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601–750

'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 (?).

ἴσως . . ἀκήκοας] 'For I dare say you have not heard of it.' The important share of Neoptolemus in the prophecy of Helenus is studiously concealed, and it is assumed that in his short stay at Troy the circumstance may have escaped him altogether. The true account is given by Neoptolemus afterwards, infr. 1337 foll. He himself in supr. 344 foll. had professed to attach slight importance to the assertion that he was destined to take Troy.

ἀκούων] 'Called by,' i.e. deserving. αἰσχρὰ.. ἔπη] 'Names of disgrace and contumely.' On the meaning of the verbal adjective, see Essay on L. § 53. p. 98.

ἔδειξ᾽.. ἐς μέσον] Displayed publicly to the Achaeans. ἔδειξε marks Odysseus' pride at bringing in his captive. Cp. infr. 616, δηλώσειν : 630, δεῖξαι: 944, φήνασθαι.

The part of the prophecy which relates to Neoptolemus is thus slurred over.

τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμα] Cp.supr. 353.

πέρσοιεν (as being the oratio obliqua of πέρσετε) seems to be an exception to the rule that οὐ μή takes after it not the future indicative, but the aorist subjunctive. But this is not a sufficient ground for altering the reading. Paley compares Plat. Crito, p. 44 B, οὐδένα μήποτε εὑρήσω.

ἄγοιντο] The middle voice implies, 'Should bring for their purpose.' νήσου τῆσδ'] For the genitive of place, see Essay on L. § 8. p. 11, a. Observe the alliteration in νήσου .. ναίει .. νῦν.

ταῦτα] Governed of ἤκουσε and resumed with τὸν μάντιν εἰπόντα, which is added to complete the sentence.

The statement in supr. 593-7 is here repeated with some additional circumstances.

οἴοιτο] The optative is used in turning the parenthetical οἴομαι into the oratio obliqua, as if ὅτι had preceded. Cp. Lys p. 130, Θηραμένης ἀναστὰς λέγει ὅτι ποιήσει ὥστε τὴν πόλιν ἐλαττῶσαι μηδέν· οἴοιτο δὲ καὶ ἄλλο τι ἀγαθὸν εὑρήσεσθαι.

'And if he failed in this, he offered his head to any who chose, to cut it off.' For the order of words, see Essay on L. § 41, α. p. 77. κάρα governed (1) of ἐφεῖτο, and (2) οἱ τέμνειν, which is epexegetic inf. μὴ τυχών = εἰ μὴ τύχοι. For the sense, cp. II. 2. 259, μηκέτ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ Ὀδυσῆϊ κάρη ὤμοισιν ἐπείη, κ.τ.λ.: Od. 16. 102 αὐτίκ᾽ ἔπειτ' ἀπ᾿ ἐμεῖο κάρη τάμοι ἀλλότριος φώς, εἰ μή, κ.τ.λ. τέμνειν = ἀποτέμνειν. Cp. καράτομος.

τὸ σπεύδειν] The article probably refers to supr. 576, 7.

κεἴ τινος κήδει πέρι] Sc. παραινῶ ἐκείνῳ τὸ αὐτό. The supposed stranger does not venture to compromise himself by giving this advice directly to Philoctetes. He alludes to supr. 585, 6.

Οι ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη, ‘That utter pest.' see Essay on L. § 51. p. 95; and cp. El. 301.

'The persuasion that has force to bring me back to Troy, would fetch me from the dead.'

οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταῦτ] The professed Ἔμπορος is too discreet to mix further than he can help in such a hazardous business. Cp. O. Τ. 530, οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ὁ γὰρ δρῶσ᾽ οἱ κρατοῦντες οὐχ ὁρῶ. The purpose of his coming has been accomplished, and he retires. For the synaphea, cp. especially O. T. 555, ὡς χρείη μ᾽ ἐπὶ | τὸν σεμνόμαντιν, κ.τ.λ.

σφῶν.. θεός] 'May heaven be with you both for your best good!' συμφέρειν is used nearly as συμφέρεσθαι in O. C. 641, τῇδε γὰρ ξυνοίσομαι (‘Your choice shall have my concurrence').

Should have imagined it possible ever with cajoling words to bring and show me on his ship amongst the Argives.' Philoctetes has hitherto had his attention fixed on the Ἔμπορος, and has said ll. 622-5 half to himself. But as the stranger departs he turns to Neoptolemus with these indignant words.

ποτ᾿ ἄν with δεῖξαι = ὅτι δείξειεν ἄν ποτε. λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς] Cp. O. С. 774, σκληρὰ μαλθακῶς λέγων.

δείξαι] Cp. supr. 616, δηλώσειν. δεῖξαι νεὼς ἄγοντα = δεῖξαι ἐκ νεὰς ἄγοντα ἐπὶ νηΐ. Or, in other words, the phrase, On ship-board,' which should depend on ἄγοντα, is attracted into a new construction with δεῖξαι. See Essay on L. § 35. p. 60, and cp. О. Т. 808, ὄχου . . τηρήσας. κ.τ.λ. : Εl. 900. Herm. and Schndw. take νεὼς ἄγοντα to mean, 'Bringing ashore.' Cp. supr. 355-7. But ἄγειν is continually used elsewhere in the play for conveyance by sea; and the instrumental dative λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς connects more naturally with ἄγοντα than with δεῖξαι. Moreover, the meaning obtained by so joining νεὼς ἄγοντ' is wanting in simplicity.

οὔ] Those who have suspected this reading have not observed the frequency of asyndeton in the language of Philoctetes (Essay on L. § 34. p. 58). The proposed readings, οὗ θᾶσσον (Welcker), ἢ θᾶσσον (Schndw.), are less forcible than the MS. text. Schndw. imagined οὔ to be a marginal gloss on ἢ. For the double superlative in πλεῖστον ἐχθίστης, see Essay on L. § 40. p. 76.

ἄπουν = οὐκ ἔχοντα βάσιν, infr. 692.

ἐκείνῳ.. λεκτά] 'He is capable of saying anything.' Cp. O. С. 495, ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐχ ὁδωτά : ibid. 1000, 1, εἶ γὰρ οὐ δίκαιος, ἀλλ᾽ ἅπαν καλὸν | λέγειν νομίζων, ῥητὸν ἄρρητόν τ᾽ ἔπος.

ὡς.. ὁρίζῃ] • That wide seas may part us.'

ἥ τοι.. ἤγαγεν] Cp. Aj. 674,5, ἐκοίμισε . . πόντον, and note.

ἐπειδὰν πνεῦμα τοὐκ πρώρας ἀνῇ] When this head wind (1) ceases' (ἀνῇ absolute), or (2) 'lets us go' (ἀνῇ ἡμᾶς, sc.). The same doubt occurs in Hdt. 2. 113, οὐ γὰρ ἀνίει τὰ πνεύματα (sc. μιν?) Cp. Od. 19. 199, ἔνθα δυώδεκα μὲν μένον ἤματα δίοι ᾿Αχαιοί, | εἴλει γὰρ βορέης ἄνεμος μέγας, κ.τ.λ. | τῇ τρισκαιδεκάτῃ δ' ἄνεμος πέσε, τοὶ δ᾽ ἀνάγοντο. The correction of Pierson here is all but certain.

Cp. Il. 14. 80, οὐ γάρ τις νέμεσις φυγέειν κακόν, οὐδ᾽ ἀνὰ νύκτα,

οὔκ· ἀλλά] 'Nay, but -.' οὐ denies the general drift of the preceding line; i. e. The evil is not so imminent that you need fly from it with such haste. Cp. Plat. Rep. 6. 491 Ε, οὔκ, ἀλλά, ἢ δ᾽ ὅς, οὕτως, where there is a nearly similar inexactness of response. There is no sufficient ground for transposing 643, 4, 2, 1, with Prof. Paley. The order is far more natural as it stands.

'Robbers feel not any contrary wind when it is a time to steal and take by force.'

χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβών] 'Let us depart, when you have taken from within.' The participle agrees with part of the subject, and the second person has been implied in εἰ δοκεῖ, SC. σοι. For the limitation of subject, see Essay on L. § 33. p. 56, and cp. Trach. 205, ὀλολύξατε δόμοις, | ὁ μελλόνυμφος, ἐν δὲ κοινὸς ἀρσένων | ἴτω κλάγγα, κ.τ.λ. : ib. 333: Aesch. Eum. 141.

What, that is not somewhere on board my ship?' νεώς, partitive genitive. Essay on L. § 10. p. 15. Ср. Αj. 659, γαίας ὀρύξας ἔνθα, κ.τ.λ.: Ο. C. 694, γᾶς ᾿Ασίας οὐκ ἐπακούω. τοῦθ᾽ ὅ is singular, though ὧν in 647 is plural. Essay on L. § 20, B. p. 31.

φύλλον . . πάρεστιν] 'There is a leaf which I have.' Cp. infr. 704, ὅθεν εὐμάρει᾽ ὑπάρχοι: supr. 44: Ο.Τ. 766.

πραΰνειν] 'To assuage its violence.' There is no example of πραΰνειν being used intransitively. πρᾷος is opposed to ἄγριος, cp. supr. 265. Philoctetes is eager to assure Neoptolemus that the evil is not intractable. Cp. infr. 733 foll.

τί γὰρ ἔτ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν] Philoctetes shows by his manner that the herb is not the only thing that he requires. To this look of longing hesitation γάρ refers.

εἰ.. παρερρύηκεν] This is said to explain his unsatisfied look (' I would make search,' implied in ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν), * in case some of these my arrows may have slipped from my side.' Cp. Il. 13. 256, ἔρχομαι, εἴ τί τοι ἔγχος ἐνὶ κλισίῃσι λέλειπται, | οἰσόμενος.

ὡς λίπω μή] For the order, see Essay on L. § 41, γ. p. 78.

οὐ γὰρ ἄλλα γ᾽ ἔσθ'] 'For indeed there is no other.' These words have been commonly taken as equivalent to ἐκεῖνα καὶ οὐκ ἄλλα: whence Blaydes conjectures ταῦτ᾽ οὐ γὰρ οὖν ἔστ᾿ ἄλλ'. But the meaning given above is more in point. Cp. Morris' Story of Sigurd, That hath not the like in the heavens, nor hath earth of its fellow told.'

ἆρ᾿ ἔστιν ὥστε] 'Is it possible that one might?' ὥστε as after verbs of permission asked or obtained. The periphrasis is expressive of modesty. κἀγγύθεν] From close at hand, as well as from a distance. For με added in the second clause, cp. supr. 257.

For the sacredness of the bow, cp. infr. 943.

τῶν ἐμῶν] Of things within my power.'

ὁποῖον. ξυμφέρῃ] 'That is of a nature to accord with your desires.' Cp. supr. 627, and note. γενήσεται] 'Shall be granted.'

πάρες] 'Let it go by;' i.e. Take no more notice of my wish.

ὅσια .. φωνεῖς] 'Your words are blameless.' 'You speak innocently.'

For the suppressed antecedent in the expression of strong feeling, see Essay on L. § 39. p. 72, 2. And for the emphatic repetition of ὅς, cp. O. C. 610, φθίνει μὲν ἰσχὺς γῆς, φθίνει δὲ σώματος, and see E. on L. § 44. p. 83.

μόνος] Supr. 500.

πέρα] 'Above their reach.' 'Where they cannot come.' ἀνιστάναι here is not merely 'To raise upright,' but To set up on high.' Cр. O. С. 661-3, κείνοις δ᾽ ἴσως κεὶ δείν᾽ ἐπερρώσθη λέγειν | τῆς σῆς ἀγωγῆς, οἶδ᾽ ἐγώ, φανή- | σεται | μακρὸν τὸ δεῦρο πέλαγος, οὐδὲ πλώσιμον: Aesch. Cho. 789.

θιγγάνειν] ‘To handle for a while.’ This word, expressing a lingering process, is rightly in the continuous tense, although δόντι . . ἐξεπεύξασθαι are aorists. Cp. Il. 6. 322, τόξ᾽ ἁφόωντα.

καὶ δόντι δοῦναι] This illogical addition is singularly expressive of the nervous anxiety of Philoctetes at the thought of giving the bow out of his hands: 'You shall have it in your grasp; I will give it you, and you will give it me again; and then you shall freely boast, etc.' While saying this, Philoctetes does not at once give the bow to Neoptolemus. Cp. infr. 762 foll.

Cp. infr. 801-3.

These three lines seem out of place. Either there is a lacuna after 670, or they have crept into the text out of the margin, where some hand had inserted them as an apposite quotation from some other play. They have not the appearance of a deliberate interpolation, nor is the difficulty obviated by assigning them to Neoptolemus. If they are retained, they can only mean, 'I do not feel this generous action burdensome, now that I have seen and found a friend in you. For no possession can be equal to a friend who knows (as I am sure you do) how to return kindness for kindness done to him.' In other words, to secure so true a friend as Neoptolemus, even the effort of relinquishing the bow for a moment is not too much. But ἄχθομαι has no object; and the promised kindness of Neoptolemus was not conditional on his being allowed to handle the bow.

The preceding scene was calculated to deepen the feeling of compassion for Philoctetes, which had already been awakened both in Neoptolemus and in the Chorus. His generous willingness to trust them with his all, contrasted with their felt dissimulation, has intensified the sympathy which Neoptolemus afterwards avows, 905, 965, 6. Yet the Chorus do not imagine for a moment that their master will relinquish his purpose. Hence, while sincerely pouring forth their lament over Philoctetes' innocent sufferings (which they can only compare with the torment of the guilty Ixion), and really rejoicing in the prospect of his deliverance, they maintain, as in duty bound (since they are within hearing of the cave), the deceptive notion of the voyage to Trachis, and make no mention of Troy. But it must be borne in mind that from the prophecy of Helenus, of which they knew, they had every reason to suppose that the return to Troy, though Philoctetes was averse to it, would be for his good. While this stasimon is being sung (whether by half-choruses or by the whole together), Neoptolemus is with Philoctetes in the cave, and is finding still more cogent evidence of his misery. This stasimon consists of two strophes and antistrophes, of which the first are chiefly logaoedic, the second chiefly choriambic.

α'.
1 _uu_u_u_
_uu__uu_u_
_uu_uu_
_uu_u_u_u_
5 _u_u_u_
10 __u_u_u__
_u_u_

1 Cp. Aesch. Suppl. 550. 2 Ion. anacl., infr. p. 451, β' 15 and note 3.

β'.
_uu_u_ _
_uu_u_ _
_uu_u_uu__
_uu_uu__
5 __u_ _
_uu_u_uu_u_uu_u_
_u_uu___u_uu_u_
_uu__

ὄπωπα δ᾽ οὐ μάλα] ‘Though I never actually saw.' μάλα emphasizes οὐκ ὄπωπα, because seeing is more than hearing. The sorrow of Philoctetes is patent to the eye.

ποτέ belongs to the verbal notion in πελάταν. Cp. supr. 147.

Ιξίονα (see v. rr.) is omitted in the text as possibly arising from a gloss. Cp. Trach. 840.

ἄμπυξ is (a) a frontlet; hence (b) may be here understood to mean the convex external surface of a wheel. ἄμπυκα δρομάδα = 'A rolling rim.' A conjectural reading, ἄντυγα, was proposed by Musgrave. But ἄντυξ, in the literal sense, is no more 'a wheel' than ἄμπυξ.

ἔβαλεν] Although ἔλαβε, the MS. reading, is not impossible, if we suppose δέσμιον proleptic ('seized bound' for 'seized and bound'), ἔβαλεν gives a better sense. Cp. O. C. 475. Mr. Paley reads, κατ᾿ ἄμπυκα δὴ δρομάδ᾽ ὡς βάλε δέσμιον ὁ π. Κ. π. For the metre of this, cp. infr. 863, 4, 1114, 5; О. С. 253, 4.

For ἐσίδον, which is the reading of the first hand of L. and of Par. A, cp. El. 205.

τοῦδ᾽ ἐχθίονι] See Essay on L. § 10. p. 15, 2 a.

'Who having neither harmed nor defrauded any.' Cp. Od. 4. 690, οὔτε τινὰ ῥέξας ἐξαίσιον, οὔτε τι εἰπών. The use of ἔρδειν absolutely for ἔρδειν τι κακόν is singular, but is assisted by νοσφίσας following. Cp. the frequent use of παθεῖν τι for παθεῖν τι κακόν. Mr. Paley strangely interprets, 'Having imprisoned any' (as if from ἔργω).

ἔν *γ᾽ ἴσοις] This, Hermann's, emendation of ἐν ἴσοις is adopted as the most probable. 'Just, at least amongst the just; i.e. One sure to have been esteemed righteous, if he had lived amongst righteous men. Cp. (for the form of expression, not for the meaning οἱ ἴσος) O. T. 677, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἴσος. The force of ye is to throw blame by implication on the Argives at Troy, who treated Philoctetes as if he had been a malefactor.

The metre requires some change. Dindorf reads ὠλέκεθ᾽ ὧδ᾽. But τῇδε has more point than ὧδε, and connects better with what follows.

τόδε. . ἔχει] 'At this I marvel.' τόδε is accusative after θαῦμ᾽ ἔχει με = θαυμάζω. Cp. Od. 20. 217, αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τόδε θυμὸς .. πόλλ᾽ ἐπιδινεῖται.

'How then he retained his hold of a life so steeped in tears.' Cp. supr. 535, διέζων and note, infr. 1158-60.

ἵν᾿ αὐτὸς ἦν πρόσουρος] Sc. ἑαυτῷ. Schndw. cp. Lucian. Timon. θεοῖς θυέτω καὶ εὐωχείσθω μόνος ἑαυτῷ γείτων καὶ ὅμορος. The phrase is an oxymoron. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 866, μόνος ὢν ἔφεδρος, (‘Having none to second him'). οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν] 'Without power of movement.' Cp. supr. 632, ἄπουν, and, for the meaning of the verbal noun, supr. 18, ἐνθάκησις, and note. Bothe's ingenious correction, ἵν᾽ αὐτὸς ἦν, πρόσουρον οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν ( cp. supr. 171, μηδὲ σύντροφον ὄμμ᾽ ἔχων), is inadmissible, (1) as too diffuse, and (2) because αὐτός εἶμι, “I am by myself,' is not a poetical expression for the misery of solitude. This and the following lines are an echo and expansion of Philoctetes' complaint, supr. 280 foll. ἄνδρα δ᾽ οὐδέν᾽ ἔντοπον, | οὐχ ὅστις ἀρκέσειεν, οὐδ᾽ ὅστις νόσου | κάμνοντι συλλάβοιτο. Lambinus gives an odd explanation of πρόσ-ουρος, 'expositus ventis.'

κακογείτονα] ‘To be a neighbour to his misery.’ This, as Lessing saw (Laoc. p. 37), = γείτονα κακῶν οἱ ἐν κακοῖς.

By bringing *τάν from before θερμοτάταν, where it injures the metre, to before βαρυβρῶτ', where a syllable is required, we obtain a possible construction for these lines. In whose ear he might lament, with groaning that had response (ἀντίτυπον), the disease (τάν, sc. νόσον) so cruelly gnawing, so dripping with gore.

στόνον ἀντίτυπον is thus cognate accusative with ἀποκλαύσειεν, i.e. So as to receive groan for groan.' Cp. Ant. 592, ἀντιπλῆγες ἀκταί.

ἐνθήρου] ( Cp. supr. 226, ἀπηγριωμένον) 'That has lost the human shape,' no longer recognizable as that of a human being. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 562, τιθέντες ἔνθηρον τρίχα. The etymological analysis of the word is difficult, perhaps = θηρσὶν ἐναριθμούμενος.

εἴ τις ἐμπέσοι (sc. αἱμάς)] 'If any attacked him;' i.e. If the bleeding at any time came on.

φορβάδος.. ἑλεῖν] ‘Or to take them' (the herbs) 'from the sustaining earth.' There is a slight change of construction; i. e ἑλεῖν = ὅστις ἕλοι, and the order of language, as elsewhere ( Essay on L. § 41, B. p. 77 ) reverses the order of fact. This passage has given needless trouble. Mr. Paley reads ἕλοι.

*εἶρπε.. ἄν] Cp. supr. 290 foll. *ἀλλαχά] This is the simplest change (see v.rr.), which restores correspondence of strophe and antistrophe. Others read ἀτίμως for ἀναξίως in supr. 686. So τότε is antecedent to ἁνίκα in 704.

εἰλυόμενος . . τιθήνας] 'Crawling, like a child without the kindly nurse.' So the Chorus expand the suggestive word εἰλυόμην in 291; i.e. He needed the support of hands as well as feet in the rocky paths.

ὅθεν εὐμάρει᾽ ὑπάρχοι] 'To the place where a supply for his wants (the herb for his pain, the birds for his hunger) was to be found.' πόρον.. ἐξανείη] 'Left him the power of motion; i. e. Allowed him to move again. As the pain might be said ἐμποδίζειν πόρον, so when it ceases it is said ἐξανιέναι πόρον. Cp. Aj.674-6. This seems the most likely interpretation of a difficult passage. For other suggestions, see Herm., Schndw., Nauck, Dindorf, Paley.

