Sophocles Philoctetes 1146

ed. Francis Storr

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Philoctetes. Sophocles. ed. Francis Storr. London. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Φιλοκτήτης (Greek) (Sophocles, Volume 2. Storr, Francis, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann Ltd.; The Macmillan Company, 1913.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1146 focus
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1146 focus
Come, legions of the wild,
Of aspect fierce or mild,
Fowl from the fields of air,
And beasts that roam with bright untroubled gaze,
No longer bounding from my lair
1140
Fly mine approach! Now freely without fear
Ye may surround my covert and come near,
Treading the savage rock-strewn ways.
The might I had is no more mine,
Stolen with those arms divine.
1145
This fort hath no man to defend.
Come satisfy your vengeful jaws, and rend
These quivering tainted limbs!
Already hovering death bedims
My fainting sense. Who thus can live on air,
1150
Tasting no gift of earth that breathing mortals share?
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1146 focus
Ihr hochschwebenden Vögel, ihr
Thiergeschlechter mit wildem Blick,
Weidend hier in den Bergen,
Niemals naht ihr aus Höhlen mir
Mehr, um wieder zu flieh'n; dem Arm
1115
Fehlt des alten Geschosses Kraft:
Weh mir! Iammer umringt mich nun!
Kommet (ihr dürft euch nicht vor dem Lahmen mehr,
Der hier zurückbleibt, fürchten,)
Kommet herbei, nach Lust
1120
Euch mit dem Morde der Rache zu sättigen
Am bleich abgezehrten Fleisch;
Bald werd' ich ja scheiden vom Leben:
Denn wo gelangt Speise zu mir?
Wen kann die Luft sättigen, wenn
1125
Aller Genuß stets ihm gebricht, welchen der Erd' heiliger Schooß heraufschickt?
Vierte Gegenstrophe.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1146 focus
Hear me, ye winged inhabitants of air,
And you, who on these mountains love to feed,
My savage prey, whom once I could pursue ;
1140
This hollow rock — I cannot hurt you now ;
You need not dread to enter here. Alas !
You now may come, and in your turn regale
On these poor limbs, when I shall be no more.
Where can I hope for food? or who can breathe
This vital air, when life-preserving earth
No longer will assist him ?
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1146 focus
Now on the margin of the hoary deep
Laughing he sits, and poizes in his hands
My life's support, which none hath ever borne.
O my dear bow, from these unhappy hands
Wrested by force, if thou hast sense, how grieved
Dost thou behold the toils of Hercules
No more employ thee ! Changed thy noble lord,
1145
Thou seest a vile deceiver guide thy shafts;
Thou seest his hateful and detested arts
Hostile to me, and all the thousand wiles
Which to ensnare me he hath basely forged.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1146 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-609-1 χαροπῶν 1

mvp-comment-610-1 οὐρεσιβώτας 2

mvp-comment-610-2 1149 f. *

μηκέτ’ ἀπ’ αὐλίων φυγ<*>
| *
μηδᾶτ’
. The MSS. give φυγᾷ μ’ οὐκέτ<*> ἀπ’ αὐλίων 3 πελᾶτ’ 4 πελᾶτ’ 5

mvp-comment-610-3 Auratus and Canter saw that μ’ οὐκέτ’ 6 μηκέτ’ 7 ἐλᾶτ’ 8 πηδᾶτ’ 9 πηδᾶτ’ 10 πελᾶτ’ 11 μηκέτ’ 12 μ’ οὐκέτ’ 13

mvp-comment-610-4 The metre would be restored by reading

μὴ φυγαῖς ἔτ’ ἀπ’ αὐλίων
. But a simpler remedy is to place φυγᾷ 14

mvp-comment-611-1 ἀλλ’ ἀνέδην 15 ἀνέδην 16 ἐρύκεται 17

mvp-comment-611-2 In the Journ. Phil. II. p. 80 (1869) I proposed the emendation which I believe to be true. ἐρύκεται 18 ἄρ’ οὐκέτι 19 χῶρος 20 α 21 ἀνέδην 22 ἄρα 23 οὐκέτι 24

