Sophocles Philoctetes 468

ed. Francis Storr

Table of Contents

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Scene
← Previous Next →

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)) — 468 focus
πρός νύν νῦν σε πατρός, πρός τε μητρός, ὦ τέκνον,
465
πρός τ' εἴ τί σοι κατ' οἰκόν ἐστι προσφιλές,
ἱκέτης ἱκνοῦμαι, μὴ λίπῃς λείπηισ λίπης μ' οὕτω μόνον,
ἔρημον ἐν κακοῖσι τοῖσδ᾽ οἷοις ὁρᾷς
ὅσοισί τ᾽ ἐξήκουσας ἐνναίοντά ἐννέοντα ἐννέοντα ἐνναίοντα ἐννέποντα με·
ἀλλ᾽ ἐν παρέργῳ θοῦ με. δυσχέρεια μέν,
470
ἔξοιδα, πολλὴ τοῦδε τοῦ φορήματος·
ὅμως δέ δὲ τλῆθι, τοῖσι γενναίοισί τοι
τό τ' αἰσχρὸν ἐχθρὸν καὶ τὸ χρηστὸν εὐκλεές.
σοὶ δ᾽, ἐκλιπόντι τοῦτ᾽, ὄνειδος οὐ καλόν,
δράσαντι δ᾽, ὦ παῖ, πλεῖστον εὐκλείας γέρας,
475
ἐὰν μόλωἐγὼ ζῶν πρὸς Οἰταίαν χθόνα.
ἴθ᾽· ἡμέρας τοι μόχθος οὐχ ὅλης μιᾶς.
τόλμησον, ἐμβαλοῦ ἐκβαλοῦ ἐμβαλοῦ μ᾿ ὅπῃ θέλεις ἄγων,
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 468 focus
Now, by thy father, by thy mother,—nay,
465
By all thy love e’er cherished in thy home,
465
Suppliant I beg thee, leave me not thus lone,
465
Forlorn in all my misery which thou seest,
465
In all thou hast heard of here surrounding me!
Stow me with other freightage. Full of care,
I know, and burdensome the charge may prove.
Yet venture! Surely to the noble mind
All shame is hateful and all kindness blest.
And shame would be thy meed, didst thou fail here
But, doing this, thou shalt have glorious fame,
When I return alive to Oeta’s vale.
Come, ’tis the labour not of one whole day.
So thou durst take me, fling me where thou wilt
O’ the ship, in hold, prow, stern, or wheresoe’er
I least may trouble those on board with me.
Ah! by great Zeus, the suppliant’s friend, comply,
My son, be softened! See, where I am fall’n
Thus on my knees before thee, though so weak,
470
Crippled and powerless. Ah! forsake me not
470
Thus far from human footstep. Take me, take me!
470
If only to thy home, or to the town
470
Of old Chalcodon in Euboea.—From thence
I have not far to Oeta, and the ridge
Of Trachis, and Spercheius’ lordly flood.
So thou shalt bless my father with my sight.
And yet long since I fear he may be gone.
For oft I sent him suppliant prayers by men
Who touched this isle, entreating him to fetch
And bear me safely home with his own crew.
But either he is dead, or else, methinks,
It well may be, my messengers made light
Of my concerns, and hastened onward home.
But now in thee I find both messenger
And convoy, thou wilt pity me and save.
For, well thou knowest, danger never sleeps,
And fear of dark reverse is always nigh.
475
Mortals, when free, should look where mischief lurks,
475
And in their happiest hour consider well
475
Their life, lest ruin unsuspected come.
475
Pity him, O my king!
Many a crushing woe
He telleth, such as I pray
None of my friends may know.
And if, dear master, thou mislikest sore
Yon cruel-hearted lordly pair, I would,
Turning their plan of evil to his good,
On swift ship bear him to his native shore,
Meeting his heart’s desire; and free thy path
From fear of heavenly wrath.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 468 focus
Bei deinem Vater, bei der Mutter, liebes Kind,
Und allem Andern, was daheim dir theuer ist,
Beschwör' ich dich und flehe, laß nicht so allein,
460
Hülflos in meinem Leide mich, das, wie du siehst,
Und wie du hörtest, grauenvoll mich hier umringt:
Als Nebenlast nur nimm mich! Zwar, ich weiß es wohl,
Vielfach beschwerlich wird dir solche Bürde sein;
Doch wag' es muthvoll! Hochgesinnte finden nur
465
Das Edle rühmlich, hassenswerth das Schändliche.
Dir, Jüngling, bringt es keinen Nuhm, versagst du mir's;
