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Philoctetes

You giver of frightening advice, what have you said?
1380

Neoptolemus

I recognize what will be best in the end for you and for me.

Philoctetes

Have you no shame before the gods for saying that?

Neoptolemus

Why should a man be ashamed of benefiting his friends?

Philoctetes

Do you mean a benefit to the Atreids, or for me?

Neoptolemus

For you, certainly, since I am your friend and speak in friendship.
1385

Philoctetes

How can that be, when you would give me up to my enemies?

Neoptolemus

Please, sir, learn to be less defiant in misfortune.

Philoctetes

You will ruin me—I know it—with these words.

Neoptolemus

Not I. But you, I say, will not understand.

Philoctetes

Do I not know already that the Atreids cast me away?
1390

Neoptolemus

They cast you out, yes, but look if they will not in turn restore you.

Philoctetes

Never—if I must first consent to see Troy .

Neoptolemus

What can I do, then if my pleading fails to persuade you of anything that I recommend?

The easiest course for me is to stop talking, and for you to live, just as you do now, without deliverance.
1395

Philoctetes

Let me bear the sufferings that are fated me. But what you promised me with your right hand in mine—to bring me home,—that promise fulfil for me, son,

and do not delay, or remind me further of Troy . I have had my fill of grief and lamentations.
1400

Philoctetes. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1898.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Philoctetes (English) (Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 4: The Philoctetes. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1898. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1380 focus

ὦ δεινὸν αἶνον αἰνέσας, τί φής ποτε;

ΝΕ.

ἃ σοί τε κἀμοὶ λῷσθ᾽ καλῶς κάλ' ὁρῶ τελούμενα.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΦΙ.

καὶ ταῦτα λέξας οὐ καταισχύνει κατ᾿ αἰσχύνηι καταισχύνη θεούς;

ΝΕ.

πῶς γάρ τις αἰσχύνοιτ᾽ οι from ει αἰσχύνοιτ' ἂν ὠφελούμενος;

ΦΙ.

λέγεις δ᾽ ᾿Ατρείδαις ὄφελος, ἢ 'π᾿ ἐμοὶ τόδε τάδε ;
1385

ΝΕ.

σοί που φίλος γ᾽ ὤν, χώ λόγος τοιόσδε μου μοι.

ΦΙ.

πῶς, ὅς γε τοῖς ἐχθροῖσιν ἐκδοῦναι θέλεις;

ΝΕ.

ὦ τάν τὰν τᾶν, διδάσκου μὴ θρασύνεσθαι κακοῖς.

ΦΙ.

ὀλεῖς με, γιγνώσκω σε, τοῖσδε τοῖς λόγοις λό(ισ)γοισ λόγοις.

ΝΕ.

οὔκουν ἔγωγε· φημὶ δ᾽ οὔ σε μανθάνειν.
1390

ΦΙ.

ἐγὼ οὐκ ᾿Ατρείδας ἔγωγ᾽ οὐκατρείδας ἐγώ γ᾽ οὐκ ἀτρείδας ἔγωγ᾽ ἀτρείδας ἐκβαλόντας οἶδά με;

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκβαλόντες εἰ πάλιν σώσουσ᾽ σώ? ουσ' σώσουσ' σώσουσί σ᾽ ὅρα.

ΦΙ.

οὐδέποθ᾽ ἑκόντα γ' ὥστε τὴν Τροίαν ἰδεῖν ἑλεῖν ἰδεῖν ἑλεῖν (γρ. ἐλθεῖν).

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΝΕ.

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἡμεῖς δρῶμεν, εἰ σε γ᾽ ἐν add λόγοις

πείσειν δυνησόμεσθα μηδὲν ὧν λέγω;
1395

ὡς ῥᾷστ᾽ ἐμοὶ μὲν μὲν τῶν λόγων λῆξαι, σὲ δὲ

ζῇν ὥσπερ ἤδη ζῇς ἄνευ σωτηρίας.

ΦΙ.

ἔα με πάσχειν ταῦθ᾽ ἅπερ παθεῖν με δεῖ·

ἃ δ᾽ ἤνεσάς μοι δεξιᾶς ἐμῆς θιγών,

πέμπειν πρὸς οἴκους, ταῦτά μοι πρᾶξον, τέκνον,
1400

καὶ μὴ βράδυνε, μηδ᾽ ἐπιμνησθῇς ἔτι

Τροίας· ἅλις γάρ μοι τεθρήνηται γόοις γρ. γόοισ λόγος.

