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Philoctetes

I did not mean him; there was one Thersites, who could never be content to speak once and briefly, even though no one wanted him to speak at all. Do you know if he is alive?

Neoptolemus

I never saw him, but I heard that he is still alive.
445

Philoctetes

He would be—no evil thing has ever been known to perish. No, the gods take excellent care of their kind. They find a strange joy in turning back from Hades all things criminal

and crooked, while they are always dispatching the just and the good from life. How am I to regard these doings? How can I praise them, when in the very act of praising the ways of the gods, I find that the gods are evil?
450

Neoptolemus

I, at least, son of Oetean Poeas, will be on my guard hereafter against Ilium

and the Atreids, and look on them only from afar. And where the worse man is stronger than the good, where nobility goes to ruin and the vile man dominates—among such men I will never make my friends. No, rocky Scyros shall suffice for me
455

from now on to make me delight in my home. Now to my ship! And you, son of Poeas, farewell—as best you can, farewell! May the gods free you of your disease, just as you wish! But we must be going, so that we
460

may set sail whenever the god permits our voyage.
465

Philoctetes

Are you setting out already, son?

Neoptolemus

Yes, since opportunity bids us watch near our ship for a fair wind, rather than from afar.

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)) — 441 focus

ποίου γε τούτου πλήν γ' Ὀδυσσέως ἐρεῖς;

ΦΙ.

οὐ τοῦτον εἶπον, ἀλλὰ Θερσίτης τις ἦν,

ὃς οὐκ ἂν εἴλετ᾽ εἰσάπαξ εἰσάπαξ εἰπεῖν, ὅπου

μηδεὶς ἐῴη ἐὼν ἐώη ? ἐψη· τοῦτον οἶσθ᾽ εἰ ζῶν κυρεῖ;
440

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΝΕ.

οὐκ εἶδον αὐτόν, ἠσθόμην δ᾽ ἔτ᾽ δέ τ' δ᾽ ἔτ' ὄντα νιν.

ΦΙ.

ἔμελλ᾽· ἐπεὶ οὐδέπω κακόν γ᾿ ἀπώλετο,

ἀλλ᾽ εὐ περιστέλλουσιν αὐτὰ δαίμονες,

καί πως καὶ πῶσ καί πως τὰ μὲν πανοῦργα καὶ παλιντριβῆ παλιντριβῆ(ς) παλιντριβῆ

χαίρουσ᾽ ἀναστρέφοντες ἐξ "Αιδου, τὰ δὲ
445

δίκαια καὶ τὰ χρήστ᾽ χρῆστ᾽ χρήστ᾽ ἀποστέλλουσ᾽ ἀεί.

ποῦ χρὴ χρῆ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα, ποῦ δ᾽ αἰνεῖν, ὅταν

τὰ θεῖ᾽ ἐπαινῶν τοὺς θεοὺς εὕρω κακούς;

ΝΕ.

ἐγὼ μέν, ὦ γένεθλον Οἰταίου πατρός,

τὸ λοιπὸν ἤδη τηλόθεν τό τ᾿ Ἴλιον
450

καὶ τοὺς ᾿Ατρείδας εἰσορῶν φυλάξομαι·

ὅπου θ᾽ θ' θ' ὁ χείρων τἀγαθοῦ μεῖζον σθένει

κἀποφθίνει τὰ χρηστὰ χώ δεινὸς κρατεῖ,

τούτους ἐγὼ τοὺς ἄνδρας οὐ στέρξω ποτέ.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἡ πετραία Σκῦρος ἐξαρκοῦσά μοι
455

ἔσται τὸ λοιπόν, ὥστε τέρπεσθαι δόμῳ.

νῦν δ᾽ εἶμι πρὸς ναῦν. καὶ σύ, Ποίαντος τέκνον,

χαῖρ᾽ ὡς μέγιστα, χαῖρε· καί σε δαίμονες

νόσου μεταστήσειαν, ὡς αὐτὸς θέλεις.