mvp-comment-611-3 The simple transposition, φοβητός, οὐκέθ’ 25

mvp-comment-612-1 νῦν καλὸν 26

mvp-comment-612-2 ἀντίφονον 27

mvp-comment-612-3 πρὸς χάριν 28

mvp-comment-612-4 αἰόλας 29

mvp-comment-613-1 ἀπὸ … λείψω 30

mvp-comment-614-1 ἐν αὔ, ιις τρέφεται 31 ἐν 32

mvp-comment-615-1 μηκέτι 33

mvp-comment-615-2 μηδενὸς 34 ὅσα 35

mvp-comment-615-3 πέμπει 36

mvp-comment-615-4 βιόδωρος 37

mvp-comment-616-1 εἴ τι σέβει ξένον 38 εὐνοίᾳ πάσᾳ πελάταν 39 πέλασσον 40

mvp-comment-616-2 Philoctetes is at the mouth of his cave, as if about to enter it (952): the Chorus now advance a little towards him, as they make this earnest appeal. The position of πέλασσον 41 εὐν. π. πελάταν 42

mvp-comment-616-3 Arndt conjectures:

εἴ τι σέβει ξένον γ’ ἔλασσον,...ἀλλὰ γνῶθ’ κ.τ.λ.
: ‘if thou hast too little respect for a guest-friend, at least (
ἀλλὰ
) think’ of thine own interest. Such a use of
ἔλασσον
would be obscure; and the supposed antithesis of ideas seems forced; since, even if he did ‘revere the stranger,’ that feeling would not be his only motive for leaving Lemnos.

mvp-comment-617-1 ἐπὶ σοὶ 43 ὅτι σοι 44 σοί 45 ὅτι σόν 46

mvp-comment-618-1 βόσκειν 47 μέν 48

mvp-comment-618-2 ἀδαὴς δ’ ἔχειν 49 ὀχεῖν 50

mvp-comment-618-3 ὃ ξυνοικεῖ 51 ὃ 52 ᾧ 53

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

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-1 Philoctetes now feels that he is left completely alone and helpless. For the shipmates of Neoptolemus are only to remain for a little while, in the vain hope that he will change his mind. The following commos may be divided into two chief portions. The first, 1081-1160, is in effect one long monody of Philoctetes from the stage, of which the pauses are filled with short recitatives addressed to him by single chorcutae. Without noticing these, he continues the strain of his lament. In the second part, 1161-1217, there is a real interchange of lyric numbers between the Chorus and the chief actor. Still chanting singly, the mariners renew their efforts to win his attention. When they succeed in this, he bids them depart. They make as if to go. Then he calls them back again and begs for means of self-destruction. The commos ends on the re-appearance of Neoptolemus followed by Odysseus. It is evident that the second part of it especially must have been accompanied with various gestures and movements to and fro in the orchestra. The 'melodramatic' character of this portion of the Philoctetes (ll. 730-1217) may be compared with the opening of the Oedipus Coloneus. The metrical scheme (in which again there are several doubtful points) is as follows :- α'.
(1.)
_ _ _ _ _UU_
__UU_U_ _
_ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _
_UU_UU_UU_UU_
(?)_U_U_U_
(2.)
_UU_UU_UU_U_ _
1 2
_ Iambic.
_UU_U_ Glyconic.
Glyconic _UU_U_
Dactylic { _UU_UU_
Iambic _U_U_ _ _
β'.
(1.)
_ _ _ _
__UU_U_ _
__UU_U_ _
_UU_UU_U_
_ _
10 _UU_UU_
(2) _U_U_ _
_U_UU_U_UU__
_U__UU_U_U_U_UU_
15 _UU_U_U_UU_UU_UU_U__ 3
(2.)
__UU_U_U__
_ _ _ _ _UU_
_ _ _ _ _UU_
_U_UU__
U_ _U_UU_U_U__
4 5 6