ΝΕ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1380 focus

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ δεινὸν αἶνον αἰνέσας, τί φής ποτε;
1380

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἃ σοί τε κἀμοὶ λῷσθʼ ὁρῶ τελούμενα.

Φιλοκτήτης

καὶ ταῦτα λέξας οὐ καταισχύνει θεούς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

πῶς γάρ τις αἰσχύνοιτʼ ἂν ὠφελῶν φίλους·

Φιλοκτήτης

λέγεις δʼ Ἀτρείδαις ὄφελος ἢ ʼπʼ ἐμοὶ τόδε;

Νεοπτόλεμος

σοί που, φίλος γʼ ὤν, χὠ λόγος τοιόσδε μου.
1385

Φιλοκτήτης

πῶς, ὅς γε τοῖς ἐχθροῖσί μʼ ἐκδοῦναι θέλεις;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὦ τᾶν, διδάσκου μὴ θρασύνεσθαι κακοῖς.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὀλεῖς με, γιγνώσκω σε, τοῖσδε τοῖς λόγοις.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὔκουν ἔγωγε· φημὶ δʼ οὔ σε μανθάνειν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἐγὼ οὐκ Ἀτρείδας ἐκβαλόντας οἶδά με;
1390

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ ἐκβαλόντες εἰ πάλιν σώσουσʼ ὅρα.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐδέποθʼ ἑκόντα γʼ ὥστε τὴν Τροίαν ἰδεῖν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί δῆτʼ ἂν ἡμεῖς δρῷμεν, εἰ σέ γʼ ἐν λόγοις

πείσειν δυνησόμεσθα μηδὲν ὧν λέγω;

ὡς ῥᾷστʼ ἐμοὶ μὲν τῶν λόγων λῆξαι, σὲ δὲ
1395

ζῆν, ὥσπερ ἤδη ζῇς, ἄνευ σωτηρίας.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἔα με πάσχειν ταῦθʼ ἅπερ παθεῖν με δεῖ·

ἃ δʼ ᾔνεσάς μοι δεξιᾶς ἐμῆς θιγών,

πέμπειν πρὸς οἴκους, ταῦτά μοι πρᾶξον, τέκνον,

καὶ μὴ βράδυνε μηδʼ ἐπιμνησθῇς ἔτι
1400

Τροίας· ἅλις γάρ μοι τεθρήνηται γόοις.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1380 focus

Mean’st thou to Troy, and to the hateful sons

Of Atreus, me, with this distressful limb?

NEO

Nay, but to those that will relieve the pain

Of thy torn foot and heal thee of thy plague.

PHI

Thy words are horrible. What mean’st thou, boy?

NEO

The act I deem the noblest for us both.

PHI

Wilt thou speak so? Where is thy fear of Heaven?
1385

NEO

Why should I fear, when I see certain gain?

PHI

Gain for the sons of Atreus, or for me?

NEO

Methinks a friend should give thee friendly counsel.

PHI

Friendly, to hand me over to my foes?

NEO

Ah, be not hardened in thy misery!
1390

PHI

I know thou wilt ruin me by what thou speakest.

NEO

Not I. The case is dark to thee, I see.

PHI

I know the Atreidae cast me on this rock.

NEO

But how, if they should save thee afterward?

PHI

They ne’er shall make me see Troy with my will.

NEO

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1380 focus

schnöder, unheilvoller Rath! Was denkst du doch?
1340

Neoptolemos.

Was dir und mir zum Besten endlich dienen wird.

Philoktetes.

Und so zu reden, schämst du dich vor Göttern nicht?

Neoptolemos.

Wie sollte denn sich schämen, wer Gewinn erlangt?

Philoktetes.

Du meinst für Atreus' Söhne nur, nicht auch für mich?

Neoptolemos.

Dir wohlbefreundet, red' ich auch als Freund zu dir.
1345

Philoktetes.

Du, der mich meinen Feinden auszuliefern sinnt?

Neoptolemos.

Lieber, lern' im Ungemach nicht trozig sein.

Philoktetes.

Dein Wort, verderben will es mich ich kenne dich!

Neoptolemos.

Nein, wahrlich; du nur, sag' ich, willst es nicht verstehn.

Philoktetes.

Doch weiß ich: Atreus' Söhne, die verstießen mich.
1350

Neoptolemos.

Die dich verstießen, siehe nun, sie retten dich.

Philoktetes.

