Sophocles, Philoctetes, Thomas Francklin (Translator), 89

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Neoptolemus

I have not seen him, but I hear he lives.

Philoctetes. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.

Current edition Experimental

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 89 focus

οὔτ᾽ αὐτὸς οὔθ᾽, ὥς φασιν, οὑκφύσας ἐμέ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 135-217 focus

Χορός

τί χρὴ τί χρή με, δέσποτʼ, ἐν ξένᾳ ξένον
135

στέγειν ἢ τί λέγειν πρὸς ἄνδρʼ ὑπόπταν;

φράζε μοι. τέχνα γὰρ

τέχνας ἑτέρας προύχει

καὶ γνώμα παρʼ ὅτῳ τὸ θεῖον

Διὸς σκῆπτρον ἀνάσσεται.
140

σὲ δʼ, ὦ τέκνον, τόδʼ ἐλήλυθεν

πᾶν κράτος ὠγύγιον· τό μοι ἔννεπε

τί σοι χρεὼν ὑπουργεῖν.

144

Νεοπτόλεμος

νῦν μέν, ἴσως γὰρ τόπον ἐσχατιαῖς

προσιδεῖν ἐθέλεις ὅντινα κεῖται,
145

δέρκου θαρσῶν· ὁπόταν δὲ μόλῃ

δεινὸς ὁδίτης, τῶνδʼ οὑκ μελάθρων

πρὸς ἐμὴν αἰεὶ χεῖρα προχωρῶν

πειρῶ τὸ παρὸν θεραπεύειν.

150

Χορός

μέλον πάλαι μέλημά μοι λέγεις, ἄναξ,
150

φρουρεῖν ὄμμʼ ἐπὶ σῷ μάλιστα καιρῷ·

νῦν δέ μοι λέγʼ, αὐλὰς

ποίας ἔνεδρος ναίει

καὶ χῶρον τίνʼ ἔχει. τὸ γάρ μοι

μαθεῖν οὐκ ἀποκαίριον,
155

μὴ προσπεσών με λάθῃ ποθέν·

τίς τόπος ἢ τίς ἕδρα; τίνʼ ἔχει στίβον,

ἔναυλον ἢ θυραῖον;

159

Νεοπτόλεμος

οἶκον μὲν ὁρᾷς τόνδʼ ἀμφίθυρον

πετρίνης κοίτης.
160

Χορός

ποῦ γὰρ ὁ τλήμων αὐτὸς ἄπεστιν;

Νεοπτόλεμος

δῆλον ἔμοιγʼ ὡς φορβῆς χρείᾳ

στίβον ὀγμεύει τῇδε πέλας που.

ταύτην γὰρ ἔχειν βιοτῆς αὐτὸν

λόγος ἐστὶ φύσιν, θηροβολοῦντα
165

πτηνοῖς ἰοῖς στυγερὸν στυγερῶς,

οὐδέ τινʼ αὐτῷ

παιῶνα κακῶν ἐπινωμᾶν.

169

Χορός

οἰκτίρω νιν ἔγωγʼ, ὅπως,

μή του κηδομένου βροτῶν
170

μηδὲ ξύντροφον ὄμμʼ ἔχων,

δύστανος, μόνος ἀεί,

νοσεῖ μὲν νόσον ἀγρίαν,

ἀλύει δʼ ἐπὶ παντί τῳ

χρείας ἱσταμένῳ. πῶς ποτε πῶς δύσμορος ἀντέχει;
175

ὦ παλάμαι θεῶν,

ὦ δύστανα γένη βροτῶν,

οἷς μὴ μέτριος αἰών.

