Sophocles Philoctetes 219-390

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)) — 219 focus
ἰὼ ξένοι,
τίνες ποτ᾽ ἐς γῆν τήνδε ναυτίλῳ πλάτῃ ναυτίλῳ πλάτῃ κάκ ποίας πάτρας ναυτίλω κώπῃ τῇ πλάτη προσρμίσατε τίνες ποτ᾽ ἐσ γῆν τήνδε κἀκ ποίας πάτρας κἀκ ποίας πάτρας κἀκ ποίας πέτρας
220
κατέσχετ' οὔτ᾽ εὔορμον οὔτ᾽ οἰκουμένην ;
ποίας πάτρας ἂν ἢ γένους *ὑμᾶς πάτρας ἂν ὑμᾶς ἡ γένους πάτρας ὑμᾶς ἂν ἡ γένους ποτὲ
τύχοιμ᾽ ἂν εἰπών; σχῆμα μὲν γὰρ ῾Ελλάδος
στολῆς ὑπάρχει προσφιλεστάτης ἐμοί·
φωνῆς δ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι βούλομαι· καὶ μή μ᾽ ὄκνῳ
225
δείσαντες ἐκπλαγῆτ᾽ ἀπηγριωμένον,
ἀλλ᾽ οἰκτίσαντες ἄνδρα δύστηνον, μόνον,
ἔρημον ὧδε κἄφιλον *κακούμενον καλούμενον καλών μενον καλάμινον,
φωνήσατ᾽, εἴπερ ὡς φίλοι προσήκετε.
ἀλλ᾽ ἀνταμείψασθ᾽ ἀνταμείψασθ'· οὐ γὰρ εἰκὸς οὔτ᾽ ἐμὲ
230
ὑμῶν ἁμαρτεῖν τοῦτό γ᾽ οὔθ᾽ ὑμᾶς ἐμοῦ.
ὦ .. ὦ ὦ .. ὦ ὦ .. ὦ ὦ .. ὡς πόλλ᾽ ἐγὼ μοχθηρός, ὦ πικρὸς θεοῖς,
οὐ μηδὲ κληδὼν ὧδ᾽ ἔχοντος οἴκαδε
255
μηδ᾽ ῾Ελλάδος γῆς μηδαμοῦ διῆλθέ που.
ὁ μὲν χρόνος δὴ οὖν δὴ διὰ χρόνου προὔβαινέ πρόβαινε προὔβαινε μοι,
285
κἄδει τι βαιῇ βαίᾳ τῇδ᾽ τίδ᾽ τῇδ᾽ ὑπὸ στέγῃ μόνον
διακονεῖσθαι· γαστρὶ μὲν τὰ σύμφορα
τόξον τόδ᾽ ἐξεύρισκε εὕρισκε ἐξεύρισκε, τὰς ὑποπτέρους
βάλλον πελείας· πρὸς δὲ τοῦθ᾽, ὅ μοι βάλοι
νευροσπαδὴς ἄτρακτος om add, αὐτὸς ἂν τάλας
290
εἰλυόμην δύστηνος ἐξέλκων πόδα
πρὸς τοῦτ᾽ ἄν· εἴ τ᾽ εἶτ᾽ ἔδει τι καὶ ποτὸν λαβεῖν,
καί που πάγου χυθέντος, οἷα χείματι,
ξύλον τι θραῦσαι, ταῦτ᾽ ἂν ἐξέρπων τάλας
ἐμηχανώμην· εἶτα πῦρ ἂν οὐ παρῆν,
295
ἀλλ᾽ ἐν πέτροισι πέτρον ἐκτρίβων ἐκθλίβων ἐκθλίβων ἐκτρίβων μόλις
ἔφην᾿ ἄφαντον φῶς, ὃ καὶ σώζει μ' ἀεί.
ἔοικα κἀγὼ τοῖς ἀφιγμένοις ἴσα
ξένοις ἐποικτείρειν σε, Ποίαντος τέκνον.
ἦλθόν με νηὶ ποικιλοστόλῳ ποικιλοστόλῳ ποικιλοστόμῳ ποικιλοστόλῳ ποικίλῳ στόλῳ μέτα
διός τ᾽ Ὀδυσσεὺς χώ τροφεὺς τοὐμοῦ πατρός,
λέγοντες, εἴτ᾿ ἀληθὲς εἴτ᾿ ἄρ᾽ οὖν μάτην,
345
ὡς οὐ θέμις γίγνοιτ' γίνοιτ', ἐπεὶ κατέφθιτο
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 219 focus
Ho!
What men are ye that to this desert shore,
220
Harbourless, uninhabited, are come
On shipboard? Of what country or what race
Shall I pronounce ye? For your outward garb
Is Grecian, ever dearest to this heart
That hungers now to hear your voices’ tune.
225
Ah! do not fear me, do not shrink away
From my wild looks: but, pitying one so poor,
Forlorn and desolate in nameless woe,
Speak, if with friendly purpose ye are come.
Oh answer! ’Tis not meet that I should lose
230
This kindness from your lips, or ye from mine.
How full of griefs am I, how Heaven-abhorred,
When of my piteous state no faintest sound
Hath reached my home, or any Grecian land!
But they, who pitilessly cast me forth,
Keep silence and are glad, while this my plague
Blooms ever, and is strengthened more and more.
Boy, great Achilles’ offspring, in this form
Thou seest the man, of whom, methinks, erewhile
Thou hast been told, to whom the Hercúlean bow
Descended, Philoctetes, Poeas’ son;
Whom the two generals and the Ithacan king
Cast out thus shamefully forlorn, afflicted
With the fierce malady and desperate wound
Made by the cruel basilisk’s murderous tooth.
With this for company they left me, child!
Exposed upon this shore, deserted, lone.
From seaward Chrysa came they with their fleet
And touched at Lemnos. I had fallen to rest
From the long tossing, in a shadowy cave
On yonder cliff by the shore. Gladly they saw,
And left me, having set forth for my need,
Poor man, some scanty rags, and a thin store
255
Of provender. Such food be theirs, I pray!
255
Imagine, O my son, when they were gone,
255
What wakening, what arising, then was mine;
255
What weeping, what lamenting of my woe!
255
When I beheld the ships, wherewith I sailed,
255
Gone, one and all! and no man in the place,
255
None to bestead me, none to comfort me
255
In my sore sickness. And where’er I looked,
255
Nought but distress was present with me still.
255
No lack of that, for one thing!—Ah! my son,
255
Time passed, and there I found myself alone
255
Within my narrow lodging, forced to serve
255
Each pressing need. For body’s sustenance
255
This bow supplied me with sufficient store,
255
Wounding the feathered doves, and when the shaft,
255
From the tight string, had struck, myself, ay me!
255
Dragging this foot, would crawl to my swift prey.
255
Then water must be fetched, and in sharp frost
255
Wood must be found and broken,—all by me.
255
Nor would fire come unbidden, but with flint
255
From flints striking dim sparks, I hammered forth
The struggling flame that keeps the life in me.
For houseroom with the single help of fire
Gives all I need, save healing for my sore.
Now learn, my son, the nature of this isle.
No mariner puts in here willingly.
For it hath neither moorage, nor sea-port,
For traffic or kind shelter or good cheer.
Not hitherward do prudent men make voyage.
Perchance one may have touched against his will.
Many strange things may happen in long time.
These, when they come, in words have pitied me,
And given me food, or raiment, in compassion.
But none is willing, when I speak thereof,
To take me safely home. Wherefore I pine
Now this tenth year, in famine and distress,
Feeding the hunger of my ravenous plague.
Such deeds, my son, the Atridae, and the might
Of sage Odysseus, have performed on me.
Wherefore may all the Olympian gods, one day,
Plague them with stern requital for my wrong!
Methinks my feeling for thee, Poeas’ child,
I, too, a witness to confirm his words,
Know them for verities, since I have found
320
The Atridae and Odysseus evil men.
There came to fetch me, in a gallant ship,
Odysseus and the fosterer of my sire,
Saying, whether soothly, or in idle show,
That, since my father perished, it was known
None else but I should take Troy’s citadel.
Such words from them, my friend, thou may’st believe,
Held me not long from making voyage with speed,
Chiefly through longing for my father’s corse,
To see him yet unburied,—for I ne’er
Had seen him. Then, besides, ’twas a fair cause,
If, by my going, I should vanquish Troy.
One day I had sailed, and on the second came
To sad Sigeum with wind-favoured speed,
When straightway all the host, surrounding me
As I set foot on shore, saluted me,
And swore the dead Achilles was in life,
Their eyes being witness, when they looked on me.
He lay there in his shroud: but I, unhappy,
Soon ending lamentation for the dead,
Went near to those Atridae, as to friends,
To obtain my father’s armour and all else
That had been his. And then,—alas the while,
That men should be so hard!—they spake this word:
‘Seed of Achilles, thou may’st freely take
All else thy father owned, but for those arms,
Another wields them now, Laërtes’ son.’
Tears rushed into mine eyes, and in hot wrath
I straightway rose, and bitterly outspake:
‘O miscreant! What? And have ye dared to give
Mine arms to some man else, unknown to me?’
Then said Odysseus, for he chanced to be near,
‘Yea, child, and justly have they given me these.
345
I saved them and their master in the field.’
345
Then in fierce anger all at once I launched
345
All terms of execration at his head,
345
Bating no word, being maddened by the thought
345
That I should lose this heirloom,—and to him!
345
He, at this pass, though not of wrathful mood,
345
Stung by such utterance, made rejoinder thus:
345
‘Thou wast not with us here, but wrongfully
345
Didst bide afar. And, since thou mak’st so bold,
345
I tell thee, never shalt thou, as thou sayest,
345
Sail with these arms to Scyros.’—Thus reviled,
345
With such an evil echo in mine ear,
345
I voyage homeward, robbed of mine own right
345
By that vile offset of an evil tree.
345
Yet less I blame him than the men in power.
345
For every multitude, be it army or state,
Takes tone from those who rule it, and all taint