Wohl: doch mit freiem Willen seh' ich Troja nie.

Neoptolemos.

Was soll ich noch beginnen, wenn kein Wort von mir,

Wenn keine meiner Bitten dich bestimmen kann?

Am besten, ich enthalte mich des Worts, und du
1355

Lebst, wie du jezt lebst, ohne Trost und Hülfe fort.

Philoktetes.

Ja, laß mich Alles dulden, was ich dulden muß.

Doch was du mir bei meiner Rechten angelobt,

Mich heimzuführen, das gewähre mir, o Kind,

Und ohne Säumen; sprich mir nicht von Troja mehr;
1360

Denn schon zu viel klang dieser Name meinem Ohr.

Neoptolemos.

Wenn es dir gefällt, so geh'n wir.

Philoktetes.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1380 focus

Leave it ! For whom ? Foi- Troy and the

Atridse ?

These wounds forbid it.

Neoptolemus

They shall all be healed,

Where I will carry thee.

Philoctetes

An idle tale

Thou tellst me, surely ; dost thou not ?

Neoptolemus

I speak

What best may serve us both.

Philoctetes

But, speaking thus,
1385

Dost thou not fear th' oflfended gods ?
1385

Neoptolemus

Why fear them?

Can I offend the gods by doing good ?

Philoctetes

What good ? To whom? To me or to th'

Atridae?

Neoptolemus

I am thy friend, and therefore would persuade

thee.

Philoctetes

And therefore give me to my foes.

Neoptolemus

Alas !
1390

Let not misfortunes thus transport thy soul
1390

To rage and bitterness.
1390

Philoctetes

Thou wouldst destroy me.

Neoptolemus

Thou knowst me not.

Philoctetes

I know th' Atridee well.

Who left me here.

Neoptolemus

They did ; yet they perhaps,

E'en they, O Philoctetes ! may preserve thee.

Philoctetes

I never will to Troy.

Neoptolemus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1380 focus

What, to Sigæum, and the hated son

Of Atreus, with the anguish of this wound?

Neoptolemus

To those, whose skill shall stanch this putrid gore,

Heal thy disease, and free thee from thy pains.

Philoctetes

Why this inglorious measure dost thou urge?

Neoptolemus

Wou'dst thou comply, thy glory, I foresee,

It would advance, and mine.

Philoctetes

While thus thou speak'st,
1385

Dost thou not blush in reverence of the gods?
1385

Neoptolemus

Why should kind office raise a blush ?

Philoctetes

To me,

Or to th' Atridæ kind?

Neoptolemus

To thee a friend

I speak the words of friendship.

Philoctetes

To my foes

Would friendship yield me?

Neoptolemus

Learn amidst thy ills
1390

More gentle thoughts.
1390

Philoctetes

I know thee; thy soft words

Would sooth me into ruin.

Far from me

Neoptolemus

Be such design: thou dost not know-

I know

Philoctetes

The sons of Atreus left me on these rocks.

Neoptolemus

But (think on this) they wish to save thee now.

Philoctetes

Not to see Troy: my soul abhors the thought.

Neoptolemus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-731-1 αἶνον αἰνέσας ¹

mvp-comment-732-1 ἃ … λῷσθ’ ὁρῶ τελούμενα ² τελούμενα ³

mvp-comment-733-1 καὶ ταῦτα λέξας ⁴ καταισχύνει ⁵ ὠφελούμενος ⁶ ὠφελούμενος ⁷

mvp-comment-733-2 Of emendations, Heath's ὠφελουμένους ⁸ θεούς ⁹ ὠφελουμένων ¹⁰

mvp-comment-733-3 I am persuaded, then, that the fault in ὠφελούμενος ¹¹ ὠφελῶν φίλους ¹²

