ἕκηλον εὕδειν.
ἕκηλον εὕδειν μ' ἣν δὲ τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ
Philoctetes. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
Table of Contents
Search the Perseus Catalog for:
Search the Perseus Catalog for:
Current edition Experimental
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879))
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
Editions (1)
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 730-826 focus
Νεοπτόλεμος
ἕρπʼ, εἰ θέλεις. τί δή ποθʼ ὧδʼ ἐξ οὐδενὸς
730
λόγου σιωπᾷς κἀπόπληκτος ὧδʼ ἔχει;
ἕρπʼ, εἰ θέλεις. τί δή ποθʼ ὧδʼ ἐξ οὐδενὸς
730
λόγου σιωπᾷς κἀπόπληκτος ὧδʼ ἔχει;
Φιλοκτήτης
ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.
ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.
Νεοπτόλεμος
τί δʼ ἔστιν;
τί δʼ ἔστιν;
Φιλοκτήτης
οὐδὲν δεινόν· ἀλλʼ ἴθʼ, ὦ τέκνον.
οὐδὲν δεινόν· ἀλλʼ ἴθʼ, ὦ τέκνον.
Νεοπτόλεμος
μῶν ἄλγος ἴσχεις τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου;
μῶν ἄλγος ἴσχεις τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου;
Φιλοκτήτης
οὐ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄρτι κουφίζειν δοκῶ. ὦ θεοί.
735
οὐ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄρτι κουφίζειν δοκῶ. ὦ θεοί.
735
Νεοπτόλεμος
τί τοὺς θεοὺς ὧδʼ ἀναστένων καλεῖς;
τί τοὺς θεοὺς ὧδʼ ἀναστένων καλεῖς;
Φιλοκτήτης
σωτῆρας αὐτοὺς ἠπίους θʼ ἡμῖν μολεῖν. ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.
σωτῆρας αὐτοὺς ἠπίους θʼ ἡμῖν μολεῖν. ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.
Νεοπτόλεμος
τί ποτε πέπονθας; οὐκ ἐρεῖς, ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἔσει
740
σιγηλός; ἐν κακῷ δέ τῳ φαίνει κυρῶν.
τί ποτε πέπονθας; οὐκ ἐρεῖς, ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἔσει
740
σιγηλός; ἐν κακῷ δέ τῳ φαίνει κυρῶν.
Φιλοκτήτης
ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον, κοὐ δυνήσομαι κακὸν
κρύψαι παρʼ ὑμῖν, ἀτταταῖ· διέρχεται
διέρχεται. δύστηνος, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ.
ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον· βρύκομαι, τέκνον· παπαῖ,
745
ἀπαππαπαῖ, παπαππαπαππαπαππαπαῖ.
πρὸς θεῶν, πρόχειρον εἴ τί σοι, τέκνον, πάρα
ξίφος χεροῖν, πάταξον εἰς ἄκρον πόδα·
ἀπάμησον ὡς τάχιστα· μὴ φείσῃ βίου. ἴθʼ, ὦ παῖ.
ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον, κοὐ δυνήσομαι κακὸν
κρύψαι παρʼ ὑμῖν, ἀτταταῖ· διέρχεται
διέρχεται. δύστηνος, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ.
ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον· βρύκομαι, τέκνον· παπαῖ,
745
ἀπαππαπαῖ, παπαππαπαππαπαππαπαῖ.
πρὸς θεῶν, πρόχειρον εἴ τί σοι, τέκνον, πάρα
ξίφος χεροῖν, πάταξον εἰς ἄκρον πόδα·
ἀπάμησον ὡς τάχιστα· μὴ φείσῃ βίου. ἴθʼ, ὦ παῖ.