Und thust du's, ist der höchste Lohn der Ehre dein,
Wenn lebend heim ich kehre nach dem Detaland.
Auf! Keines vollen Tages Frist währt solche Noth:
470
So wag' es, nimm und wirf mich hin, wo dir's gefällt,
In den Bauch des Schiffes, hinten oder vorne, wo
Ich euch, die Fahrtgenossen, nicht belästige.
Bei Zeus, dem Gott der Fleh'nden, Sohn, gewähre mir's,
Erhöre mich! An deine Kniee sink' ich hier,
475
Ich Armer, wenn auch schwach und lahm; o laß mich nicht
In solcher Dede, die der Menschen Tritte flieh'n!
Zu deiner Heimat rette mich, ach, oder hin
In's reiche Land Euböa, wo Chalkodon herrscht. 1
Von dort zum Deta führte mich kein weiter Weg,
480
Zu Trachis' Hügeln und dem stolzhinrollenden 2
Spercheios: wieder bringe mich dem Vater dort,
Um den die Sorge lange schon mich quält, er sei
Dahingegangen. Alle, die hier landeten,
Hab' ich mit heißen Bitten oft an ihn gesandt,
485
Selbst herzusegeln und mich heim zu retten: doch
Er ist gestorben, oder meine Boten sind,
So muß ich leider glauben, weil sie meine Noth
Für klein geachtet, ihrer Heimat zugeschifft.
Nun fleh' ich, sei du Bote, sei du Führer mir,
490
Erbarm dich meiner, rette mich; du siehest ja,
Wie drohend Alles, voll Gefahr, der Menschen Pfad
Umlagert, hier das Ungemach und dort das Glück.
Wer frei von Leid ist, blicke fürchtend auf das Leid,
Und wer das Glück hat, schaue frei mit wachem Blick
495
In's Leben, daß nicht ungeahnt der Fluch ihn trifft.
Gegenstrophe.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 468 focus
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.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 468 focus
Now by thy father's honour'd shade, my son,
465
And by thy mother, by whate'er thy house.
465
Holds dear to thee, thy suppliant I implore
465
Thy pity, do not leave me thus alone,
Abandon'd in these ills, which now thou seest,
And with which thou hast heard I long have had
My dwelling here. Receive me in thy bark,
Allow me there a place; this freight, I know;
Will be offensive; yet disdain it not:
Whate'er is base the noble mind abhors,
But glories in the kind and generous deed.
Not to perform this kindness were reproach.
To thee, and shame; but granting my request,
High honour waits thee. If I reach alive
The land of Eta, I shall burden thee
Not one whole day; refuse not my request;
470
Throw me where'er thou wilt, into the hold,
470
The prow, the stern, where least I may annoy!".
470
The mariners; assent, my son, by Jove
Protector of the suppliant, grant my pray'r.
Infirm, and lame, and wretched as I am,
Low at thy knees I fall; forsake me not
Far from the haunt of men abandon'd thus
But save me, bear me to thy friendly shore,
Or to Chalcodon's ports that deep indenti
Euboœa; thence the passage is not long
To Eta, and to Trachin's rocky heights,
And to Sperchius, beauteous-rolling stream.
Show me to my loved father; yet long since
The tomb, I fear, received him; for to those,
Who reach'd this coast, I oft gave charge, and oft
475
Sent my request that he would speed a bark.
475
To bear me hence in safety to my home.
475
But he is dead, or they perchance, (for this
Might be expected) on whose promised aid
I built my hopes, of my disastrous state
Made small account, and steer'd their onward course
To their own ports. But now I come to thee
To bear my message, nay, to bear me hence. 1.
Save me, have pity on me; for thou seest.
The dangers, and the horrible events
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 468 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-259-1 πρός νύν σε πατρὸς 1 πρός τ’ εἴ τι 2