mvp-comment-734-1 λέγεις δ’ ¹³

mvp-comment-734-2 ἐπ’ ἐμοὶ ¹⁴ Ἀτρείδαις ¹⁵ τάδε ¹⁶ τόδε ¹⁷

mvp-comment-735-1 σοί που ¹⁸ που ¹⁹

mvp-comment-736-1 πῶς ²⁰ ὅς γε ²¹

mvp-comment-737-1 ὦ τᾶν ²²

mvp-comment-737-2 θρασύνεσθαι κακοῖς ²³

mvp-comment-738-1 ὀλεῖς με ²⁴ σε ²⁵ γιγνώσκω ²⁶ τοῖσδε τοῖς λ. ²⁷

mvp-comment-739-1 οὔκουν ἔγωγε ²⁸

mvp-comment-740-1 ἐγὼ οὐκ ²⁹

mvp-comment-741-1 οὐδέποθ’, ἑκόντα γ’ ³⁰ σώσους’ ³¹

mvp-comment-741-2 ὥστε ³²

mvp-comment-741-3 ἰδεῖν ³³ ἑλεῖν ³⁴ μολεῖν ³⁵

mvp-comment-742-1 δρῷμεν ³⁶

mvp-comment-742-2 ἐν λόγοις ³⁷

mvp-comment-743-1 πείσειν δυνησόμεσθα ³⁸ πείσειν ³⁹ πεῖσαι ⁴⁰ πείθειν ⁴¹

mvp-comment-743-2 δυνησόμεσθα … λέγω ⁴²

mvp-comment-744-1 ὡς ⁴³

mvp-comment-744-2 ῥᾷστ’ ἐμοὶ μὲν ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-745-1 πάσχειν ⁴⁵ παθεῖν ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-745-2 δεῖ ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-746-1 ᾔνεσας ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-746-2 θιγών ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-746-3 πέμπειν ⁵⁰ ἃ ⁵¹

mvp-comment-747-1 βράδυνε ⁵²

mvp-comment-747-2 τεθρήνηται ⁵³

mvp-comment-747-3 γόοις ⁵⁴ λογοις ⁵⁵ τεθρύληται ⁵⁶

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

1381. mvp-comment-911-1 * λῷσθ'] The correction of Dindorf here (see v. rr.) is right and necessary. κάλ' is a manifest MS. conjecture, based on imperfect knowledge. See L. and S. s. v. καλός, λῷστα is supplementary predicate with τελούμενα, and λῷστα τελούμενα = λῷστα ἐσόμενα εἰ τελοῖτο.

1384. mvp-comment-912-1 In speaking of the taking of Troy as an advantage gained, Neoptolemus appears to Philoctetes to take part with the Atreidae, whose glory he accounted loss. Cp. Aj. 469, 70, ἀλλ' ὧδέ γ' ᾿Ατρείδας ἂν εὐφράναιμί που. | οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτα. The expression is slightly varied. 'Do you mean advantage to the Atreidae, or do you say this with reference to me?'

1385. mvp-comment-913-1 φίλος γ' ὤν] For the nominative, see Essay on L. § 15. p. 21; i. e. σοί που φίλος γ᾽ ὤν, φίλον σοι ἔχω καὶ τὸν λόγον.

1386. mvp-comment-914-1 The change from ἐχθροίσιν to ἐχθροῖσί μ', which Dindorf adopts from Brunck, is certainly a very slight one, but the text is sufficiently clear as it stands. Cp. O. T. 461, κἂν λάβῃς ἐψευσμένον, and note, supr. 769.

1387. mvp-comment-915-1 ὦ τάν] Ср. O. T. 1145, and note. Neoptolemus has earned the right to address Philoctetes with familiar confidence. θρασύνεσθαι κακοῖς] 'To be hardened by misfortune,' so as to be unreasonably obdurate in resentment.

1388. mvp-comment-916-1 γιγνώσκω σε] Sc. ὅτι ὀλεῖς με.

1389. mvp-comment-917-1 οὔκουν] 'Not I, assure thee!' For οὖν, in giving assurance, cp. Ant. 741, σοῦ γὰρ οὖν προκήδομαι : O.T. 565, οὔκουν ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἑστῶτος οὐδαμοῦ πέλας : O. C. 651, οὔκουν πέρα γ᾽ ἂν οὐδὲν ἢ λόγῳ φέροις. φημὶ δ᾽ οὔ σε μανθάνειν] 'But I declare that you do not understand the case:'-the fact, namely, that the voyage to Troy will be for the advantage and renown of Philoctetes himself, and that the generals now mean well to him.

1390. mvp-comment-918-1 ἐγὼ οὐκ ᾿Ατρείδας] This (see v. rr.) is Dindorf's very probable correction. The reading of L has arisen, as he observes, from the confusion of ἐγὼ οὐκ and ἐγ᾽ οὐκ, two ways of writing the same thing. Cp. O. T. 1002, and v. rr.

1391. mvp-comment-919-1 Ср. O. C. 394, νῦν γὰρ θεοί σ᾽ ὀρθοῦσι, πρόσθε δ᾽ ὤλλυσαν.