Νεοπτόλεμος
τί δʼ ἔστιν οὕτω νεοχμὸν ἐξαίφνης, ὅτου
τοσήνδʼ ἰυγὴν καὶ στόνον σαυτοῦ ποεῖ;
τί δʼ ἔστιν οὕτω νεοχμὸν ἐξαίφνης, ὅτου
τοσήνδʼ ἰυγὴν καὶ στόνον σαυτοῦ ποεῖ;
Φιλοκτήτης
οἶσθʼ, ὦ τέκνον;
οἶσθʼ, ὦ τέκνον;
Νεοπτόλεμος
τί δʼ ἔστιν;
τί δʼ ἔστιν;
Φιλοκτήτης
οἶσθʼ, ὦ παῖ;
οἶσθʼ, ὦ παῖ;
Νεοπτόλεμος
τί σοί;
οὐκ οἶδα.
τί σοί;
οὐκ οἶδα.
Φιλοκτήτης
πῶς οὐκ οἶσθα; παππαπαππαπαῖ.
πῶς οὐκ οἶσθα; παππαπαππαπαῖ.
Νεοπτόλεμος
δεινόν γε τοὐπίσαγμα τοῦ νοσήματος.
755
δεινόν γε τοὐπίσαγμα τοῦ νοσήματος.
755
Φιλοκτήτης
δεινὸν γὰρ οὐδὲ ῥητόν· ἀλλʼ οἴκτιρέ με.
δεινὸν γὰρ οὐδὲ ῥητόν· ἀλλʼ οἴκτιρέ με.
Νεοπτόλεμος
τί δῆτα δράσω;
τί δῆτα δράσω;
Φιλοκτήτης
μή με ταρβήσας προδῷς·
ἥκει γὰρ αὕτη διὰ χρόνου πλάνοις ἴσως
ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη.
μή με ταρβήσας προδῷς·
ἥκει γὰρ αὕτη διὰ χρόνου πλάνοις ἴσως
ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη.
Νεοπτόλεμος
ἰὼ ἰὼ δύστηνε σύ,
δύστηνε δῆτα διὰ πόνων πάντων φανείς.
760
βούλει λάβωμαι δῆτα καὶ θίγω τί σου;
ἰὼ ἰὼ δύστηνε σύ,
δύστηνε δῆτα διὰ πόνων πάντων φανείς.
760
βούλει λάβωμαι δῆτα καὶ θίγω τί σου;
Φιλοκτήτης
μὴ δῆτα τοῦτό γʼ· ἀλλά μοι τὰ τόξʼ ἑλὼν
τάδʼ, ὥσπερ ᾐτοῦ μʼ ἀρτίως, ἕως ἀνῇ
τὸ πῆμα τοῦτο τῆς νόσου τὸ νῦν παρόν,
765
σῷζʼ αὐτὰ καὶ φύλασσε. λαμβάνει γὰρ οὖν
ὕπνος μʼ, ὅταν περ τὸ κακὸν ἐξίῃ τόδε·
κοὐκ ἔστι λῆξαι πρότερον· ἀλλʼ ἐᾶν χρεὼν
ἕκηλον εὕδειν. ἢν δὲ τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ
μόλωσʼ ἐκεῖνοι, πρὸς θεῶν ἐφίεμαι
770
ἑκόντα μηδʼ ἄκοντα μηδέ τῳ τέχνῃ
κείνοις μεθεῖναι ταῦτα, μὴ σαυτόν θʼ ἅμα
κἄμʼ, ὄντα σαυτοῦ πρόστροπον, κτείνας γένῃ.
μὴ δῆτα τοῦτό γʼ· ἀλλά μοι τὰ τόξʼ ἑλὼν
τάδʼ, ὥσπερ ᾐτοῦ μʼ ἀρτίως, ἕως ἀνῇ
τὸ πῆμα τοῦτο τῆς νόσου τὸ νῦν παρόν,
765
σῷζʼ αὐτὰ καὶ φύλασσε. λαμβάνει γὰρ οὖν
ὕπνος μʼ, ὅταν περ τὸ κακὸν ἐξίῃ τόδε·
κοὐκ ἔστι λῆξαι πρότερον· ἀλλʼ ἐᾶν χρεὼν
ἕκηλον εὕδειν. ἢν δὲ τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ
μόλωσʼ ἐκεῖνοι, πρὸς θεῶν ἐφίεμαι
770
ἑκόντα μηδʼ ἄκοντα μηδέ τῳ τέχνῃ
κείνοις μεθεῖναι ταῦτα, μὴ σαυτόν θʼ ἅμα
κἄμʼ, ὄντα σαυτοῦ πρόστροπον, κτείνας γένῃ.