ἡμεῖς δ᾽ ἴωμεν, ὡς ὁπηνίκ᾽ ἂν θεὸς
460

πλοῦν ἡμὶν εἴκῃ ἥκη εἴκῃ ἥκει, τηνικαῦθ᾽ ὁρμώμεθα.

ΦΙ.

ἤδη, τέκνον, στέλλεσθε στέλεσθε στέλλεσθε?

NE.

καιρὸς γὰρ καλεῖ

πλοῦν μὴ ἐξ ἀπόπτου μᾶλλον ἢ ἐγγύθεν σκοπεῖν.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 441 focus

Νεοπτόλεμος

ποίου δὲ τούτου πλήν γʼ Ὀδυσσέως ἐρεῖς;

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐ τοῦτον εἶπον, ἀλλὰ Θερσίτης τις ἦν,

ὃς οὐκ ἂν εἵλετʼ εἰσάπαξ εἰπεῖν, ὅπου

μηδεὶς ἐῴη· τοῦτον οἶσθʼ εἰ ζῶν κυρεῖ;

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐκ εἶδον αὐτόν, ᾐσθόμην δʼ ἔτʼ ὄντα νιν.
445

Φιλοκτήτης

ἔμελλʼ· ἐπεὶ οὐδέν πω κακόν γʼ ἀπώλετο,

ἀλλʼ εὖ περιστέλλουσιν αὐτὰ δαίμονες,

καί πως τὰ μὲν πανοῦργα καὶ παλιντριβῆ

χαίρουσʼ ἀναστρέφοντες ἐξ Ἅιδου, τὰ δὲ

δίκαια καὶ τὰ χρήστʼ ἀποστέλλουσʼ ἀεί.
450

ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα, ποῦ δʼ αἰνεῖν, ὅταν

τὰ θεῖʼ ἐπαινῶν τοὺς θεοὺς εὕρω κακούς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἐγὼ μέν, ὦ γένεθλον Οἰταίου πατρός,

τὸ λοιπὸν ἤδη τηλόθεν τό τʼ Ἴλιον

καὶ τοὺς Ἀτρείδας εἰσορῶν φυλάξομαι·
455

ὅπου δʼ ὁ χείρων τἀγαθοῦ μεῖζον σθένει

κἀποφθίνει τὰ χρηστὰ χὠ δειλὸς κρατεῖ,

τούτους ἐγὼ τοὺς ἄνδρας οὐ στέρξω ποτέ·

ἀλλʼ ἡ πετραία Σκῦρος ἐξαρκοῦσά μοι

ἔσται τὸ λοιπόν, ὥστε τέρπεσθαι δόμῳ.
460

νῦν δʼ εἶμι πρὸς ναῦν· καὶ σύ, Ποίαντος τέκνον,

χαῖρʼ ὡς μέγιστα, χαῖρε· καί σε δαίμονες

νόσου μεταστήσειαν, ὡς αὐτὸς θέλεις.

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἴωμεν, ὡς ὁπηνίκʼ ἂν θεὸς

πλοῦν ἡμὶν εἴκῃ, τηνικαῦθʼ ὁρμώμεθα.
465

Φιλοκτήτης

ἤδη, τέκνον, στέλλεσθε;

Νεοπτόλεμος

καιρὸς γὰρ καλεῖ

πλοῦν μὴ ʼξ ἀπόπτου μᾶλλον ἢ ʼγγύθεν σκοπεῖν.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 441 focus

Whom but Odysseus canst thou mean by this?

PHI

I meant not him. But there was one Thersites,

Who ne’er made conscience to stint speech, where all

Cried ‘Silence!’ Is he living, dost thou know?
440

NEO

I saw him not, but knew he was alive.

PHI

He must be: for no evil yet was crushed.

The Heavens will ever shield it. ’Tis their sport

To turn back all things rancorous and malign

From going down to the grave, and send instead
445

The good and true. Oh, how shall we commend

Such dealings, how defend them? When I praise

Things god-like, I find evil in the Gods.