180

Χορός

οὗτος πρωτογόνων ἴσως
180

οἴκων οὐδενὸς ὕστερος,

πάντων ἄμμορος ἐν βίῳ

κεῖται μοῦνος ἀπʼ ἄλλων,

στικτῶν ἢ λασίων μετὰ

θηρῶν, ἔν τʼ ὀδύναις ὁμοῦ
185

λιμῷ τʼ οἰκτρός, ἀνήκεστα μεριμνήματʼ ἔχων· ὀρεί-

α δʼ ἀθυρόστομος

Ἀχὼ τηλεφανὴς πικραῖς

οἰμωγαῖς ὑπακούει.
190

191

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐδὲν τούτων θαυμαστὸν ἐμοί·

θεῖα γάρ, εἴπερ κἀγώ τι φρονῶ,

καὶ τὰ παθήματα κεῖνα πρὸς αὐτὸν

τῆς ὠμόφρονος Χρύσης ἐπέβη,

καὶ νῦν ἃ πονεῖ δίχα κηδεμόνων,
195

οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὡς οὐ θεῶν του μελέτῃ

τοῦ μὴ πρότερον τόνδʼ ἐπὶ Τροίᾳ

τεῖναι τὰ θεῶν ἀμάχητα βέλη,

πρὶν ὅδʼ ἐξήκοι χρόνος, ᾧ λέγεται

χρῆναί σφʼ ὑπὸ τῶνδε δαμῆναι.
200

201

Χορός

εὔστομʼ ἔχε, παῖ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί τόδε;

Χορός

προυφάνη κτύπος,

φωτὸς σύντροφος ὡς τειρομένου του,

ἤ που τῇδʼ ἢ τῇδε τόπων.

βάλλει βάλλει μʼ ἐτύμα
205

φθογγά του στίβον κατʼ ἀνάγκαν

ἕρποντος, οὐδέ με λάθει

βαρεῖα τηλόθεν αὐδὰ τρυσάνωρ· διάσημα γὰρ θρηνεῖ.

210

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ἔχε, τέκνον,
210

Νεοπτόλεμος

λέγʼ ὅ τι.

Χορός

φροντίδας νέας.

ὡς οὐκ ἔξεδρος, ἀλλʼ ἔντοπος ἁνήρ,

οὐ μολπὰν σύριγγος ἔχων,

ὡς ποιμὴν ἀγροβότας, ἀλλʼ ἤ που πταίων ὑπʼ ἀνάγκας
215

βοᾷ τηλωπὸν ἰωάν,

ἢ ναὸς ἄξενον αὐγάζων ὅρμον· προβοᾷ τι γὰρ δεινόν.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 89 focus

PHI

There, there! In one brief word thou hast revealed

The mournful case of twain, whom I would last

Have chosen to hear of as undone. Ah me!

Where must one look? when these are dead, and he,

Odysseus, lives,—and in a time like this,
425

That craves their presence, and his death for theirs.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 86 focus

Was immer ich nicht ohne Grauen hören kann,

Sohn Laertens, dieses hass' ich auch zu thun.

Denn nicht geschaffen bin ich, traun, für Hinterlist,

So wenig, als es (sagen sie) mein Vater war.¹

Ich bin bereit, ihn wegzuführen mit Gewalt,
90

Doch nie mit Arglist; denn mit Einem Fuße wird

Er uns, so Viele, nimmerdar bewältigen.

Zwar dir ein Helfer zog ich aus und möchte nicht

Verräther heißen; aber lieber wünsch' ich mir

Der edlen That Mißlingen, als unedlen Sieg.
95

Odysseus.

Mir, Sohn des edlen Vaters, war als Jüngling auch

Die Zunge langsam und die Hand zu Thaten schnell.

Jezt durch Erfahrung reifer, seh' ich wohl: es ist

Der Menschen Zunge, nicht die That, die Alles lenkt.

Neoptolemos.

Was trägst du mir nun Andres, Herr, als Lügen auf?
100

Odysseus.

Mit List, verlang' ich, sollst du Philoktetes fahn.

Neoptolemos.

Warum mit List ihn fangen, wenn's die Rede kann?

Odysseus.

Nie folgt er Reden; auch Gewalt bezwingt ihn nicht.

Neoptolemos.

