Sophocles, Philoctetes, Thomas Francklin (Translator), 92

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Philoctetes
468

Now, by the memory of thy lionoured sire,
465

By thy loved mother, ])y whate'er remains
465

On earth most dear to thee, oh ! hear me now.
465

Thy suppliant ! Do not, do not thus forsake me,

Alone, oppressed, deserted, as thou seest.

In this sad place. I shall, I know it must, be

A burthen to thee. But, oh ! bear it kindly \

For ever doth the noble mind abhor

Th' ungenerous deed, and loves humanity ;

Disgrace attends thee if thou dost forsake me.

If not, immortal fame rewards thy goodness.

Thou mayst convey me safe to CEta's shores

In one short day ; I'll trouble you no longer.
470

Hide mo in any part where I may least
470

Molest you. Hear me ! By the guardian god
470

Of the poor suppliant, all protecting Jove,

I beg. Behold me at thy feet, infirm,

And wretched as I am, I clasp thy knees.

Leave me not here then, where there is no mark

Of human footstep — take me to thy home !

Or to Eubooa's port, to CEta, thence

Of Sperchius' gentle stream, to meet my father,

If yet he lives ; for, oh ! I begged him oft

By those who hither came, to fetch me hence —

Or is he dead, or they neglectful bent
475

Their hasty course to their own native soil.
475

Be thou my better guide ! Pity and save

The poor and wretched. Think, my son, how frail

And full of danger is the state of man —

Now prosperous, now adverse. Who feels no ills

Should therefore fear them ; and when fortune smiles

Be doubly cautious, lest destruction come

Remorseless on him, and he fall unpitied.

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)) — 92 focus

ἡμᾶς τοσούσδε τοσούσδε τοσούσδε πρὸς βίαν χειρώσεται.

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)) — 92 focus

NEO

He, too, was gone. I’ll teach thee in a word

One truth for all. War doth not willingly

Snatch off the wicked, but still takes the good.

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)) — 92 focus

Neoptolemus

I saw him not, but heard that yet he lives.

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-256-1 πλοῦν ἡμὶν εἴκῃ ¹ πλοῦν ² πλεῖν ³

mvp-comment-257-1 καιρὸς ⁴ καλεῖ ⁵

mvp-comment-258-1 πλοῦν … σκοπεῖν ⁶

mvp-comment-258-2 μὴ )ξ ἀπόπτου ⁷

mvp-comment-259-1 πρός νύν σε πατρὸς ⁸ πρός τ’ εἴ τι ⁹

mvp-comment-260-1 ἱκέτης ¹⁰ ἱκνοῦμαι ¹¹

mvp-comment-261-1 οἵοις ὁρᾷς … ἐνναίοντα ¹² ὅσοισί τ’ ἐξήκουσας ¹³

mvp-comment-262-1 ἐν παρέργῳ θοῦ με ¹⁴

mvp-comment-262-2 ἐν παρέργῳ ¹⁵

mvp-comment-262-3 δυσχέρεια ¹⁶

mvp-comment-263-1 ἔξοιδα ¹⁷

mvp-comment-263-2 φορήματος ¹⁸

mvp-comment-264-1 τό τ’ αἰσχρὸν ¹⁹ εὐκλεές ²⁰ εὐκλεές ²¹ τοῖσι γενναίοισι ²²

mvp-comment-265-1 ἐκλιπόντι τοῦτ’ ²³

mvp-comment-265-2 ὄνειδος ²⁴ οὐ καλόν ²⁵

mvp-comment-266-1 πλεῖστον ²⁶

mvp-comment-266-2 μόλω )γὼ ²⁷

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.

453-465. mvp-comment-324-1 Neoptolemus, while still professing hatred of Troy, uses language that is calculated to excite to the utmost the desire of Philoctetes to be taken home. He addresses him with reference to his father and the sacred hill (infr. 729), where he saw the last of Heracles. He speaks of his own isle of Scyros by name, and affects to look forward to the happiness of an unambitious home. He points to the departure of his vessel as imminent.

461. mvp-comment-328-1 He again reminds Philoctetes of his father, this time by name.