NEO

I, O thou child of a Trachinian sire,

Henceforth will take good care, from far away

To look on Troy and Atreus’ children twain.

Yea, where the trickster lords it o’er the just,
450

And goodness languishes and rascals rule,
450

—Such courses I will nevermore endure.

But rock-bound Scyros henceforth shall suffice

To yield me full contentment in my home.

Now, to my vessel! And thou, Poeas’ child,

Farewell, right heartily farewell! May Heaven

Grant thy desire, and rid thee of thy plague!

Let us be going, that when God shall give

Fair voyage, that moment we may launch away.

PHI

My son, are ye now setting forth?

NEO

Our time

Bids us go near and look to sail erelong.

PHI

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 441 focus

Nicht diesen meint' ich; nein, Thersites hieß ein Mann,¹

Dem's nie genug war, Einmal nur zu sagen, was

Ungern gehört ward: weißt du nicht, ob dieser lebt?

Neoptolemos.

Ich sah ihn selbst nicht; wie ich hörte, lebt er noch.
435

Philoktetes.

Wohl muß er leben, weil ja noch nichts Böses starb.

Mit zarter Sorgfalt hegen das die Himmlischen;

Sie lieben, Tückevolles und Verschlagenes²

Zurückzuführen aus des Hades Nacht, und stets

Hinabzusenden, was gerecht und edel ist.
440

Wie nenn' ich's? Soll ich's loben, wenn ich, Götterthun

Bereit zu loben, Götter selbst als schlecht erfand?

Neoptolemos.

O Sohn des Vaters, der an Deta's Höh'n gebeut!

Ich will hinfort mich hüten, auch von ferne nicht

Die Stadt der Troer und des Atreus Söhne seh'n.
445

Denn wo der Schlechte höher als der Tapfre gilt,

Das Edle schmachvoll untergeht, der Feige siegt,

Nein, solchen Männern werd' ich nie befreundet sein.

An Skyros Felseilande will ich fürder mir

Genügen lassen und der Heimat mich erfreu'n.
450

Ich gehe nun zum Schiffe. Lebe, lebe wohl,

O Sohn des Pöas! Mögen dich die Himmlischen

Von deiner Qual erlösen, wie dein Herz es wünscht!

Wir eilen weiter; denn sobald uns guten Wind

Ein Gott gewährte, wollen wir von dannen zieh'n.
455

Ihr rüstet schon zur Reise, Kind?

Die Stunde mahut,

Auf Wind im Schiff zu harren, nicht vom User fern.

Philoktetes.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 441 focus

He too was dead.

In war, alas — so fate ordains it ever —

The coward 'scapes, the brave and virtuous fall.

Philoctetes

It is too true ; and now thou talkst of cowards.

Where is that worthless wretch, of readiest tongue,

Subtle and voluble ?
440

Neoptolemus

Ulysses ?

Philoctetes

No ;

Thersites ; ever talking, never heard.

Neoptolemus

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

Philoctetes

I did not doubt it : evil never dies ;

The gods take care of that. If aught there be

Fraudful and vile, 'tis safe ; the good and just

Perish unpitied by them. Wherefore is it 1

When gods do ill, why should we worship them ?

Neoptolemus

Since thus it is, since virtue is oppressed,

And vice triumphant, who deserve to live

Are doomed to perish, and the guilty reign.

Henceforth, O son of Psean ! far from Troy

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 441 focus

Of other than Ulysses dost thou speak?

Philoctetes

I meant not him: but in the Grecian camp

Was one Thersites, who wish'd oft to speak

What no man would hear once: is he alive?
440

Neoptolemus

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

Philoctetes

Yes, he will live; for never have I known

That the base perish; such the gods protect,

Delighting from the realms of death to snatch

The crafty and the guileful; but the just

And generous they in ruin always sink.
445

How for these things shall we account, or how

Approve them? When I find the gods unjust,

How can I praise their heavenly governance ?

