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Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλγῶ πάλαι δὴ τἀπὶ σοὶ στένων κακά.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχʼ· ὡς ἥδε μοι

ὀξεῖα φοιτᾷ καὶ ταχεῖʼ ἀπέρχεται.

ἀλλʼ ἀντιάζω, μή με καταλίπῃς μόνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος

θάρσει, μενοῦμεν.
810

Φιλοκτήτης

ἦ μενεῖς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

σαφῶς φρόνει.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐ μήν σʼ ἔνορκόν γʼ ἀξιῶ θέσθαι, τέκνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὡς οὐ θέμις γʼ ἐμοὔστι σοῦ μολεῖν ἄτερ.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἔμβαλλε χειρὸς πίστιν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἐμβάλλω μενεῖν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἐκεῖσε νῦν μʼ, ἐκεῖσε

Νεοπτόλεμος

ποῖ λέγεις;

Φιλοκτήτης

ἄνω

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί παραφρονεῖς αὖ; τί τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις κύκλον;
815

Φιλοκτήτης

μέθες μέθες με.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ποῖ μεθῶ;

Φιλοκτήτης

μέθες ποτέ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὔ φημʼ ἐάσειν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀπό μʼ ὀλεῖς, ἢν προσθίγῃς.

Νεοπτόλεμος

καὶ δὴ μεθίημʼ, εἴ τι δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ γαῖα, δέξαι θανάσιμόν μʼ ὅπως ἔχω

τὸ γὰρ κακὸν τόδʼ οὐκέτʼ ὀρθοῦσθαί μʼ ἐᾷ.
820

Νεοπτόλεμος

τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἔοικεν ὕπνος οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου

ἕξειν· κάρα γὰρ ὑπτιάζεται τόδε·

ἱδρώς γέ τοί νιν πᾶν καταστάζει δέμας,

μέλαινά τʼ ἄκρου τις παρέρρωγεν ποδὸς

αἱμορραγὴς φλέψ. ἀλλʼ ἐάσωμεν, φίλοι,
825

ἕκηλον αὐτόν, ὡς ἂν εἰς ὕπνον πέσῃ.

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)) — 806 focus

ἀλγῶ πάλαι δὴ τἀπὶ σοὶ στένων κακά.

ΦΙ.

ἀλλ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχ· ὡς ἥδε μοι

ὀξεῖα φοιτᾷ καὶ ταχεῖ᾽ ἀπέρχεται ἐπέρχεται.

ἀλλ᾽ ἀντιάζω, μή με καταλίπῃς καταλείπηισ καταλίπης μόνον.

ΝΕ.

θάρσει, μενοῦμεν.
810

ΦΙ.

ἢ μενεῖς;

NE.

σαφῶς φρόνει.

ΦΙ.

οὐ μήν σ᾽ ἔνορκόν γ'᾽ ἀξιῶ θέσθαι, τέκνον.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ,

ΝΕ.

ὡς οὐ θέμις γ᾽ ἐμοὔστι ἐμοί' στι ἐμὴ ἐστί ἐμ᾽ ἴσθι σοῦ μολεῖν ἄτερ.

ΦΙ.

ἔμβαλλε χειρὸς πίστιν.

NE.

ἐμβάλλω μενεῖν μένειν μενεῖν.

ΦΙ.

ἐκεῖσε νῦν μ᾽ μ' om., ἐκεῖσε

NE.

ποῖ λέγεις;

ΦΙ.

ἄνω

ΝΕ.

τί παραφρονεῖς αὖ; τί τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις λεύσσεις (λεύσηισ pr.) λεύσσεις κύκλον ;
815

ΦΙ.

μέθες μέθες με.

NE.

ποῖ μεθῶ;

ΦΙ.

μέθες ποτέ.

ΝΕ.

οὔ φημ᾽ ἐάσειν.

ΦΙ.

ἀπό μ᾽ ὀλεῖς, ἢν προσθίγῃς.

ΝΕ.

καὶ δὴ μεθίημ', εἴ τι δὴ μεθείημι τί δὴ μεθίημι τι δὲ δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς.

ΦΙ.