(1) 'Not lifting for his sustenance the sown-produce' ( cp. Hdt. 4.53) 'of the sacred earth, nor sustenance afforded by other things which we, industrious men, enjoy.' If this is right, φορβάν, which in l. 706 is in apposition to σπόρον ( cp. Plat. Legg. 12. 958 E, ὅσα τροφὴν μήτηρ οὖσα ἡ γῆ πέφυκε βούλεσθαι φέρειν), is to be resumed in l. 707 as the immediate object of αἴρων. (2) Another way is to take σπορόν (sic) as an adjective. Cp. τορός, τομός. 'Not taking up the sown sustenance afforded by the sacred earth, nor the sustenance afforded by other things, etc.'

πτανῶν πτανοῖς] (1) 'From his winged arrows by means of winged birds' (ὀρνέοις, Scholiast). Cp. supr. 288, 9, τὰς ὑποπτέρους | βάλλον πελείας. Or (2) 'With winged shafts (instrum. dat.) he contrived a sustenance consisting of winged birds' (gen. of material). There is no sufficient ground for suspecting the reading. Perhaps, however, πτανάν, agreeing with φορβάν, would be better than πτανῶν. Cp. infr. 1146, πταναὶ θῆραι. For the tautology in φορβάδος, φορβάν, φορβάν, see Essay on L. § 44. pp. 83, 4.

ψυχά] Cp. supr. 55 and note.

For the genitive with ἥσθη, see Essay on L. § 10. p. 16, 5 , and, for the dative χρόνῳ, ibid. § 11. p. 18, b.

λεύσσων . . εἰς] 'Looking to,' in dependence. Cp. El. 925, μηδὲν ἐς κεῖνόν γ᾽ ὅρα. στατόν] The remark of Odysseus, supr. 21, εἴπερ ἐστὶ σῶν, showed that the fountain was not an abundant one, such as would afford a perennial stream of living water.

αἰεὶ προσενώμα] 'Fetched it for his daily need.' He had the labour of fetching it continually as he required it.

ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν] ‘Of a brave hero,' i. e. Achilles. Poetical plural. παιδὶ συναντήσας is a good conjecture of Fröhlich.

'He shall win happiness and glory after being so low.' εὐδαίμων is predicative and proleptic-ἐς τὸ εὐδαίμων εἶναι. Cp. Ο. Τ. 166, ἠνύσατ' ἐκτοπίαν φλόγα πήματος, i. e. ὥστε ἐκτοπίαν γενέσθαι. κείνων refers to 691-718.

πλήθει πολλῶν μηνῶν] 'In the fulness of many months.' Cр. О. Т. 156, περιτελλομέναις ὥραις : Aesch. Ag. 504, δεκάτῳ σε φέγγει τῷδ᾽ ἀφικόμην ἔτους: Trach. 824, 5, ὁπότε τελεόμηνος ἐκφέροι | δωδέκατος ἄροτος.

πατρώαν.. αὐλάν] ‘Τo his father's hall.’ The change to πατρίαν, adopted by most editors- cp. supr. τὰ πάτρια τεύχεα seems to be required for the metre, _uu_u_uu_u_uu_u_ (ἀνύσειε γαστρὶ φορβάν, supr. 712). But see l. 1100, λῳονος.

'Beside the banks of the Spercheius, that are haunted by the Melian nymphs' (literally, 'Belonging to the Melian nymphs and (the river-god) Spercheius'). This is a more natural connection for the words Μηλιάδων νυμφᾶν than when they are joined with the preceding line.

ὁ χάλκασπις ἀνήρ] Heracles. The epithet is picturesque. The orbed shield reflecting the sunlight from the top of Oeta suggests the glory which the hero has amongst the gods, and the fire which consumed his mortality.

†πᾶσιν] If this is retained, it is necessary to read εἴ που for ὅπου in the strophe, with Brunck. But Hermann's correction, πάλαι, is not improbable. The passage is to be differently interpreted according as πλάθει is regarded: whether as a literal, or as an historical present. If the latter is correct, then θείῳ πυρί may refer to the golden cloud that descended to take up Heracles from the pyre. If the former, we must suppose a natural confusion between Heracles on Oeta and Heracles in Olympus.

The last antistrophe was intended for the hearing of Philoctetes, and it is probable that, before it ended, he and Neoptolemus had already appeared from the cave. He now suddenly becomes motionless and speechless. εἰ θέλεις] 'Will you?' Neoptolemus professes unconsciousness of the cause of Philoctetes' apparent change of purpose. ἐξ οὐδενὸς λόγου] 'With no apparent cause.' 'Without assigning a reason.' Cp. O. C. 620, ἐκ σμικροῦ λόγου.

ἀπόπληκτος . . ἔχει] 'Stand stupefied and caught.' Cp. Aj. 1144, 5, ἡνίκ᾽ ἐν κακῷ | χειμῶνος εἴχετο.

The agony which he has in vain endeavoured to suppress forces a cry from Philoctetes against his will. Presently (ll. 733-5), he again assumes indifference, but is again overpowered, and cries to the gods for help.

οὐδὲν δεινόν] 'No matter for alarm.' Cp. Trach. 459, τὸ δ᾽ εἰδέναι τί δεινόν; and cp. esp. O. C. 1200.

τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου] i. e. τῆς νόσου παρεστώσης σοι. Cp. infr. 765.

κουφίζειν] Sc. τὴν νόσον.

In some MSS. οὕτως is read after θεούς, and Seidler and others have suggested that ὦ θεοί· τί τοὺς θεοὺς ὧδ᾽ ἀναστένων καλεῖς; should be read. But cp. Aj. 588, 9. It must be admitted however that the want of caesura is a reason for suspecting something wrong.

'That they should interpose mercifully to save us.' (αὐτούς unemphatic.) Even here the suffering of Philoctetes is not merely physical. This attack of pain is threatening him with the frustration of his hopes.

This passage, like El. 610, 1, O. T. 746, indicates the use of significant action by the person who is not speaking.

For the omission of the article before κακόν, cp. supr. 83, and note, and see E. on L. § 21. p. 33, b.

διέρχεται] 'It pierces.' Cp. infr. 791, 2.

βρύκομαι] 'I am torn as with teeth.' Cp. Trach. 987, ἡ δ᾽ αὖ μιαρὰ βρύκει.

παπαῖ] This exclamation of pain expresses the effort to close the lips alternating with the utterance of an involuntary cry.

πρόχειρον] 'Ready to your hand.' πρόχειρος is one of the words which are used etymologically' in tragedy. ( Essay on L. § 54. pp. 99, 100. ) Cp. Eur. Hel. 1563, 4, φάσγανόν θ᾽ ἅμα | πρόχειρον ὤθει.

εἰς ἄκρον πόδα] The force of ἄκρος in such phrases is not to be pressed. But cp. infr. 824.

ἴθ᾽, ὦ παῖ] 'Do so, I pray thee, my son.' (Not, as supr. 733, where ἴθι is, 'Go on.')

ἐξαίφνης is joined with veοχμόν as = νεωστί γενόμενον. ὅτου] «Wherefore.' Genitive of cause. Essay on L. § 10. p. 14.

σαυτοῦ] 'Over thyself,' is genitive of the object after στόνον.

Hermann in 1841 defended the MS. distribution of the persons (see v. rr.), supposing Philoctetes to evade inquiry first by saying οἶσθα, ‘You know as well as I do,' and then οὐκ οἶδα, ‘I do not know,' with the inconsistency of one distracted by pain and avoiding question. And there is nothing unnatural in this. But the words πῶς οὐκ οἶσθα are very clumsy in the mouth of Neoptolemus, whereas, if uttered by Philoctetes, they convey a touching expostulation against the cruelty of pressing him with questions when the case is so obvious. According to Bothe's arrangement, which is here retained, Neoptolemus at first affects ignorance, but is presently overcome with pity. For τί σοί, · What is the matter with you?' Hermann conjectured τί τοι;

ἀλλ᾽ οἴκτειρέ με] The mental anxiety of the sufferer is greater than his pain.

ταρβήσας] According to the story of the supposed Έμπορος, Neoptolemus was in twofold danger in Lemnos, both from Phoenix and the Theseidae, who were pursuing himself ( supr. 561,2), and still more from Odysseus and Diomed, who were on their way to fetch Philoctetes, and if they fled together would pursue them both.

ἥκει.. ἐξεπλήσθη] (1) ‘For this plague in its wanderings is come after an interval in no less strength than when it sated itself.' A recurrent malady is imagined as going out of a man, making a circuit, and returning. Cp. infr. 808: Tennyson, Aylmer's field, p. 80. For ἥκειν in a somewhat similar connection, cp. Plat. Gorg 518 D, ὅταν δὴ αὐτοῖς ἥκῃ ἡ τότε πλησμονὴ νόσον φέρουσα συχνῷ ὕστερον χρόνῳ. For the dative πλάνοις (almost = πλανωμένη, Aesch. Prom. 275), see Essay on L. § 14. p. 20, 2 . ἴσως = οὐχ ἧττον ἰσχυρῶς. See Essay on L. § 24, α. p. 40 . ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη, i. e. ὡς τὸ πρὶν ἥκουσα ἐξεπλήσθη. It might be thought to have exhausted itself, or to have satisfied its hunger; but no, it returns with all its former violence. (2) The Scholiast explains, π. ἴ. ὡ. ἐ., 'I suppose when it has had enough of wandering. For other interpretations, see Ellendt's Lexicon, and Blaydes and Paley in loco. Arndt's emendation, ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη φλέψ. ΝΕ. ἰὼ δ. σ., is worth recording for its prosaic oddity.

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

Current edition Experimental

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

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Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 628 focus

οὔκουν τάδ', ὦ παῖ, δεινά, τὸν Λαερτίου
630

ἔμ᾽ ἐλπίσαι ποτ᾽ ἂν λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς

δεῖξαι νεὼς ἄγοντ᾽ ἄγονθ ἄγοντ᾿ ἐν om. Ἀργείοις μέσοις;

οὔ. οὔ θᾶσσον ἂν τῆς πλεῖστον ἐχθίστης ἐμοὶ

κλύοιμ᾽ ἐχίδνης, ἡ μ᾿ ἔθηκεν ὧδ᾽ ἄπουν.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἐκείνῳ πάντα λεκτά, πάντα δὲ
635

τολμητά, καὶ νῦν οἶδ᾽ ὁθούνεχ᾽ ὅθ᾽ οὔνεκ᾽ ὅθ᾽ ὁύνεχ' ἴξεται.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ἀλλ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, χωρῶμεν, ὡς ἡμᾶς πολὺ

πέλαγος * ὁρίζῃ ὁρίζει τῆς ᾿Οδυσσέως νεώς.

ἴωμεν. ἥ τοι καίριος σπουδὴ πόνου

λήξαντος ὕπνον κἀνάπαυλαν ἤγαγεν.
640

ΝΕ.

οὐκοῦν ἐπειδὰν πνεῦμα τοὐκ τοῦ τοὐκ πρώρας ἀνῇ ἄηι ῥάῃ παρῆι ἀγῇ ἄη,

τότε στελοῦμεν· νῦν γὰρ ἀντιοστατεῖ.

ΦΙ.

ἀεὶ καλὸς πλοῦς ἔσθ᾽, ὅταν φεύγῃς κακά.

ΝΕ.

οὔκ· ἀλλὰ κἀκείνοισι ταῦτ᾽ ἐναντία.

ΦΙ.

οὐκ ἔστι λῃσταῖς πνεῦμ᾽ ἐναντιούμενον,
645

ὅταν παρῇ κλέψαι τε κλέψαι τε κλέψαι τε χαρπάσαι βίᾳ.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ, χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβὼν

ὅτου σε χρεία καὶ πόθος μάλιστ᾽ ἔχει.

ΦΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔστιν ὧν δεῖ, καίπερ οὐ πολλῶν ἄπο.

ΝΕ.

τί τοῦθ᾽ ὁ μὴ νεώς γε τῆς ἐμῆς ἔνι;
650

ΦΙ.

φύλλον τί μοι πάρεστιν, ᾧ μάλιστ᾽ ἀεὶ

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

κοιμῶ τόδ᾽ ἕλκος, ὥστε πραΰνειν πάνυ.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔκφερ᾿ αὐτό. τί γὰρ ἔτ᾿ ἄλλ᾽ ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν;

ΦΙ.

εἴ μοί τι τόξων τῶνδ᾽ ἀπημελημένον

παρερρύηκεν, ὡς λίπω μή τῳ λαβεῖν.
655

ΝΕ.

ἢ ταῦτα γὰρ τὰ κλεινὰ τόξ᾽, ἃ τόξα νῦν ἔχεις;

ΦΙ.

ταῦτ᾽, οὐ γὰρ ἄλλα γ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἀλλ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἄλλα γ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ ἔσθ' ἀλλ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἀλλ᾽, ἃ βαστάζω χεροῖν.

ΝΕ.

ἆρ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἆρ᾿ ἔστιν ἔστιν ἔστὶν ὥστε κἀγγύθεν θέαν λαβεῖν,

καὶ βαστάσαι με προσκύσαι θ᾽ ὥσπερ θεόν;

ΦΙ.

σοί γ', ὦ τέκνον, καὶ τοῦτο κἄλλο τῶν ἐμῶν,
660

ὁποῖον ἄν σοι ξυμφέρῃ συμφέρον, γενήσεται.

ΝΕ.

καὶ μὴν ἐρῶ γε· τὸν δ᾽ ἔρωθ᾽ οὕτως ἔχω·

εἴ μοι θέμις, θέλοιμ᾽ ἄν· εἰ δὲ μή, πάρες.

ΦΙ.

ὅσιά τε φωνεῖς ἔστι τ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, θέμις,

ὅς γ'᾽ ἡλίου τόδ᾽ τότ' τόδ' τόγ' εἰσορᾶν ἐμοὶ φάος
665

μόνος δέδωκας, ὃς χθόν᾽ Οἰταίαν ἰδεῖν,

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ὃς πατέρα πρέσβυν, ὃς φίλους, ὃς τῶν ἐμῶν

ἐχθρῶν μ᾽ ἔνερθεν ὄντ᾽ ἀνέστησας πέρα πέραι πέρα.

θάρσει, παρέσται ταῦτά σοι καὶ θιγγάνειν

καὶ δόντι δοῦναι κἀξεπεύξασθαι βροτῶν

ἀρετῆς ἕκατι τῶνδ᾽ ἐπιψαῦσαι μόνον.

εὐεργετῶν γὰρ καὐτὸς αὔτ᾽ ἀντ'? αὔτ᾽ αὐτ' ἐκτησάμην.

[οὐκ ἄχθομαί σ᾿ ἰδών τε καὶ λαβὼν φίλον.
670

ὅστις γὰρ εὖ δρᾶν εὖ παθὼν ἐπίσταται,

παντὸς γένοιτ᾽ ἂν κτήματος κτήμτος κρείσσων φίλος.]

ΝΕ.
χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω.

ΦΙ.
καὶ σε γ᾽ εἰσάξω· τὸ γὰρ·

ΦΙ.

νοσοῦν ποθεῖ σε ξυμπαραστάτην λαβεῖν.

ΧΟ.

στρ. α΄.

λόγῳ μὲν ἐξήκουσ᾽, ὄπωπα ὅπω δ᾽ οὐ μάλα,

675

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

τὸν πελάταν λέκτρων ποτὲ τῶν Διὸς διὸς Ιξίονα

κατ᾿ ἄμπυκα δὴ δρομάδα

δέσμιον ὡς ἔβαλεν ἔλαβ᾽ ἔβαλεν ὁ παγκρατὴς Κρόνου παῖς·

ἄλλον δ᾽ οὔτιν᾿ ἔγωγ' οἶδα κλύων οὐδ᾽ ἐσίδον ἐσίδων ἐσίδον ἐσεῖδον εἰσείδον μοίρᾳ μοῖραι

τοῦδ᾽ ἐχθίονι συντυχόντα θνατῶν,

680

ὃς οὔτ᾽ ἔρξας οὐθ᾽ ἕρξας τιν οὔτε νοσφίσας,

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσος ἴσως ἔν γ᾽ ἴσοις ἀνήρ,

ὤλλυτο τῇδ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἀναξίως.

το τόδε θαῦμ᾽ ἔχει με, πῶς δή ποτε πῶς ποτ' ἀμφιπλήκτων

ῥοθίων ῥουθίων ῥόθιον μόνος κλύων κλύζων κλυζόμενος κλύων (γρ. κλύζων), πῶς ἄρα πανδάκρυτον οὕτω

685

βιοτὰν κατέσχεν.

ἀντ. α΄.

ἵν᾿ αὐτὸς ἦν πρόσουρος προσουργος, οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν,

οὐδέ τιν' ἐγχώρων ἐγχώριων κακογείτονα,

παρ᾽ ᾧ στόνον ἀντίτυπον

*τάν βαρυβρῶτ᾽ ἀποκλαύσειεν αἱματηρόν·

690

οὐδ᾽ ὃς θερμοτάταν αἱμάδα κηκιομέναν ἑλκέων

ἐνθήρου ποδὸς παιδός ἠπίοισι φύλλοις φύλλοισι φύλλοις

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

κατευνάσειεν, εἴ τις ἐμπέσοι,

φορβάδος ἔκ τε γᾶς ἑλεῖν·

εἶρπε ἕρπει γὰρ ἄλλοτ᾽ ἀλλαχᾶ ἄλλοτ᾽ ἄλλαι ἄλλοτ᾽ ἄλλᾳ

695

τότ᾽ ἂν εἰλυόμενος, παῖς πᾶς ἄτερ ὡς ὡς φίλας φίλος τιθήνας,

ὅθεν εὐμάρει᾽ ὑπάρχοι, πόρον ὑπάρχει πόρων ἁνίκ᾽ ἐξανείη ἐξανείησι ἐξανίησι

δακέθυμος ἄτα.

στρ. β΄.

οὐ φορβὰν ἱερᾶς γᾶς σπόρον (σ)πόρον, οὐκ ἄλλων

αἴρων τῶν νεμόμεσθ᾽ ἀνέρες ἀλφησταί,

700

πλὴν ἐξ ὠκυβόλων εἴ ποτε τόξων

πτανῶν πτανοῖς ἀνύσειε γαστρὶ φορβάν. πτανοῖς ἀνύσειε πτανῶν πτανοῖς ἀνύσειε πτανῶν ἀνύσει πτανοῖς γαστρὶ φορβὰν

ὦ μελέα ψυχά,

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ὃς μηδ᾽ οἰνοχύτου πώματος πόματος ἤσθη δεκέτει δεκέτει (δεκετεῖ pr.)? δεκέτη δεκατεῖ χρόνῳ χρόνον χρόνω,

λεύσσων λεύσσειν λεύσσων λεύσειν (γρ. λεύσων) δ᾽ ὅπου γνοίη γνοίη(·) στατὸν εἰς ὕδωρ,

705

αἰεὶ ἀεὶ προσενώμα.

ἀντ. β΄.

Νῦν δ᾽ ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν παιδὸς ὑπαντήσας

εὐδαίμων ἀνύσει καὶ μέγας ἐκ κείνων·

ὅς νιν ποντοπόρῳ δούρατι, πλήθει

πολλῶν μηνῶν, πατρῴαν ἄγει πρὸς αὐλάν,

710

Μηλιάδων νυμφᾶν

Σπερχειοῦ τε παρ᾽ ὄχθαις ὄχθας, ἵν᾽ ὁ χάλκασπις ἀνὴρ θεοῖς

πλάθει πᾶσιν, θείῳ πυρὶ παμφαής,

Οἴτας ὄντας ὑπὲρ ὄχθων.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΝΕ.

ἕρπ᾽, εἰ θέλεις. τί δή ποθ' ὧδ᾽ ἐξ οὐδενὸς
715

λόγου σιωπᾷς κἀπόπληκτος ὧδ᾽ ἔχει;

ΦΙ.

ἃ ἃ, ἃ ἆ. ἀ á á a 'â â â adda a

ΝΕ.

τί ἔστιν ;

ΦΙ.

οὐδὲν δεινόν. ἀλλ᾽ ἴθ᾽, ὦ τέκνον.

ΝΕ.

μῶν ἄλγος ἴσχεις ἴσχει τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου ;
720

ΦΙ.

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔγωγ', ἀλλ᾽ ἄρτι κουφίζειν δοκῶ.

ὦ θεοί. ἰὼ θεοί

NE.

τί τοὺς θεοὺς θεοὺς οὕτως ἀναστένων καλεῖς βοᾷς ;

ΦΙ.

σωτῆρας αὐτοὺς ἠπίους θ᾽ ἡμῖν μολεῖν.

ἃ ἃ, ἃ ἆ. ả à ảá Corr. C². ad a
725

ΝΕ.