Neoptolemus

Son of tean Peas, I will guard

My future life from Ilium distant far,

Far from the sons of Atreus. O'er the brave
450

Where the vile lords it, and illustrious worth
450

Is doom'd to perish by oppressive pow'r,

I with such men will never live a friend.

But me the rocks of Scyros shall henceforth

Content, not undelighted with my home.

Now to my bark I go: farewell, thou son

Of Poœas; be each blessing thine, farewell;

May the gods heal thy wound! We must go hence,

That when the gale springs favouring we may sail.

Philoctetes

Would you now spread your sails, my son?

Neoptolemus

The time

Now calls us near the bark to watch the gale.

Philoctetes

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-244-1 ποίου δὲ τούτου ¹

mvp-comment-244-2 ἐρεῖς ²

mvp-comment-244-3 Brunck's conjecture, τοῦτο ³ τούτου ⁴

mvp-comment-245-1 Θερσίτης ⁵

mvp-comment-246-1 ὃς οὐκ ἂν εἵλετ’ ⁶ ὅπου μηδεὶς ἐῴη ⁷

mvp-comment-246-2 Sophocles here reproduces the two salient traits of the Homeric Thersites: (1) he is irrepressible: Il. 2. 212

Θερσίτης δ’ ἔτι μοῦνος ἀμετροεπὴς ἐκολῴα

, |

ὅς ῥ) ἔπεα φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἄκοσμά τε πολλά τε ᾔδη

: (2) he disgusts those whom his bluster was intended to amuse or flatter; ib. 222

τῷ δ’ ἄρ’ Ἀχαιοὶ

ἐκπάγλως κοτέοντο

.— τοῦτον οἶσθ’ ⁸

mvp-comment-247-1 αὐτόν ⁹ αὐτός ¹⁰ νιν ¹¹

mvp-comment-248-1 ἔμελλ’ ¹²

mvp-comment-248-2 ἐπεὶ οὐδέν ¹³

mvp-comment-248-3 περιστέλλουσιν ¹⁴

mvp-comment-249-1 τὰ πανοῦργα ¹⁵

mvp-comment-249-2 παλιντριβῆ ¹⁶

mvp-comment-249-3 ἀναστρέφοντες ¹⁷

mvp-comment-249-4 τὰ δὲ ¹⁸ τὰ χρήστ’ ¹⁹ ἀποστέλλους’ ²⁰ προυσελοῦς’ ²¹

mvp-comment-250-1 ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ²²

mvp-comment-250-2 ποῦ δ’ αἰνεῖν ²³

mvp-comment-250-3 ὅταν ²⁴ ἐπαινῶν ²⁵

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 ²⁶

mvp-comment-251-2 Οἰταίου ²⁷

mvp-comment-252-1 τηλόθεν … εἰσορῶν ²⁸

mvp-comment-252-2 φυλάξομαι ²⁹

mvp-comment-253-1 ὅπου ³⁰ τούτους ³¹

mvp-comment-253-2 δειλὸς ³² δεινὸς ³³ δεινός ³⁴

mvp-comment-254-1 Σκῦρος ³⁵

mvp-comment-254-2 ἐξαρκοῦσά μοι … ὥστε ³⁶ τέρπεσθαι δόμῳ ³⁷

mvp-comment-255-1 χαῖρε ³⁸ ὡς μέγιστα ³⁹

mvp-comment-255-2 μεταστήσειαν ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-255-3 ὡς αὐτὸς θέλεις ⁴¹

mvp-comment-256-1 πλοῦν ἡμὶν εἴκῃ ⁴² πλοῦν ⁴³ πλεῖν ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-257-1 καιρὸς ⁴⁵ καλεῖ ⁴⁶

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.

438. mvp-comment-310-1 κατ' αὐτὸ τοῦτο] ‘In connection with this very point,' viz. Your observation that the bad survive.

