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Νεοπτόλεμος

ἔσται τάδʼ· ἀλλʼ ἵστω τε καὐτὸς ἀντέχου.

Φιλοκτήτης

θάρσει· τό τοι σύνηθες ὀρθώσει μʼ ἔθος.

Νεοπτόλεμος

παπαῖ· τί δῆτʼ ἂν δρῷμʼ ἐγὼ τοὐνθένδε γε;
895

Φιλοκτήτης

τί δʼ ἔστιν, ὦ παῖ; ποῖ ποτʼ ἐξέβης λόγῳ;

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅποι χρὴ τἄπορον τρέπειν ἔπος.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀπορεῖς δὲ τοῦ σύ; μὴ λέγʼ, ὦ τέκνον, τάδε.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἤδη τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους κυρῶ.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐ δή σε δυσχέρεια τοῦ νοσήματος
900

ἔπεισεν ὥστε μή μʼ ἄγειν ναύτην ἔτι;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἅπαντα δυσχέρεια, τὴν αὑτοῦ φύσιν

ὅταν λιπών τις δρᾷ τὰ μὴ προσεικότα.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος σύ γε

δρᾷς οὐδὲ φωνεῖς, ἐσθλὸν ἄνδρʼ ἐπωφελῶν.
905

Νεοπτόλεμος

αἰσχρὸς φανοῦμαι· τοῦτʼ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὔκουν ἐν οἷς γε δρᾷς· ἐν οἷς δʼ αὐδᾷς ὀκνῶ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί δράσω; δεύτερον ληφθῶ κακός,

κρύπτων θʼ ἃ μὴ δεῖ καὶ λέγων αἴσχιστʼ ἐπῶν;

Φιλοκτήτης

ἁνὴρ ὅδʼ, εἰ μὴ ʼγὼ κακὸς γνώμων ἔφυν,
910

προδούς μʼ ἔοικε κἀκλιπὼν τὸν πλοῦν στελεῖν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

λιπὼν μὲν οὐκ ἔγωγε· λυπηρῶς δὲ μὴ

πέμπω σε μᾶλλον, τοῦτʼ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι.

Φιλοκτήτης

τί ποτε λέγεις, ὦ τέκνον; ὡς οὐ μανθάνω.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐδέν σε κρύψω· δεῖ γὰρ ἐς Τροίαν σε πλεῖν
915

πρὸς τοὺς Ἀχαιοὺς καὶ τὸν Ἀτρειδῶν στόλον.

Φιλοκτήτης

οἴμοι, τί εἶπας;

Νεοπτόλεμος

μὴ στέναζε, πρὶν μάθῃς.

Φιλοκτήτης

ποῖον μάθημα; τί με νοεῖς δρᾶσαί ποτε;

Νεοπτόλεμος

σῶσαι κακοῦ μὲν πρῶτα τοῦδʼ, ἔπειτα δὲ

ξὺν σοὶ τὰ Τροίας πεδία πορθῆσαι μολών.
920

Φιλοκτήτης

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ δρᾶν νοεῖς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

πολλὴ κρατεῖ

τούτων ἀνάγκη, καὶ σὺ μὴ θυμοῦ κλύων.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀπόλωλα τλήμων, προδέδομαι. τί μʼ, ὦ ξένε,

δέδρακας; ἀπόδος ὡς τάχος τὰ τόξα μοι.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ οὐχ οἷόν τε· τῶν γὰρ ἐν τέλει κλύειν
925

τό τʼ ἔνδικόν με καὶ τὸ συμφέρον ποεῖ.

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)) — 893 focus

ἔσται τάδ'· ἀλλ᾽ ἵστω τε καὐτὸς ἀντέχου.

ΦΙ.

θάρσει. τό τοι σύνηθες ὀρθώσει μ᾽ ἔθος.

ΝΕ.

παπαῖ· τί δῆτα δρῷμ᾽ δρῶμ' (γρ. δρῶμι) ἐγὼ τοὐνθένδε γε λέγε γε;
895

ΦΙ.

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ὦ παῖ; ποῖ ποτ᾽ ἐξέβης λόγῳ λόγων;

ΝΕ.

οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ὅποι χρὴ τἄπορον τρέπειν ἔπος.

ΦΙ.

ἀπορεῖς δὲ τοῦ σύ; μὴ λέγ', ὦ τέκνον, τάδε.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἐνθάδ᾽ ἤδη τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους κυρῶ.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙ.

οὐ δή σε δυσχέρεια τοῦ νοσήματος
900

ἔπεισεν ἔπαισεν ἔπεισεν ὥστε μή μ' ἄγειν ναύτην ἔτι;

ΝΕ.

ἅπαντα δυσχέρεια, τὴν αὑτοῦ αὐτοῦ αὑτοῦ φύσιν

ὅταν λιπών τις δρᾷ τὰ μὴ προσεικότα προσήκοντα.

ΦΙ͵

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος σύ γε

δρᾷς οὐδὲ φωνεῖς, ἐσθλὸν ἄνδρ᾽ ἐπωφελῶν.
905

ΝΕ.

αἰσχρὸς φανοῦμαι· τοῦτ᾽ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι πάλιν πάλαι.

ΦΙ.

οὔκουν ἐν οἷς γε τε γε δρᾷς· ἐν οἷς δ᾽ οἱ δ' οἶστ οἷς δ' αὐδᾷς, ὀκνῶ.

ΝΕ.

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί δράσω; δεύτερον ληφθῶ κακός,

κρύπτων θ᾽ ἃ μὴ δεῖ καὶ λέγων αἴσχιστ᾽ ἐπῶν;

ΦΙ.

ἁνὴρ ἀνὴρ ὅδ᾽, εἰ μὴ ἐγὼ κἀγὼ μ᾿ ἐγὼ κακὸς κακὸς γνώμην ἔφυν,
910

προδούς μ' ἔοικε ἔοικεν ἔοικε κἀκλιπὼν τὸν πλοῦν στελεῖν.

ΝΕ.