τί ποτε πέπονθας; οὐκ ἐρεῖς, ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔσει

σιγηλός; ἐν κακῷ δέ τῳ φαίνει δὲ τῶι φαίνηι δὲ τῳ φαίνηι κυρῶν.

ΦΙ.

ἀπόλωλα ο from ω ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον, κοὐ δυνήσομαι κακὸν

κρύψαι παρ' ὑμῖν, ἀτταταῖ διέρχεται (.)διέρχεται,

διέρχεται. δύστηνος, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ.
730

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον· βρύκομαι βρύχομαι, τέκνον· παπαῖ,

ἀπαππαπαῖ, παπαῖ, παπαῖ, παπαππαπαῖ. ἀπᾶ. παπᾶι παπᾶ. πάπα, πάπα | παπαὶ ἃ πὰ πᾶ πᾶ πᾶ πᾶ πᾶ πᾶ πᾶ πᾶ

πρὸς θεῶν, πρόχειρον εἴ τί σοι, τέκνον, πάρα

ξίφος χεροῖν, πάταξον εἰς ἄκρον πόδα·

ἀπάμησον ὡς τάχιστα· μὴ μὴ· φείσῃ βίου.

735

ἴθ᾽, ὦ παῖ. ἴθι παὶ

ΝΕ.

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν ἐστίν οὕτω νεοχμὸν ἐξαίφνης, ὅτου

τοσήνδ᾽ ἰυγὴν καὶ στόνον σαυτοῦ ποιεῖς ποεῖς ποιεῖς ;

ΦΙ.

οἶσθ᾽, ὦ τέκνον.

NE.

τί τι ἔστιν;
740

ΦΙ.

οἶσθ᾽, ὦ παῖ.

NE.

τί σοί; οὐκ οἶδα.

ΦΙ.

πῶς οὐκ οἶσθα, παππαπαππαπαῖ πάπ(π)απάπ(π)ᾶπαῖ παππᾶ παππᾶι παῖ πᾶ, πα πα πα.

ΝΕ.

δεινόν γε τοὐπίσαγμα τοὐπείσαγμα τοῦ νοσήματος.

ΦΙ.

δεινὸν γὰρ οὐδὲ ῥητόν· ἀλλ᾽ οἴκτειρέ με.
745

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΝΕ.

τί δῆτα δράσω;

ΦΙ.

μή με ταρβήσας προδῷς·

ἥκει γὰρ αὕτη διὰ χρόνου πλάνοις ἴσως ὡς ὡσ

ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη.

NE.

ἰὼ ἰὼ δύστηνε σύ,
750

δύστηνε δῆτα add διὰ πόνων πάντων φανείς.

βούλει λάβωμαι λάβωμαι δῆτα καὶ θίγω τί σου;

ΦΙ.

μὴ δῆτα τοῦτό γ· ἀλλά μοι τὰ τόξ᾽ ἑλὼν

τάδ᾽, ὥσπερ ᾔτου μ᾿ ἀρτίως, ἕως ἀνῇ ἀνῇ

τὸ πῆμα τοῦτο τῆς νόσου τὸ νῦν παρόν,
755

σῶζ᾽ αὐτὰ καὶ φύλασσε, λαμβάνει λαμβάνει(ν) λαμβάνει γὰρ οὖν

ὕπνος μ᾽, ὅταν περ τὸ κακὸν ἐξίῃ εξῄ ἐξίκη τόδε·

κοὐκ ἔστι λῆξαι πρότερον· ἀλλ᾽ ἐᾶν χρεὼν

ἕκηλον εὕδειν. ἕκηλον εὕδειν μ' ἣν δὲ τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ

μόλωσ᾽ ἐκεῖνοι, πρὸς θεῶν, ἐφίεμαι
760

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ἑκόντα μήτ᾽ ἄκοντα, μηδέ τῳ μὴ τέτωι μήτε τῷ τέχνῃ

κείνοις μεθεῖναι μεθεῖνε μεθεῖναι ταῦτα add, μὴ σαυτόν σαυτῷ θ᾽ ἅμα

κἄμ᾽, ὄντα σαυτοῦ πρόστροπον, κτείνας γένῃ.

ΝΕ.

θάρσει προνοίας οἵνεκ'. οὐ δοθήσεται

πλὴν σοί τε κἀμοί· ξὺν τύχῃ δὲ πρόσφερε.
765

ΦΙ.

ἰδοὺ δέχου, παῖ· τὸν φθόνον δὲ πρόσκυσον,

μή σοι γενέσθαι πολύπον αὐτά, μηδ᾽ ὅπως ὁμοίωσ

ἐμοί τε καὶ τῷ τὸ τῷ πρόσθ᾽ ἐμοῦ κεκτημένῳ.

ΝΕ.

ὦ θεοί, γένοιτο ταῦτα νῷν· γένοιτο δὲ

πλοῦς οὔριός τε κεὐσταλής καὶ εὐσταλὴσ, ὅποι ποτὲ
770

θεὸς δικαιοῖ χώ στόλος πορσύνεται.

ΦΙ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 676-728 focus

Χορός

λόγῳ μὲν ἐξήκουσʼ, ὄπωπα δʼ οὐ μάλα,

τὸν πελάταν λέκτρων ποτὲ τῶν Διὸς

κατὰ δρομάδʼ ἄμπυκα δέσμιον ὡς ἔβαλεν παγκρατὴς Κρόνου παῖς·
680

ἄλλον δʼ οὔτινʼ ἔγωγʼ οἶδα κλύων οὐδʼ ἐσιδὼν μοίρᾳ

τοῦδʼ ἐχθίονι συντυχόντα

θνατῶν, ὃς οὔτʼ ἔρξας τινʼ οὔ τι νοσφίσας,

ἀλλʼ ἴσος ὢν ἴσοις ἀνήρ,
685

ὤλλυθʼ ὧδʼ ἀναξίως.

τόδε τοι θαῦμά μʼ ἔχει,

πῶς ποτε πῶς ποτʼ ἀμφιπλάκτων ῥοθίων μόνος κλύων,

πῶς ἄρα πανδάκρυτον οὕτω βιοτὰν κατέσχεν·
690

691

Χορός

ἵνʼ αὐτὸς ἦν πρόσουρος, οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν,

οὐδέ τινʼ ἐγχώρων κακογείτονα,

παρʼ ᾧ στόνον ἀντίτυπον βαρυβρῶτʼ ἀποκλαύσειεν αἱματηρόν·

ὃς τὰν θερμοτάταν αἱμάδα κηκιομέναν ἑλκέων

ἐνθήρου ποδὸς ἠπίοισι

φύλλοις κατευνάσειεν, εἴ τις ἐμπέσοι,

φορβάδος ἐκ γαίας ἑλών·
700

εἷρπε γὰρ ἄλλοτʼ ἀλλαχᾷ

τότʼ ἂν εἰλυόμενος

παῖς ἄτερ ὡς φίλας τιθήνας ὅθεν εὐμάρειʼ ὑπάρ-

χοι πόρου, ἁνίκʼ ἐξανείη δακέθυμος ἄτα·
705

707

Χορός

οὐ φορβὰν ἱερᾶς γᾶς σπόρον, οὐκ ἄλλων

αἴρων τῶν νεμόμεσθʼ ἀνέρες ἀλφησταί,

πλὴν ἐξ ὠκυβόλων εἴ ποτε τόξων
710

πτανοῖς ἰοῖς ἀνύσειε γαστρὶ φορβάν.

ὦ μελέα ψυχά,

ὃς μηδʼ οἰνοχύτου πώματος ἥσθη δεκέτει χρόνῳ,

λεύσσων δʼ ὅπου γνοίη στατὸν εἰς ὕδωρ,

ἀεὶ προσενώμα.

718

Χορός

νῦν δʼ ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν παιδὸς ὑπαντήσας

εὐδαίμων ἀνύσει καὶ μέγας ἐκ κείνων·
720

ὅς νιν ποντοπόρῳ δούρατι, πλήθει

πολλῶν μηνῶν, πατρίαν ἄγει πρὸς αὐλὰν

Μαλιάδων νυμφᾶν
725

Σπερχειοῦ τε παρʼ ὄχθας, ἵνʼ ὁ χάλκασπις ἀνὴρ θεοῖς

πλάθει πατρὸς θείῳ πυρὶ παμφαής,

Οἴτας ὑπὲρ ὄχθων.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἕρπʼ, εἰ θέλεις. τί δή ποθʼ ὧδʼ ἐξ οὐδενὸς
730

λόγου σιωπᾷς κἀπόπληκτος ὧδʼ ἔχει;

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί δʼ ἔστιν;

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐδὲν δεινόν· ἀλλʼ ἴθʼ, ὦ τέκνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος

μῶν ἄλγος ἴσχεις τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου;

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄρτι κουφίζειν δοκῶ. ὦ θεοί.
735

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί τοὺς θεοὺς ὧδʼ ἀναστένων καλεῖς;

Φιλοκτήτης

σωτῆρας αὐτοὺς ἠπίους θʼ ἡμῖν μολεῖν. ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί ποτε πέπονθας; οὐκ ἐρεῖς, ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἔσει
740

σιγηλός; ἐν κακῷ δέ τῳ φαίνει κυρῶν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον, κοὐ δυνήσομαι κακὸν

κρύψαι παρʼ ὑμῖν, ἀτταταῖ· διέρχεται

διέρχεται. δύστηνος, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ.

ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον· βρύκομαι, τέκνον· παπαῖ,
745

ἀπαππαπαῖ, παπαππαπαππαπαππαπαῖ.

πρὸς θεῶν, πρόχειρον εἴ τί σοι, τέκνον, πάρα

ξίφος χεροῖν, πάταξον εἰς ἄκρον πόδα·

ἀπάμησον ὡς τάχιστα· μὴ φείσῃ βίου. ἴθʼ, ὦ παῖ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί δʼ ἔστιν οὕτω νεοχμὸν ἐξαίφνης, ὅτου

τοσήνδʼ ἰυγὴν καὶ στόνον σαυτοῦ ποεῖ;

Φιλοκτήτης

οἶσθʼ, ὦ τέκνον;

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί δʼ ἔστιν;

Φιλοκτήτης

οἶσθʼ, ὦ παῖ;

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί σοί;

οὐκ οἶδα.

Φιλοκτήτης

πῶς οὐκ οἶσθα; παππαπαππαπαῖ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

δεινόν γε τοὐπίσαγμα τοῦ νοσήματος.
755

Φιλοκτήτης

δεινὸν γὰρ οὐδὲ ῥητόν· ἀλλʼ οἴκτιρέ με.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί δῆτα δράσω;

Φιλοκτήτης

μή με ταρβήσας προδῷς·

ἥκει γὰρ αὕτη διὰ χρόνου πλάνοις ἴσως

ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἰὼ ἰὼ δύστηνε σύ,

δύστηνε δῆτα διὰ πόνων πάντων φανείς.
760

βούλει λάβωμαι δῆτα καὶ θίγω τί σου;

Φιλοκτήτης

μὴ δῆτα τοῦτό γʼ· ἀλλά μοι τὰ τόξʼ ἑλὼν

τάδʼ, ὥσπερ ᾐτοῦ μʼ ἀρτίως, ἕως ἀνῇ

τὸ πῆμα τοῦτο τῆς νόσου τὸ νῦν παρόν,
765

σῷζʼ αὐτὰ καὶ φύλασσε. λαμβάνει γὰρ οὖν

ὕπνος μʼ, ὅταν περ τὸ κακὸν ἐξίῃ τόδε·

κοὐκ ἔστι λῆξαι πρότερον· ἀλλʼ ἐᾶν χρεὼν

ἕκηλον εὕδειν. ἢν δὲ τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ

μόλωσʼ ἐκεῖνοι, πρὸς θεῶν ἐφίεμαι
770

ἑκόντα μηδʼ ἄκοντα μηδέ τῳ τέχνῃ

κείνοις μεθεῖναι ταῦτα, μὴ σαυτόν θʼ ἅμα

κἄμʼ, ὄντα σαυτοῦ πρόστροπον, κτείνας γένῃ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

θάρσει προνοίας οὕνεκʼ· οὐ δοθήσεται

πλὴν σοί τε κἀμοί· ξὺν τύχῃ δὲ πρόσφερε.
775

Φιλοκτήτης

ἰδοὺ δέχου, παῖ· τὸν φθόνον δὲ πρόσκυσον

μή σοι γενέσθαι πολύπονʼ αὐτὰ μηδʼ ὅπως

ἐμοί τε καὶ τῷ πρόσθʼ ἐμοῦ κεκτημένῳ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὦ θεοί, γένοιτο ταῦτα νῷν· γένοιτο δὲ

πλοῦς οὔριός τε κεὐσταλὴς ὅποι ποτὲ
780

θεὸς δικαιοῖ χὠ στόλος πορσύνεται.

782

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀλλʼ οὖν δέδοικα μὴ ἀτέλεστʼ εὔχῃ, τέκνον.

στάζει γὰρ αὖ μοι φοίνιον τόδʼ ἐκ βυθοῦ

κηκῖον αἷμα, καί τι προσδοκῶ νέον.

παπαῖ, φεῦ.
785

παπαῖ μάλʼ, ὦ πούς, οἷά μʼ ἐργάσει κακά.

προσέρπει,

προσέρχεται τόδʼ ἐγγύς. οἴμοι μοι τάλας.

ἔχετε τὸ πρᾶγμα· μὴ φύγητε μηδαμῇ.

ἀτταταῖ.
790

ὦ ξένε Κεφαλλήν, εἴθε σου διαμπερὲς

στέρνων ἔχοιτʼ ἄλγησις ἥδε. φεῦ, παπαῖ,

παπαῖ μάλʼ αὖθις. ὦ διπλοῖ στρατηλάται,

Ἀγάμεμνον, ὦ Μενέλαε, πῶς ἂν ἀντʼ ἐμοῦ

τὸν ἴσον χρόνον τρέφοιτε τήνδε τὴν νόσον; ἰώ μοι.
795

ὦ Θάνατε Θάνατε, πῶς ἀεὶ καλούμενος

οὕτω κατʼ ἦμαρ, οὐ δύνᾳ μολεῖν ποτε;

ὦ τέκνον ὦ γενναῖον, ἀλλὰ συλλαβὼν

τῷ Λημνίῳ τῷδʼ ἀνακαλουμένῳ πυρὶ
800

ἔμπρησον, ὦ γενναῖε· κἀγώ τοί ποτε

τὸν τοῦ Διὸς παῖδʼ ἀντὶ τῶνδε τῶν ὅπλων,

ἃ νῦν σὺ σῴζεις, τοῦτʼ ἐπηξίωσα δρᾶν. τί φής, παῖ;

τί φής; τί σιγᾷς; ποῦ ποτʼ ὤν, τέκνον, κυρεῖς;
805

806

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλγῶ πάλαι δὴ τἀπὶ σοὶ στένων κακά.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχʼ· ὡς ἥδε μοι

ὀξεῖα φοιτᾷ καὶ ταχεῖʼ ἀπέρχεται.

ἀλλʼ ἀντιάζω, μή με καταλίπῃς μόνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος

θάρσει, μενοῦμεν.
810

Φιλοκτήτης

ἦ μενεῖς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

σαφῶς φρόνει.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐ μήν σʼ ἔνορκόν γʼ ἀξιῶ θέσθαι, τέκνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὡς οὐ θέμις γʼ ἐμοὔστι σοῦ μολεῖν ἄτερ.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἔμβαλλε χειρὸς πίστιν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἐμβάλλω μενεῖν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἐκεῖσε νῦν μʼ, ἐκεῖσε

Νεοπτόλεμος

ποῖ λέγεις;

Φιλοκτήτης

ἄνω

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί παραφρονεῖς αὖ; τί τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις κύκλον;
815

Φιλοκτήτης

μέθες μέθες με.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ποῖ μεθῶ;

Φιλοκτήτης

μέθες ποτέ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὔ φημʼ ἐάσειν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀπό μʼ ὀλεῖς, ἢν προσθίγῃς.

Νεοπτόλεμος

καὶ δὴ μεθίημʼ, εἴ τι δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ γαῖα, δέξαι θανάσιμόν μʼ ὅπως ἔχω

τὸ γὰρ κακὸν τόδʼ οὐκέτʼ ὀρθοῦσθαί μʼ ἐᾷ.
820

Νεοπτόλεμος

τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἔοικεν ὕπνος οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου

ἕξειν· κάρα γὰρ ὑπτιάζεται τόδε·

ἱδρώς γέ τοί νιν πᾶν καταστάζει δέμας,

μέλαινά τʼ ἄκρου τις παρέρρωγεν ποδὸς

αἱμορραγὴς φλέψ. ἀλλʼ ἐάσωμεν, φίλοι,
825

ἕκηλον αὐτόν, ὡς ἂν εἰς ὕπνον πέσῃ.

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 628 focus

Is not this terrible, Laërtes’ son
630

Should ever think to bring me with soft words
630

And show me from his deck to all their host?

No! Sooner will I listen to the tongue

Of the curs’d basilisk that thus hath maim’d me.

Ay, but he’ll venture anything in word

Or deed. And now I know he will be here.

Come, O my son, let us be gone, while seas

And winds divide us from Odysseus’ ship.
635

Let us depart. Sure timely haste brings rest
635

And quiet slumber when the toil is done.

NEO

Shall we not sail when this south-western wind

Hath fallen, that now is adverse to our course?

PHI

All winds are fair to him who flies from woe.

NEO

Nay, but this head-wind hinders them no less.

PHI

No head-wind hinders pirates on their way,
645

When violence and rapine lead them on.

NEO

Well, then, let us be going, if you will;

When you have taken from within the cave

What most you need and value.

PHI

Though my all

Be little, there is that I may not lose.

NEO

What can there be that we have not on board?
650

PHI

A leaf I have found, wherewith I still the rage

Of my sore plague, and lull it quite to rest.

NEO

Well, bring it forth.—What? Is there something more?

PHI

If any of these arrows here are fallen,

I would not leave them for a casual prey.
655

NEO

How? Do I see thee with the marvellous bow?

PHI

Here in my hand. The world hath only one.

NEO

And may one touch and handle it, and gaze

With reverence, as on a thing from Heaven?

PHI

Thou mayest, my son. This and whate’er of mine
660

May stead thee, ’tis thy privilege to enjoy.

NEO

In very truth I long for it, but so,

That longing waits on leave. Am I permitted?

PHI

Thou art, my son,—and well thou speakest,—thou art.

Thou, that hast given me light and life, the joy

Of seeing Mount Oeta and my father’s home,

With all I love there, and his aged head,—

Thou that hast raised me far above my foes
665

Who triumphed! Thou may’st take it in thine hand,
665

And,—when thou hast given it back to me,—may’st vaunt
665

Alone of mortals for thine excellence

To have held this in thy touch. I, too, at first,

Received it as a boon for kindness done.

NEO

Well, go within.

PHI

Nay, I must take thee too.

My sickness craves thee for its comforter.

CHORUS
CHORUS .

In fable I have heard,
675

Though sight hath ne’er confirmed the word,
675

How he who attempted once the couch supreme,

To a whirling wheel by Zeus the all-ruler bound,

Tied head and heel, careering ever round,

Atones his impious unsubstantial dream.

Of no man else, through eye or ear,

Have I discerned a fate more full of fear
680

Than yonder sufferer’s of the cureless wound:

Who did no violence, defrauded none:—

A just man, had he dwelt among the just

Unworthily behold him thrust

Alone to hear the billows roar

That break around a rugged shore!
685

How could he live, whose life was thus consumed with moan?

Where neighbour there was none:

No arm to stay him wandering lone,

Unevenly, with stumbling steps and sore;

No friend in need, no kind inhabitant,

To minister to his importunate want,
690

No heart whereto his pangs he might deplore.

None who, whene’er the gory flow

Was rushing hot, might healing herbs bestow,

Or cull from teeming Earth some genial plant

To allay the anguish of malignant pain

And soothe the sharpness of his poignant woe.
695

Like infant whom the nurse lets go,
695

With tottering movement here and there,

He crawled for comfort, whensoe’er

His soul-devouring plague relaxed its cruel strain.

Not fed with foison of all-teeming Earth

Whence we sustain us, ever-toiling men,

But only now and then
700

With wingèd things, by his wing’d shafts brought low,

He stayed his hunger from his bow.

Poor soul, that never through ten years of dearth

Had pleasure from the fruitage of the vine,

But seeking to some standing pool,

Nor clear nor cool,
705

Foul water heaved to head for lack of heartening wine.

But now, consorted with the hero’s child,

He winneth greatness and a joyful change;

Over the water wild

Borne by a friendly bark beneath the range

Of Oeta, where Spercheius fills
710

Wide channels winding among lovely hills

Haunted of Melian nymphs, till he espies

The roof-tree of his father’s hall,

And high o’er all

Shines the bronze shield of him, whose home is in the skies.

NEO

Prithee, come on! Why dost thou stand aghast,
715

Voiceless, and thus astonied in thine air?

PHI

Oh! oh!

