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1201–1350

ὅσοι.. ἀπῶσαι] 'Who found it in their hearts to reject this foot of mine;' i.e. 'To make an outcast of one so afflicted as I am.' ποδὸς ἄρθρον] For the periphrasis, cp. supr. 748, εἰς ἄκρον πόδα. The pleonasm of expression implies a sort of pity or fondness of Philoctetes for himself. Cp. supr. 786, 1188, 'This foot of mine.'

ὀρέξατε] 'Extend.' A suppliant expression. Cp. Od. 15. 312, Πλάγξομαι, αἴ κέν τις κοτύλην καὶ πύρνον ὀρέξῃ.

ξίφος, εἴ ποθεν, ἢ .. προπέμψατε] 'Provide me with sword, or axe, or missile weapon, if there be such anywhere.' εἴ ποθεν is put elliptically for εἴ ποθεν δύνασθε. Cp. esp. Aj. 886, εἴ ποθι.. λεύσσων, and note. For πέμπω in this sense, cp. supr. 1162, infr. 1266. Another possible reading of this place is to delete the comma after ξίφος, and read προπέμψετε.

ὡς .. ποτέ] 'That you may put in execution what device?' For ῥέξῃς παλάμαν, cp. supr. 87, τούσδε (sc. λόγους) καὶ πράσσειν στυγῶ.

κρᾶτ᾽.. χερί] i.e. (ὡς) ἀποτέμω κρᾶτα καὶ πάντα ἄρθρα χερί. The ὕστερον πρότερον here (see E. on L. § 41. p. 78. ) has a somewhat singular effect to a modern ear. Cp. Αj. 238, κεφαλὴν καὶ γλῶσσαν ἄκραν | ῥιπτεῖ θερίσας.

ποῖ,.. ἐς ῞Αιδου] ματεύων implies 'going to seek.' Hence ποî and ἐς.

Cp. supr. 493 foll.

σὰν .. ἱερὰν λιβάδ] The waters of Trachis had a peculiar sanctity. Cp. supr. 725,6, Μηλιάδων νυμφᾶν | Σπερχειού τε παρ' ὄχθαις.

ἔτ᾿ οὐδέν εἰμι] For the order of words, cp. Trach. 161, ὡς ἔτ᾽ οὐκ ὤν, and see E. on L. § 41. p. 78, γ. The Chorus have made but little way with Philoctetes, when Neoptolemus reappears. No sooner has he come in sight of the vessel than his repentance becomes complete, and he desires only to restore the bow.

ἐγὼ .. ἐμῆς] 'Long since you would have seen me' ( σοι, Essay on L. § 13. p. 19 ) 'moving off to rejoin my vessel, had we not descried the advance this way of Odysseus and Achilles' son approaching us.' For στείχοντα with στείχων, supr., see Essay on L. § 44. p. 84. For ὁμοῦ after the verb of motion, cp. supr. 256, μηδαμοῦ, and note.

δεῦρ᾿ ἰόντ'] Viz. ἰόντα. There is a slight difference between πέλας στείχοντα and δεῦρ᾿ ἰόντα. Odysseus is seen moving not far off, within hearing. Neoptolemus is manifestly directing his steps towards Philoctetes. On being told of their approach, Philoctetes withdraws into his cave.

οὐκ ἂν φράσειας is slightly less peremptory than οὐ φράσεις. ‘Do you not mean to tell me?'

ὧδε .. ταχύς] 'With such eager haste.' The youth has outstripped Odysseus.

δεινόν γε φωνεῖς] 'That sounds alarmingly indeed!' Cp. O. С. 860, 1, ΚΡ. τόνδ᾽ ἀπάξομαι λαβών. ΧΟ. δεινὸν λέγεις.

ὧν οὐ σοι πρέπον] i.e. τῶν ἅπερ οὔ σοι πρέπον ἐστὶ πρᾶξαι.

ἑλών] Sc. ἐξήμαρτον.

νέον μὲν οὐδέν] Cp. supr. 966, οὐ νῦν πρῶτον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάλαι.

οὐ τί που] Cp. supr. 900: Trach. 668 οὐ δή τι, and note.

δίς.. ἔπη] 'Would you have me go over and over the same ground in speaking?' ἀναπολεῖν, literally = 'novare agros.' Cp. Pind. Nem. 7. 104, ταὐτὰ δὲ τρὶς τετράκι τ᾽ ἀμπολεῖν ἀπορία τελέθει.

ἀρχήν] 'At all.' Cp. Ant. 92, El. 439, and note.

Here the Laurentian and Triclinian MSS. agree in reading ἀκηκοώς, while the rest give ἀκήκοας, with Par. A. The difference of meaning is slight, but the reading of L. is at once smoother and more forcible.

οὑπικωλύσων] Post futurum ἔσται satis erat οὑπικωλύων dicere, sed praetulit οὑπικωλύσων, ut argute responderet precedenti κωλύσει.' Dindorf. For the variation of simple and compound, ср. O. T. 566, 7, ἔσχετε; | παρέσχομεν. ἐπικωλύειν is, “To interfere to prevent.'

ἐν δὲ τοῖς is read in a recent MS. (Lc. of Dindorf: Laur. 31. 1).

'Though you are wise, there is no wisdom in what you have now said.' For the force of the pronoun here, see Essay on L. § 22. p. 36.

σοφά] Although the change is not absolutely necessary, σοφά agrees best with the context, and the reading σοφόν here may be due to σοφόν in the preceding line. Cp. infr. 1266.

τάδε] τὰ δίκαια.

καὶ πῶς δίκαιον] Not only the opposition between justice and expediency, but also that between conflicting principles of justice, appears in the age of Sophocles and Thucydides. Odysseus claims obedience to his own commands and those of the army. Against this Neoptolemus sets up the higher claims of sincerity and faithfulness. Cp. El. 1037, τῷ σῷ δικαίῳ δῆτ᾽ ἐπισπέσθαι με δεῖ; ἅ γ᾽ ἔλαβες] On the metrical irregularities of which this division of the tribrach is an example, see above, note on l. 795.

ταῦτα] The antecedent is emphatically resumed. E. on L. § 40. p. 75.

τὸν.. φόβον] ‘I fear not the intimidation with which you threaten me.' The possessive pronoun of the second person has a sarcastic force. Cp. Eur. Heracl. 284, τὸ σὸν γὰρ ᾿Αργος οὐ δέδοικ᾽ ἐγώ. For φόβον, Hermann conjectures στρατόν, Fröhlich, ψόφον.

In the text this line is given to Neoptolemus, and follows a threat of personal violence from Odysseus. Some editors would omit it altogether. χειρί is opposed to φόβον, supra. Either therefore (1) a line is dropped after 1251 ( cp. O. T. 624); and the sense runs as follows: 'Ne. I tremble not before your intimidation. (Od. But I will compel you on the spot.) Ne. Neither do I yield to your compulsion to do this. Od. Then you, and not the Trojans, will be our adversary. Ne. Let come what will. Od. You see my hand upon the hilt. Ne. Nor will mine linger long, as you will see. Od. And yet I will leave you.' Or (2) 1252, 3 may be inverted, and ἔστω τὸ μέλλον given to Odysseus, together with the following words. Or (3) inverting 1252, 3 as before, we may read as follows: ΟΔ. ἔστω τὸ μέλλον. ΝΕ. χεῖρα .. ἐπιψαύουσαν. ΟΔ. ἀλλὰ .. τιμωρήσεται. It is hardly worth while to suggest a fourth alternative, (4) to leave the lines as they stand, and to suppose l. 1252 in Odysseus' mouth to mean, 'But, on the other hand, I do not credit you with force enough to effect your object.' That (1) is right appears from this, that Odysseus is in this case the aggressor throughout, and Neoptolemus stands wholly on the defensive. Cp. infr. 1300-4. The Scholiast on l. 1252 explains ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ πεισθήσομαι, whence Bothe conjectures πείσομαι. For the unintentional tautology in τὸ μέλλον.. κοὐ μέλλοντ᾽ ἔτι, see Essay on L. § 44. p. 83.

ἔστω, Wecklein conjectures ἴτω.

καίτοι . . ἐάσω] For καίτοι after a pause. cp. Ant. 904, καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ἐτίμησα: Trach. 719, καίτοι δέδοκται, κ.τ.λ. Odysseus is pursuing his own thoughts without appearing to notice the words of Neoptolemus. Odysseus exit, but is supposed still to lurk somewhere within hearing.

The tone of these lines is that of one utterly broken by misery, and desirous only to be left alone. Cp. Αj. 787, 8, τί μ᾽ αὖ τάλαιναν, ἀρτίως πεπαυμένην | κακῶν ἀτρύτων, ἐξ ἕδρας ἀνίστατε;

τίς. βοῆς] 'What loud disturbance is again taking place before my cave?' For ἵσταται, ср. O. C. 1478, μαλ᾽ αὖθις ἀμφίσταται διαπρύσιος ὅτοβος: Aesch. Cho. 885, τίνα βοὴν ἵστης δόμοις; Eur. Iph. T. 1307, τις ἀμφὶ δῶμα θεᾶς τόδ᾽ ἴστησιν βοήν ;

ἐκκαλεῖσθε] Cp. Hdt. 8.79 (of Aristeides), στὰς ἐπὶ τὸ συνέδριον, ἐξεκαλέετο Θεμιστοκλέα.

ὤμοι... χρήμα] 'Ah! mischief is afoot.' Philoctetes, who had at first only heard the sound of his own name, now starts on seeing Neoptolemus approaching him with the bow. He at once concludes that some harm is intended him. μέγα] 'It is certain that some evil is meant, where Neoptolemus is employed. 'Is it a mighty evil?' this is all Philoctetes asks. 'Mala res, qua opus sit vobis. Dicit autem haec verba conspecto Neoptolemo. Nam quae precedent, nondum viso dicuntur. Hinc non interrogat, quod aliter expectari poterat, μῶν τί μοι νέον, sed μῶν τί μοι μέγα κακὸν πέμποντες πάρεστε.' Herm. The echo of κεχρημένοι in χρήμα is probably unintentional.

πέμποντες] 'Bringing.' Cp. supr. 19, 1161. Neoptolemus is followed by two of the crew. Philoctetes sees in them the emissaries of Odysseus.

δέδοικ᾽ ἔγωγε] 'I fear you, I.' Said in reply to θάρσει supra.

ἐκ λόγων .. λόγοις] ‘I found harsh fortune following on fair speeches, through yielding to your words.' ἐκ λόγων. λόγοις] For this tautology, see Essay on L. § 44. p. 83.

οὔκουν.. πάλιν] 'Is there not a possibility of changing one's mind again?'

πιστός] 'Seemingly trustworthy.' τοῖς λόγοισι is to be resumed, and to this λάθρα is opposed.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τι μὴν νῦν. μήν, calling attention to a new fact, is exactly in point here. Cp. El. 817, ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τι μὴν ἔγωγε τοῦ λοίπου χρόνου ξύνοικος ἔσειμ'. Some MSS. have οὔ τι μή: cp. O. T. 870.

παῦε] This differs from παῦσαι, as in English, 'Stop that!' differs from 'Stop!' The two words are apt to be confused through itacism ( παῦε, παῦαι, παῦσαι).

πέρα] Sc. δεδόχθαι.

εἰ δὲ μὴ.. πέπαυμαι] 'But, as my words are unacceptable, I have done.' For εἰ.. μή τι = εἴ τι μή, cp. El. 31, εἰ μή τι καιροῦ τυγχάνω, μεθάρμοσον. πρὸς καιρὸν λέγειν is, 'To speak to the point,' (1) really, (2) in the estimation of the person addressed, as here. Cp. πρὸς τρόπου, e.g. Plat. Rep. 5. 470 C.

γάρ] 'And rightly, for-.'

οὐ γὰρ. φρένα] 'For you will never win my heart to feel kindly towards you.' For examples of the repetition of γάρ, see Ellendt. Lex. Soph. s. v. γάρ, 7, d. and cp. 1158, 9. For κτήσει, Wakefield proposed θήσει (for which, cp. supr. 532), but for uses of κτᾶσθαι, cp. Aj. 1360, κτᾶσθαι φίλους: El. 1303, τὰς ἡδόνας ἐκτησάμην : Trach. 191, κτῴμην χάριν : ib. 470: infr. 1370, ἐξ ἐμοῦ κτήσει χάριν. The word expresses Philoctetes' sense of the value of his own friendship. Cp. supr. 478, and note.

τὸν βίον .. ἀπεστέρηκας] Cp. supr. 931.

νουθετεῖς ἐμὲ | ἐλθών] ‘You come and give me advice.' That he should come at all, after what he has done, is an offence. ἔχθιστος] αἴσχιστος, the conjecture of Pierson, has been accepted by recent editors. It certainly makes the antithesis more exact, and ἔχθιστος and αἴσχιστος are confounded in MSS. of Aj. 658, and elsewhere. But for inexact antithesis, see Essay on L. § 41. p. 78, €, and for ἐχθρός simply expressing abhorrence, cp. supr. 928, τέχνημ᾽ ἔχθιστον, and many other places in Sophocles. Translate, 'Most abhorred son of a father whom I most admired.' Cp. supr. 242, ὦ φιλτάτου παῖ πατρός.

ἆρα] οὐκ (see v. rr.) has probably crept into the MSS. from an interlinear gloss.

ἀπώμοσ᾽] For the aorist, see E. on L. § 32. p. 55, 6 , and cp. Aj. 536. ἁγνοῦ . . σέβας] 'The highest worship of holy Zeus.' ὕψιστον is rightly the attribute of σέβας, as that which is sworn by. Some conjecture ἁγνὸν ὑψίστου.

τοὔργον . . φανερόν] ‘The deed shall be openly made good.' τοὔργον = 'the reality corresponding to the word'. παρέσται, 'Shall be given.' Cp. O. C. 726, θάρσει, παρέσται. φανερόν, 'Beyond the possibility of doubt.'

κράτει] 'Be master of.' Cp. Aj. 1337, ἐξ οὗ κράτησα τῶν ᾿Αχιλλείων ὅπλων.

Odysseus reappears from his concealment at the critical moment, to protest with all his might against what is being done. But when Philoctetes has taken the bow, and points an arrow at him, he is compelled to retire. ὑπέρ τ'] Cp. O. C. 33, 4, ὑπέρ τ᾿ ἐμοῦ | αὐτῆς θ' ὁρώσης.

τέκνον] This address marks the perfect restoration of confidence. Cp. supr. 923, 4, ὦ ξένε, and note.

τίνος . . ἐπῃσθόμην] Some editors connect φώνημα with ἐπῃσθόμην, but it seems more natural to take τίνος φώνημά (ἐστιν) as a separate sentence, although φώνημα may be resumed after ἐπῃσθόμην. ἐπῃσθόμην is omitted in Par. B, which in so far favours Nauck's conjecture, ΦΙ. τέκνον, τίνος φώνημα; μῶν Ὀδυσσέως; ΟΔ Ὀδυσσέως, σάφ' ἴσθι, καὶ πέλας γ᾽ ὁρᾷς.

ὀρθωθῇ] 'Carry to its aim' = ὀρθῶς ἠνεχθῇ. Neoptolemus here lays his hand firmly on Philoctetes' arm.

For the construction, cp. Eur. Tro. 1146, ἀφείλετ᾿ αὐτὴν παῖδα μὴ δοῦναι τάφῳ.

τόξοις ἐμοῖς] Philoctetes' pride returns to him with his weapon.

The order seems more in favour of Wakefield's correction than of the mere substitution of τόδε for τοῦτο, with Brunck and Seyffert, though this is also possible, viz. ἀλλ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἐμοὶ καλὸν * τόδ' ἐστίν, οὔτε σοί. - Philoctetes has at least the triumph of seeing the retreat of Odysseus.

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν] 'However this may be;' whether the deed were honourable or no. τοὺς πρώτους στρατοῦ] 'The prime men of the host.'

τοὺς . . ψευδοκήρυκας] 'The false intelligencers of the Achaeans.' Sc. τοὺς διὰ ψευδῶν κηρύσσοντας τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ᾿Αχαιῶν. Philoctetes sees through the whole stratagem, and perceives that not only the employment of Neoptolemus, but the news of the pretended ῎Εμπορος, were the invention of Odysseus.

ἐν δὲ .. θρασεῖς] See Essay on L. § 19. p. 27.

κοὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου .. ἐμέ] 'And there is no place for anger or discontent on your part towards me.' Turnebus, by a slight change, read ὅτου, and this has been generally adopted. For the use of ὅπου, however, cp. Aj. 1103, οὐδ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου σοὶ τόνδε κοσμῆσαι πλέον | ἀρχῆς ἔκειτο θεσμὸς ἢ καὶ τῷδε σέ.

οὐχὶ Σισύφου πατρός] Sc. βλαστών. Cp. supr. 417.

ἄριστα] Sc. τῶν ζώντων.

ἥσθην.. αὐτόν τέ μ΄] 'Your praises of my father and of myself too give me a thrill of joy.' For this accusative, see E. on L. § 16. p. 23. For the aorist, see ib. § 32. p. 55. In order to avoid the double trisyllabic foot some editors prefer τὸν ἀμόν, the reading of T, for which they compare several places of the Electra. But Electra and Orestes are speaking of Agamemnon as the father of them both. Neoptolemus stands alone as the son of Achilles. And, with αὐτόν τέ μ' immediately following, the plural word is scarcely justifiable. Nauck conjectures ἥσθην γε πατέρα.

Whether με or ἐμέ is preferable here is a point that can hardly be determined. ὧν δέ σου τυχεῖν ἐφιέμαι] In returning to the dangerous theme, Neoptolemus tries to avoid offence ( cp. supr. 1283, εἶτα νουθετεῖς ἐμέ) by putting his exhortation in the form of a request.

ἑκουσίοισιν] Cp. Eur. Suppl. 151, σοφήν γ᾽ ἔλεξας τήνδ᾽ ἑκούσιον φυγήν.

This strain of reflection about the voluntary and involuntary reminds us that we are in the age of Socrates.

ἠγρίωσαι] 'Art become intractable.' Cp. the use of ἀγριαίνω in Plat. Rep. 6. 493 B, 501 E, Theaet. 151 C.

Schndw. has observed that the reading of L points to a v. r. εὔνοιαν λέγων. Cp. O. C. 390.

Ζῆνα.. καλῶ] ὄρκιον is either (1) attributive, 'And I invoke Zeus, who makes oaths binding.' Cp. Plat. Rep. 5. 451 A, προσκυνῶ δὲ ᾿Αδράστειαν, ὦ Γλαύκων, χάριν οὗ μέλλω λέγειν: Eur. Hipp. 1025, ὅρκιόν σοι Ζῆνα.. ὄμνυμι. Or (2) 'I call on Zeus to witness my solemn word.' The former (1) is probably right.

γράφου] The middle voice ( Essay on L. § 31. p. 53 ) is used as in Aesch. Prom. 789, ἣν ἐγγράφου σὺ μνήμοσιν δέλτοις φρενῶν.

νοσεῖς τόδ' ἄλγος] Cogn. acc. i. e. ἔχεις τήνδε ἀλγεινὴν νόσον.

πελασθείς] 'In consequence of having come near.' The participle is parallel to ἐκ θείας τύχης, which it helps to explain. Cp. the epexegetic use of λοχευθείς in O. C. 1322.

The serpent guarded the shrine of the nymph Chrysa, who is sometimes identified with Athena. Cp. the sacred serpent of Athena Polias in the Erectheum.

ἐντυχεῖν] For this Auratus and Elmsley substituted ἂν τυχών, and Porson, followed by recent editors, conj. ἂν τυχεῖν. But for the aor. infin. in prophecy, cp. Aesch. Prom. 667, κεἰ μὴ θέλοι, πυρωπὸν ἐκ Διὸς μολεῖν | κεραυνόν. παῦλαν is best taken as the subject of ἐντυχεῖν, sc. σοί.

ὡς ἄν] 'Whilst.' Not for ἕως ἄν, but an instance of the temporal use of as being accompanied by ἄν. See Essay on L. § 28, 4. P 47.

ταύτῃ μὲν τῇδε δ'] He points first to the right and then to the left of the λογεῖον.

τῶν . . ᾿Ασκληπιδών] The genitive does not depend primarily on ἐντυχών, but is causal with μαλαχθῆς. See L. and S. s. v. ἐντυγχάνω. ' And by the sons of Asclepius in our camp. having there met with them, you shall be soothed from the pain of this disease.' For the resumption of παῦλαν in μαλαχθῇς, cp. Aj. 106-10, θανεῖν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὐ τί πω θέλω.. πρὶν ἂν .. θάνῃ. In infr. 1437, Heracles further reveals what is still unknown to Neoptolemus, that Asclepius will himself come to heal Philoctetes. μαλαχθῇς does not guarantee a complete cure, perhaps because the common story (as in Pindar) represented Philoctetes as still lame. Blaydes conjectures μεταστῆς τῆσδε But such harsh assonance is improbable here.

ξύν is used in two slightly different senses ( cp. Shak. Jul. C. 3. 1, 'As here by Caesar and by you cut off'). For ξύν of the instrument (literally, 'With the help of') cp. Aesch. Pers. 755, πλοῦτον ἐκτήσω ξὺν αἰχμῇ: Aj. 1245, ἢ σὺν δόλῳ κεντήσεθ' οἱ λελειμμένοι.

ὡς] 'How.'

ἀριστόμαντις] 'Prophet-prince.' On the compound, see E. on L. § 55. p. 101.

ὡς] 'That.'

ἢ.. λέγων] 'Else, should this word of his be falsified, he willingly offers himself for death.' For the combination of ἤ with the hypothetical clause, cp. Plat. Rep. 6. 490 A, ἢ ἀλαζόνι ὄντι (i. e. ἐὰν ἀλάζων ᾗ) μηδαμῇ μετεῖναι φιλοσοφίας ἀληθινῆς. And for the mode of expression, cp. supr. 618, 9.

Philoctetes had heard some of this before (l. 604 foll.), but in a narrative which he had learned to disbelieve (l. 1306). Now he knows it on the authority of one who has given a pledge of his good faith. συγχώρει] · 'Agree.' Cp. Hdt. 3. 83, ὡς συνεχώρεον οἱ ἐξ ἐπὶ τούτοισι.

καλὴ γὰρ ἡ ᾿πίκτησις] «For it is a noble prospect of gain.' The compound word with ἐπι- corresponds to the cumulative statement, 'Not only to be healed but to take Troy moreover and to win this great renown.' ἕνα] 'Above all others.' Cp. Aj. 1340, ἕν᾽ ἄνδρ᾿ ἰδεῖν ἄριστον, and note.

ὦ στυγνός αἰών] 'Ο hateful light of day!' As 'the life,' αἰών, in Homer is said to leave the man, e. g. Il. 5. 685, ἔπειτά με καὶ λίποι αἰών, so here it is said to refuse to let him go.

πῶς ἀπιστήσω] 'How shall I refuse compliance?' I aor. conjunctive. Cp. Trac 1240, θεῶν ἀρὰ | μενεῖ σ' ἀπιστήσαντα τοῖς ἐμοῖς λόγοις.

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

Current edition Experimental

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

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1217 focus

ἐγὼ μὲν ἤδη καὶ πάλαι νεὼς νεως νεῶς νεὼς ὁμοῦ ὁμοῦ ἐγγὺς

στείχων ἂν ἦ ἄνην ἂν ἦν σοι τῆς ἐμῆς, εἰ μὴ πέλας

Ὀδυσσέα στείχοντα τόν τ᾿ ᾿Αχιλλέως

γόνον πρὸς ἡμᾶς δεῦρ᾿ ἰόντ᾽ ἐλεύσσομεν ἐλεύσομεν ἐλεύσσομεν.