Of disobedience from bad counsel springs.
I have spoken. May the Atridae’s enemy
Be dear to Heaven, as he is loved by me!
Mother of mightiest Zeus,
Feeder of all that live,
Who from thy mountainous breast
Rivers of gold dost give!
To thee, O Earth, I cried that shameful day,
When insolence from Atreus’ sons went forth
Full on our lord: when they bestowed away
His father’s arms to crown Odysseus’ worth;
Thou, whom bull-slaughtering lions yoked bear,
O mighty mother, hear!
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 219 focus
Weh, Fremdlinge!
Weh mir, dem vielgequälten, gottverhaßten Mann,
Von dessen Leide nicht ein Ruf nach Hause, noch
Sonst irgend hin gedrungen im Hellenenland!
250
Und jene, die mich frevelnd ausgeworfen hier,
Hohulachen mein im Stillen: doch in voller Kraft
Blüht meine Krankheit, und gewinnt an Stärke ſtets.
Kind, Achillens, eines edlen Vaters, Sohn!
Ich, wisse, bin derselbe, den dir wohl der Ruf
255
Als den genannt hat, der Herakles' Wehr empfing,
Bin Philoktetes, Pöas' Sohn, den jene zwei
Heerfürsten und der Kephallenenkönig einst 2
Schmachvoll in diese Wüste warfen, weil an ihm
Die grimme Krankheit zehrte, seit der wilde Biß
260
Der mordbewehrten Natter ihn verwundete.
Mit ihr, o Jüngling, haben sie mich ausgesezt,
Mich einsam hier gelassen, als der Schiffe Zug
Von Chryse's Meereilande sich hieher gewandt.
Da froh gewahrend, wie ich matt vom Meergetos
265
Am Strande schlief im wohlgewölbten Felsenhaus,
Entfloh'n sie treulos, ließen wenig Lumpen mir,
Wie einem Bettler, und der Kost armseligen
Bedarf zurück: o werde Gleiches ihnen auch!
Doch welch Erwachen dünkt es dir, zu welchem ich
270
Nach ihrem Abzug aus dem Schlaf erstand, o Kind?
Wie bitter weint' ich? Wie beklagt' ich meine Noth?
Ich sah die Schiffe, welche mich hieher geführt,
All' abgezogen, keinen Mann am Orte mehr,
Nicht Einen, der mir hülse, der mich Leidenden
275
In meiner Qual erquickte: ringsum späht' ich nach;
Doch nichts entdeckt' ich überall, als Sammer nur;
Und dessen fand ich eine große Fülle, Kind.
Die Tage floh'n mir, einer nach dem andern, hin;
Ich mußt' allein hier unter diesem engen Dach
280
Mich selbst bedienen. Für den Hunger schaffte zwar,
Was nöthig war, der Bogen, der die flüchtigen
Waldtauben mir erlegte; doch, traf mein Geschoß,
Der Sehn' entrauscht, die Beute, mußt' ich Armer selbst
Nachkriechen meinem Fange, selbst mühvoll den Fuß
285
Hinschleppen. Braucht' ich einen Trunk, war etwa Holz
Zu fällen, wann der Boden, wie zur Winterzeit,
Vom Eise starrte, kroch ich Armer fort, es selbst
In's Werk zu richten. Daun gebrach's an Feuer mir,
Und Stein an Steine rieb ich, und entlockte kaum
290
Den dort verschloss'nen Funken, der mich stets erhält.
Denn wohnlich durch das Fener, schafft die Hütte nun
Mir alle Nothdurft; nur Gesundheit schafft sie nicht.
Wohlan, o Sohu, jezt höre von der Insel auch.
Freiwillig mag kein Schiffer ihrem Strande nah'n;
295
Sie beut zur Landung keinen Ort, kein gastlich Haus,
Noch Pläze, wo der Handel ihm Gewinn verheißt.
Nie wendet hieher seine Fahrt ein kluger Mann.
Sie landen unfreiwillig wohl; denn solcher Art
Begiebt sich Manches auf des Lebens langer Bahu.
300
Und diese, wann sie kommen, Sohu, bedanern mid)
Zwar wohl mit Worten, reichen auch wohl Speise mir
Ein wenig oder ein Gewand erbarmenvoll:
Doch das, erwähn' ich's etwa, will mir Keiner thun,
Heimwärts mich retten; nein, in Noth und Hunger, ach!
305
Verkümmr' ich hier in dieses zehnte Jahr bereits,
Und unersättlich zehrt an mir die Wunde fort.
Dies thaten Atreus' Söhne mir, o Jüngling, an,
Dies that Odysseus: mögen einst Olympos' Herrn
Vergeltend ihnen lohnen, was sie mir gethan!
310
Auch ich beklage billig, Sohn des Pöas, dich
Gleich jenen Fremden, welche hier gelandet sind.
Um mich zu holen, kam Laertes' edler Sohn
Und meines Vaters Pfleger an auf buntem Schiff;
Sie sagten, ob wahrhaftig oder ohne Grund,
Unmöglich sei es, daß ein Andrer Pergamos, 4
340
Als ich, erob're, nun dahin mein Vater sei.
Und also redend, stimmten sie mich bald dahin,
O Fremdling, daß ich ungesäumt zu Schiffe ging,
Sehnsüchtig wünschend, ihn zu seh'n, den Todten, eh
Man ihn begrübe; denn ich hatt' ihn nie geseh'n:
345
Daun trieb mich auch des Ruhmes stolzes Wort hinaus,
Wenn ich die Zinnen Ilions erobere.
Die zweite Sonne glänzte schon auf meiner Fahrt,
Und an Sigeions Trauerport trieb heller Wind 5
Mein Segel; schnell umringte mich das ganze Heer,
350
Sobald ich ausstieg, grüßte, schwur, des Thetis Sohn,
Der Todte, stehe neubelebt vor ihrem Blick.
Der lag noch unbestattet dort; ich Armer ging,
Nachdem ich ihn betrauert, schnell den Freunden zu,
Den Söhnen Atreus', und erbat, wie's billig war,
355
Mir meines Vaters Waffen und sein andres Gut.
Doch jene, weh mir! sagten dies verweg'ne Wort:
„O Sohn Achillens, alles Andre magst du dir
Von deinem Vater nehmen; doch das Wehrgeräth
Nennt schon ein andrer Krieger sein, Laertes' Sohu."
360
Und ich, in Thränen schwimmend, sprang alsbald empor
In schwerem Unmuth, und erwiedre schmerzerfüllt :
„Ihr wagtet, Freche, meine Wehr an meiner Statt
Iemanden auszuliefern, eh ihr mich gefragt?"
Da rief Odysseus, denn er stand nicht fern von uns:
365
„Sa, Knabe, mir, mir gaben sie mit Recht die Wehr;
Denn ich entriß die Waffen und ihn selbst dem Feind." 6
Und ich, erzürnt, rief alle nur erdenkbaren
Schmachworte, jeden Nachefluch auf sie herab,
Wenn jener mir entreiße meinen Waffeuschmuck.
370
Er, sonst zum Zorne langsam, fand durch solches Wort
Sich schwer getroffen, daß er stolz entgegnete:
„Du standest, wo wir standen, nicht, bliebst seig daheim;
Und weil du so voll Trozes sprichst, erklär' ich dir:
Mit diesen Waffen sollst du nie gen Skyros zieh'n!"
375
Nach solcher Antwort, so geschmäht auf's Bitterste,
Segl' ich nach Hause, meines Eigenthums beraubt
Vom schlimmsten Kinde schlimmer Art, Laertes' Sohn. 7
Doch diesen klag' ich minder als die Herrscher an.
Denn Stadt und Heer, sie folgen beide ganz und gar
380
Den Worten ihrer Führer; wer das Schlechte liebt,
Wird durch des Meisters Lehre nur ein Bösewicht.
Nun sagt' ich Alles. Wer des Atreus Söhne haßt,
Der sei so lieb den Göttern, wie er mir es ist!
Strophe.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 219 focus
Say, welcome stmngers, what disastrous
fate
Led you to this inhospitable shore,
220
Nor haven safe, nor habitation fit
Affording ever ? Of what clime, what race ?
Who are ye 1 Speak ! If I may trust that garb,
Familiar once to me, ye are of Greece,
My much-loved country. Let me hear the sound
225
Of your long wished-for voices. Do not look
With horror on me, but in kind compassion
Pity a wretch deserted and forlorn
In this sad place. Oh ! if ye come as friends,
Speak then, and answer — hold some converse with me,
230
For this at least from man to man is due.
Alas ! how hateful to the gods,
How very poor a wretch must 1 be then,
That Greece should never hear of woes like mine !
But they who sent me hither, they concealed them,
And smile triumphant, whilst my cruel wounds
Grow deeper still. O, sprung from great Achilles !
Behold before thee Psean's wretched son,
255
With whom, a chance but thou hast heard, remain
255
The dreadful arrows of renowned Alcides,
255
Whom the Atridse and the vile Ulysses
255
Inhuman left, distempered as I was
255
By the envenomed serpent's deep-felt wound.
255
Soon as they saw that, with long toil oppressed.
Sleep had o'ertaken me on the hollow rock.
There did they leave me when from Chrysa's shore
They bent their fatal course ; a little food
And these few rags were all they would bestow.
Such one day be their fate ! Alas ! my son.
How dreadful, thinkst thou, was that waking to me,
When from my sleep I rose and saw them not !
How did I weep ! and mourn my wretched state !