NEO

What?

PHI

Nothing. Come my son, fear nought.

NEO

Is pain upon thee? Hath thy trouble come?
720

PHI

No pain, no pain! ’Tis past; I am easy now.

Ye heavenly powers!

NEO

Why dost thou groan aloud,

And cry to Heaven?

PHI

To come and save. Kind Heaven!

Oh, oh!
725

NEO

What is ’t? Why silent? Wilt not speak?

I see thy misery.

PHI

Oh! I am lost, my son!

I cannot hide it from you. Oh! it shoots,

It pierces. Oh unhappy! Oh! my woe!
730

I am lost, my son, I am devoured. Oh me!

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Pain! pain! Oh pain! oh pain!

Child, if a sword be to thine hand, smite hard,

Shear off my foot! heed not my life! Quick, come!

NEO

What hath so suddenly arisen, that thus

Thou mak’st ado and groanest o’er thyself?

PHI

Thou knowest.

NEO

What know I?
740

PHI

O! thou knowest, my son!

NEO

I know not.

PHI

How? Not know? Ah me! Pain, pain!

NEO

Thy plague is a sore burden, heavy and sore.

PHI

Sore? ’Tis unutterable. Have pity on me!
745

NEO

What shall I do?

PHI

Do not in fear forsake me.

This wandering evil comes in force again,

Hungry as ere it fed.

NEO

O hapless one!
750

Thrice hapless in thy manifold distress!

What wilt thou? Shall I raise thee on mine arm?

PHI

Nay, but receiving from my hand the bow,

As late thou didst desire me, keep it safe

And guard it, till the fury of my pain
755

Pass over me and cease. For when ’tis spent,

Slumber will seize me, else it ne’er would end.

I must sleep undisturbed. But if meanwhile

They come,—by Heaven I charge thee, in no wise,

Willingly nor perforce, let them have this!
760

Else thou wilt be the slayer of us both;

Of me thy suppliant, and of thyself.

NEO

Fear not my care. No hand shall hold these arms

But thine and mine. Give, and Heaven bless the deed!
765

PHI

I give them; there, my son! But look to Heaven

And pray no envy smite thee, nor such bane

In having them, as fell on me and him

Who bore them formerly.

NEO

O grant it, Gods!

And grant us fair and happy voyage, where’er
770

Our course is shaped and righteous Heaven shall guide.

PHI

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 628 focus

Ist das, o Kind, nicht schrecklich, daß Laertes' Sohn

In's Schiff mit glatten Worten mich zu locken hofft,
615

Mich dort zur Schau zu stellen vor dem ganzen Heer?

Nein! Wahrlich eher hört' ich auf das feindliche

Scheusal, die Natter, die des Fußes mich beraubt.

Doch Alles sagen darf der Mann, darf Alles sich

Erdreisten: jezt auch weiß ich, daß er kommen wird.
620

So laß, o Sohn, uns eilen, daß wir weit hinweg

Von seinem Schiffe durch das Meer geschieden sind.

Auf denn von hinnen! Eilen wir bei guter Zeit,

Wird nach der Arbeit Schlummer uns und süße Rast.

(ab.)

Neoptolemos.

Sobald der Wind ruht, welcher vorn' am Buge bläst,
625

Geh'n wir zu Schiffe; jezo wehrt er uns die Fahrt.

Philoktetes.

Stets ist der Wind gut, wenn du vor dem Uebel fliehst.

Neoptolemos.

Gewiß; indeß auch jene sind durch ihn gehemmt.

Philoktetes.

Nie hält ein widerwärt'ger Wind die Räuber auf,¹

Wenn ihnen Diebstahl, wenn Gewaltraub ihnen winkt.
630

Neoptolemos.

Nun, wenn's gefällt, so geh'n wir; doch nimm drinnen erst,

Wozu Bedürfniß oder Wunsch zuerst dich treibt.

Philoktetes.

Wohl brauch' ich Etwas, das ich wähl' aus Wenigem.

Neoptolemos.

Was wär' es, das dir unser Schiff nicht geben kann?

Philoktetes.

Ein Kraut besiz' ich, welches stets am ehsten mir
635

Der Wunde Schmerz einschläfert, daß er ganz verstummt.

Neoptolemos.

So hole dir's: doch was begehrst du weiter noch?

Philoktetes.

Ob mir von diesem Bogen aus Versehen nicht

Ein Stück entfallen, daß es mir kein Andrer nimmt.

Neoptolemos.

Das ist der edle Bogen denn, in deiner Hand?
640

Philoktetes.

Der ist es, ja; denn keinen andern trag' ich sonst.

Neoptolemos.

Und ist es mir gestattet, darf ich näher ihn

Betrachten, fassen, küssen, gleich als wär's ein Gott?

Philoktetes.

Dir, Trauter, will ich gerne dies und was mir sonst

Gehört, gewähren, wenn es dich erfreuen kann.
645

Neoptolemos.

Ich wünsch' es freilich, aber so nur wünsch' ich es:

Darf ich, so möcht' ich's; darf ich nicht, versage mir's.

Philoktetes.

Du redest fromm, o Jüngling, und du darfst es wohl,

Du, der allein die Strahlen dieser Sonne mich,

Der mich das Land am Deta, der die Freunde mich,
650

Den greisen Vater schauen läßt, der hoch empor

Mich schon gestürzten über meine Feinde hob!

Getrost: du darfst ihn fassen, darfst dem Gebenden

Ihn geben, darfst dich rühmen, daß auf Erden du

Zum Lohne deiner Tugend ihn allein berührt.
655
(reicht ihm den Bogen hin)

Durch Liebesdienste hab' ich selbst ihn mir verdient.²

Neoptolemos.

Wohl, wohl mir, daß ich dich geseh'n, zum Freund gewann!

Denn wer für Wohlthat wohlzuthun versteht wie du,

Weit über alle Schäze geht ein solcher Freund.

So geh hinein.
660
(ergreift seinen Arm)

Philoktetes.

Und du geleite mich, o Kind,
660

Da meine Krankheit deinen Arm als Stüze sucht.

(Beide gehen in die Höhle. Der Chor bleibt allein zurück.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Ich hörte wohl von jenem, doch nie sah ich ihn,

Welcher genaht Zeus' Bette, den frevelnden

Ixion, den an das kreisende Rad gebunden hält³

Der starke Sohn des Kronos.
665

Doch nie hab' ich gehört durch das Gerücht, oder geseh'n jemals,

Daß ein Sterblicher Leid empfand, wie dieser,

Der doch nie Raub verübte noch Gewalt,

Edlen gesellt, ein edler Mann,

Also schuldlos unterging.
670

Mich ergreift Staunen darob,

Wie er es, wie, allein die Flut, die ihn umbraust, vernehmend hier,

Wie er ein solches Thränenloos tapfer besteht, so einsam.

Erste Gegenstrophe.

Hier wohnt er einzeln, ihm gebricht des Fußes Kraft,

Mangelt ein Nachbar, welchem in Thränen er
675

Den herben Schmerz an der fressenden, blutumströmten Wunde,

Rings vernehmbar, klage,

Der ihm stille das heißquellende Blut, welches die Wund' ausströmt

Am giftschwellenden Fuß, sobald der Schmerz ihn

Befiel, durch linde Kräuter, die er vom
680

Nährenden Schooß der Erde las.

Dort und hier ja schleppt er sich

Mit dem Fuß kriechend umher,

(Wie von der Amme fern ein Kind,) wo sich der Pfad bequem für ihn

Ebnete, wenn das Uebel wich, welches ihm nagt am Herzen.
685
Zweite Strophe.

Nimmer stärkt ihn die Frucht heiliger Erd' oder

Was der Sterblichen sinnreiches Geschlecht sonst nährt,

Wenn nicht etwa mit schnelltreffender Pfeilschwinge

Ihm sein Flügelgeschoß errang die Nahrung.

Wehe dir, Unglückssohn,
690

Der am lieblichen Wein nicht sich gelabt schon in das zehnte Jahr,

Nein, immer, wo er sumpsendes Wasser sah,

Sehnsüchtig hinankroch!

Zweite Gegenstrophe.

Doch nun, weil er den Sohn rühmlicher Ahnherrn fand,

Wird er glücklich und groß aus dem Geschick ersteh'n:
695

Auf meerwandelndem Boot führt ihn der Retter heim,

Nach viel Monden, zum vaterländ'schen Wohnsiz

Melischer Meerjungfrau'n,

An Spercheios' Gestad, wo sich der Held, prangend in eh'rnem Schild,⁴

Zum Göttersiz aus göttlicher Glut empor
700

Hob über dem Deta.

(Neoptolemos und Philoktetes treten aus der Höhle.) Neoptolemos. Philoktetes. Der Chor.

Neoptolemos.

Komm, wenn du willst. Warum verstummst du plözlich so

Was hält dich also starr und stumm?

Ohn' allen Grund?

Ah, ah, ah, ah!

Was hast du?
705

Philoktetes.

Gar nichts Arges: geh nur weiter, Sohn!

Neoptolemos.

Wohl fühlst du Schmerzen, da die Krankheit nahe dringt?

Philoktetes.

Nein, wahrlich! Eben, mein' ich, wird mir's leichter schon.

Ihr Götter, o!

Was russt du so die Götter tiefausseufzend an?

Sie sollen hülfreich lindernd uns als Retter nah'n.
710

Ah, ah, ah, ah!

Neoptolemos.

Was widerfuhr dir? Sagst du's nicht? Verharrst du ganz

In Schweigen? Denn ein Leiden quält dich offenbar.

Ich bin verloren!

Philoktetes.

Nimmer kann ich, Sohn, die Qual

Vor euch verhehlen. Götter, ha! Durch dringt sie, durch,
715

Durch dringt sie: weh, ich Armer, Unglückseliger!

Ach Kind, o weh! Ich bin verloren! Wie es zehrt!

Ach wehe, weh! Weh, weh, o weh! Ach wehe, weh!

Bei allen Göttern, wenn du hier in der Nähe, Sohn,

Zur Hand ein Schwert hast, triff des Fußes Spize; flugs,
720

Flugs hau' ihn ab, und schone meines Lebens nicht!

O thu's, Kind!

Neoptolemos.

Welch neues Grauen faßte dich so plözlich, daß

Du solch Gewinsel und Gestöhn um dich erhebst?

Du weißt, o Kind
725

Was?

Nichts weiß ich.

Philoktetes.

Sohn, du weißt - Was red' ich noch?

Wie? Du weißt es nicht? Ach wehe, weh!

Neoptolemos.

Schwer drückt der Krankheit Bürde dich, Unglücklicher!

Philoktetes.

Schwer wahrlich, graunvoll, namenlos: erbarm dich mein!

Was kann ich thun? Erschrocken, laß nicht ab von mir:

In gleichem Irrlauf kommt der Schmerz nach langer Frist,
730

Sobald er sich gesättigt.

Neoptolemos.

Ach, Unseliger,

Durch all die Leiden offenbar Unseliger!

Verlangst du, daß ich fassen dich und halten soll?

Philoktetes.

Nicht dies verlang' ich; aber nimm den Bogen hier,

Wie du mich eben batest, und bis diese Pein
735

Des Leidens nachläßt, dessen Wuth mich jezt befiel,

Bewahre mir und hüt' ihn. Denn mich faßt der Schlaf,

Sobald die Qual ihr vorbestimmtes Ziel erreicht;

Und früher ist kein Ende. Doch dann lasse man

Mich ruhig schlummern. Aber wenn in dieser Zeit
740

Die Männer kommen, dann, bei Zeus, gebiet' ich dir:

Nicht willig, noch gezwungen, noch durch List verlockt,

Laß ihnen diesen, daß du nicht zugleich dich selbst

Und mich ermordest, deinen Schuzbefohlenen.

Neoptolemos.

Auf meine Vorsicht darfst du bau'n; nur ich und du
745

Empfangen ihn; mit gutem Glücke reich' ihn her!

Philoktetes.

Hier, nimm ihn; doch versöhne, Kind, der Götter Neid,⁵

Daß dir die Wehr nicht Schmerzen, nicht Verderben bringt,

Wie mir und jenem, welcher sie vor mir besaß.

Neoptolemos.

Götter, dies verleihet uns; verleihet ihr
750

Uns frohe Fahrt mit gutem Wind, wohin ein Gott

Uns will geleiten und der Zug bereitet wird!

Philoktetes.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 676 focus

comes

A stranger. Stop a moment till we hear

Their business with us.

with another Grecian,

Hi

Merchant
\EnteT a Spy in the habit of a Merchant, (^ OF THE ^ Scene II.

Lead me — expose me to the Grecian host !
630

And could the insolent Ulysses hope
630

With his soft flatteries e'er to conquer me \

No ! Sooner would 1 listen to the voice

Of that fell serpent, whose envenomed tongue

Hath lamed me thus. But what is there he dare not

Or say or do ? I know he will be here

E'en now, depend on't. Therefore, let's away !

Quick let the sea divide us from Ulysses.

Let us be gone ; for well-timed expedition,

The task performed, brings safety and repose.
635

Ned. Soon {\s the wind permits us we embark,
635

But now 'tis adverse.

Philoctetes

Every wind is fair

When we are flying from misfortune.

Ned. True ;

And 'tis against them too.

Philoctetes

Alas ! no storms
645

Can drive back fraud and rapine from their prey.

Neoptolemus

I'm ready. Take what may be necessaiy,

And follow me.

Philoctetes

I want not much.

Neoptolemus

Perhaps
650

My ship will furnish you.
650

Philoctetes

There is a plant

Which to my wound gives some relief ; I must

Have that.

Neoptolemus

Is there aught else?

Philoctetes

Alas ! my bow

I had forgot. I must not lose that treasure.

hrhigs out his boiv and ay-rows.
655

Neoptolemus

Are these the famous arrows then ?

Philoctetes

They are.

Neoptolemus

And may I be permitted to behold,

To touch, to pay my adoration to them ?

Philoctetes

In these, my son, in everything that 's mine
660

Thou hast a right.

Neoptolemus

But if it be a crime.

I would not ; otherwise

Philoctetes

Oh! thou art full

Of piety ; in thee it is no crime ;

In thee, my friend, by whom alone I look
665

Once more with pleasure on the radiant sun —

By whom I live— who giv'st me to return

To my dear father, to my friends, my country :

Sunk as I was beneath my foes, once more

I rise to triumph o'er them by thy aid :

Behold them, touch them, but return them to me,

And boast that virtue which on thee alone

Bestowed such honour. Virtue made them mine.

I can deny thee nothing : he, whose heart

Is grateful can alone deserve the name
670

Of friend, to every treasure far superior.

ISTeo. Go in.

Philoctetes

Come with me ; for my painful wound

Requires thy friendly hand to help me onward.

Since proud Ixion, doomed to feel

The tortures of th' eternal wheel.

Bound by the hand of angry Jove,

Received the due rewards of impious love ;

Ne'er was distress so deep or woe so great

Who ever with the just and good,

Guiltless of fraud and rapine, stood,

And the fair paths of virtue still pursued ;

Alone on this inhospitable shore,

Where waves for ever beat and tempests roar,

How could he e'er or hope or comfort know,

Or painful life support beneath such weight of woe ?

Exposed to the inclement skies,

Deserted and forlorn he lies,

No friend or fellow-mourner there

To soothe his sorrows and divide his care,

Or seek the healing plant of power to 'suage

His aching wound and mitigate its rage ;

But if perchance, awhile released

From torturing pain, he sinks to rest.

Awakened soon, and by sharp hunger prest,

Compelled to wander forth in search of food.

He crawls in anguish to the neighbouring wood ;

Even as the tottering infant in despair

Who mourns an absent mother's kind supporting care,

The teeming earth, who mortals still supplies

With every good, to him her seed denies ;

A stranger to the joy that flows

From the kind aid which man on man bestows ;

Nor food, alas ! to him was given,

Save when his arrows pierced the birds of heaven ;

Nor e'er did Bacchus' heart-expanding bowl

For ten long years relieve his cheerless soul ;

But glad was he his eager thirst to slake

In the unwholesome pool, or ever-stagnant lak^.

But now, behold the joyful captive freed ;

A fairer fate, and brighter days succeed :

For he at last hath found a friend

Of noblest race, to save and to defend.

To guide him with protecting hand,

And safe restore him to his native land ;

On Sperchius' flowery banks to join the throng

Of Melian nymphs, and lead the choral song

On CEta's top, which saw Alcides rise,

And from the flaming pile ascend his native skies,

Neoptolemus
{Exeunt. Stro'plie, Antistrophe. Strophe 2. Antistrophe 2. ACT III. Scene I.

Come, Philoctetes; why thus silent? Wherefore
715

This sudden terror on thee ?

Philoctetes

Oh !

Neoptolemus

Whence is it ?

Philoctetes

Nothing, my son ; go on !

Neoptolemus

Is it thy wound
720

That pains thee thus ?
720

Philoctetes

No ; I am better now.

O gods !

Neoptolemus

Why dost thou call thus on the gods ?

Philoctetes

To smile propitious, and preserve us Oh !

Neoptolemus

Thou art in misery. Tell me — wilt thou not ?

What is it?

Philoctetes

O my son ! I can no longer

Conceal it from thee. Oh ! I die, I perish ;

By the great gods let me implore thee, now

This moment, if thou hast a sword, oh ! strike,

Cut off this painful limb, and end my being !

Neoptolemus

What can this mean, that unexpected thus

It should torment thee 1

Philoctetes

Know you not, my son ?

Neoptolemus

What is the cause ?
740

Philoctetes

Can you not guess it?

Neoptolemus

No.

Philoctetes

Nor I.

Neoptolemus

That's stranger still.

Philoctetes

My son, my son !
745

Neoptolemus

This new attack is terrible indeed !

Philoctetes

'Tis inexpressible ! Have pity on me !

Neoptolemus

What shall I do ?

Philoctetes

Do not be terrified,

And leave me. Its returns are regular,

And like tl>p traveller, when its appetite

Is satisfied, it will depart. Oh ! oh !

Neoptolemus

Thou art oppressed with ills on every side.

Give me thy hand. Come, wilt thou lean upon me?
765

Philoctetes

No; but these arrows, take; preserve 'em {<>;

me.

A little while, till I grow better. Sleep

Is coming on me, and my pains will cease.

Tvet mo ])e quiet. If meantime our foes

Surprise thee, let nor force nor artifice

Deprive thee of the great, the precious trust

I have reposed in thee ; that were ruin

To thee, and to thy friend.

Neoptolemus

Be not afraid —

No hands but mine shall touch them ; give them to me.

Philoctetes

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 628 focus

Is not this strange? What, dares Ulysses hope:
630

With soothing words to win me to embark
630

With him, and trail me through the Grecian camp

Aspectacle! No: rather would I hear

The serpent, from whose venom'd tooth my foot

Received this wound. But he dares speak and act

Whate'er is base. I know that he will come;

Let us then hence; with all its, broad expanse

Let the sea roll between his bark and us.
635

Let us begone: for well-timed speed (the toil
635

Surmounted) brings the calm of sweet repose.

Neoptolemus

When from the shore the favouring gales arise,

Our sails shall catch them: they are adverse now.

Philoctetes

Fair is each gale that wafts the bark from ills.

Neoptolemus

No: but to them the gale is adverse too.

Philoctetes

To daring pirates adverse is no wind,
645

With ruffian force when they can seize their spoil.

Neoptolemus

Well; instant let us sail: but from thy cave

First bear what thou may'st need, or wish to take.

Philoctetes

There is, though small my stores, what I shall need.

Neoptolemus

What is there which my bark can not supply?
650

Philoctetes

There is an herb, with which I oft assuage

My wound, and wholly mitigate its pain.

Neoptolemus

Bring it. Aught else hast thou a wish to take?

Philoctetes

If of these shafts one carelessly be dropt,

I would not leave it to a casual lord.
655

Neoptolemus

Is this the bow so famous through the world?

Philoctetes

It is: my hands no other deign to hold.

Neoptolemus

Wilt thou indulge me with a nearer view,

To hold, to kiss it as a thing divine?

Philoctetes

This, and what else is mine, to thee, my son,
660

To gratify thy wish shall be allow'd.

Neoptolemus

I wish it, so far wish it as thy will

Assents; if not, my wish shall be suppress'd.

Philoctetes

Thy words are pious; thou hast my consent,

Thou, who alone hast giv'n me to behold

The sun's bright beams, to see th' Otæan land,

My aged father, my loved friends; when sunk

Beneath my foes, to rise and triumph. Yes,

Thou hast my leave to touch it, to my hands
665

Again to give it, and to make thy boast
665

That for thy virtue thou of all mankind
665

Alone hast handled it: for friendly deeds.
665

It was my prize; nor envy I my friend

To see, to touch it. He, whose grateful heart

Knows to requite a favour, is a friend

Of higher value than rich treasured stores.

Neoptolemus

The cave now enter.

Philoctetes

I will lead thee on;

For my disease thy aiding hand desires.