ΟΔ.

οὐκ ἂν οὐκ ἂν φράσειας ἥντιν᾽ αὖ παλίντροπος
1220

κέλευθον ἕρπεις ὧδε σὺν σπουδῇ συμπουδῆι συνσπουδῆι σὺν σπουδῇ ταχύς;

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΝΕ.

λύσων ὅσ᾽ ἐξήμαρτον ἐν τῷ πρὶν χρόνῳ.

ΟΔ.

δεινόν γε φωνεῖς· ἡ δ᾽ ἁμαρτία τίς ἦν;

ΝΕ.

ἣν σοὶ πιθόμενος πειθόμενος τῷ τε σύμπαντι στρατῷ

ΟΔ.

ἔπραξας ἔργον ποῖον ὧν οὐ σοι πρέπον;
1225

ΝΕ.

ἀπάταισιν αἰσχραῖς ἄνδρα καὶ δόλοις ἑλών.

ΟΔ.

τὸν ποῖον; ὤμοι· μῶν τι βουλεύει νέον ;

ΝΕ.

νέον μὲν οὐδέν, τῷ δὲ Ποίαντος τόκῳ

ΟΔ.

τί χρῆμα τί χρῆμα τί τί χρῆμα δράσεις; ὥς μ᾽ ὑπῆλθέ τις ὑπῆλθ᾽ ἔτι ὑπῆλθέ τις φόβος.

ΝΕ.

παρ' οὗ περ ἔ παρέ.λαβον τάδε τὰ τόξ᾽, αὖθις πάλιν
1230

ΟΔ.

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί λέξεις; οὔ τί που δοῦναι νοεῖς;

ΝΕ.

αἰσχρῶς γὰρ αὐτὰ κοὐ δίκῃ λαβὼν ἔχω.

ΟΔ.

πρὸς θεῶν, πότερα δὴ δὴ κερτομῶν λέγεις τάδε;

ΝΕ.

εἰ κερτόμησίς ἐστι τἀληθῆ λέγειν.

ΟΔ.

τί φής, ᾿Αχιλλέως ἀχιλλέω ἀχιλλέως παῖ; τίν εἴρηκας λόγον ;
1235

ΝΕ.

δὶς ταὐτὰ βούλει καὶ τρὶς ἀναπολεῖν ἀναπολεῖ ἀναπολεῖν μ' ἔπη;

ΟΔ.

ἀρχὴν κλύειν ἂν οὐδ᾽ ἅπαξ ἐβουλόμην.

ΝΕ.

εὖ νῦν ἐπίστω πάντ᾽ ἀκηκοὼς ἀκήκοας λόγον.

ΟΔ.

ἔστιν τις, ἔστιν, ὅς σε κωλύσει τὸ δρᾶν.

ΝΕ.

τί φής; τίς ἔσται μ' οὑπικωλύσων τάδε;
1240

ΟΔ.

ξύμπας ᾿Αχαιῶν λαός, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΝΕ.

σοφὸς πεφυκὼς οὐδὲν ἐξαυδᾷς σοφόν.

ΟΔ.

σὺ δ᾽ οὔτε φωνεῖς οὔτε δρασείεις δρασειας ? δρασείεις δρασείης σοφά σοφόν.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δίκαια, τῶν σοφῶν κρείσσω κρείσω κρείσσω τάδε.

ΟΔ.

καὶ πῶς δίκαιον, ἅ γ᾽ ἔλαβες βουλαῖς ἐμαῖς,
1245

πάλιν μεθεῖναι μεθεῖ.. ναι μεθεῖναι ταῦτα;

NE.

τὴν ἁμαρτίαν

αἰσχρὰν ἁμαρτὼν ἀναλαβεῖν πειράσομαι.

ΟΔ.

στρατὸν δ᾽ ᾿Αχαιῶν οὐ φοβεῖ, πράσσων τάδε;

ΝΕ.

ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ τὸν σὸν οὐ ταρβῶ φόβον.
1250

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδέ τοι σῇ χειρὶ πείθομαι τὸ δρᾶν.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΟΔ.

οὔ τἄρα Τρωσίν, ἀλλὰ σοὶ μαχούμεθα.

ΝΕ.

ἔστω τὸ μέλλον.

ΟΔ.

χεῖρα δεξιὰν ὁρᾷς

κώπης ἐπιψαύουσαν ;

NE.

ἀλλὰ κἀμέ καὶ ἐμέ τοι

ταὐτὸν τόδ᾽ ὄψει δρῶντα κοὐ μέλλοντ᾽ ἔτι.
1255

ΟΔ.

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐάσω· τῷ δὲ σύμπαντι στρατῷ

λέξω τάδ᾽ ἐλθών, ὅς σε τιμωρήσεται.

ΝΕ.

ἐσωφρόνησας· κἂν τὰ λοίφ᾽ λοὶφ' οὕτω φρονῇς φρον(ει)ς φρονῇς,

ἴσως ἂν ἐκτὸς κλαυμάτων ἔχοις πόδα.

σὺ δ᾽, ὦ Ποίαντος Ποίαντ(.)ς παῖ, Φιλοκτήτην λέγω,
1260

ἔξελθ᾽, ἀμείψας τάσδε πετρήρεις στέγας.

ΦΙ.

τίς αὖ παρ᾽ ἄντροις θόρυβος ἵσταται βοῆς ;

τί μ᾽ ἐκκαλεῖσθε; τοῦ κεχρημένοι κεχρημένον, ξένοι;

ὤμοι· κακὸν τὸ χρῆμα. μῶν τί μοι μέγα

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΦΙ.

πάρεστε πρὸς κακοῖσι πέμποντες κακόν κακὰ κακόν?
1265

ΝΕ.

θάρσει· λόγους δ᾽ ἄκουσον οὓς ἥκω φέρων.

ΦΙ.

δέδοικ᾽ ἔγωγε. καὶ τὰ πρὶν γὰρ ἐκ λόγων

καλῶν κακῶς ἔπραξα, σοῖς πεισθεὶς λόγοις.

ΝΕ.

οὔκουν οὐκοῦν οὔκουν ἔνεστι καὶ μεταγνῶναι πάλιν παλιν?

ΦΙ.

τοιοῦτος ἦσθα οἶσθα τοῖς λόγοισι χώτε μου
1270

τὰ τόξ᾽ ἔκλεπτες, πιστός, ἀτηρὸς λάθρα.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τι μὴν μὴ νῦν· βούλομαι δέ σου κλύειν,

πότερα δέδοκταί σοι μένοντι καρτερεῖν,

ἢ πλεῖν μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν.

ΦΙ.

παῦε παῦσαι παθε, μὴ λέξης πέρα.

μάτην γὰρ ἂν ἂν ἂν εἴπῃς γε πάντ᾽ εἰρήσεται.
1275

ΝΕ.

οὕτω δέδοκται ;

ΦΙ.

καὶ πέρα πέραι γ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ἢ λέγω.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἤθελον μὲν ἄν σε πεισθῆναι λόγοις

ἐμοῖσιν· εἰ δὲ μή τι πρὸς καιρὸν λέγων

κυρῶ, πέπαυμαι.

ΦΙ.

πάντα γὰρ φράσεις μάτην.

οὐ γάρ ποτ' εὔνουν τὴν ἐμὴν κτήσει φρένα,
1280

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ὅστις γ᾽ ἐμοῦ δόλοισι τὸν βίον λαβὼν

ἀπεστέρηκας, κᾆτα νουθετεῖς ἐμὲ

ἐλθών, ἀρίστου πατρὸς ἔχθιστος γεγώς.

ὄλοισθ᾽, ᾿Ατρείδαι μὲν μάλιστ᾽ μάλισθ' μάλιστ', ἔπειτα δὲ

ὁ Λαρτίου παῖς, καὶ σύ.

1285

NE.

μὴ 'πεύξῃ πέρα·

δέχου δὲ χειρὸς ἐξ ἐμῆς ἐμοῦ βέλη τάδε.

ΦΙ.

πῶς εἶπας; ἆρα οὐκ ἆρα οὐκ ἄρα δεύτερον δολούμεθα δουλούμεθα δολούμεθα ;

ΝΕ,

ἀπώμοσ᾽ ἁγνοῦ Ζηνὸς ὕψιστον σέβας σέβας.

ΦΙ.

ὦ φίλτατ᾽ εἰπών, εἰ λέγεις ἐτήτυμα.

ΝΕ.

τοὔργον παρέσται φανερόν. ἀλλὰ δεξιὰν
1290

πρότεινε .. τεινε προύτεινε πρότεινε χεῖρα, καὶ κράτει τῶν σῶν ὅπλων.

ΟΔ.

ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἀπαυδῶ γ᾽, ὡς θεοὶ ξυνίστορες,

ὑπέρ τ᾽ ᾿Ατρειδῶν τοῦ τε σύμπαντος στρατοῦ.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΦΙ.

τέκνον, τίνος φώνημα; μῶν ᾿Οδυσσέως

ἐπῃσθόμην ;
1295

ΟΔ.

σάφ᾽ ἴσθι· καὶ πέλας γ᾽ ὁρᾷς,

ὅς σ᾽ ἐς τὰ Τροίας πεδί᾽ πεδί πεδί᾽ ἀποστελῶ βίᾳ,

ἐάν τ᾿ ᾿Αχιλλέως παῖς ἐάν τε μὴ θέλῃ.

ΦΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὔ τι χαίρων, ἣν τόδ᾽ ὀρθωθῇ βέλος.

ΝΕ.

ἆ da dã â â, μηδαμῶς μη δαμῶς, μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, μεθῇς βέλος.

ΦΙ.

μέθες με, πρὸς θεῶν, χεῖρα, φίλτατον τέκνον.
1300

ΝΕ.

οὐκ ἂν μεθείην μεθείμην.

Ф1.

φεῦ· τί μ᾽ τίν' τί μ' ἄνδρα πολέμιον

ἐχθρόν τ᾽ ἀφείλου μὴ κτανεῖν τόξοις ἐμοῖς;

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἐμοὶ τοῦτ᾽ ἐστὶν οὔτε σοὶ καλόν καλόν οὔτε σοί.

ΦΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν τοσοῦτόν γ᾽ ἴσθι, τοὺς πρώτους στρατοῦ,

τοὺς τῶν ᾿Αχαιῶν ψευδοκήρυκας, κακοὺς
1305

ὄντας πρὸς αἰχμήν, ἐν δὲ τοῖς λόγοις θρασεῖς.

ΝΕ.

εἶεν. τὰ μὴν δὴ δὴ τόξ᾽ ἔχεις, κοὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ὀργὴν ἔχοις ἂν οὐδὲ μέμψιν εἰς ἐμέ.

ΦΙ.

ξύμφημι. τὴν φύσιν δ᾽ δ' ἔδειξας, ὦ τέκνον,

ἐξ ἧς ἔβλαστες, οὐχὶ Σισύφου πατρός,
1310

ἀλλ᾽ ἐξ᾿Αχιλλέως, ὃς μετὰ ζώντων θ᾽ θ' ὅτ᾽ ἦν

ἤκου᾽ ἄριστα, νῦν δὲ τῶν τεθνηκότων.

ΝΕ.

ἥσθην πατέρα τε τε τὸν ἐμὸν ἀμὸν εὐλογοῦντά σε

αὐτόν τέ μ· ὧν δέ σου τυχεῖν ἐφίεμαι

ἄκουσον. ἀνθρώποισι τὰς μὲν ἐκ θεῶν
1315

τύχας δοθείσας ἔστ᾽ ἀναγκαῖον φέρειν·

ὅσοι δ᾽ ἑκουσίοισιν ἔγκεινται βλάβαις,

ὥσπερ σύ, τούτοις τοτούσιν τουτοίσιν τούτοις οὔτε συγγνώμην ἔχειν

δίκαιόν ἐστιν οὔτ᾽ ἐποικτείρειν τινά.

σὺ δ᾽ ἠγρίωσαι, κοὔτε σύμβουλον δέχει,
1320

ἐάν τε νουθετῇ τις εὐνοίᾳ εὔνοιάν σοι εὐνοίᾳ εὔνοιαν λέγων,

στυγεῖς, πολέμιον δυσμενή θ᾽ ἡγούμενος.

ὅμως δὲ λέξω· Ζῆνα δ᾽ ὅρκιον καλῶ·

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπίστω, καὶ γράφου φρενῶν ἔσω.

σὺ γὰρ νοσεῖς τόδ' ἄλγος ἐκ θείας τύχης,

1325

Χρύσης χρυσῆσ χρύσης πελασθεὶς φύλακος, ὃς τὸν ἀκαλυφῆ

σηκὸν φυλάσσει κρύφιος οἰκουρῶν ὄφις·

καὶ παῦλαν ἴσθι τῆσδε μήποτ᾽ ἐντυχεῖν

νόσου βαρείας, ὡς ἂν αὑτὸς αὐτὸς ἥλιος

ταύτῃ ταύτηι, ι from σ ταύτῃ μὲν αἴρῃ, τῇδε δ᾽ αὖ δύνῃ πάλιν,

1330

πρὶν ἂν τὰ Τροίας πεδί᾽ ἑκὼν αὐτὸς αὐτὸσ ἑκὼν ἑκὼν αὐτὸς μόλῃς,

καὶ τῶν παρ᾿ ἡμῖν ἐντυχὼν ᾿Ασκληπιδῶν ἀσκληπι(α?)δῶν ἀσκληπιαδῶν

νόσου μαλαχθῇς μαλαχθείς τῆσδε, καὶ τὰ πέργαμα

ξὺν τοῖσδε τόξοις ξύν τ᾿ ἐμοὶ πέρσας φανῇς φ(α)νῆισ φανῇς.

ὡς δ᾽ οἶδα ταῦτα τῇδ᾽ ἔχοντ᾽ ἐγὼ ἀγὼ φράσω.

1335

ἀνὴρ γὰρ ἡμῖν ἐστιν ἐκ Τροίας ἁλούς,

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

"Ελενος ἀριστόμαντις, ὃς λέγει σαφῶς

ὡς δεῖ γενέσθαι ταῦτα· καὶ πρὸς τοῖσδ᾽ ἔτι,

ὡς ἔστ᾽ ἀνάγκη τοῦ παρεστώτος θέρους

Τροίαν ἁλῶναι πᾶσαν· ἢ δίδωσ᾽ ἑκὼν

1340

κτείνειν ἑαυτόν, ἣν τάδε ψευσθῇ λέγων ψευδῆ λέγῃ γρ. λέγων.

ταῦτ᾽ οὖν ἐπεὶ κάτοισθα, συγχώρει sic συγχώρη θέλων.

καλὴ γὰρ ἡ ᾿πίκτησις, ῾Ελλήνων ἕνα

κριθέντ᾽ ἄριστον, τοῦτο μὲν παιωνίας

εἰς χεῖρας ἐλθεῖν, εἶτα τὴν ή from ά πολύστονον

1345

Τροίαν ἑλόντα κλέος κλέο(υ)ς κλέος ὑπέρτατον λαβεῖν.

ΦΙ.

ὦ στυγνὸς αἰών, τί με, τί δῆτ᾽ ἔχεις ἄνω

βλέποντα κοὐκ ἀφῆκας εἰς "Αιδου μολεῖν;

οἴμοι, τί δράσω; πῶς ἀπιστήσω λόγοις

τοῖς τοῦδ᾽, ὃς εὔνους ὢν ἐμοὶ παρῄνεσεν;
1350

ἀλλ᾽ εἰκάθω δῆτ'; εἶτα πῶς ὁ δύσμορος

εἰς φῶς τάδ᾽ ἔρξας εἶμι; τῷ προσήγορος;

πῶς, ὦ τὰ πάντ᾿ ἰδόντες ἀμφ᾿ ἐμοῦ κύκλοι,·

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ταῦτ᾽ ἐξανασχήσεσθε, τοῖσιν ᾿Ατρέως

ἐμὲ ξυνόντα παισίν πασὶν παισὶν, οἵ μ᾿ ἀπώλεσαν ;

1355

πῶς τῷ πανώλει παιδὶ τῷ Λαερτίου ;

οὐ γάρ με τἄλγος μ' ἔτ' αλγοσ μετάλγος τῶν παρελθόντων δάκνει,

ἀλλ᾽ οἷα χρὴ παθεῖν με πρὸς τούτων ἔτι

δοκῶ προλεύσσειν. οἷς γὰρ ἡ γνώμη κακῶν κακὸν κακῶν

μήτηρ γένηται, τἄλλα παιδεύει κακά.

1360

καὶ σοῦ δ᾽ γ' ἔγωγε θαυμάσας ἔχω τόδε.

χρῆν γάρ σε μήτ' αὐτόν ποτ' εἰς Τροίαν μολεῖν,

ἡμᾶς τ᾿ ἀπείργειν· οἵ γέ τε σου καθύβρισαν καθ᾽ ὕβρισαν καθύβρισαν,

πατρὸς γέρας συλῶντες, [οἳ τὸν ἄθλιον

Αἴανθ᾽ ὅπλων σοῦ πατρὸς ὕστερον δίκῃ

1365

᾿Ὀδυσσέως ἔκριναν,] εἶτα τοῖσδε σὺ

εἶ ξυμμαχήσων, κἄμ᾿ καί μ' ἀναγκάζεις τάδε τόδε, ο from a τάδε τόδε γρ. τάδε?

μὴ δῆτα, τέκνον· ἀλλ᾽, ἅ μοι ξυνώμοσας,

πέμψον πρὸς οἴκους· καὐτὸς ἐν Σκύρῳ μένων

ἔα κακῶς αὐτοὺς ἀπόλλυσθαι ἀπόλλυσθε κακούς.

1370

χοὔτω διπλῆν μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ κτήσει χάριν χάριν

διπλῆν δὲ πατρός· κοὐ κακοὺς κακῶς κακοὺς κακοὺς ἐπωφελῶν

δόξεις ὁμοῖος τοῖς κακοῖς πεφυκέναι.

ΝΕ.

λέγεις μὲν εἰκότ᾽ εἰκότ(α), ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως σε σε βούλομαι

θεοῖς τε πιστεύσαντα τοῖς τ᾿ ἐμοῖς λόγοις
1375

φίλου μετ᾿ ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε τῆσδ᾽ ἐκπλεῖν χθονός.

ΦΙ.

ἢ πρὸς τὰ Τροίας πεδία καὶ τὸν ᾿Ατρέως

ἔχθιστον υἱὸν τῷδε δυστήνῳ ποδί;

ΝΕ.

πρὸς τοὺς μὲν οὖν σε τήνδε τ᾽ ἔμπυον βάσιν

παύσοντας ἄλγους κἀποσώζοντας νόσου.
1380

ΦΙ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1217-1471 focus

Χορός

ἐγὼ μὲν ἤδη καὶ πάλαι νεὼς ὁμοῦ

στείχων ἂν ἦ σοι τῆς ἐμῆς, εἰ μὴ πέλας

Ὀδυσσέα στείχοντα τόν τʼ Ἀχιλλέως

γόνον πρὸς ἡμᾶς δεῦρʼ ἰόντʼ ἐλεύσσομεν.
1220

Ὀδυσσεύς

οὐκ ἂν φράσειας ἥντινʼ αὖ παλίντροπος

κέλευθον ἕρπεις ὧδε σὺν σπουδῇ ταχύς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

λύσων ὅσʼ ἐξήμαρτον ἐν τῷ πρὶν χρόνῳ.

Ὀδυσσεύς

δεινόν γε φωνεῖς· ἡ δʼ ἁμαρτία τίς ἦν;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἣν σοὶ πιθόμενος τῷ τε σύμπαντι στρατῷ
1225

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἔπραξας ἔργον ποῖον ὧν οὔ σοι πρέπον;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀπάταισιν αἰσχραῖς ἄνδρα καὶ δόλοις ἑλών.

Ὀδυσσεύς

τὸν ποῖον; ὤμοι· μῶν τι βουλεύει νέον;

Νεοπτόλεμος

νέον μὲν οὐδέν, τῷ δὲ Ποίαντος τόκῳ,
1230

Ὀδυσσεύς

τί χρῆμα δράσεις; ὥς μʼ ὑπῆλθέ τις φόβος.

Νεοπτόλεμος

παρʼ οὗπερ ἔλαβον τάδε τὰ τόξʼ, αὖθις πάλιν

Ὀδυσσεύς

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί λέξεις; οὔ τί που δοῦναι νοεῖς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

αἰσχρῶς γὰρ αὐτὰ κοὐ δίκῃ λαβὼν ἔχω.

Ὀδυσσεύς

πρὸς θεῶν, πότερα δὴ κερτομῶν λέγεις τάδε;
1235

Νεοπτόλεμος

εἰ κερτόμησίς ἐστι τἀληθῆ λέγειν.

Ὀδυσσεύς

τί φής, Ἀχιλλέως παῖ; τίνʼ εἴρηκας λόγον;

Νεοπτόλεμος

δὶς ταὐτὰ βούλει καὶ τρὶς ἀναπολεῖν μʼ ἔπη;

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἀρχὴν κλύειν ἂν οὐδʼ ἅπαξ ἐβουλόμην.

Νεοπτόλεμος

εὖ νῦν ἐπίστω πάντʼ ἀκηκοὼς λόγον.
1240

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἔστιν τις, ἔστιν ὅς σε κωλύσει τὸ δρᾶν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί φής; τίς ἔσται μʼ οὑπικωλύσων τάδε;

Ὀδυσσεύς

ξύμπας Ἀχαιῶν λαός, ἐν δὲ τοῖς ἐγώ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

σοφὸς πεφυκὼς οὐδὲν ἐξαυδᾷς σοφόν.

Ὀδυσσεύς

σὺ δʼ οὔτε φωνεῖς οὔτε δρασείεις σοφά.
1245

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ εἰ δίκαια, τῶν σοφῶν κρείσσω τάδε.

Ὀδυσσεύς

καὶ πῶς δίκαιον, ἅ γʼ ἔλαβες βουλαῖς ἐμαῖς, πάλιν μεθεῖναι ταῦτα;

Νεοπτόλεμος

τὴν ἁμαρτίαν

αἰσχρὰν ἁμαρτὼν ἀναλαβεῖν πειράσομαι.

Ὀδυσσεύς

στρατὸν δʼ Ἀχαιῶν οὐ φοβεῖ, πράσσων τάδε;
1250

Νεοπτόλεμος

ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ τὸν σὸν οὐ ταρβῶ φόβον.

Ὀδυσσεύς

ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ χεὶρ ἐμή σʼ ἀναγκάσει.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ οὐδέ τοι σῇ χειρὶ πείθομαι τὸ δρᾶν.

Ὀδυσσεύς

οὔ τἄρα Τρωσίν, ἀλλὰ σοὶ μαχούμεθα.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἴτω τὸ μέλλον.

Ὀδυσσεύς

χεῖρα δεξιὰν ὁρᾷς

κώπης ἐπιψαύουσαν;
1255

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλὰ κἀμέ τοι

ταὐτὸν τόδʼ ὄψει δρῶντα κοὐ μέλλοντʼ ἔτι.