Νεοπτόλεμος
θάρσει προνοίας οὕνεκʼ· οὐ δοθήσεται
πλὴν σοί τε κἀμοί· ξὺν τύχῃ δὲ πρόσφερε.
775
θάρσει προνοίας οὕνεκʼ· οὐ δοθήσεται
πλὴν σοί τε κἀμοί· ξὺν τύχῃ δὲ πρόσφερε.
775
Φιλοκτήτης
ἰδοὺ δέχου, παῖ· τὸν φθόνον δὲ πρόσκυσον
μή σοι γενέσθαι πολύπονʼ αὐτὰ μηδʼ ὅπως
ἐμοί τε καὶ τῷ πρόσθʼ ἐμοῦ κεκτημένῳ.
ἰδοὺ δέχου, παῖ· τὸν φθόνον δὲ πρόσκυσον
μή σοι γενέσθαι πολύπονʼ αὐτὰ μηδʼ ὅπως
ἐμοί τε καὶ τῷ πρόσθʼ ἐμοῦ κεκτημένῳ.
Νεοπτόλεμος
ὦ θεοί, γένοιτο ταῦτα νῷν· γένοιτο δὲ
πλοῦς οὔριός τε κεὐσταλὴς ὅποι ποτὲ
780
θεὸς δικαιοῖ χὠ στόλος πορσύνεται.
782
ὦ θεοί, γένοιτο ταῦτα νῷν· γένοιτο δὲ
πλοῦς οὔριός τε κεὐσταλὴς ὅποι ποτὲ
780
θεὸς δικαιοῖ χὠ στόλος πορσύνεται.
Φιλοκτήτης
ἀλλʼ οὖν δέδοικα μὴ ἀτέλεστʼ εὔχῃ, τέκνον.
στάζει γὰρ αὖ μοι φοίνιον τόδʼ ἐκ βυθοῦ
κηκῖον αἷμα, καί τι προσδοκῶ νέον.
παπαῖ, φεῦ.
785
παπαῖ μάλʼ, ὦ πούς, οἷά μʼ ἐργάσει κακά.
προσέρπει,
προσέρχεται τόδʼ ἐγγύς. οἴμοι μοι τάλας.
ἔχετε τὸ πρᾶγμα· μὴ φύγητε μηδαμῇ.
ἀτταταῖ.
790
ὦ ξένε Κεφαλλήν, εἴθε σου διαμπερὲς
στέρνων ἔχοιτʼ ἄλγησις ἥδε. φεῦ, παπαῖ,
παπαῖ μάλʼ αὖθις. ὦ διπλοῖ στρατηλάται,
Ἀγάμεμνον, ὦ Μενέλαε, πῶς ἂν ἀντʼ ἐμοῦ
τὸν ἴσον χρόνον τρέφοιτε τήνδε τὴν νόσον; ἰώ μοι.
795
ὦ Θάνατε Θάνατε, πῶς ἀεὶ καλούμενος
οὕτω κατʼ ἦμαρ, οὐ δύνᾳ μολεῖν ποτε;
ὦ τέκνον ὦ γενναῖον, ἀλλὰ συλλαβὼν
τῷ Λημνίῳ τῷδʼ ἀνακαλουμένῳ πυρὶ
800
ἔμπρησον, ὦ γενναῖε· κἀγώ τοί ποτε
τὸν τοῦ Διὸς παῖδʼ ἀντὶ τῶνδε τῶν ὅπλων,
ἃ νῦν σὺ σῴζεις, τοῦτʼ ἐπηξίωσα δρᾶν. τί φής, παῖ;
τί φής; τί σιγᾷς; ποῦ ποτʼ ὤν, τέκνον, κυρεῖς;
805
806
ἀλλʼ οὖν δέδοικα μὴ ἀτέλεστʼ εὔχῃ, τέκνον.