1392. mvp-comment-920-1 The reading Τροίαν γ' deserves some consideration, notwithstanding the repetition of γε. Cp. O. C. 977, and v. rr.

1394. mvp-comment-921-1 πείσειν] For the assimilation of the tense of the infinitive to that of the principal verb, cp. 1242. But qy. πεῖσαι? μηδὲν ὧν λέγω] 'In nothing of what I say.' For this accusative, cp. O. C. 797, ἀλλ᾽ οἶδα γάρ σε ταῦτα μὴ πείθων, ἴθι.

1395-1396. mvp-comment-922-1 'Since the easiest course for me were that I should cease from speech, and that you should live on as you now live and get no relief.' The antithesis becomes clearer as the sentence proceeds. The full expression would be, ὡς ἔμοι μὲν ῥᾷστόν ἐστιν, ἐμὲ μέν, κ.τ.λ. See Essay on L. § 41. p. 78. In this speech Neoptolemus casts 'one last lingering look' at the cherished object of his ambition. But before Philoctetes has again ceased speaking, his resignation is complete.

1397. mvp-comment-923-1 Ср. O. C. 1432 foll., Πολυνείκης. καὶ μὴ μ' ἐπίσχῃς γ'. ἀλλ᾿ ἐμοὶ μὲν ἤδ᾽ ὁδός, κ.τ.λ.

1398-1399. mvp-comment-924-1 ἃ.. πέμπειν] For this apposition or epexegesis, cp. supr. 1355, 6. δεξιᾶς.. θιγών] This was Philoctetes' understanding of supr. 813; cp. 941, 2.

1400. mvp-comment-925-1 βράδυνε] Sc. τὸ πρᾶγμα.

1401. mvp-comment-926-1 ἅλις .. γόοις] 'That name has been enough sounded in my complaints and cries.' The other reading, which is to be gathered from L and A (see v. rr.) τεθρύλληται λόγοις, although somewhat more prosaic, is not impossible.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

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Philoctetes You giver of frightening advice, what have you said? 1380

Neoptolemus I recognize what will be best in the end for you and for me.

Philoctetes Have you no shame before the gods for saying that?

Neoptolemus Why should a man be ashamed of benefiting his friends?

Philoctetes Do you mean a benefit to the Atreids, or for me?

Neoptolemus For you, certainly, since I am your friend and speak in friendship. 1385

Philoctetes How can that be, when you would give me up to my enemies?

Neoptolemus Please, sir, learn to be less defiant in misfortune.

Philoctetes You will ruin me—I know it—with these words.

Neoptolemus Not I. But you, I say, will not understand.

Philoctetes Do I not know already that the Atreids cast me away? 1390

Neoptolemus They cast you out, yes, but look if they will not in turn restore you.

Philoctetes Never—if I must first consent to see Troy .

Neoptolemus What can I do, then if my pleading fails to persuade you of anything that I recommend? The easiest course for me is to stop talking, and for you to live, just as you do now, without deliverance. 1395

Philoctetes Let me bear the sufferings that are fated me. But what you promised me with your right hand in mine—to bring me home,—that promise fulfil for me, son, and do not delay, or remind me further of Troy . I have had my fill of grief and lamentations. 1400

Current edition Experimental

ὦ δεινὸν αἶνον αἰνέσας, τί φής ποτε;

ΝΕ. ἃ σοί τε κἀμοὶ λῷσθ᾽ καλῶς κάλ' ὁρῶ τελούμενα.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΦΙ. καὶ ταῦτα λέξας οὐ καταισχύνει κατ᾿ αἰσχύνηι καταισχύνη θεούς;

ΝΕ. πῶς γάρ τις αἰσχύνοιτ᾽ οι from ει αἰσχύνοιτ' ἂν ὠφελούμενος;

ΦΙ. λέγεις δ᾽ ᾿Ατρείδαις ὄφελος, ἢ 'π᾿ ἐμοὶ τόδε τάδε ; 1385

ΝΕ. σοί που φίλος γ᾽ ὤν, χώ λόγος τοιόσδε μου μοι.

ΦΙ. πῶς, ὅς γε τοῖς ἐχθροῖσιν ἐκδοῦναι θέλεις;

ΝΕ. ὦ τάν τὰν τᾶν, διδάσκου μὴ θρασύνεσθαι κακοῖς.

ΦΙ. ὀλεῖς με, γιγνώσκω σε, τοῖσδε τοῖς λόγοις λό(ισ)γοισ λόγοις.