1257

Ὀδυσσεύς

καίτοι σʼ ἐάσω· τῷ δὲ σύμπαντι στρατῷ

λέξω τάδʼ ἐλθών, ὅς σε τιμωρήσεται.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἐσωφρόνησας· κἂν τὰ λοίφʼ οὕτω φρονῇς,

ἴσως ἂν ἐκτὸς κλαυμάτων ἔχοις πόδα.
1260

σὺ δʼ, ὦ Ποίαντος παῖ, Φιλοκτήτην λέγω,

ἔξελθʼ, ἀμείψας τάσδε πετρήρεις στέγας.

Φιλοκτήτης

τίς αὖ παρʼ ἄντροις θόρυβος ἵσταται βοῆς;

τί μʼ ἐκκαλεῖσθε; τοῦ κεχρημένοι, ξένοι;

ὤμοι· κακὸν τὸ χρῆμα. μῶν τί μοι νέα
1265

πάρεστε πρὸς κακοῖσι πέμποντες κακά;

Νεοπτόλεμος

θάρσει· λόγους δʼ ἄκουσον οὓς ἥκω φέρων.

Φιλοκτήτης

δέδοικʼ ἔγωγε· καὶ τὰ πρὶν γὰρ ἐκ λόγων

καλῶν κακῶς ἔπραξα, σοῖς πεισθεὶς λόγοις.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὔκουν ἔνεστι καὶ μεταγνῶναι πάλιν;
1270

Φιλοκτήτης

τοιοῦτος ἦσθα τοῖς λόγοισι χὤτε μου

τὰ τόξʼ ἔκλεπτες, πιστός, ἀτηρὸς λάθρᾳ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ οὔ τι μὴν νῦν· βούλομαι δέ σου κλύειν,

πότερα δέδοκταί σοι μένοντι καρτερεῖν

ἢ πλεῖν μεθʼ ἡμῶν;
1275

Φιλοκτήτης

παῦε, μὴ λέξῃς πέρα·

μάτην γὰρ ἃν εἴπῃς γε πάντʼ εἰρήσεται.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὕτω δέδοκται;

Φιλοκτήτης

καὶ πέρα γʼ ἴσθʼ ἢ λέγω.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ ἤθελον μὲν ἄν σε πεισθῆναι λόγοις

ἐμοῖσιν· εἰ δὲ μή τι πρὸς καιρὸν λέγων

κυρῶ, πέπαυμαι.
1280

Φιλοκτήτης

πάντα γὰρ φράσεις μάτην.

οὐ γάρ ποτʼ εὔνουν τὴν ἐμὴν κτήσει φρένα,

ὅστις γʼ ἐμοῦ δόλοισι τὸν βίον λαβὼν

ἀπεστέρηκας, κᾆτα νουθετεῖς ἐμὲ

ἐλθών, ἀρίστου πατρὸς αἴσχιστος γεγώς.

ὄλοισθʼ, Ἀτρεῖδαι μὲν μάλιστʼ, ἔπειτα δὲ ὁ Λαρτίου παῖς καὶ σύ.
1285

Νεοπτόλεμος

μὴ ʼπεύξῃ πέρα·

δέχου δὲ χειρὸς ἐξ ἐμῆς βέλη τάδε.

1288

Φιλοκτήτης

πῶς εἶπας; ἆρα δεύτερον δολούμεθα;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀπώμοσʼ ἁγνὸν Ζηνὸς ὑψίστου σέβας.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ φίλτατʼ εἰπών, εἰ λέγεις ἐτήτυμα.
1290

Νεοπτόλεμος

τοὔργον παρέσται φανερόν· ἀλλὰ δεξιὰν

πρότεινε χεῖρα, καὶ κράτει τῶν σῶν ὅπλων.

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἐγὼ δʼ ἀπαυδῶ γʼ, ᾧ θεοὶ ξυνίστορες,

ὑπέρ τʼ Ἀτρειδῶν τοῦ τε σύμπαντος στρατοῦ.

Φιλοκτήτης

τέκνον, τίνος φώνημα, μῶν Ὀδυσσέως,
1295

ἐπῃσθόμην;

Ὀδυσσεύς

σάφʼ ἴσθι· καὶ πέλας γʼ ὁρᾷς,

ὅς σʼ ἐς τὰ Τροίας πεδίʼ ἀποστελῶ βίᾳ,

ἐάν τʼ Ἀχιλλέως παῖς ἐάν τε μὴ θέλῃ·

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀλλʼ οὔ τι χαίρων, ἢν τόδʼ ὀρθωθῇ βέλος.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἆ, μηδαμῶς, μή, πρὸς θεῶν, μεθῇς βέλος.
1300

Φιλοκτήτης

μέθες με, πρὸς θεῶν, χεῖρα, φίλτατον τέκνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐκ ἂν μεθείην.

Φιλοκτήτης

φεῦ· τί μʼ ἄνδρα πολέμιον

ἐχθρόν τʼ ἀφείλου μὴ κτανεῖν τόξοις ἐμοῖς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ οὔτʼ ἐμοὶ τοῦτʼ ἐστὶν οὔτε σοὶ καλόν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀλλʼ οὖν τοσοῦτόν γʼ ἴσθι, τοὺς πρώτους στρατοῦ,
1305

τοὺς τῶν Ἀχαιῶν ψευδοκήρυκας, κακοὺς

ὄντας πρὸς αἰχμήν, ἐν δὲ τοῖς λόγοις θρασεῖς.

Νεοπτόλεμος

εἶεν· τὰ μὲν δὴ τόξʼ ἔχεις, κοὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅτου

ὀργὴν ἔχοις ἂν οὐδὲ μέμψιν εἰς ἐμέ.

Φιλοκτήτης

ξύμφημι· τὴν φύσιν δʼ ἔδειξας, ὦ τέκνον,
1310

ἐξ ἧς ἔβλαστες, οὐχὶ Σισύφου πατρός,

ἀλλʼ ἐξ Ἀχιλλέως, ὃς μετὰ ζώντων ὅτʼ ἦν

ἤκουʼ ἄριστα, νῦν δὲ τῶν τεθνηκότων.

1314

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἥσθην πατέρα τὸν ἀμὸν εὐλογοῦντά σε

αὐτόν τʼ ἔμʼ· ὧν δέ σου τυχεῖν ἐφίεμαι,
1315

ἄκουσον. ἀνθρώποισι τὰς μὲν ἐκ θεῶν

τύχας δοθείσας ἔστʼ ἀναγκαῖον φέρειν·

ὅσοι δʼ ἑκουσίοισιν ἔγκεινται βλάβαις,

ὥσπερ σύ, τούτοις οὔτε συγγνώμην ἔχειν

δίκαιόν ἐστιν οὔτʼ ἐποικτίρειν τινά.
1320

σὺ δʼ ἠγρίωσαι, κοὔτε σύμβουλον δέχει,

ἐάν τε νουθετῇ τις εὐνοίᾳ λέγων,

στυγεῖς, πολέμιον δυσμενῆ θʼ ἡγούμενος.

ὅμως δὲ λέξω· Ζῆνα δʼ ὅρκιον καλῶ·

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐπίστω καὶ γράφου φρενῶν ἔσω.
1325

σὺ γὰρ νοσεῖς τόδʼ ἄλγος ἐκ θείας τύχης,

Χρύσης πελασθεὶς φύλακος, ὃς τὸν ἀκαλυφῆ

σηκὸν φυλάσσει κρύφιος οἰκουρῶν ὄφις·

καὶ παῦλαν ἴσθι τῆσδε μή ποτʼ ἂν τυχεῖν

νόσου βαρείας, ἕως ἂν αὑτὸς ἥλιος
1330

ταύτῃ μὲν αἴρῃ, τῇδε δʼ αὖ δύνῃ πάλιν,

πρὶν ἂν τὰ Τροίας πεδίʼ ἑκὼν αὐτὸς μόλῃς,

καὶ τοῖν παρʼ ἡμῖν ἐντυχὼν Ἀσκληπίδαιν

νόσου μαλαχθῇς τῆσδε, καὶ τὰ πέργαμα

ξὺν τοῖσδε τόξοις ξύν τʼ ἐμοὶ πέρσας φανῇς.
1335

ὡς δʼ οἶδα ταῦτα τῇδʼ ἔχοντʼ ἐγὼ φράσω.

ἀνὴρ γὰρ ἡμῖν ἐστιν ἐκ Τροίας ἁλούς,

Ἕλενος ἀριστόμαντις, ὃς λέγει σαφῶς

ὡς δεῖ γενέσθαι ταῦτα· καὶ πρὸς τοῖσδʼ ἔτι

ὡς ἔστʼ ἀνάγκη τοῦ παρεστῶτος θέρους
1340

Τροίαν ἁλῶναι πᾶσαν· ἢ δίδωσʼ ἑκὼν

κτείνειν ἑαυτόν, ἢν τάδε ψευσθῇ λέγων.

ταῦτʼ οὖν ἐπεὶ κάτοισθα, συγχώρει θέλων.

καλὴ γὰρ ἡ ʼπίκτησις, Ἑλλήνων ἕνα

κριθέντʼ ἄριστον τοῦτο μὲν παιωνίας
1345

ἐς χεῖρας ἐλθεῖν, εἶτα τὴν πολύστονον

Τροίαν ἑλόντα κλέος ὑπέρτατον λαβεῖν.

1348

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ στυγνὸς αἰών, τί με, τί δῆτʼ ἔχεις ἄνω

βλέποντα κοὐκ ἀφῆκας εἰς Ἅιδου μολεῖν;

οἴμοι, τί δράσω; πῶς ἀπιστήσω λόγοις
1350

τοῖς τοῦδʼ, ὃς εὔνους ὢν ἐμοὶ παρῄνεσεν;

ἀλλʼ εἰκάθω δῆτʼ; εἶτα πῶς ὁ δύσμορος

εἰς φῶς τάδʼ ἔρξας εἶμι; τῷ προσήγορος;

πῶς, ὦ τὰ πάντʼ ἰδόντες ἀμφʼ ἐμοὶ κύκλοι,

ταῦτʼ ἐξανασχήσεσθε, τοῖσιν Ἀτρέως
1355

ἐμὲ ξυνόντα παισίν, οἵ μʼ ἀπώλεσαν;

πῶς τῷ πανώλει παιδὶ τῷ Λαερτίου;

οὐ γάρ με τἄλγος τῶν παρελθόντων δάκνει,

ἀλλʼ οἷα χρὴ παθεῖν με πρὸς τούτων ἔτι

δοκῶ προλεύσσειν· οἷς γὰρ ἡ γνώμη κακῶν
1360

μήτηρ γένηται, τἄλλα παιδεύει κακούς.

καὶ σοῦ δʼ ἔγωγε θαυμάσας ἔχω τόδε.

χρῆν γάρ σε μήτʼ αὐτόν ποτʼ ἐς Τροίαν μολεῖν

ἡμᾶς τʼ ἀπείργειν, οἵ γέ σου καθύβρισαν,

πατρὸς γέρας συλῶντες, εἶτα τοῖσδε σὺ
1365

εἶ ξυμμαχήσων, κἄμʼ ἀναγκάζεις τόδε;

μὴ δῆτα, τέκνον· ἀλλʼ ἅ μοι ξυνώμοσας,

πέμψον πρὸς οἴκους· καὐτὸς ἐν Σκύρῳ μένων

ἔα κακῶς αὐτοὺς ἀπόλλυσθαι κακούς.

χοὔτω διπλῆν μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ κτήσει χάριν,
1370

διπλῆν δὲ πατρός, κοὐ κακοὺς ἐπωφελῶν

δόξεις ὁμοῖος τοῖς κακοῖς πεφυκέναι.

Νεοπτόλεμος

λέγεις μὲν εἰκότʼ, ἀλλʼ ὅμως σε βούλομαι

θεοῖς τε πιστεύσαντα τοῖς τʼ ἐμοῖς λόγοις

φίλου μετʼ ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε τῆσδʼ ἐκπλεῖν χθονός.
1375

Φιλοκτήτης

ἦ πρὸς τὰ Τροίας πεδία καὶ τὸν Ἀτρέως

ἔχθιστον υἱὸν τῷδε δυστήνῳ ποδί;

Νεοπτόλεμος

πρὸς τοὺς μὲν οὖν σε τήνδε τʼ ἔμπυον βάσιν

παύσοντας ἄλγους κἀποσώσοντας νόσου.

1380

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ δεινὸν αἶνον αἰνέσας, τί φής ποτε;
1380

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἃ σοί τε κἀμοὶ λῷσθʼ ὁρῶ τελούμενα.

Φιλοκτήτης

καὶ ταῦτα λέξας οὐ καταισχύνει θεούς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

πῶς γάρ τις αἰσχύνοιτʼ ἂν ὠφελῶν φίλους·

Φιλοκτήτης

λέγεις δʼ Ἀτρείδαις ὄφελος ἢ ʼπʼ ἐμοὶ τόδε;

Νεοπτόλεμος

σοί που, φίλος γʼ ὤν, χὠ λόγος τοιόσδε μου.
1385

Φιλοκτήτης

πῶς, ὅς γε τοῖς ἐχθροῖσί μʼ ἐκδοῦναι θέλεις;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὦ τᾶν, διδάσκου μὴ θρασύνεσθαι κακοῖς.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὀλεῖς με, γιγνώσκω σε, τοῖσδε τοῖς λόγοις.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὔκουν ἔγωγε· φημὶ δʼ οὔ σε μανθάνειν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἐγὼ οὐκ Ἀτρείδας ἐκβαλόντας οἶδά με;
1390

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ ἐκβαλόντες εἰ πάλιν σώσουσʼ ὅρα.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐδέποθʼ ἑκόντα γʼ ὥστε τὴν Τροίαν ἰδεῖν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί δῆτʼ ἂν ἡμεῖς δρῷμεν, εἰ σέ γʼ ἐν λόγοις

πείσειν δυνησόμεσθα μηδὲν ὧν λέγω;

ὡς ῥᾷστʼ ἐμοὶ μὲν τῶν λόγων λῆξαι, σὲ δὲ
1395

ζῆν, ὥσπερ ἤδη ζῇς, ἄνευ σωτηρίας.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἔα με πάσχειν ταῦθʼ ἅπερ παθεῖν με δεῖ·

ἃ δʼ ᾔνεσάς μοι δεξιᾶς ἐμῆς θιγών,

πέμπειν πρὸς οἴκους, ταῦτά μοι πρᾶξον, τέκνον,

καὶ μὴ βράδυνε μηδʼ ἐπιμνησθῇς ἔτι
1400

Τροίας· ἅλις γάρ μοι τεθρήνηται γόοις.

1402

Νεοπτόλεμος

εἰ δοκεῖ, στείχωμεν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ γενναῖον εἰρηκὼς ἔπος.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀντέρειδε νῦν βάσιν σήν.

Φιλοκτήτης

εἰς ὅσον γʼ ἐγὼ σθένω.

Νεοπτόλεμος

αἰτίαν δὲ πῶς Ἀχαιῶν φεύξομαι;

Φιλοκτήτης

μὴ φροντίσῃς.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί γάρ, ἐὰν πορθῶσι χώραν τὴν ἐμήν;
1405

Φιλοκτήτης

ἐγὼ παρὼν

Νεοπτόλεμος

τίνα προσωφέλησιν ἔρξεις;

Φιλοκτήτης

βέλεσι τοῖς Ἡρακλέους

Νεοπτόλεμος

πῶς λέγεις;

Φιλοκτήτης

εἴρξω πελάζειν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

στεῖχε προσκύσας χθόνα.

1408

Ἡρακλῆς

μήπω γε, πρὶν ἂν τῶν ἡμετέρων

ἀίῃς μύθων, παῖ Ποίαντος·

φάσκειν δʼ αὐδὴν τὴν Ἡρακλέους
1410

ἀκοῇ τε κλύειν λεύσσειν τʼ ὄψιν.

τὴν σὴν δʼ ἥκω χάριν οὐρανίας

ἕδρας προλιπών,

τὰ Διός τε φράσων βουλεύματά σοι
1415

κατερητύσων θʼ ὁδὸν ἣν στέλλει·

σὺ δʼ ἐμῶν μύθων ἐπάκουσον.

καὶ πρῶτα μέν σοι τὰς ἐμὰς λέξω τύχας,

ὅσους πονήσας καὶ διεξελθὼν πόνους

ἀθάνατον ἀρετὴν ἔσχον, ὡς πάρεσθʼ ὁρᾶν.
1420

καὶ σοί, σάφʼ ἴσθι, τοῦτʼ ὀφείλεται παθεῖν,

ἐκ τῶν πόνων τῶνδʼ εὐκλεᾶ θέσθαι βίον.

ἐλθὼν δὲ σὺν τῷδʼ ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὸ Τρωικὸν

πόλισμα, πρῶτον μὲν νόσου παύσει λυγρᾶς,

ἀρετῇ τε πρῶτος ἐκκριθεὶς στρατεύματος,
1425

Πάριν μέν, ὃς τῶνδʼ αἴτιος κακῶν ἔφυ,

τόξοισι τοῖς ἐμοῖσι νοσφιεῖς βίου,

πέρσεις τε Τροίαν, σκῦλά τʼ εἰς μέλαθρα σὰ

πέμψεις, ἀριστεῖʼ ἐκλαβὼν στρατεύματος,

Ποίαντι πατρὶ πρὸς πάτρας Οἴτης πλάκα.
1430

ἃ δʼ ἂν λάβῃς σὺ σκῦλα τοῦδε τοῦ στρατοῦ,

τόξων ἐμῶν μνημεῖα πρὸς πυρὰν ἐμὴν

κόμιζε. καὶ σοὶ ταῦτʼ, Ἀχιλλέως τέκνον,

παρῄνεσʼ· οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τοῦδʼ ἄτερ σθένεις

ἑλεῖν τὸ Τροίας πεδίον οὔθʼ οὗτος σέθεν.
1435

ἀλλʼ ὡς λέοντε συννόμω φυλάσσετον

οὗτος σὲ καὶ σὺ τόνδʼ· ἐγὼ δʼ Ἀσκληπιὸν

παυστῆρα πέμψω σῆς νόσου πρὸς Ἴλιον.

τὸ δεύτερον γὰρ τοῖς ἐμοῖς αὐτὴν χρεὼν

τόξοις ἁλῶναι. τοῦτο δʼ ἐννοεῖθʼ, ὅταν
1440

πορθῆτε γαῖαν, εὐσεβεῖν τὰ πρὸς θεούς·

ὡς τἄλλα πάντα δεύτερʼ ἡγεῖται πατὴρ

Ζεύς· οὐ γὰρ εὐσέβεια συνθνῄσκει βροτοῖς·

κἂν ζῶσι κἂν θάνωσιν, οὐκ ἀπόλλυται.

1445

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ φθέγμα ποθεινὸν ἐμοὶ πέμψας
1445

χρόνιός τε φανείς,

οὐκ ἀπιθήσω τοῖς σοῖς μύθοις.

Νεοπτόλεμος

κἀγὼ γνώμην ταύτῃ τίθεμαι.

Ἡρακλῆς

μή νυν χρόνιοι μέλλετε πράσσειν·

καιρὸς καὶ πλοῦς
1450

ὅδʼ ἐπείγει γὰρ κατὰ πρύμνην.

Φιλοκτήτης

φέρε νυν στείχων χώραν καλέσω.

χαῖρʼ, ὦ μέλαθρον ξύμφρουρον ἐμοί,

νύμφαι τʼ ἔνυδροι λειμωνιάδες,

καὶ κτύπος ἄρσην πόντου προβολῆς,
1455

οὗ πολλάκι δὴ τοὐμὸν ἐτέγχθη

κρᾶτʼ ἐνδόμυχον πληγαῖσι νότου,

πολλὰ δὲ φωνῆς τῆς ἡμετέρας

Ἑρμαῖον ὄρος παρέπεμψεν ἐμοὶ

στόνον ἀντίτυπον χειμαζομένῳ.
1460

νῦν δʼ, ὦ κρῆναι Λύκιόν τε ποτόν,

λείπομεν ὑμᾶς, λείπομεν ἤδη

δόξης οὔ ποτε τῆσδʼ ἐπιβάντες.

χαῖρʼ, ὦ Λήμνου πέδον ἀμφίαλον,

καί μʼ εὐπλοίᾳ πέμψον ἀμέμπτως,
1465

ἔνθʼ ἡ μεγάλη Μοῖρα κομίζει

γνώμη τε φίλων χὠ πανδαμάτωρ

δαίμων, ὃς ταῦτʼ ἐπέκρανεν.

Χορός

χωρῶμεν δὴ πάντες ἀολλεῖς,

νύμφαις ἁλίαισιν ἐπευξάμενοι
1470

νόστου σωτῆρας ἱκέσθαι.

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1217 focus

Long since thou hadst seen me nearing yonder ship,

Had I not spied Odysseus and the son

Of great Achilles hastening to our side.

OD

Wilt thou not tell me why thou art hurrying
1220

This backward journey with reverted speed?

NEO

To undo what I have wrongly done to-day.

OD

Thy words appal me. What is wrongly done?

NEO

When in obeying thee and all the host—

OD

Thou didst what deed that misbecame thy life?
1225

NEO

I conquered with base stratagem and fraud—

OD

Whom? What new plan is rising in thy mind?

NEO

Not new. But to the child of Poeas here—

OD

What wilt thou do? I quake with strange alarm.

NEO

From whom I took these weapons, back again——
1230

OD

O Heaven! thou wilt not give them! Mean’st thou this?

NEO

Yea, for I have them through base sinful means.

OD

I pray thee, speak’st thou thus to anger me?

NEO

If the truth anger thee, the truth is said.

OD

Achilles’ son! What word is fallen from thee?
1235

NEO

Must the same syllables be thrice thrown forth?

OD

Once was too much. Would they had ne’er been said!

NEO

Enough. Thou hast heard my purpose clearly told.

OD

I know what power shall thwart thee in the deed.

NEO

Whose will shall hinder me?
1240

OD

The Achaean host

And I among them.

NEO

Thou’rt sharp-witted, sure!

But little wit or wisdom show’st thou here.

OD

Neither thy words nor thy design is wise.

NEO

But if ’tis righteous, that is better far.

OD

How righteous, to release what thou hast ta’en
1245

By my device?

NEO

I sinned a shameful sin,

And I will do mine utmost to retrieve it.

OD

How? Fear’st thou not the Achaeans in this act?

NEO

In doing right I fear not them nor thee.

OD

I call thy power in question.

NEO

Then I’ll fight,

Not with Troy’s legions, but with thee.

OD

Come on!

Let fortune arbitrate.

NEO

Thou seest my hand

Feeling the hilt.
1255

OD

And me thou soon shalt see

Doing the like and dallying not!—And yet

I will not touch thee, but will go and tell

The army, that shall wreak this on thy head.

NEO

Thou show’st discretion: which if thou preserve,

Thou may’st maintain a path exempt from pain.

Ho! son of Poeas, Philoctetes, come
1260

And leave thy habitation in the rock.

PHI

What noise again is troubling my poor cave?

Why do ye summon me? What crave ye, sirs?

Ha! ’tis some knavery. Are ye come to add

Some monster evil to my mountainous woe?
1265

NEO

Fear not, but hearken to what now I speak.

PHI

I needs must fear thee, whose fair words erewhile

Brought me to bitter fortune.

NEO

May not men

Repent and change?

PHI

Such wast thou in thy talk,
1270

When thou didst rob me of my bow,—so bright
1270

Without, so black within.