mvp-comment-260-1 ἱκέτης 3 ἱκνοῦμαι 4

mvp-comment-261-1 οἵοις ὁρᾷς … ἐνναίοντα 5 ὅσοισί τ’ ἐξήκουσας 6

mvp-comment-262-1 ἐν παρέργῳ θοῦ με 7

mvp-comment-262-2 ἐν παρέργῳ 8

mvp-comment-262-3 δυσχέρεια 9

mvp-comment-263-1 ἔξοιδα 10

mvp-comment-263-2 φορήματος 11

mvp-comment-264-1 τό τ’ αἰσχρὸν 12 εὐκλεές 13 εὐκλεές 14 τοῖσι γενναίοισι 15

mvp-comment-265-1 ἐκλιπόντι τοῦτ’ 16

mvp-comment-265-2 ὄνειδος 17 οὐ καλόν 18

mvp-comment-266-1 πλεῖστον 19

mvp-comment-266-2 μόλω )γὼ 20

mvp-comment-267-1 ἴθ’ 21

mvp-comment-267-2 ἡμέρας … μιᾶς 22

mvp-comment-268-1 τόλμησον 23

mvp-comment-268-2 ὅπῃ 24 ὅποι 25 ἐμβαλοῦ 26 ἄγων 27

mvp-comment-269-1 ἀντλίαν 28

mvp-comment-269-2 πρῷραν … πρύμνην 29

mvp-comment-269-3 ὅπου 30 ὅποι 31 υ 32 ι 33

mvp-comment-269-4 μέλλω … ἀλγυνεῖν 34

mvp-comment-270-1 ἱκεσίου 35

mvp-comment-270-2 γόνασι 36

mvp-comment-271-1 ἀκράτωρ 37

mvp-comment-272-1 ἢ πρὸς οἶκον τὸν σὸν 38

mvp-comment-272-2 τὰ Χαλκώδοντος Εὐβοίας σταθμά 39

mvp-comment-272-3 Schneidewin remarks that Philoctetes, the former comrade of Heracles, might naturally name Chalcodon, who had been the companion of Heracles in an expedition against the Eleans ( Paus. 8. 15. 6 ). But that was merely a local Arcadian myth; and Pausanias finds it inconsistent with the better-known Theban tradition, according to which Chalcodon was slain by Amphitryon in a war between the Euboeans and Thebans (9. 19. 3). At any rate the Attic poet might think of the Attic legend, according to which Theseus had sent his sons for protection to Chalcodon's son Elephenor, before retiring from Athens to Scyros ( Plut. Thes. 35 ).

mvp-comment-273-1 εἰς Οἴτην 40

mvp-comment-274-1 Τραχινίαν … δειράδα 41

mvp-comment-274-2 All MSS. have δειράδα καὶ τὸν 42 δεράδα 43

mvp-comment-274-3 I am more disposed to think that δειράδα 44 καὶ τὸν 45

mvp-comment-274-4 εὔροον 46

mvp-comment-274-5 Like the Homeric

ἐΰρροος, ἐυ·ρρείτης
, the epithet refers simply to the beauty of the river, not to that swiftness (
σπέρχομαι
) from which it takes its name ( Il. 16. 176
Σπερχειῷ ἀκάμαντι
: Lucan 6. 366 Ferit amne citato | Maliacas Spercheus aquas). Rising at the foot of Typhrestus, and fed by affluents from Othrys and Oeta, the Spercheius has a considerable volume of water even in the hot season (Tozer, Geo. of Greece, p. 81).