ΝΕ. οὔκουν ἔγωγε· φημὶ δ᾽ οὔ σε μανθάνειν. 1390

ΦΙ. ἐγὼ οὐκ ᾿Ατρείδας ἔγωγ᾽ οὐκατρείδας ἐγώ γ᾽ οὐκ ἀτρείδας ἔγωγ᾽ ἀτρείδας ἐκβαλόντας οἶδά με;

ΝΕ. ἀλλ᾽ ἐκβαλόντες εἰ πάλιν σώσουσ᾽ σώ? ουσ' σώσουσ' σώσουσί σ᾽ ὅρα.

ΦΙ. οὐδέποθ᾽ ἑκόντα γ' ὥστε τὴν Τροίαν ἰδεῖν ἑλεῖν ἰδεῖν ἑλεῖν (γρ. ἐλθεῖν).

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΝΕ.

Φιλοκτήτης ὦ δεινὸν αἶνον αἰνέσας, τί φής ποτε; 1380

Νεοπτόλεμος ἃ σοί τε κἀμοὶ λῷσθʼ ὁρῶ τελούμενα.

Φιλοκτήτης καὶ ταῦτα λέξας οὐ καταισχύνει θεούς;

Νεοπτόλεμος πῶς γάρ τις αἰσχύνοιτʼ ἂν ὠφελῶν φίλους·

Φιλοκτήτης λέγεις δʼ Ἀτρείδαις ὄφελος ἢ ʼπʼ ἐμοὶ τόδε;

Νεοπτόλεμος σοί που, φίλος γʼ ὤν, χὠ λόγος τοιόσδε μου. 1385

Φιλοκτήτης πῶς, ὅς γε τοῖς ἐχθροῖσί μʼ ἐκδοῦναι θέλεις;

Νεοπτόλεμος ὦ τᾶν, διδάσκου μὴ θρασύνεσθαι κακοῖς.

Φιλοκτήτης ὀλεῖς με, γιγνώσκω σε, τοῖσδε τοῖς λόγοις.

Νεοπτόλεμος οὔκουν ἔγωγε· φημὶ δʼ οὔ σε μανθάνειν.

Φιλοκτήτης ἐγὼ οὐκ Ἀτρείδας ἐκβαλόντας οἶδά με; 1390

Νεοπτόλεμος ἀλλʼ ἐκβαλόντες εἰ πάλιν σώσουσʼ ὅρα.

Φιλοκτήτης οὐδέποθʼ ἑκόντα γʼ ὥστε τὴν Τροίαν ἰδεῖν.

Mean’st thou to Troy, and to the hateful sons Of Atreus, me, with this distressful limb?

NEO Nay, but to those that will relieve the pain Of thy torn foot and heal thee of thy plague.

PHI Thy words are horrible. What mean’st thou, boy?

NEO The act I deem the noblest for us both.

PHI Wilt thou speak so? Where is thy fear of Heaven? 1385

NEO Why should I fear, when I see certain gain?

PHI Gain for the sons of Atreus, or for me?

NEO Methinks a friend should give thee friendly counsel.

PHI Friendly, to hand me over to my foes?

NEO Ah, be not hardened in thy misery! 1390

PHI I know thou wilt ruin me by what thou speakest.

NEO Not I. The case is dark to thee, I see.

PHI I know the Atreidae cast me on this rock.

NEO But how, if they should save thee afterward?

PHI They ne’er shall make me see Troy with my will.

NEO

schnöder, unheilvoller Rath! Was denkst du doch? 1340

Neoptolemos. Was dir und mir zum Besten endlich dienen wird.

Philoktetes. Und so zu reden, schämst du dich vor Göttern nicht?

Neoptolemos. Wie sollte denn sich schämen, wer Gewinn erlangt?

Philoktetes. Du meinst für Atreus' Söhne nur, nicht auch für mich?

Neoptolemos. Dir wohlbefreundet, red' ich auch als Freund zu dir. 1345

Philoktetes. Du, der mich meinen Feinden auszuliefern sinnt?

Neoptolemos. Lieber, lern' im Ungemach nicht trozig sein.

Philoktetes. Dein Wort, verderben will es mich ich kenne dich!

Neoptolemos. Nein, wahrlich; du nur, sag' ich, willst es nicht verstehn.

Philoktetes. Doch weiß ich: Atreus' Söhne, die verstießen mich. 1350

Neoptolemos. Die dich verstießen, siehe nun, sie retten dich.