ὦ γαῖα, δέξαι θανάσιμόν μ' ὅπως ἔχω·

τὸ γὰρ κακὸν τόδ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ ὀρθοῦσθαί μ᾽ ἐᾷ.
820

ΝΕ.

τὸν ἄνδ᾽ ἔοικεν ὕπνος οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου

ἕξειν· κάρα γὰρ ὑπτιάζεται τόδε.

ἱδρώς γέ τοί νιν πᾶν καταστάζει δέμας,

μέλαινά τ᾽ ἄκρου τις παρέρρωγεν ποδὸς

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

αἱμορραγὴς φλέψ. ἀλλ᾽ ἐάσωμεν, φίλοι,

825

ἕκηλον αὐτόν, ὡς ἂν εἰς ὕπνον πέσῃ.

ΧΟ.

στρ.

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 806 focus

My heart is full, and groaning o’er thy woes.

PHI

Nay, yet have comfort. This affliction oft

Goes no less swiftly than it came. I pray thee,

Stand fast and leave me not alone!

NEO

Fear nought.
810

We will not stir.
810

PHI

Wilt thou remain?

NEO

Be sure of it.

PHI

I’ll not degrade thee with an oath, my son.

NEO

Rest satisfied. I may not go without thee.

PHI

Thy hand, to pledge me that!

NEO

There, I will stay.

PHI

Now, now, aloft!

NEO

Where mean’st thou?

PHI

Yonder aloft!

NEO

Whither? Thou rav’st. Why starest thou at the sky?
815

PHI

Now, let me go.

NEO

Where?

PHI

Let me go, I say!

NEO

I will not.

PHI

You will kill me. Let me go!

NEO

Well, thou know’st best I hold thee not.

PHI

O Earth,

I die. receive me to thy breast! This pain

Subdues me utterly, I cannot stand.
820

NEO

Methinks he will be fast in slumber soon

That head sinks backward, and a clammy sweat

Bathes all his limbs, while from his foot hath burst

A vein, dark bleeding. Let us leave him, friends,

In quietness, till he hath fallen to sleep.

CHORUS
CHORUS

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 806 focus

Schon lange leid' ich und bejammre dein Geschick.

Philoktetes.

Doch sei getrost auch, theures Kind; denn diese Qual

Ist immer heftig, wenn sie kommt, und scheidet schnell.

Nur Eines bitt' ich, laß allein mich nicht zurück.
780

Getrost! Ich bleibe.

Bleibst du?

Neoptolemos.

Traue meinem Wort.

Philoktetes.

Durch einen Eidschwur will ich dich nicht binden, Sohn.

Neoptolemos.

Ist, ohne dich zu kommen, mir doch nicht erlaubt.

Philoktetes.

Gib mir die Hand zum Pfande.

(ihm die Hand reichend)

Neoptolemos.

Nimm! Ich bleibe hier.

(seine Hand haltend, und nach der höher liegenden Felsenhöhle deutend)

Philoktetes.

Dorthin
785

ja dorthin
785

Neoptolemos.

Wie? Wohin?
785

Philoktetes.

Nach oben dort
785

Neoptolemos.

Wie sprichst du sinnlos, schaust die Sonne droben an?

Philoktetes.

laß mich, laß mich -

Neoptolemos.

Und wohin?

Philoktetes.

laß mich doch!

Neoptolemos.

Ich muß dich halten.

Philoktetes.

Dein Berühren tödtet mich.

(läßt seine Hand los)

Neoptolemos.

Nun, bist du deiner mehr bewußt, so lass' ich dich.

Philoktetes.

nimm mich, Erde, wie ich bin, den Sterbenden!
790

Denn nimmer aufrecht stehen läßt mich diese Qual.

(er sinkt zurück und entschlummert.)

Neoptolemos.

In kurzer Zeit, so scheint es, wird der Schlaf den Mann

Befallen: auf den Nacken sinkt sein Haupt zurück;

Herab in Tropfen quillt der Schweiß am ganzen Leib,

Und unterhalb am Fuße brach die Ader auf,
795

Das schwarze Blut ausströmend. Laßt, o Freunde, denn

Ihn ruhig liegen, daß er sinkt in süßen Schlaf.

Strophe.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 806 focus

May the gods

Forbid it ever ! May they guide our course

And speed our prosperous sails !