462. mvp-comment-329-1 ὡς μέγιστα] The slight exaggeration shows Neoptolemus' feeling of the hollowness of this farewell.

463. mvp-comment-330-1 ὡς αὐτὸς θέλεις] Cp. Od. 6. 180, σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τόσα δοῖεν, ὅσα φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς.

464-465. mvp-comment-331-1 ὡς .. ὁρμώμεθα] 'That we may sail at whatever moment Heaven vouchsafes to yield us a fair voyage.' Cp. Od. 9. 138, 9, εἰσόκε ναυτέων | θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἐπιπνεύσωσιν ἀῆται. The wind is favourable for the voyage to Troy, but not for that to Scyros. Cp. infr. 639, 40, 855, 1450, 1.

466. mvp-comment-332-1 καιρός] 'The moment calls upon us,' cp. infr. 1450; καιρός here probably refers to the time of day. Should the wind now shift, he might hope to reach Scyros before night-fall. It cannot mean, 'The chance of a favouring breeze invites us.' Cp. infr. 639, 40.

467. mvp-comment-333-1 πλοῦν.. σκοπεῖν] ‘Τo watch the opportunity of sailing not from far off but close at hand.' Cp. Thuc. 4. 23, σκοποῦντες καιρόν, εἴ τις παραπέσοι, ὥστε τοὺς ἄνδρας σῶσαι: Eur. Hec. 901, μένειν ἀνάγκη πλοῦν ὁρῶντας ἡσύχους. We have here another instance of indirect expression. See Essay on L. § 42. p. 79. Οη ἐξ ἀπόπτου, see Aj. 15, and note.

468ff. mvp-comment-334-1 The moment, for which the preceding scene has prepared the spectator, is now come. Philoctetes' agony of supplication is made more pathetic by our knowledge that he is 'working against his own desire,' and running thus eagerly 'to meet what he would most avoid.' πρός ... προσφιλές] Cp. О. С. 250, πρός σ' ὅ τι σοι φίλον ἐκ σέθεν ἄντομαι, and note: Od. 10. 66, πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν.

472. mvp-comment-335-1 ὅσοισί τ᾽ ἐξήκουσας] Viz. supr. 263-313; cp. infr. 591, ἅπερ κλύεις.

473. mvp-comment-336-1 ἀλλ᾽ ἐν παρέργῳ θοῦ με] (1) 'But stow me away' (or 'dispose of me') * as a supernumerary. θοῦ, sc. ἐν τῇ νηΐ: cp. infr. 481, ἐμβαλοῦ μ᾿ ὅπῃ θέλεις (sc. τῆς νεώς). ἐν παρέργῳ, sc. τῶν φορουμένων: cp. Eur. El. 63, πάρεργ Ορέστην κἀμὲ ποιεῖται δόμων.

474. mvp-comment-337-1 'Indeed, as I well know, much annoyance is involved in such a freight.' δυσχέρεια contains the chief predicate. For the genitive, see E. on L. § 9. p. 12, 1a. This line is strangely suspected by Nauck, It exactly expresses the humbleness of Philoctetes in his extreme need.

475-476. mvp-comment-338-1 τοῖσι . . εὐκλεές] Surely the noble heart hates what is base, and appreciates the glory of kindness.' εὐκλεές, while opposed to ἐχθρόν, is partly suggested by αἰσχρόν, so that the whole argument, if drawn out at length, would be τὸ μὲν αἰσχρὸν ἐχθρόν, τὸ δὲ εὐκλεὲς φίλον, τὸ δέ γε χρηστὸν εὐκλεές. Philoctetes perceives that a noble youth like Neoptolemus must be ambitious of the purest renown.

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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.

NEO He, too, was gone. I’ll teach thee in a word One truth for all. War doth not willingly Snatch off the wicked, but still takes the good.

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.

Neoptolemus I saw him not, but heard that yet he lives.

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

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.

NEO

He, too, was gone. I’ll teach thee in a word

One truth for all. War doth not willingly

Snatch off the wicked, but still takes the good.

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.

Neoptolemus

I saw him not, but heard that yet he lives.

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.