λιπὼν μὲν οὐκ ἔγωγε, λυπηρῶς δὲ μὴ

πέμπω πέμπων σε μᾶλλον, τοῦτ᾽ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι πάλιν πολλά πάλαι.

ΦΙ.

τί ποτε λέγεις, ὦ τέκνον; ὡς οὐ μανθάνω.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΝΕ.

οὐδέν σε κρύψω· δεῖ γὰρ ἐς Τροίαν σε πλεῖν
915

πρὸς τοὺς ᾿Αχαιοὺς καὶ τὸν τῶν τὸν ᾿Ατρειδῶν στόλον στόλων στόλον.

ΦΙ.

οἴμοι, τί τί γ' εἶπας ;

NE.

μὴ στέναξε, πρὶν μάθῃς.

ΦΙ.

ποῖον μάθημα; τί με νοεῖς δρᾶσαί δρασαι ποτε;

ΝΕ.

σῶσαι κακοῦ μὲν πρῶτα τοῦδ᾽, ἔπειτα δὲ

ξὺν σοὶ τὰ Τροίας πεδία πορθῆσαι μολών.
920

ΦΙ.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀληθῆ δρᾶν νοεῖς ;

NE.

πολλὴ κρατεῖ

τούτων ἀνάγκη· καὶ σὺ μὴ θυμοῦ κλύων.

ΦΙ.

ἀπόλωλα τλήμων, προδίδομαι. τί μ', ὦ ξένε,

δέδρακας ; ἀπόδος ὡς τάχος τὰ τὰ τόξα μοι.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐχ οἷόν τε· τῶν γὰρ ἐν τέλει κλύειν
925

τό τ᾽ ἔνδικόν με καὶ τὸ συμφέρον ποιεῖ ποεῖν ποιεῖ ποεῖ.

ΦΙ.

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 893 focus

I will; stand up, endure!

PHI

Fear not. Old habit will enable me.

NEO

O me!
895

What shall I do? Now ’tis my turn to exclaim!
895

PHI

What canst thou mean? What change is here, my son?

NEO

I know not how to shift the troublous word.

’Tis hopeless.

PHI

What is hopeless? Speak not so,

Dear child!

NEO

But so my wretched lot hath fallen.

PHI

Ah! Can it be, the offence of my disease
900

Hath moved thee not to take me now on board?

NEO

All is offence to one who hath forced himself

From the true bent to an unbecoming deed.

PHI

Nought misbecoming to thyself or sire

Doest thou or speak’st, befriending a good man.
905

NEO

My baseness will appear. That wrings my soul.

PHI

Not in thy deeds. But for thy words, I fear me!

NEO

O Heaven! Must double vileness then be mine

Both shameful silence and most shameful speech?

PHI

Or my discernment is at fault, or thou
910

Mean’st to betray me and make voyage without me.

NEO

Nay, not without thee, there is my distress!

Lest I convey thee to thy bitter grief.

PHI

How? How, dear youth? I do not understand.

NEO

Here I unveil it. Thou art to sail to Troy,
915

To join the chieftains and the Achaean host.

PHI

What do I hear? Ah!

NEO

Grieve not till you learn.

PHI

Learn what? What wilt thou make of me? What mean’st thou?

NEO

First to release thee from this plague, and then

With thee to go and take the realm of Troy.
920

PHI

And is this thine intent?

NEO

’Tis so ordained

Unchangeably. Be not dismayed! ’Tis so.

PHI

Me miserable! I am betrayed, undone!

What guile is here? My bow! give back my bow!

NEO

I may not. Interest, and duty too,
925

Force me to obey commandment.

PHI

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 893 focus

So sei es: doch nun stehe selbst und halte dich.

(sich aufrichtend)

Philoktetes.

Sei ruhig; langgeübter Brauch hat mich's gelehrt.

Neoptolemos.

Götter! Was beginnen, was nun weiter thun?
865

Philoktetes.

Was hast du? Wo gerathen deine Sinne hin?

Neoptolemos.

Das Wort versagt mir, und ich weiß nun keinen Rath.

Philoktetes.

Wo bist du rathlos? Rede mir nicht also, Kind.

Neoptolemos.

Doch mitten sind' ich mich bereits in solcher Noth.

Dich hat doch meines Uebels Last nicht umgestimmt,
870

Daß, mich an Bord zu nehmen, dich gereuen will?

Freund, Alles ist uns lästig, wenn wir, unsrer Art

Untreu geworden, üben, was uns nicht geziemt.

Philoktetes.

Doch nichts von deines Vaters Art Abweichendes

Thust oder sprichst du, wenn du hilfst dem edlen Mann.
875

Neoptolemos.

Schlecht werd' ich dastehn: dieses drückt mich lange schon.

Philoktetes.

In deinem Thun nicht, doch mir bangt, in deinem Wort.

Neoptolemos.

Zeus, was beginn' ich? Zeig' ich abermals mich schlecht,

Das Wahre bergend, schnöden Trug verkündigend?

Philoktetes.

Der Mann, berückt mich anders nicht ein falscher Wahn,
880

Zieht seines Weges und verläßt mich treulos hier.

Neoptolemos.

Mit nichten; aber daß du nicht zu deinem Leid

Mein Schiff besteigest, dieses drückt mich lange schon.

Philoktetes.

Wie meinst du das, o Jüngling? Ich verstehe nicht

Neoptolemos.

Nichts will ich bergen: Freund, du mußt nach Ilion
885

Zum Heer Achäa's und des Atreus Söhnen zieh'n.

Philoktetes.

Was sagst du? Weh mir!

Neoptolemos.

Samm're nicht, bevor du hörst -

Was soll ich hören? Was gedenkst du mir zu thun?

Ich will zuerst von deinem Uebel dich befrei'n,

Und dann mit dir die Troerveste stürzen geh'n.
890

Philoktetes.

Du denkst im Ernste das zu thun?

Neoptolemos.

Die strenge Noth

Gebeut mir also: zürne nicht, vernimmst du dies.

Philoktetes.