Chorus

STRO. 1. Such miseries never did mine eyes behold;
675

But fame records from times of old
675

That when Ixion with ambitious love

Assay'd to stain the bed of Jove,

Seized by the Thunderer, on the whirling wheel

Enchain'd, such tortures he was doom'd to feel.

Else not the grief-assaulted ear,

Nor eye inured to scenes of woe,
680

Have known a fate like his severe :

Yet justice aims no vengeful blow;

His hands no deed of baseness stains,

And fraud his virtuous soul disdains.

Alone, exposed on this wild shore,

Hearing the billows round him roar,
685

I marvel how his mournful life he bore.

ANTIS. 1. In cheerless solitude these rocks among

With pain he dragg'd his steps along;

No social friend, no partner in his pains

Attentive hears while he complains,

From mutual anguish makes his mutual moan,
690

Re-echoes sigh for sigh, and groan for groan;

None, when his fierce envenom'd wound

Bursts ope, and spouts the boiling gore,

To cull the lenient herb is found

From bounteous nature's balmy store..

But (as a child, its nurse away,
695

With tottering foot attempts to stray)
695

Where best his food he may provide:

His feebly-rolling steps are tried,

Oft as his soul-consuming pains subside.

Him not the earth's rich fruits sustain,

Which from her sacred bounty rise;

Nor, food of men, the golden grain,
700

Which toil's inventive care supplies;

Nor aught, save birds that wing th' ethereal height,

If haply his swift shafts arrest their flight.

For ten long years no sparkling bowł

Cheer'd with the grape's rich juice his soul;

But where th' unruffled fount he saw,
705

"He hasted from the joyless stream to draw.

A noble youth he now hath found,

Who with his father's virtues glows;

By fortune now his patience crown'd,

He rises greater from his woes.

The bark shall waft him, after these sad hours,
710

To thy loved banks, Sperchius, where their bow'rs

The Melian Nymphs delight to twine;

Where Eta blazed with flames divine,

Whence glorious to the blest abodes

The hero rose a god among the gods.

Neoptolemus
STRO. 2. ANTIS. 2.

PHILOCTETES, returning from the
715

cave; CHORUS.

Neoptolemus

Why this delay? Move onward. What the cause

Of this thy silence? Whence this deep dismay?

Neoptolemus

What ill afflicts thee?
720

Philoctetes

Nothing great: go one

Neoptolemus

Wou'dst thou suppress the pain of thy disease?

Philoctetes

Oh, no; I now feel lighter. O ye gods!

Neoptolemus

Why with such groans dost thou invoke the gods?

Philoctetes

To save us with their kind and guardian pow'r.

He groans repeatedly.

Neoptolemus

What may this be? Wilt thou not speak? Thus lon

Why art thou silent? Piercing seems thy pain.

Philoctetes

Oh, this exceeds the pow'r of man to bear!

Nor from you longer can I hide my ill.

Oh, I am pierced, pierced through! Unhappy me!

I cannot bear these agonizing pains.

Repeated and violent groans.

Hast thou a sword, my son? Cut off my foot,

Quick, hew it off, nor spare this wretched life.

Neoptolemus

What are these new and sudden ills, that cause
740

Such dreadful cries, and loud-lamenting groans?
740

Philoctetes

Know'st thou, my son...

Know what?

Know'st thou, my son...

Neoptolemus

What wou'dst thou ask?

Philoctetes

I know not.

Neoptolemus

How not know?

Philoctetes groans again.

Neoptolemus

How dreadful the attack of thy disease!

Philoctetes

Dreadful indeed: words cannot speak its force.

But pity me.

Neoptolemus

What wou'dst thou I should do?

Philoctetes

Be not astonish'd, nor abandon me,"

Neoptolemus

At intervals, like ruffians keen to seize

Their prey, its cruel inroads it will make

Till it be sated.

O unhappy man,
765

In all thy toils unhappy! Shall my hand
765

Support thee?...
765

Philoctetes

No: I would not that: but take

The bow, which lately thou didst wish to touch,

And, till the pains, which pierce me now, abate,

Hold it, and guard it well; for when the force

Of this disease begins to be allay'd,

Sleep seizes me; till then I have no pause.

From gnawing pain; permit me then to lie

In undisturb'd repose; and, should they come,

Mean while, I beg thee by th' immortal gods

Let not persuasion, force, or all their arts,

Work thee to yield it to them; for thyself,

And me thy suppliant else thou wilt destroy.

Neoptolemus

In my attentive care confide; to none,

Save to thy hands and mine, shall it be giv’n.
770

Consign it to me: happy be the trust!

Philoctetes

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 676-725 focus

Chorus

I have heard a rumor, but never seen with my eyes, how the man who once approached the bed of Zeus was bound upon a

swift wheel by the almighty son of Cronus. But of no other mortal do I know, either by hearsay or by sight, that has encountered a doom so repugnant as this of Philoctetes. For though he had wronged no one by force or thievery,
680

but conducted himself fairly towards the fair, he was left to perish so undeservedly. I truly marvel how—how in the world—as he listened in solitude to the breakers rushing around him,
685

he kept his hold upon a life so full of grief.
690

691

Chorus

Here, he alone was his own neighbor, powerless to walk, with no one in the land to be his companion while he suffered—no one to whom he could cry out a lament that would be answered

for the plague that gnawed his flesh and drained his blood—no one to lull with healing herbs gathered from the nourishing earth the burning blood which oozed from the ulcers of his
695

envenomed foot, whenever the torment attacked him. Instead he would then creep this way or that, stumbling like a child without his kind nurse, to any place from where his needs
700

might be supplied, whenever the devouring anguish withdrew.
705

707

Chorus

For food he did not gather the fruit of holy Earth, nor anything else that we mortals feed on by our labor,

except when on occasion he obtained food to ease his hunger by means of feathered shafts from his swift-striking bow. Ah, joyless was his life, who for ten years never knew the delight of wine,
710

but ever directed his path towards any stagnant pool that he could find as he gazed around him.
715

718

Chorus

But now, after those troubles, he will attain happiness and heartiness in the end

because of his meeting with this son of a noble race, who after the fullness of many months carries him aboard our sea-crossing hull to his ancestral home,
720

the haunt of Malian nymphs, and to the banks of the Spercheius in that very land where, above Oeta’s heights, the hero of the brazen shield approached the gods, illuminated by his father’s divine fire.
725

Neoptolemus

Please, come on. Why so silent with no apparent cause? And why are you paralyzed?
730

Philoctetes

Ai, ai!

Neoptolemus

What is the matter?

Philoctetes

Nothing serious—go on, son.

Neoptolemus

Are you in pain from the disease that frequents you?

Philoctetes

No, indeed no. I think it is better now.—Gods, oh!
735

Neoptolemus

Why do you groan like this and call on the gods?

Philoctetes

That they may come to me with power to save and soothe.—Ai! Ai!

Neoptolemus

What troubles you? Speak, do not keep so silent. It is plain enough that you are suffering somehow.
740

Philoctetes

I am destroyed, boy—I can never conceal my suffering when you are close. Ah! Ah! It shoots through me, shoots straight through! Oh, the pain,the misery!

I am destroyed, boy—I am devoured! Ah, by the gods I beg you, if you have a sword ready to hand, strike at my ankle—cut it off now! Do not spare my life!
745

Quick, boy, quick!
750

Neoptolemus

What new thing has come on you so suddenly that you wail for yourself with these loud shrieks?

Philoctetes

You know, son.

Neoptolemus

What is it?

Philoctetes

You know, boy.

Neoptolemus

What ails you? I do not know.

Philoctetes

How could you not know? Oh, oh!

Neoptolemus

Yes, terrible is the burden of your disease.
755

Philoctetes

Terrible beyond telling! Oh, pity me!

Neoptolemus

What shall I do?

Philoctetes

Do not betray me because of fear. This plague comes only now and then,—perhaps when she has been sated with her roamings elsewhere.

Neoptolemus

Ah, poor wretch! Poor man, truly for all your sufferings! Shall I support you, or somehow offer a helping hand?

Philoctetes

No, no. But take this bow of mine—as you earlier asked of me—and keep it in your care and safe

until this present bout with my disease is past. For indeed sleep takes me as soon as this pain passes away, nor can it cease before then. But you must allow me to sleep in peace. And if
765

those men come in the meantime, then by the gods I forbid you willingly or unwillingly, or by any skilled trickery, to give up this bow to them, lest you bring destruction at once on yourself and on me, who am your suppliant.
770

Neoptolemus

Have no fears as to my caution. The bow shall pass

into no hands but yours and mine. Give it to me, and may good luck accompany it!
775

Philoctetes

There, take it boy. And humble yourself before the jealous gods, so that the bow may not prove baneful for you, as it did for me and for him who owned it before me.

Neoptolemus

O gods, grant this to the two of us! And grant us a voyage

prosperous and unimpeded, to whatever goal the god may deem right and that our mission provides!
780

782

Philoctetes

Futile, I fear, are your prayers, boy. Look, once again the dark blood is oozing drop by drop from deep in the wound, and I look for worse to come.

Ah, me, oh, oh! Cursed foot, what torment you cause me! It creeps on me, it is coming near! Ah, misery! Now you know my condition. Do not flee, no!
785

Oh, alas! Odysseus of Cephallene, once my friend, would that this anguish might stick to you, and pierce your chest! Ah, me! Ah, me! O you twin marshalls, Agamemnon, and you, Menelaus, may your flesh instead of mine
790

nourish this plague, and for as long! Oh, Ah, me! O Death, Death, though I am always summoning you day after day, why do you never come? O son, noble youth, seize me,
795

burn me up, true friend, in that fire famed as Lemnian. I, too, once deemed it lawful to do that very service for the son of Zeus, in return for which I received these same arms, which are now in your keeping. What do you say, boy, what do you say?
800

Why this silence? Where are your thoughts, son?
805

806

Neoptolemus

My heart has long been aching for your load of pain.

Philoctetes

Stop, then, and take courage; this visitor comes sharply, but goes quickly. Yet, I beg you, do not leave me alone.

Neoptolemus

Take heart, we will remain.
810

Philoctetes

Will you?

Neoptolemus

Be sure of it.

Philoctetes

Indeed, I do not think it right to put you under oath.

Neoptolemus

Rest assured; it is not lawful for me to leave without you.

Philoctetes

Give me your hand in pledge!

Neoptolemus

I give it—to stay.

Philoctetes

Now take me there, over there!

Neoptolemus

Where do you mean?

Philoctetes

Up there!

Neoptolemus

What is this new delirium? Why do you gaze at the dome above us?
815

Philoctetes

Let me go, let me go!

Neoptolemus

Where will you go, if I do so?

Philoctetes

Let me go, I say!

Neoptolemus

I will not.

Philoctetes

You will kill me, if you touch me further.

Neoptolemus

There, then, I release you—if in fact you believe it is for the better.

Philoctetes

Wide Earth, embrace me now on the verge of death!

This pain no longer lets me stand up.
820

Neoptolemus

Sleep, I think, will take him before long. See, his head sinks backward. Yes, a sweat runs over his whole body, and a dark, hemorrhaging vein has burst from his heel.

Come, friends, let us leave him in quietness, so that he may fall asleep.
825

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-331-1 τίς ὁ πόθος ¹

mvp-comment-331-2 ἵκετ’ ²

mvp-comment-331-3 θεῶν βία ³

mvp-comment-331-4 νέμεσις ⁴

mvp-comment-331-5 ἀμύνουσιν ⁵

mvp-comment-332-1 ὄνομα δ’ ὠνομάζετο ⁶

mvp-comment-333-1 Ἕλενος ⁷

mvp-comment-333-2 The statement of the

ἔμπορος

is only part of the truth. Helenus had indeed been captured, and had said that Troy could not be taken without Philoctetes. But he had also said that Troy was destined to be taken that summer,—as if he knew that fate had decreed the return of Philoctetes,—who was then to be healed by the Asclepiadae, and to share with Neoptolemus the glory of the victory (1329—1342). Odysseus, however, believed that Philoctetes would not listen to persuasion, but must be brought back by a stratagem (103). And so the object of the

ἔμπορος

in referring to Helenus is merely to convince Philoctetes that Odysseus is coming, in order that the sufferer may become still more anxious to depart with Neoptolemus for Greece, as he supposes.

mvp-comment-334-1 ἀκούων ⁸

mvp-comment-334-2 λωβητὰ ἔπη ⁹

mvp-comment-335-1 ἐς μέσον ¹⁰ ἔδειξ’ ¹¹

mvp-comment-336-1 τά τ’ ἄλλα … πάντα ¹² καὶ ¹³

mvp-comment-337-1 τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμ’ ¹⁴

mvp-comment-337-2 οὐ μή ποτε πέρσοιεν ¹⁵ οὐ μή ¹⁶

mvp-comment-337-3 οὐ δηποτε πέρσοιεν ¹⁷

mvp-comment-338-1 ἄγοιντο ¹⁸ ἀγάγοιντο ¹⁹ ἄξοιντο ²⁰ ἄγοιντο ²¹

mvp-comment-338-2 νήσου ²²

mvp-comment-338-3 617 The words οἴοιτο μὲν μάλιστα ²³

mvp-comment-338-4 μάλιστα ²⁵ οἴοιτο ²⁶

mvp-comment-339-1 τούτων ²⁷ μὴ τυχών ²⁸

mvp-comment-339-2 κάρα τέμνειν ²⁹ ἐφεῖτο ³⁰

mvp-comment-340-1 τὸ σπεύδειν ³¹

mvp-comment-340-2 σοι καὐτῷ ³² πέρι ³³

mvp-comment-341-1 ἡ πασα βλάβη ³⁴

mvp-comment-342-1 πεισθήσομαι ³⁵

mvp-comment-342-2 γὰρ ³⁶

mvp-comment-342-3 ὧδε ³⁷

mvp-comment-342-4 πρὸς φῶς ἀνελθεῖν ³⁸

mvp-comment-342-5 οὑκείνου πατήρ ³⁹

mvp-comment-343-1 συμφέροι ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-344-1 τάδε ⁴¹

mvp-comment-345-1 ἂν ⁴² δεῖξαι ⁴³

mvp-comment-345-2 νεὼς ἄγοντ’ ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-346-1 οὔ· ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-346-2 πλεῖστον ἐχθίστης ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-347-1 ἄπουν ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-348-1 πάντα λεκτά ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-349-1 ὡς … ὁρίζῃ ⁴⁹ ὁρίζει ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-350-1 τοὐκ πρῴρας ⁵¹

mvp-comment-350-2 ἀνῇ ⁵²

mvp-comment-350-3 στελοῦμεν ⁵³

mvp-comment-351-1 οὔκ, ἀλλὰ ⁵⁴ οὐκ ⁵⁵ οἶδ)· ⁵⁶ ἀλλ’ οὐχὶ ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-352-1 ἀλλ’ ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-352-2 χωρῶμεν … λαβὼν ⁵⁹ λαβόνθ’ ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-353-1 καίπερ οὐ πολλῶν ἄπο ⁶¹

mvp-comment-354-1 νεώς γε τῆς ἐμῆς ἔπι ⁶² ἔνι ⁶³ ἔπι ⁶⁴ ἔνι ⁶⁵ νεώς ⁶⁶ ἔνι ⁶⁷ ἔνι ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-355-1 πάνυ ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-356-1 τί γὰρ ἔτ’ ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-356-2 γάρ ⁷¹

mvp-comment-357-1 εἴ μοί τι τόξων ⁷² τόξα ⁷³

mvp-comment-357-2 ἀπημελημένον ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-357-3 παρερρύηκεν ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-357-4 ὡς λίπω μή ⁷⁶ λαβεῖν ⁷⁷

mvp-comment-358-1 οὐ γὰρ ἄλλ’ ἔστ’, ἀλλ’ ἃ κ.τ.λ. ⁷⁸ ἀλλ’ ⁷⁹ ἄλλ’ ⁸⁰ ἄλλος ⁸¹ ἃ βαστάζω ⁸² ταῦτ’ ⁸³ ἄλλα γ’ ἔσθ’ ἃ ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-359-1 ὥστε ⁸⁵ ἔστιν ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-359-2 θεόν ⁸⁷ θεός ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-360-1 ξυμφέρῃ ⁸⁹ ἐρῶ ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-361-1 καὶ μὴν … γε ⁹¹ πάρες ⁹²

mvp-comment-362-1 ὅσια … θέμις ⁹³

mvp-comment-363-1 ὅς γ’ ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-363-2 φάος ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-363-3 δέδωκας ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-363-4 χθόν’ Οἰταίαν ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-364-1 ἀνέστησας πέρα ⁹⁸ πέρα ⁹⁹ πέρα ¹⁰⁰ ἔνερθεν ¹⁰¹ πέρα ¹⁰² μ’ ὕ ¹⁰³ περ ¹⁰⁴ ἀναστήσας πάρει ¹⁰⁵ πέρα ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-365-1 ταῦτα ¹⁰⁷ παρέσται σοι ¹⁰⁸ καὶ θιγγάνειν ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-366-1 καὶ δόντι δοῦναι ¹¹⁰ δοῦναι ¹¹¹ ἐπεύξασθαι ¹¹² θιγγάνειν ¹¹³

mvp-comment-366-2 669 The acc. μόνον ¹¹⁴ δόντι ¹¹⁵ μόνῳ ¹¹⁶ μόνον ¹¹⁷ ς’ ¹¹⁸ ἀρετῆς ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-367-1 εὐεργετῶν ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-368-1 These three verses, called ‘manifesto spurii’ by Dindorf, are clearly genuine. If they are rejected, then Neoptolemus deigns no reply beyond

χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω

to the gracious and cordial speech of Philoctetes. In proof that the verses are pointless, Dindorf says:—‘Neque enim quidquam beneficii a Philocteta accepit Neoptolemus, ut

εὖ παθών

dici possit.’ Blaydes, though he does not bracket the verses, assents to this argument:—‘Certainly

εὖ παθὼν

cannot well apply to Neoptolemus.’ But

εὖ παθών

refers, of course, to Philoctetes. Neoptolemus means:—‘I am not sorry that chance drove me to Lemnos, and thus enabled me to gain your friendship. One who is ready to requite a benefit (viz., conveyance to Greece) by such a kindness as this (the promised loan of the bow), must indeed prove to be a priceless friend.’

mvp-comment-369-1 εὖ δρᾶν εὖ παθὼν ¹²¹

mvp-comment-369-2 κτήματος ¹²²

mvp-comment-370-1 χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω ¹²³ καὶ σέ γ’ εἰσάξω ¹²⁴ γε ¹²⁵ σέ ¹²⁶ χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-370-2 τὸ γὰρ ¹²⁸ νοσοῦν ¹²⁹ τὸ … νοσοῦν ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-371-1 ἐξήκους’ ¹³¹

mvp-comment-371-2 ὄπωπα δ’ οὐ μάλα ¹³²

mvp-comment-372-1 τὸν πελάταν ¹³³

mvp-comment-372-2 The comparison with Ixion is the more forcible here, since reference has just been made to the gratitude shown by Philoctetes (672). Ixion was the great example of ingratitude. Cp. Pind. P. 2. 21

θεῶν δ’ ἐφετμαῖς Ἰξίονα φαντὶ ταῦτα βροτοῖς

λέγειν ἐν πτερόεντι τροχῷ

παντᾷ κυλινδόμενον·

τὸν εὐεργέταν ἀγαναῖς ἀμοιβαῖς ἐποιχομένους τίνεσθαι

mvp-comment-372-3 λέκτρων … τῶν Διὸς ¹³⁴ τῶν ¹³⁵

mvp-comment-373-1 κατὰ δρομάδ’ ἄμπυκα … Κρόνου παῖς ¹³⁶ Ἰξίονα ¹³⁷ δέσμιον ¹³⁸ Ἰξίονα ¹³⁹ δέσμιον ¹⁴⁰ Ἰξίονα ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-373-2 (1) The poet's tendency to omit the proper name in mythical allusion, when the context made his meaning clear, might be illustrated from Ant, 133, where Capaneus is described, yet not named; and from 966—987 of the same play, where Cleopatra—whose fate is being compared with Antigone's—is only indicated as the mother of the Phineidae (980) and the daughter of Boreas (985).

mvp-comment-373-3 (2) δέσμιον ¹⁴² κατ’ ἄμπυκα … ἔβαλεν ¹⁴³ δέσμιον ¹⁴⁴ κατ’ ¹⁴⁵ ἀν’ ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-373-4 Ἰξίον’ ἀν’ ἄμπυκα δὴ δρομάδ’ ὡς ἔβαλεν ¹⁴⁷ δέσμιον ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-373-5 ἄμπυκα ¹⁴⁹ δρομάδα ¹⁵⁰

mvp-comment-373-6 Cp. Hesych.,

ἄμπυκες, τροχοί· οὕτω Σοφοκλῆς ἐν Φιλοκτήτη

. Musgrave's ἄντυγα ¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-374-1 τοῦδ’ ¹⁵²

mvp-comment-375-1 οὔτ’ ἔρξας τιν’, οὔ τι νοσφίσας ¹⁵³ οὔ τι ¹⁵⁴ οὔτε ¹⁵⁵ οὐκ ¹⁵⁶ νοσφίσας ¹⁵⁷ ἔρξας ¹⁵⁸ νοσφίσας ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-376-1 ἴσος ὢν ἴσοις ¹⁶⁰ ἴσος ὢν ἴσοις ¹⁶¹ ἴσος ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-376-2 L has ἴσως ¹⁶³ ἐν ἴσοις ¹⁶⁴ ἔν γ’ ¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-377-1 ὤλλυθ’ ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-377-2 The MS. text here is ὤλλυθ’ ὧδ’ ἀναξίως· τόδε θαῦμ’ ἔχει με ¹⁶⁷ τόδε τοι θαῦμά μ’ ἔχει ¹⁶⁸ τότ’ ἂν εἰλυόμενος ¹⁶⁹ ὤλλυθ’ ὧδ’ ἀναξίως ¹⁷⁰ εἷρπε γὰρ ¹⁷¹ εἷρπε δ’ ¹⁷² ὤλλυθ’ ¹⁷³ ὠλέκεθ’ ¹⁷⁴ ὤλλυτο τῇδ’ ¹⁷⁵ ἀναξίως ¹⁷⁶ ἄλλᾳ ¹⁷⁷ ἀλλ ¹⁷⁸ αχ ¹⁷⁹ ᾷ ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-378-1 ἀμφιπλάκτων ¹⁸¹ κλύζων ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-379-1 βιοτὰν κατέσχεν ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-380-1 ἵν’ αὐτὸς ἦν πρόσουρος ¹⁸⁴ ἦν ¹⁸⁵ οἱ ¹⁸⁶ πρόσουρος ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-380-2 οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν ¹⁸⁸ πρόσουρον οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν ¹⁸⁹ πρόδουλον … βάσιν ¹⁹⁰ οὔτιν’ ἐς ἔγχωρον ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-381-1 κακογείτονα ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-381-2 Compounds to which

κακός

gives the first part are of two classes, according as the

κακο‐

element is (1) adj. or (2) subst. In class (1) there are again two types. ( a) The commonest is that of

κακόβιος

, =

κακὸν βίον ἔχων

: i.e., the compound denotes ‘possessing’ the subst. as qualified by

κακός

. ( b) A rarer, chiefly poet., type is that of

Κακοΐλιος

as simply=

κακὴ Ἴλιος

. In class (2) ( a) the

κακο‐

is most often equiv. to the subst.