στάζει γὰρ αὖ μοι φοίνιον τόδʼ ἐκ βυθοῦ
κηκῖον αἷμα, καί τι προσδοκῶ νέον.
παπαῖ, φεῦ.
785
παπαῖ μάλʼ, ὦ πούς, οἷά μʼ ἐργάσει κακά.
προσέρπει,
προσέρχεται τόδʼ ἐγγύς. οἴμοι μοι τάλας.
ἔχετε τὸ πρᾶγμα· μὴ φύγητε μηδαμῇ.
ἀτταταῖ.
790
ὦ ξένε Κεφαλλήν, εἴθε σου διαμπερὲς
στέρνων ἔχοιτʼ ἄλγησις ἥδε. φεῦ, παπαῖ,
παπαῖ μάλʼ αὖθις. ὦ διπλοῖ στρατηλάται,
Ἀγάμεμνον, ὦ Μενέλαε, πῶς ἂν ἀντʼ ἐμοῦ
τὸν ἴσον χρόνον τρέφοιτε τήνδε τὴν νόσον; ἰώ μοι.
795
ὦ Θάνατε Θάνατε, πῶς ἀεὶ καλούμενος
οὕτω κατʼ ἦμαρ, οὐ δύνᾳ μολεῖν ποτε;
ὦ τέκνον ὦ γενναῖον, ἀλλὰ συλλαβὼν
τῷ Λημνίῳ τῷδʼ ἀνακαλουμένῳ πυρὶ
800
ἔμπρησον, ὦ γενναῖε· κἀγώ τοί ποτε
τὸν τοῦ Διὸς παῖδʼ ἀντὶ τῶνδε τῶν ὅπλων,
ἃ νῦν σὺ σῴζεις, τοῦτʼ ἐπηξίωσα δρᾶν. τί φής, παῖ;
τί φής; τί σιγᾷς; ποῦ ποτʼ ὤν, τέκνον, κυρεῖς;
805
Νεοπτόλεμος
ἀλγῶ πάλαι δὴ τἀπὶ σοὶ στένων κακά.
ἀλγῶ πάλαι δὴ τἀπὶ σοὶ στένων κακά.
Φιλοκτήτης
ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχʼ· ὡς ἥδε μοι
ὀξεῖα φοιτᾷ καὶ ταχεῖʼ ἀπέρχεται.
ἀλλʼ ἀντιάζω, μή με καταλίπῃς μόνον.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχʼ· ὡς ἥδε μοι
ὀξεῖα φοιτᾷ καὶ ταχεῖʼ ἀπέρχεται.
ἀλλʼ ἀντιάζω, μή με καταλίπῃς μόνον.
Νεοπτόλεμος
θάρσει, μενοῦμεν.
810
θάρσει, μενοῦμεν.
810
Φιλοκτήτης
ἦ μενεῖς;
ἦ μενεῖς;
Νεοπτόλεμος
σαφῶς φρόνει.
σαφῶς φρόνει.
Φιλοκτήτης
οὐ μήν σʼ ἔνορκόν γʼ ἀξιῶ θέσθαι, τέκνον.
οὐ μήν σʼ ἔνορκόν γʼ ἀξιῶ θέσθαι, τέκνον.
Νεοπτόλεμος
ὡς οὐ θέμις γʼ ἐμοὔστι σοῦ μολεῖν ἄτερ.
ὡς οὐ θέμις γʼ ἐμοὔστι σοῦ μολεῖν ἄτερ.
Φιλοκτήτης
ἔμβαλλε χειρὸς πίστιν.
ἔμβαλλε χειρὸς πίστιν.
Νεοπτόλεμος
ἐμβάλλω μενεῖν.
ἐμβάλλω μενεῖν.