439. mvp-comment-311-1 ἀναξίου .. φωτός] Sc. πέρι. For this genitive, see E. on L. § 8. p. 13, 3. ἀναξίου = οὐδενὸς ἀξίου.

440. mvp-comment-312-1 τί= πῶς : cp. Εl. 1424, πῶς κυρεῖτε, E. on L. § 22. p. 36.

441. mvp-comment-313-1 'Ay? Who may that be, if you can mean any one but Odysseus?' The syntax of the previous sentence is continued. E. on L. § 35. p. 60.

442. mvp-comment-314-1 οὐ τοῦτον εἶπον] In the spirit of ll. 64, 5, supr. Neoptolemus professes to be impatient of the very name of Odysseus. Cp. infr. 1400, 1.

442-444. mvp-comment-315-1 'I meant not him. But there was one Thersites, who would never be content with speaking once, where all cried, Silence.' This, like supr. 348, 9, is a strong instance of ironical indirectness of expression. For ὅπου μηδεὶς ἐψη, cp. esp. Plat. Symp. 175 Β, ἐπειδάν τις ὑμῖν μὴ ἐφεστήκῃ. Also Aj. 1184, κἂν μηδεὶς ἐᾷ, 'Though all say, You shall not.'

443. mvp-comment-316-1 ἂν εἴλετο is a singular instance of ἄν with the aor. ' of custom.' Cp. the curious use of the imperfect with ἄν, Ant. 260, κἂν ἐγίγνετο | πληγὴτελευτῶσ᾽, and note. Dobree conjectured ἀνείχετ'.

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.

451. mvp-comment-322-1 ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα] · What is one to make of these things? What place assign to them in thought?' i. e. how bring them into harmony with our other thoughts? ποῦ δ᾽ αἰνεῖν] ποῦ is used for πῶς by attraction, or the tendency to repeat the same expression (οἷον ῥυμή τις τοῦ λόγου), for which, see E. on L. § 35. p 60. What place can we find for their approval? i. e. How can we acquiesce in them? Cp. Eur. Heracl. 369, ποῦ ταῦτα καλῶς ἂν εἴη;

452. mvp-comment-323-1 Since, in seeking to approve the doings of the gods, I find that the gods are evil doers; i. e. In praising the gods I must call them wise and good, but this experience shows them to be either malignant or weak. The tense in ἐπαινῶν has an inceptive or conative force.

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.

454-455. mvp-comment-325-1 τηλόθεν εἰσορῶν φυλάξομαι] Will avoid, beholding afar off.' For the indirect expression, see E. on L. § 42. p. 79, and cp. esp. Ο. Τ. 795. ἄστροις. . ἐκμετρούμενος χθόνα, and note: Eur. Hippol. 102, πρόσωθεν αὐτὴν ἁγνὸς ὢν ἀσπάζομαι.

457. mvp-comment-326-1 χώ δεινὸς κρατεῖ] 'And power is in the hands of clever rogues.' For this dislike of δεινότης, cp. Thuc. 8. 68, ὑπόπτως τῷ πλήθει διὰ δόξαν δεινότητος διακείμενος: Isocr. Panathen. p. 242, C, ἐπαινεῖν μὲν . . τὴν . . ἀγαθῶν αἰτίαν γεγενημένην, δεινὴν δὲ νομίζειν τὴν αὑτῇ τὰ συμφέροντα διαπραττομένην. Many have preferred δειλός, which involves a very slight change.

460. mvp-comment-327-1 ὥστε τέρπεσθαι δόμῳ] ‘And I shall have full contentment in my home.' Cp. Od. 13. 61, σὺ δὲ τέρπεο τῷδ᾽ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ, | παισί τε καὶ λαοῖσι καὶ ᾿Αλκινόῳ βασιλῆϊ.

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.

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Philoctetes I did not mean him; there was one Thersites, who could never be content to speak once and briefly, even though no one wanted him to speak at all. Do you know if he is alive?