κακόν

κακά

in the acc., governed by a verb: as

κακοποιός

κακὰ ποιῶν

. ( b) But sometimes this

κακο‐

represents a gen. or dat., depending on another noun: thus

κακόμαντις

, ‘prophet of evil’ ( Aesch. Pers. 10 etc.)=

κακῶν μάντις

. Cratinus used

κακόδουλος

as =

κακὸς δούλοις

(‘cruel to slaves’),

Θρᾷτται

fr. 7. And so

κακογείτων

could belong either to (1) b,=

κακὸς γείτων

: or, as it actually does here, to (2) b,

κακῶν γείτων

. Cp.

ἁλιγείτων, ἀστρογείτων, ἀστυγείτων

mvp-comment-381-3 The schol. joined κακογείτονα ¹⁹³ στόνον ¹⁹⁴ κακογείτονα ¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-382-1 παρ’ ᾧ ¹⁹⁶ ἀποκλαύσειεν ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-382-2 ἀντίτυπον ¹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-382-3 βαρυβρῶτα … αἱματηρόν ¹⁹⁹ στόνον ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-383-1 ὃς τὰν ²⁰¹ οὐδ’ ὃς τὰν ²⁰² οὐδ’ ²⁰³ τὰν ²⁰⁴ ὃς τὰν ²⁰⁵ οὐδ’ ὃς ²⁰⁶

mvp-comment-383-2 αἱμάδα ²⁰⁷ κηκι—ομέναν ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-383-3 ἑλκέων ²⁰⁹

mvp-comment-383-4 ἐνθήρου ²¹⁰

mvp-comment-384-1 εἴ τις ἐμπέσοι ²¹¹ ἑλών ²¹² ἑλεῖν ²¹³

mvp-comment-384-2 Some read εἴ τιν’ ἐμπέσοι ²¹⁴ εἵ τι ²¹⁵ συμπέσοι ²¹⁶ ἑλεῖν ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-384-3 φορβάδος ²¹⁸

mvp-comment-385-1 εἷρπε ²¹⁹ ἂν ²²⁰ εἷρπε ²²¹ εἰλυόμενος ²²²

mvp-comment-386-1 παῖς … ὡς ²²³

mvp-comment-387-1 ὅθεν ²²⁴ ὅθεν ὑπάρχοι ²²⁵

mvp-comment-387-2 εὐμάρεια … πόρου ²²⁶ πόρων ²²⁷ πόρον ²²⁸

mvp-comment-387-3 ἐξανείη ²²⁹

mvp-comment-387-4 δακέθυμος ²³⁰

mvp-comment-388-1 ἱερᾶς ²³¹

mvp-comment-388-2 αἴρων ²³²

mvp-comment-388-3 ἄλλων ²³³ φορβὰν ²³⁴ τῶν ²³⁵

mvp-comment-388-4 ἀλφησταί ²³⁶

mvp-comment-388-5 ἀνέρες ²³⁷ α— ²³⁸

mvp-comment-389-1 πτανοῖς ²³⁹

mvp-comment-389-2 ἰοῖς ²⁴⁰

mvp-comment-390-1 ψυχά, ὃς ²⁴¹

mvp-comment-390-2 ὃς μηδ’ ²⁴²

mvp-comment-390-3 ἥσθη ²⁴³

mvp-comment-390-4 οἰνοχύτου ²⁴⁴

mvp-comment-390-5 δεκέτει χρόνῳ ²⁴⁵ δεκέτη χρόνον ²⁴⁶

mvp-comment-391-1 λεύσσων ²⁴⁷ ὅπου γνοίη ²⁴⁸ προσενώμα ²⁴⁹ εἰς στατὸν ὕδωρ ²⁵⁰ γνοίη ²⁵¹ προσενώμα ²⁵² στατὸν … ὕδωρ ²⁵³

mvp-comment-392-1 ἀνδρῶν ἀγ ²⁵⁴

mvp-comment-392-2 ὑπαντήσας ²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-393-1 ἀνύσει εὐδαίμων ²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-393-2 ἐκ κείνων ²⁵⁷

mvp-comment-394-1 ποντοπόρῳ ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-394-2 δούρατι ²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-394-3 πλήθει … μηνῶν ²⁶⁰

mvp-comment-395-1 πατρίαν ²⁶¹ πατρῴαν ²⁶²

mvp-comment-395-2 Μαλιάδων ²⁶³ αὐλὰν ²⁶⁴ ὄχθας ²⁶⁵

mvp-comment-395-3 παρ’ ὄχθας ²⁶⁶ Σπερχειοῦ τε ²⁶⁷ Σπερχειοῖο ²⁶⁸ ὄχθαις ²⁶⁹

mvp-comment-396-1 ὁ χάλκασπις ἀνὴρ ²⁷⁰

mvp-comment-396-2 In this play Heracles figures especially as the former possessor of the invincible bow. Why, then, has Soph. here chosen an epithet, χάλκασπις ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-397-1 πλάθει ²⁷² πλάθη ²⁷³ θείῳ πυρὶ παμφαής ²⁷⁴

mvp-comment-397-2 *

πατρὸς

is my emendation of the corrupt πᾶσι ²⁷⁵ ὅπου ²⁷⁶ πᾶσι ²⁷⁷ πλάθει ²⁷⁸ θείῳ ²⁷⁹ πᾶσι ²⁸⁰ πατρὸς ²⁸¹

mvp-comment-397-3 The burning of Heracles, and his apotheosis, are combined in some vase paintings. (1) A bowl (

κρατήρ

) of the 4th cent. B.C., now in the Collegio Rainone at Agata S. dei Goti: Milani, Mito di Filottete, p. 65: Baumeister, Denkm., p. 307, fig. 322. In the lower part of the picture is the still burning pyre, which a Nymph on the left is trying to quench by pouring water from a jug. The trunk of the hero's mortal body lies on the pyre. On the right, a bearded figure in a peaked cap is hastily receding. This is either Poeas or Philoctetes: at his side is the quiver given him by the hero for kindling the pyre. Above, a Doric portal represents the entrance to Olympus. Apollo, laurel-crowned, sits on the left of it; a four-horse chariot approaches him, preceded by Hermes. It is driven by a winged goddess (a

Νίκη

): on her left sits Heracles, crowned with laurel, his club in his left hand; a light garment (a sort of chlamys) floats round his shoulders. (2) A Lucanian vase, now at Munich: Baumeister, p. 669, fig. 734. Below is the pyre, with the trunk of Heracles on it: the fire is being quenched by two Nymphs on the right

ΑΠΕΘΟΣΑ

and

ΠΡΕΜΝΟΣΙΑ

(an Attic fountain). On the left are two Satyr figures. Above, Athena Nikè, with helmet, lance, and chequered aegis worn as a corslet, is driving Heracles to Olympus; his left hand holds the club, and round his left arm is wound his chlamys.—We notice how the participation of Nymphs in these scenes illustrates the poet's

Μαλιάδων νυμφᾶν

(v. 725).

mvp-comment-398-1 ὄχθων ²⁸²

mvp-comment-399-1 εἰ θέλεις ²⁸³

mvp-comment-400-1 ἀπόπληκτος ἔχει ²⁸⁴

mvp-comment-401-1 τί δ’ ἔστιν ²⁸⁵ τί ἔστιν ²⁸⁶

mvp-comment-402-1 τῆς παρεστώσης ²⁸⁷

mvp-comment-402-2 735 The intrans. κουφίζειν ²⁸⁸

mvp-comment-402-3 736 f. I follow A here (see cr. n.), for a reason which was felt by Hermann, but which has not been sufficiently considered by some other editors,—viz., that ἰὼ θεοί ²⁸⁹ ἰὼ θεοί ²⁹⁰

mvp-comment-402-4 τί θεοὺς ἀναστένων καλεῖς ²⁹¹ θεοὺς ²⁹²

mvp-comment-403-1 κυρῶν ²⁹³

mvp-comment-404-1 διέρχεται ²⁹⁴

mvp-comment-404-2 βρύκομαι ²⁹⁵

mvp-comment-404-3 746 Written as above, the exclamations represent three successive cries of pain, each longer than the last, as the agony becomes sharper; they seem to suggest the convulsive movement of the lips from which the sounds are wrung.

mvp-comment-405-1 εἴ τί σοι ξίφος πρόχειρον ²⁹⁶ χεροῖν ²⁹⁷

mvp-comment-405-2 πάταξον εἰς ἄκρον πόδα ²⁹⁸

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

603. mvp-comment-427-1 ἴσως . . ἀκήκοας] 'For I dare say you have not heard of it.' The important share of Neoptolemus in the prophecy of Helenus is studiously concealed, and it is assumed that in his short stay at Troy the circumstance may have escaped him altogether. The true account is given by Neoptolemus afterwards, infr. 1337 foll. He himself in supr. 344 foll. had professed to attach slight importance to the assertion that he was destined to take Troy.

607. mvp-comment-428-1 ἀκούων] 'Called by,' i.e. deserving. αἰσχρὰ.. ἔπη] 'Names of disgrace and contumely.' On the meaning of the verbal adjective, see Essay on L. § 53. p. 98.

609. mvp-comment-429-1 ἔδειξ᾽.. ἐς μέσον] Displayed publicly to the Achaeans. ἔδειξε marks Odysseus' pride at bringing in his captive. Cp. infr. 616, δηλώσειν : 630, δεῖξαι: 944, φήνασθαι.

610. mvp-comment-430-1 The part of the prophecy which relates to Neoptolemus is thus slurred over.

611. mvp-comment-431-1 τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμα] Cp.supr. 353.

612. mvp-comment-432-1 πέρσοιεν (as being the oratio obliqua of πέρσετε) seems to be an exception to the rule that οὐ μή takes after it not the future indicative, but the aorist subjunctive. But this is not a sufficient ground for altering the reading. Paley compares Plat. Crito, p. 44 B, οὐδένα μήποτε εὑρήσω.

613. mvp-comment-433-1 ἄγοιντο] The middle voice implies, 'Should bring for their purpose.' νήσου τῆσδ'] For the genitive of place, see Essay on L. § 8. p. 11, a. Observe the alliteration in νήσου .. ναίει .. νῦν.

614. mvp-comment-434-1 ταῦτα] Governed of ἤκουσε and resumed with τὸν μάντιν εἰπόντα, which is added to complete the sentence.

615ff. mvp-comment-435-1 The statement in supr. 593-7 is here repeated with some additional circumstances.

617. mvp-comment-436-1 οἴοιτο] The optative is used in turning the parenthetical οἴομαι into the oratio obliqua, as if ὅτι had preceded. Cp. Lys p. 130, Θηραμένης ἀναστὰς λέγει ὅτι ποιήσει ὥστε τὴν πόλιν ἐλαττῶσαι μηδέν· οἴοιτο δὲ καὶ ἄλλο τι ἀγαθὸν εὑρήσεσθαι.

618-619. mvp-comment-437-1 'And if he failed in this, he offered his head to any who chose, to cut it off.' For the order of words, see Essay on L. § 41, α. p. 77. κάρα governed (1) of ἐφεῖτο, and (2) οἱ τέμνειν, which is epexegetic inf. μὴ τυχών = εἰ μὴ τύχοι. For the sense, cp. II. 2. 259, μηκέτ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ Ὀδυσῆϊ κάρη ὤμοισιν ἐπείη, κ.τ.λ.: Od. 16. 102 αὐτίκ᾽ ἔπειτ' ἀπ᾿ ἐμεῖο κάρη τάμοι ἀλλότριος φώς, εἰ μή, κ.τ.λ. τέμνειν = ἀποτέμνειν. Cp. καράτομος.

620. mvp-comment-438-1 τὸ σπεύδειν] The article probably refers to supr. 576, 7.

621. mvp-comment-439-1 κεἴ τινος κήδει πέρι] Sc. παραινῶ ἐκείνῳ τὸ αὐτό. The supposed stranger does not venture to compromise himself by giving this advice directly to Philoctetes. He alludes to supr. 585, 6.

622. mvp-comment-440-1 Οι ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη, ‘That utter pest.' see Essay on L. § 51. p. 95; and cp. El. 301.

624-625. mvp-comment-441-1 'The persuasion that has force to bring me back to Troy, would fetch me from the dead.'

626. mvp-comment-442-1 οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταῦτ] The professed Ἔμπορος is too discreet to mix further than he can help in such a hazardous business. Cp. O. Τ. 530, οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ὁ γὰρ δρῶσ᾽ οἱ κρατοῦντες οὐχ ὁρῶ. The purpose of his coming has been accomplished, and he retires. For the synaphea, cp. especially O. T. 555, ὡς χρείη μ᾽ ἐπὶ | τὸν σεμνόμαντιν, κ.τ.λ.

627. mvp-comment-443-1 σφῶν.. θεός] 'May heaven be with you both for your best good!' συμφέρειν is used nearly as συμφέρεσθαι in O. C. 641, τῇδε γὰρ ξυνοίσομαι (‘Your choice shall have my concurrence').

628ff. mvp-comment-444-1 Should have imagined it possible ever with cajoling words to bring and show me on his ship amongst the Argives.' Philoctetes has hitherto had his attention fixed on the Ἔμπορος, and has said ll. 622-5 half to himself. But as the stranger departs he turns to Neoptolemus with these indignant words.

629. mvp-comment-445-1 ποτ᾿ ἄν with δεῖξαι = ὅτι δείξειεν ἄν ποτε. λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς] Cp. O. С. 774, σκληρὰ μαλθακῶς λέγων.

630. mvp-comment-446-1 δείξαι] Cp. supr. 616, δηλώσειν. δεῖξαι νεὼς ἄγοντα = δεῖξαι ἐκ νεὰς ἄγοντα ἐπὶ νηΐ. Or, in other words, the phrase, On ship-board,' which should depend on ἄγοντα, is attracted into a new construction with δεῖξαι. See Essay on L. § 35. p. 60, and cp. О. Т. 808, ὄχου . . τηρήσας. κ.τ.λ. : Εl. 900. Herm. and Schndw. take νεὼς ἄγοντα to mean, 'Bringing ashore.' Cp. supr. 355-7. But ἄγειν is continually used elsewhere in the play for conveyance by sea; and the instrumental dative λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς connects more naturally with ἄγοντα than with δεῖξαι. Moreover, the meaning obtained by so joining νεὼς ἄγοντ' is wanting in simplicity.

631. mvp-comment-447-1 οὔ] Those who have suspected this reading have not observed the frequency of asyndeton in the language of Philoctetes (Essay on L. § 34. p. 58). The proposed readings, οὗ θᾶσσον (Welcker), ἢ θᾶσσον (Schndw.), are less forcible than the MS. text. Schndw. imagined οὔ to be a marginal gloss on ἢ. For the double superlative in πλεῖστον ἐχθίστης, see Essay on L. § 40. p. 76.

632. mvp-comment-448-1 ἄπουν = οὐκ ἔχοντα βάσιν, infr. 692.

633. mvp-comment-449-1 ἐκείνῳ.. λεκτά] 'He is capable of saying anything.' Cp. O. С. 495, ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐχ ὁδωτά : ibid. 1000, 1, εἶ γὰρ οὐ δίκαιος, ἀλλ᾽ ἅπαν καλὸν | λέγειν νομίζων, ῥητὸν ἄρρητόν τ᾽ ἔπος.

635-636. mvp-comment-450-1 ὡς.. ὁρίζῃ] • That wide seas may part us.'

637. mvp-comment-451-1 ἥ τοι.. ἤγαγεν] Cp. Aj. 674,5, ἐκοίμισε . . πόντον, and note.

639. mvp-comment-452-1 ἐπειδὰν πνεῦμα τοὐκ πρώρας ἀνῇ] When this head wind (1) ceases' (ἀνῇ absolute), or (2) 'lets us go' (ἀνῇ ἡμᾶς, sc.). The same doubt occurs in Hdt. 2. 113, οὐ γὰρ ἀνίει τὰ πνεύματα (sc. μιν?) Cp. Od. 19. 199, ἔνθα δυώδεκα μὲν μένον ἤματα δίοι ᾿Αχαιοί, | εἴλει γὰρ βορέης ἄνεμος μέγας, κ.τ.λ. | τῇ τρισκαιδεκάτῃ δ' ἄνεμος πέσε, τοὶ δ᾽ ἀνάγοντο. The correction of Pierson here is all but certain.

641. mvp-comment-453-1 Cp. Il. 14. 80, οὐ γάρ τις νέμεσις φυγέειν κακόν, οὐδ᾽ ἀνὰ νύκτα,

642. mvp-comment-454-1 οὔκ· ἀλλά] 'Nay, but -.' οὐ denies the general drift of the preceding line; i. e. The evil is not so imminent that you need fly from it with such haste. Cp. Plat. Rep. 6. 491 Ε, οὔκ, ἀλλά, ἢ δ᾽ ὅς, οὕτως, where there is a nearly similar inexactness of response. There is no sufficient ground for transposing 643, 4, 2, 1, with Prof. Paley. The order is far more natural as it stands.

643-644. mvp-comment-455-1 'Robbers feel not any contrary wind when it is a time to steal and take by force.'

645. mvp-comment-456-1 χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβών] 'Let us depart, when you have taken from within.' The participle agrees with part of the subject, and the second person has been implied in εἰ δοκεῖ, SC. σοι. For the limitation of subject, see Essay on L. § 33. p. 56, and cp. Trach. 205, ὀλολύξατε δόμοις, | ὁ μελλόνυμφος, ἐν δὲ κοινὸς ἀρσένων | ἴτω κλάγγα, κ.τ.λ. : ib. 333: Aesch. Eum. 141.

648. mvp-comment-457-1 What, that is not somewhere on board my ship?' νεώς, partitive genitive. Essay on L. § 10. p. 15. Ср. Αj. 659, γαίας ὀρύξας ἔνθα, κ.τ.λ.: Ο. C. 694, γᾶς ᾿Ασίας οὐκ ἐπακούω. τοῦθ᾽ ὅ is singular, though ὧν in 647 is plural. Essay on L. § 20, B. p. 31.

649. mvp-comment-458-1 φύλλον . . πάρεστιν] 'There is a leaf which I have.' Cp. infr. 704, ὅθεν εὐμάρει᾽ ὑπάρχοι: supr. 44: Ο.Τ. 766.

650. mvp-comment-459-1 πραΰνειν] 'To assuage its violence.' There is no example of πραΰνειν being used intransitively. πρᾷος is opposed to ἄγριος, cp. supr. 265. Philoctetes is eager to assure Neoptolemus that the evil is not intractable. Cp. infr. 733 foll.