Ich bin verloren, bin verkauft! Was hast du mir

Gethan, o Fremdling? Mein Geschoß gib gleich zurück!

Neoptolemos.

Das ist unmöglich; denn die Pflicht und eignes Wohl
895

Heißt mich gehorsam achten auf der Herrscher Wort.

Philoktetes.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 893 focus

Well, be it so ; but rise.

Philoctetes

[rising]. Oh ! never fear ; I'll rise as well as ever.

Neoptolemus
[Exeunt. ACT IV. Scene I.

How shall I act ?
895

Philoctetes

What says my son ?

Neoptolemus

Alas !

I know not what to say ; my doubtful mind

Philoctetes

Talked you of doubts? You did not surely.

Neoptolemus

Aye,

That's my misfortune.

Philoctetes

Is then my distress
900

The cause at last you will not take me with you 1

Neoptolemus

All is distress and misery when we act

Against our nature and consent to ill.

Philoctetes

But sure to help a good man in misfortunes

Is not against thy nature.
905

Neoptolemus

Men will call me

A villain ; that distracts me.

Philoctetes

Not for this ;

For what thou meanst to do thou mayst deserve it.

Neoptolemus

What shall I do ? Direct me, Jove ! To hide

What I should speak, and tell a base untruth

Were double guilt.

Philoctetes

He purposes at last,
910

I fear it much, to leave me.

Neoptolemus

Leave thee ! No !

But how to make thee go with pleasure hence,

There I'm distressed.

Philoctetes

I understand thee not ;

AVhat means my son?

Neoptolemus

I can no longer hide
915

The dreadful secret from thee ; thou art going
915

To Troy, e'en to the Greeks, to the Atridfe.

Philoctetes

Alas ! what sayest thou?

Neoptolemus

Do not weep, but hear me.

Philoctetes

What must I hear ? what wilt thou do with mo?

Neoptolemus

First set thee free ; then carry thee, my friend,

To conquer Troy.
920

Philoctetes

Is this indeed thy purpose ?

Neoptolemus

This am I bound to do.

PniL. Then am I lost,

Undone, betrayed. Canst thou, my friend, do this?

Give me my arms again.

Neoptolemus

It cannot be.
925

I must obey the powers who sent me hither ;
925

Justice enjoins —the common cause demands it.

Philoctetes

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 893 focus

Of that no more; but raise thee, grasp my hand.

Philoctetes

Fear not: long use hath taught me how to raise

My limbs.

Now, O my soul, how wilt thou now

Neoptolemus

Resolve to act!
895

Philoctetes

What mean these words, my son?

Neoptolemus

Doubt and perplexity distract my mind.

Philoctetes

Doubt and perplexity! Oh, speak not thus.

Neoptolemus

All their oppressing weight lies on me now.

Philoctetes

Doth then the horror of my noisome wound
900

Forbid thee to admit me to thy bark?

Neoptolemus

All must be horror, when the generous heart.

Forsakes its nature for unworthy deeds.

Philoctetes

Nor word nor deed unworthy thy high birth,

When thou givest suffering virtue aid, is thine..
905

Neoptolemus

To be deem'd base-this long hath grieved my soul.

Philoctetes

Not base thy deeds; thy words excite my fears.

Neoptolemus

Direct me, king of heav'n! I shall be found

Base, doubly base; concealing what good faith

Would not conceal, and speaking vile untruths.

Philoctetes

This man, if I conjecture right, will sail,
910

And basely leave me helpless and betray'd.

Neoptolemus

I will not leave thee: but to bear thee hence

So as may wound thy heart, that gives me pain.

Philoctetes

What is thy purpose? Tell me, ease my doubts.

Neoptolemus

I will hide nothing from thee. Thou must sail
915

To Troy, to the Atridæ, and their camp.

Philoctetes

Ah me, what say'st thou ?

Neoptolemus

Sigh not ere thou hear.

Philoctetes

What should I hear? What wilt thou do with me?

Neoptolemus

First from these miseries save thee; then advance

With thee, and waste the hated fields of Troy.
920

Philoctetes

Is this indeed the purpose of thy soul ?

Neoptolemus

It is, by strong necessity impell'd :

Nor, hearing this, be thou inflamed with rage.

Philoctetes

I am undone, betray'd. Why, stranger, why

Hast thou thus wrong'd me? Give me back my bow.

Neoptolemus

That cannot be; the kings must be obey'd;
925

So justice and the public good require.

Philoctetes

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 893 focus

Neoptolemus

So be it. Now stand up, and take hold of me.

Philoctetes

Do not worry, my habitual method will help me to my feet.

Neoptolemus

God! What am I to do next?
895

Philoctetes

What is the matter? Where strays your speech?

Neoptolemus

I do not know where to turn my tongue when my thoughts are so confused.

Philoctetes

Confused? How so? No, do not say it!

Neoptolemus

My mind is indeed brought to that condition.

Philoctetes

It cannot be that offense at my sickness has persuaded you not to take me aboard your ship?
900

Neoptolemus

All is offense when a man has abandoned his true nature and does what does not suit him.

Philoctetes

But you, at least, are not departing from your begetter’s

example either in word or deed, when you help a man who is noble.
905

Neoptolemus

I shall be found to have no honor—this is the thought that long torments me.

Philoctetes

Not because of your present deeds, at least. But because of your words, I worry.

Neoptolemus

O Zeus, what shall I do? Must I be twice found base—by disloyal silence, as well as by shameful speech?

Philoctetes

Unless I am lacking in judgment, he means to betray me, leave me behind and sail away!
910

Neoptolemus

Leave you? No, not I. Rather, to your pain, I will bring you along. That is my torment.

Philoctetes

What do you mean, son? I do not understand.

Neoptolemus

I will conceal nothing. You must sail to Troy , back to the Achaeans and the forces of the Atreids.
915

Philoctetes

Ah, no! What have you said?

Neoptolemus

Do not wail in grief, before you understand!

Philoctetes

Understand what? What do you intend to do to me?

Neoptolemus

Save you, first, from this misery, and then,

together with you, go and plunder Troy ’s plains.
920

Philoctetes

And this is your true intent?