When not a ship remained of all the fleet
That brought me here — no kind companion left
To minister or needful food or balm
To my sad wounds. On every side I looked,
And nothing saw but woe ; of that indeed
Measure too fuU. For day succeeded day.
And still no comfort came ; myself alone
Could to myself the means of life afford,
In this poor grotto. On my bow I lived :
The winged dove, which my sharp arrow slew,
With pain I brought into my little hut,
And feasted there ; then from the broken ico
1 slaked my thirst, or crept into the woocl
For useful fuel ; from the stricken flint
I drew the latent spark, that warms me still
And still revives. This with my humble roof
Preserve me, son. But, oh ! my wounds remain.
Thou seest an island desolate and waste ;
No friendly port nor hopes of gain to tenjpt,
Nor host to welcome in the traveller ;
Few seek the wild inhospitable shore.
By adverse winds, sometimes th' unwilling guests,
As well thou mayst suppose, were hither driven ;
But when they came, they only pitied me.
Gave me a little food, or better garb
To shield me from the cold ; in vain 1 prayed
That they would bear me to my native soil,
For none would listen. Here for ten long years
Have 1 remained, whilst misery and famine
Keep fresh my wounds, and double my misfortune.
This have th' Atridae and Ulysses done.
And may the gods with equal woes repay them !
I can bear witness to thee, for I know
By sad experience what th' Atridae are,
And what Ulysses.
335
I will tell thee all,
If I can bear to tell it. Know then, soon
As great Achilles died
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 219 focus
Strangers, who are you that have steer'd your bark
To this rude coast, which knows not friendly port,
220
Nor habitation? What your country say;
Of what race may I speak you? for your garb
Presents the modes of Greece, to me most dear.
I wish to hear your voice. Nay, do not look
With fear and horror at this savage form,
But pity me, a poor forsaken wretch,
Alone, and friendless, and oppress'd with ills.
Speak to me, if you come as friends, O speak;
This I should not refuse; refuse not you.
Oh what a wretch am. I, and to the gods
How hateful, that no tidings of my woes ..
Have reach'd my house, nor any realm of Greece!
While they whose impious arts exposed me here,
Deride me, and conceal the barbarous deed,
My wound still rankling, and my pains more fierce.
Know then, thou son of an illustrious sire,
Son of Achilles, I am he, whose name
Widely divulged perchance hath reach'd thine ears,
Lord of the arms of Hercules, the son
Of Poœas, Philoctetes; whom the Chiefs,
And Cephallene's king, here basely left
An outcast, and alone, with dire disease...
Consumed, and tortured with this gnawing wound
By the fell serpent's venom'd tooth impress'd.
In this ill plight they left me here alone, "
From Chryse when on this wild coast we touch'd...
As wearied with the tossing of the waves.........
They saw me sleeping on the shore, beneath
This rock's rude covering, with malignant joy
They left me, and sail'd hence, a few mean rågs,
Meet for a wretch like me, beside me laid,
And food, a scanty pittance; such be theirs!
255
Think from that sleep, my son, how I awoke
255
When they were gone; think on my tears, my groans,
255
Such ills lamenting, when I saw my ships,
255
With which I hither sail'd, all out at sea,
255
And steering hence; no mortal in the place,
255
Not one to succour me, not one to lend
255
His lenient hand to mitigate my wound..
255
On every side I roll'd my eyes, and saw
255
Nothing but wretchedness; of that enough....
255
Time after time roll’d on; this narrow cave
255
I made my mansion, and these hands alone!
255
Supplied my wants; my bow procured me food,
255
Piercing the doves on wing; beneath my shafts!
255
Whene'er they fell, I trail'd my foot along
255
In anguish; so when thirst compell'd me forth,
255
Or the inclement winter's piercing frost
255
To break a few dry sticks, out crawl'd this wretch
255
Devising shifts: fire was not here; I struck
255
Flint against flint, and raised the latent sparks
255
With pain: thus cherish'd life hath been preserved.
255
This sheltering mansion, with such cheering fire,
255
Hath furnish'd me with all things, but a cure 1.
To my disease. Now learn from me the state
Of this rude isle: no mariner through choice
Adventures on this coast; for no safe port,
Receives his bark, no mart is open here
For traffic, and no hospitable door
To give him welcome; to these shores his course..
No wise man steers; some in a length of time,
Which rolls along events surpassing thought,
Have been driv'n hither; these, my son, when here,
In words have pitied me: nay, they have giv'n,
Touch'd with compassion, some small share of food,
Some raiment; but entreaties all were vain,
Not one, though oft I urged the fond request,
Would bear me to my household gods, and save
This life; the tenth sad year now rolls its course,
Since here with wretchedness and famine pierced
I waste away, and feed my rankling wound.
These wrongs from the Atridæ I sustain,
And from Ulysses, whose unfeeling heart
Ne'er knew the touch of pity: on their heads
May the just gods pour miseries great as mine!
Like others, who have visited this isle,
I too, O son of Peas, pity thee.
In a tall bark with all her sails unfurl'd
The great Ulysses, and the sage who train'd
May father's youth, came to me, and declared
(The truth yet doubtful) that, my father dead,
No arm but mine could raze the tow'rs of Troy.
I heard them, nor detain'd them long, but soon
Mounted the bark; for ardent my desire
To see the dead, whom I had never seen,
Ere in the earth entomb'd: their plea besides
Had honour in it, that the tow'rs of Troy
Should, if I join'd them, fall beneath my arm.
One day our vessel plough'd the foaming main,
And on the second with a favouring gale
I reach'd Sigæum, scene of bitter woe.
Soon as I landed, all the army round
Enclosing me with salutations greet,
And swear they see Achilles, now no more,
Living again; but he was stretch'd in death.
O'er him in all the anguish of my grief
I shed the pious tears; nor mourn'd him long,
But hasted to th' Atridæ, as my friends,
For such I deem'd them, and my father's arms
Demanded, and besides whateʼer was his.
In words that pierced my heart they thus replied,
Son of Achilles, thine be all the stores,
The treasures of thy father, save his arms;
Of these another now is lord, the son
Of old Laertes. Strait the swelling tear
345
Burst from my eye; and roused to ardent rage
345
Indignant I replied, Have you then dared,
345
Injurious men, to give my arms away,
345
My leave not ask'd? Ulysses, who was nigh,
345
Address'd me thus, To me, young man, these arms
345
With justice they have giv'n, for from the foe
345
I saved them, and their slaughter'd lord. Incensed
345
I pour'd a torrent of reproachful words
345
Against him, should he bear my arms away.
345
Stung with my words, though train'd to curb his rage,
345
Thus far to rising passion he gave way,
345
Thou wast not where we were, but distant far
345
From danger and from glory: but these arms,
Since in so high a strain thy tongue breaks loose,
To Scyros sailing never shalt thou bear.i
Thus slighted, thus insulted, of my right,
Robb'd by the vile Ulysses, of a race
As vile descended, I to Scyros steer
My homeward course; yet less with him enraged
Than with the potent kings; for every state,
And every army from their Chiefs are form'd.
And they, who mock at honour's dictates, learn
Their baseness from their lords. Thou hast heard all:
But know, whoe'er the sons of Atreus hates,
Must be to me, and to the gods, most dear.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 219-390 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-129-1 ἰὼ ξένοι 1