Φιλοκτήτης
ἐκεῖσε νῦν μʼ, ἐκεῖσε
ἐκεῖσε νῦν μʼ, ἐκεῖσε
Νεοπτόλεμος
ποῖ λέγεις;
ποῖ λέγεις;
Φιλοκτήτης
ἄνω
ἄνω
Νεοπτόλεμος
τί παραφρονεῖς αὖ; τί τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις κύκλον;
815
τί παραφρονεῖς αὖ; τί τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις κύκλον;
815
Φιλοκτήτης
μέθες μέθες με.
μέθες μέθες με.
Νεοπτόλεμος
ποῖ μεθῶ;
ποῖ μεθῶ;
Φιλοκτήτης
μέθες ποτέ.
μέθες ποτέ.
Νεοπτόλεμος
οὔ φημʼ ἐάσειν.
οὔ φημʼ ἐάσειν.
Φιλοκτήτης
ἀπό μʼ ὀλεῖς, ἢν προσθίγῃς.
ἀπό μʼ ὀλεῖς, ἢν προσθίγῃς.
Νεοπτόλεμος
καὶ δὴ μεθίημʼ, εἴ τι δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς.
καὶ δὴ μεθίημʼ, εἴ τι δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς.
Φιλοκτήτης
ὦ γαῖα, δέξαι θανάσιμόν μʼ ὅπως ἔχω
τὸ γὰρ κακὸν τόδʼ οὐκέτʼ ὀρθοῦσθαί μʼ ἐᾷ.
820
ὦ γαῖα, δέξαι θανάσιμόν μʼ ὅπως ἔχω
τὸ γὰρ κακὸν τόδʼ οὐκέτʼ ὀρθοῦσθαί μʼ ἐᾷ.
820
Νεοπτόλεμος
τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἔοικεν ὕπνος οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου
ἕξειν· κάρα γὰρ ὑπτιάζεται τόδε·
ἱδρώς γέ τοί νιν πᾶν καταστάζει δέμας,
μέλαινά τʼ ἄκρου τις παρέρρωγεν ποδὸς
αἱμορραγὴς φλέψ. ἀλλʼ ἐάσωμεν, φίλοι,
825
ἕκηλον αὐτόν, ὡς ἂν εἰς ὕπνον πέσῃ.
τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἔοικεν ὕπνος οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου
ἕξειν· κάρα γὰρ ὑπτιάζεται τόδε·
ἱδρώς γέ τοί νιν πᾶν καταστάζει δέμας,
μέλαινά τʼ ἄκρου τις παρέρρωγεν ποδὸς
αἱμορραγὴς φλέψ. ἀλλʼ ἐάσωμεν, φίλοι,
825
ἕκηλον αὐτόν, ὡς ἂν εἰς ὕπνον πέσῃ.
Translations (2)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 782 focus
Ich fürchte, Jüngling, dein Gebet wird eitel sein:
Denn wieder quillt aus tiefer Wunde mir das Blut
In dunkeln Tropfen, und mir ahnt ein neuer Sturm.
755
weh! Ach!
Weh, wehe, Fuß! Ha, welche Marter schaffst du mir!
Es schleicht her,
Es dringt heran stets näher; weh mir Armen, weh!
Da seht ihr Alles; aber, ach, flieht nicht von mir!
760
Ah, ah, ah!
Kephallener, möchte doch an deiner Brust
Durchbohrend hasten dieser Schmerz! Ach wehe, weh!
Ja, wehe nochmals! Und des Heers Anführer ihr,
Agamemnon und Menelaos, daß an meiner Statt
765
Ihr diese Krankheit nährtet, und gleich lange Zeit!
Weh, weh mir!
O Tod, o Tod! Du, den ich also jeden Tag
Ohn' Unterlaß anrufe, was erscheinst du nie?
Mein Trauter du, mein Edler, komm und fasse mich,
770
Verbrenne mich in Lemnos' Flammengluten dort,
Den oft von mir geruf'nen! Hab' ich selber doch
Dem Sohn Kronions ehemals für diese Wehr,
Die jezo du bewahrest, gleichen Dienst erzeigt.
sprich, Sohn! sprich!