NEO

Ah, but not now,

Assure thee! Only let me hear thy will,

Is ’t constant to remain here and endure,

Or to make voyage with us?

PHI

Stop, speak no more!

Idle and vain will all thine utterance be.
1275

NEO

Thou art so resolved?

PHI

More firmly than I say.

NEO

I would I might have brought thee to my mind,

But since my words are out of tune, I have done.

PHI

Thou wert best. No word of thine can touch my soul

Or win me to thy love, who by deceit
1280

Hast reft my life away. And then thou com’st

To school me,—of noblest father, basest son!

Perish, the Atridae first of all, and then

Laërtes’ child, and thou!

NEO

Curse me no more,

But take this hallowed weapon from my hand.

PHI

What words are these? Am I again deceived?

NEO

No, by the holiest name of Zeus on high!

PHI

O voice of gladness, if thy speech be true!

NEO

The deed shall prove it. Only reach thy hand,
1290

And be again sole master of thy bow.

OD

But I make protest, in the sight of Heaven,

For Atreus’ sons, and all the Achaean host.

PHI

Dear son, whose voice disturbs us? Do I hear

Odysseus?

OD

Ay, and thou behold’st him nigh,

And he shall force thee to the Trojan plain,

Howe’er Achilles’ offspring make or mar.

PHI

This shaft shall bear thee sorrow for that boast.
1300

NEO

Let it not fly, by Heaven!

PHI

Dear child, let go

Mine arm!

NEO

I will not.

PHI

Ah! Why hast thou robbed

My bow of bringing down mine enemy?

NEO

This were ignoble both for thee and me.

PHI

One thing is manifest, the first o’ the host

Lying forerunners of the Achaean band,
1310

Are brave with words, but cowards with the steel.

NEO

Well, now the bow is thine. Thou hast no cause

For blame or anger any more ’gainst me.

PHI

None. Thou hast proved thy birthright, dearest boy.

Not from the loins of Sisyphus thou earnest,

But from Achilles, who in life was held

Noblest of men alive, and now o’ the dead.

NEO

It gladdens me that thou shouldst speak in praise

Both of my sire and me. But hear me tell

The boon for which I sue thee.—Mortal men

Must bear such evils as high Heaven ordains;

But those afflicted by self-chosen ills,

Like thine to-day, receive not from just men

Or kind indulgence or compassionate thought.

And thou art restive grown, and wilt not hearken,

But though one counsel thee with kind’st intent,

Wilt take him for a dark malignant foe.

Yet, calling Zeus to witness for my soul,

Once more I will speak. Know this, and mark it well:
1375

Thou bear’st this sickness by a heavenly doom,
1375

Through coming near to Chrysa’s sentinel,
1375

The lurking snake, that guards the sky-roofed fold.
1375

And from this plague thou ne’er shall find reprieve
1375

While the same Sun god rears him from the east
1375

And droops to west again, till thou be come
1375

Of thine own willing mind to Troia’s plain,
1375

Where our physicians, sons of Phoebus’ child,
1375

Shall soothe thee from thy sore, and thou with me
1375

And with this bow shalt take Troy’s citadel.
1375

How do I know this? I will tell thee straight

We have a Trojan captive, Helenus,

Both prince and prophet, who hath clearly told

This must be so, yea, and ere harvest time

This year, great Troy must fall, else if his words

Be falsified, who will may slay the seer.

Now, since thou know’st of this, yield thy consent;

For glorious is the gain, being singled forth

From all the Greeks as noblest, first to come

To healing hands, and then to win renown

Unrivalled, vanquishing all tearful Troy.

PHI

Oh how I hate my life! Why must it keep

This breathing form from sinking to the shades?

How can I prove a rebel to his mind

Who thus exhorts me with affectionate heart?

And yet, oh misery! must I give way?

Then how could I endure the light of heaven?

With whom could I exchange a word? Ay me!

Eyes that have seen each act of my sad life,

How could ye bear it, to behold the sons

Of Atreus, my destroyers, comrades now

And friends! Laërtes’ wicked son, my friend!

And less I feel the grief of former wrong

Than shudder with expectance of fresh harm

They yet may work on me. For when the mind

Hath once been mother of an evil brood,

It nurses nought but evils. Yea, at thee

I marvel. Thou should’st ne’er return to Troy,

Nor suffer me to go, when thou remember’st

What insult they have done thee, ravishing

Thy father’s rights from thee. And wilt thou then

Sail to befriend them, pressing me in aid?

Nay, do not, son; but, even as thou hast sworn,

Convey me home, and thou, in Scyros dwelling,

Leave to their evil doom those evil men.

So thou shalt win a twofold gratitude

From me and from my father, and not seem,

Helping vile men, to be as vile as they.

NEO

’Tis fairly spoken. Yet I would that thou

Relying on my word and on Heaven’s aid,

Would’st voyage forth from Lemnos with thy friend.
1380

PHI

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1217 focus

Als Helfer, und jezt ein Nichts ist!

(er geht in die Höhle.)

Der Chor.

Von hinnen eilend würden wir jezt lange schon

In unfres Schiffes Nähe sein, erblickten wir

Nicht hier Odysseus, dort Achilleus' edlen Sohn,
1180

Die gegen uns die raschen Schritte zugewandt.

Odysseus. Neoptolemos. Der Chor.

Odysseus.

Du mußt mir sagen, was du diesen Weg so schnell,

Mit solchem Eifer wiederum zurückgekehrt.

Neoptolemos.

Den Fehl zu sühnen, welchen ich zuvor beging.

Odysseus.

Ein schweres Wort, ich staune: was war dein Vergeh'n?
1185

Neoptolemos.

Daß dir ich folgend und Achäa's ganzem Heer

Odysseus.

Welch eine That begingst du, die dir nicht geziemt?

Neoptolemos.

Mit schnöden Listen, mit Betrug den Mann umstrickt.

Odysseus.

Wen? Weh mir! Doch nichts Unbedachtes sinnst du da?

Neoptolemos.

Nichts Unbedachtes! Pöas' Sohne wollt' ich nur
1190

Odysseus.

Was willst du thun? Der Schrecken übermannte mich -

Neoptolemos.

Den ihm geraubten Bogen hier jezt wiederum

Odysseus.

Was hör' ich! Zeus! Ihn wiedergeben, willst du das?

Neoptolemos.

Ich habe schmählich, ohne Recht, ihn mir geraubt.

Odysseus.

Bei allen Göttern! Mich zu kränken, sagst du dies?
1195

Neoptolemos.

Wenn dir, die Wahrheit sagen, eine Kränkung ist.

Odysseus.

Wie, Sohn Achillens? Welches Wort vernahm ich da?

Neoptolemos.

Zweimal und dreimal soll ich Eins wohl wiederkäu'n?

Odysseus.

Ich wollte, daß ich's nicht gehört das eine Mal.

Neoptolemos.

So sei versichert: Alles hast du klar gehört.
1200

Odysseus.

Er lebt, er lebt noch, der es dir zu thun verwehrt.

Neoptolemos.

Was sagst du? Wer ist, der mir das verwehren will?

Odysseus.

Das ganze Heer von Argos, und in diesem ich.

Neoptolemos.

So klugen Sinnes, sprichst du da kein kluges Wort.

Odysseus.

Du bist in Worten weder klug, noch klug im Thun.
1205

Neoptolemos.

Wohl, wenn gerecht nur: besser dies, als kluge List.

Odysseus.

Und kann's gerecht sein, was dir erst mein Rath erwarb,

Nun wieder hinzugeben?

Neoptolemos.

Ich versuche mur

Das gutzumachen, was ich schnöd vorhin gefehlt.

Odysseus.

Das Heer Achäa's scheust du nicht bei solcher That?
1210

Neoptolemos.

Hab' ich das Recht zur Seite, schreckt dein Droh'n mich nicht,

Und mein Entschluß wankt nimmer, brauchst du auch Gewalt.

Odysseus.

Nicht also Troja's Söhne, dich bekämpfen wir.

Neoptolemos.

Es komme, was da wolle!

Odysseus.

Siehst du meine Hand
1215

Neoptolemos.

Auch mich sollst du gleich

Den Griff des Schwertes fassen?
1215

Dasselbe hier thun sehen, und ich zögre nicht.

Odysseus.

Doch nein, ich will dich lassen und dem ganzen Heer

Die Sache kundthun: dieses wird dich züchtigen.

(geht ab.)

Neoptolemos.

Da denkst du weise: wenn du so auch fürder denkst,

So hältst du sicher deinen Fuß vor Leid bewahrt.
1220

Du Sohn des Pöas, Philoktetes, höre mich,

Verlasse dieses Felsendach und komm heraus!

Philoktetes tritt aus der Höhle. Neoptolemos.

Philoktetes.

Was tönt an meiner Höhle hier ein neuer Lärm?

Wozu mich rufen? Was begehrt ihr, Fremdlinge?

(erblickt den Neoptolemos.)

Ach, etwas Uebles ist es! Seid ihr wieder da,
1225

Und bringt zum alten Leide mir ein großes Leid?

Neoptolemos.

Getrost! Vernimm erst, was ich kam dir kundzuthun.

Philoktetes.

Mir bangt. Zuvor ja kam ich schon in tiefes Leid

Durch schöne Worte, weil ich deinem Wort vertraut.

Neoptolemos.

Unmöglich also wäre Sinnesänderung?
1230

Philoktetes.

So warst du deinen Worten nach auch redlich und

Voll Tück im Herzen, als du mir den Bogen stahlst.

Neoptolemos.

Doch nun gewiß nicht. Aber laß mich hören, ob

Du hier zu bleiben unverrückt entschlossen bist,

Ob mitzuschiffen.
1235

Philoktetes.

Schweige, sprich nicht weiter mehr!
1235

Denn was du sagst auch, Alles ist umsonst gesagt.

Du bleibst darauf?

Und fester, als ich's sagen kanu.

Neoptolemos.

Wohl möcht' ich lieber, daß du meinen Worten, Freund,

Dich fügtest: aber wenn ich ungelegen dir

Geredet, schweig' ich.
1240

Philoktetes.

Jedes Wort wär' auch umsonst.
1240

Wohlwollend stimmst du meinen Sinn niemals für dich,

Du, der mit arger Tücke mir den Unterhalt

So schnöd' entwandt hat, und darauf mit Mahnungen

Mir kommt, des besten Vaters ungerath'ner Sohn!

Tod euch, des Atreus Söhnen, euch vor Allen, dann
1245

Dir und Laertes' Sohne!

Neoptolemos.

Nicht mehr fluche mir!

Nimm hier von meinen Händen dein Geschoß zurück.

Philoktetes.

Wie sagst du? Werd' ich abermals durch List berückt?

Neoptolemos.

Ich schwöre bei der heil'gen Macht des höchsten Zeus

Philoktetes.

theure, liebe Laute, wenn du's redlich meinst!
1250

Neoptolemos.

Gleich wird's die That bewähren: strecke nur getrost

Die Hand daher, und werde deiner Waffen Herr!

Odysseus (plözlich zurückkommend.) Die Vorigen.

Und ich verbiet' es

Odysseus.

Zeugen sind die Götter mir!

Im Namen der Atriden und des ganzen Heers.

Philoktetes.

Kind, wessen Worte waren dies? Vernahm ich nicht
1255

Die Stimm' Odysseus'?

Odysseus.

Allerdings, und siehst ihn hier,

Der dich zu Troja's Eb'nen mit Gewalt entführt,

Der Sohn Achillens woll' es, oder woll' es nicht.

(den Bogen spannend)

Philoktetes.

Doch nicht zu deinem Heile, wenn mein Bogen trifft!

Neoptolemos.

Ha, nimmer! Bei den Göttern! Laß die Pfeile ruh'u!
1260

Philoktetes.

Frei laß die Hand mir, bei den Göttern, liebes Kind!

(Odysseus entfernt sich eilig.)

Neoptolemos.

Das werd' ich nimmer!

Philoktetes.

Wehe! Was verwehrst du mir,

Mit meinem Pfeil zu tödten solch verhaßten Feind?

Neoptolemos.

Das wäre wahrlich weder mir noch dir ein Ruhm.

Philoktetes.

So wisse dieses Eine, daß die Fürsten dort,
1265

Die Lügenboten im Achäerheere, feig¹

Im Lanzenkampfe, muthig nur in Worten sind!

Neoptolemos.

Es sei! Du hast den Bogen, und es bleibt dir Nichts,

Weßhalb du zürnen oder mich anklagen kannst.

Philoktetes.

Ich stimme bei. Schön hast du deinen Stamm bewährt,
1270

Aus dem du sprossest, Jüngling: nicht von Sisyphos,

Vom Sohn des Peleus stammst du, der im Leben einst

Der beste Held hieß, nun der Todten größter heißt.

Neoptolemos.

Mit Freuden hör' ich, wie du meinen Vater lobst

Und mich: vernimm nun, was du mir gewähren sollst.
1275

Wohl muß der Mensch die Loose, die der Götter Rath

Auflegt, ergeben tragen als Nothwendigkeit;

Doch wer in selbsterwähltem Leid gefangen ist,

Wie du, verdient es nimmer, daß nachsichtig ihm

Verziehen werde, daß man ihm Erbarmen schenkt.
1280

Du bist erbittert, weisest ab des Freundes Rath,

Und wenn dich Einer wohlgesinnt verweisend warnt,

Dem zürnst du wie dem Gegner, siehst als Feind ihn an.

Und dennoch sag' ich's, rufe Zeus, des Eides Gott,

Und du bedenk' es, schreib' es tief in deine Brust:
1285

Dies Leiden ward von Göttern über dich verhängt,

Weil du der Schlange nahtest, Chryse's Hüterin,²

Die dort den obdachlosen Herd geheim bewacht.

Und wisse: niemals findest du des Leides Ziel,

Der schweren Krankheit, nie, solang die Sonne hier
1290

Aufsteigt und wieder dort hinab zum Meere sinkt,

Bevor in Troja's Ebne du freiwillig ziehst,

Und auf Asklepios' Söhne triffst in unserm Heer,³

Die deine Qual dir lindern, und die stolze Burg

Mit diesem Bogen, im Verein mit mir, zerstörst.
1295

Und wie ich solches sicher weiß, erklär' ich dir.

Ein Mann vom Troervolke fiel in unsre Hand,

Der Seher erster, Helenos, der klar bezeugt,

Es müsse so sich fügen, und noch dies dazu:

Das Schicksal wolle, daß in diesem Sommer noch
1300

Die ganze Troja falle; gerne will er sich

Dem Tode bieten, täuscht er uns in diesem Spruch.

Nun, da du dies vernommen, gib uns willig nach.

Ein schöner Lohn ja wär' es, als der Edelste

Des Heers erkoren, erst die Hand, die heilende,
1305

Zu finden, dann der Troer vielbeweinte Burg

Zu stürzen, hochgefeiert in des Ruhmes Glanz.

Philoktetes.

Verhaßtes Leben, was erhältst du mich im Licht

Noch oben, sendest in die Gruft mich nicht hinab?

Weh, was beginn' ich? Kann ich dieses Mannes Wort
1310

Mißtrauen, der so wohlgesinnt mir Rath ertheilt?

So folg' ich also? Doch wie soll ich Armer dann

An's Licht der Sonne treten? Wen, wen red' ich an?

Ihr Augen, die ihr Alles saht, was mir geschah,

Wie könntet ihr es tragen, daß ich wieder mich
1315

Gesellt des Atreus Söhnen, die mich mordeten,

Gesellt dem Alverderber dort, Laertes' Sohn?

Denn Schmerz um's überstandne Leid nagt nicht an mir;

Doch was ich noch von diesen dulden muß, ich kann

Es wohl voraussehn. Denn ein Sinn, der Einmal nur
1320

Gebar den Frevel, mehr gebiert er Frevel noch.

Und voll Verwund'rung seh' ich, was auch du beginnst.

Denn weder selber solltest du nach Troja zieh'n,

Noch uns an jene fesseln, die dich höhnten, dir

Des Vaters Kleinod raubten. Dennoch willst du geh'n,
1325

Für sie zu kämpfen, ja du drängst auch mich dazu?

Nicht also, Jüngling; sondern wie du mir's beschworst,

Geleite mich nach Hause, bleib' in Skyros selbst,

Und laß die Bösen untergeh'n in böser Noth.

So nimmst du zwiefach einen Dank von mir zum Lohn,
1330

Zwiefach vom Vater, und erscheinst, indem du dich

Entziehst dem Bösen, nimmerdar den Bösen gleich.

Neoptolemos.

Du sprichst geziemend; aber doch verlangt es mich,

Daß du der Götter hohem Spruch und meinem Wort

Vertrautest und von dannen zögst mit deinem Freund.
1335

Philoktetes.

Du meinst in Troja's Ebne, zum verhaßten Feind,

Dem Sohn des Atreus, mit dem schwergetroff'nen Fuß?⁴

Neoptolemos.

Zu jenen, welche deinen Fuß, von Eiter schwer,

Dir lindernd heilen, dich befrei'n von deiner Dual.

Philoktetes.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1217 focus

Ere now we should have taken thee to our

ships,

But that advancing this way I behold

Ulysses

and with him Achilles' son.

Ulysses

Why this return ? Wherefore this haste ?

Neoptolemus

I come

To purge me of my crimes.

Ulysses

Indeed ! What crimes '#
1225

Neoptolemus

My blind obedience to the Grecian host

And to thy counsels.

Ulysses

Hast thou practised auglit

Base or unworthy of thee?

Neoptolemus

' Yes ; by art

And vile deceit betrayed th' unhappy.
1230

Ulysses

Whom ?

Alas ! what mean you?

I'J'eo. Nothing. But the son

Of Pfxian

Ulysses

Ha ! what wouldst thou do? My heart

Misgives me. [ Aside.

Neoptolemus

I have ta'en his arms, and now

Ulysses

Thou wouldst restore them ! Speak ! Is that

thy purpose?

Almighty Jove !

Neoptolemus

Unjustly should I keep

Another's right ?

Ulysses

Now, by the gods, thou meanst
1235

To mock me ! Dost thou not?
1235

Neoptolemus

If to speak truth

Be mockery.

Ulysses

And does Achilles' son

Say this to me ?

Neoptolemus

Why force me to repeat

My words so often to thee ?

Ulysses

Once to hear them

Is once indeed too much.

Neoptolemus

Doubt then no more,
1240

For I have told thee all.
1240

Ulysses

There are, remember,

There are who may prevent thee.

Neoptolemus

Who shall dare

To thwart my purpose?

Ulysses

All the Grecian host,

And with them, I.

Neoptolemus

Wise as thou art, Ulysses,

Thou talkst most idly.

Ulysses

Wisdom is not thine
1245

Either in word or deed.

Neoptolemus

Know, to be just

Is better far than to be wise.

Ulysses

But where,

Where is the justice, tlius unauthorized,

To give a treasure back thou ow'st to me,

And to my counsels ?

Neoptolemus

I have done a wrong,
1250

And I will try to make atonement for it.
1250

Ulysses

Dost thou not fear the power of Greece ?
1250

Neoptolemus

I fear

Nor Greece nor thee, wlien I am doing right.

Ulysses

'Tis not with Troy then we contend, but thee.

Neoptolemus

I know not that.

Ulysses

Seest thou this hand ? behold.

It gi'a.sps my sword.

Neoptolemus

Mine is alike prepared.

Nor seeks delay.
1255

Ulysses

But I will let thee go ;

Greece shall know all thy guilt, and shall revenge it.

Neoptolemus
\Exit Ulysses. Scene II.

Chorus.

Neoptolemus

'Twas well determined ; always be as wise

As now thou art, and thou may'st live in safety.

Thy rocky habitation, and come forth.

Philoctetes
\j\.p'proacliing towards the cave.

[from the cave^ What noLse was that? Who

Philoctetes
Scene III.

Aks ! what would you, strangers ? Are you
1265

come
1265

To heap fresh miseries on me ?
1265

Neoptolemus

Be of comfort,

And hear the tidings which I bring.

Philoctetes

I dare not ;

Thy flattering tongue already hath betrayed me.

Neoptolemus

And is there then no room for penitence ?

Philoctetes

Such were thy words, when, seemingly sincere,
1270

Yet meaning ill, thou stolst my arms away.

Neoptolemus

But now it is not so. I only came

To know if thou art resolute to stay.

Or sail with us.

Philoctetes

No more of that ; 'tis vain

And useless all.
1275

Neoptolemus

Art thou then fixed?

Philoctetes

I am ;

It is impossible to say how firmly.

Neoptolemus

I thought I could have moved thee, but I've

done.

Philoctetes

'Tis well thou hast ; thy labour had been vain ;

For never could my soul esteem the man
1280

Who robbed me of my dearest, best possession,

And now would have me listen to his counsels —

Unworthy offspring of the best of men !

Perish th' Atridte ! perish first Ulysses !

Perish thyself !
1285

Neoptolemus

Withhold thy imprecations,

And take thy arrows back.

Philoctetes

A second time

Wouldst thou deceive me ?

Neoptolemus

By th' almighty power

Of sacred Jove I swear.

Philoctetes

O joyful sound I

If thou sayst truly.

Neoptolemus

Let my actions speak.
1290

Stretch forth thy hand, and take thy arms again.

Ulysses
\Gives him the arrows. Scene IY.

Witness ye gods ! Here, in the name of Greece

And the Atrid?e, I forbid it.

Phil

Ha!

What voice is that ? Ulysses' ?

Ulysses

Aye, 'tis I —

I who perforce will cany thee to Troy

Spite of Achilles' son.

PiiiL. \)'aising his arm as intending to throw an

arroio at Ulysses]. Not if I aim

This shaft aright.

Neoptolemus

Now, by the gods, I beg thee

Stop thy rash hand ! \_Layiny hold of h im .

Philoctetes

Let go my arm.

Neoptolemus

I will not.

Philoctetes

Shall I not slay my enemy ?

Neoptolemus

Oh, no !

'Twould cast dishonour on us both.

Philoctetes

Thou knowst,

These Grecian chiefs are loud pretending boasters,
1310

Brave but in tongue, and cowards in the field.

Neoptolemus

I know it ; but remember, I restored

Thy arrows to thee, and thou hast no cause

For rage or for complaint against thy friend.

Philoctetes

I own thy goodness. Thou hast shown thyself

Worthy thy birth ; no son of Sisyphus,

But of Achilles, who on earth preserved

A fame unspotted, and amongst the dead

Still shines superior, an illustrious shade.

Neoptolemus

Joyful I thank thee for a father's praise,

And for my own ; but listen to my words,

And mark me well. Misfortunes, which the gods

Inflict on mortals, they perforce must bear :

But when, oppressed by voluntary woes,

They make themselves unhappy, they deserve not

Our pity or our pardon. Such art thou.

Thy savage soul, impatient of advice.
1375

Rejects the wholesome counsel of thy friend,
1375

And treats him like a foe ; but I will speak,
1375

Jove be my witness ! Therefore hear my words,
1375

And grave them in thy heart. The dire disease
1375

Thou long hast suffered is from angry heaven,
1375

Which thus aflBicts thee for thy rash approach

To the fell serpent, which on Chrysa's shore

Watched o'er the sacred treasures. Know baside,

That whilst the sun in yonder east shall rise,

Or in the west decline, distemj>ered still

Thou ever shalt remain, unless to Troy

Thy willing mind transport thee. There the sons

Of ^sculapius shall restore thee — there

By my assistance shalt thou conquer Troy.

I know it well ; for that prophetic sage.