Philoctetes

Alas ! my son,

I fear thy vows are vain. Behold my blood

Flows from the w^ound ? Oh ! how it pains me ! Now

It comes, it hastens ! Do not, do not leave me !

Oh ! that Ulysses felt this racking torture,

K'en to his inmost soul ! Again it comes !

Should not you bear these pangs as I have done 1

O death ! where art thou, death? so often called,

Wilt thou not listen ? wilt thou never come ?

Take thou the Lemnian fire, my generous friend,

Do me the same kind office which I did

For my Alcides. These are thy reward ;

He gave them to me. Thou alone deservest

The great inheritance. What says my friend ?

What says my dear preserver ] Oh ! where art thou ?

Neoptolemus
() Agamemnon ! Menelaus ! why

I mourn thy hapless fate.
810

Philoctetes

Be of good cheer,

Quick my disorder comes, and goes as soon ;

I only beg thee not to leave me here.

Neoptolemus

Depend on 't, I will stay.

Philoctetes

Wilt thou indeed ?

Neoptolemus

Trust me, I will.

Philoctetes

I need not bind thee to it

By oath.

Ned. Oh, no ! 'twere impious to forsake thee.

Philoctetes

Give me thy hand, and pledge thy faith.

Ned. I do.

Philoctetes

Thither, oh, thither lead !

Ned. What sayst thou ? where 1

Philoctetes
\Pointing up to heaven.

Above.

Neoptolemus

What, lost again ? Why lookst thou thus
815

On that bright circle 1
815

Philoctetes

Let me, let me go !

Neoptolemus

[lays hold o/him]. Where wouldst thou go ?

Philoctetes

Loose me.

Neoptolemus

I will not.

Philoctetes

Oh !

You'll kill me, if you do not.

Neoptolemus

[lets him go]. There, then ; now

Is thy mind better ?

Philoctetes

Oh ! receive me, earth !

Receive a dymg man. Here must I lie ;

For, oh ! my pain 's so great I cannot rise.
820

the entrance of the cave.
820

Neoptolemus
Scene II.

Chorus.

Neoptolemus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 806 focus

Grant this, ye gods! And may a favouring gale

Arise, and safely bear us to the land

Sought by our sails, and by the gods assign'd

Philoctetes
FAIT

These vows, my son, I fear thou hast address'd

Without effect; for the black blood again

Spouts from the bottom of my wound; I dread

Anguish unknown before. Unhappy me,

What torture this! It thrills, it darts along,

It is not to be borne. You see my state;

But fly not; leave me not abandon'd here. I

Thou Cephallenian savage, might this pain

Pierce through thy breast, quite through! Ye brother kings,

Leaders of Greece, for such a length of time,

For me such anguish how had you sustain'd?

O death, O death, each day so oft invoked,

Canst thou ne'er come? My son, thou generous youth,

Oh take me, burn me in these whirling flames

Of Lemnos; which sad office for the son

Of Jove these hands refused not to perform,

These arms receiving as my meed. My son,

Why art thou silent? What employs thy thoughts?

Neoptolemus

Long have I griev'd, and mourn'd thy painful ills.
810

Philoctetes

Let not that shake thy firmness; for these pains

Oft come thus keen, and soon are gone again.

But, I entreat thee, leave me not alone.

Neoptolemus

Be confident; for thee we here will stay.

Philoctetes

And will you stay?

Neoptolemus

Be thou assured we will.

Philoctetes

Ill it becomes me to require thy oath.

Neoptolemus

To go without thee were an impious deed.

Philoctetes

Give me thy hand to ratify thy faith.

Neoptolemus

I give it as a pledge that I will stay.

Philoctetes

There, let me there......

What say'st thou?

"There on high......

Neoptolemus

This is distraction. Wherefore are thine eyes
815

Philoctetes

Fix'd on that orb above?

Neoptolemus

Why should I let thee go?

Philoctetes

Off, let me go.

Unhand me, off.

Neoptolemus

I cannot quit thee in this hapless state.

Philoctetes

You kill me if you touch me.

Neoptolemus

To thyself

I leave thee....... Are thy spirits now more calm?