For the substitution of − ᴗ – for ᴗ ᴗ in Ionic verse, which is allowed by some writers on metre, see Christ's Metrik, § 521.
ἐπ. (ἀπολελυμένα).
(1.)
_U_U_
_ _U_U_U_U_U_U_U_
_U_U_U_
_ _ _ _
_U_UU__UU__UU__
_ _
_ _UU_UUUUUU 7
_U_U_ _U_U_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _UU_U_
__UU_U_U_
20 U_U_U_
U_UU_UU_
_U_U_U_U_U_U_U_U_
_UU_U_
(2.)
_UU_UU_U_
_ _ _U_UU__
_ _ _ _ _U__
_UU_U_U_UUUUU__
_ _ _
30 U_U_U_U_
_UU_U_
_ _U_U_U_U_
_U_U__U_U_
35 U_U_U_
If the irregularities of the above scheme are compared with those noticed in the note on O. C. 117-254, in vol. 1. p. 298, it will be found that they cannot be adequately accounted for by supposing extensive corruptions of the text. For (a) they are similar in kind to those in O. C., (b) they do not as a rule in either case violate the general laws of metre. While admitting some corruptions, it is reasonable also to suppose that in these later plays of Sophocles the severity of rhythm is relaxed in the lyric dialogue as well as in the senarii. This may be partly accounted for by the 'melodramatic' element encroaching on tragedy, and partly by contemporary innovations in the art of music.

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-2 In antistrophe _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-3 2 Or, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Cp. β' (2), ll. 2, 3.

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-4 3

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-5 In antistrophe U_ _ _

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-6 2 In antistrophe U_UU_U__

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-7 3 In antistrophe _ _UU_U_UU_UU_U_U_

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-8 10

1138-1139. mvp-comment-771-1 'Making countless issues to arise from all the shameful ills that he has devised against me.' In all the events that happened after this at Troy, the results of the present action would be conspicuous; all, in Philoctetes' view, would be evil, and Odysseus would be known as the author of all. Cp. 1061, 4. The word Ὀδυσσεύς in the text is a manifest instance of a gloss having been substituted for the true reading, which is consequently lost. Cp. supr. 1095. Perhaps ἐμήσαθ' οὗτος (the pronoun spoken with bitter emphasis) may be the true reading. That Odysseus is the subject appears both from the gloss in question, and from supr. 1114, τὸν τάδε μησάμενον. Others would read, ἐμήσατ᾽, ὦ Ζεῦ.

1140. mvp-comment-772-1 ἀνδρός τοι.. εἰπεῖν] ‘Truly, it is a man's part heedfully to assert what is right.' For δίκαιον without the article, cp. supr. 83, ἀναιδές: Thuc. 5. 18. § 4, δικαίῳ χρήσθων καὶ ὅρκοις. And for εὖ, modifying the whole clause, Plat. Legg. 9. 855 Α, ὡς εὖ τε καὶ ἀνδρείως εἰς ἀγαθὸν ἐκ κακοῦ διαπεφευγότων, and especially Aesch. Suppl. 78, εὖ τὸ δίκαιον ἰδόντες: Eum. 517. εἰπόντος δέ] · 'But having done so,'- agreeing with ἀνδρός. See Essay on L. § 35. p. 60.

1141. mvp-comment-773-1 μὴ φθονερὰν .. ὀδύναν] 'To abstain from thrusting forth malignant mischief from the tongue.' ὀδύναν, literally, 'Pain,' effect for cause. See Essay on L. § 42. p. 80, B. The poison of serpents was supposed to issue not only from the fang, but from the tongue. Ps. 140. 3, 'They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent, adders' poison is under their lips.' Shak. Mids. N. Dr. 3. 2, 'With doubler tongue | Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung.' The soundness of the text here has been much questioned. But the three lines yield a good meaning, and the metres correspond exactly to those in the antistrophe. The former speaker (l. 1116 foll.) had cleared the Chorus from blame. He is followed by another, who defends Odysseus.

1143-1144. mvp-comment-774-1 εἰς ἀπὸ πολλῶν | ταχθείς] Cp. O. C. 737 foll., οὐκ ἐξ ἑνὸς στείλαντος, ἀλλ᾽ ἀνδρῶν ὕπο | πάντων κελευσθείς: ib. 850. ἀπό is used here because Odysseus was selected from all the Achaeans as their representative.