The Trojan captive Helenus, foretold

It should be so. " Proud Troy (he added then)

This very year must fall ; if not, my life
1380

Shall answer for the falsehood." Therefore yield.
1380

Thus to be deemed the first of Grecians, thus
1380

By Paean's favourite sons to be restored.
1380

And thus marked out the conqueror of Troy,
1380

Is sure distinguished happiness.
1380

Philoctetes

O life !

Detested, why wilt thou still keep me here?

Why not dismiss me to the tomb ! Alas !

What can I do ? How can I disbelieve

My generous friend ? I must consent, and yet

Can I do this, and look upon the sun?

Can I behold my friends — will they forgive.

Will they associate with me after this?

And you, ye heavenly orbs that roll around me,

How will ye bear to see me linked with those

Who have destroyed me, e'en the sons of x\treus,

E'en with Ulysses, source of all my woes?

My sufferings past I could forget ; but oh !

I dread the woes to come ; for well I know

When once the mind 's corrupted it brings forth

Unnumbered crimes, and ills to ills succeed.

It moves my wonder much that thou, my friend,

Shouldst thus advise me, whom it ill becomes

To think of Troy. I rather had believed

Thou wouldst have sent me far, far off fi-om those

Who have defrauded thee of thy just right,

x\nd gave thy arms away. Are these the men

Whom thou wouldst serve? whom thou wouldst thus

compel me

To save and to defend. ? It must not be.

Kemember, O my son ! the solemn oath

Thou gav'st to bear me to my native soil.

Do this, my friend, remain thyself at Scyros,

And leave these Avretches to be wretched still.

Thus shalt thou merit double thanks, from me

And from thy father ; nor by succour given

To vile betrayers j>rove thyself as vile.

Ned. Thou Siiyst most truly. Yet confide in heaven,

Trust to thy friend, and leave this hated place.

Philoctetes

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1217 focus

Hence to our bark we all long since had gone,

But that I saw Ulysses and our lord

This way advancing to us; they are nigh.

Philoctetes retires into the cave.

Ulysses
ULYSSES, NEOPTOLEMUS, CHORUS.

Wilt thou not tell me why with eager pace
1220

Thy steps so soon returning tread this path?

Neoptolemus

To make atonement for my former deed

At thy words I stand amazed:

Of baseness.

Ulysses

What was this deed of baseness?
1225

Neoptolemus

What with thee

Complying, and th' united host of Greece,

I have effected.

Ulysses

What, that ill becomes

Thy honour, hast thou done?

Neoptolemus

A deed of fraud,

And base deceit.

Ulysses

'Gainst whom? Ah, hast thou form'd

Some new design?

Neoptolemus

Not new; but to the son
1230

Of Poeas—
1230

Ulysses

What thy purpose? How thy words

Alarm my fears!

Neoptolemus

The bow from him received

To him again-

Ulysses

Jove, what wilt thou say?

Thou wouldst not give it back?:

Neoptolemus

It was obtain'd

By baseness and injustice.

Ulysses

Thou speak'st this
1235

But in a sportive mood.
1235

Neoptolemus

If to speak truth

Be sportive.

Ulysses

What means this? What hast thou said,

Son of Achilles ?

Neoptolemus

Hast thou then a wish

That twice I speak these words?

Ulysses

I had no wishG

To hear them once.

Neoptolemus

Know then my purpose now:
1240

Thou hast heard all.
1240

Ulysses

There is, be thou assured

There is who will prevent thy purpose.'

Neoptolemus

Who shall prevent me?

Ulysses

The united host

Of Greece, and with them I.

Neoptolemus

Wise though thou art,

Thy words no wisdom show.

Ulysses

endeleh Nor wise thy words,
1245

Nor would thy deeds be wise.

Neoptolemus

If they are just,

They have an excellence beyond the wise.

Ulysses

Where is the justice to return the arms

Won by my counsels?

Neoptolemus

I have done a deed
1250

Of baseness, and will expiate the guilt.

Ulysses

Thus acting, fear'st thou not the troops of Greece? M

Neoptolemus

By justice guided thy suggested fearstie ab il

I scorn; nor shall thy hand my actions rule. m

Ulysses

No more 'gainst Troy, but thee, our arms are turn'd.

Neoptolemus

Let come what will come.

My sword.

See my hand, it grasps, buf
1255

See mine, my sword as prompt to grasp.
1255

Ulysses

I now forbear thee to the host of Greece

This will I tell; their vengeance thou shalt feel.

Neoptolemus

Thou hast shown wisdom: always be thus wise,

And tears perchance may not bedew thy path.th/

Ho! son of Poeas! Philoctetes, ho!
1260

Come forth, and quit thy cavern in the rock.

Philoctetes
PHILOCTETES, NEOPTOLEMUS, CHORUS.

What means this clamorous uproar at my cave?

Why call you me? What would you? Ah, I fear

Some further mischief. Come you to augment

My woes, and add to ill some greater ill ?
1265

Neoptolemus

Be confident, and calmly hear my words.or

Philoctetes

Already I have heard them; they were fair of

I trusted them, and basely was deceived.si

Neoptolemus

Canst thou forgive? I blush at what is past.oli

Philoctetes

So didst thou speak, so win my easy faith, not
1270

Veiling the treacherous fraud that stole my bowal

Neoptolemus

But not so now. This I would hear from thee:

Is thy heart fix’d in this drear cave to stay,

Or wilt thou sail with us?

Philoctetes

Forbear; no more;

For all, which thou canst urge, will be in vain.
1275

Neoptolemus

Is this thy firm resolve?

Philoctetes

It is, more firm than language can express.

Neoptolemus

It was my wish my words might have prevail'd:

If they offend thee, I will say no more.

Philoctetes

Thy plea were vain: nor wilt thou find my heart

Feeling for thee one favourable thought.
1280

Thou hast deprived me of the means of life;

And now with thy monitions art thou come,

Thou hated son of an illustrious sire!

Perdition seize you all, th' Atridæ first,

Ulysses

then thee.

Neoptolemus

Forbear thy curse,

And from my hand receive thy bow again.

Philoctetes

What, am I then a second time deceived?

Neoptolemus

By the high awe of holy Jove I swear.

Philoctetes

These words, if true, with transport fill my soul.

Neoptolemus

The deed shall prove them true. Stretch forth thy hand,
1290

And of thy sacred arms again be lord.

Ulysses
ULYSSES, NEOPTOLEMUS, PHILOCTETES,

That for th' Atridæ and the Grecian host,

(Ye gods bear witness to me) I forbid.

Philoctetes

Whose voice is this? Ulysses do I hear?

Ulysses

Be thou assured of that, and seest him nigh

Who to the plains of Troy will bear thee hence

By force, and in defiance of this Youth.

Philoctetes

But not with joy, if well this shaft be aim'd.
1300

Neoptolemus

Ah no; discharge not, by the gods, the shaft.

Philoctetes

Nay, by the gods, my son, let go my hand.

Neoptolemus

I must not let it go.

Philoctetes

Why wou'dst thou check

My vengeance on a foe, an hated foe?

Neoptolemus

That were to thee dishonour, and to me.

Philoctetes

But know thou this; these Grecian Chiefs, so prompt

With studied falsehoods to betray, in fight
1310

Are dastards, but right valiant with their tongues.

Neoptolemus

Well, let that pass: thou hast thy bow; no cause

Hast thou of anger, or to blame me more.

Philoctetes

I own it; thou hast shown thy generous blood

Nobly descended, not from Sisyphus

But from Achilles, of illustrious fame

When living, and illustrious 'mongst the dead.

Neoptolemus

The praise thou givest my father and myself

Is grateful to me: but what I desire

From thee t' obtain, now hear. The ills, on men

Inflicted by the gods, they must sustain :

But miseries on themselves by choice derived,

And self-will'd waywardness, have no just claim

To pardon, or to pity. All thy thoughts

Are wild and fierce; thy soul disdains advice;

And when with warm benevolence a friend

Glows to direct thee right, thy hatred flames,

And treats him as a foe: yet I will speak,

And call almighty Jove t' attest the truth.

Hear thou my words, and write them on thy heart.

The anguish of this wound was by the gods

Assign'd thee, when thy foot too near approach'd

The fatal place, where lay conceal'd from view

The serpent, guardian of th' uncover'd shrine

At Chryse. From this fierce disease no pause,

Be thou assured, is thine, whilst in the east

Yon sun shall rise, and rolling its bright course

Sink in the west, till it beholds thee tread

With williug steps the plains of Ilium: there

The sons of Esculapius shalt thou find,...
1375

And of thy wound be heal'd: then shall thy bow,
1375

Join'd by my arms, lay waste the Phrygian state.
1375

How I know this, attend, and thou shalt hear...
1375

Amidst the Grecian camp there is a man
1375

From Troy, a captive, Helenus, a seer
1375

Of high renown: the fates he thus declared;
1375

Adding that ere the present summer yields
1375

To autumn its dominion, Troy must falli:
1375

That this is true he sets his life at gageb
1375

Assured of this, let thy reluctance cease,
1375

Embark with us. What honour to be rank'd
1375

First'mongst the Grecian heroes, by the sons
1375

Of Pæan to be heal'd, to storm the tow'rs
1375

Of Troy lamenting with deep groans her fall,
1375

And grasp the highest meed that glory gives!
1375

PHII.. Oh hated life, why in the light of heav'ni
1375

Dost thou detain me? Why not sink me down
1375

To the dark mansions of the dead? Ah me
1375

To his monitions shall I still be deaf?e
1375

They flow from generous friendship. Should I yield,
1375

How in the face of day could I appear?
1375

With whom hold converse? How, ye eyes that view

All things around me, would ye bear these things?

How bear to see me friendly with the sons

Of Atreus, authors of these cruel wrongs?

How with Ulysses, that destructive pest?

Yet not the just resentment of past griefs

Pierces so deep as that presaging sense

Of what I yet must suffer: for the mind,

That to base deeds gives birth, assiduous trains,

Like an ill parent, other deeds as base.

At thee indeed I marvel much; to Trey

Thou never shou'dst steer back thy course, and me

Thou shou'dst keep far from those, who basely wrong'd,

And robb'd thee of thy father's glorious arms *.

Yet wilt thou go, confederate in the war

With these, compelling me to join their arms.

Not so, my son; me to my country send,

I have thy oath, do thou at Scyros stay,

And let them vilely perish in return

For their vile deeds; a double grace to me,

And to thy father; to the base afford

No aid, but show thou art not base like them.

Neoptolemus

What thou hast said has reason: yet I wish

That to the gods obedient, and my words,

With me thy friend from Lemnos thou wou'dst sail.
1380

Philoctetes

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1218-1470 focus

Chorus

Long ago I would have left you to go to my ship, had I not seen

Odysseus approaching, and the son of Achilles, too, coming here for us.
1220

Enter Neoptolemus and Odysseus.

Odysseus

Will you not tell me why you make this return journey with such eager speed?

Neoptolemus

I come to undo the mistake that I made earlier.

Odysseus

Your words alarm me—what mistake was that?
1225

Neoptolemus

The one I made when I obeyed you and all the army.

Odysseus

What did you do that was unworthy of you?

Neoptolemus

I captured a man by disgraceful deceits and treachery.

Odysseus

What man? Oh! Can you be planning something rash?

Neoptolemus

Rash, no. But to Poeas’ son—
1230

Odysseus

What are you going to do? Suddenly a certain fear comes over me.

Neoptolemus

—From whom I took this bow, back to him—

Odysseus

Zeus! What will you say? Certainly you do not intend to give it back?

Neoptolemus

Yes, I do, because disgracefully and unjustly I got hold of it.

Odysseus

In the name of the gods, are you saying this to mock me?
1235

Neoptolemus

If it is mockery to speak the truth.

Odysseus

What do you mean, Neoptolemus? What are you saying?

Neoptolemus

Must I repeat the same words twice and three times?

Odysseus

I would not have wished to hear them even once.

Neoptolemus

Know for certain that I have nothing more to say.
1240

Odysseus

There is someone, I tell you, who will prevent your deed.

Neoptolemus

What do you mean? Who will oppose me in this?

Odysseus

The whole host of the Achaeans, and I for one.

Neoptolemus

Wise though you were born, your threats are void of wisdom.

Odysseus

And your words are not wise, nor is that which you want to do.
1245

Neoptolemus

And yet if they are just, they are better than wise.

Odysseus

And how is it just for you to give up what was won by means of my plans?

Neoptolemus

My error was to my dishonor, and now I must try to retrieve it.

Odysseus

The army of the Achaeans causes you no fear, when you do this?
1250

Neoptolemus

With justice on my side, I do not tremble at the terrors you name.

Odysseus

Neoptolemus

No, not even at the threat of your hand do I yield obedience.

Odysseus

Then our battles shall be not with the Trojans, but with you.

Neoptolemus

So be it, if that is what the future holds.

Odysseus

Do you see my right hand

clasping my sword hilt?
1255

Neoptolemus

You will see me do the same, and not slowly.

1257

Odysseus

However, I will let you be. But I will go report this to all the army, and by them you will be punished.

Neoptolemus

You have come to your senses. And if you are so prudent hereafter,

perhaps you may steer clear of trouble. Odysseus feigns departure, but conceals himself nearby.
1260

But you, son of Poeas, Philoctetes, come out! Leave the shelter of your rocky home!

Philoctetes
Within.

What is this disruptive cry once more rising beside my cave? Why do you call me? What do you want of me? He appears at the mouth of the cave, and sees Neoptolemus.

Oh, no! This business will bring me no good. Have you come bringing me new misery on top of the old?
1265

Neoptolemus

Take heart and listen to my words.

Philoctetes

I am afraid. Beautiful words did me evil once before, when I believed your promises.

Neoptolemus

Is there no room, then, for repentance?
1270

Philoctetes

You spoke just like this, when you were seeking to steal my bow—a professed friend, with my destruction in his treacherous heart.

Neoptolemus

I assure you, I am not so now. I merely wish to know whether you have resolved to stay here and endure, or to sail with us.

Philoctetes

Stop, not another word! Whatever you may say will be said in vain.

Neoptolemus

You are so resolved?

Philoctetes

More firmly, believe me, than words can say.

Neoptolemus

Well, I could have wished that you had listened to my words, but if nothing that I say will help,then I am finished.

Philoctetes

Yes, all your pleas will be in vain.
You will never gain my mind’s good will, since first you fraudulently seized my means of life and robbed me of it, and then you have come here to admonish me, you most hateful descendant of so noble a father!

Ruin seize you all, the Atreids first, and next the son of Laertes , and you!
1285

Neoptolemus

Speak no more curses, and instead receive these weapons from my hand.

1288

Philoctetes

What did you say? Am I being tricked a second time?

Neoptolemus

No, I swear it by the pure majesty of Zeus most high!

Philoctetes

O welcome words—if your words are true!
1290

Neoptolemus

The deed will soon make it plain. Come, stretch out your right hand and be master of your bow! As he hands the bow and arrows to Philoctetes, Odysseus suddenly appears.

Odysseus

But I forbid it, as the gods are my witnesses, in the name of the Atreids and the entire army!

Philoctetes

Son, whose voice was that? Do I hear Odysseus?
1295

Odysseus

Be sure of it, and you see him at your side, who will carry you to the plains of Troy by force, whether or not the son of Achilles is willing.

Philoctetes

But it will bring you no joy, if this arrow fly straight. Odysseus flees from the stage.

Neoptolemus

Wait—by the gods, no! Do not let it fly!
1300

Philoctetes

Let go of me, in the name of the gods, dear boy!

Neoptolemus

I will not.

Philoctetes

Alas! Why did you take from me the chance to kill my hated enemy with my bow?

Neoptolemus

It would have been honorable neither for me, nor for you.

Philoctetes

Well, you may be sure of one thing, at least: the army’s chiefs, the lying heralds of the Greeks, though bold with words, are cowards in the fight.
1305

Neoptolemus

Good; the bow is yours, and you have no cause for anger or complaint against me.

Philoctetes

Agreed. You have revealed the true stock, my son, from which you spring. You are no child of Sisyphus, but of Achilles, whose fame was the fairest when he was among the living, as it is now with the dead.
1310

1314

Neoptolemus

I delight at your praise of my father,

and of myself. But hear what I desire to gain from you. It is true that men are compelled to bear the fortunes given by the gods; but when they cling to self-inflicted miseries, as you do,
1315

no one can justly excuse or pity them. You have become savage: you welcome no counsellor, and if someone admonishes you, even if he speaks in all good will, you detest him and consider him an enemy who wishes you ill. All the same I will speak to you, calling Zeus who guards oaths to witness.
1320

And you remember these words and write them in your heart: you suffer this plague’s affliction in accordance with god-sent fate, because you came near to Chryse ’s guardian, the serpent who secretly watches over her home and guards her roofless sanctuary. Know also that you will never gain relief from this grave sickness,
1325

as long as the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west, until of your own free will you come to the plains of Troy , find there the sons of Asclepius, our comrades, be relieved of this infection, and, with this bow’s
1330

aid and mine, be hailed as the sacker of Troy ’s towers. How I know these things are so ordained, I will tell you. We have a Trojan prisoner, Helenus, foremost among seers, who says plainly that all this must come to pass, and further,
1335

that this very summer must see the complete capture of Troy . Otherwise he willingly gives himself over for execution, if these prophecies of his prove false. Therefore, now that you understand everything, give way graciously. It is a glorious addition to your gain to be singled out
1340

as best of the Greeks—first, for coming into healing hands, and then for taking Troy rich in tears, and so winning a matchless renown.
1345

1348

Philoctetes

Hateful life, why, why do you keep me in the light of day, instead of letting me go to Hades’ domain?

Ah, me, what shall I do? How can I ignore this man’s words, when he has advised me with good will? But shall I yield, then? How, after doing that, shall I, ill-fated, come into men’s sight? Whom will I be able to talk to? You orbs that have watched my every suffering,
1350

how could you endure to see me consorting with the sons of Atreus, who caused my ruin, or with the accursed son of Laertes ? It is not my resentment for what has already been done that stings me, rather it is the many troubles which I seem to foresee I must suffer at the hands of
1355

these men in the future. For when the mind of men has once mothered wrongdoing, it trains those men to be wrongdoers in all else thereafter. And in you, too, I wonder at this. You should never yourself revisit Troy , and should prevent me from going there, seeing that those men have done you outrage
1360

by stripping you of your father’s arms when, in the suit for the weapons, they judged unhappy Ajax inferior to Odysseus. After that, will you go to fight at their side, and compel me to do the same? No, do not do it, son, but, as you swore to me, escort me home. You yourself remain in Scyros, and leave those evil men to their evil doom.
1365

So shall you win double thanks from me, as from your father, and you will not appear through your service to bad men to be like them in your nature.
1370

Neoptolemus

Your recommendation is reasonable, but nevertheless, I wish that you would put your trust in the gods and in my words,

and sail from this land with me, your friend.
1375

Philoctetes

What! To the plains of Troy and to the abhorred son of Atreus, with this miserable foot?

Neoptolemus

No, rather to those who will free you and your pus-filled limb from pain, and will save you from your sickness.

1380

Philoctetes

You giver of frightening advice, what have you said?
1380

Neoptolemus

I recognize what will be best in the end for you and for me.

Philoctetes

Have you no shame before the gods for saying that?

Neoptolemus

Why should a man be ashamed of benefiting his friends?

Philoctetes

Do you mean a benefit to the Atreids, or for me?

Neoptolemus

For you, certainly, since I am your friend and speak in friendship.
1385

Philoctetes

How can that be, when you would give me up to my enemies?

Neoptolemus

Please, sir, learn to be less defiant in misfortune.

Philoctetes

You will ruin me—I know it—with these words.

Neoptolemus

Not I. But you, I say, will not understand.

Philoctetes

Do I not know already that the Atreids cast me away?
1390

Neoptolemus

They cast you out, yes, but look if they will not in turn restore you.

Philoctetes

Never—if I must first consent to see Troy .

Neoptolemus

What can I do, then if my pleading fails to persuade you of anything that I recommend?

The easiest course for me is to stop talking, and for you to live, just as you do now, without deliverance.
1395

Philoctetes

Let me bear the sufferings that are fated me. But what you promised me with your right hand in mine—to bring me home,—that promise fulfil for me, son,

and do not delay, or remind me further of Troy . I have had my fill of grief and lamentations.
1400

1402

Neoptolemus

If it is your will, let us go.

Philoctetes

O noble words!

Neoptolemus

Now lean your steps firmly upon mine.

Philoctetes

As far as my strength allows.

Neoptolemus

But how shall I escape blame from the Achaeans?

Philoctetes

Disregard it.

Neoptolemus

What if they ravage my country?
1405

Philoctetes

I will be there—

Neoptolemus

And what aid will you render?

Philoctetes

—And with the shafts of Heracles—

Neoptolemus

What?

Philoctetes

—I will keep them away.

Neoptolemus

Then say your farewell to this island, and leave with me.

1408 Heracles appears above the stage.

Heracles

Not yet, not until you have heard my commands,

son of Poeas. Know that your ears perceive the voice of Heracles, and that you look upon his face. For your sake I have left my divine seat and come
1410

to reveal to you the purposes of Zeus, and to halt the journey on which you are departing. Hearken to my words.
First I would tell you of my own fortunes—how, by toiling through and enduring so many toils to the end, I have won the glory of deathlessness, as you witness.
1415

And for you, be sure, this fate is ordained, that through these toils of yours you will make your life far-famed.
You shall go with this man to the Trojan city, where, first, you shall be healed of your cruel sickness,
1420

and then, chosen out as foremost among the warriors in prowess, with my bow you shall sever Paris , the author of these evils, from life. You shall sack Troy and shall receive from the army the spoils of supreme valor to carry home
1425

to the heights of your native Oeta for the delight of your father Poeas. And whatever spoils you receive from that army, from them carry to my pyre a thank-offering for my bow. And these counsels hold for you also, son of Achilles,
1430

for you have not the might to subdue the Trojan realm without him, nor he without you. Rather, like twin lions with the same quarry, each of you must guard the other’s life. For the healing of your sickness, I will send Asclepius to Troy , since it is doomed to fall a second time
1435

before my arrows. But of this be mindful, when you plunder the land—that you show reverence towards the gods. Do this because Father Zeus regards all else as of less account, and because Piety does not die along with mortals. Whether they are alive or dead, their piety does not perish.
1440

1445

Philoctetes

Ah, friend whose voice I have longed to hear, whose shape I see at long last, I will not disobey your commands!
1445

Neoptolemus

I, too, consent.

