Sophocles Philoctetes 56

Neoptolemos.

Odysseus

This is the headland of sea-washed Lemnos , land untrodden by men and desolate. It was here, child bred of the man who was the noblest of the Greeks, Neoptolemus son of Achilles, that I exposed

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long ago the native of Malis, Poeas’ son, on the express command of the two chieftains to do so, because his foot was all running with a gnawing disease. Neither libation nor burnt sacrifice could be attempted by us in peace, but with his wild, ill-omened cries

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he filled the whole camp continually with shrieking, moaning. But what need is there to speak of that? The time is not ripe for too many words, lest he even learn that I am here, and I so waste the whole ruse whereby I think soon to take him.

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Come, it is your task to serve as my ally in what remains, and to seek where in this region there is a cave with two mouths. During cold weather it provides two seats facing the sun, while in summer a breeze wafts sleep through the tunnelled chamber.

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And a little below, on the left hand, perhaps, you will see water rising from a spring, if it has not failed. Go there silently, and signal to me whether he still dwells in this same place, or is to be found elsewhere, so that the rest of my plan may be explained by me, heard by you,

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and sped by the joint effort of us both.

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Neoptolemus

King Odysseus, the completion of the task that you set me is not far off, for I believe I see a cave like that which you have described.

Odysseus

Above you, or below? I do not see it.

Neoptolemus

Here, high up—and of footfalls there is not a sound.

Odysseus

See that he is not sheltered there asleep.

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Neoptolemus

I see an empty dwelling, without occupants.

Odysseus

And is there no provision inside for human habitation?

Neoptolemus

There is—a bed of leaves, as if for some one who makes his lodging here.

Odysseus

And all else is bare? There is nothing else beneath the roof?

Neoptolemus

Just a cup of bare wood, the masterpiece of a sorry craftsman, and with it these tools for kindling.

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Odysseus

His is the store that you describe.

Neoptolemus

Ha! Yes, and here besides are some rags drying in the sun, stained by some severe infection.

Odysseus

The man inhabits these regions, clearly, and is somewhere not far off. How could he go far afield when his foot is maimed by that old plague? No, he has gone out in quest of food, or of some soothing herb that he may have noted somewhere.

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Send your attendant, therefore, to keep watch, lest he come upon me unawares, since he would rather take me than all the Greeks together.

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Neoptolemus

The man is going, and the path will be watched. And now, if you need anything else, say so. Exit Attendant, on the spectators’ left.

Odysseus

Son of Achilles, you must be loyal to the goals of your mission—and not with your body alone. Should you hear some new plan unknown to you till now, you must serve it, since it is to serve that you are here.

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Neoptolemus

Then what are your orders?

Odysseus

You must cheat the mind of Philoctetes by means of a story

told as you converse with him. When he asks you who and from where you are, say that you are the son of Achilles—it is not in that detail that you will cheat him. But tell him you are sailing homeward, and have left the fleet of the Achaean warriors, after coming to hate them with unbounded hatred.

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Give him this reason: when, with no other hope of taking Ilium , they had summoned you by their prayers to come from home, they judged you not worthy of the arms of Achilles, not worthy to receive them—even though you had come and were claiming them by right—but instead handed them over to Odysseus. Say what you

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will of me—even the vilest of vile insults. You will not harm me at all by that. But if you fail to do as I say, you will inflict pain on all the Argives, for if that man’s bow is not seized, you can never sack the realm of Dardanus.

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And learn why your intercourse with him may be free from mistrust and danger, while mine cannot. You have sailed to Troy under no oath to any man, nor under any constraint. Neither did you have any part in the earlier expedition. I, however, can deny none of these things. Accordingly, if he

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perceives me while he is still master of his bow, I am dead, and you, as my comrade, will share my doom. No, the thing for which we must devise a ruse is just this: how you may steal his invincible weapons. Well I know, my son, that by nature you are not apt

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to utter or contrive such treachery. Yet knowing that victory is a sweet prize to gain, steel yourself to do it. Our honesty shall be displayed another time. Now, however, give yourself to me for one brief, shameless day, and then for the rest of time

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may you be called the most righteous of all humankind.

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Neoptolemus

I abhor acting on advice, son of Laertes , which causes pain in the hearing. It is not in my nature to achieve anything by means of evil cunning, nor was it, as I hear, in my father’s.

But I am ready to take the man by force and without treachery, since with the use of one foot only, he will not overcome so many of us in a struggle. And yet I was sent to assist you and am reluctant to be called traitor. Still I prefer, my king,

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to fail when doing what is honorable than to be victorious in a dishonorable manner.

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Odysseus

Son of a father so noble, I, too, in my youth once had a slow tongue and an active hand. But now that I have come forth to the test, I see that the tongue, not action, is what masters everything among men.

Neoptolemus

What, then, are your orders—apart from my lying?

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Odysseus

I command you to take Philoctetes by deceit.

Neoptolemus

And why by deceit rather than by persuasion?

Odysseus

He will never listen; and by force you cannot take him.

Neoptolemus

Has he strength so terrific to make him bold?

Odysseus

Yes, shafts inevitable, escorts of death.

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Neoptolemus

Then one does not dare even approach him?

Odysseus

No, unless he takes the man by deceit, as I prescribe.

Neoptolemus

Then you think it brings no shame to speak what is false?

Odysseus

No, not if the falsehood yields deliverance.

Neoptolemus

And with what expression on his face will anyone dare mouth those lies?

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Odysseus

When what you do promises gain, it is wrong to shrink back.

Neoptolemus

And what gain is it for me that he should come to Troy ?

Odysseus

His arrows alone will capture Troy .

Neoptolemus

Then I am not to be the conqueror, as you said?

Odysseus

Neither will you be without them, nor they without you.

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Neoptolemus

It would seem, then, that we must track them down, if things stand as you say.

Odysseus

Know that by doing this task, you win two rewards.

Neoptolemus

What are they? If I knew, I would not refuse the deed.

Odysseus

You will be celebrated in the same breath as clever and as noble.

Neoptolemus

So be it! I will do it, and cast off all shame.

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Odysseus

Do you remember, then, the story that I recommended?

Neoptolemus

Be sure of it, since once and for all I have consented.

Odysseus

You stay here, then, to wait for him. Meanwhile I will go away, so as not to be observed here with you,

and I will send our lookout back to your ship. And, if in my view you seem to linger at all beyond the due time, I will send that same man back again, after disguising him as the captain of a merchant-ship, so that secrecy may be on our side.

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Then, son, as he tells his artful story, take whatever in his tale is from time to time helpful to you. Now I will go to the ship, leaving matters here to you. May escorting Hermes the Deceiver, lead us on, and divine Victory, Athena Polias, who saves me always! Exit Odysseus, on the spectators’ left.

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