός γ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλον ἄνδρ᾽ ὁ Τυδέως τε παῖς ἔστελλον, ἡνίκ᾽ ἐξανηγόμην ἐγώ ἔσω.

ΝΕ. πρὸς ποῖον ἂν ἀν ἂν τόνδ᾽ αὐτὸς οὐδυσσεὺς ὁ δυσσεὺς οὑδυσσεὺς ὀδυσσεὺς ἔπλει; 565

ΕΜ. ἦν δή τις-ἀλλὰ τόνδε μοι πρῶτον φράσον τίς ἐστίν εστιν· ἂν λέγῃς δὲ μὴ φώνει μέγα.

ΝΕ. ὅδ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ὁ κλεινός σοι Φιλοκτήτης, ξένε.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΕΜ. μή νύν μὴ νῦν μ᾽ om. ἔρῃ τὰ πλείον, ἀλλ᾽ ὅσον τάχος ἔκπλει σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβὼν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

ΦΙ. τί φησιν, ὦ παῖ; τί με κατὰ σκότον ποτὲ διεμπολᾷ λόγοισι πρός πρό πρός σ᾽ ὁ ναυβάτης;

ΝΕ. οὐκ οἶδά πω τί φησι· δεῖ δ᾽ αὐτὸν λέγειν 580 εἰς φῶς ὁ λέξει, πρὸς σὲ κἀμὲ τούσδε τε.

ΕΜ. ὦ σπέρμ᾽ ᾿Αχιλλέως, μή με διαβάλῃς διαβάλληισ διαβάλῃς στρατῷ λέγονθ᾽ ἃ μὴ δεῖ· πόλλ᾽ ἐγὼ κείνων ὕπο δρῶν ἀντιπάσχω χρηστά γ', οἱ᾽ ἀνὴρ πένης.

ΕΜ. ὅρα τί ποιεῖς, παῖ.

NE. σκοπῶ κἀγὼ πάλαι. 590

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΕΜ. σὲ θήσομαι τῶνδ᾽ αἴτιον.

NE. ποιοῦ λέγων.

ΕΜ.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΕΜ. οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταῦτ᾽, ἀλλ᾽ ἐγὼ μὲν εἶμ᾽ ἐπὶ ναῦν, σφῶν δ᾽ ὅπως ἄριστα συμφέροι θεός.

ΦΙ.

Νεοπτόλεμος ὅρα σὺ μὴ νῦν μέν τις εὐχερὴς παρῇς, ὅταν δὲ πλησθῇς τῆς νόσου ξυνουσίᾳ, 520 τότʼ οὐκέθʼ αὑτὸς τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις φανῇς.

Χορός ἥκιστα· τοῦτʼ οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως ποτʼ εἰς ἐμὲ τοὔνειδος ἕξεις ἐνδίκως ὀνειδίσαι.

Χορός ἐπίσχετον, μάθωμεν· ἄνδρε γὰρ δύο, ὁ μὲν νεὼς σῆς ναυβάτης, ὁ δʼ ἀλλόθρους, 540 χωρεῖτον, ὧν μαθόντες αὖθις εἴσιτον.

Ἔμπορος φροῦδοι διώκοντές σε ναυτικῷ στόλῳ Φοῖνιξ ὁ πρέσβυς οἵ τε Θησέως κόροι.

Νεοπτόλεμος ὡς ἐκ βίας μʼ ἄξοντες ἢ λόγοις πάλιν;

Ἔμπορος οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἀκούσας δʼ ἄγγελος πάρειμί σοι.

Νεοπτόλεμος ἦ ταῦτα δὴ Φοῖνίξ τε χοἰ ξυνναυβάται 565 οὕτω καθʼ ὁρμὴν δρῶσιν Ἀτρειδῶν χάριν;

Ἔμπορος ὡς ταῦτʼ ἐπίστω δρώμενʼ, οὐ μέλλοντʼ ἔτι.

Νεοπτόλεμος πῶς οὖν Ὀδυσσεὺς πρὸς τάδʼ οὐκ αὐτάγγελος πλεῖν ἦν ἕτοιμος; ἢ φόβος τις εἶργέ νιν;

Ἔμπορος κεῖνός γʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλον ἄνδρʼ ὁ Τυδέως τε παῖς 570 ἔστελλον, ἡνίκʼ ἐξανηγόμην ἐγώ.