Heracles

Then do not long delay,

for the occasion and the fair wind there at your stern urge you forward.
1450

Philoctetes

Come, then, let me hail this land as I depart. Farewell, chamber that shared my watches. Farewell,

nymphs of stream and meadow, and you, strong pounding of the sea-lashed cape, where often in the cavern’s inmost recess my head was wetted by the south wind’s blasts, and where many times the Hermaean mount sent an echo
1455

to my sad groans in the gale of my sorrow! But now, clear springs and Lycian fount, I am leaving you, leaving you at last, though such a hope had never buoyed me! Farewell, sea-wrapped Lemnos ,
1460

and send me off with sailing fair to my heart’s content, send me to the destination appointed me by mighty Fate and the will of my friends, and by the all-taming god who has brought these things to pass.
1465

Chorus

Now let us all leave together,

once we have prayed to the nymphs of the sea to come be the guides of our safe return.
1470

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-633-1 ἀλλ’ ¹

mvp-comment-633-2 ὀρέξατε ²

mvp-comment-634-1 ἐρεῖς ³ εἴ ποθεν ⁴

mvp-comment-634-2 γένυν ⁵

mvp-comment-634-3 προπέμψατε ⁶ εἴ ποθεν ⁷

mvp-comment-635-1 ὡς τίνα δὴ ῥέξῃς ⁸

mvp-comment-635-2 παλάμαν ⁹

mvp-comment-635-3 1207 *

χρῶτ’

, Hermann's correction of κρᾶτ’ ¹⁰ Χρῶτα πάντα ¹¹

mvp-comment-635-4 If the MS. κρᾶτ’ ¹² πάντα ¹³

mvp-comment-636-1 φονᾷ ¹⁴

mvp-comment-636-2 τί ποτε ¹⁵

mvp-comment-636-3 πατέρα ματεύων ¹⁶

mvp-comment-636-4 In vv. 492 ff. he had expressed the fear that his aged father must be dead; and here, in the bitterness of despair—when he feels himself utterly friendless upon earth—he utters a yearning to join Poeas in the world below. At brighter moments, again—when there is a gleam of hope that he may return to Malis—he thinks of his father as still living (665, 1371). And Heracles tells him that Poeas is indeed alive (1430).

mvp-comment-637-1 οὐ γὰρ ἐν φάει γ’ ἔτι ¹⁷ ἐν ¹⁸

mvp-comment-638-1 ὦ πόλις ¹⁹

mvp-comment-639-1 πῶς ἂν ²⁰

mvp-comment-639-2 ἄθλιός γ’ ἀνήρ ²¹ γε ²² ὅς ²³ ἄθλιος ²⁴ εἰσίδοιμί ς’ ²⁵

mvp-comment-640-1 ἱερὰν λιβάδ’ ²⁶ ἐχθροῖς ²⁷

mvp-comment-640-2 ἔτ’ οὐδέν εἰμι ²⁸

mvp-comment-641-1 Much suspicion has fallen upon these verses. Some critics, indeed, hold that the only resource is to write them anew (see cr. n.). The points to which objection is made are the following.

mvp-comment-641-2 (1) ὁμοῦ ²⁹

mvp-comment-641-3 (2) στείχων ³⁰

mvp-comment-641-4 (3) στείχοντα ³¹

mvp-comment-641-5 (4) πρὸς ἡμᾶς δεῦρ’ ἰόντ’ ³² ἰόντ’ ³³

mvp-comment-641-6 On the whole, I incline to think that these four vv. are sound, though (like vv. 265 ff.) they are somewhat carelessly written.

mvp-comment-642-1 στείχων ἂν ἦ σοι ³⁴

mvp-comment-643-1 ἐλεύσσομεν ³⁵ ἦ ³⁶

mvp-comment-644-1 οὐκ ἂν φράσειας ³⁷

mvp-comment-644-2 παλίντροπος ³⁸

mvp-comment-644-3 κέλευθον ³⁹

mvp-comment-644-4 σὺν σπουδῇ ταχύς ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-645-1 λύσων ⁴¹

mvp-comment-646-1 δεινόν γε φωνεῖς ⁴²

mvp-comment-647-1 ἣν σοὶ πιθόμενος ⁴³

mvp-comment-648-1 ὧν οὔ σοι πρέπον ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-649-1 ἑλών ⁴⁵ ποῖον ⁴⁶ ἣν ⁴⁷ ἑλών ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-650-1 νέον ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-651-1 ὥς μ’ ὑπῆλθέ τις φόβος ⁵⁰ ὡς ⁵¹ τοι ⁵² ὑπήλυθεν ⁵³

mvp-comment-652-1 παρ’ οὗπερ ἔλαβον ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-653-1 τί λέξεις ⁵⁵ οὔ τί που ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-654-1 πότερα δὴ ⁵⁷ δὲ ⁵⁸ πότερα ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-654-2 κερτομῶν ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-655-1 εἰ κερτόμησις ⁶¹ γ’ ⁶²

mvp-comment-656-1 ἀναπολεῖν ⁶³

mvp-comment-657-1 ἀρχὴν ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-657-2 ἂν ⁶⁵ ἐβουλόμην ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-658-1 εὖ νῦν ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-658-2 ἀκηκοὼς ⁶⁸ ἀκήκοας ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-659-1 τὸ δρᾶν ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-659-2 τίς ἔσται μ’ οὑπικωλύσων τάδε ⁷¹ μ’ ⁷² ἐπικωλύσων ⁷³ κωλύσει ⁷⁴ τάδε ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-660-1 ἐν δὲ τοῖς ⁷⁶ τοῖσδ’ ⁷⁷

mvp-comment-661-1 δρασείεις ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-661-2 σοφά ⁷⁹ δίκαια ⁸⁰ σοφόν ⁸¹

mvp-comment-662-1 ἅ γ’ ἔλαβες ⁸²

mvp-comment-663-1 τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ⁸³

mvp-comment-663-2 ἀναλαβεῖν ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-664-1 ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-664-2 τὸν σὸν οὐ ταρβῶ φόβον ⁸⁶ τὸν σὸν ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-665-1 Hermann's earlier view (see cr. n.) seems clearly the true one. Verse 1252, ἀλλ’ οὐδέ τοι ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-665-2 (1) To transpose vv. 1252 and 1253. This was Hermann's later theory. The objection to it is that N. then says,

ἀλλ’ οὐδέ τοι σῇ χειρὶ πείθομαι τὸ δρᾶν

. |

ἔστω τὸ μέλλον

,—when the last three words lose the force which they now possess as a short and direct reply to a threat. Further, the verbal echoes in this dialogue (

τῶν σοφῶν

in 1246,

δίκαιον

in 1247,

φόβον

in 1251) make it probable that σῇ χειρὶ ⁸⁹ μαχούμεθα ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-665-3 (2) To remove v. 1252. Wunder proposes to delete it: Todt, to place it after v. 1290. Neither course is warrantable.

mvp-comment-665-4 (3) To assume that vv. 1251, 1252 were spoken consecutively by N., and that v. 1252 alludes to a menacing gesture of Odysseus. This is Wecklein's view. But it appears scarcely consonant with the character and practice of Greek Tragedy that words spoken by one person should require the dumb action of another to make them clear.

mvp-comment-665-5 If, then—as seems hardly doubtful—a verse has dropped out, its loss may have been due to the fact that it began with the same words as one of its next neighbours. In dialogue of this kind, anger is sometimes marked by derisive repetition: cp. O. T. 547

ΚΡ. τοῦτ’ αὐτὸ νῦν μου πρῶτ’ ἄκουσον ὡς ἐρῶ

. |

ΟΙ. τοῦτ’ αὐτὸ μή μοι φράζ’

etc. (with n. there). Odysseus—who asserts a

δίκαιον

of his own (1247)—may have replied to N.'s words, ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ τὸν σὸν οὐ ταρβῶ φόβον ⁹¹ ἀλλ’ ⁹² οὐδέ τοι ⁹³

mvp-comment-665-6 The textual history of this passage is parallel with that of O. T. 622 —626, where the loss of one verse led to a similar confusion of persons in the MSS.

mvp-comment-665-7 ἀλλ’ οὐδέ τοι ⁹⁴ οὐδέ ⁹⁵ σῇ χειρὶ ⁹⁶ τὸ δρᾶν ⁹⁷ πείθομαι ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-666-1 ἔστω ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-667-1 κοὐ μέλλοντ’ ἔτι ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-668-1 καίτοι ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-668-2 ἐλθών ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-669-1 ἐσωφρόνησας ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-669-2 κλαυμάτων ¹⁰⁴ πόδα ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-670-1 Φιλοκτήτην λέγω ¹⁰⁶ Φιλοκτήτης ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-671-1 ἀμείψας ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-671-2 πετρήρεις ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-672-1 τίς αὖ ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-672-2 ἄντροις ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-672-3 ἵσταται ¹¹²

mvp-comment-672-4 ἐκκαλεῖσθε ¹¹³ κεχρημένοι ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-673-1 ὤμοι· κακὸν τὸ χρῆμα ¹¹⁵ χρῆμα ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-673-2 μῶν τί μοι vέα … κακά ¹¹⁷ vέα ¹¹⁸ μέγα ¹¹⁹ τι ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-673-3 πέμποντες ¹²¹

mvp-comment-674-1 ἐκ λόγων ¹²²

mvp-comment-674-2 λόγοις ¹²³

mvp-comment-675-1 τοιοῦτος ¹²⁴ πιστός ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-675-2 πιστός ¹²⁶

mvp-comment-676-1 ἀλλ’ οὔ τι μὴν ¹²⁷ μὴ ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-677-1 παῦε ¹²⁹

mvp-comment-677-2 ἃν εἴπῃς γε ¹³⁰ γε ¹³¹ σὺ ¹³² γε ¹³³

mvp-comment-678-1 καὶ πέρα γ’, ἴσθ’, ἢ λέγω ¹³⁴ ἴσθ’ ¹³⁵ ἢ λέγω ¹³⁶

mvp-comment-679-1 ἀλλ’ ἤθελον μὲν ἄν ¹³⁷ πρὸς καιρὸν ¹³⁸ πέπαυμαι ¹³⁹ πάντα γὰρ ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-680-1 κτήσει ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-681-1 ὅστις γ’ ¹⁴² ὅστις ¹⁴³ γε ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-681-2 ἀπεστέρηκας ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-682-1 ἐλθών ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-682-2 ἔχθιστος γεγώς ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-682-3 The force of this passage will not be fully appreciated unless we remember that N. is now completely identified, in Ph. 's mind, with the action of Odysseus. Ph. was ready to allow that N.'s better instincts had been warped by evil guidance ( 971 , 1014 ). But then he hoped that N. would restore the bow. Odysseus prevented this: N. made no direct reply to the last appeal (1066 f.), and carried off his prize.

mvp-comment-682-4 Pierson's conjecture αἴσχιστος ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-683-1 ἆρα ¹⁴⁹ ἆρ’ οὐ ¹⁵⁰ οὐ γὰρ ¹⁵¹ πῶς εἶπας ¹⁵²

mvp-comment-684-1 ἀπώμος’ ¹⁵³

mvp-comment-684-2 ἁγνοῦ ¹⁵⁴ ἁγνὸν … ὑψίστου ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-685-1 παρέσται ¹⁵⁶ φανερόν ¹⁵⁷ ἐναργεῖς ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-686-1 ἐγὼ δ’ ἀπαυδῶ γ’ ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-686-2 ὡς θεοὶ ξυνίστορες ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-686-3 ὑπέρ τ’ ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-687-1 τέκνον ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-687-2 τίνος φώνημα ¹⁶³ ἐπῃσθόμην ¹⁶⁴ Ὀδυσσέως ¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-688-1 ἀποστελῶ ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-689-1 ἀλλ’ οὔ τι χαίρων ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-689-2 ὀρθωθῇ ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-690-1 ἆ ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-690-2 μεθῇς ¹⁷⁰ ἀφῇς ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-691-1 μέθες με … χεῖρα ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-692-1 τί μ’ ἄνδρα πολέμιον κ.τ.λ. ¹⁷³ ἀφείλου ¹⁷⁴ μὴ κτανεῖν ¹⁷⁵ τί ἀφείλου με μὴ κτανεῖν ἄνδρα πολέμιον ¹⁷⁶ πολέμιον ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-692-2 ἐχθρόν τ’ ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-693-1 ἀλλ’ οὖν … γε ¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-693-2 τοὺς πρ. στρατοῦ ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-693-3 ψευδοκήρυκας ¹⁸¹ ἐν δὲ τοῖς λόγοις θρασεῖς ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-693-4 πρὸς αἰχμήν ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-694-1 εἶεν ¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-694-2 ὅτου ¹⁸⁵ ὅπου ¹⁸⁶

mvp-comment-694-3 εἰς ἐμέ ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-695-1 τὴν φύσιν δ’ ¹⁸⁸ ἐξ ἧς ¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-695-2 ἔβλαστες ¹⁹⁰ ε^ ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-695-3 οὐχὶ Σισύφου πατρός ¹⁹² πατρός ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-695-4 μετὰ ζώντων θ’ ¹⁹⁴ τεθνηκότων ¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-696-1 ἥσθην ¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-696-2 ἀμὸν ¹⁹⁷ γε ¹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-697-1 ὧν … σου τυχεῖν ¹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-697-2 ἐφίεμαι ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-698-1 τὰς μὲν ἐκ θεῶν τύχας δοθείσας ²⁰¹ ἐκ ²⁰²

mvp-comment-699-1 ἑκουσίοισιν ²⁰³

mvp-comment-699-2 ἔγκεινται ²⁰⁴

mvp-comment-700-1 ἠγρίωσαι ²⁰⁵ οὔτε … τε ²⁰⁶

mvp-comment-701-1 εὐνοίᾳ ²⁰⁷ εὔνοιάν σοι λέγων ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-701-2 δυσμενῆ θ’ ²⁰⁹

mvp-comment-702-1 Ζῆνα … ὅρκιον ²¹⁰

mvp-comment-703-1 γράφου φρενῶν ἔσω ²¹¹

mvp-comment-703-2 γράφου ²¹²

mvp-comment-704-1 σὺ γὰρ ²¹³

mvp-comment-704-2 ἐκ θείας τύχης ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-705-1 τὸν ἀκαλυφῆ σηκὸν ²¹⁵

mvp-comment-705-2 κρύφιος οἰκουρῶν ὄφις ²¹⁶ οἰκουρῶν ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-705-3 The sacred precinct of Chrysè, with the serpent, is depicted on a

στάμνος

(wine-jar) of about 400 C.B. , now in the Campana collection at the Louvre. The image of Chrysè stands in the open air on a low pedestal; just in front of it is a low and rude altar, with fire burning on it; close to this is the serpent, at which Agamemnon is striking with his sceptre, while the wounded Philoctetes lies on the ground, with Achilles and others around him. See Introd. § 21.

mvp-comment-706-1 παῦλαν ²¹⁸ τυχεῖν ²¹⁹ ἐντυχεῖν ²²⁰ ἂν τυχεῖν ²²¹

mvp-comment-706-2 μήποτ’ ²²²

mvp-comment-707-1 ἕως ἂν ²²³ ὡς ἂν ²²⁴

mvp-comment-707-2 αὑτὸς ἥλιος ²²⁵ αὑτὸς ²²⁶ οὗτος ²²⁷ οὗτος ²²⁸ ταύτῃ, τῇδε ²²⁹

mvp-comment-707-3 αἴρῃ ²³⁰

mvp-comment-708-1 ἑκὼν αὐτὸς ²³¹

mvp-comment-709-1 ἐντυχὼν ²³²

mvp-comment-709-2 τῶν παρ’ ἡμῖν … Ἀσκληπιδῶν ²³³

mvp-comment-709-3 This verse implies that both the sons of Asclepius were to have a part in the cure; and so in 1378 f. the plural is used. But, in the prevailing form of the legend, Machaon alone was the healer; probably because, in post-Homeric poetry, Machaon was the representative of surgery, as his brother was of medicine (cp. Preller, 1. p. 409). So Lesches in the Little Iliad, acc. to Proclus, p. 481 ed. Gaisford: the Orphic

Λιθικά

, 342 ff., where Machaon uses a powder made from a stone called

ὀφιῆτις

: Tzetzes, Posthom. 580 ff., where the stone is

ἐχιῆτις

: Propertius 2. 1. 59. An epic poet, Dionysius, represented Apollo as putting Ph. to sleep, when Machaon amputated the diseased part (Tzetzes on Lycophron 911: schol. Pind. P. 1. 109 ). Quintus Smyrnaeus is singular in making the healer Podaleirius (9. 463).

mvp-comment-709-4 The scene of the cure occurs on a fragment of a bronze mirror (found in south Etruria, and ascribed to the 5th or 4th cent. B.C.), now in the archaeological Museum of the University of Bologna. It bears an Etruscan legend, Pheltute (Philoctetes), Machan (Machaon). The healer is in the act of bandaging the hero's foot; a sponge and a box of ointment rest on a sort of camp-stool (

δίφρος ὀκλαδίας

) between them. (Milani, Mito di F., pl. III. 49; pp. 104 ff.)

mvp-comment-709-5 This verse has been thought inconsistent with 1437: but see n. there.

mvp-comment-710-1 νόσου μαλαχθῇς ²³⁴ λωφᾶν ²³⁵

mvp-comment-710-2 ξὺν τοῖσδε τόξοις ²³⁶ ἔχων ²³⁷

mvp-comment-710-3 πέρσυς φανῇς ²³⁸

mvp-comment-710-4 The language here is not strictly logical. It implies that, before the

παῦλα

can come, he must not only have been relieved (

μαλαχθῇς

), but also have taken Troy. The explanation seems to be simply that the writer was thinking of the victory as an event which was to follow closely on the cure. So, having used

μαλαχθῇς

, he subjoined

καὶ...πέρσας φανῇς

, instead of making the second statement independent of

πρὶν ἄν

( e.g.,

καὶ ἔπειτα πέρσας φανεῖ

). It is much as if one said, ‘You will never be cured until you find health and glory at Troy,’—instead of, ‘find health at Troy,—where you will also find glory.’ Schneidewin and others compare Ai. 106 —110:

θανεῖν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὔ τί πω θέλω...πρὶν ἂν...νῶτα φοινιχθεὶς θάνῃ

. The parallel would be closer if, there, we had

φοινιχθῇ καὶ θάνῃ

,—meaning

φοινιχθῇ· καὶ ἔπειτα θανεῖται

mvp-comment-710-5 We cannot remove the difficulty by supposing that

μαλαχθῇς

denotes merely alleviation, not cure; for the poet clearly thinks of the cure as preceding the victory (919 f.: 1345 ff.: 1424 ff.).

mvp-comment-711-1 ὡς δ’ οἶδα ταῦτα ²³⁹

mvp-comment-712-1 γὰρ ²⁴⁰

mvp-comment-712-2 ἡμῖν ἔστιν ²⁴¹

mvp-comment-712-3 Ἕλενος ²⁴² ἀριστόμαντις ²⁴³

mvp-comment-713-1 ὡς δεῖ γενέσθαι ταῦτα ²⁴⁴ δεῖ ²⁴⁵ χρὴ ²⁴⁶

mvp-comment-714-1 θέρους ²⁴⁷ πᾶσαν ²⁴⁸

mvp-comment-714-2 δίδωσ’ … ἑαυτόν ²⁴⁹ κτείνειν ²⁵⁰

mvp-comment-715-1 καλὴ γὰρ ἡ )πίκτησις ²⁵¹ Ἑλλήνων ἕνα ²⁵² κριθέντ’ ἄριστον ²⁵³ τοῦτο μὲν ²⁵⁴ εἶτα ²⁵⁵ εἶτα ²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-716-1 ω στυγνὸς αἰών ²⁵⁷

mvp-comment-716-2 ἄνω ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-716-3 ἀφῆκας … μολεῖν ²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-716-4 The one feeling which now makes Ph. waver is reluctance to repel the kindly entreaties of Neoptolemus. His hatred of the Greek chiefs is undiminished by the knowledge that they were unconscious instruments of destiny. Nor is he moved by the assurance of health and fame.

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

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-1 Philoctetes now feels that he is left completely alone and helpless. For the shipmates of Neoptolemus are only to remain for a little while, in the vain hope that he will change his mind. The following commos may be divided into two chief portions. The first, 1081-1160, is in effect one long monody of Philoctetes from the stage, of which the pauses are filled with short recitatives addressed to him by single chorcutae. Without noticing these, he continues the strain of his lament. In the second part, 1161-1217, there is a real interchange of lyric numbers between the Chorus and the chief actor. Still chanting singly, the mariners renew their efforts to win his attention. When they succeed in this, he bids them depart. They make as if to go. Then he calls them back again and begs for means of self-destruction. The commos ends on the re-appearance of Neoptolemus followed by Odysseus. It is evident that the second part of it especially must have been accompanied with various gestures and movements to and fro in the orchestra. The 'melodramatic' character of this portion of the Philoctetes (ll. 730-1217) may be compared with the opening of the Oedipus Coloneus. The metrical scheme (in which again there are several doubtful points) is as follows :- α'.
(1.)
_ _ _ _ _UU_
__UU_U_ _
_ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _
_UU_UU_UU_UU_
(?)_U_U_U_
(2.)
_UU_UU_UU_U_ _
¹²
_ Iambic.
_UU_U_ Glyconic.
Glyconic _UU_U_
Dactylic { _UU_UU_
Iambic _U_U_ _ _
β'.
(1.)
_ _ _ _
__UU_U_ _
__UU_U_ _
_UU_UU_U_
_ _
10 _UU_UU_
(2) _U_U_ _
_U_UU_U_UU__
_U__UU_U_U_U_UU_
15 _UU_U_U_UU_UU_UU_U__³
(2.)
__UU_U_U__
_ _ _ _ _UU_
_ _ _ _ _UU_
_U_UU__
U_ _U_UU_U_U__
⁴⁵⁶

For the substitution of − ᴗ – for ᴗ ᴗ in Ionic verse, which is allowed by some writers on metre, see Christ's Metrik, § 521.

ἐπ. (ἀπολελυμένα).
(1.)
_U_U_
_ _U_U_U_U_U_U_U_
_U_U_U_
_ _ _ _
_U_UU__UU__UU__
_ _
_ _UU_UUUUUU⁷
_U_U_ _U_U_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _UU_U_
__UU_U_U_
20 U_U_U_
U_UU_UU_
_U_U_U_U_U_U_U_U_
_UU_U_
(2.)
_UU_UU_U_
_ _ _U_UU__
_ _ _ _ _U__
_UU_U_U_UUUUU__
_ _ _
30 U_U_U_U_
_UU_U_
_ _U_U_U_U_
_U_U__U_U_
35 U_U_U_

If the irregularities of the above scheme are compared with those noticed in the note on O. C. 117-254, in vol. 1. p. 298, it will be found that they cannot be adequately accounted for by supposing extensive corruptions of the text. For (a) they are similar in kind to those in O. C., (b) they do not as a rule in either case violate the general laws of metre. While admitting some corruptions, it is reasonable also to suppose that in these later plays of Sophocles the severity of rhythm is relaxed in the lyric dialogue as well as in the senarii. This may be partly accounted for by the 'melodramatic' element encroaching on tragedy, and partly by contemporary innovations in the art of music.

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-2 In antistrophe _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-3 2 Or, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Cp. β' (2), ll. 2, 3.

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-4 3

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-5 In antistrophe U_ _ _

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-6 2 In antistrophe U_UU_U__

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-7 3 In antistrophe _ _UU_U_UU_UU_U_U_

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-8 10

1199. mvp-comment-803-1 * βροντᾶς αὐγαῖς] This reading is not certain. * βροντᾶς is confirmed by the absurd note of the Scholiast, γρ. καὶ αὐγαῖς, ταῖς βροντῶν αὐγαῖς, ταῖς κεραννίαις. ἔστι μέντοι λαβεῖν καὶ βροντᾶς, ἀντὶ τοῦ, βροντήσας. But βρονταῖς αὐταῖς is not impossible. For the plur. ср. O. C. 1514.

1201. mvp-comment-804-1 ὅσοι.. ἀπῶσαι] 'Who found it in their hearts to reject this foot of mine;' i.e. 'To make an outcast of one so afflicted as I am.' ποδὸς ἄρθρον] For the periphrasis, cp. supr. 748, εἰς ἄκρον πόδα. The pleonasm of expression implies a sort of pity or fondness of Philoctetes for himself. Cp. supr. 786, 1188, 'This foot of mine.'