Neoptolemus

A harsh necessity governs these events, so do not be angered at hearing of them.

Philoctetes

I am destroyed—ah, misery!—betrayed! What have you done to me, stranger? Return my bow at once!

Neoptolemus

No, it is not possible. My duty and my interest alike constrain me to obey those in power.
925

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-485-1 ἔσται τάδ’ ¹

mvp-comment-485-2 ἵστω ²

mvp-comment-485-3 καὐτὸς ἀντέχου ³

mvp-comment-486-1 σύνηθες … ἔθος ⁴

mvp-comment-487-1 τί δῆτ’ ἂν δρῷμ’ ⁵

mvp-comment-487-2 δρῷμ’ ⁶

mvp-comment-487-3 τοὐνθένδε γε ⁷ γε ⁸

mvp-comment-488-1 ἐξέβης ⁹

mvp-comment-488-2 λόγῳ ¹⁰ λόγων ¹¹

mvp-comment-489-1 οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅποι χρὴ ¹² στρέφειν ¹³ τρέπειν ¹⁴

mvp-comment-490-1 ἀπορεῖς δὲ τοῦ σύ ¹⁵

mvp-comment-491-1 ἐνθάδε … τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους ¹⁶

mvp-comment-492-1 οὐ δή ¹⁷ ὥστε ¹⁸ ἔπεισεν ¹⁹

mvp-comment-492-2 ναύτην ²⁰

mvp-comment-493-1 ἅπαντα δυσχέρεια ²¹

mvp-comment-493-2 τὴν αὑτοῦ φύσιν ²² λιπών ²³ τὰ μὴ προσεικότα ²⁴

mvp-comment-494-1 οὐδὲν ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος ²⁵ φυτεύσαντος ²⁶ προσεικότος ²⁷ τοὐμφυτευθέντος ²⁸

mvp-comment-494-2 ἐσθλὸν ²⁹

mvp-comment-495-1 πάλαι ³⁰

mvp-comment-496-1 οὔκουν ³¹ ἐν οἷς γε δρᾷς ³² ἐν οἷς δὲ αὐδᾷς ³³

mvp-comment-496-2 ὀκνῶ ³⁴ δρᾷς ³⁵

mvp-comment-497-1 δράσω ³⁶ λέγων αἴσχιστ’ ἐπῶν ³⁷ κρύπτων ἃ μὴ δεῖ ³⁸

mvp-comment-498-1 ἁνὴρ ὅδ’ ³⁹

mvp-comment-498-2 εἰ μὴ )γὼ ⁴⁰ γνώμην ⁴¹ γνώμων ⁴²

mvp-comment-498-3 τὸν πλοῦν στελεῖν ⁴³

mvp-comment-499-1 λιπὼν ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-499-2 πέμπω ⁴⁵ πέμπων ⁴⁶ τοῦτ’ ⁴⁷ τοῦτ’ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-500-1 οὐδέν σε κρύψω ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-500-2 γὰρ ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-501-1 τί <δ)> εἶπας ⁵¹ δ’ ⁵² τί εἶπας ⁵³ τί μ’ εἶπας ⁵⁴ τί γ’ εἶπας ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-501-2 πρὶν μάθῃς ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-501-3 ποῖον μάθημα ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-501-4 δρᾶσαι ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-502-1 σῶσαι κακοῦ ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-502-2 ξὺν σοὶ ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-503-1 καὶ ταῦτ’ ⁶¹

mvp-comment-503-2 ἀληθῆ ⁶²

mvp-comment-503-3 κρατεῖ τούτων ⁶³

mvp-comment-504-1 ὦ ξένε ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-505-1 ἀλλ’ οὐχ οἷόν τε ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-505-2 τῶν ἐν τέλει ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-505-3 927 ff. While Philoctetes makes this appeal, Neoptolemus stands with averted face (935), still holding the bow. Despairing anguish could not be more pathetically expressed than by the transitions from imprecation to entreaty, and from entreaty to the half-soliloquy in which he imagines the future (952).

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

893. mvp-comment-626-1 Neoptolemus gives Philoctetes his hand, but bids him exert himself, and put forth his strength in using the support. He is roused by this and makes the necessary exertion.

894. mvp-comment-627-1 'Fear not. Long habit will enable me to rise.'

895. mvp-comment-628-1 If Neoptolemus had followed the course marked out for him, he would have taken Philoctetes on board, and only when out at sea have let him discover the destination of the voyage. But now that the decisive moment is arrived, he cannot deceive the unfortunate who has trusted him. For the optative (potential) without av, see E. on L. § 27. p. 45. Others read δῆτ᾽ ἄν.

896. mvp-comment-629-1 'What mean such words, my son? Whither tends this sudden diversion?'

897. mvp-comment-630-1 'I know not which way to express what is so full of perplexity.' τάπορον . . ἔπος is the word that can neither be spoken nor kept silent.

898. mvp-comment-631-1 Philoctetes cannot bear that doubts should rise just when his hopes are on the point of being fulfilled.

899. mvp-comment-632-1 (1) 'But I am at such a point of difficulty (that I must speak).' τοῦδε πάθους, sc. τῆς ἀπορίας, from ἀπορεῖς, supr. Or (2) simply, 'I am in a difficulty.' Cp. Aesch. Choeph. 891, ἐνταῦθα γὰρ δὴ τοῦδ᾽ ἀφικόμην κακοῦ.

900. mvp-comment-633-1 οὐ δή] 'Surely it cannot be-;' i.e. 'I trust it is not.' Cp. Trach. 668, and note.

901. mvp-comment-634-1 ναύτην] 'On board your ship.' ναύτης here = πλωτήρ. The word is used predicatively. For both, cp. Aesch. Pers. 719, πεζὸς ἡ ναύτης δὲ πεῖραν τήνδ' ἐμώρανεν τάλας;

902. mvp-comment-635-1 ἅπαντα δυσχέρεια] ‘There is nothing but unpleasantness.' For this use of the abstract noun, cp. O. C. 883, ἆρ᾽ οὐχ ὕβρις τάδ';

903. mvp-comment-636-1 ὅταν is postponed to give greater emphasis to τὴν αὐτοῦ φύσιν. λιπών] Cp. supr. 865, ἀφεστάναι.