Neoptolemus I never saw him, but I heard that he is still alive. 445

Philoctetes Are you setting out already, son?

Neoptolemus Yes, since opportunity bids us watch near our ship for a fair wind, rather than from afar.

Current edition Experimental

ποίου γε τούτου πλήν γ' Ὀδυσσέως ἐρεῖς;

ΦΙ. οὐ τοῦτον εἶπον, ἀλλὰ Θερσίτης τις ἦν, ὃς οὐκ ἂν εἴλετ᾽ εἰσάπαξ εἰσάπαξ εἰπεῖν, ὅπου μηδεὶς ἐῴη ἐὼν ἐώη ? ἐψη· τοῦτον οἶσθ᾽ εἰ ζῶν κυρεῖ; 440

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΝΕ. οὐκ εἶδον αὐτόν, ἠσθόμην δ᾽ ἔτ᾽ δέ τ' δ᾽ ἔτ' ὄντα νιν.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΦΙ. ἤδη, τέκνον, στέλλεσθε στέλεσθε στέλλεσθε?

NE. καιρὸς γὰρ καλεῖ πλοῦν μὴ ἐξ ἀπόπτου μᾶλλον ἢ ἐγγύθεν σκοπεῖν.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙ.

Νεοπτόλεμος ποίου δὲ τούτου πλήν γʼ Ὀδυσσέως ἐρεῖς;

Φιλοκτήτης οὐ τοῦτον εἶπον, ἀλλὰ Θερσίτης τις ἦν, ὃς οὐκ ἂν εἵλετʼ εἰσάπαξ εἰπεῖν, ὅπου μηδεὶς ἐῴη· τοῦτον οἶσθʼ εἰ ζῶν κυρεῖ;

Νεοπτόλεμος οὐκ εἶδον αὐτόν, ᾐσθόμην δʼ ἔτʼ ὄντα νιν. 445

Φιλοκτήτης ἤδη, τέκνον, στέλλεσθε;

Νεοπτόλεμος καιρὸς γὰρ καλεῖ πλοῦν μὴ ʼξ ἀπόπτου μᾶλλον ἢ ʼγγύθεν σκοπεῖν.

Whom but Odysseus canst thou mean by this?

PHI I meant not him. But there was one Thersites, Who ne’er made conscience to stint speech, where all Cried ‘Silence!’ Is he living, dost thou know? 440

NEO I saw him not, but knew he was alive.

PHI My son, are ye now setting forth?

NEO Our time Bids us go near and look to sail erelong.

PHI

Nicht diesen meint' ich; nein, Thersites hieß ein Mann, 1 Dem's nie genug war, Einmal nur zu sagen, was Ungern gehört ward: weißt du nicht, ob dieser lebt?

Neoptolemos. Ich sah ihn selbst nicht; wie ich hörte, lebt er noch. 435

Philoktetes.

He too was dead. In war, alas — so fate ordains it ever — The coward 'scapes, the brave and virtuous fall.

Philoctetes It is too true ; and now thou talkst of cowards. Where is that worthless wretch, of readiest tongue, Subtle and voluble ? 440

Neoptolemus Ulysses ?

Philoctetes No ; Thersites ; ever talking, never heard.

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

Philoctetes I did not doubt it : evil never dies ; The gods take care of that. If aught there be Fraudful and vile, 'tis safe ; the good and just Perish unpitied by them. Wherefore is it 1 When gods do ill, why should we worship them ?

Neoptolemus Since thus it is, since virtue is oppressed, And vice triumphant, who deserve to live Are doomed to perish, and the guilty reign. Henceforth, O son of Psean ! far from Troy

Of other than Ulysses dost thou speak?

Philoctetes I meant not him: but in the Grecian camp Was one Thersites, who wish'd oft to speak What no man would hear once: is he alive? 440

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

Philoctetes Would you now spread your sails, my son?

Neoptolemus The time Now calls us near the bark to watch the gale.