Philoctetes

O earth, receive me dying as I lie;

My ills will never let me rise again.
820

Neoptolemus

Sleep soon will steal upon him: see, his head

Already he reclines; and all his limbs

Are bath'd with sweat; the black distended vein

Is burst, and from his foot out-wells the gore.

Let us allow him then, my friends, to rest
825

In quiet, soon as sleep shall close his eyes.

Chorus

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 806 focus

Neoptolemus

My heart has long been aching for your load of pain.

Philoctetes

Stop, then, and take courage; this visitor comes sharply, but goes quickly. Yet, I beg you, do not leave me alone.

Neoptolemus

Take heart, we will remain.
810

Philoctetes

Will you?

Neoptolemus

Be sure of it.

Philoctetes

Indeed, I do not think it right to put you under oath.

Neoptolemus

Rest assured; it is not lawful for me to leave without you.

Philoctetes

Give me your hand in pledge!

Neoptolemus

I give it—to stay.

Philoctetes

Now take me there, over there!

Neoptolemus

Where do you mean?

Philoctetes

Up there!

Neoptolemus

What is this new delirium? Why do you gaze at the dome above us?
815

Philoctetes

Let me go, let me go!

Neoptolemus

Where will you go, if I do so?

Philoctetes

Let me go, I say!

Neoptolemus

I will not.

Philoctetes

You will kill me, if you touch me further.

Neoptolemus

There, then, I release you—if in fact you believe it is for the better.

Philoctetes

Wide Earth, embrace me now on the verge of death!

This pain no longer lets me stand up.
820

Neoptolemus

Sleep, I think, will take him before long. See, his head sinks backward. Yes, a sweat runs over his whole body, and a dark, hemorrhaging vein has burst from his heel.

Come, friends, let us leave him in quietness, so that he may fall asleep.
825

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-437-1 πάλαι δὴ ¹

mvp-comment-437-2 τἀπὶ σοὶ … κακά ²

mvp-comment-438-1 καὶ θάρσος ἴσχε ³ καὶ ⁴ μοι. ⁵

mvp-comment-438-2 φοιτᾷ ⁶

mvp-comment-438-3 ὀξεῖα, ταχεῖα ⁷

mvp-comment-439-1 οὐ μήν ⁸

mvp-comment-439-2 ἔνορκον … θέσθαι ⁹

mvp-comment-440-1 ὡς ¹⁰ θέμις ¹¹ γε ¹² θέμις ¹³

mvp-comment-440-2 ἐμοὔστι ¹⁴

mvp-comment-441-1 ἔμβαλλε ¹⁵

mvp-comment-442-1 ἐκεῖσε νῦν μ’ ¹⁶ ἐκεῖσε ¹⁷ ἐκεῖσε ¹⁸ ἄνω ¹⁹ παραφρονεῖς αὖ ²⁰ τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις κύκλον ²¹ εἴ τι δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς ²²

mvp-comment-443-1 αὖ ²³

mvp-comment-443-2 τὸν ἄνω κύκλον ²⁴

mvp-comment-444-1 ποτέ ²⁵

mvp-comment-444-2 ἀπό μ’ ὀλεῖς ²⁶

mvp-comment-445-1 καὶ δὴ μεθίημ’ ²⁷

mvp-comment-445-2 εἴ τι δὴ ²⁸

mvp-comment-445-3 πλέον φρονεῖς ²⁹ εἰ ³⁰

mvp-comment-446-1 θανάσιμον ³¹

mvp-comment-446-2 ὅπως ἔχω ³²

mvp-comment-446-3 ὀρθοῦσθαι ³³

mvp-comment-447-1 οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου ³⁴

mvp-comment-448-1 γέ τοι ³⁵

mvp-comment-449-1 ἄκρον … ποδὸς ³⁶ φλέψ ³⁷

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

806. mvp-comment-565-1 τἀπὶ σοί] 'That afflict thee.' Cp. Trach. 981, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπί μοι μελέῳ βάρος ἄπλετον ἐμμέμονε φρήν.

807. mvp-comment-566-1 The tripartite division of this line is very unusual. But it is modified by the elision in ἴσχ' for ἴσχε, and the rhythm of this whole passage is broken.