mvp-comment-130-1 κἀκ ποίας πάτρας 2 ναυτίλῳ πλάτῃ 3 κατέσχετ’ 4

mvp-comment-130-2 But

κἀκ ποίας πάτρας
in v. 220 and
ποίας πάτρας
in 222 cannot both be wholly sound. The first
πάτρας
might easily be corrected to
χθονὸς
(with Wecklein). It is slightly more probable, how ever, that the second
πάτρας
arose from the eye glancing back. Thus in Ant. 831 L has
τάκει
(for
τέγγει
), due to
τακομέναν
in 828. In v. 222 we might conjecture
ποίας πόλεως
. (For
πόλεως
in the 2nd place of the senarius, cp. O. T. 630. ) The series of questions in vv. 220— 222 would then correspond with the Homeric
τίς πόθεν ε<*>ς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες
; ( Od. 1. 170. )

mvp-comment-131-1 κατέσχετ’ 5

mvp-comment-131-2 222 On the grounds given in n. on 220, I conjecture πόλεως 6 πάτρας 7

mvp-comment-132-1 τύχοιμ’ ἂν εἰπών 8

mvp-comment-132-2 σχῆμα 9 σχῆμα ὑπάρχει 10 Ἑλλάδος στολῆς 11

mvp-comment-133-1 ὄκνῳ 12

mvp-comment-133-2 ἀπηγριωμένον 13

mvp-comment-134-1 κακούμενον 14 καλούμενον 15

mvp-comment-135-1 ἀλλ’ 16

mvp-comment-135-2 ὑμῶν ἁμαρτεῖν τοῦτό γ’ 17 ὑμῶν 18 τοῦτο 19 τοῦτό γ’ 20 τοῦδέ γ’ 21