Νεοπτόλεμος πρὸς ποῖον αὖ τόνδʼ αὐτὸς Οὑδυσσεὺς ἔπλει;

Ἔμπορος ἦν δή τις—ἀλλὰ τόνδε μοι πρῶτον φράσον τίς ἐστίν· ἃν λέγῃς δὲ μὴ φώνει μέγα.

Νεοπτόλεμος ὅδʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ κλεινός σοι Φιλοκτήτης, ξένε. 575

Ἔμπορος μή νύν μʼ ἔρῃ τὰ πλείονʼ, ἀλλʼ ὅσον τάχος ἔκπλει σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβὼν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

Φιλοκτήτης τί φησιν, ὦ παῖ; τί με κατὰ σκότον ποτὲ διεμπολᾷ λόγοισι πρός σʼ ὁ ναυβάτης;

Νεοπτόλεμος οὐκ οἶδά πω τί φησι· δεῖ δʼ αὐτὸν λέγειν 580 εἰς φῶς ὃ λέξει, πρὸς σὲ κἀμὲ τούσδε τε.

Ἔμπορος ὦ σπέρμʼ Ἀχιλλέως, μή με διαβάλῃς στρατῷ λέγονθʼ ἃ μὴ δεῖ· πόλλʼ ἐγὼ κείνων ὕπο δρῶν ἀντιπάσχω χρηστά θʼ, οἷʼ ἀνὴρ πένης.

Ἔμπορος ὅρα τί ποιεῖς, παῖ.

Νεοπτόλεμος σκοπῶ κἀγὼ πάλαι.

Ἔμπορος σὲ θήσομαι τῶνδʼ αἴτιον. 590

Νεοπτόλεμος ποιοῦ λέγων.

ΧΟ.
ἀντ.

ΧΟ.

ἥκιστα. τοῦτ᾽ οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ποτ᾽ εἰς ἐμὲ
515

τοὔνειδος ἕξεις ἕξεις ἔξεις ἐνδίκως ὀνειδίσαι.

ΧΟ.

ἐπίσχετον, μάθωμεν. ἄνδρε γὰρ δύο δύω,

ὁ μὲν νεὼς νεὼ νεὼς σῆς ναυβάτης, ὁ δ᾽ ἀλλόθρους,

χωρεῖτον, ὧν μαθόντες αὖθις αὖτις αὖθις εἴσιτον.

ΕΜ.

φροῦδοι διώκοντές σε ναυτικῷ ναυστικῷ στόλῳ

Φοῖνιξ Φοίνιξ Φοῖνιξ ὁ πρέσβυς οἵ τε Θησέως κόροι.
555

ΝΕ.

ὡς ἐκ βίας μ' ἄξοντες ἢ λόγοις πάλιν ;

ΕΜ.

οὐκ οἶδ᾽. ἀκούσας δ᾽ ἄγγελος πάρειμί σοι.

ΝΕ.

ἢ ταῦτα δὴ Φοῖνίξ ἢ ταῦτα δὴ φοῖνιξ τε χοί ξυνναυβάται

οὕτω καθ᾽ ὁρμὴν δρῶσιν ᾿Ατρειδῶν χάριν;

ΕΜ.

ὡς ταῦτ᾽ ἐπίστω δρώμεν, οὐ μέλλοντ᾽ ἔτι,
560

ΝΕ.

πῶς οὖν Ὀδυσσεὺς πρὸς τάδ᾽ οὐκ αὐτάγγελος

πλεῖν ἦν ἑτοῖμος; ἢ φόβος τις εἶργέ εἶργε εἶργε νιν;

ΕΜ.

κεῖνός γ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλον ἄνδρ᾽ ὁ Τυδέως τε παῖς

ἔστελλον, ἡνίκ᾽ ἐξανηγόμην ἐγώ ἔσω.

ΝΕ.

πρὸς ποῖον ἂν ἀν ἂν τόνδ᾽ αὐτὸς οὐδυσσεὺς ὁ δυσσεὺς οὑδυσσεὺς ὀδυσσεὺς ἔπλει;
565

ΕΜ.

ἦν δή τις-ἀλλὰ τόνδε μοι πρῶτον φράσον

τίς ἐστίν εστιν· ἂν λέγῃς δὲ μὴ φώνει μέγα.

ΝΕ.

ὅδ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ὁ κλεινός σοι Φιλοκτήτης, ξένε.

ΕΜ.

μή νύν μὴ νῦν μ᾽ om. ἔρῃ τὰ πλείον, ἀλλ᾽ ὅσον τάχος

ἔκπλει σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβὼν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

ΦΙ.