So zuversichtlich trozt der Mann auf seine Kraft?

Odysseus.

Der unentfliehbar'n Pfeile morderfüllte Wehr -
105

Neoptolemos.

Nicht ungefährlich wär' es denn, ihm nur zu nah'n?

Odysseus.

Nicht, außer wenn du, wie gesagt, mit List ihn fängst.

Neoptolemos.

Und eine Schande dünkte dir die Lüge nicht?

Odysseus.

Nicht, wenn die Lüge Rettung mir zum Lohne bringt.

Neoptolemos.

Mit welcher Stirn erkühnt man solcher Rede sich?
110

Odysseus.

Bringt eine Handlung dir Gewinn, so zage nicht.

Neoptolemos.

Was bringt's Gewinn mir, wenn der Mann vor Troja kommt?

Odysseus.

Die Pfeile nur erobern Troja, sie allein.

Neoptolemos.

Ich also nehme nicht die Stadt, wie ihr's verspracht?

Odysseus.

Du ohne sie nicht, und auch sie nicht ohne dich.
115

Neoptolemos.

Sie muß ich denn erjagen, wenn es also steht.

Odysseus.

Zwiefachen Lohn gewinnst du, wenn du solches thust.

Neoptolemos.

Und welchen? Weiß ich diesen, weigr' ich nicht die That.

Odysseus.

Nun, klug und tapfer würdest du zugleich genannt.

Neoptolemos.

Wohlan denn, ledig aller Scham, vollführ' ich es!
120

Odysseus.

Gedenkst du nun auch dessen, was ich dir gebot?

Neoptolemos.

Vertraue mir, nachdem ich's einmal dir gelobt.

Odysseus.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 89 focus

Philoctetes

To show thee that my thoughts accord with thine,

Now let me ask thee of a worthless man,
435

But passing shrewd, and voluble of tongue.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 135-215 focus

Chorus

I am a stranger in a strange land, Master. What must I hide, what must I reveal to a man who will be swift to suspicion? Show me the way! His skill excels all other skill, his wisdom has no equal, whose hands govern the godlike
135

scepter given by Zeus. To you, my son, that sovereign power has descended from the dawn of time. Therefore tell me how I must serve you.
140

144

Neoptolemus

For the present—since perhaps you wish to see the place

on the island’s edge where he resides—survey it without fear. But when the dread traveler, who has left this dwelling, returns, step forward at my signal from time to time, and try to help as the moment may require.
145

150

Chorus

Long have I been careful of this care, my prince: that my eyes should be watchful for your good above all else. And now tell me, in what manner of shelter does he keep his dwelling? In what region is he now? It is not inopportune for
150

me to learn so that he may not come upon me unawares from somewhere. In what place does he wander, or rest? Does he plant his steps within his shelter, or abroad?
155

159

Neoptolemus

Well, here you see his home with its two portals,

his rocky cell.
160

Chorus

And its wretched occupant, where is he gone to?

Neoptolemus

It seems clear to me, anyway, that he is plowing his way along somewhere near here in search of food. For I know of a report that

this is his means of sustenance—a wretch wretchedly shooting prey with his feathered shafts—and that no one comes near to him to heal his misery.
165

169

Chorus

For my part, I pity him when I think how,

with no one to care for him, and seeing no companion’s face, but suffering eternally alone, he is plagued by fierce disease and bewildered by each need as it arises.
170

How, how does he endure his bitter fate? Ah, contrivances of the gods! Ah, unhappy tribes of mortals, whose life-portion exceeds due measure!
175

180

Chorus

That man—inferior in no way, probably, to any man belonging to the oldest families—lies alone without companions and stripped of all life’s gifts
180

among the dappled or shaggy beasts. He is a man to be pitied for his torments and his hunger alike, enduring anguish that has no cure. But to his bitter cries the mountain nymph, babbling Echo, coming from afar,
185

gives answer.
190

191

Neoptolemus

No part of this is a marvel to me. God-sent—if a man such as I may judge—are both those sufferings which attacked him from savage Chryse ,

and those with which he now toils untended. Surely he toils by the plan of some god so that he may not bend against Troy the invincible arrows divine, until the time be fulfilled at which, men say,
195

by those arrows Troy is fated to fall.
200

201

Chorus

Hush,boy!