808. mvp-comment-567-1 'As it comes impetuously, so it leaves me speedily.' For the paratactic structure, cp. Ant. 1112, αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.

809. mvp-comment-568-1 θάρσει, μενούμεν] Neoptolemus says this with mingled feelings, and the eagerness of Philoctetes is made pathetic by his unconsciousness of the situation.

810. mvp-comment-569-1 σαφῶς φρόνει] Sc. με ὡς μενοῦντα.

811. mvp-comment-570-1 Ср. О. C. 650, 1, and note. Philoctetes desires the confirmation for which he will not ask. Neoptolemus makes a solemn asseveration (ὡς .. γε = 'At any rate be assured that'), in which the hidden intention of fate ( cp. ξυμφορᾶς ξύνθημα, Ο. C. 46) is again ambiguously conveyed. Philoctetes still requires the assurance of the right hand. Cр. О. С. 1632, δός μοι χερὸς σῆς πίστιν ἀρχαίαν, and note: Trach. 1181. Neoptolemus gives it with the safe promise of remaining, which to Philoctetes at the moment is quite sufficient. (He afterwards, infr. 1398, interprets the promise differently, as a confirmation of the original engagement, supr. 527). On receiving this satisfaction, he relapses into a semi-conscious state, and dreaming apparently of Oeta, Olympus, and the Lemnian fire in one, begs to be carried 'yonder,' 'upwards.' But immediately afterwards, when Neoptolemus comes near to hold him, he cries out to be let alone. (Prof. Paley interprets 813, 4, ἐκεῖσε.. ἄνω, as referring to the cave. But the vagueness of 815 is against this.)

815. mvp-comment-571-1 τὸν ἄνω κύκλον] 'The circle of the heavens.' Cp. Aj. 672, νυκτὸς αἰανῆς κύκλος.

817. mvp-comment-572-1 The tmesis of ἀπό occurs again infr. 1158, 1177.

818. mvp-comment-573-1 *εἴ τι δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς] 'Supposing that you must know best.' πλέον, sc. ἐμοῦ. Cp. Plat. Hipp. Min. 371 A, τοῦ Ὀδυσσέως φαίνεται φρονεῖν πλέον πρὸς τὸ ῥᾳδίως λανθάνειν: Thuc. 5. 29. § 2, νομίσαντες πλέον τέ τι εἰδότας μεταστῆναι αὐτούς, κ.τ.λ. Neoptolemus feels like an inexperienced nurse, and perceives that the sickness is beyond his treatment. He begins to think that the sick man must know what is best for his own state. Cp. Trach. 1017-22.

820. mvp-comment-574-1 Philoctetes throws himself on the ground.

822. mvp-comment-575-1 τόδε] See Essay on L. § 22, 1. P.34.

823. mvp-comment-576-1 'Sweat certainly is bathing him over all his frame.' γέ τοι calls attention to the sign which helps to confirm supr. 821, 2.

824. mvp-comment-577-1 ἄκρου.. ποδός] Cp. supr. 748, and note. παρέρρωγεν] 'Has burst from the side of (i. e. from the place of the wound)'. For the repetition of the same root in the compound, see Essay on L. § 40. p. 75, § 55. p. 101.

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Νεοπτόλεμος ἀλγῶ πάλαι δὴ τἀπὶ σοὶ στένων κακά.

Φιλοκτήτης ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχʼ· ὡς ἥδε μοι ὀξεῖα φοιτᾷ καὶ ταχεῖʼ ἀπέρχεται. ἀλλʼ ἀντιάζω, μή με καταλίπῃς μόνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος θάρσει, μενοῦμεν. 810

Φιλοκτήτης ἦ μενεῖς;

Νεοπτόλεμος σαφῶς φρόνει.

Φιλοκτήτης οὐ μήν σʼ ἔνορκόν γʼ ἀξιῶ θέσθαι, τέκνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος ὡς οὐ θέμις γʼ ἐμοὔστι σοῦ μολεῖν ἄτερ.

Φιλοκτήτης ἔμβαλλε χειρὸς πίστιν.

Νεοπτόλεμος ἐμβάλλω μενεῖν.