mvp-comment-136-1 ἀλλ’ 22

mvp-comment-136-2 οὕνεκα 23

mvp-comment-137-1 φεῦ 24

mvp-comment-137-2 τὸ καὶ λαβεῖν 25

mvp-comment-137-3 τοιοῦδ’ ἀνδρὸς 26

mvp-comment-137-4 ἐν χρόνῳ μακρῷ 27

mvp-comment-138-1 προσέσχε 28 προσήγαγεν 29 προσέσχε 30

mvp-comment-139-1 τίς ἀνέμων ὁ φίλτατος 31

mvp-comment-139-2 γέγωνε 32

mvp-comment-139-3 ὅπως εἰδῶ 33

mvp-comment-140-1 γένος 34

mvp-comment-141-1 Σκύρου 35

mvp-comment-142-1 Νεοπτόλεμος 36 οἶσθα δὴ τὸ πᾶν 37

mvp-comment-143-1 ὦ φίλης χθονός 38 παῖ 39

mvp-comment-144-1 θρέμμα Λυκομήδους 40 στόλῳ 41 προσέσχες … γῆν 42

mvp-comment-145-1 ἐξ Ἰλίου τοι δὴ 43 τοι 44 δὴ 45 τοι δὴ 46 )γὼ δὴ 47

mvp-comment-146-1 οὐ γὰρ δὴ σύ γ’ 48 κατ’ ἀρχὴν τοῦ … στόλου 49

mvp-comment-147-1 ἦ γὰρ 50

mvp-comment-147-2 πόνου 51

mvp-comment-148-1 οὐ γὰρ 52

mvp-comment-148-2 οἶσθα κάτοιδ’ 53

mvp-comment-148-3 πῶς … κάτοιδ’ 54

mvp-comment-149-1 ὄνοὐ ἄῤ 55 οὐ τοὔνομ’ 56 οὐδ’ 57

mvp-comment-149-2 διωλλύμην 58

mvp-comment-150-1 ἴσθι με ὡς μηδὲν εἰδότ’ 59 ὡς 60 μηδὲν 61 ὡς 62

mvp-comment-151-1 πόλλ’ 63

mvp-comment-151-2 πικρὸς 64 στυγνὸς 65

mvp-comment-152-1 οὗ μηδὲ 66

mvp-comment-152-2 οἴκαδε 67 μηδ’ Ἑλλάδος γῆς μηδαμοῦ 68 ὧδ’ ἔχοντος 69

mvp-comment-152-3 μηδαμοῦ 70

mvp-comment-152-4 πω 71 που 72 πω 73 που 74

mvp-comment-153-1 σῖγ’ ἔχοντες 75

mvp-comment-153-2 τέθηλε 76

mvp-comment-153-3 κἀπὶ μεῖζον ἔρχεται 77

mvp-comment-154-1 ἐξ 78

mvp-comment-154-2 ὅδ’ εἴμ’ ἐγώ σοι 79 κεῖνος 80 κλύεις 81

mvp-comment-154-3 τῶν Ἡρ 82 ὅπλων 83

mvp-comment-154-4 δεσπότην 84

mvp-comment-155-1 ὃν οἱ 85

mvp-comment-155-2 χὡ Κεφαλλήνων ἄναξ 86

mvp-comment-156-1 ἀγρίᾳ 87 ἀγρίῳ 88 φοινίῳ 89 ἔρημον 90

mvp-comment-157-1 τῆς … ἐχίδνης 91 χαράγματι 92

mvp-comment-158-1 ξὺν ᾗ 93

mvp-comment-158-2 ᾤχοντ’ 94 ἔρημον 95

mvp-comment-158-3 τῆς ποντίας Χρύσης 96 κατέσχον 97

mvp-comment-159-1 ἄσμενοι 98 ἄσμενον 99

mvp-comment-159-2 ἐκ πολλοῦ σάλου 100

mvp-comment-159-3 κατηρεφεῖ 101

mvp-comment-159-4 πέτρᾳ 102 πέτρῳ 103

mvp-comment-160-1 οἷα 104 φωτὶ δυσμόρῳ 105

mvp-comment-161-1 καί τι καὶ 106

mvp-comment-161-2 βορᾶς 107

mvp-comment-161-3 οἷ’ αὐτοῖς τύχοι 108

mvp-comment-162-1 σὺ δὴ 109

mvp-comment-162-2 ἀνάστασιν 110 στῆναι 111

mvp-comment-163-1 ποἶ ἐκδακρῦσαι 112

mvp-comment-163-2 ποἶ ἀποιμῶξαι κακά 113

mvp-comment-164-1 ὁρῶντα 114

mvp-comment-165-1 οὐχ 115 ὅστις ἀρκέσειεν 116

mvp-comment-165-2 The origin of this use of the optative is disputed. (1) According to one view, it is an extension of the deliberative use. From the direct question,

τίς ἀρκέσῃ
; comes the indirect
ἀπορῶ ὅστις ἀρκέσῃ
: and, after a secondary tense,
ἠπόρουν ὅστις ἀρκέσειεν
. ( H. 7. 4. 39
ἠπόρει ὅ τι χρήσαιτο τῷ πράγματι
.) In
οὐδένα εἶχον ὅστις ἀρκέσειεν
the interrogative sense of
ὅστις
has passed into a purely relative sense, and the clause has become final. For this view, see Sidgwick A. in Classical Review, vol. v. p. 148, 1891. (2) Others hold that this optative is simply a potential, equivalent to the optative with
ἄν
. Prof. W. G. Hale, after a full discussion, decides for this view: see Transactions of American Phil. Assoc., vol. XXIV. pp. 156—205, 1894.

mvp-comment-165-3 νόσου κάμνοντι συλλάβοιτο 117

mvp-comment-165-4 πάντα δὲ σκοπῶν 118

mvp-comment-166-1 πλὴν ἀνιᾶσθαι 119 παρόν 120

mvp-comment-166-2 εὐμάρειαν 121 τούτου δὲ 122

mvp-comment-167-1 ὁ μὲν χρόνος δὴ διὰ χρόνου 123 διὰ χρόνου 124 ὁ χρόνος προὔβαινέ μοι 125 διὰ χρόνου 126 προὔβαινε 127

mvp-comment-168-1 κἄδει τι 128 τι 129 ἔδει 130 βαιᾷ 131

mvp-comment-168-2 διακονεῖσθαι 132

mvp-comment-169-1 ὑποπτέρους 133

mvp-comment-170-1 ὅ μοι βάλοι 134

mvp-comment-170-2 νευροσπαδὴς 135

mvp-comment-170-3 ἄτρακτος 136

mvp-comment-170-4 αὐτὸς 137

mvp-comment-171-1 εἰλυόμην 138

mvp-comment-171-2 ἂν 139

mvp-comment-171-3 δύστηνον 140

mvp-comment-171-4 ἐξέλκων 141

mvp-comment-171-5 πρὸς τοῦτ ἄν 142

mvp-comment-172-1 πάγου χυθέντος 143

mvp-comment-172-2 οἷα 144

mvp-comment-172-3 ξύλον τι 145 ἄν 146

mvp-comment-173-1 ἐν πέτροισι πέτρον 147

mvp-comment-173-2 ἐκτρίβων 148 ἐκτρίβων 149

mvp-comment-173-3 ἔφην’ ἄφαντον φῶς 150

mvp-comment-173-4 ἄφαντον 151

mvp-comment-174-1 οἰκουμένη γὰρ οὖν 152

mvp-comment-174-2 ἐμέ 153

mvp-comment-175-1 φέρε … μάθῃς 154

mvp-comment-175-2 Several recent editors (see cr. n.) cut the knot by reading μάθε 155 μάθε 156 μάθῃς 157 κἂν … μάθοις 158 κἂν 159 καὶ 160 μάθοις 161 μάθῃς 162

mvp-comment-175-3 τὸ τῆς νήσου 163 τὰ 164

mvp-comment-176-1 οὐ γάρ τις ὅρμος ἐστίν 165

mvp-comment-176-2 οὐδ’ ὅποι πλέων 166 ἐξεμπολήσει κέρδος 167

mvp-comment-176-3 ξενώσεται 168

mvp-comment-177-1 ἐνθάδ’ 169

mvp-comment-177-2 πλοῖ 170 σώφροσι 171

mvp-comment-177-3 βροτῶν 172

mvp-comment-178-1 τάχ’ οὖν τις … ἔσχε 173

mvp-comment-178-2 ἔσχε 174

mvp-comment-178-3 πολλὰ γὰρ 175

mvp-comment-179-1 οὗτοι 176

mvp-comment-179-2 λόγοις ἐλεοῦσι … οἰκτίραντες 177

mvp-comment-179-3 καί πού τι 178

mvp-comment-179-4 στολήν 179

mvp-comment-179-5 ἐκεῖνο … θέλει 180

mvp-comment-180-1 σῶσαί μ’ ἐς οἴκους 181

mvp-comment-180-2 ἐν λιμῷ τε καὶ κακοῖσι 182 καί 183

mvp-comment-180-3 βόσκων 184 ἀδηφάγον 185

mvp-comment-181-1 βία 186

mvp-comment-181-2 οἷ’ 187 οἷς 188

mvp-comment-181-3 ἐμοῦ 189

mvp-comment-182-1 ἴσα 190

mvp-comment-182-2 ἐποικτίρειν 191 ἐποικτιρεῖν 192

mvp-comment-183-1 ἐν λόγοις 193 ὢν 194

mvp-comment-183-2 συντυχὼν 195

mvp-comment-184-1 ἦ γάρ 196

mvp-comment-184-2 τοῖς πανωλέθροις 197

mvp-comment-184-3 παθών 198

mvp-comment-184-4 324 f. The corruption in the MSS.,

θυμῷ...χεῖρα
, is of the same nature as that in O. T. 376 (
με...σοῦ
for
σε ἐμοῦ
). Cp. Plat. Rep. 465A
εἴ πού τίς τῳ θυμοῖτο, ἐν τῷ τοιούτῳ πληρῶν τὸν θυμὸν
(sating his wrath)
ἧττον ἐπὶ μείζους ἂν ἴοι στάσεις.