651. mvp-comment-460-1 τί γὰρ ἔτ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν] Philoctetes shows by his manner that the herb is not the only thing that he requires. To this look of longing hesitation γάρ refers.

652. mvp-comment-461-1 εἰ.. παρερρύηκεν] This is said to explain his unsatisfied look (' I would make search,' implied in ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν), * in case some of these my arrows may have slipped from my side.' Cp. Il. 13. 256, ἔρχομαι, εἴ τί τοι ἔγχος ἐνὶ κλισίῃσι λέλειπται, | οἰσόμενος.

653. mvp-comment-462-1 ὡς λίπω μή] For the order, see Essay on L. § 41, γ. p. 78.

655. mvp-comment-463-1 οὐ γὰρ ἄλλα γ᾽ ἔσθ'] 'For indeed there is no other.' These words have been commonly taken as equivalent to ἐκεῖνα καὶ οὐκ ἄλλα: whence Blaydes conjectures ταῦτ᾽ οὐ γὰρ οὖν ἔστ᾿ ἄλλ'. But the meaning given above is more in point. Cp. Morris' Story of Sigurd, That hath not the like in the heavens, nor hath earth of its fellow told.'

656. mvp-comment-464-1 ἆρ᾿ ἔστιν ὥστε] 'Is it possible that one might?' ὥστε as after verbs of permission asked or obtained. The periphrasis is expressive of modesty. κἀγγύθεν] From close at hand, as well as from a distance. For με added in the second clause, cp. supr. 257.

657. mvp-comment-465-1 For the sacredness of the bow, cp. infr. 943.

658. mvp-comment-466-1 τῶν ἐμῶν] Of things within my power.'

659. mvp-comment-467-1 ὁποῖον. ξυμφέρῃ] 'That is of a nature to accord with your desires.' Cp. supr. 627, and note. γενήσεται] 'Shall be granted.'

661. mvp-comment-468-1 πάρες] 'Let it go by;' i.e. Take no more notice of my wish.

662. mvp-comment-469-1 ὅσια .. φωνεῖς] 'Your words are blameless.' 'You speak innocently.'

663. mvp-comment-470-1 For the suppressed antecedent in the expression of strong feeling, see Essay on L. § 39. p. 72, 2. And for the emphatic repetition of ὅς, cp. O. C. 610, φθίνει μὲν ἰσχὺς γῆς, φθίνει δὲ σώματος, and see E. on L. § 44. p. 83.

664. mvp-comment-471-1 μόνος] Supr. 500.

665. mvp-comment-472-1 πέρα] 'Above their reach.' 'Where they cannot come.' ἀνιστάναι here is not merely 'To raise upright,' but To set up on high.' Cр. O. С. 661-3, κείνοις δ᾽ ἴσως κεὶ δείν᾽ ἐπερρώσθη λέγειν | τῆς σῆς ἀγωγῆς, οἶδ᾽ ἐγώ, φανή- | σεται | μακρὸν τὸ δεῦρο πέλαγος, οὐδὲ πλώσιμον: Aesch. Cho. 789.

666. mvp-comment-473-1 θιγγάνειν] ‘To handle for a while.’ This word, expressing a lingering process, is rightly in the continuous tense, although δόντι . . ἐξεπεύξασθαι are aorists. Cp. Il. 6. 322, τόξ᾽ ἁφόωντα.

667. mvp-comment-474-1 καὶ δόντι δοῦναι] This illogical addition is singularly expressive of the nervous anxiety of Philoctetes at the thought of giving the bow out of his hands: 'You shall have it in your grasp; I will give it you, and you will give it me again; and then you shall freely boast, etc.' While saying this, Philoctetes does not at once give the bow to Neoptolemus. Cp. infr. 762 foll.

669. mvp-comment-475-1 Cp. infr. 801-3.

670-672. mvp-comment-476-1 These three lines seem out of place. Either there is a lacuna after 670, or they have crept into the text out of the margin, where some hand had inserted them as an apposite quotation from some other play. They have not the appearance of a deliberate interpolation, nor is the difficulty obviated by assigning them to Neoptolemus. If they are retained, they can only mean, 'I do not feel this generous action burdensome, now that I have seen and found a friend in you. For no possession can be equal to a friend who knows (as I am sure you do) how to return kindness for kindness done to him.' In other words, to secure so true a friend as Neoptolemus, even the effort of relinquishing the bow for a moment is not too much. But ἄχθομαι has no object; and the promised kindness of Neoptolemus was not conditional on his being allowed to handle the bow.

675-714. mvp-comment-477-1 The preceding scene was calculated to deepen the feeling of compassion for Philoctetes, which had already been awakened both in Neoptolemus and in the Chorus. His generous willingness to trust them with his all, contrasted with their felt dissimulation, has intensified the sympathy which Neoptolemus afterwards avows, 905, 965, 6. Yet the Chorus do not imagine for a moment that their master will relinquish his purpose. Hence, while sincerely pouring forth their lament over Philoctetes' innocent sufferings (which they can only compare with the torment of the guilty Ixion), and really rejoicing in the prospect of his deliverance, they maintain, as in duty bound (since they are within hearing of the cave), the deceptive notion of the voyage to Trachis, and make no mention of Troy. But it must be borne in mind that from the prophecy of Helenus, of which they knew, they had every reason to suppose that the return to Troy, though Philoctetes was averse to it, would be for his good. While this stasimon is being sung (whether by half-choruses or by the whole together), Neoptolemus is with Philoctetes in the cave, and is finding still more cogent evidence of his misery. This stasimon consists of two strophes and antistrophes, of which the first are chiefly logaoedic, the second chiefly choriambic.

675-714. mvp-comment-477-2 α'.
1 _uu_u_u_
_uu__uu_u_
_uu_uu_
_uu_u_u_u_
5 _u_u_u_
10 __u_u_u__
_u_u_

1 Cp. Aesch. Suppl. 550. 2 Ion. anacl., infr. p. 451, β' 15 and note 3.

β'.
_uu_u_ _
_uu_u_ _
_uu_u_uu__
_uu_uu__
5 __u_ _
_uu_u_uu_u_uu_u_
_u_uu___u_uu_u_
_uu__

675. mvp-comment-478-1 ὄπωπα δ᾽ οὐ μάλα] ‘Though I never actually saw.' μάλα emphasizes οὐκ ὄπωπα, because seeing is more than hearing. The sorrow of Philoctetes is patent to the eye.

676. mvp-comment-479-1 ποτέ belongs to the verbal notion in πελάταν. Cp. supr. 147.

677. mvp-comment-480-1 Ιξίονα (see v. rr.) is omitted in the text as possibly arising from a gloss. Cp. Trach. 840.

678. mvp-comment-481-1 ἄμπυξ is (a) a frontlet; hence (b) may be here understood to mean the convex external surface of a wheel. ἄμπυκα δρομάδα = 'A rolling rim.' A conjectural reading, ἄντυγα, was proposed by Musgrave. But ἄντυξ, in the literal sense, is no more 'a wheel' than ἄμπυξ.

679. mvp-comment-482-1 ἔβαλεν] Although ἔλαβε, the MS. reading, is not impossible, if we suppose δέσμιον proleptic ('seized bound' for 'seized and bound'), ἔβαλεν gives a better sense. Cp. O. C. 475. Mr. Paley reads, κατ᾿ ἄμπυκα δὴ δρομάδ᾽ ὡς βάλε δέσμιον ὁ π. Κ. π. For the metre of this, cp. infr. 863, 4, 1114, 5; О. С. 253, 4.

680. mvp-comment-483-1 For ἐσίδον, which is the reading of the first hand of L. and of Par. A, cp. El. 205.

681. mvp-comment-484-1 τοῦδ᾽ ἐχθίονι] See Essay on L. § 10. p. 15, 2 a.

682. mvp-comment-485-1 'Who having neither harmed nor defrauded any.' Cp. Od. 4. 690, οὔτε τινὰ ῥέξας ἐξαίσιον, οὔτε τι εἰπών. The use of ἔρδειν absolutely for ἔρδειν τι κακόν is singular, but is assisted by νοσφίσας following. Cp. the frequent use of παθεῖν τι for παθεῖν τι κακόν. Mr. Paley strangely interprets, 'Having imprisoned any' (as if from ἔργω).

683. mvp-comment-486-1 ἔν *γ᾽ ἴσοις] This, Hermann's, emendation of ἐν ἴσοις is adopted as the most probable. 'Just, at least amongst the just; i.e. One sure to have been esteemed righteous, if he had lived amongst righteous men. Cp. (for the form of expression, not for the meaning οἱ ἴσος) O. T. 677, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἴσος. The force of ye is to throw blame by implication on the Argives at Troy, who treated Philoctetes as if he had been a malefactor.

684. mvp-comment-487-1 The metre requires some change. Dindorf reads ὠλέκεθ᾽ ὧδ᾽. But τῇδε has more point than ὧδε, and connects better with what follows.

685. mvp-comment-488-1 τόδε. . ἔχει] 'At this I marvel.' τόδε is accusative after θαῦμ᾽ ἔχει με = θαυμάζω. Cp. Od. 20. 217, αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τόδε θυμὸς .. πόλλ᾽ ἐπιδινεῖται.

686. mvp-comment-489-1 'How then he retained his hold of a life so steeped in tears.' Cp. supr. 535, διέζων and note, infr. 1158-60.

687. mvp-comment-490-1 ἵν᾿ αὐτὸς ἦν πρόσουρος] Sc. ἑαυτῷ. Schndw. cp. Lucian. Timon. θεοῖς θυέτω καὶ εὐωχείσθω μόνος ἑαυτῷ γείτων καὶ ὅμορος. The phrase is an oxymoron. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 866, μόνος ὢν ἔφεδρος, (‘Having none to second him'). οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν] 'Without power of movement.' Cp. supr. 632, ἄπουν, and, for the meaning of the verbal noun, supr. 18, ἐνθάκησις, and note. Bothe's ingenious correction, ἵν᾽ αὐτὸς ἦν, πρόσουρον οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν ( cp. supr. 171, μηδὲ σύντροφον ὄμμ᾽ ἔχων), is inadmissible, (1) as too diffuse, and (2) because αὐτός εἶμι, “I am by myself,' is not a poetical expression for the misery of solitude. This and the following lines are an echo and expansion of Philoctetes' complaint, supr. 280 foll. ἄνδρα δ᾽ οὐδέν᾽ ἔντοπον, | οὐχ ὅστις ἀρκέσειεν, οὐδ᾽ ὅστις νόσου | κάμνοντι συλλάβοιτο. Lambinus gives an odd explanation of πρόσ-ουρος, 'expositus ventis.'

688. mvp-comment-491-1 κακογείτονα] ‘To be a neighbour to his misery.’ This, as Lessing saw (Laoc. p. 37), = γείτονα κακῶν οἱ ἐν κακοῖς.

689-691. mvp-comment-492-1 By bringing *τάν from before θερμοτάταν, where it injures the metre, to before βαρυβρῶτ', where a syllable is required, we obtain a possible construction for these lines. In whose ear he might lament, with groaning that had response (ἀντίτυπον), the disease (τάν, sc. νόσον) so cruelly gnawing, so dripping with gore.

689. mvp-comment-493-1 στόνον ἀντίτυπον is thus cognate accusative with ἀποκλαύσειεν, i.e. So as to receive groan for groan.' Cp. Ant. 592, ἀντιπλῆγες ἀκταί.

692. mvp-comment-494-1 ἐνθήρου] ( Cp. supr. 226, ἀπηγριωμένον) 'That has lost the human shape,' no longer recognizable as that of a human being. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 562, τιθέντες ἔνθηρον τρίχα. The etymological analysis of the word is difficult, perhaps = θηρσὶν ἐναριθμούμενος.

693. mvp-comment-495-1 εἴ τις ἐμπέσοι (sc. αἱμάς)] 'If any attacked him;' i.e. If the bleeding at any time came on.

694. mvp-comment-496-1 φορβάδος.. ἑλεῖν] ‘Or to take them' (the herbs) 'from the sustaining earth.' There is a slight change of construction; i. e ἑλεῖν = ὅστις ἕλοι, and the order of language, as elsewhere ( Essay on L. § 41, B. p. 77 ) reverses the order of fact. This passage has given needless trouble. Mr. Paley reads ἕλοι.

695. mvp-comment-497-1 *εἶρπε.. ἄν] Cp. supr. 290 foll. *ἀλλαχά] This is the simplest change (see v.rr.), which restores correspondence of strophe and antistrophe. Others read ἀτίμως for ἀναξίως in supr. 686. So τότε is antecedent to ἁνίκα in 704.

696. mvp-comment-498-1 εἰλυόμενος . . τιθήνας] 'Crawling, like a child without the kindly nurse.' So the Chorus expand the suggestive word εἰλυόμην in 291; i.e. He needed the support of hands as well as feet in the rocky paths.

697. mvp-comment-499-1 ὅθεν εὐμάρει᾽ ὑπάρχοι] 'To the place where a supply for his wants (the herb for his pain, the birds for his hunger) was to be found.' πόρον.. ἐξανείη] 'Left him the power of motion; i. e. Allowed him to move again. As the pain might be said ἐμποδίζειν πόρον, so when it ceases it is said ἐξανιέναι πόρον. Cp. Aj.674-6. This seems the most likely interpretation of a difficult passage. For other suggestions, see Herm., Schndw., Nauck, Dindorf, Paley.

699-700. mvp-comment-500-1 (1) 'Not lifting for his sustenance the sown-produce' ( cp. Hdt. 4.53) 'of the sacred earth, nor sustenance afforded by other things which we, industrious men, enjoy.' If this is right, φορβάν, which in l. 706 is in apposition to σπόρον ( cp. Plat. Legg. 12. 958 E, ὅσα τροφὴν μήτηρ οὖσα ἡ γῆ πέφυκε βούλεσθαι φέρειν), is to be resumed in l. 707 as the immediate object of αἴρων. (2) Another way is to take σπορόν (sic) as an adjective. Cp. τορός, τομός. 'Not taking up the sown sustenance afforded by the sacred earth, nor the sustenance afforded by other things, etc.'

702. mvp-comment-501-1 πτανῶν πτανοῖς] (1) 'From his winged arrows by means of winged birds' (ὀρνέοις, Scholiast). Cp. supr. 288, 9, τὰς ὑποπτέρους | βάλλον πελείας. Or (2) 'With winged shafts (instrum. dat.) he contrived a sustenance consisting of winged birds' (gen. of material). There is no sufficient ground for suspecting the reading. Perhaps, however, πτανάν, agreeing with φορβάν, would be better than πτανῶν. Cp. infr. 1146, πταναὶ θῆραι. For the tautology in φορβάδος, φορβάν, φορβάν, see Essay on L. § 44. pp. 83, 4.

703. mvp-comment-502-1 ψυχά] Cp. supr. 55 and note.

704. mvp-comment-503-1 For the genitive with ἥσθη, see Essay on L. § 10. p. 16, 5 , and, for the dative χρόνῳ, ibid. § 11. p. 18, b.

705. mvp-comment-504-1 λεύσσων . . εἰς] 'Looking to,' in dependence. Cp. El. 925, μηδὲν ἐς κεῖνόν γ᾽ ὅρα. στατόν] The remark of Odysseus, supr. 21, εἴπερ ἐστὶ σῶν, showed that the fountain was not an abundant one, such as would afford a perennial stream of living water.

706. mvp-comment-505-1 αἰεὶ προσενώμα] 'Fetched it for his daily need.' He had the labour of fetching it continually as he required it.

707. mvp-comment-506-1 ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν] ‘Of a brave hero,' i. e. Achilles. Poetical plural. παιδὶ συναντήσας is a good conjecture of Fröhlich.

708. mvp-comment-507-1 'He shall win happiness and glory after being so low.' εὐδαίμων is predicative and proleptic-ἐς τὸ εὐδαίμων εἶναι. Cp. Ο. Τ. 166, ἠνύσατ' ἐκτοπίαν φλόγα πήματος, i. e. ὥστε ἐκτοπίαν γενέσθαι. κείνων refers to 691-718.

709. mvp-comment-508-1 πλήθει πολλῶν μηνῶν] 'In the fulness of many months.' Cр. О. Т. 156, περιτελλομέναις ὥραις : Aesch. Ag. 504, δεκάτῳ σε φέγγει τῷδ᾽ ἀφικόμην ἔτους: Trach. 824, 5, ὁπότε τελεόμηνος ἐκφέροι | δωδέκατος ἄροτος.

710. mvp-comment-509-1 πατρώαν.. αὐλάν] ‘Τo his father's hall.’ The change to πατρίαν, adopted by most editors- cp. supr. τὰ πάτρια τεύχεα seems to be required for the metre, _uu_u_uu_u_uu_u_ (ἀνύσειε γαστρὶ φορβάν, supr. 712). But see l. 1100, λῳονος.

711-712. mvp-comment-510-1 'Beside the banks of the Spercheius, that are haunted by the Melian nymphs' (literally, 'Belonging to the Melian nymphs and (the river-god) Spercheius'). This is a more natural connection for the words Μηλιάδων νυμφᾶν than when they are joined with the preceding line.

712. mvp-comment-511-1 ὁ χάλκασπις ἀνήρ] Heracles. The epithet is picturesque. The orbed shield reflecting the sunlight from the top of Oeta suggests the glory which the hero has amongst the gods, and the fire which consumed his mortality.

713. mvp-comment-512-1 †πᾶσιν] If this is retained, it is necessary to read εἴ που for ὅπου in the strophe, with Brunck. But Hermann's correction, πάλαι, is not improbable. The passage is to be differently interpreted according as πλάθει is regarded: whether as a literal, or as an historical present. If the latter is correct, then θείῳ πυρί may refer to the golden cloud that descended to take up Heracles from the pyre. If the former, we must suppose a natural confusion between Heracles on Oeta and Heracles in Olympus.

715-716. mvp-comment-513-1 The last antistrophe was intended for the hearing of Philoctetes, and it is probable that, before it ended, he and Neoptolemus had already appeared from the cave. He now suddenly becomes motionless and speechless. εἰ θέλεις] 'Will you?' Neoptolemus professes unconsciousness of the cause of Philoctetes' apparent change of purpose. ἐξ οὐδενὸς λόγου] 'With no apparent cause.' 'Without assigning a reason.' Cp. O. C. 620, ἐκ σμικροῦ λόγου.

716. mvp-comment-514-1 ἀπόπληκτος . . ἔχει] 'Stand stupefied and caught.' Cp. Aj. 1144, 5, ἡνίκ᾽ ἐν κακῷ | χειμῶνος εἴχετο.

717. mvp-comment-515-1 The agony which he has in vain endeavoured to suppress forces a cry from Philoctetes against his will. Presently (ll. 733-5), he again assumes indifference, but is again overpowered, and cries to the gods for help.

719. mvp-comment-516-1 οὐδὲν δεινόν] 'No matter for alarm.' Cp. Trach. 459, τὸ δ᾽ εἰδέναι τί δεινόν; and cp. esp. O. C. 1200.

720. mvp-comment-517-1 τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου] i. e. τῆς νόσου παρεστώσης σοι. Cp. infr. 765.

721. mvp-comment-518-1 κουφίζειν] Sc. τὴν νόσον.

723. mvp-comment-519-1 In some MSS. οὕτως is read after θεούς, and Seidler and others have suggested that ὦ θεοί· τί τοὺς θεοὺς ὧδ᾽ ἀναστένων καλεῖς; should be read. But cp. Aj. 588, 9. It must be admitted however that the want of caesura is a reason for suspecting something wrong.

724. mvp-comment-520-1 'That they should interpose mercifully to save us.' (αὐτούς unemphatic.) Even here the suffering of Philoctetes is not merely physical. This attack of pain is threatening him with the frustration of his hopes.

727. mvp-comment-521-1 This passage, like El. 610, 1, O. T. 746, indicates the use of significant action by the person who is not speaking.

728. mvp-comment-522-1 For the omission of the article before κακόν, cp. supr. 83, and note, and see E. on L. § 21. p. 33, b.

729. mvp-comment-523-1 διέρχεται] 'It pierces.' Cp. infr. 791, 2.

731. mvp-comment-524-1 βρύκομαι] 'I am torn as with teeth.' Cp. Trach. 987, ἡ δ᾽ αὖ μιαρὰ βρύκει.

732. mvp-comment-525-1 παπαῖ] This exclamation of pain expresses the effort to close the lips alternating with the utterance of an involuntary cry.

733. mvp-comment-526-1 πρόχειρον] 'Ready to your hand.' πρόχειρος is one of the words which are used etymologically' in tragedy. ( Essay on L. § 54. pp. 99, 100. ) Cp. Eur. Hel. 1563, 4, φάσγανόν θ᾽ ἅμα | πρόχειρον ὤθει.

734. mvp-comment-527-1 εἰς ἄκρον πόδα] The force of ἄκρος in such phrases is not to be pressed. But cp. infr. 824.

736. mvp-comment-528-1 ἴθ᾽, ὦ παῖ] 'Do so, I pray thee, my son.' (Not, as supr. 733, where ἴθι is, 'Go on.')