Φιλοκτήτης ἐκεῖσε νῦν μʼ, ἐκεῖσε

Νεοπτόλεμος ποῖ λέγεις;

Φιλοκτήτης ἄνω

Νεοπτόλεμος τί παραφρονεῖς αὖ; τί τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις κύκλον; 815

Φιλοκτήτης μέθες μέθες με.

Νεοπτόλεμος ποῖ μεθῶ;

Φιλοκτήτης μέθες ποτέ.

Νεοπτόλεμος οὔ φημʼ ἐάσειν.

Φιλοκτήτης ἀπό μʼ ὀλεῖς, ἢν προσθίγῃς.

Νεοπτόλεμος καὶ δὴ μεθίημʼ, εἴ τι δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς.

Φιλοκτήτης ὦ γαῖα, δέξαι θανάσιμόν μʼ ὅπως ἔχω τὸ γὰρ κακὸν τόδʼ οὐκέτʼ ὀρθοῦσθαί μʼ ἐᾷ. 820

Current edition Experimental

ἀλγῶ πάλαι δὴ τἀπὶ σοὶ στένων κακά.

ΦΙ. ἀλλ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχ· ὡς ἥδε μοι ὀξεῖα φοιτᾷ καὶ ταχεῖ᾽ ἀπέρχεται ἐπέρχεται. ἀλλ᾽ ἀντιάζω, μή με καταλίπῃς καταλείπηισ καταλίπης μόνον.

ΝΕ. θάρσει, μενοῦμεν. 810

ΦΙ. ἢ μενεῖς;

NE. σαφῶς φρόνει.

ΦΙ. οὐ μήν σ᾽ ἔνορκόν γ'᾽ ἀξιῶ θέσθαι, τέκνον.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ,

ΝΕ. ὡς οὐ θέμις γ᾽ ἐμοὔστι ἐμοί' στι ἐμὴ ἐστί ἐμ᾽ ἴσθι σοῦ μολεῖν ἄτερ.

ΦΙ. ἔμβαλλε χειρὸς πίστιν.

NE. ἐμβάλλω μενεῖν μένειν μενεῖν.

ΦΙ. ἐκεῖσε νῦν μ᾽ μ' om., ἐκεῖσε

NE. ποῖ λέγεις;

ΦΙ. ἄνω

ΝΕ. τί παραφρονεῖς αὖ; τί τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις λεύσσεις (λεύσηισ pr.) λεύσσεις κύκλον ; 815

ΦΙ. μέθες μέθες με.

NE. ποῖ μεθῶ;

ΦΙ. μέθες ποτέ.

ΝΕ. οὔ φημ᾽ ἐάσειν.

ΦΙ. ἀπό μ᾽ ὀλεῖς, ἢν προσθίγῃς.

ΝΕ. καὶ δὴ μεθίημ', εἴ τι δὴ μεθείημι τί δὴ μεθίημι τι δὲ δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς.

ΦΙ. ὦ γαῖα, δέξαι θανάσιμόν μ' ὅπως ἔχω· τὸ γὰρ κακὸν τόδ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ ὀρθοῦσθαί μ᾽ ἐᾷ. 820

ΝΕ. τὸν ἄνδ᾽ ἔοικεν ὕπνος οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου ἕξειν· κάρα γὰρ ὑπτιάζεται τόδε. ἱδρώς γέ τοί νιν πᾶν καταστάζει δέμας, μέλαινά τ᾽ ἄκρου τις παρέρρωγεν ποδὸς

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΧΟ. στρ.

My heart is full, and groaning o’er thy woes.

PHI Nay, yet have comfort. This affliction oft Goes no less swiftly than it came. I pray thee, Stand fast and leave me not alone!

NEO Fear nought. 810 We will not stir. 810

PHI Wilt thou remain?

NEO Be sure of it.

PHI I’ll not degrade thee with an oath, my son.

NEO Rest satisfied. I may not go without thee.

PHI Thy hand, to pledge me that!

NEO There, I will stay.

PHI Now, now, aloft!

NEO Where mean’st thou?

PHI Yonder aloft!

NEO Whither? Thou rav’st. Why starest thou at the sky? 815

PHI Now, let me go.

NEO Where?

PHI Let me go, I say!

NEO I will not.

PHI You will kill me. Let me go!