775
Du schweigst? Wo waren deine Sinne, Kind?
Ich fürchte, Jüngling, dein Gebet wird eitel sein:
Denn wieder quillt aus tiefer Wunde mir das Blut
In dunkeln Tropfen, und mir ahnt ein neuer Sturm.
755
weh! Ach!
Weh, wehe, Fuß! Ha, welche Marter schaffst du mir!
Es schleicht her,
Es dringt heran stets näher; weh mir Armen, weh!
Da seht ihr Alles; aber, ach, flieht nicht von mir!
760
Ah, ah, ah!
Kephallener, möchte doch an deiner Brust
Durchbohrend hasten dieser Schmerz! Ach wehe, weh!
Ja, wehe nochmals! Und des Heers Anführer ihr,
Agamemnon und Menelaos, daß an meiner Statt
765
Ihr diese Krankheit nährtet, und gleich lange Zeit!
Weh, weh mir!
O Tod, o Tod! Du, den ich also jeden Tag
Ohn' Unterlaß anrufe, was erscheinst du nie?
Mein Trauter du, mein Edler, komm und fasse mich,
770
Verbrenne mich in Lemnos' Flammengluten dort,
Den oft von mir geruf'nen! Hab' ich selber doch
Dem Sohn Kronions ehemals für diese Wehr,
Die jezo du bewahrest, gleichen Dienst erzeigt.
sprich, Sohn! sprich!
775
Du schweigst? Wo waren deine Sinne, Kind?
Neoptolemos.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 730-825 focus
Neoptolemus
Please, come on. Why so silent with no apparent cause? And why are you paralyzed?
730
Please, come on. Why so silent with no apparent cause? And why are you paralyzed?
730
Philoctetes
Ai, ai!
Ai, ai!
Neoptolemus
What is the matter?
What is the matter?
Philoctetes
Nothing serious—go on, son.
Nothing serious—go on, son.
Neoptolemus
Are you in pain from the disease that frequents you?
Are you in pain from the disease that frequents you?
Philoctetes
No, indeed no. I think it is better now.—Gods, oh!
735
No, indeed no. I think it is better now.—Gods, oh!
735
Neoptolemus
Why do you groan like this and call on the gods?
Why do you groan like this and call on the gods?
Philoctetes
That they may come to me with power to save and soothe.—Ai! Ai!
That they may come to me with power to save and soothe.—Ai! Ai!
Neoptolemus
What troubles you? Speak, do not keep so silent. It is plain enough that you are suffering somehow.
740
What troubles you? Speak, do not keep so silent. It is plain enough that you are suffering somehow.
740
Philoctetes
I am destroyed, boy—I can never conceal my suffering when you are close. Ah! Ah! It shoots through me, shoots straight through! Oh, the pain,the misery!
I am destroyed, boy—I am devoured! Ah, by the gods I beg you, if you have a sword ready to hand, strike at my ankle—cut it off now! Do not spare my life!
745
Quick, boy, quick!
750
I am destroyed, boy—I can never conceal my suffering when you are close. Ah! Ah! It shoots through me, shoots straight through! Oh, the pain,the misery!
I am destroyed, boy—I am devoured! Ah, by the gods I beg you, if you have a sword ready to hand, strike at my ankle—cut it off now! Do not spare my life!
745
Quick, boy, quick!
750
Neoptolemus
What new thing has come on you so suddenly that you wail for yourself with these loud shrieks?
What new thing has come on you so suddenly that you wail for yourself with these loud shrieks?
Philoctetes
You know, son.
You know, son.
Neoptolemus
What is it?
What is it?
Philoctetes
You know, boy.
You know, boy.
Neoptolemus
What ails you? I do not know.
What ails you? I do not know.
Philoctetes
How could you not know? Oh, oh!
How could you not know? Oh, oh!
Neoptolemus
Yes, terrible is the burden of your disease.
755
Yes, terrible is the burden of your disease.
755
Philoctetes
Terrible beyond telling! Oh, pity me!