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601–750

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ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ἀλλ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, χωρῶμεν, ὡς ἡμᾶς πολὺ πέλαγος * ὁρίζῃ ὁρίζει τῆς ᾿Οδυσσέως νεώς. ἴωμεν. ἥ τοι καίριος σπουδὴ πόνου λήξαντος ὕπνον κἀνάπαυλαν ἤγαγεν. 640

ΝΕ. οὐκοῦν ἐπειδὰν πνεῦμα τοὐκ τοῦ τοὐκ πρώρας ἀνῇ ἄηι ῥάῃ παρῆι ἀγῇ ἄη, τότε στελοῦμεν· νῦν γὰρ ἀντιοστατεῖ.

ΦΙ. ἀεὶ καλὸς πλοῦς ἔσθ᾽, ὅταν φεύγῃς κακά.

ΝΕ. οὔκ· ἀλλὰ κἀκείνοισι ταῦτ᾽ ἐναντία.

ΦΙ. οὐκ ἔστι λῃσταῖς πνεῦμ᾽ ἐναντιούμενον, 645 ὅταν παρῇ κλέψαι τε κλέψαι τε κλέψαι τε χαρπάσαι βίᾳ.

ΝΕ. ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ, χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβὼν ὅτου σε χρεία καὶ πόθος μάλιστ᾽ ἔχει.

ΦΙ. ἀλλ᾽ ἔστιν ὧν δεῖ, καίπερ οὐ πολλῶν ἄπο.

ΝΕ. τί τοῦθ᾽ ὁ μὴ νεώς γε τῆς ἐμῆς ἔνι; 650

ΦΙ. φύλλον τί μοι πάρεστιν, ᾧ μάλιστ᾽ ἀεὶ

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

κοιμῶ τόδ᾽ ἕλκος, ὥστε πραΰνειν πάνυ.

ΝΕ. ἀλλ᾽ ἔκφερ᾿ αὐτό. τί γὰρ ἔτ᾿ ἄλλ᾽ ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν;

ΦΙ. εἴ μοί τι τόξων τῶνδ᾽ ἀπημελημένον παρερρύηκεν, ὡς λίπω μή τῳ λαβεῖν. 655

ΝΕ. ἢ ταῦτα γὰρ τὰ κλεινὰ τόξ᾽, ἃ τόξα νῦν ἔχεις;

ΦΙ. ταῦτ᾽, οὐ γὰρ ἄλλα γ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἀλλ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἄλλα γ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ ἔσθ' ἀλλ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἀλλ᾽, ἃ βαστάζω χεροῖν.

ΝΕ. ἆρ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἆρ᾿ ἔστιν ἔστιν ἔστὶν ὥστε κἀγγύθεν θέαν λαβεῖν, καὶ βαστάσαι με προσκύσαι θ᾽ ὥσπερ θεόν;

ΦΙ. σοί γ', ὦ τέκνον, καὶ τοῦτο κἄλλο τῶν ἐμῶν, 660 ὁποῖον ἄν σοι ξυμφέρῃ συμφέρον, γενήσεται.

ΝΕ. καὶ μὴν ἐρῶ γε· τὸν δ᾽ ἔρωθ᾽ οὕτως ἔχω· εἴ μοι θέμις, θέλοιμ᾽ ἄν· εἰ δὲ μή, πάρες.

ΦΙ. ὅσιά τε φωνεῖς ἔστι τ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, θέμις, ὅς γ'᾽ ἡλίου τόδ᾽ τότ' τόδ' τόγ' εἰσορᾶν ἐμοὶ φάος 665 μόνος δέδωκας, ὃς χθόν᾽ Οἰταίαν ἰδεῖν,

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΝΕ. χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω.

ΦΙ. καὶ σε γ᾽ εἰσάξω· τὸ γὰρ·

ΦΙ. νοσοῦν ποθεῖ σε ξυμπαραστάτην λαβεῖν.

ΧΟ. στρ. α΄.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΝΕ.

ἕρπ᾽, εἰ θέλεις. τί δή ποθ' ὧδ᾽ ἐξ οὐδενὸς 715 λόγου σιωπᾷς κἀπόπληκτος ὧδ᾽ ἔχει;

ΦΙ. ἃ ἃ, ἃ ἆ. ἀ á á a 'â â â adda a

ΝΕ. τί ἔστιν ;

ΦΙ. οὐδὲν δεινόν. ἀλλ᾽ ἴθ᾽, ὦ τέκνον.

ΝΕ. μῶν ἄλγος ἴσχεις ἴσχει τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου ; 720

ΦΙ. οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔγωγ', ἀλλ᾽ ἄρτι κουφίζειν δοκῶ. ὦ θεοί. ἰὼ θεοί

NE. τί τοὺς θεοὺς θεοὺς οὕτως ἀναστένων καλεῖς βοᾷς ;

ΦΙ. σωτῆρας αὐτοὺς ἠπίους θ᾽ ἡμῖν μολεῖν. ἃ ἃ, ἃ ἆ. ả à ảá Corr. C². ad a 725

ΝΕ. τί ποτε πέπονθας; οὐκ ἐρεῖς, ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔσει σιγηλός; ἐν κακῷ δέ τῳ φαίνει δὲ τῶι φαίνηι δὲ τῳ φαίνηι κυρῶν.

ΦΙ. ἀπόλωλα ο from ω ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον, κοὐ δυνήσομαι κακὸν κρύψαι παρ' ὑμῖν, ἀτταταῖ διέρχεται (.)διέρχεται, διέρχεται. δύστηνος, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ. 730

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΝΕ. τί δ᾽ ἔστιν ἐστίν οὕτω νεοχμὸν ἐξαίφνης, ὅτου τοσήνδ᾽ ἰυγὴν καὶ στόνον σαυτοῦ ποιεῖς ποεῖς ποιεῖς ;

ΦΙ. οἶσθ᾽, ὦ τέκνον.

NE. τί τι ἔστιν; 740

ΦΙ. οἶσθ᾽, ὦ παῖ.

NE. τί σοί; οὐκ οἶδα.

ΦΙ. πῶς οὐκ οἶσθα, παππαπαππαπαῖ πάπ(π)απάπ(π)ᾶπαῖ παππᾶ παππᾶι παῖ πᾶ, πα πα πα.

ΝΕ. δεινόν γε τοὐπίσαγμα τοὐπείσαγμα τοῦ νοσήματος.

ΦΙ. δεινὸν γὰρ οὐδὲ ῥητόν· ἀλλ᾽ οἴκτειρέ με. 745

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΝΕ. τί δῆτα δράσω;

ΦΙ. μή με ταρβήσας προδῷς· ἥκει γὰρ αὕτη διὰ χρόνου πλάνοις ἴσως ὡς ὡσ ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη.

NE. ἰὼ ἰὼ δύστηνε σύ, 750 δύστηνε δῆτα add διὰ πόνων πάντων φανείς. βούλει λάβωμαι λάβωμαι δῆτα καὶ θίγω τί σου;

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΝΕ. θάρσει προνοίας οἵνεκ'. οὐ δοθήσεται πλὴν σοί τε κἀμοί· ξὺν τύχῃ δὲ πρόσφερε. 765

ΦΙ. ἰδοὺ δέχου, παῖ· τὸν φθόνον δὲ πρόσκυσον, μή σοι γενέσθαι πολύπον αὐτά, μηδ᾽ ὅπως ὁμοίωσ ἐμοί τε καὶ τῷ τὸ τῷ πρόσθ᾽ ἐμοῦ κεκτημένῳ.

ΝΕ. ὦ θεοί, γένοιτο ταῦτα νῷν· γένοιτο δὲ πλοῦς οὔριός τε κεὐσταλής καὶ εὐσταλὴσ, ὅποι ποτὲ 770 θεὸς δικαιοῖ χώ στόλος πορσύνεται.

ΦΙ.

Νεοπτόλεμος ἕρπʼ, εἰ θέλεις. τί δή ποθʼ ὧδʼ ἐξ οὐδενὸς 730 λόγου σιωπᾷς κἀπόπληκτος ὧδʼ ἔχει;

Φιλοκτήτης ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.

Νεοπτόλεμος τί δʼ ἔστιν;

Φιλοκτήτης οὐδὲν δεινόν· ἀλλʼ ἴθʼ, ὦ τέκνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος μῶν ἄλγος ἴσχεις τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου;

Φιλοκτήτης οὐ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄρτι κουφίζειν δοκῶ. ὦ θεοί. 735

Νεοπτόλεμος τί τοὺς θεοὺς ὧδʼ ἀναστένων καλεῖς;

Φιλοκτήτης σωτῆρας αὐτοὺς ἠπίους θʼ ἡμῖν μολεῖν. ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.

Νεοπτόλεμος τί ποτε πέπονθας; οὐκ ἐρεῖς, ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἔσει 740 σιγηλός; ἐν κακῷ δέ τῳ φαίνει κυρῶν.

Νεοπτόλεμος τί δʼ ἔστιν οὕτω νεοχμὸν ἐξαίφνης, ὅτου τοσήνδʼ ἰυγὴν καὶ στόνον σαυτοῦ ποεῖ;

Φιλοκτήτης οἶσθʼ, ὦ τέκνον;

Νεοπτόλεμος τί δʼ ἔστιν;

Φιλοκτήτης οἶσθʼ, ὦ παῖ;

Νεοπτόλεμος τί σοί; οὐκ οἶδα.

Φιλοκτήτης πῶς οὐκ οἶσθα; παππαπαππαπαῖ.

Νεοπτόλεμος δεινόν γε τοὐπίσαγμα τοῦ νοσήματος. 755

Φιλοκτήτης δεινὸν γὰρ οὐδὲ ῥητόν· ἀλλʼ οἴκτιρέ με.

ἀλλ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, χωρῶμεν, ὡς ἡμᾶς πολὺ

πέλαγος * ὁρίζῃ ὁρίζει τῆς ᾿Οδυσσέως νεώς.

ἴωμεν. ἥ τοι καίριος σπουδὴ πόνου

λήξαντος ὕπνον κἀνάπαυλαν ἤγαγεν.
640

ΝΕ.

οὐκοῦν ἐπειδὰν πνεῦμα τοὐκ τοῦ τοὐκ πρώρας ἀνῇ ἄηι ῥάῃ παρῆι ἀγῇ ἄη,

τότε στελοῦμεν· νῦν γὰρ ἀντιοστατεῖ.

ΦΙ.

ἀεὶ καλὸς πλοῦς ἔσθ᾽, ὅταν φεύγῃς κακά.

ΝΕ.

οὔκ· ἀλλὰ κἀκείνοισι ταῦτ᾽ ἐναντία.

ΦΙ.

οὐκ ἔστι λῃσταῖς πνεῦμ᾽ ἐναντιούμενον,
645

ὅταν παρῇ κλέψαι τε κλέψαι τε κλέψαι τε χαρπάσαι βίᾳ.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ, χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβὼν

ὅτου σε χρεία καὶ πόθος μάλιστ᾽ ἔχει.

ΦΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔστιν ὧν δεῖ, καίπερ οὐ πολλῶν ἄπο.

ΝΕ.

τί τοῦθ᾽ ὁ μὴ νεώς γε τῆς ἐμῆς ἔνι;
650

ΦΙ.

φύλλον τί μοι πάρεστιν, ᾧ μάλιστ᾽ ἀεὶ

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔκφερ᾿ αὐτό. τί γὰρ ἔτ᾿ ἄλλ᾽ ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν;

ΦΙ.

εἴ μοί τι τόξων τῶνδ᾽ ἀπημελημένον

παρερρύηκεν, ὡς λίπω μή τῳ λαβεῖν.
655

ΝΕ.

ἢ ταῦτα γὰρ τὰ κλεινὰ τόξ᾽, ἃ τόξα νῦν ἔχεις;

ΦΙ.

ταῦτ᾽, οὐ γὰρ ἄλλα γ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἀλλ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἄλλα γ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ ἔσθ' ἀλλ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ἀλλ᾽, ἃ βαστάζω χεροῖν.

ΝΕ.

ἆρ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἆρ᾿ ἔστιν ἔστιν ἔστὶν ὥστε κἀγγύθεν θέαν λαβεῖν,

καὶ βαστάσαι με προσκύσαι θ᾽ ὥσπερ θεόν;

ΦΙ.

σοί γ', ὦ τέκνον, καὶ τοῦτο κἄλλο τῶν ἐμῶν,
660

ὁποῖον ἄν σοι ξυμφέρῃ συμφέρον, γενήσεται.

ΝΕ.

καὶ μὴν ἐρῶ γε· τὸν δ᾽ ἔρωθ᾽ οὕτως ἔχω·

εἴ μοι θέμις, θέλοιμ᾽ ἄν· εἰ δὲ μή, πάρες.

ΦΙ.

ὅσιά τε φωνεῖς ἔστι τ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, θέμις,

ὅς γ'᾽ ἡλίου τόδ᾽ τότ' τόδ' τόγ' εἰσορᾶν ἐμοὶ φάος
665

μόνος δέδωκας, ὃς χθόν᾽ Οἰταίαν ἰδεῖν,

ΝΕ.
χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω.

ΦΙ.
καὶ σε γ᾽ εἰσάξω· τὸ γὰρ·

ΦΙ.

νοσοῦν ποθεῖ σε ξυμπαραστάτην λαβεῖν.

ΧΟ.

στρ. α΄.

ἕρπ᾽, εἰ θέλεις. τί δή ποθ' ὧδ᾽ ἐξ οὐδενὸς
715

λόγου σιωπᾷς κἀπόπληκτος ὧδ᾽ ἔχει;

ΦΙ.

ἃ ἃ, ἃ ἆ. ἀ á á a 'â â â adda a

ΝΕ.

τί ἔστιν ;

ΦΙ.

οὐδὲν δεινόν. ἀλλ᾽ ἴθ᾽, ὦ τέκνον.

ΝΕ.

μῶν ἄλγος ἴσχεις ἴσχει τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου ;
720

ΦΙ.

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔγωγ', ἀλλ᾽ ἄρτι κουφίζειν δοκῶ.

ὦ θεοί. ἰὼ θεοί

NE.

τί τοὺς θεοὺς θεοὺς οὕτως ἀναστένων καλεῖς βοᾷς ;

ΦΙ.

σωτῆρας αὐτοὺς ἠπίους θ᾽ ἡμῖν μολεῖν.

ἃ ἃ, ἃ ἆ. ả à ảá Corr. C². ad a
725

ΝΕ.

τί ποτε πέπονθας; οὐκ ἐρεῖς, ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔσει

σιγηλός; ἐν κακῷ δέ τῳ φαίνει δὲ τῶι φαίνηι δὲ τῳ φαίνηι κυρῶν.

ΦΙ.

ἀπόλωλα ο from ω ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον, κοὐ δυνήσομαι κακὸν

κρύψαι παρ' ὑμῖν, ἀτταταῖ διέρχεται (.)διέρχεται,

διέρχεται. δύστηνος, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ.
730

ΝΕ.

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν ἐστίν οὕτω νεοχμὸν ἐξαίφνης, ὅτου

τοσήνδ᾽ ἰυγὴν καὶ στόνον σαυτοῦ ποιεῖς ποεῖς ποιεῖς ;

ΦΙ.

οἶσθ᾽, ὦ τέκνον.

NE.

τί τι ἔστιν;
740

ΦΙ.

οἶσθ᾽, ὦ παῖ.

NE.

τί σοί; οὐκ οἶδα.

ΦΙ.

πῶς οὐκ οἶσθα, παππαπαππαπαῖ πάπ(π)απάπ(π)ᾶπαῖ παππᾶ παππᾶι παῖ πᾶ, πα πα πα.

ΝΕ.

δεινόν γε τοὐπίσαγμα τοὐπείσαγμα τοῦ νοσήματος.

ΦΙ.

δεινὸν γὰρ οὐδὲ ῥητόν· ἀλλ᾽ οἴκτειρέ με.
745

ΝΕ.

τί δῆτα δράσω;

ΦΙ.

μή με ταρβήσας προδῷς·

ἥκει γὰρ αὕτη διὰ χρόνου πλάνοις ἴσως ὡς ὡσ

ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη.

NE.

ἰὼ ἰὼ δύστηνε σύ,
750

δύστηνε δῆτα add διὰ πόνων πάντων φανείς.

βούλει λάβωμαι λάβωμαι δῆτα καὶ θίγω τί σου;

ΝΕ.

θάρσει προνοίας οἵνεκ'. οὐ δοθήσεται

πλὴν σοί τε κἀμοί· ξὺν τύχῃ δὲ πρόσφερε.
765

ΦΙ.

ἰδοὺ δέχου, παῖ· τὸν φθόνον δὲ πρόσκυσον,

μή σοι γενέσθαι πολύπον αὐτά, μηδ᾽ ὅπως ὁμοίωσ

ἐμοί τε καὶ τῷ τὸ τῷ πρόσθ᾽ ἐμοῦ κεκτημένῳ.

ΝΕ.

ὦ θεοί, γένοιτο ταῦτα νῷν· γένοιτο δὲ

πλοῦς οὔριός τε κεὐσταλής καὶ εὐσταλὴσ, ὅποι ποτὲ
770

θεὸς δικαιοῖ χώ στόλος πορσύνεται.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἕρπʼ, εἰ θέλεις. τί δή ποθʼ ὧδʼ ἐξ οὐδενὸς
730

λόγου σιωπᾷς κἀπόπληκτος ὧδʼ ἔχει;

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί δʼ ἔστιν;

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐδὲν δεινόν· ἀλλʼ ἴθʼ, ὦ τέκνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος

μῶν ἄλγος ἴσχεις τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου;

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄρτι κουφίζειν δοκῶ. ὦ θεοί.
735

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί τοὺς θεοὺς ὧδʼ ἀναστένων καλεῖς;

Φιλοκτήτης

σωτῆρας αὐτοὺς ἠπίους θʼ ἡμῖν μολεῖν. ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί ποτε πέπονθας; οὐκ ἐρεῖς, ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἔσει
740

σιγηλός; ἐν κακῷ δέ τῳ φαίνει κυρῶν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί δʼ ἔστιν οὕτω νεοχμὸν ἐξαίφνης, ὅτου

τοσήνδʼ ἰυγὴν καὶ στόνον σαυτοῦ ποεῖ;

Φιλοκτήτης

οἶσθʼ, ὦ τέκνον;

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί δʼ ἔστιν;

Φιλοκτήτης

οἶσθʼ, ὦ παῖ;

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί σοί;

οὐκ οἶδα.

Φιλοκτήτης

πῶς οὐκ οἶσθα; παππαπαππαπαῖ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

δεινόν γε τοὐπίσαγμα τοῦ νοσήματος.
755

Φιλοκτήτης

δεινὸν γὰρ οὐδὲ ῥητόν· ἀλλʼ οἴκτιρέ με.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί δῆτα δράσω;

Φιλοκτήτης

μή με ταρβήσας προδῷς·

ἥκει γὰρ αὕτη διὰ χρόνου πλάνοις ἴσως

ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἰὼ ἰὼ δύστηνε σύ,

δύστηνε δῆτα διὰ πόνων πάντων φανείς.
760

βούλει λάβωμαι δῆτα καὶ θίγω τί σου;

Νεοπτόλεμος

θάρσει προνοίας οὕνεκʼ· οὐ δοθήσεται

πλὴν σοί τε κἀμοί· ξὺν τύχῃ δὲ πρόσφερε.
775

Φιλοκτήτης

ἰδοὺ δέχου, παῖ· τὸν φθόνον δὲ πρόσκυσον

μή σοι γενέσθαι πολύπονʼ αὐτὰ μηδʼ ὅπως

ἐμοί τε καὶ τῷ πρόσθʼ ἐμοῦ κεκτημένῳ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὦ θεοί, γένοιτο ταῦτα νῷν· γένοιτο δὲ

πλοῦς οὔριός τε κεὐσταλὴς ὅποι ποτὲ
780

θεὸς δικαιοῖ χὠ στόλος πορσύνεται.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλγῶ πάλαι δὴ τἀπὶ σοὶ στένων κακά.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχʼ· ὡς ἥδε μοι

ὀξεῖα φοιτᾷ καὶ ταχεῖʼ ἀπέρχεται.

ἀλλʼ ἀντιάζω, μή με καταλίπῃς μόνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος

θάρσει, μενοῦμεν.
810

Φιλοκτήτης

ἦ μενεῖς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

σαφῶς φρόνει.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐ μήν σʼ ἔνορκόν γʼ ἀξιῶ θέσθαι, τέκνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὡς οὐ θέμις γʼ ἐμοὔστι σοῦ μολεῖν ἄτερ.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἔμβαλλε χειρὸς πίστιν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἐμβάλλω μενεῖν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἐκεῖσε νῦν μʼ, ἐκεῖσε

Νεοπτόλεμος

ποῖ λέγεις;

Φιλοκτήτης

ἄνω