1202. mvp-comment-805-1 ὀρέξατε] 'Extend.' A suppliant expression. Cp. Od. 15. 312, Πλάγξομαι, αἴ κέν τις κοτύλην καὶ πύρνον ὀρέξῃ.

1204-1205. mvp-comment-806-1 ξίφος, εἴ ποθεν, ἢ .. προπέμψατε] 'Provide me with sword, or axe, or missile weapon, if there be such anywhere.' εἴ ποθεν is put elliptically for εἴ ποθεν δύνασθε. Cp. esp. Aj. 886, εἴ ποθι.. λεύσσων, and note. For πέμπω in this sense, cp. supr. 1162, infr. 1266. Another possible reading of this place is to delete the comma after ξίφος, and read προπέμψετε.

1206. mvp-comment-807-1 ὡς .. ποτέ] 'That you may put in execution what device?' For ῥέξῃς παλάμαν, cp. supr. 87, τούσδε (sc. λόγους) καὶ πράσσειν στυγῶ.

1207. mvp-comment-808-1 κρᾶτ᾽.. χερί] i.e. (ὡς) ἀποτέμω κρᾶτα καὶ πάντα ἄρθρα χερί. The ὕστερον πρότερον here (see E. on L. § 41. p. 78. ) has a somewhat singular effect to a modern ear. Cp. Αj. 238, κεφαλὴν καὶ γλῶσσαν ἄκραν | ῥιπτεῖ θερίσας.

1211. mvp-comment-809-1 ποῖ,.. ἐς ῞Αιδου] ματεύων implies 'going to seek.' Hence ποî and ἐς.

1212. mvp-comment-810-1 Cp. supr. 493 foll.

1215-1216. mvp-comment-811-1 σὰν .. ἱερὰν λιβάδ] The waters of Trachis had a peculiar sanctity. Cp. supr. 725,6, Μηλιάδων νυμφᾶν | Σπερχειού τε παρ' ὄχθαις.

1217. mvp-comment-812-1 ἔτ᾿ οὐδέν εἰμι] For the order of words, cp. Trach. 161, ὡς ἔτ᾽ οὐκ ὤν, and see E. on L. § 41. p. 78, γ. The Chorus have made but little way with Philoctetes, when Neoptolemus reappears. No sooner has he come in sight of the vessel than his repentance becomes complete, and he desires only to restore the bow.

1218-1219. mvp-comment-813-1 ἐγὼ .. ἐμῆς] 'Long since you would have seen me' ( σοι, Essay on L. § 13. p. 19 ) 'moving off to rejoin my vessel, had we not descried the advance this way of Odysseus and Achilles' son approaching us.' For στείχοντα with στείχων, supr., see Essay on L. § 44. p. 84. For ὁμοῦ after the verb of motion, cp. supr. 256, μηδαμοῦ, and note.

1221. mvp-comment-814-1 δεῦρ᾿ ἰόντ'] Viz. ἰόντα. There is a slight difference between πέλας στείχοντα and δεῦρ᾿ ἰόντα. Odysseus is seen moving not far off, within hearing. Neoptolemus is manifestly directing his steps towards Philoctetes. On being told of their approach, Philoctetes withdraws into his cave.

1222. mvp-comment-815-1 οὐκ ἂν φράσειας is slightly less peremptory than οὐ φράσεις. ‘Do you not mean to tell me?'

1223. mvp-comment-816-1 ὧδε .. ταχύς] 'With such eager haste.' The youth has outstripped Odysseus.

1225. mvp-comment-817-1 δεινόν γε φωνεῖς] 'That sounds alarmingly indeed!' Cp. O. С. 860, 1, ΚΡ. τόνδ᾽ ἀπάξομαι λαβών. ΧΟ. δεινὸν λέγεις.

1227. mvp-comment-818-1 ὧν οὐ σοι πρέπον] i.e. τῶν ἅπερ οὔ σοι πρέπον ἐστὶ πρᾶξαι.

1228. mvp-comment-819-1 ἑλών] Sc. ἐξήμαρτον.

1230. mvp-comment-820-1 νέον μὲν οὐδέν] Cp. supr. 966, οὐ νῦν πρῶτον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάλαι.

1233. mvp-comment-821-1 οὐ τί που] Cp. supr. 900: Trach. 668 οὐ δή τι, and note.

1238. mvp-comment-822-1 δίς.. ἔπη] 'Would you have me go over and over the same ground in speaking?' ἀναπολεῖν, literally = 'novare agros.' Cp. Pind. Nem. 7. 104, ταὐτὰ δὲ τρὶς τετράκι τ᾽ ἀμπολεῖν ἀπορία τελέθει.

1239. mvp-comment-823-1 ἀρχήν] 'At all.' Cp. Ant. 92, El. 439, and note.

1240. mvp-comment-824-1 Here the Laurentian and Triclinian MSS. agree in reading ἀκηκοώς, while the rest give ἀκήκοας, with Par. A. The difference of meaning is slight, but the reading of L. is at once smoother and more forcible.

1242. mvp-comment-825-1 οὑπικωλύσων] Post futurum ἔσται satis erat οὑπικωλύων dicere, sed praetulit οὑπικωλύσων, ut argute responderet precedenti κωλύσει.' Dindorf. For the variation of simple and compound, ср. O. T. 566, 7, ἔσχετε; | παρέσχομεν. ἐπικωλύειν is, “To interfere to prevent.'

1243. mvp-comment-826-1 ἐν δὲ τοῖς is read in a recent MS. (Lc. of Dindorf: Laur. 31. 1).

1244. mvp-comment-827-1 'Though you are wise, there is no wisdom in what you have now said.' For the force of the pronoun here, see Essay on L. § 22. p. 36.

1245. mvp-comment-828-1 σοφά] Although the change is not absolutely necessary, σοφά agrees best with the context, and the reading σοφόν here may be due to σοφόν in the preceding line. Cp. infr. 1266.

1246. mvp-comment-829-1 τάδε] τὰ δίκαια.

1247. mvp-comment-830-1 καὶ πῶς δίκαιον] Not only the opposition between justice and expediency, but also that between conflicting principles of justice, appears in the age of Sophocles and Thucydides. Odysseus claims obedience to his own commands and those of the army. Against this Neoptolemus sets up the higher claims of sincerity and faithfulness. Cp. El. 1037, τῷ σῷ δικαίῳ δῆτ᾽ ἐπισπέσθαι με δεῖ; ἅ γ᾽ ἔλαβες] On the metrical irregularities of which this division of the tribrach is an example, see above, note on l. 795.

1248. mvp-comment-831-1 ταῦτα] The antecedent is emphatically resumed. E. on L. § 40. p. 75.

1251. mvp-comment-832-1 τὸν.. φόβον] ‘I fear not the intimidation with which you threaten me.' The possessive pronoun of the second person has a sarcastic force. Cp. Eur. Heracl. 284, τὸ σὸν γὰρ ᾿Αργος οὐ δέδοικ᾽ ἐγώ. For φόβον, Hermann conjectures στρατόν, Fröhlich, ψόφον.

1252-1257. mvp-comment-833-1 In the text this line is given to Neoptolemus, and follows a threat of personal violence from Odysseus. Some editors would omit it altogether. χειρί is opposed to φόβον, supra. Either therefore (1) a line is dropped after 1251 ( cp. O. T. 624); and the sense runs as follows: 'Ne. I tremble not before your intimidation. (Od. But I will compel you on the spot.) Ne. Neither do I yield to your compulsion to do this. Od. Then you, and not the Trojans, will be our adversary. Ne. Let come what will. Od. You see my hand upon the hilt. Ne. Nor will mine linger long, as you will see. Od. And yet I will leave you.' Or (2) 1252, 3 may be inverted, and ἔστω τὸ μέλλον given to Odysseus, together with the following words. Or (3) inverting 1252, 3 as before, we may read as follows: ΟΔ. ἔστω τὸ μέλλον. ΝΕ. χεῖρα .. ἐπιψαύουσαν. ΟΔ. ἀλλὰ .. τιμωρήσεται. It is hardly worth while to suggest a fourth alternative, (4) to leave the lines as they stand, and to suppose l. 1252 in Odysseus' mouth to mean, 'But, on the other hand, I do not credit you with force enough to effect your object.' That (1) is right appears from this, that Odysseus is in this case the aggressor throughout, and Neoptolemus stands wholly on the defensive. Cp. infr. 1300-4. The Scholiast on l. 1252 explains ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ πεισθήσομαι, whence Bothe conjectures πείσομαι. For the unintentional tautology in τὸ μέλλον.. κοὐ μέλλοντ᾽ ἔτι, see Essay on L. § 44. p. 83.

1254. mvp-comment-834-1 ἔστω, Wecklein conjectures ἴτω.

1257. mvp-comment-835-1 καίτοι . . ἐάσω] For καίτοι after a pause. cp. Ant. 904, καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ἐτίμησα: Trach. 719, καίτοι δέδοκται, κ.τ.λ. Odysseus is pursuing his own thoughts without appearing to notice the words of Neoptolemus. Odysseus exit, but is supposed still to lurk somewhere within hearing.

1263-1265. mvp-comment-836-1 The tone of these lines is that of one utterly broken by misery, and desirous only to be left alone. Cp. Αj. 787, 8, τί μ᾽ αὖ τάλαιναν, ἀρτίως πεπαυμένην | κακῶν ἀτρύτων, ἐξ ἕδρας ἀνίστατε;

1263. mvp-comment-837-1 τίς. βοῆς] 'What loud disturbance is again taking place before my cave?' For ἵσταται, ср. O. C. 1478, μαλ᾽ αὖθις ἀμφίσταται διαπρύσιος ὅτοβος: Aesch. Cho. 885, τίνα βοὴν ἵστης δόμοις; Eur. Iph. T. 1307, τις ἀμφὶ δῶμα θεᾶς τόδ᾽ ἴστησιν βοήν ;

1264. mvp-comment-838-1 ἐκκαλεῖσθε] Cp. Hdt. 8.79 (of Aristeides), στὰς ἐπὶ τὸ συνέδριον, ἐξεκαλέετο Θεμιστοκλέα.

1265. mvp-comment-839-1 ὤμοι... χρήμα] 'Ah! mischief is afoot.' Philoctetes, who had at first only heard the sound of his own name, now starts on seeing Neoptolemus approaching him with the bow. He at once concludes that some harm is intended him. μέγα] 'It is certain that some evil is meant, where Neoptolemus is employed. 'Is it a mighty evil?' this is all Philoctetes asks. 'Mala res, qua opus sit vobis. Dicit autem haec verba conspecto Neoptolemo. Nam quae precedent, nondum viso dicuntur. Hinc non interrogat, quod aliter expectari poterat, μῶν τί μοι νέον, sed μῶν τί μοι μέγα κακὸν πέμποντες πάρεστε.' Herm. The echo of κεχρημένοι in χρήμα is probably unintentional.

1266. mvp-comment-840-1 πέμποντες] 'Bringing.' Cp. supr. 19, 1161. Neoptolemus is followed by two of the crew. Philoctetes sees in them the emissaries of Odysseus.

1268. mvp-comment-841-1 δέδοικ᾽ ἔγωγε] 'I fear you, I.' Said in reply to θάρσει supra.

1268-1269. mvp-comment-842-1 ἐκ λόγων .. λόγοις] ‘I found harsh fortune following on fair speeches, through yielding to your words.' ἐκ λόγων. λόγοις] For this tautology, see Essay on L. § 44. p. 83.

1270. mvp-comment-843-1 οὔκουν.. πάλιν] 'Is there not a possibility of changing one's mind again?'

1272. mvp-comment-844-1 πιστός] 'Seemingly trustworthy.' τοῖς λόγοισι is to be resumed, and to this λάθρα is opposed.

1273. mvp-comment-845-1 ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τι μὴν νῦν. μήν, calling attention to a new fact, is exactly in point here. Cp. El. 817, ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τι μὴν ἔγωγε τοῦ λοίπου χρόνου ξύνοικος ἔσειμ'. Some MSS. have οὔ τι μή: cp. O. T. 870.

1275. mvp-comment-846-1 παῦε] This differs from παῦσαι, as in English, 'Stop that!' differs from 'Stop!' The two words are apt to be confused through itacism ( παῦε, παῦαι, παῦσαι).

1276. mvp-comment-847-1 πέρα] Sc. δεδόχθαι.

1279-1280. mvp-comment-848-1 εἰ δὲ μὴ.. πέπαυμαι] 'But, as my words are unacceptable, I have done.' For εἰ.. μή τι = εἴ τι μή, cp. El. 31, εἰ μή τι καιροῦ τυγχάνω, μεθάρμοσον. πρὸς καιρὸν λέγειν is, 'To speak to the point,' (1) really, (2) in the estimation of the person addressed, as here. Cp. πρὸς τρόπου, e.g. Plat. Rep. 5. 470 C.

1280. mvp-comment-849-1 γάρ] 'And rightly, for-.'

1281. mvp-comment-850-1 οὐ γὰρ. φρένα] 'For you will never win my heart to feel kindly towards you.' For examples of the repetition of γάρ, see Ellendt. Lex. Soph. s. v. γάρ, 7, d. and cp. 1158, 9. For κτήσει, Wakefield proposed θήσει (for which, cp. supr. 532), but for uses of κτᾶσθαι, cp. Aj. 1360, κτᾶσθαι φίλους: El. 1303, τὰς ἡδόνας ἐκτησάμην : Trach. 191, κτῴμην χάριν : ib. 470: infr. 1370, ἐξ ἐμοῦ κτήσει χάριν. The word expresses Philoctetes' sense of the value of his own friendship. Cp. supr. 478, and note.

1282-1283. mvp-comment-851-1 τὸν βίον .. ἀπεστέρηκας] Cp. supr. 931.

1283-1284. mvp-comment-852-1 νουθετεῖς ἐμὲ | ἐλθών] ‘You come and give me advice.' That he should come at all, after what he has done, is an offence. ἔχθιστος] αἴσχιστος, the conjecture of Pierson, has been accepted by recent editors. It certainly makes the antithesis more exact, and ἔχθιστος and αἴσχιστος are confounded in MSS. of Aj. 658, and elsewhere. But for inexact antithesis, see Essay on L. § 41. p. 78, €, and for ἐχθρός simply expressing abhorrence, cp. supr. 928, τέχνημ᾽ ἔχθιστον, and many other places in Sophocles. Translate, 'Most abhorred son of a father whom I most admired.' Cp. supr. 242, ὦ φιλτάτου παῖ πατρός.

1288. mvp-comment-853-1 ἆρα] οὐκ (see v. rr.) has probably crept into the MSS. from an interlinear gloss.

1289. mvp-comment-854-1 ἀπώμοσ᾽] For the aorist, see E. on L. § 32. p. 55, 6 , and cp. Aj. 536. ἁγνοῦ . . σέβας] 'The highest worship of holy Zeus.' ὕψιστον is rightly the attribute of σέβας, as that which is sworn by. Some conjecture ἁγνὸν ὑψίστου.

1291. mvp-comment-855-1 τοὔργον . . φανερόν] ‘The deed shall be openly made good.' τοὔργον = 'the reality corresponding to the word'. παρέσται, 'Shall be given.' Cp. O. C. 726, θάρσει, παρέσται. φανερόν, 'Beyond the possibility of doubt.'

1292. mvp-comment-856-1 κράτει] 'Be master of.' Cp. Aj. 1337, ἐξ οὗ κράτησα τῶν ᾿Αχιλλείων ὅπλων.

1293-1294. mvp-comment-857-1 Odysseus reappears from his concealment at the critical moment, to protest with all his might against what is being done. But when Philoctetes has taken the bow, and points an arrow at him, he is compelled to retire. ὑπέρ τ'] Cp. O. C. 33, 4, ὑπέρ τ᾿ ἐμοῦ | αὐτῆς θ' ὁρώσης.

1295. mvp-comment-858-1 τέκνον] This address marks the perfect restoration of confidence. Cp. supr. 923, 4, ὦ ξένε, and note.

1295. mvp-comment-858-2 τίνος . . ἐπῃσθόμην] Some editors connect φώνημα with ἐπῃσθόμην, but it seems more natural to take τίνος φώνημά (ἐστιν) as a separate sentence, although φώνημα may be resumed after ἐπῃσθόμην. ἐπῃσθόμην is omitted in Par. B, which in so far favours Nauck's conjecture, ΦΙ. τέκνον, τίνος φώνημα; μῶν Ὀδυσσέως; ΟΔ Ὀδυσσέως, σάφ' ἴσθι, καὶ πέλας γ᾽ ὁρᾷς.

1299. mvp-comment-859-1 ὀρθωθῇ] 'Carry to its aim' = ὀρθῶς ἠνεχθῇ. Neoptolemus here lays his hand firmly on Philoctetes' arm.

1301-1302. mvp-comment-860-1 For the construction, cp. Eur. Tro. 1146, ἀφείλετ᾿ αὐτὴν παῖδα μὴ δοῦναι τάφῳ.

1303. mvp-comment-861-1 τόξοις ἐμοῖς] Philoctetes' pride returns to him with his weapon.

1304. mvp-comment-862-1 The order seems more in favour of Wakefield's correction than of the mere substitution of τόδε for τοῦτο, with Brunck and Seyffert, though this is also possible, viz. ἀλλ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἐμοὶ καλὸν * τόδ' ἐστίν, οὔτε σοί. - Philoctetes has at least the triumph of seeing the retreat of Odysseus.

1305. mvp-comment-863-1 ἀλλ᾽ οὖν] 'However this may be;' whether the deed were honourable or no. τοὺς πρώτους στρατοῦ] 'The prime men of the host.'

1306. mvp-comment-864-1 τοὺς . . ψευδοκήρυκας] 'The false intelligencers of the Achaeans.' Sc. τοὺς διὰ ψευδῶν κηρύσσοντας τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ᾿Αχαιῶν. Philoctetes sees through the whole stratagem, and perceives that not only the employment of Neoptolemus, but the news of the pretended ῎Εμπορος, were the invention of Odysseus.

1307. mvp-comment-865-1 ἐν δὲ .. θρασεῖς] See Essay on L. § 19. p. 27.

1308. mvp-comment-866-1 κοὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου .. ἐμέ] 'And there is no place for anger or discontent on your part towards me.' Turnebus, by a slight change, read ὅτου, and this has been generally adopted. For the use of ὅπου, however, cp. Aj. 1103, οὐδ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου σοὶ τόνδε κοσμῆσαι πλέον | ἀρχῆς ἔκειτο θεσμὸς ἢ καὶ τῷδε σέ.

1311. mvp-comment-867-1 οὐχὶ Σισύφου πατρός] Sc. βλαστών. Cp. supr. 417.

1313. mvp-comment-868-1 ἄριστα] Sc. τῶν ζώντων.

1314-1315. mvp-comment-869-1 ἥσθην.. αὐτόν τέ μ΄] 'Your praises of my father and of myself too give me a thrill of joy.' For this accusative, see E. on L. § 16. p. 23. For the aorist, see ib. § 32. p. 55. In order to avoid the double trisyllabic foot some editors prefer τὸν ἀμόν, the reading of T, for which they compare several places of the Electra. But Electra and Orestes are speaking of Agamemnon as the father of them both. Neoptolemus stands alone as the son of Achilles. And, with αὐτόν τέ μ' immediately following, the plural word is scarcely justifiable. Nauck conjectures ἥσθην γε πατέρα.

1315. mvp-comment-870-1 Whether με or ἐμέ is preferable here is a point that can hardly be determined. ὧν δέ σου τυχεῖν ἐφιέμαι] In returning to the dangerous theme, Neoptolemus tries to avoid offence ( cp. supr. 1283, εἶτα νουθετεῖς ἐμέ) by putting his exhortation in the form of a request.

1318. mvp-comment-871-1 ἑκουσίοισιν] Cp. Eur. Suppl. 151, σοφήν γ᾽ ἔλεξας τήνδ᾽ ἑκούσιον φυγήν.

1319-1320. mvp-comment-872-1 This strain of reflection about the voluntary and involuntary reminds us that we are in the age of Socrates.

1321. mvp-comment-873-1 ἠγρίωσαι] 'Art become intractable.' Cp. the use of ἀγριαίνω in Plat. Rep. 6. 493 B, 501 E, Theaet. 151 C.

1322. mvp-comment-874-1 Schndw. has observed that the reading of L points to a v. r. εὔνοιαν λέγων. Cp. O. C. 390.

1324. mvp-comment-875-1 Ζῆνα.. καλῶ] ὄρκιον is either (1) attributive, 'And I invoke Zeus, who makes oaths binding.' Cp. Plat. Rep. 5. 451 A, προσκυνῶ δὲ ᾿Αδράστειαν, ὦ Γλαύκων, χάριν οὗ μέλλω λέγειν: Eur. Hipp. 1025, ὅρκιόν σοι Ζῆνα.. ὄμνυμι. Or (2) 'I call on Zeus to witness my solemn word.' The former (1) is probably right.

1325. mvp-comment-876-1 γράφου] The middle voice ( Essay on L. § 31. p. 53 ) is used as in Aesch. Prom. 789, ἣν ἐγγράφου σὺ μνήμοσιν δέλτοις φρενῶν.

1326. mvp-comment-877-1 νοσεῖς τόδ' ἄλγος] Cogn. acc. i. e. ἔχεις τήνδε ἀλγεινὴν νόσον.

1327. mvp-comment-878-1 πελασθείς] 'In consequence of having come near.' The participle is parallel to ἐκ θείας τύχης, which it helps to explain. Cp. the epexegetic use of λοχευθείς in O. C. 1322.

1327-1328. mvp-comment-879-1 The serpent guarded the shrine of the nymph Chrysa, who is sometimes identified with Athena. Cp. the sacred serpent of Athena Polias in the Erectheum.

1329. mvp-comment-880-1 ἐντυχεῖν] For this Auratus and Elmsley substituted ἂν τυχών, and Porson, followed by recent editors, conj. ἂν τυχεῖν. But for the aor. infin. in prophecy, cp. Aesch. Prom. 667, κεἰ μὴ θέλοι, πυρωπὸν ἐκ Διὸς μολεῖν | κεραυνόν. παῦλαν is best taken as the subject of ἐντυχεῖν, sc. σοί.

1330. mvp-comment-881-1 ὡς ἄν] 'Whilst.' Not for ἕως ἄν, but an instance of the temporal use of as being accompanied by ἄν. See Essay on L. § 28, 4. P 47.

1331. mvp-comment-882-1 ταύτῃ μὲν τῇδε δ'] He points first to the right and then to the left of the λογεῖον.

1333. mvp-comment-883-1 τῶν . . ᾿Ασκληπιδών] The genitive does not depend primarily on ἐντυχών, but is causal with μαλαχθῆς. See L. and S. s. v. ἐντυγχάνω. ' And by the sons of Asclepius in our camp. having there met with them, you shall be soothed from the pain of this disease.' For the resumption of παῦλαν in μαλαχθῇς, cp. Aj. 106-10, θανεῖν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὐ τί πω θέλω.. πρὶν ἂν .. θάνῃ. In infr. 1437, Heracles further reveals what is still unknown to Neoptolemus, that Asclepius will himself come to heal Philoctetes. μαλαχθῇς does not guarantee a complete cure, perhaps because the common story (as in Pindar) represented Philoctetes as still lame. Blaydes conjectures μεταστῆς τῆσδε But such harsh assonance is improbable here.

