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He's gone to guard each avenue ; and now,
If thou hast aught of moment to impart
Touching our purpose, say it ; I attend
He's gone to guard each avenue ; and now,
If thou hast aught of moment to impart
Touching our purpose, say it ; I attend
Ulysses
Son of Achilles, mark me well ! Eemember,
What we are doing not on strength alone,
Or courage, but on conduct will depend ;
Therefore if aught uncommon be proposed,
Strange to thy ears and adverse to thy nature,
Keflect that 'tis thy duty to comply.
And act conjunctive with me.
Son of Achilles, mark me well ! Eemember,
What we are doing not on strength alone,
Or courage, but on conduct will depend ;
Therefore if aught uncommon be proposed,
Strange to thy ears and adverse to thy nature,
Keflect that 'tis thy duty to comply.
And act conjunctive with me.
Neoptolemus
Well, what is it ?
100
Will be thy task. When he shall ask thee who
100
And what thou art, Achilles' son reply —
100
Thus far within the verge of truth, no more.
100
Add that resentment fired thee to forsake
100
The Grecian fleet, and seek thy native soil.
100
Unkindly used by those who long with vows
100
Had sought thy aid to humble haughty Troy,
100
And when thou cam'st, ungrateful as they were,
100
The arms of great Achilles, thy just right,
100
Gave to Ulysses. Here thy bitter taunts
100
And sharp invectives Uberally bestow
100
On me. Say what thou wilt, I shall forgive.
100
And Greece will not forgive thee if thou dost not ;
100
For against Troy thy efibrts are all vain
100
Without his arrows. Safely thou mayst hold
100
Friendship and converse wdth him, but I cannot.
100
Thou wert not with us when the war began,
100
Nor bound by solemn oath to join our host,
100
lOO
100
As I was \ me he knows, and if he find
100
That I am with thee, we are both undone.
100
They must be ours then, these all-conquering arms ;
100
Remember that. I know thy noble nature
100
Abhors the thought of treachery or fraud.
100
But what a glorious prize is victory !
100
Therefore be bold : we will be just hereafter.
100
Give to deceit and me a little portion
100
Of one short day, and for thy future life
100
Be called the holiest, worthiest, best of men.
100
Ned. What but to hear alarms my conscious soul.
100
Son of Laeites, I shall never practise.
100
I was not born to flatter or betray ;
100
Nor I, nor he — the voice of fame reports —
100
Who gave me birth. What open arms can do
100
Behold me prompt to act, but ne'er to fraud
100
Will I descend. Sure we can more than match
100
In strength a foe thus lame and impotent.
100
I came to be a helpmate to thee, not
100
A base betrayer ; and, O king ! believe me.
100
Rather, much rather would I fall by virtue
100
Than rise by guilt to certain victory.
100
TJly. O noble youth ! and worthy of thy sire !
100
When I like thee was young, like thee of strength
100
And courage boastful, little did I deem
100
Of human policy ; but long experience
100
Hath taught me, son, 'tia not the powerful arm.
100
But soft enchanting tongue that governs all.
100
Well, what is it ?
100
Will be thy task. When he shall ask thee who
100
And what thou art, Achilles' son reply —
100
Thus far within the verge of truth, no more.
100
Add that resentment fired thee to forsake
100
The Grecian fleet, and seek thy native soil.
100
Unkindly used by those who long with vows
100
Had sought thy aid to humble haughty Troy,
100
And when thou cam'st, ungrateful as they were,
100
The arms of great Achilles, thy just right,
100
Gave to Ulysses. Here thy bitter taunts
100
And sharp invectives Uberally bestow
100
On me. Say what thou wilt, I shall forgive.
100
And Greece will not forgive thee if thou dost not ;
100
For against Troy thy efibrts are all vain
100
Without his arrows. Safely thou mayst hold
100
Friendship and converse wdth him, but I cannot.
100
Thou wert not with us when the war began,
100
Nor bound by solemn oath to join our host,
100
lOO
100
As I was \ me he knows, and if he find
100
That I am with thee, we are both undone.