Philoctetes

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Philoctetes

I did not mean him; there was one Thersites, who could never be content to speak once and briefly, even though no one wanted him to speak at all. Do you know if he is alive?

Neoptolemus

I never saw him, but I heard that he is still alive.
445

Philoctetes

Are you setting out already, son?

Neoptolemus

Yes, since opportunity bids us watch near our ship for a fair wind, rather than from afar.

ΦΙ.

οὐ τοῦτον εἶπον, ἀλλὰ Θερσίτης τις ἦν,

ὃς οὐκ ἂν εἴλετ᾽ εἰσάπαξ εἰσάπαξ εἰπεῖν, ὅπου

μηδεὶς ἐῴη ἐὼν ἐώη ? ἐψη· τοῦτον οἶσθ᾽ εἰ ζῶν κυρεῖ;
440

ΝΕ.

οὐκ εἶδον αὐτόν, ἠσθόμην δ᾽ ἔτ᾽ δέ τ' δ᾽ ἔτ' ὄντα νιν.

ΦΙ.

ἤδη, τέκνον, στέλλεσθε στέλεσθε στέλλεσθε?

NE.

καιρὸς γὰρ καλεῖ

πλοῦν μὴ ἐξ ἀπόπτου μᾶλλον ἢ ἐγγύθεν σκοπεῖν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ποίου δὲ τούτου πλήν γʼ Ὀδυσσέως ἐρεῖς;

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐ τοῦτον εἶπον, ἀλλὰ Θερσίτης τις ἦν,

ὃς οὐκ ἂν εἵλετʼ εἰσάπαξ εἰπεῖν, ὅπου

μηδεὶς ἐῴη· τοῦτον οἶσθʼ εἰ ζῶν κυρεῖ;

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐκ εἶδον αὐτόν, ᾐσθόμην δʼ ἔτʼ ὄντα νιν.
445

Φιλοκτήτης

ἤδη, τέκνον, στέλλεσθε;

Νεοπτόλεμος

καιρὸς γὰρ καλεῖ

πλοῦν μὴ ʼξ ἀπόπτου μᾶλλον ἢ ʼγγύθεν σκοπεῖν.

PHI

I meant not him. But there was one Thersites,

Who ne’er made conscience to stint speech, where all

Cried ‘Silence!’ Is he living, dost thou know?
440

NEO

I saw him not, but knew he was alive.

PHI

My son, are ye now setting forth?

NEO

Our time

Bids us go near and look to sail erelong.

Nicht diesen meint' ich; nein, Thersites hieß ein Mann,¹

Dem's nie genug war, Einmal nur zu sagen, was

Ungern gehört ward: weißt du nicht, ob dieser lebt?

Neoptolemos.

Ich sah ihn selbst nicht; wie ich hörte, lebt er noch.
435

He too was dead.

In war, alas — so fate ordains it ever —

The coward 'scapes, the brave and virtuous fall.

Philoctetes

It is too true ; and now thou talkst of cowards.

Where is that worthless wretch, of readiest tongue,

Subtle and voluble ?
440

Neoptolemus

Ulysses ?

Philoctetes

No ;

Thersites ; ever talking, never heard.

Neoptolemus

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

Philoctetes

I did not doubt it : evil never dies ;

The gods take care of that. If aught there be

Fraudful and vile, 'tis safe ; the good and just

Perish unpitied by them. Wherefore is it 1

When gods do ill, why should we worship them ?

Neoptolemus

Since thus it is, since virtue is oppressed,

And vice triumphant, who deserve to live

Are doomed to perish, and the guilty reign.

Henceforth, O son of Psean ! far from Troy

Philoctetes

I meant not him: but in the Grecian camp

Was one Thersites, who wish'd oft to speak

What no man would hear once: is he alive?
440

Neoptolemus

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

Philoctetes

Would you now spread your sails, my son?

Neoptolemus

The time

Now calls us near the bark to watch the gale.