1335. mvp-comment-884-1 ξύν is used in two slightly different senses ( cp. Shak. Jul. C. 3. 1, 'As here by Caesar and by you cut off'). For ξύν of the instrument (literally, 'With the help of') cp. Aesch. Pers. 755, πλοῦτον ἐκτήσω ξὺν αἰχμῇ: Aj. 1245, ἢ σὺν δόλῳ κεντήσεθ' οἱ λελειμμένοι.

1336. mvp-comment-885-1 ὡς] 'How.'

1338. mvp-comment-886-1 ἀριστόμαντις] 'Prophet-prince.' On the compound, see E. on L. § 55. p. 101.

1339. mvp-comment-887-1 ὡς] 'That.'

1341-1342. mvp-comment-888-1 ἢ.. λέγων] 'Else, should this word of his be falsified, he willingly offers himself for death.' For the combination of ἤ with the hypothetical clause, cp. Plat. Rep. 6. 490 A, ἢ ἀλαζόνι ὄντι (i. e. ἐὰν ἀλάζων ᾗ) μηδαμῇ μετεῖναι φιλοσοφίας ἀληθινῆς. And for the mode of expression, cp. supr. 618, 9.

1343. mvp-comment-889-1 Philoctetes had heard some of this before (l. 604 foll.), but in a narrative which he had learned to disbelieve (l. 1306). Now he knows it on the authority of one who has given a pledge of his good faith. συγχώρει] · 'Agree.' Cp. Hdt. 3. 83, ὡς συνεχώρεον οἱ ἐξ ἐπὶ τούτοισι.

1344. mvp-comment-890-1 καλὴ γὰρ ἡ ᾿πίκτησις] «For it is a noble prospect of gain.' The compound word with ἐπι- corresponds to the cumulative statement, 'Not only to be healed but to take Troy moreover and to win this great renown.' ἕνα] 'Above all others.' Cp. Aj. 1340, ἕν᾽ ἄνδρ᾿ ἰδεῖν ἄριστον, and note.

1348. mvp-comment-891-1 ὦ στυγνός αἰών] 'Ο hateful light of day!' As 'the life,' αἰών, in Homer is said to leave the man, e. g. Il. 5. 685, ἔπειτά με καὶ λίποι αἰών, so here it is said to refuse to let him go.

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ΝΕ. λύσων ὅσ᾽ ἐξήμαρτον ἐν τῷ πρὶν χρόνῳ.

ΟΔ. δεινόν γε φωνεῖς· ἡ δ᾽ ἁμαρτία τίς ἦν;

ΝΕ. ἣν σοὶ πιθόμενος πειθόμενος τῷ τε σύμπαντι στρατῷ

ΟΔ. ἔπραξας ἔργον ποῖον ὧν οὐ σοι πρέπον; 1225

ΝΕ. ἀπάταισιν αἰσχραῖς ἄνδρα καὶ δόλοις ἑλών.

ΟΔ. τὸν ποῖον; ὤμοι· μῶν τι βουλεύει νέον ;

ΝΕ. νέον μὲν οὐδέν, τῷ δὲ Ποίαντος τόκῳ

ΟΔ. τί χρῆμα τί χρῆμα τί τί χρῆμα δράσεις; ὥς μ᾽ ὑπῆλθέ τις ὑπῆλθ᾽ ἔτι ὑπῆλθέ τις φόβος.

ΝΕ. παρ' οὗ περ ἔ παρέ.λαβον τάδε τὰ τόξ᾽, αὖθις πάλιν 1230

ΟΔ. ὦ Ζεῦ, τί λέξεις; οὔ τί που δοῦναι νοεῖς;

ΝΕ. αἰσχρῶς γὰρ αὐτὰ κοὐ δίκῃ λαβὼν ἔχω.

ΟΔ. πρὸς θεῶν, πότερα δὴ δὴ κερτομῶν λέγεις τάδε;

ΝΕ. εἰ κερτόμησίς ἐστι τἀληθῆ λέγειν.

ΟΔ. τί φής, ᾿Αχιλλέως ἀχιλλέω ἀχιλλέως παῖ; τίν εἴρηκας λόγον ; 1235

ΝΕ. δὶς ταὐτὰ βούλει καὶ τρὶς ἀναπολεῖν ἀναπολεῖ ἀναπολεῖν μ' ἔπη;

ΟΔ. ἀρχὴν κλύειν ἂν οὐδ᾽ ἅπαξ ἐβουλόμην.

ΝΕ. εὖ νῦν ἐπίστω πάντ᾽ ἀκηκοὼς ἀκήκοας λόγον.

ΟΔ. ἔστιν τις, ἔστιν, ὅς σε κωλύσει τὸ δρᾶν.

ΝΕ. τί φής; τίς ἔσται μ' οὑπικωλύσων τάδε; 1240

ΟΔ. ξύμπας ᾿Αχαιῶν λαός, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΝΕ. σοφὸς πεφυκὼς οὐδὲν ἐξαυδᾷς σοφόν.

ΟΔ. σὺ δ᾽ οὔτε φωνεῖς οὔτε δρασείεις δρασειας ? δρασείεις δρασείης σοφά σοφόν.

ΝΕ. ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δίκαια, τῶν σοφῶν κρείσσω κρείσω κρείσσω τάδε.

ΟΔ. καὶ πῶς δίκαιον, ἅ γ᾽ ἔλαβες βουλαῖς ἐμαῖς, 1245 πάλιν μεθεῖναι μεθεῖ.. ναι μεθεῖναι ταῦτα;

NE. τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αἰσχρὰν ἁμαρτὼν ἀναλαβεῖν πειράσομαι.

ΟΔ. στρατὸν δ᾽ ᾿Αχαιῶν οὐ φοβεῖ, πράσσων τάδε;

ΝΕ. ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ τὸν σὸν οὐ ταρβῶ φόβον. 1250

ΝΕ. ἀλλ᾽ οὐδέ τοι σῇ χειρὶ πείθομαι τὸ δρᾶν.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΟΔ. οὔ τἄρα Τρωσίν, ἀλλὰ σοὶ μαχούμεθα.

ΝΕ. ἔστω τὸ μέλλον.

ΟΔ. χεῖρα δεξιὰν ὁρᾷς κώπης ἐπιψαύουσαν ;

NE. ἀλλὰ κἀμέ καὶ ἐμέ τοι ταὐτὸν τόδ᾽ ὄψει δρῶντα κοὐ μέλλοντ᾽ ἔτι. 1255

ΟΔ.

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐάσω· τῷ δὲ σύμπαντι στρατῷ λέξω τάδ᾽ ἐλθών, ὅς σε τιμωρήσεται.

ΦΙ. τίς αὖ παρ᾽ ἄντροις θόρυβος ἵσταται βοῆς ; τί μ᾽ ἐκκαλεῖσθε; τοῦ κεχρημένοι κεχρημένον, ξένοι; ὤμοι· κακὸν τὸ χρῆμα. μῶν τί μοι μέγα

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΦΙ. πάρεστε πρὸς κακοῖσι πέμποντες κακόν κακὰ κακόν? 1265

ΝΕ. θάρσει· λόγους δ᾽ ἄκουσον οὓς ἥκω φέρων.

ΦΙ. δέδοικ᾽ ἔγωγε. καὶ τὰ πρὶν γὰρ ἐκ λόγων καλῶν κακῶς ἔπραξα, σοῖς πεισθεὶς λόγοις.

ΝΕ. οὔκουν οὐκοῦν οὔκουν ἔνεστι καὶ μεταγνῶναι πάλιν παλιν?

ΦΙ. τοιοῦτος ἦσθα οἶσθα τοῖς λόγοισι χώτε μου 1270 τὰ τόξ᾽ ἔκλεπτες, πιστός, ἀτηρὸς λάθρα.

ΝΕ. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τι μὴν μὴ νῦν· βούλομαι δέ σου κλύειν, πότερα δέδοκταί σοι μένοντι καρτερεῖν, ἢ πλεῖν μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν.

ΦΙ. παῦε παῦσαι παθε, μὴ λέξης πέρα. μάτην γὰρ ἂν ἂν ἂν εἴπῃς γε πάντ᾽ εἰρήσεται. 1275

ΝΕ. οὕτω δέδοκται ;

ΦΙ. καὶ πέρα πέραι γ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ἢ λέγω.

ΝΕ. ἀλλ᾽ ἤθελον μὲν ἄν σε πεισθῆναι λόγοις ἐμοῖσιν· εἰ δὲ μή τι πρὸς καιρὸν λέγων κυρῶ, πέπαυμαι.

ΦΙ. πάντα γὰρ φράσεις μάτην. οὐ γάρ ποτ' εὔνουν τὴν ἐμὴν κτήσει φρένα, 1280

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

NE. μὴ 'πεύξῃ πέρα· δέχου δὲ χειρὸς ἐξ ἐμῆς ἐμοῦ βέλη τάδε.

ΦΙ.

πῶς εἶπας; ἆρα οὐκ ἆρα οὐκ ἄρα δεύτερον δολούμεθα δουλούμεθα δολούμεθα ;

ΝΕ, ἀπώμοσ᾽ ἁγνοῦ Ζηνὸς ὕψιστον σέβας σέβας.

ΦΙ. ὦ φίλτατ᾽ εἰπών, εἰ λέγεις ἐτήτυμα.

ΝΕ. τοὔργον παρέσται φανερόν. ἀλλὰ δεξιὰν 1290 πρότεινε .. τεινε προύτεινε πρότεινε χεῖρα, καὶ κράτει τῶν σῶν ὅπλων.

ΟΔ. ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἀπαυδῶ γ᾽, ὡς θεοὶ ξυνίστορες, ὑπέρ τ᾽ ᾿Ατρειδῶν τοῦ τε σύμπαντος στρατοῦ.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΦΙ. τέκνον, τίνος φώνημα; μῶν ᾿Οδυσσέως ἐπῃσθόμην ; 1295

ΟΔ. σάφ᾽ ἴσθι· καὶ πέλας γ᾽ ὁρᾷς, ὅς σ᾽ ἐς τὰ Τροίας πεδί᾽ πεδί πεδί᾽ ἀποστελῶ βίᾳ, ἐάν τ᾿ ᾿Αχιλλέως παῖς ἐάν τε μὴ θέλῃ.

ΦΙ. ἀλλ᾽ οὔ τι χαίρων, ἣν τόδ᾽ ὀρθωθῇ βέλος.

ΝΕ. ἆ da dã â â, μηδαμῶς μη δαμῶς, μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, μεθῇς βέλος.

ΦΙ. μέθες με, πρὸς θεῶν, χεῖρα, φίλτατον τέκνον. 1300

ΝΕ. οὐκ ἂν μεθείην μεθείμην.

Ф1. φεῦ· τί μ᾽ τίν' τί μ' ἄνδρα πολέμιον ἐχθρόν τ᾽ ἀφείλου μὴ κτανεῖν τόξοις ἐμοῖς;

ΝΕ. ἀλλ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἐμοὶ τοῦτ᾽ ἐστὶν οὔτε σοὶ καλόν καλόν οὔτε σοί.

ΦΙ. ἀλλ᾽ οὖν τοσοῦτόν γ᾽ ἴσθι, τοὺς πρώτους στρατοῦ, τοὺς τῶν ᾿Αχαιῶν ψευδοκήρυκας, κακοὺς 1305 ὄντας πρὸς αἰχμήν, ἐν δὲ τοῖς λόγοις θρασεῖς.

ΝΕ. εἶεν. τὰ μὴν δὴ δὴ τόξ᾽ ἔχεις, κοὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΝΕ.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙ.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΟΔ.

οὐκ ἂν οὐκ ἂν φράσειας ἥντιν᾽ αὖ παλίντροπος
1220

κέλευθον ἕρπεις ὧδε σὺν σπουδῇ συμπουδῆι συνσπουδῆι σὺν σπουδῇ ταχύς;

ΝΕ.

λύσων ὅσ᾽ ἐξήμαρτον ἐν τῷ πρὶν χρόνῳ.

ΟΔ.

δεινόν γε φωνεῖς· ἡ δ᾽ ἁμαρτία τίς ἦν;

ΝΕ.

ἣν σοὶ πιθόμενος πειθόμενος τῷ τε σύμπαντι στρατῷ

ΟΔ.

ἔπραξας ἔργον ποῖον ὧν οὐ σοι πρέπον;
1225

ΝΕ.

ἀπάταισιν αἰσχραῖς ἄνδρα καὶ δόλοις ἑλών.

ΟΔ.

τὸν ποῖον; ὤμοι· μῶν τι βουλεύει νέον ;

ΝΕ.

νέον μὲν οὐδέν, τῷ δὲ Ποίαντος τόκῳ

ΟΔ.

τί χρῆμα τί χρῆμα τί τί χρῆμα δράσεις; ὥς μ᾽ ὑπῆλθέ τις ὑπῆλθ᾽ ἔτι ὑπῆλθέ τις φόβος.

ΝΕ.

παρ' οὗ περ ἔ παρέ.λαβον τάδε τὰ τόξ᾽, αὖθις πάλιν
1230

ΟΔ.

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί λέξεις; οὔ τί που δοῦναι νοεῖς;

ΝΕ.

αἰσχρῶς γὰρ αὐτὰ κοὐ δίκῃ λαβὼν ἔχω.

ΟΔ.

πρὸς θεῶν, πότερα δὴ δὴ κερτομῶν λέγεις τάδε;

ΝΕ.

εἰ κερτόμησίς ἐστι τἀληθῆ λέγειν.

ΟΔ.

τί φής, ᾿Αχιλλέως ἀχιλλέω ἀχιλλέως παῖ; τίν εἴρηκας λόγον ;
1235

ΝΕ.

δὶς ταὐτὰ βούλει καὶ τρὶς ἀναπολεῖν ἀναπολεῖ ἀναπολεῖν μ' ἔπη;

ΟΔ.

ἀρχὴν κλύειν ἂν οὐδ᾽ ἅπαξ ἐβουλόμην.

ΝΕ.

εὖ νῦν ἐπίστω πάντ᾽ ἀκηκοὼς ἀκήκοας λόγον.

ΟΔ.

ἔστιν τις, ἔστιν, ὅς σε κωλύσει τὸ δρᾶν.

ΝΕ.

τί φής; τίς ἔσται μ' οὑπικωλύσων τάδε;
1240

ΟΔ.

ξύμπας ᾿Αχαιῶν λαός, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΝΕ.

σοφὸς πεφυκὼς οὐδὲν ἐξαυδᾷς σοφόν.

ΟΔ.

σὺ δ᾽ οὔτε φωνεῖς οὔτε δρασείεις δρασειας ? δρασείεις δρασείης σοφά σοφόν.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δίκαια, τῶν σοφῶν κρείσσω κρείσω κρείσσω τάδε.

ΟΔ.

καὶ πῶς δίκαιον, ἅ γ᾽ ἔλαβες βουλαῖς ἐμαῖς,
1245

πάλιν μεθεῖναι μεθεῖ.. ναι μεθεῖναι ταῦτα;

NE.

τὴν ἁμαρτίαν

αἰσχρὰν ἁμαρτὼν ἀναλαβεῖν πειράσομαι.

ΟΔ.

στρατὸν δ᾽ ᾿Αχαιῶν οὐ φοβεῖ, πράσσων τάδε;

ΝΕ.

ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ τὸν σὸν οὐ ταρβῶ φόβον.
1250

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδέ τοι σῇ χειρὶ πείθομαι τὸ δρᾶν.

ΟΔ.

οὔ τἄρα Τρωσίν, ἀλλὰ σοὶ μαχούμεθα.

ΝΕ.

ἔστω τὸ μέλλον.

ΟΔ.

χεῖρα δεξιὰν ὁρᾷς

κώπης ἐπιψαύουσαν ;

NE.

ἀλλὰ κἀμέ καὶ ἐμέ τοι

ταὐτὸν τόδ᾽ ὄψει δρῶντα κοὐ μέλλοντ᾽ ἔτι.
1255

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐάσω· τῷ δὲ σύμπαντι στρατῷ

λέξω τάδ᾽ ἐλθών, ὅς σε τιμωρήσεται.

ΦΙ.

τίς αὖ παρ᾽ ἄντροις θόρυβος ἵσταται βοῆς ;

τί μ᾽ ἐκκαλεῖσθε; τοῦ κεχρημένοι κεχρημένον, ξένοι;

ὤμοι· κακὸν τὸ χρῆμα. μῶν τί μοι μέγα

ΦΙ.

πάρεστε πρὸς κακοῖσι πέμποντες κακόν κακὰ κακόν?
1265

ΝΕ.

θάρσει· λόγους δ᾽ ἄκουσον οὓς ἥκω φέρων.

ΦΙ.

δέδοικ᾽ ἔγωγε. καὶ τὰ πρὶν γὰρ ἐκ λόγων

καλῶν κακῶς ἔπραξα, σοῖς πεισθεὶς λόγοις.

ΝΕ.

οὔκουν οὐκοῦν οὔκουν ἔνεστι καὶ μεταγνῶναι πάλιν παλιν?

ΦΙ.

τοιοῦτος ἦσθα οἶσθα τοῖς λόγοισι χώτε μου
1270

τὰ τόξ᾽ ἔκλεπτες, πιστός, ἀτηρὸς λάθρα.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τι μὴν μὴ νῦν· βούλομαι δέ σου κλύειν,

πότερα δέδοκταί σοι μένοντι καρτερεῖν,

ἢ πλεῖν μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν.

ΦΙ.

παῦε παῦσαι παθε, μὴ λέξης πέρα.

μάτην γὰρ ἂν ἂν ἂν εἴπῃς γε πάντ᾽ εἰρήσεται.
1275

ΝΕ.

οὕτω δέδοκται ;

ΦΙ.

καὶ πέρα πέραι γ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ἢ λέγω.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἤθελον μὲν ἄν σε πεισθῆναι λόγοις

ἐμοῖσιν· εἰ δὲ μή τι πρὸς καιρὸν λέγων

κυρῶ, πέπαυμαι.

ΦΙ.

πάντα γὰρ φράσεις μάτην.

οὐ γάρ ποτ' εὔνουν τὴν ἐμὴν κτήσει φρένα,
1280

NE.

μὴ 'πεύξῃ πέρα·

δέχου δὲ χειρὸς ἐξ ἐμῆς ἐμοῦ βέλη τάδε.

ΝΕ,

ἀπώμοσ᾽ ἁγνοῦ Ζηνὸς ὕψιστον σέβας σέβας.

ΦΙ.

ὦ φίλτατ᾽ εἰπών, εἰ λέγεις ἐτήτυμα.

ΝΕ.

τοὔργον παρέσται φανερόν. ἀλλὰ δεξιὰν
1290

πρότεινε .. τεινε προύτεινε πρότεινε χεῖρα, καὶ κράτει τῶν σῶν ὅπλων.

ΟΔ.

ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἀπαυδῶ γ᾽, ὡς θεοὶ ξυνίστορες,

ὑπέρ τ᾽ ᾿Ατρειδῶν τοῦ τε σύμπαντος στρατοῦ.

ΦΙ.

τέκνον, τίνος φώνημα; μῶν ᾿Οδυσσέως

ἐπῃσθόμην ;
1295

ΟΔ.

σάφ᾽ ἴσθι· καὶ πέλας γ᾽ ὁρᾷς,

ὅς σ᾽ ἐς τὰ Τροίας πεδί᾽ πεδί πεδί᾽ ἀποστελῶ βίᾳ,

ἐάν τ᾿ ᾿Αχιλλέως παῖς ἐάν τε μὴ θέλῃ.

ΦΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὔ τι χαίρων, ἣν τόδ᾽ ὀρθωθῇ βέλος.

ΝΕ.

ἆ da dã â â, μηδαμῶς μη δαμῶς, μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, μεθῇς βέλος.

ΦΙ.

μέθες με, πρὸς θεῶν, χεῖρα, φίλτατον τέκνον.
1300

ΝΕ.

οὐκ ἂν μεθείην μεθείμην.

Ф1.

φεῦ· τί μ᾽ τίν' τί μ' ἄνδρα πολέμιον

ἐχθρόν τ᾽ ἀφείλου μὴ κτανεῖν τόξοις ἐμοῖς;

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἐμοὶ τοῦτ᾽ ἐστὶν οὔτε σοὶ καλόν καλόν οὔτε σοί.

ΦΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν τοσοῦτόν γ᾽ ἴσθι, τοὺς πρώτους στρατοῦ,

τοὺς τῶν ᾿Αχαιῶν ψευδοκήρυκας, κακοὺς
1305

ὄντας πρὸς αἰχμήν, ἐν δὲ τοῖς λόγοις θρασεῖς.

ΝΕ.

εἶεν. τὰ μὴν δὴ δὴ τόξ᾽ ἔχεις, κοὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου

ΝΕ.

λέγεις μὲν εἰκότ᾽ εἰκότ(α), ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως σε σε βούλομαι

θεοῖς τε πιστεύσαντα τοῖς τ᾿ ἐμοῖς λόγοις
1375

φίλου μετ᾿ ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε τῆσδ᾽ ἐκπλεῖν χθονός.

ΦΙ.

ἢ πρὸς τὰ Τροίας πεδία καὶ τὸν ᾿Ατρέως

ἔχθιστον υἱὸν τῷδε δυστήνῳ ποδί;

ΝΕ.

πρὸς τοὺς μὲν οὖν σε τήνδε τ᾽ ἔμπυον βάσιν

παύσοντας ἄλγους κἀποσώζοντας νόσου.
1380

Ὀδυσσεύς

οὐκ ἂν φράσειας ἥντινʼ αὖ παλίντροπος

κέλευθον ἕρπεις ὧδε σὺν σπουδῇ ταχύς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

λύσων ὅσʼ ἐξήμαρτον ἐν τῷ πρὶν χρόνῳ.

Ὀδυσσεύς

δεινόν γε φωνεῖς· ἡ δʼ ἁμαρτία τίς ἦν;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἣν σοὶ πιθόμενος τῷ τε σύμπαντι στρατῷ
1225

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἔπραξας ἔργον ποῖον ὧν οὔ σοι πρέπον;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀπάταισιν αἰσχραῖς ἄνδρα καὶ δόλοις ἑλών.

Ὀδυσσεύς

τὸν ποῖον; ὤμοι· μῶν τι βουλεύει νέον;

Νεοπτόλεμος

νέον μὲν οὐδέν, τῷ δὲ Ποίαντος τόκῳ,
1230

Ὀδυσσεύς

τί χρῆμα δράσεις; ὥς μʼ ὑπῆλθέ τις φόβος.

Νεοπτόλεμος

παρʼ οὗπερ ἔλαβον τάδε τὰ τόξʼ, αὖθις πάλιν

Ὀδυσσεύς

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί λέξεις; οὔ τί που δοῦναι νοεῖς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

αἰσχρῶς γὰρ αὐτὰ κοὐ δίκῃ λαβὼν ἔχω.

Ὀδυσσεύς

πρὸς θεῶν, πότερα δὴ κερτομῶν λέγεις τάδε;
1235

Νεοπτόλεμος

εἰ κερτόμησίς ἐστι τἀληθῆ λέγειν.

Ὀδυσσεύς

τί φής, Ἀχιλλέως παῖ; τίνʼ εἴρηκας λόγον;

Νεοπτόλεμος

δὶς ταὐτὰ βούλει καὶ τρὶς ἀναπολεῖν μʼ ἔπη;