mvp-comment-184-5 Μυκῆναι 199 Σπάρτη 200 γνοῖεν 201

mvp-comment-185-1 εὖ γ’ 202

mvp-comment-185-2 τίνος γὰρ 203 τίνος 204

mvp-comment-185-3 ὧδε 205 τίνος 206

mvp-comment-186-1 ἐξερῶ, μόλις δ’ ἐρῶ 207

mvp-comment-186-2 μολών 208

mvp-comment-187-1 ἔσχε 209

mvp-comment-188-1 φράσῃς … μὴ πέρα 210

mvp-comment-189-1 τοξευτὸς … δαμείς 211

mvp-comment-189-2 ὡς λέγουσιν 212 ἐκ 213 ὑπό 214

mvp-comment-190-1 ἀλλ’ εὐγενὴς μὲν 215 δέ 216 κτανών … θανών 217

mvp-comment-191-1 ἐλέγχω … στένω 218

mvp-comment-192-1 οἶμαι μὲν 219

mvp-comment-192-2 καὶ τὰ ς’ 220

mvp-comment-193-1 τοιγαροῦν 221 αὖθις πάλιν 222

mvp-comment-193-2 ὅτῳ 223

mvp-comment-194-1 ποικιλοστόλῳ 224 ποικιλοστόμῳ 225

mvp-comment-195-1 δῖός τ’ Ὀδυσσεὺς 226

mvp-comment-195-2 χὡ τροφεὺς 227

mvp-comment-196-1 εἴτ’ ἄρ’ οὖν 228

mvp-comment-196-2 ἀληθὲς 229 λέγοντες 230

mvp-comment-196-3 γίγνοιτ’ 231

mvp-comment-197-1 ἄλλον ἢ )μ’ 232 ἢ )μ’ 233

mvp-comment-198-1 οὐ πολὺν 234

mvp-comment-198-2 Instead of

μή με ναυστολεῖν
, we might well prefer, with Blaydes,
μὴ οὐχὶ ναυστολεῖν
, were it not that palaeographically it is so improbable. And for
μή
where
μὴ οὐ
might be expected, cp. O. T. 1387
οὐκ ἂν ἐσχόμην
|
τὸ μὴ )ποκλῇσαι
, n. The repetition of με 235

mvp-comment-199-1 οὐ γὰρ εἰδόμην 236 εἰδόμην 237

mvp-comment-200-1 ἔπειτα μέντοι 238

mvp-comment-200-2 χὡ λόγος καλὸς προσῆν 239 ὁ λόγος 240 προσῆν 241

mvp-comment-200-3 εἰ … αἱρήσοιμ’ 242

mvp-comment-200-4 τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμ’ 243 ἐπί 244

mvp-comment-200-5 ἰών 245

mvp-comment-201-1 πλέοντί μοι 246

mvp-comment-201-2 κἀγὼ 247

mvp-comment-201-3 πικρὸν Σίγειον 248

mvp-comment-201-4 οὐρίῳ πλάτῃ 249

mvp-comment-201-5 κατηγόμην 250

mvp-comment-202-1 ὀμνύντες 251 στρατός 252

mvp-comment-202-2 ζῶντ’ Ἀχ. πάλιν 253

mvp-comment-203-1 ἔκειτ’ 254

mvp-comment-203-2 )δάκρυσα 255

mvp-comment-203-3 οὐ μακρῷ χρόνῳ 256

mvp-comment-204-1 ὡς εἰκὸς ἦν 257 φίλους 258

mvp-comment-204-2 τά τ’ ἄλλ’ ὅσ’ ἦν 259

mvp-comment-205-1 τλημονέστατον λόγον 260

mvp-comment-206-1 πάρεστί σοι 261

mvp-comment-206-2 Λαέρτου 262

mvp-comment-207-1 δακρύσας 263

mvp-comment-207-2 ἐξανίσταμαι 264

mvp-comment-207-3 ὀργῇ 265 βαρείᾳ 266

mvp-comment-207-4 κᾳταλγήσας 267

mvp-comment-208-1 ὦ σχέτλἰ 268 ἦ )τολμήσατ’ 269

mvp-comment-208-2 πρὶν μαθεῖν ἐμοῦ 270

mvp-comment-209-1 ὁ δ’ εἶπ’ Ὀδυσσεύς 271

mvp-comment-209-2 ὢν κυρεῖ 272 ἦν κυρῶν 273

mvp-comment-209-3 τάδε 274 δεδράκας’ 275

mvp-comment-210-1 παρών 276

mvp-comment-211-1 ἤρασσον 277

mvp-comment-211-2 κακοῖς τοῖς πᾶσιν 278

mvp-comment-211-3 οὐδὲν ἐνδεὲς ποιούμενος 279

mvp-comment-211-4 εἰ … ἀφαιρήσοιτο 280

mvp-comment-212-1 ἐνθάδ’ ἥκων 281

mvp-comment-212-2 οὐ δύσοργος 282

mvp-comment-212-3 πρὸς ἁξήκουσεν 283 δηχθείς 284 ἠμείψατο 285

mvp-comment-212-4 ἃ ἐξήκουσεν 286

mvp-comment-213-1 ἐπειδὴ καὶ λέγεις 287

mvp-comment-213-2 οὐ μήποτ’ 288 τὴν Σκῦρον 289

mvp-comment-213-3 ἐκπλεύσῃς 290

mvp-comment-213-4 382 ff. The words ἀκούσας κἀξονειδισθείς 291 κακά 292 κἀξονειδίσας 293

mvp-comment-213-5 πρὸς οἴκους 294

mvp-comment-213-6 τητώμενος 295

mvp-comment-213-7 κἀκ κακῶν 296

mvp-comment-214-1 τοὺς ἐν τέλει 297

mvp-comment-214-2 πᾶσα 298 σύμπας 299

mvp-comment-214-3 ἔστι … τῶν ἡγουμένων 300

mvp-comment-214-4 στρατός 301

mvp-comment-214-5 οἱ δ’ ἀκοσμοῦντες βροτῶν 302

mvp-comment-214-6 διδασκάλων λόγοισι 303

mvp-comment-215-1 λόγος λέλεκται πᾶς 304

mvp-comment-215-2 Ἀτρείδας 305

mvp-comment-215-3 φίλος 306

mvp-comment-216-1 Mindful of their young chief's precept—

πειρῶ τὸ παρὸν θεραπεύειν
(149)—the Chorus seize this moment in order to deepen the impression left on the mind of Philoctetes. It was in the land of the Trojans—often called ‘Phrygians’ —that Neoptolemus was wronged by the Atreidae. ‘Then and there’—say the Chorus—‘we invoked the most awful deity of the land, the great Earth Mother, the Phrygian Cybele—to punish our prince's wrong.’ The interposition of the Chorus is admirably effective for the purpose of making their master's indignation appear genuine.

mvp-comment-216-2 This strophe, to which vv. 507—518 form the antistrophe, is a

ὑπόρχημα
, or ‘dance-song’ ( O. T. 1086 n.). The dochmiacs of which it is mainly composed (see Metrical Analysis) are accompanied by animated movement, expressive of the lively resentment which these memories suggest.

mvp-comment-216-3 From a mythological point of view the verses are of singular interest. The attributes given to the goddess belong to three groups. (1)

παμβῶτι Γᾶ
recognises her in the primary character of an Elemental power. (2)
μᾶτερ...Διός
identifies her with Rhea. (3)
ὀρεστέρα, λεόντων ἔφεδρε
, and the mention of the Pactolus, present her as the specially Phrygian Cybele. But these three characters are completely fused in the unity of the
μάτηρ πότνια
.