904. mvp-comment-637-1 ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος] 'From (i. e. 'alien to') your father's strain.' ἔξω is suggested by λιπών and φυτεύσαντος by φύσιν. Mollweide very ingeniously conjectured τοῦ προσεικότος (which, as Nauck observes, might be corrupted to τοῦ πατρὸς εἰκότος), but his conjecture is less forcible than the text.

907. mvp-comment-638-1 'There is certainly no baseness in what you are doing. But for what your speech may imply, I feel afraid.' For ὀκνῶ, describing a state of vague, but painful apprehension, cp. O. T. 746, 749. For the ellipse, ὀκνῶ (μὴ αἰσχρὸς φανῇς), see Essay on L. § 39, 6. p. 74. Nauck unnecessarily conjectured ἐφ᾽ οἷς.

908. mvp-comment-639-1 δεύτερον] 'A second time.' He is already convicted of baseness in his own mind for having concealed his intention, and he foresees the reproach which the avowal of this same intention will draw down upon him.

910. mvp-comment-640-1 The idea of the homeward voyage is so vividly present to Philoctetes' mind, that the only evil intention he can imagine in Neoptolemus is that of leaving him behind.

912. mvp-comment-641-1 λιπών.. ἔγωγε] Sc. στελῶ τὸν πλοῦν.

912-913. mvp-comment-642-1 μὴ | πέμπω] The position of the words has the effect of throwing a strong emphasis on πέμπω.

914. mvp-comment-643-1 τί ποτε] The trisyllablic foot marks increasing agitation. Cp. infr. 923, 4.

915-916. mvp-comment-644-1 'Ex his tantum abest ut posterior versus ejiciendus sit, ut ejus adjectione eximie ostenderit Sophocles, quam penitus perspectam haberet animi humani naturam. Nam ubi quis semel ab se impetravit ut proferat quod celare jussus erat, jam, quasi expiaturus non recte factum, non aliquid, sed omnia cupit effundere.' (Hermann.) It may be observed here that the στιχομυθίαι in the Philoctetes are, like the style generally, less severely regular than in any of the other plays.

917. mvp-comment-645-1 πρὶν μάθης] 'Till you understand the case.' Neoptolemus indulges the hope, which he only abandons at the last moment ( infr. 1391), that Philoctetes may see that it is for his advantage to go to Troy.

919-920. mvp-comment-646-1 He here states briefly that which at a more favourable moment ( infr. 1326-47) he explains at full.

920. mvp-comment-647-1 τὰ .. πεδία] A periphrasis for Τροίαν. Cp. infr. 1332. The extent of the Trojan plain struck the imagination of the Greeks who lived in a broken, uneven country.

921. mvp-comment-648-1 ἀληθῆ] 'In very deed.' For the adverbial predicate, see Essay on L. § 23. p. 38.

922. mvp-comment-649-1 πολλή.. ἀνάγκη] ‘This is ruled by strong necessity.' κρατεῖ τούτων, sc. ὥστε οὕτω γενέσθαι. καί] 'And therefore.' καί with imperatives has often a slightly illative force. Cp. Plat. Gorg. 449 C, τούτου μὴν δεῖ, ὦ Γοργία· καί μοι ἐπίδειξιν αὐτοῦ τούτου ποίησαι.

923. mvp-comment-650-1 ὦ ξένε] This change in the manner of address, from ὦ τέκνον, supr. 914, marks the transition from confidence to estrangement on the part of Philoctetes.

926. mvp-comment-651-1 τό τ᾽ ἔνδικόν.. ποιεῖ] 'Duty and interest alike compel me.' Cp. supr. 50 foll., 111 foll.

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Νεοπτόλεμος ἔσται τάδʼ· ἀλλʼ ἵστω τε καὐτὸς ἀντέχου.

Φιλοκτήτης θάρσει· τό τοι σύνηθες ὀρθώσει μʼ ἔθος.

Νεοπτόλεμος παπαῖ· τί δῆτʼ ἂν δρῷμʼ ἐγὼ τοὐνθένδε γε; 895

Φιλοκτήτης τί δʼ ἔστιν, ὦ παῖ; ποῖ ποτʼ ἐξέβης λόγῳ;

Νεοπτόλεμος οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅποι χρὴ τἄπορον τρέπειν ἔπος.

Φιλοκτήτης ἀπορεῖς δὲ τοῦ σύ; μὴ λέγʼ, ὦ τέκνον, τάδε.

Νεοπτόλεμος ἀλλʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἤδη τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους κυρῶ.

Φιλοκτήτης οὐ δή σε δυσχέρεια τοῦ νοσήματος 900 ἔπεισεν ὥστε μή μʼ ἄγειν ναύτην ἔτι;

Νεοπτόλεμος ἅπαντα δυσχέρεια, τὴν αὑτοῦ φύσιν ὅταν λιπών τις δρᾷ τὰ μὴ προσεικότα.

Φιλοκτήτης ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος σύ γε δρᾷς οὐδὲ φωνεῖς, ἐσθλὸν ἄνδρʼ ἐπωφελῶν. 905

Νεοπτόλεμος αἰσχρὸς φανοῦμαι· τοῦτʼ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι.

Φιλοκτήτης οὔκουν ἐν οἷς γε δρᾷς· ἐν οἷς δʼ αὐδᾷς ὀκνῶ.

Νεοπτόλεμος ὦ Ζεῦ, τί δράσω; δεύτερον ληφθῶ κακός, κρύπτων θʼ ἃ μὴ δεῖ καὶ λέγων αἴσχιστʼ ἐπῶν;

Φιλοκτήτης ἁνὴρ ὅδʼ, εἰ μὴ ʼγὼ κακὸς γνώμων ἔφυν, 910 προδούς μʼ ἔοικε κἀκλιπὼν τὸν πλοῦν στελεῖν.