Terrible beyond telling! Oh, pity me!
Neoptolemus
What shall I do?
What shall I do?
Philoctetes
Do not betray me because of fear. This plague comes only now and then,—perhaps when she has been sated with her roamings elsewhere.
Do not betray me because of fear. This plague comes only now and then,—perhaps when she has been sated with her roamings elsewhere.
Neoptolemus
Ah, poor wretch! Poor man, truly for all your sufferings! Shall I support you, or somehow offer a helping hand?
Ah, poor wretch! Poor man, truly for all your sufferings! Shall I support you, or somehow offer a helping hand?
Philoctetes
No, no. But take this bow of mine—as you earlier asked of me—and keep it in your care and safe
until this present bout with my disease is past. For indeed sleep takes me as soon as this pain passes away, nor can it cease before then. But you must allow me to sleep in peace. And if
765
those men come in the meantime, then by the gods I forbid you willingly or unwillingly, or by any skilled trickery, to give up this bow to them, lest you bring destruction at once on yourself and on me, who am your suppliant.
770
No, no. But take this bow of mine—as you earlier asked of me—and keep it in your care and safe
until this present bout with my disease is past. For indeed sleep takes me as soon as this pain passes away, nor can it cease before then. But you must allow me to sleep in peace. And if
765
those men come in the meantime, then by the gods I forbid you willingly or unwillingly, or by any skilled trickery, to give up this bow to them, lest you bring destruction at once on yourself and on me, who am your suppliant.
770
Neoptolemus
Have no fears as to my caution. The bow shall pass
into no hands but yours and mine. Give it to me, and may good luck accompany it!
775
Have no fears as to my caution. The bow shall pass
into no hands but yours and mine. Give it to me, and may good luck accompany it!
775
Philoctetes
There, take it boy. And humble yourself before the jealous gods, so that the bow may not prove baneful for you, as it did for me and for him who owned it before me.
There, take it boy. And humble yourself before the jealous gods, so that the bow may not prove baneful for you, as it did for me and for him who owned it before me.
Neoptolemus
O gods, grant this to the two of us! And grant us a voyage
prosperous and unimpeded, to whatever goal the god may deem right and that our mission provides!
780
782
O gods, grant this to the two of us! And grant us a voyage
prosperous and unimpeded, to whatever goal the god may deem right and that our mission provides!
780
Philoctetes
Futile, I fear, are your prayers, boy. Look, once again the dark blood is oozing drop by drop from deep in the wound, and I look for worse to come.
Ah, me, oh, oh! Cursed foot, what torment you cause me! It creeps on me, it is coming near! Ah, misery! Now you know my condition. Do not flee, no!
785
Oh, alas! Odysseus of Cephallene, once my friend, would that this anguish might stick to you, and pierce your chest! Ah, me! Ah, me! O you twin marshalls, Agamemnon, and you, Menelaus, may your flesh instead of mine
790
nourish this plague, and for as long! Oh, Ah, me! O Death, Death, though I am always summoning you day after day, why do you never come? O son, noble youth, seize me,
795
burn me up, true friend, in that fire famed as Lemnian. I, too, once deemed it lawful to do that very service for the son of Zeus, in return for which I received these same arms, which are now in your keeping. What do you say, boy, what do you say?
800
Why this silence? Where are your thoughts, son?
805
806
Futile, I fear, are your prayers, boy. Look, once again the dark blood is oozing drop by drop from deep in the wound, and I look for worse to come.
Ah, me, oh, oh! Cursed foot, what torment you cause me! It creeps on me, it is coming near! Ah, misery! Now you know my condition. Do not flee, no!
785
Oh, alas! Odysseus of Cephallene, once my friend, would that this anguish might stick to you, and pierce your chest! Ah, me! Ah, me! O you twin marshalls, Agamemnon, and you, Menelaus, may your flesh instead of mine
790
nourish this plague, and for as long! Oh, Ah, me! O Death, Death, though I am always summoning you day after day, why do you never come? O son, noble youth, seize me,
795
burn me up, true friend, in that fire famed as Lemnian. I, too, once deemed it lawful to do that very service for the son of Zeus, in return for which I received these same arms, which are now in your keeping. What do you say, boy, what do you say?