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

219. mvp-comment-151-1 ἰὼ ξένοι] Cp. the short lines in Aj. 333, 336, 339; Ο. Τ. 1468, 1471, 1475; О. С. 315, 318; Aesch. Ag. 1214, 1315.

220. mvp-comment-152-1 ναυτίλῳ πλάτῃ] The gloss in L2, in which this reading is mixed up with an explanation of πλάτῃ, viz. τῇ κώπῃ, tends to confirm the evidence of A. Cp. Hom. Od. 1. 171, ὁπποίης δ᾽ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἀφίκεο, πῶς δέ σε ναῦται | ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην ; Fr. 394, ναύκληρον πλάτην.

222. mvp-comment-153-1 The transposition of ὑμᾶς is necessary for the rhythm.

223. mvp-comment-154-1 τύχοιμ᾽ ἂν εἰπών] 'Shall I be right in naming you? Cp. El. 663, ἐπεικάζων κυρῶ, and note.

224. mvp-comment-155-1 This beautiful line is bracketed by Nauck, on the ground that Philoctetes would not be so imprudent as to reveal his Hellenic sympathies at once! ὑπάρχει] 'Is to begin with, i. e. This affords a presumption that ye are Hellenes.

225. mvp-comment-156-1 ὄκνῳ is to be taken with the whole sentence, and not with δείσαντες only.

228. mvp-comment-157-1 * κακούμενον] For the added participle, see Essay on L. § 36, 5. καλούμενον may be explained to mean, 'Imploring you.' So Herm. Cp. infr. 1264, τί μ᾽ ἐκκαλεῖσθε; Aesch. Ch. 216, καὶ τίνα σύνοισθά μοι καλουμένῃ βροτῶν; But the slight correction κακούμενον is on the whole more probable. Cp. infr. 471, ἔρημον ἐν κακοῖσι τοῖσδ᾽, οἷοῖς ὁρᾷς. Many other changes have been proposed, of which Seyffert's, καὶ φίλων τητώμενον, most deserves mention.

230-231. mvp-comment-158-1 'For it is not meet that I should fail to receive this from you or you from me.' The strangers have a claim on Philoctetes as well as he on them.

233. mvp-comment-159-1 τοῦτο .. μαθεῖν] The words of Philoctetes in 222-4 had clearly indicated this desire.

234. mvp-comment-160-1 φώνημα] Cp. supr. φωνήσατ'. No utterance could be more welcome. φεῦ .. μακρῷ] 'Ah me! the bliss of being spoken to by one who is a Greek this once in all that length of time.' φεῦ is not merely the interjection of astonishment, but rather expresses a mingled feeling that is too deep for words, the effect of joy coming in suddenly upon sorrow and weariness. The momentariness of the aor. λαβεῖν is expressive.

235. mvp-comment-161-1 τοιοῦδε] Sc. Ἕλληνος. For the vagueness of this, cp. Aj. 330, οἱ τοιοίδε (sc. οἱ μανικῶς διακείμενοι).

236ff. mvp-comment-162-1 Cp. Pind. Pyth. 4. 70, τίς γὰρ ἀρχὰ δέξατο ναυτιλίας; For the Greek manner of putting first what is last in time, see Essay on L. § 41. p. 78, B, b. The exuberant speech of Philoctetes, in his delight at seeing Greeks after ten years' silence, is well contrasted with the embarrassed reserve of Neoptolemus. Cp. El. 1232 foll. He shows, in the address ὦ τέκνον, that his confidence is already won.

236. mvp-comment-163-1 προσέσχε is causative. See Essay on L. § 53. p. 98. προσήγαγε, 'Drew you this way;' προσέσχε, 'Brought you to the shore.'

237. mvp-comment-164-1 ὁρμή] 'Cause of departure,' nearly = στόλος, infr. 244. τίς ἀνέμων ὁ φίλτατος] 'What wind, of all most dear?' For the extravagant language, cp. Shak. Cymb. 3. 2, 'Say, and speak thick,.. how far it is To this same blessed Milford, and, by the way, Tell me how Wales was made so happy as To inherit such a haven but first of all,' etc.

239. mvp-comment-165-1 Cp. Plat. Soph. 216 A, τὸ μὲν γένος ἐξ Ἐλέας.

240. mvp-comment-166-1 αὐδῶμαι] 'I am named.' Cp. Trach. 1106, ὁ τοῦ κατ᾿ ἄστρα Ζηνὸς αὐδηθεὶς γόνος; Tennyson's Elaine, Whence comest thou, my guest, and by what name Livest between the lips?'

241. mvp-comment-167-1 Some editors prefer οἶσθ᾽ ἤδη. But the emphatic word of time is out of place. οἶσθα δή is simpler and better. There, you know all.'

242. mvp-comment-168-1 φίλης χθονός] The genitive, as τῆς περιρρύτου Σκύρου, supr. 239. In the absence of Achilles, Neoptolemus was brought up in the house of his maternal grandfather Lycomedes, in the island of Scyros, where Deidameia, Lycomedes' daughter, had borne him to Achilles. Scyros was near Euboea and the Melian country, and it is imagined that there had been frequent intercourse between them.

243. mvp-comment-169-1 τίνι στόλῳ] 'On what enterprise or expedition?' Cp. Xen. Anab. 3. 2, ὁ στόλος ἐλέγετο εἶναι εἰς Πισίδας.

245. mvp-comment-170-1 τοι δή] · Well, then, if you wish to know' (δή), 'I tell you' (τοι). Neoptolemus affects surprise at the question.

246-247. mvp-comment-171-1 Surely we had not you with us on board the fleet when we first set out on the expedition to Troy.'

248. mvp-comment-172-1 τοῦδε τοῦ πόνου] ‘This labour, in which I and others have been engaged.' For the pronominal expression, cp. El. 541, ἧς ὁ πλοῦς ὅδ᾽ ἦν χάριν.

249. mvp-comment-173-1 The craving for sympathy, so prominently shown in this and the following lines, is the point in Philoctetes' character which most lays him open to the design of Neoptolemus, and is also most calculated to move his pity and that of the spectators.

250. mvp-comment-174-1 ὅν γ᾽ εἶδον] 'One whom I never yet beheld.' For this use of γε, cp. Εl. 923, πῶς δ᾽ οὐκ ἐγὼ κάτοιδ᾽, ἅ γ᾽ εἶδον ἐμφανῶς;

251. mvp-comment-175-1 οὐδ᾽ ὄνομά *γ'] It is uncertain whether this correction should be admitted (Erf. conjectured οὐδ᾽ ὄνομ᾽ ἄρ᾽) or οὐδ᾽ οὔνομ' should be read from the inferior MSS. The latter is rhythmically smoother, but contains an Ionicism which does not occur elsewhere. The addition of τῶν ἐμῶν with the second word has a pathetic emphasis.

252. mvp-comment-176-1 διωλλύμην] The imperfect means, 'I have been perishing all this while.'