Νεοπτόλεμος λιπὼν μὲν οὐκ ἔγωγε· λυπηρῶς δὲ μὴ πέμπω σε μᾶλλον, τοῦτʼ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι.

Φιλοκτήτης τί ποτε λέγεις, ὦ τέκνον; ὡς οὐ μανθάνω.

Νεοπτόλεμος οὐδέν σε κρύψω· δεῖ γὰρ ἐς Τροίαν σε πλεῖν 915 πρὸς τοὺς Ἀχαιοὺς καὶ τὸν Ἀτρειδῶν στόλον.

Φιλοκτήτης οἴμοι, τί εἶπας;

Νεοπτόλεμος μὴ στέναζε, πρὶν μάθῃς.

Φιλοκτήτης ποῖον μάθημα; τί με νοεῖς δρᾶσαί ποτε;

Νεοπτόλεμος σῶσαι κακοῦ μὲν πρῶτα τοῦδʼ, ἔπειτα δὲ ξὺν σοὶ τὰ Τροίας πεδία πορθῆσαι μολών. 920

Φιλοκτήτης καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ δρᾶν νοεῖς;

Νεοπτόλεμος πολλὴ κρατεῖ τούτων ἀνάγκη, καὶ σὺ μὴ θυμοῦ κλύων.

Φιλοκτήτης ἀπόλωλα τλήμων, προδέδομαι. τί μʼ, ὦ ξένε, δέδρακας; ἀπόδος ὡς τάχος τὰ τόξα μοι.

Νεοπτόλεμος ἀλλʼ οὐχ οἷόν τε· τῶν γὰρ ἐν τέλει κλύειν 925 τό τʼ ἔνδικόν με καὶ τὸ συμφέρον ποεῖ.

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ἔσται τάδ'· ἀλλ᾽ ἵστω τε καὐτὸς ἀντέχου.

ΦΙ. θάρσει. τό τοι σύνηθες ὀρθώσει μ᾽ ἔθος.

ΝΕ. παπαῖ· τί δῆτα δρῷμ᾽ δρῶμ' (γρ. δρῶμι) ἐγὼ τοὐνθένδε γε λέγε γε; 895

ΦΙ. τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ὦ παῖ; ποῖ ποτ᾽ ἐξέβης λόγῳ λόγων;

ΝΕ. οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ὅποι χρὴ τἄπορον τρέπειν ἔπος.

ΦΙ. ἀπορεῖς δὲ τοῦ σύ; μὴ λέγ', ὦ τέκνον, τάδε.

ΝΕ. ἀλλ᾽ ἐνθάδ᾽ ἤδη τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους κυρῶ.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙ. οὐ δή σε δυσχέρεια τοῦ νοσήματος 900 ἔπεισεν ἔπαισεν ἔπεισεν ὥστε μή μ' ἄγειν ναύτην ἔτι;

ΝΕ. ἅπαντα δυσχέρεια, τὴν αὑτοῦ αὐτοῦ αὑτοῦ φύσιν ὅταν λιπών τις δρᾷ τὰ μὴ προσεικότα προσήκοντα.

ΦΙ͵ ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος σύ γε δρᾷς οὐδὲ φωνεῖς, ἐσθλὸν ἄνδρ᾽ ἐπωφελῶν. 905

ΝΕ. αἰσχρὸς φανοῦμαι· τοῦτ᾽ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι πάλιν πάλαι.

ΦΙ. οὔκουν ἐν οἷς γε τε γε δρᾷς· ἐν οἷς δ᾽ οἱ δ' οἶστ οἷς δ' αὐδᾷς, ὀκνῶ.

ΝΕ. ὦ Ζεῦ, τί δράσω; δεύτερον ληφθῶ κακός, κρύπτων θ᾽ ἃ μὴ δεῖ καὶ λέγων αἴσχιστ᾽ ἐπῶν;

ΦΙ. ἁνὴρ ἀνὴρ ὅδ᾽, εἰ μὴ ἐγὼ κἀγὼ μ᾿ ἐγὼ κακὸς κακὸς γνώμην ἔφυν, 910 προδούς μ' ἔοικε ἔοικεν ἔοικε κἀκλιπὼν τὸν πλοῦν στελεῖν.

ΝΕ. λιπὼν μὲν οὐκ ἔγωγε, λυπηρῶς δὲ μὴ πέμπω πέμπων σε μᾶλλον, τοῦτ᾽ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι πάλιν πολλά πάλαι.

ΦΙ. τί ποτε λέγεις, ὦ τέκνον; ὡς οὐ μανθάνω.

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΝΕ. οὐδέν σε κρύψω· δεῖ γὰρ ἐς Τροίαν σε πλεῖν 915 πρὸς τοὺς ᾿Αχαιοὺς καὶ τὸν τῶν τὸν ᾿Ατρειδῶν στόλον στόλων στόλον.

ΦΙ. οἴμοι, τί τί γ' εἶπας ;

NE. μὴ στέναξε, πρὶν μάθῃς.

ΦΙ. ποῖον μάθημα; τί με νοεῖς δρᾶσαί δρασαι ποτε;

ΝΕ. σῶσαι κακοῦ μὲν πρῶτα τοῦδ᾽, ἔπειτα δὲ ξὺν σοὶ τὰ Τροίας πεδία πορθῆσαι μολών. 920

ΦΙ. καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀληθῆ δρᾶν νοεῖς ;

NE. πολλὴ κρατεῖ τούτων ἀνάγκη· καὶ σὺ μὴ θυμοῦ κλύων.

ΦΙ. ἀπόλωλα τλήμων, προδίδομαι. τί μ', ὦ ξένε, δέδρακας ; ἀπόδος ὡς τάχος τὰ τὰ τόξα μοι.

ΝΕ. ἀλλ᾽ οὐχ οἷόν τε· τῶν γὰρ ἐν τέλει κλύειν 925 τό τ᾽ ἔνδικόν με καὶ τὸ συμφέρον ποιεῖ ποεῖν ποιεῖ ποεῖ.