τί φησιν, ὦ παῖ; τί με κατὰ σκότον ποτὲ

διεμπολᾷ λόγοισι πρός πρό πρός σ᾽ ὁ ναυβάτης;

ΝΕ.

οὐκ οἶδά πω τί φησι· δεῖ δ᾽ αὐτὸν λέγειν
580

εἰς φῶς ὁ λέξει, πρὸς σὲ κἀμὲ τούσδε τε.

ΕΜ.

ὦ σπέρμ᾽ ᾿Αχιλλέως, μή με διαβάλῃς διαβάλληισ διαβάλῃς στρατῷ

λέγονθ᾽ ἃ μὴ δεῖ· πόλλ᾽ ἐγὼ κείνων ὕπο

δρῶν ἀντιπάσχω χρηστά γ', οἱ᾽ ἀνὴρ πένης.

ΕΜ.

ὅρα τί ποιεῖς, παῖ.

NE.

σκοπῶ κἀγὼ πάλαι.
590

ΕΜ.

σὲ θήσομαι τῶνδ᾽ αἴτιον.

NE.

ποιοῦ λέγων.

ΕΜ.

οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταῦτ᾽, ἀλλ᾽ ἐγὼ μὲν εἶμ᾽ ἐπὶ

ναῦν, σφῶν δ᾽ ὅπως ἄριστα συμφέροι θεός.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὅρα σὺ μὴ νῦν μέν τις εὐχερὴς παρῇς,

ὅταν δὲ πλησθῇς τῆς νόσου ξυνουσίᾳ,
520

τότʼ οὐκέθʼ αὑτὸς τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις φανῇς.

Χορός

ἥκιστα· τοῦτʼ οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως ποτʼ εἰς ἐμὲ

τοὔνειδος ἕξεις ἐνδίκως ὀνειδίσαι.

Χορός

ἐπίσχετον, μάθωμεν· ἄνδρε γὰρ δύο,

ὁ μὲν νεὼς σῆς ναυβάτης, ὁ δʼ ἀλλόθρους,
540

χωρεῖτον, ὧν μαθόντες αὖθις εἴσιτον.

Ἔμπορος

φροῦδοι διώκοντές σε ναυτικῷ στόλῳ

Φοῖνιξ ὁ πρέσβυς οἵ τε Θησέως κόροι.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὡς ἐκ βίας μʼ ἄξοντες ἢ λόγοις πάλιν;

Ἔμπορος

οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἀκούσας δʼ ἄγγελος πάρειμί σοι.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἦ ταῦτα δὴ Φοῖνίξ τε χοἰ ξυνναυβάται
565

οὕτω καθʼ ὁρμὴν δρῶσιν Ἀτρειδῶν χάριν;

Ἔμπορος

ὡς ταῦτʼ ἐπίστω δρώμενʼ, οὐ μέλλοντʼ ἔτι.

Νεοπτόλεμος

πῶς οὖν Ὀδυσσεὺς πρὸς τάδʼ οὐκ αὐτάγγελος

πλεῖν ἦν ἕτοιμος; ἢ φόβος τις εἶργέ νιν;

Ἔμπορος

κεῖνός γʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλον ἄνδρʼ ὁ Τυδέως τε παῖς
570

ἔστελλον, ἡνίκʼ ἐξανηγόμην ἐγώ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

πρὸς ποῖον αὖ τόνδʼ αὐτὸς Οὑδυσσεὺς ἔπλει;

Ἔμπορος

ἦν δή τις—ἀλλὰ τόνδε μοι πρῶτον φράσον

τίς ἐστίν· ἃν λέγῃς δὲ μὴ φώνει μέγα.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὅδʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ κλεινός σοι Φιλοκτήτης, ξένε.
575

Ἔμπορος

μή νύν μʼ ἔρῃ τὰ πλείονʼ, ἀλλʼ ὅσον τάχος

ἔκπλει σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβὼν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

Φιλοκτήτης

τί φησιν, ὦ παῖ; τί με κατὰ σκότον ποτὲ

διεμπολᾷ λόγοισι πρός σʼ ὁ ναυβάτης;

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐκ οἶδά πω τί φησι· δεῖ δʼ αὐτὸν λέγειν
580

εἰς φῶς ὃ λέξει, πρὸς σὲ κἀμὲ τούσδε τε.

Ἔμπορος

ὦ σπέρμʼ Ἀχιλλέως, μή με διαβάλῃς στρατῷ

λέγονθʼ ἃ μὴ δεῖ· πόλλʼ ἐγὼ κείνων ὕπο

δρῶν ἀντιπάσχω χρηστά θʼ, οἷʼ ἀνὴρ πένης.