Neoptolemus

What is it?

Chorus

I heard a sudden thud, one that might naturally come from a man worn by pain. From there it came, I think—or there.

It strikes, strikes hard on my ear, the sure sound of someone creeping along his way as if tortured. I cannot miss that grievous cry of a man hard-pressed, even from afar—its tone is too clear.
205

210

Chorus

But listen, son—
210

Neoptolemus

To what? Tell me.

Chorus

To my latest thoughts. For he is not far from his home, but nearby. And not with music of the flute, like a shepherd pasturing his flocks, does he come,—

no—but crying out a far-sounding howl as he stumbles, perhaps, from tortuous pain, or as he scans the haven unvisited by any ship. His cries are loud, and terrible.
215

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-250-1 ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ¹

mvp-comment-250-2 ποῦ δ’ αἰνεῖν ²

mvp-comment-250-3 ὅταν ³ ἐπαινῶν ⁴

mvp-comment-250-4 Theognis, in a similar strain, asks how a mortal is to revere the gods when he sees good men afflicted and bad men prosperous (743—752).

mvp-comment-251-1 ἐγὼ μὲν ⁵

mvp-comment-251-2 Οἰταίου ⁶

mvp-comment-252-1 τηλόθεν … εἰσορῶν ⁷

mvp-comment-252-2 φυλάξομαι ⁸

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

391-402;507-518. mvp-comment-280-1 The Chorus show their interest and support Neoptolemus by these strains, which are interwoven with the action, like those in O. T. 660 foll., 689 foll., О. С. 1447-1456, 1477-1485. They wish to assist their master by simulating hatred of the Atreidae and sympathy with Philoctetes. That both feelings are merely assumed, and that the Chorus really understand the situation, is obvious from the exaggerated strength of expression in 510, εἰ δὲ πικρούς, ἄναξ, ἔχθεις ᾿Ατρείδας. Their feigned excitement, to which the mixture of dochmiac and iambo-bacchic metre is well suited, was no doubt expressed with gestures accompanying the recitation, by the two half-choruses, of strophe and antistrophe severally.

445. mvp-comment-317-1 αὐτόν] Burges conjectured αὐτός. ἔτ᾿ ὄντα νιν] The Scholiast, whose account agrees in the main with that of Quintus Smyrnaeus (1. 741, foll.), finds here another departure from the Epic tradition, according to which Thersites had been killed by Achilles with a blow of his fist.

446. mvp-comment-318-1 'I was sure of it. For never evil perished yet.' The reading οὐδέπω κακόν may be defended by comparing supr. 83, εἰς ἀναιδές, and note. The correction οὐδέν πω (Herm.) has been generally adopted.

447. mvp-comment-319-1 εὐ περιστέλλουσιν αὐτά] ‘Carefully defend them from harm.' αὐτά] Sc. τὰ κακά, which, like τὰ .. πανούργα καὶ παλιντριβῆ refers to persons. Cp. τὰ μέσα τῶν πολιτῶν and similar expressions.

448. mvp-comment-320-1 καί πως] Cp. Eur. Med. 119. παλιντριβή] • Froward.' The notion in παλιντριβής is that of something which resists treatment: cp. ἀντίτυπος.

449. mvp-comment-321-1 ἀναστρέφοντες ἐξ "Αιδου] “In turning back, i. e. when on their way thither. Like his father Sisyphus, who intrigued himself out of Hades (infr. 625), Odysseus bears a charmed life.

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Neoptolemus I have not seen him, but I hear he lives.