ΦΙ.

I will; stand up, endure!

PHI Fear not. Old habit will enable me.

NEO O me! 895 What shall I do? Now ’tis my turn to exclaim! 895

PHI What canst thou mean? What change is here, my son?

NEO I know not how to shift the troublous word. ’Tis hopeless.

PHI What is hopeless? Speak not so, Dear child!

NEO But so my wretched lot hath fallen.

PHI Ah! Can it be, the offence of my disease 900 Hath moved thee not to take me now on board?

NEO All is offence to one who hath forced himself From the true bent to an unbecoming deed.

PHI Nought misbecoming to thyself or sire Doest thou or speak’st, befriending a good man. 905

NEO My baseness will appear. That wrings my soul.

PHI Not in thy deeds. But for thy words, I fear me!

NEO O Heaven! Must double vileness then be mine Both shameful silence and most shameful speech?

PHI Or my discernment is at fault, or thou 910 Mean’st to betray me and make voyage without me.

NEO Nay, not without thee, there is my distress! Lest I convey thee to thy bitter grief.

PHI How? How, dear youth? I do not understand.

NEO Here I unveil it. Thou art to sail to Troy, 915 To join the chieftains and the Achaean host.

PHI What do I hear? Ah!

NEO Grieve not till you learn.

PHI Learn what? What wilt thou make of me? What mean’st thou?

NEO First to release thee from this plague, and then With thee to go and take the realm of Troy. 920

PHI And is this thine intent?

NEO ’Tis so ordained Unchangeably. Be not dismayed! ’Tis so.

PHI Me miserable! I am betrayed, undone! What guile is here? My bow! give back my bow!

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἔσται τάδʼ· ἀλλʼ ἵστω τε καὐτὸς ἀντέχου.

Φιλοκτήτης

θάρσει· τό τοι σύνηθες ὀρθώσει μʼ ἔθος.

Νεοπτόλεμος

παπαῖ· τί δῆτʼ ἂν δρῷμʼ ἐγὼ τοὐνθένδε γε;
895

Φιλοκτήτης

τί δʼ ἔστιν, ὦ παῖ; ποῖ ποτʼ ἐξέβης λόγῳ;

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅποι χρὴ τἄπορον τρέπειν ἔπος.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀπορεῖς δὲ τοῦ σύ; μὴ λέγʼ, ὦ τέκνον, τάδε.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἤδη τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους κυρῶ.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐ δή σε δυσχέρεια τοῦ νοσήματος
900

ἔπεισεν ὥστε μή μʼ ἄγειν ναύτην ἔτι;

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἅπαντα δυσχέρεια, τὴν αὑτοῦ φύσιν

ὅταν λιπών τις δρᾷ τὰ μὴ προσεικότα.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος σύ γε

δρᾷς οὐδὲ φωνεῖς, ἐσθλὸν ἄνδρʼ ἐπωφελῶν.
905

Νεοπτόλεμος

αἰσχρὸς φανοῦμαι· τοῦτʼ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὔκουν ἐν οἷς γε δρᾷς· ἐν οἷς δʼ αὐδᾷς ὀκνῶ.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί δράσω; δεύτερον ληφθῶ κακός,

κρύπτων θʼ ἃ μὴ δεῖ καὶ λέγων αἴσχιστʼ ἐπῶν;

Φιλοκτήτης

ἁνὴρ ὅδʼ, εἰ μὴ ʼγὼ κακὸς γνώμων ἔφυν,
910

προδούς μʼ ἔοικε κἀκλιπὼν τὸν πλοῦν στελεῖν.

Νεοπτόλεμος

λιπὼν μὲν οὐκ ἔγωγε· λυπηρῶς δὲ μὴ

πέμπω σε μᾶλλον, τοῦτʼ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι.

Φιλοκτήτης

τί ποτε λέγεις, ὦ τέκνον; ὡς οὐ μανθάνω.

Νεοπτόλεμος

οὐδέν σε κρύψω· δεῖ γὰρ ἐς Τροίαν σε πλεῖν
915

πρὸς τοὺς Ἀχαιοὺς καὶ τὸν Ἀτρειδῶν στόλον.

Φιλοκτήτης

οἴμοι, τί εἶπας;

Νεοπτόλεμος

μὴ στέναζε, πρὶν μάθῃς.

Φιλοκτήτης

ποῖον μάθημα; τί με νοεῖς δρᾶσαί ποτε;

Νεοπτόλεμος

σῶσαι κακοῦ μὲν πρῶτα τοῦδʼ, ἔπειτα δὲ

ξὺν σοὶ τὰ Τροίας πεδία πορθῆσαι μολών.
920

Φιλοκτήτης

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ δρᾶν νοεῖς;

Νεοπτόλεμος

πολλὴ κρατεῖ

τούτων ἀνάγκη, καὶ σὺ μὴ θυμοῦ κλύων.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀπόλωλα τλήμων, προδέδομαι. τί μʼ, ὦ ξένε,

δέδρακας; ἀπόδος ὡς τάχος τὰ τόξα μοι.

Νεοπτόλεμος

ἀλλʼ οὐχ οἷόν τε· τῶν γὰρ ἐν τέλει κλύειν
925

τό τʼ ἔνδικόν με καὶ τὸ συμφέρον ποεῖ.

ΦΙ.

θάρσει. τό τοι σύνηθες ὀρθώσει μ᾽ ἔθος.

ΝΕ.

παπαῖ· τί δῆτα δρῷμ᾽ δρῶμ' (γρ. δρῶμι) ἐγὼ τοὐνθένδε γε λέγε γε;
895

ΦΙ.

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ὦ παῖ; ποῖ ποτ᾽ ἐξέβης λόγῳ λόγων;

ΝΕ.

οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ὅποι χρὴ τἄπορον τρέπειν ἔπος.

ΦΙ.

ἀπορεῖς δὲ τοῦ σύ; μὴ λέγ', ὦ τέκνον, τάδε.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἐνθάδ᾽ ἤδη τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους κυρῶ.