Ἔμπορος

ὅρα τί ποιεῖς, παῖ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

σκοπῶ κἀγὼ πάλαι.

Ἔμπορος

σὲ θήσομαι τῶνδʼ αἴτιον.
590

Νεοπτόλεμος

ποιοῦ λέγων.

Ἔμπορος

οὐκ οἶδʼ ἐγὼ ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ μὲν εἶμʼ ἐπὶ

ναῦν, σφῷν δʼ ὅπως ἄριστα συμφέροι θεός.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐκοῦν ἐπειδὰν πνεῦμα τοὐκ πρῴρας ἀνῇ,

τότε στελοῦμεν· νῦν γὰρ ἀντιοστατεῖ.
640

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀεὶ καλὸς πλοῦς ἔσθʼ, ὅταν φεύγῃς κακά.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀκείνοισι ταῦτʼ ἐναντία.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐκ ἔστι λῃσταῖς πνεῦμʼ ἐναντιούμενον,

ὅταν παρῇ κλέψαι τι χἀρπάσαι βίᾳ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ εἰ δοκεῖ, χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβὼν
645

ὅτου σε χρεία καὶ πόθος μάλιστʼ ἔχει.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ὧν δεῖ, καίπερ οὐ πολλῶν ἄπο.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί τοῦθʼ ὃ μὴ νεώς γε τῆς ἐμῆς ἔπι;

Φιλοκτήτης

φύλλον τί μοι πάρεστιν, ᾧ μάλιστʼ ἀεὶ

κοιμῶ τόδʼ ἕλκος, ὥστε πραΰνειν πάνυ.
650

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ ἔκφερʼ αὐτό. τί γὰρ ἔτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν;

Φιλοκτήτης

εἴ μοί τι τόξων τῶνδʼ ἀπημελημένον

παρερρύηκεν, ὡς λίπω μή τῳ λαβεῖν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἦ ταῦτα γὰρ τὰ κλεινὰ τόξʼ ἃ νῦν ἔχεις;

Φιλοκτήτης

ταῦτʼ, οὐ γὰρ ἄλλʼ ἔστʼ, ἀλλʼ ἃ βαστάζω χεροῖν.
655

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἆρʼ ἔστιν ὥστε κἀγγύθεν θέαν λαβεῖν

καὶ βαστάσαι με προσκύσαι θʼ ὥσπερ θεόν;

Φιλοκτήτης

σοί γʼ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ τοῦτο κἄλλο τῶν ἐμῶν

ὁποῖον ἄν σοι ξυμφέρῃ γενήσεται.

Νεοπτόλεμος

καὶ μὴν ἐρῶ γε, τὸν δʼ ἔρωθʼ οὕτως ἔχω·
660

εἴ μοι θέμις, θέλοιμʼ ἄν· εἰ δὲ μή, πάρες.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐκ ἄχθομαί σʼ ἰδών τε καὶ λαβὼν φίλον·

ὅστις γὰρ εὖ δρᾶν εὖ παθὼν ἐπίσταται,

παντὸς γένοιτʼ ἂν κτήματος κρείσσων φίλος. χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω.

Φιλοκτήτης

καὶ σέ γʼ εἰσάξω· τὸ γὰρ

νοσοῦν ποθεῖ σε ξυμπαραστάτην λαβεῖν.
675

Thou mak’st small scruple here; but be advised:

Lest, when this plague on board shall weary thee,

Thy voice should alter from this liberal tone.

No, truly! Fear not thou shalt ever have

Just cause to utter such reproach on me.

Then sure ’twere shame, should I more backward prove

Than thou, to labour for the stranger’s need.

Come, if thou wilt, let us make voyage, and he,

Let him set forth with speed. Our ship shall take him.
520

He shall not be refused. Only may Heaven

Lead safely hence and to our destined port!

CH

Stay: let us understand. There come two men

A stranger, with a shipmate of thy crew.

When ye have heard them, ye may then go in.

Well, stranger, for the kindness thou hast shown,—
550

Else were I base,—my heart must thank thee still.

But tell me what thou meanest, that I may learn

What new-laid plot thou bring’st me from the camp.

MER

Old Phoenix, Acamas and Demophon

Are gone in thy pursuit with ships and men.
555

NEO

To bring me back with reasons or perforce?

MER

I know not. What I heard, I am here to tell.

NEO

How? And is this in act? Are they set forth

To please the Atridae, Phoenix and the rest?

MER

The thing is not to do, but doing now.
560