Current edition Experimental

Νεοπτόλεμος οἶκον μὲν ὁρᾷς τόνδʼ ἀμφίθυρον πετρίνης κοίτης. 160

Χορός ποῦ γὰρ ὁ τλήμων αὐτὸς ἄπεστιν;

Χορός εὔστομʼ ἔχε, παῖ.

Νεοπτόλεμος τί τόδε;

Χορός ἀλλʼ ἔχε, τέκνον, 210

Νεοπτόλεμος λέγʼ ὅ τι.

PHI There, there! In one brief word thou hast revealed The mournful case of twain, whom I would last Have chosen to hear of as undone. Ah me! Where must one look? when these are dead, and he, Odysseus, lives,—and in a time like this, 425 That craves their presence, and his death for theirs.

Odysseus. Mir, Sohn des edlen Vaters, war als Jüngling auch Die Zunge langsam und die Hand zu Thaten schnell. Jezt durch Erfahrung reifer, seh' ich wohl: es ist Der Menschen Zunge, nicht die That, die Alles lenkt.

Neoptolemos. Was trägst du mir nun Andres, Herr, als Lügen auf? 100

Odysseus. Mit List, verlang' ich, sollst du Philoktetes fahn.

Neoptolemos. Warum mit List ihn fangen, wenn's die Rede kann?

Odysseus. Nie folgt er Reden; auch Gewalt bezwingt ihn nicht.

Neoptolemos. So zuversichtlich trozt der Mann auf seine Kraft?

Odysseus. Der unentfliehbar'n Pfeile morderfüllte Wehr - 105

Neoptolemos. Nicht ungefährlich wär' es denn, ihm nur zu nah'n?

Odysseus. Nicht, außer wenn du, wie gesagt, mit List ihn fängst.

Neoptolemos. Und eine Schande dünkte dir die Lüge nicht?

Odysseus. Nicht, wenn die Lüge Rettung mir zum Lohne bringt.

Neoptolemos. Mit welcher Stirn erkühnt man solcher Rede sich? 110

Odysseus. Bringt eine Handlung dir Gewinn, so zage nicht.

Neoptolemos. Was bringt's Gewinn mir, wenn der Mann vor Troja kommt?

Odysseus. Die Pfeile nur erobern Troja, sie allein.

Neoptolemos. Ich also nehme nicht die Stadt, wie ihr's verspracht?

Odysseus. Du ohne sie nicht, und auch sie nicht ohne dich. 115

Neoptolemos. Sie muß ich denn erjagen, wenn es also steht.

Odysseus. Zwiefachen Lohn gewinnst du, wenn du solches thust.

Neoptolemos. Und welchen? Weiß ich diesen, weigr' ich nicht die That.

Odysseus. Nun, klug und tapfer würdest du zugleich genannt.

Neoptolemos. Wohlan denn, ledig aller Scham, vollführ' ich es! 120

Odysseus. Gedenkst du nun auch dessen, was ich dir gebot?

Neoptolemos. Vertraue mir, nachdem ich's einmal dir gelobt.

Odysseus.

Philoctetes To show thee that my thoughts accord with thine, Now let me ask thee of a worthless man, 435 But passing shrewd, and voluble of tongue.

Neoptolemus For the present—since perhaps you wish to see the place on the island’s edge where he resides—survey it without fear. But when the dread traveler, who has left this dwelling, returns, step forward at my signal from time to time, and try to help as the moment may require. 145

Neoptolemus Well, here you see his home with its two portals, his rocky cell. 160

Chorus And its wretched occupant, where is he gone to?

Neoptolemus It seems clear to me, anyway, that he is plowing his way along somewhere near here in search of food. For I know of a report that this is his means of sustenance—a wretch wretchedly shooting prey with his feathered shafts—and that no one comes near to him to heal his misery. 165

Chorus Hush,boy!

Neoptolemus What is it?