NEO Well, thou know’st best I hold thee not.

PHI O Earth, I die. receive me to thy breast! This pain Subdues me utterly, I cannot stand. 820

NEO Methinks he will be fast in slumber soon That head sinks backward, and a clammy sweat Bathes all his limbs, while from his foot hath burst A vein, dark bleeding. Let us leave him, friends, In quietness, till he hath fallen to sleep.

CHORUS CHORUS

Schon lange leid' ich und bejammre dein Geschick.

Philoktetes. Doch sei getrost auch, theures Kind; denn diese Qual Ist immer heftig, wenn sie kommt, und scheidet schnell. Nur Eines bitt' ich, laß allein mich nicht zurück. 780 Getrost! Ich bleibe. Bleibst du?

Neoptolemos. Traue meinem Wort.

Philoktetes. Durch einen Eidschwur will ich dich nicht binden, Sohn.

Neoptolemos. Ist, ohne dich zu kommen, mir doch nicht erlaubt.

Philoktetes. Gib mir die Hand zum Pfande. (ihm die Hand reichend)

Neoptolemos. Nimm! Ich bleibe hier. (seine Hand haltend, und nach der höher liegenden Felsenhöhle deutend)

Philoktetes. Dorthin 785 ja dorthin 785

Neoptolemos. Wie? Wohin? 785

Philoktetes. Nach oben dort 785

Neoptolemos. Wie sprichst du sinnlos, schaust die Sonne droben an?

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλγῶ πάλαι δὴ τἀπὶ σοὶ στένων κακά.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχʼ· ὡς ἥδε μοι

ὀξεῖα φοιτᾷ καὶ ταχεῖʼ ἀπέρχεται.

ἀλλʼ ἀντιάζω, μή με καταλίπῃς μόνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος

θάρσει, μενοῦμεν.
810

Φιλοκτήτης

ἦ μενεῖς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

σαφῶς φρόνει.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐ μήν σʼ ἔνορκόν γʼ ἀξιῶ θέσθαι, τέκνον.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὡς οὐ θέμις γʼ ἐμοὔστι σοῦ μολεῖν ἄτερ.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἔμβαλλε χειρὸς πίστιν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἐμβάλλω μενεῖν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἐκεῖσε νῦν μʼ, ἐκεῖσε

Νεοπτόλεμος

ποῖ λέγεις;

Φιλοκτήτης

ἄνω

Νεοπτόλεμος

τί παραφρονεῖς αὖ; τί τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις κύκλον;
815

Φιλοκτήτης

μέθες μέθες με.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ποῖ μεθῶ;

Φιλοκτήτης

μέθες ποτέ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὔ φημʼ ἐάσειν.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀπό μʼ ὀλεῖς, ἢν προσθίγῃς.

Νεοπτόλεμος

καὶ δὴ μεθίημʼ, εἴ τι δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ γαῖα, δέξαι θανάσιμόν μʼ ὅπως ἔχω

τὸ γὰρ κακὸν τόδʼ οὐκέτʼ ὀρθοῦσθαί μʼ ἐᾷ.
820

ΦΙ.

ἀλλ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχ· ὡς ἥδε μοι

ὀξεῖα φοιτᾷ καὶ ταχεῖ᾽ ἀπέρχεται ἐπέρχεται.

ἀλλ᾽ ἀντιάζω, μή με καταλίπῃς καταλείπηισ καταλίπης μόνον.

ΝΕ.

θάρσει, μενοῦμεν.
810

ΦΙ.

ἢ μενεῖς;

NE.

σαφῶς φρόνει.

ΦΙ.

οὐ μήν σ᾽ ἔνορκόν γ'᾽ ἀξιῶ θέσθαι, τέκνον.

ΝΕ.

ὡς οὐ θέμις γ᾽ ἐμοὔστι ἐμοί' στι ἐμὴ ἐστί ἐμ᾽ ἴσθι σοῦ μολεῖν ἄτερ.

ΦΙ.

ἔμβαλλε χειρὸς πίστιν.

NE.

ἐμβάλλω μενεῖν μένειν μενεῖν.

ΦΙ.

ἐκεῖσε νῦν μ᾽ μ' om., ἐκεῖσε

NE.