ΦΙ.

οὐ δή σε δυσχέρεια τοῦ νοσήματος
900

ἔπεισεν ἔπαισεν ἔπεισεν ὥστε μή μ' ἄγειν ναύτην ἔτι;

ΝΕ.

ἅπαντα δυσχέρεια, τὴν αὑτοῦ αὐτοῦ αὑτοῦ φύσιν

ὅταν λιπών τις δρᾷ τὰ μὴ προσεικότα προσήκοντα.

ΦΙ͵

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος σύ γε

δρᾷς οὐδὲ φωνεῖς, ἐσθλὸν ἄνδρ᾽ ἐπωφελῶν.
905

ΝΕ.

αἰσχρὸς φανοῦμαι· τοῦτ᾽ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι πάλιν πάλαι.

ΦΙ.

οὔκουν ἐν οἷς γε τε γε δρᾷς· ἐν οἷς δ᾽ οἱ δ' οἶστ οἷς δ' αὐδᾷς, ὀκνῶ.

ΝΕ.

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί δράσω; δεύτερον ληφθῶ κακός,

κρύπτων θ᾽ ἃ μὴ δεῖ καὶ λέγων αἴσχιστ᾽ ἐπῶν;

ΦΙ.

ἁνὴρ ἀνὴρ ὅδ᾽, εἰ μὴ ἐγὼ κἀγὼ μ᾿ ἐγὼ κακὸς κακὸς γνώμην ἔφυν,
910

προδούς μ' ἔοικε ἔοικεν ἔοικε κἀκλιπὼν τὸν πλοῦν στελεῖν.

ΝΕ.

λιπὼν μὲν οὐκ ἔγωγε, λυπηρῶς δὲ μὴ

πέμπω πέμπων σε μᾶλλον, τοῦτ᾽ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι πάλιν πολλά πάλαι.

ΦΙ.

τί ποτε λέγεις, ὦ τέκνον; ὡς οὐ μανθάνω.

ΝΕ.

οὐδέν σε κρύψω· δεῖ γὰρ ἐς Τροίαν σε πλεῖν
915

πρὸς τοὺς ᾿Αχαιοὺς καὶ τὸν τῶν τὸν ᾿Ατρειδῶν στόλον στόλων στόλον.

ΦΙ.

οἴμοι, τί τί γ' εἶπας ;

NE.

μὴ στέναξε, πρὶν μάθῃς.

ΦΙ.

ποῖον μάθημα; τί με νοεῖς δρᾶσαί δρασαι ποτε;

ΝΕ.

σῶσαι κακοῦ μὲν πρῶτα τοῦδ᾽, ἔπειτα δὲ

ξὺν σοὶ τὰ Τροίας πεδία πορθῆσαι μολών.
920

ΦΙ.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀληθῆ δρᾶν νοεῖς ;

NE.

πολλὴ κρατεῖ

τούτων ἀνάγκη· καὶ σὺ μὴ θυμοῦ κλύων.

ΦΙ.

ἀπόλωλα τλήμων, προδίδομαι. τί μ', ὦ ξένε,

δέδρακας ; ἀπόδος ὡς τάχος τὰ τὰ τόξα μοι.

ΝΕ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐχ οἷόν τε· τῶν γὰρ ἐν τέλει κλύειν
925

τό τ᾽ ἔνδικόν με καὶ τὸ συμφέρον ποιεῖ ποεῖν ποιεῖ ποεῖ.

PHI

Fear not. Old habit will enable me.

NEO

O me!
895

What shall I do? Now ’tis my turn to exclaim!
895

PHI

What canst thou mean? What change is here, my son?

NEO

I know not how to shift the troublous word.

’Tis hopeless.

PHI

What is hopeless? Speak not so,

Dear child!

NEO

But so my wretched lot hath fallen.

PHI

Ah! Can it be, the offence of my disease
900

Hath moved thee not to take me now on board?

NEO

All is offence to one who hath forced himself

From the true bent to an unbecoming deed.

PHI

Nought misbecoming to thyself or sire

Doest thou or speak’st, befriending a good man.
905

NEO

My baseness will appear. That wrings my soul.

PHI

Not in thy deeds. But for thy words, I fear me!

NEO

O Heaven! Must double vileness then be mine

Both shameful silence and most shameful speech?

PHI

Or my discernment is at fault, or thou
910

Mean’st to betray me and make voyage without me.

NEO

Nay, not without thee, there is my distress!

Lest I convey thee to thy bitter grief.

PHI

How? How, dear youth? I do not understand.

NEO

Here I unveil it. Thou art to sail to Troy,
915

To join the chieftains and the Achaean host.

PHI

What do I hear? Ah!

NEO

Grieve not till you learn.

PHI

Learn what? What wilt thou make of me? What mean’st thou?

NEO

First to release thee from this plague, and then

With thee to go and take the realm of Troy.
920

PHI

And is this thine intent?

NEO

’Tis so ordained

Unchangeably. Be not dismayed! ’Tis so.

PHI

Me miserable! I am betrayed, undone!

What guile is here? My bow! give back my bow!

NEO

I may not. Interest, and duty too,
925

Force me to obey commandment.

So sei es: doch nun stehe selbst und halte dich.

(sich aufrichtend)

Philoktetes.

Sei ruhig; langgeübter Brauch hat mich's gelehrt.

Neoptolemos.

Götter! Was beginnen, was nun weiter thun?
865

Philoktetes.

Was hast du? Wo gerathen deine Sinne hin?

Neoptolemos.

Das Wort versagt mir, und ich weiß nun keinen Rath.

Philoktetes.

Wo bist du rathlos? Rede mir nicht also, Kind.

Neoptolemos.

Doch mitten sind' ich mich bereits in solcher Noth.

Dich hat doch meines Uebels Last nicht umgestimmt,
870

Daß, mich an Bord zu nehmen, dich gereuen will?

Freund, Alles ist uns lästig, wenn wir, unsrer Art

Untreu geworden, üben, was uns nicht geziemt.