Chorus But listen, son— 210

Neoptolemus To what? Tell me.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Neoptolemus

I have not seen him, but I hear he lives.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οἶκον μὲν ὁρᾷς τόνδʼ ἀμφίθυρον

πετρίνης κοίτης.
160

Χορός

ποῦ γὰρ ὁ τλήμων αὐτὸς ἄπεστιν;

Χορός

εὔστομʼ ἔχε, παῖ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί τόδε;

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ἔχε, τέκνον,
210

Νεοπτόλεμος

λέγʼ ὅ τι.

PHI

There, there! In one brief word thou hast revealed

The mournful case of twain, whom I would last

Have chosen to hear of as undone. Ah me!

Where must one look? when these are dead, and he,

Odysseus, lives,—and in a time like this,
425

That craves their presence, and his death for theirs.

Odysseus.

Mir, Sohn des edlen Vaters, war als Jüngling auch

Die Zunge langsam und die Hand zu Thaten schnell.

Jezt durch Erfahrung reifer, seh' ich wohl: es ist

Der Menschen Zunge, nicht die That, die Alles lenkt.

Neoptolemos.

Was trägst du mir nun Andres, Herr, als Lügen auf?
100

Odysseus.

Mit List, verlang' ich, sollst du Philoktetes fahn.

Neoptolemos.

Warum mit List ihn fangen, wenn's die Rede kann?

Odysseus.

Nie folgt er Reden; auch Gewalt bezwingt ihn nicht.

Neoptolemos.

So zuversichtlich trozt der Mann auf seine Kraft?

Odysseus.

Der unentfliehbar'n Pfeile morderfüllte Wehr -
105

Neoptolemos.

Nicht ungefährlich wär' es denn, ihm nur zu nah'n?

Odysseus.

Nicht, außer wenn du, wie gesagt, mit List ihn fängst.

Neoptolemos.

Und eine Schande dünkte dir die Lüge nicht?

Odysseus.

Nicht, wenn die Lüge Rettung mir zum Lohne bringt.

Neoptolemos.

Mit welcher Stirn erkühnt man solcher Rede sich?
110

Odysseus.

Bringt eine Handlung dir Gewinn, so zage nicht.

Neoptolemos.

Was bringt's Gewinn mir, wenn der Mann vor Troja kommt?

Odysseus.

Die Pfeile nur erobern Troja, sie allein.

Neoptolemos.

Ich also nehme nicht die Stadt, wie ihr's verspracht?

Odysseus.

Du ohne sie nicht, und auch sie nicht ohne dich.
115

Neoptolemos.

Sie muß ich denn erjagen, wenn es also steht.

Odysseus.

Zwiefachen Lohn gewinnst du, wenn du solches thust.

Neoptolemos.

Und welchen? Weiß ich diesen, weigr' ich nicht die That.

Odysseus.

Nun, klug und tapfer würdest du zugleich genannt.

Neoptolemos.

Wohlan denn, ledig aller Scham, vollführ' ich es!
120

Odysseus.

Gedenkst du nun auch dessen, was ich dir gebot?

Neoptolemos.

Vertraue mir, nachdem ich's einmal dir gelobt.

Philoctetes

To show thee that my thoughts accord with thine,

Now let me ask thee of a worthless man,
435

But passing shrewd, and voluble of tongue.

Neoptolemus

For the present—since perhaps you wish to see the place

on the island’s edge where he resides—survey it without fear. But when the dread traveler, who has left this dwelling, returns, step forward at my signal from time to time, and try to help as the moment may require.
145

Neoptolemus

Well, here you see his home with its two portals,

his rocky cell.
160

Chorus

And its wretched occupant, where is he gone to?

Neoptolemus

It seems clear to me, anyway, that he is plowing his way along somewhere near here in search of food. For I know of a report that

this is his means of sustenance—a wretch wretchedly shooting prey with his feathered shafts—and that no one comes near to him to heal his misery.
165

Chorus

Hush,boy!

Neoptolemus

What is it?

Chorus

But listen, son—
210

Neoptolemus

To what? Tell me.