ποῖ λέγεις;

ΦΙ.

ἄνω

ΝΕ.

τί παραφρονεῖς αὖ; τί τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις λεύσσεις (λεύσηισ pr.) λεύσσεις κύκλον ;
815

ΦΙ.

μέθες μέθες με.

NE.

ποῖ μεθῶ;

ΦΙ.

μέθες ποτέ.

ΝΕ.

οὔ φημ᾽ ἐάσειν.

ΦΙ.

ἀπό μ᾽ ὀλεῖς, ἢν προσθίγῃς.

ΝΕ.

καὶ δὴ μεθίημ', εἴ τι δὴ μεθείημι τί δὴ μεθίημι τι δὲ δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς.

ΦΙ.

ὦ γαῖα, δέξαι θανάσιμόν μ' ὅπως ἔχω·

τὸ γὰρ κακὸν τόδ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ ὀρθοῦσθαί μ᾽ ἐᾷ.
820

ΝΕ.

τὸν ἄνδ᾽ ἔοικεν ὕπνος οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου

ἕξειν· κάρα γὰρ ὑπτιάζεται τόδε.

ἱδρώς γέ τοί νιν πᾶν καταστάζει δέμας,

μέλαινά τ᾽ ἄκρου τις παρέρρωγεν ποδὸς

ΧΟ.

στρ.

PHI

Nay, yet have comfort. This affliction oft

Goes no less swiftly than it came. I pray thee,

Stand fast and leave me not alone!

NEO

Fear nought.
810

We will not stir.
810

PHI

Wilt thou remain?

NEO

Be sure of it.

PHI

I’ll not degrade thee with an oath, my son.

NEO

Rest satisfied. I may not go without thee.

PHI

Thy hand, to pledge me that!

NEO

There, I will stay.

PHI

Now, now, aloft!

NEO

Where mean’st thou?

PHI

Yonder aloft!

NEO

Whither? Thou rav’st. Why starest thou at the sky?
815

PHI

Now, let me go.

NEO

Where?

PHI

Let me go, I say!

NEO

I will not.

PHI

You will kill me. Let me go!

NEO

Well, thou know’st best I hold thee not.

PHI

O Earth,

I die. receive me to thy breast! This pain

Subdues me utterly, I cannot stand.
820

NEO

Methinks he will be fast in slumber soon

That head sinks backward, and a clammy sweat

Bathes all his limbs, while from his foot hath burst

A vein, dark bleeding. Let us leave him, friends,

In quietness, till he hath fallen to sleep.

CHORUS
CHORUS

Philoktetes.

Doch sei getrost auch, theures Kind; denn diese Qual

Ist immer heftig, wenn sie kommt, und scheidet schnell.

Nur Eines bitt' ich, laß allein mich nicht zurück.
780

Getrost! Ich bleibe.

Bleibst du?

Neoptolemos.

Traue meinem Wort.

Philoktetes.

Durch einen Eidschwur will ich dich nicht binden, Sohn.

Neoptolemos.

Ist, ohne dich zu kommen, mir doch nicht erlaubt.

Philoktetes.

Gib mir die Hand zum Pfande.

(ihm die Hand reichend)

Neoptolemos.

Nimm! Ich bleibe hier.

(seine Hand haltend, und nach der höher liegenden Felsenhöhle deutend)

Philoktetes.

Dorthin
785

ja dorthin
785

Neoptolemos.

Wie? Wohin?
785

Philoktetes.

Nach oben dort
785

Neoptolemos.

Wie sprichst du sinnlos, schaust die Sonne droben an?

Philoktetes.

laß mich, laß mich -

Neoptolemos.

Und wohin?

Philoktetes.

laß mich doch!

Neoptolemos.

Ich muß dich halten.

Philoktetes.

Dein Berühren tödtet mich.

(läßt seine Hand los)

Neoptolemos.

Nun, bist du deiner mehr bewußt, so lass' ich dich.

Philoktetes.

nimm mich, Erde, wie ich bin, den Sterbenden!
790

Denn nimmer aufrecht stehen läßt mich diese Qual.

(er sinkt zurück und entschlummert.)

May the gods

Forbid it ever ! May they guide our course

And speed our prosperous sails !