1144. mvp-comment-775-1 τοῦδ᾽ ὑφημοσύνᾳ] 'Using Neoptolemus as his minister.' So Hermann, who rightly observes that the Triclinian εὐφημοσύνᾳ is a combination of the readings of L and V³. This is one of the places where the independence of the inferior MSS. is of importance. ὑφημοσύνᾳ is the harder reading, and also specially suited to the context. τοῦδ᾽ ἐφημοσύνᾳ would mean, 'Laying his commands on Neoptolemus.' τοῦδ᾽ ὑφημοσύνᾳ repeats in a softened form what Philoctetes had himself said supr. 1007, 8, and exactly describes the action of Odysseus, supr. 70-85.

1145. mvp-comment-776-1 κοινὰν ἀρωγάν] Either (1) 'Effected a public advantage for his friends:' or (2) 'In common with Neoptolemus performed towards his friends an act of succour.' Cp. supr. 25.

1146. mvp-comment-777-1 ὦ πταναὶ θῆραι] ‘Ο ye, my winged chase!' Supr. 288, 9, τὰς ὑποπτέρους | βάλλον πελείας. χαροπῶν τ᾽ ἔθνη | θηρῶν] ‘And ye tribes of wild-eyed creatures.' The bright eyes of the lynx, deer, etc. surrounding him, affect the sensitive Philoctetes in his solitude.

1148. mvp-comment-778-1 οὐρεσιβώτας is either (1) accusative plural, agreeing with οὓς (θῆρας), or (2) for οὐρεσιβώτης, nom. sing. masc., agreeing with χώρος. The latter is best. See Essay on L. § 55. p. 101. 'This region of rocky pasturage.'

1149-1150. mvp-comment-779-1 φυγᾷ.. πελᾶτ'] 'No longer flying me from my cell, ye shall approach me there,' i. e. οὐκέτι με φεύγοντες ἀπ᾿ αὐλίων, πελᾶτέ μοι εἰς αὔλια. So the words are to be explained, with Bernhardy, if the text is sound. φυγᾷ = φεύγοντes, as supr. 1144, ὑφημοσύνᾳ = ὑφείς. με is governed, in the first instance, by the verb for which πελᾶτε is substituted; i. e. instead of saying οὐκέτι με φεύξεσθε ἀπ᾿ αὐλίων, or πελᾶτέ μοι εἰς αὐλία, the two expressions, the negative and the affirmative, are fused into one. (But cp. infr. 1163, 4.) For a somewhat similar confusion, cp. Εl. 1127, ὥς σ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἐλπίδων οὐχ ὧνπερ ἐξέπεμπον εἰσεδεξάμην, and note. Herm. explained, 'Ye shall not draw me after you as you fly me.' Aur. conj. μηκέτι.

1151. mvp-comment-780-1 For ἀλκάν, corresponding to an iambus in the strophe, see on O. C. 1556 foll., 1570.

1152. mvp-comment-781-1 Some editors put a comma after ἐγώ, so as to connect τανῦν with ἔχω; but the language runs more simply as in the text.

1153. mvp-comment-782-1 ἀνέδην.. ἐρύκεται] 'Has no effective guard.' Lit. 'Is guarded by being abandoned,' an oxymoron. Cp. Aj. 1214, where ἀνίημι is used of the removal of a defence: Thuc. 4. 27, σφῶν ἀνέντων τὴν φυλακὴν περιγενήσεσθαι τοὺς ἄνδρας. The subject of the passive ἐρύκεται would have been in the dative after the active voice, ἐρύκειν θῆρας χώρῳ. Cp. Od. 5. 166, ἃ κέν τοι λιμὸν ἐρύκοι.

1154. mvp-comment-783-1 φοβητός is the verbal of φοβέομαι as a deponent verb = 'To be fled from.'

1155. mvp-comment-784-1 νῦν καλόν] 'Now is a golden time.'

1156. mvp-comment-785-1 ἀντίφονον . . πρὸς χαρίν] ‘Το glut your vengeful-gory jaws to heart's content.' For the compound ἀντίφονον, see Essay on L. § 54. p. 100, d. And for πρὸς χάριν, cp. πρὸς ἡδονήν. πρὸς χάριν, in Ant. 30, is in a different connection.

1157. mvp-comment-786-1 ἐμᾶς σαρκὸς αἰόλας] ‘On my discoloured flesh.' On the meaning of αἰόλος, see note on Trach. 834. Philoctetes is bitterly conscious that he is not as other men are. Cp. supr. 227.