mvp-comment-275-1 ὃν 47 δέδοικ’ 48

mvp-comment-275-2 παλαιὸν 49 ἐξ ὅτου 50 παλαἴ ἂν 51

mvp-comment-276-1 μή μοι βεβήκῃ 52

mvp-comment-276-2 τοῖς ἱγμένοις 53 ἔστελλον 54

mvp-comment-277-1 αὐτόστολον πέμψαντα 55 αὐτόστολον 56 πέμψαντα 57 ἐκσῶσαι 58 πλεύσαντα 59

mvp-comment-277-2 δόμους 60 δόμοις 61

mvp-comment-277-3 497 ff. After τὰ τῶν διακόνων 62 ποιούμενοι 63 τὸ 64 τὰ 65

mvp-comment-277-4 ὡς εἰκός 66 οἶμαι 67 οἴμοι 68

mvp-comment-277-5 ἐν σμικρῷ 69

mvp-comment-277-6 μέρος 70 μέρει 71

mvp-comment-277-7 ἤπειγον 72

mvp-comment-278-1 πομπόν τε καὐτὸν ἄγγελον 73

mvp-comment-278-2 ἥκω 74

mvp-comment-279-1 δεινὰ κἀπικινδύνως … κεῖται 75 παθεῖν 76 παθεῖν μὲν εὖ, παθεῖν δὲ θάτερα 77

mvp-comment-279-2 θάτερα 78

mvp-comment-280-1 ἐκτὸς ὄντα 79 τὰ δείν’ ὁρᾶν 80

mvp-comment-281-1 εὖ ζῇ 81

mvp-comment-281-2 τὸν βίον 82 λάθῃ 83

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.

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.

477. mvp-comment-339-1 οὐ καλόν] Full of disgrace.' Cp. Trach. 454, κὴρ πρόσεστιν οὐ καλή.

478. mvp-comment-340-1 πλεῖστον εὐκλείας γέρας] 'An abundant meed of fair renown.' πλεῖστον rather than μέγιστον, which would agree better with γέρας, because πλεῖστον γέρας εὐκλείας = γέρας πλείστης εὐκλείας. See E. on L. § 42. γ. p. 80. Philoctetes thinks of the gratitude of Poeas and his Melian friends as enough to satisfy any man's ambition.

480. mvp-comment-341-1 The expression is modified as the sentence proceeds: "Tis the labour of a day, nay, not of one whole day.'

481. mvp-comment-342-1 τόλμησον] 'Take heart to do it.' Cp. Ο. C. 184, τόλμα, κ.τ.λ., and note.

478-481. mvp-comment-343-1 ὅπῃ θέλεις] In what part (of the ship) you will.' ἄγων] 'If you will but take me.' Cp. infr. 590, ποιοῦ λέγων. And see E. on L. § 36. р. 63.

482. mvp-comment-344-1 ὅποι, sc. βεβλημένος, or = ἐκεῖσε ὅπου. The construction is attracted to that of the preceding words. See Essay on L. § 35, a. p. 59.

483. mvp-comment-345-1 ξυνόντας] Cp. infr. 520, τῆς νόσου ξυνουσίᾳ.

484. mvp-comment-346-1 πρὸς αὐτοῦ Ζηνός] Wishing to add something to his previous adjuration, supr. 468, 9, he can only think of Ζεὺς ἱκέσιος himself, whom he now brings forward, ὡς ἐπὶ τούτοις τὸν κολοφῶνα.

485. mvp-comment-347-1 γόνασι] (1) 'By falling on my knees,' (instrum. dat.). Or, (2) 'On my knees,' (locative). Cp. γονυπετής. Philoctetes kneels as far as his lameness will allow, and in the same act calls attention to the pitiable weakness which hinders even the posture of supplication.

487. mvp-comment-348-1 χωρὶς ἀνθρώπων στίβου] 'Apart from track of men,' i. e. where no man comes. Cp. Ant. 773, ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος.

488-489. mvp-comment-349-1 Philoctetes longs to be taken home (492), but, in order to obtain his petition, he limits it to what is easiest of performance. ἄγων is here unemphatic; not as supr. 481.

489. mvp-comment-350-1 Χαλκώδοντος Εὐβοίας σταθμά] To the Euboean dwelling of Chalcodon, i. e. Chalcis. Chalcodon is the father of Elephenor, who led the Euboeans to Troy; Il. 2. 536-541, οἱ δ' Εὔβοιαν ἔχον ... | τῶν αὖθ᾽ ἡγεμόνευ Ελεφήνωρ όζος ῎Αρηος | Χαλκωδοντιάδης, μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς ᾿Αβάντων. The thoughts of Philoctetes are with the older generation (Poeas, Peleus, Telamon, Lycomedes, Chalcodon), who had known Heracles, and were still vigorous when Philoctetes left home for Troy. According to a tradition, which is here ignored, Chalchodon had long since been slain by Amphitryon.

