Sophocles Philoctetes 529

Der Chor.

Mit nichten: niemals soll der Tag erscheinen, wo

Du solchen Vorwurf wider mich mit Grund erhebſt.

Neoptolemos.

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

510

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

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

Auch wird das Schiff ihn tragen ohne Weigerung.

Daß nur die Götter rettend uns aus diesem Land

Dorthin an unsrer Wünsche Ziel geleiteten!

515

Philoktetes.

meiner Tage schönster, du mein bester Mann,

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

Darthun, wie eure Liebe mich verpflichtet hat!

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

Wohnhaus zuvor begrüßten, daß dir Kunde wird,

520

Wovon ich lebte, wie beherzt mein Leben trug.

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

Auch nur mit Augen dieses Elend anzuseh'n:

Der Noth mich fügen, lehrte mich die strenge Noth.

Der Chor.

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

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Ein Schiffer deines Schiffes und der Andre fremd;

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

Der Späher, als Schiffsherr verkleidet. Ein Schiffer.

Die Vorigen.

Der Schiffsherr.

O Sohn Achillens, diesem Fahrtgenossen hier,

Der deines Schiffes Wächter mit zwei andern war,

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

530

Nachdem ich euch begegnet, nicht mit Willen zwar,

Nein, wohl vom Zufall hergelenkt zum gleichen Strand.

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

Von Troja heim zu Peparethos' Nebenland; ¹

Und weil ich hörte, daß die Schiffer allzumal

535

Dir angehören, welche hier gelandet sind,

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

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

Wohl hast du nicht erfahren, was dich nah berührt,

Welch neuen Anschlag über dich die Danaer

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Ersonnen haben, aber nicht Anschläge bloß,

Vielmehr bereits vollbrachte, nicht verschob'ne That.

Neoptolemos.

Neoptolemus

Though now as a casual spectator you are compliant,

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

520

Chorus

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

Neoptolemus

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

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

525

Philoctetes

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

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

535

Chorus

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

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

540

Merchant

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

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

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

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

555

Neoptolemus

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

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

560

Merchant

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

Neoptolemus

To bring me back by force, or through persuasion?

Merchant

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

Neoptolemus

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

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Merchant

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

Neoptolemus

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

Merchant

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

570

Neoptolemus

Who is this other after whom Odysseus himself was sailing?

Merchant

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

Neoptolemus

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

575

Merchant

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

Philoctetes

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

Neoptolemus

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

580

Merchant

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

Neoptolemus

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

585

Merchant

Beware of what you are doing, boy.

Neoptolemus

I am well aware.

Merchant

I will hold you accountable.

590

Neoptolemus

Do so, but speak.

Merchant

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

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

595

Neoptolemus

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

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

600

Merchant

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

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

605

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

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

615

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

620

Philoctetes

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

from Hades into the light, as his father did!

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Merchant

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

Philoctetes

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

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

630

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

635

Neoptolemus

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

we will sail. At present it blows against us.

640

Philoctetes

The sailing is always fair, when you flee trouble.

Neoptolemus

Not so; this weather is against them also.

Philoctetes

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

Neoptolemus

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

645

Philoctetes

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

Neoptolemus

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

Philoctetes

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

best lull this wound, until it is wholly tamed.

650

Neoptolemus

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

Philoctetes

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

Neoptolemus

Is that indeed the famous bow which you hold?

Philoctetes

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

655

Neoptolemus

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

Philoctetes

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

Neoptolemus

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

660

Philoctetes

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

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

665

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

670

Neoptolemus

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

Philoctetes

Agreed, and I will bring you also.

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

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