Philoktetes. Wohl: doch mit freiem Willen seh' ich Troja nie.

Neoptolemos. Was soll ich noch beginnen, wenn kein Wort von mir, Wenn keine meiner Bitten dich bestimmen kann? Am besten, ich enthalte mich des Worts, und du 1355 Lebst, wie du jezt lebst, ohne Trost und Hülfe fort.

Philoktetes. Ja, laß mich Alles dulden, was ich dulden muß. Doch was du mir bei meiner Rechten angelobt, Mich heimzuführen, das gewähre mir, o Kind, Und ohne Säumen; sprich mir nicht von Troja mehr; 1360 Denn schon zu viel klang dieser Name meinem Ohr.

Neoptolemos. Wenn es dir gefällt, so geh'n wir.

Philoktetes.

Philoctetes

You giver of frightening advice, what have you said?
1380

Neoptolemus

I recognize what will be best in the end for you and for me.

Philoctetes

Have you no shame before the gods for saying that?

Neoptolemus

Why should a man be ashamed of benefiting his friends?

Philoctetes

Do you mean a benefit to the Atreids, or for me?

Neoptolemus

For you, certainly, since I am your friend and speak in friendship.
1385

Philoctetes

How can that be, when you would give me up to my enemies?

Neoptolemus

Please, sir, learn to be less defiant in misfortune.

Philoctetes

You will ruin me—I know it—with these words.

Neoptolemus

Not I. But you, I say, will not understand.

Philoctetes

Do I not know already that the Atreids cast me away?
1390

Neoptolemus

They cast you out, yes, but look if they will not in turn restore you.

Philoctetes

Never—if I must first consent to see Troy .

Neoptolemus

What can I do, then if my pleading fails to persuade you of anything that I recommend?

The easiest course for me is to stop talking, and for you to live, just as you do now, without deliverance.
1395

Philoctetes

Let me bear the sufferings that are fated me. But what you promised me with your right hand in mine—to bring me home,—that promise fulfil for me, son,

and do not delay, or remind me further of Troy . I have had my fill of grief and lamentations.
1400

ΝΕ.

ἃ σοί τε κἀμοὶ λῷσθ᾽ καλῶς κάλ' ὁρῶ τελούμενα.

ΦΙ.

καὶ ταῦτα λέξας οὐ καταισχύνει κατ᾿ αἰσχύνηι καταισχύνη θεούς;

ΝΕ.

πῶς γάρ τις αἰσχύνοιτ᾽ οι from ει αἰσχύνοιτ' ἂν ὠφελούμενος;

ΦΙ.

λέγεις δ᾽ ᾿Ατρείδαις ὄφελος, ἢ 'π᾿ ἐμοὶ τόδε τάδε ;
1385

ΝΕ.

σοί που φίλος γ᾽ ὤν, χώ λόγος τοιόσδε μου μοι.

ΦΙ.

πῶς, ὅς γε τοῖς ἐχθροῖσιν ἐκδοῦναι θέλεις;

ΝΕ.

ὦ τάν τὰν τᾶν, διδάσκου μὴ θρασύνεσθαι κακοῖς.

ΦΙ.

ὀλεῖς με, γιγνώσκω σε, τοῖσδε τοῖς λόγοις λό(ισ)γοισ λόγοις.

ΝΕ.

οὔκουν ἔγωγε· φημὶ δ᾽ οὔ σε μανθάνειν.
1390

ΦΙ.

ἐγὼ οὐκ ᾿Ατρείδας ἔγωγ᾽ οὐκατρείδας ἐγώ γ᾽ οὐκ ἀτρείδας ἔγωγ᾽ ἀτρείδας ἐκβαλόντας οἶδά με;

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκβαλόντες εἰ πάλιν σώσουσ᾽ σώ? ουσ' σώσουσ' σώσουσί σ᾽ ὅρα.

ΦΙ.

οὐδέποθ᾽ ἑκόντα γ' ὥστε τὴν Τροίαν ἰδεῖν ἑλεῖν ἰδεῖν ἑλεῖν (γρ. ἐλθεῖν).

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ δεινὸν αἶνον αἰνέσας, τί φής ποτε;
1380

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἃ σοί τε κἀμοὶ λῷσθʼ ὁρῶ τελούμενα.