800
Why this silence? Where are your thoughts, son?
805
Neoptolemus
My heart has long been aching for your load of pain.
My heart has long been aching for your load of pain.
Philoctetes
Stop, then, and take courage; this visitor comes sharply, but goes quickly. Yet, I beg you, do not leave me alone.
Stop, then, and take courage; this visitor comes sharply, but goes quickly. Yet, I beg you, do not leave me alone.
Neoptolemus
Take heart, we will remain.
810
Take heart, we will remain.
810
Philoctetes
Will you?
Will you?
Neoptolemus
Be sure of it.
Be sure of it.
Philoctetes
Indeed, I do not think it right to put you under oath.
Indeed, I do not think it right to put you under oath.
Neoptolemus
Rest assured; it is not lawful for me to leave without you.
Rest assured; it is not lawful for me to leave without you.
Philoctetes
Give me your hand in pledge!
Give me your hand in pledge!
Neoptolemus
I give it—to stay.
I give it—to stay.
Philoctetes
Now take me there, over there!
Now take me there, over there!
Neoptolemus
Where do you mean?
Where do you mean?
Philoctetes
Up there!
Up there!
Neoptolemus
What is this new delirium? Why do you gaze at the dome above us?
815
What is this new delirium? Why do you gaze at the dome above us?
815
Philoctetes
Let me go, let me go!
Let me go, let me go!
Neoptolemus
Where will you go, if I do so?
Where will you go, if I do so?
Philoctetes
Let me go, I say!
Let me go, I say!
Neoptolemus
I will not.
I will not.
Philoctetes
You will kill me, if you touch me further.
You will kill me, if you touch me further.
Neoptolemus
There, then, I release you—if in fact you believe it is for the better.
There, then, I release you—if in fact you believe it is for the better.
Philoctetes
Wide Earth, embrace me now on the verge of death!
This pain no longer lets me stand up.
820
Wide Earth, embrace me now on the verge of death!
This pain no longer lets me stand up.
820
Neoptolemus
Sleep, I think, will take him before long. See, his head sinks backward. Yes, a sweat runs over his whole body, and a dark, hemorrhaging vein has burst from his heel.
Come, friends, let us leave him in quietness, so that he may fall asleep.
825
Sleep, I think, will take him before long. See, his head sinks backward. Yes, a sweat runs over his whole body, and a dark, hemorrhaging vein has burst from his heel.
Come, friends, let us leave him in quietness, so that he may fall asleep.
825
Commentary
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
748-749. mvp-comment-534-1 ἥκει.. ἐξεπλήσθη] (1) ‘For this plague in its wanderings is come after an interval in no less strength than when it sated itself.' A recurrent malady is imagined as going out of a man, making a circuit, and returning. Cp. infr. 808: Tennyson, Aylmer's field, p. 80. For ἥκειν in a somewhat similar connection, cp. Plat. Gorg 518 D, ὅταν δὴ αὐτοῖς ἥκῃ ἡ τότε πλησμονὴ νόσον φέρουσα συχνῷ ὕστερον χρόνῳ. For the dative πλάνοις (almost = πλανωμένη, Aesch. Prom. 275), see Essay on L. § 14. p. 20, 2 . ἴσως = οὐχ ἧττον ἰσχυρῶς. See Essay on L. § 24, α. p. 40 . ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη, i. e. ὡς τὸ πρὶν ἥκουσα ἐξεπλήσθη. It might be thought to have exhausted itself, or to have satisfied its hunger; but no, it returns with all its former violence. (2) The Scholiast explains, π. ἴ. ὡ. ἐ., 'I suppose when it has had enough of wandering. For other interpretations, see Ellendt's Lexicon, and Blaydes and Paley in loco. Arndt's emendation, ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη φλέψ. ΝΕ. ἰὼ δ. σ., is worth recording for its prosaic oddity.