491. mvp-comment-351-1 The correction of δειράδα καί (see v.rr.) is very uncertain. δεράς does not occur elsewhere. Other corrections are δειράδ᾽ ἤ (Porson), πρῶνα καί (Wunder), δειράδ' ἐπί (Hermann in one edition), δειράδ' ἀνά (Seyffert). Philoctetes imagines the features of his native land as they would successively disclose themselves in the homeward voyage in l. 488.

492. mvp-comment-352-1 πατρὶ . . φίλῳ] 'That so thou mayest give me to my dear father's sight.' ὡς δείξῃς depends on ἔκσωσον in l. 488.

493. mvp-comment-353-1 παλαί᾽ ἂν ἐξότου = παλαιὸς χρόνος ἂν εἴη ἐξ ὅτον, is to be joined as an adverbial expression with βεβήκῃ. Cp. Thuc. 1. 6, where οὐ πολὺς χρόνος ἐπειδὴ ἐπαύσαντο φοροῦντες = ἔναγχος ἐφόρουν καὶ οὐ πολὺς χρόνος γέγονεν ἐπειδὴ ἐπαύσαντο. Others read παλαιὸν ἐξ ὅτου. If this is adopted, the phrase is still to be joined to βεβήκη, and not το δέδοικα.

494. mvp-comment-354-1 μὴ . · βεβήκη] 'Who, my fears tell me, may be long since gone.' Βεβήκοι might be defended as continuing the construction with ἄν; but this is improbable. μοι is ethical dative. πολλά, adv. τοῖς ἱγμένοις] 'By means of those who had come,' (supr. 301 fol.). Cp. Ant. 164, 5, πομποῖσιν . . ἔστειλα.

495. mvp-comment-355-1 ἔστελλον] 'I urged him.' Cp. infr. 623. The imperfect tense represents an endeavour.

496. mvp-comment-356-1 αὐτόστολον] 'With a ship and crew of his own providing.' Agreeing with αὐτόν. δόμοις] Wund. conjectured δόμους, perhaps rightly; but for the dative, see Essay on L. § 11. p. 18, 3.

497-499. mvp-comment-357-1 τὰ τῶν διακόνων .. ποιούμενοι] Either (1) τὰ τῶν διακόνων simply = οἱ διάκονοι, with which ποιούμενοι agrees. Or (2) the mode of expression is altered from 'the service of my messengers failed me' (ἐξαπώλετο ἤ τι τοιοῦτον), to 'my messengers cared little for what concerned me, but pushed their homeward voyage, etc.'

498. mvp-comment-358-1 ὡς εἰκός] Philoctetes attributes to such involuntary visitants the homesickness which he himself feels. τοὐμὸν . . ποιούμενοι] He says this as feeling bitterly his insignificance. Cp. supr. 254,5.

500. mvp-comment-359-1 Seyffert rightly omits the comma after νῦν δ'. Cp. supr. 144, 5. εἰς σὲ .. ἥκω) · I am come to thee,' i e. My fate has brought me to you in the succession of those who come. For the transference of words of place to time, see E. on L. § 24. p. 41, 7. πομπόν τε καὐτὸν ἄγγελον] Who wilt be my guide at the same time that thou dost thyself report concerning me.' αὐτόν belongs to both nouns, i. e. not only to transmit news of me, but to announce me yourself in person; not only to announce me, but to take me home. Philoctetes still clings to the hope that Neoptolemus will bring him all the way to Trachis.

501. mvp-comment-360-1 εἰσορῶν] 'Seeing,' in the example now present before you.

502-503. mvp-comment-361-1 δεινά] Sc. ἐστί. How to mortals all things are beset with peril and hazard; there is a chance of good and a chance of the opposite.' Philoctetes has deeply learnt the lesson: 'It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, And that craves wary walking. Neoptolemus must show mercy, and thus avoid provoking the gods. For πάντα δεινά, Wakefield conjectured πάντ' ἄδηλα.