100
They must be ours then, these all-conquering arms ;
100
Remember that. I know thy noble nature
100
Abhors the thought of treachery or fraud.
100
But what a glorious prize is victory !
100
Therefore be bold : we will be just hereafter.
100
Give to deceit and me a little portion
100
Of one short day, and for thy future life
100
Be called the holiest, worthiest, best of men.
100
Ned. What but to hear alarms my conscious soul.
100
Son of Laeites, I shall never practise.
100
I was not born to flatter or betray ;
100
Nor I, nor he — the voice of fame reports —
100
Who gave me birth. What open arms can do
100
Behold me prompt to act, but ne'er to fraud
100
Will I descend. Sure we can more than match
100
In strength a foe thus lame and impotent.
100
I came to be a helpmate to thee, not
100
A base betrayer ; and, O king ! believe me.
100
Rather, much rather would I fall by virtue
100
Than rise by guilt to certain victory.
100
TJly. O noble youth ! and worthy of thy sire !
100
When I like thee was young, like thee of strength
100
And courage boastful, little did I deem
100
Of human policy ; but long experience
100
Hath taught me, son, 'tia not the powerful arm.
100
But soft enchanting tongue that governs all.
100
Neoptolemus
And thou wouldst have me tell an odious false-
hood ?
XJly. He must be gained by fraud.
And thou wouldst have me tell an odious false-
hood ?
XJly. He must be gained by fraud.
Neoptolemus
By fraud ? And why
Not by persuasion?
By fraud ? And why
Not by persuasion?
Ulysses
He'll not listen to it ;
And force were vainer still.
He'll not listen to it ;
And force were vainer still.
Neoptolemus
Ned. What mighty power
Hath he to boast?
Ned. What mighty power
Hath he to boast?
Ulysses
His arrows winged with death
105
Inevitable.
105
His arrows winged with death
105
Inevitable.
105
Neoptolemus
Then it were not safe
E'en to approach him.
Then it were not safe
E'en to approach him.
Ulysses
No j unless by fraud
He be secured.
No j unless by fraud
He be secured.
Neoptolemus
And thinkst thou 'tis not base
To tell a lie then ?
And thinkst thou 'tis not base
To tell a lie then ?
Ulysses
Not if on that lie
Depends our safety.
Not if on that lie
Depends our safety.
Neoptolemus
Who shall dare to tell it
110
Without a blush?
110
Who shall dare to tell it
110
Without a blush?
110
Ulysses
We need not blush at aught
That may promote our interest and success.
We need not blush at aught
That may promote our interest and success.
Neoptolemus
But where 's the interest that should bias me?
Come he or not to Troy, imports it aught
To Neoptolemus ?
But where 's the interest that should bias me?
Come he or not to Troy, imports it aught
To Neoptolemus ?
Ulysses
Troy cannot fall
Without his arrows.
Troy cannot fall
Without his arrows.
Neoptolemus
Saidst thou not that I
Was destined to destroy her ?
Saidst thou not that I
Was destined to destroy her ?
Ulysses
Without them
115
Naught canst thou do, and they without thee nothing.
115
Without them
115
Naught canst thou do, and they without thee nothing.
115
Neoptolemus
Then I must have them.
Then I must have them.
Ulysses
When thou hast, remember
A double prize awaits thee.
When thou hast, remember
A double prize awaits thee.
Neoptolemus
What, Ulysses?
What, Ulysses?
Ulysses
The glorious names of vaUant and of wise.
The glorious names of vaUant and of wise.
Neoptolemus
Away ! I'll do it. Thoughts of guilt or shame
120
No more appal me.
120
Away ! I'll do it. Thoughts of guilt or shame
120
No more appal me.
120
Ulysses
Wilt thou do it then ?
Wilt thou remember what I told thee of ?
Wilt thou do it then ?
Wilt thou remember what I told thee of ?
Neoptolemus
Depend on 't j I have promised — that 's sufficient.
Depend on 't j I have promised — that 's sufficient.
Ulysses
Philoctetes. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.