Φιλοκτήτης

καὶ ταῦτα λέξας οὐ καταισχύνει θεούς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

πῶς γάρ τις αἰσχύνοιτʼ ἂν ὠφελῶν φίλους·

Φιλοκτήτης

λέγεις δʼ Ἀτρείδαις ὄφελος ἢ ʼπʼ ἐμοὶ τόδε;

Νεοπτόλεμος

σοί που, φίλος γʼ ὤν, χὠ λόγος τοιόσδε μου.
1385

Φιλοκτήτης

πῶς, ὅς γε τοῖς ἐχθροῖσί μʼ ἐκδοῦναι θέλεις;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὦ τᾶν, διδάσκου μὴ θρασύνεσθαι κακοῖς.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὀλεῖς με, γιγνώσκω σε, τοῖσδε τοῖς λόγοις.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὔκουν ἔγωγε· φημὶ δʼ οὔ σε μανθάνειν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἐγὼ οὐκ Ἀτρείδας ἐκβαλόντας οἶδά με;
1390

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ ἐκβαλόντες εἰ πάλιν σώσουσʼ ὅρα.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐδέποθʼ ἑκόντα γʼ ὥστε τὴν Τροίαν ἰδεῖν.

Mean’st thou to Troy, and to the hateful sons

Of Atreus, me, with this distressful limb?

NEO

Nay, but to those that will relieve the pain

Of thy torn foot and heal thee of thy plague.

PHI

Thy words are horrible. What mean’st thou, boy?

NEO

The act I deem the noblest for us both.

PHI

Wilt thou speak so? Where is thy fear of Heaven?
1385

NEO

Why should I fear, when I see certain gain?

PHI

Gain for the sons of Atreus, or for me?

NEO

Methinks a friend should give thee friendly counsel.

PHI

Friendly, to hand me over to my foes?

NEO

Ah, be not hardened in thy misery!
1390

PHI

I know thou wilt ruin me by what thou speakest.

NEO

Not I. The case is dark to thee, I see.

PHI

I know the Atreidae cast me on this rock.

NEO

But how, if they should save thee afterward?

PHI

They ne’er shall make me see Troy with my will.

schnöder, unheilvoller Rath! Was denkst du doch?
1340

Neoptolemos.

Was dir und mir zum Besten endlich dienen wird.

Philoktetes.

Und so zu reden, schämst du dich vor Göttern nicht?

Neoptolemos.

Wie sollte denn sich schämen, wer Gewinn erlangt?

Philoktetes.

Du meinst für Atreus' Söhne nur, nicht auch für mich?

Neoptolemos.

Dir wohlbefreundet, red' ich auch als Freund zu dir.
1345

Philoktetes.

Du, der mich meinen Feinden auszuliefern sinnt?

Neoptolemos.

Lieber, lern' im Ungemach nicht trozig sein.

Philoktetes.

Dein Wort, verderben will es mich ich kenne dich!

Neoptolemos.

Nein, wahrlich; du nur, sag' ich, willst es nicht verstehn.

Philoktetes.

Doch weiß ich: Atreus' Söhne, die verstießen mich.
1350

Neoptolemos.

Die dich verstießen, siehe nun, sie retten dich.

Philoktetes.

Wohl: doch mit freiem Willen seh' ich Troja nie.

Neoptolemos.

Was soll ich noch beginnen, wenn kein Wort von mir,

Wenn keine meiner Bitten dich bestimmen kann?

Am besten, ich enthalte mich des Worts, und du
1355

Lebst, wie du jezt lebst, ohne Trost und Hülfe fort.

Philoktetes.

Ja, laß mich Alles dulden, was ich dulden muß.

Doch was du mir bei meiner Rechten angelobt,

Mich heimzuführen, das gewähre mir, o Kind,

Und ohne Säumen; sprich mir nicht von Troja mehr;
1360

Denn schon zu viel klang dieser Name meinem Ohr.

Neoptolemos.

Wenn es dir gefällt, so geh'n wir.

Leave it ! For whom ? Foi- Troy and the

Atridse ?

These wounds forbid it.

Neoptolemus

They shall all be healed,

Where I will carry thee.

Philoctetes

An idle tale

Thou tellst me, surely ; dost thou not ?

Neoptolemus

I speak

What best may serve us both.

Philoctetes

But, speaking thus,
1385

Dost thou not fear th' oflfended gods ?
1385

Neoptolemus

Why fear them?

Can I offend the gods by doing good ?

Philoctetes

What good ? To whom? To me or to th'

Atridae?

Neoptolemus

I am thy friend, and therefore would persuade

thee.

Philoctetes

And therefore give me to my foes.