254. mvp-comment-177-1 ὦ.. ἐγώ] Cp. Trach. 1046, 7, ὦ πολλὰ δὴ . . μοχθήσας ἐγώ. πολλά μοχθηρός] Afflicted in many ways, i. e. In more ways than I knew, since to suffer unknown is worse than to suffer. πικρὸς θεοῖς] Abhorred by the gods.' Else they would not permit such misery. πικρός, Utterly offensive.' Cp. Hdt. 7. 35. where Xerxes thus addresses the Hellespont, ὦ πικρὸν ὕδωρ.

255. mvp-comment-178-1 ὧδ᾽ ἔχοντος] This adds a touch of pathos to Philoctetes' complaint. He is not only forgotten, but forgotten in his extreme misery.

255-256. mvp-comment-179-1 οἴκαδε.. Ἑλλάδος γῆς] The thoughts of Philoctetes naturally fly home to Trachis, and he has no desire of his state being known beyond the world of Hellas. For the more particular preceding the more general expression, see E. on L. § 41. p. 78, β, b.

256. mvp-comment-180-1 μηδαμοῦ has been changed to μηδαμοῖ, which may seem to be required by the verb of motion. But the latter form is doubtful, and ἐνταῦθα is similarly used for ἐνταυθοῖ. Cp. Εl. 380, Trach. 1193. που] 'Methinks.' He conjectures, from his case being unknown to Neoptolemus, that it has been heard of nowhere in Hellas, nor, bitterest of all, at his own home.

258. mvp-comment-181-1 Though my name is forgotten, my affliction endures and grows.'

259. mvp-comment-182-1 For κἀπὶ μεῖζον ἔρχεται, cp. Fr. 786, Εl. 1000, κἀπὶ μηδὲν ἔρχεται.

261. mvp-comment-183-1 Know that I whom you behold am he.' The fulness of expression marks the importance of the announcement. Philoctetes still believes that, even if his misfortune is forgotten, he must still be remembered as the possessor of the famous bow. ὃν κλύεις ἴσως] 'Of whom surely you have heard.' For the present tense, cp. Ο. Τ. 305, εἰ καὶ μὴ κλύεις, infr. 591. ἴσως expresses confident assumption.

262. mvp-comment-184-1 τῶν Ἡρ... 263. τοῦ Π... ib. οἱ δ. .. 264. χώ Κ... 266. τῆς ἀ... 269. τῆς π.] These articles show the vividness with which Philoctetes conceives his own situation. So does the emphatic position of οἱ at the end of 263. For this synaphea, cp. Ant. 409.

263. mvp-comment-185-1 Ποίαντος] οι. But οἳ, infr. 461.

264. mvp-comment-186-1 δισσοὶ στρατηγοί] Αj. 49, etc. Κεφαλλήνων] Cp. Il. 2. 631-5, αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἦγε Κεφαλλῆνας μεγαθύμους, | οἳ δ' Ἰθάκην εἶχον καὶ Νήριτον εἰνοσίφυλλον, | καὶ Κροκύλει᾽ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αἰγίλιπα τρηχεῖαν, | οἵ τε Ζάκυνθον ἔχον ἠδ' οἳ Σάμον ἀμφενέμοντο, | οἵ τ᾽ ἤπειρον ἔχον ἠδ᾽ ἀντιπέραι' ἐνέμοντο. The expression here and infr. 791, ὦ ξένε Κεφαλλήν, may have been taken from the Ilias Minor. (Cp. Quint. Smyrn. 5. 429, Κεφαλλήνων βασιλῆϊ.) It is unnecessary to assume, with Buttmann, that Cephallenian was a word of abuse, because the inhabitants of the Western Isles were given to piracy.

266. mvp-comment-187-1 τῆς] Musgrave conjectured τῇδ', which is equally near the MSS. But cp supr. note on 262. Moreover such a direct reference to his present state makes an unpleasing interruption in the description of his original misfortune.

267. mvp-comment-188-1 φοινίῳ] The reading of Eustathius is adopted against the MSS., not because the tautology of ἀγρίᾳ . . ἀγρίῳ is impossible, but because φοινίῳ is the more appropriate epithet, and ἀγρίῳ with ἀγρίᾳ preceding is a natural corruption. Cp. Trach. 770, 1, εἶτα φοινίας | . . ἐχίδνης ἰὸς ὡς ἐδαίνυτο,

268. mvp-comment-189-1 ξὺν ᾗ] Sc. νόσῳ. The relative points to the prior antecedent, the words τῆς . . χαράγματι being epexegetic.

268-269. mvp-comment-190-1 προθέντες.. ᾤχοντ] 'Cast forth and departed.' Cp. Hdt. 1. 112, τοῦτο μὲν φέρων πρόθες. The word implies the helplessness of his condition. 'Thus afflicted was I when they cast me forth here companionless and left me.'

269. mvp-comment-191-1 ἐκ τῆς ποντίας Χρύσης] The island of Chrysa, distinguished by the epithet ποντία from the sea-coast town of that name mentioned in the first Iliad as sacred to Apollo. Cp. Fr. 352, ὦ Λήμνε Χρύσης τ' ἀγχιτέρμονες πάγοι.

270. mvp-comment-192-1 κατέσχον] (1) They had put in.' The whole Achaean fleet is imagined as having been at Chrysa and again at Lemnos. Thus only can this passage be reconciled with the narrative of Odysseus, supr. 4-11. Otherwise (2) it might seem natural to suppose that Philoctetes was the leader of the expedition to Chrysa, and that κατέσχον, like ἐναυστόλουν, infr. 279, was in the first person singular.

271. mvp-comment-193-1 ἄσμενοι .. εἶδον] ‘They saw with delight.' The sleep of Philoctetes favoured their purpose and also relieved them from his crying. ἄσμενον, which Dindorf reads, is not in point. They did not leave him when they saw how glad he was to rest, but when, to their great relief, they saw him asleep. ἐκ πολλοῦ σάλου] (1) 'After much tossing.' He slept the more soundly because of the previous discomfort on-board-ship. (2) Hermann understands these words metaphorically, After my long trouble.'

273. mvp-comment-194-1 οἷα φωτὶ δυσμόρῳ] 'Such as accorded with my wretched state.' Cp. Thuc. 8. 84. οἷα δὴ ναῦται.

274. mvp-comment-195-1 προθέντες] Ср. Ant. 775, φορβῆς τοσοῦτον, ὡς ἄγος, μόνον προθείς.

275. mvp-comment-196-1 οἳ αὐτοῖς τύχοι] 'May the like provision be their own some day!' The Scholiast rightly says καταρᾶται. Cp. infr. 315.

276-277. mvp-comment-197-1 'And when they were gone, you may imagine, my son, to what agony I awoke.'

278. mvp-comment-198-1 ποῖ᾽ ἀποιμώξαι κακά] 'What lamentation do you think I made over my woe?' 'ποῖα hic bis dictum πῶς' (Hermann). Cp. Ο. Τ. 421, ποῖος Κιθαιρών : 1467, κάποκλαύσασθαι κακά.

279. mvp-comment-199-1 Philoctetes naturally looked to see if his own vessels were there.

281-282. mvp-comment-200-1 νόσου κάμνοντι συλλάβοιτο] Cp. Ar. Vesp. 733, σοὶ δὲ νῦν τις θεῶν παρὼν ἐμφανὴς | συλλαμβάνει τοῦ πράγματος. The expression νόσου συλλαμβάνεσθαί τινι is nearly analogous to πόνου συλλ. τινι.

284. mvp-comment-201-1 But of this I found sufficient store, my son:' (more literally, 'Abundant opportunity'). This is said with a bitter smile.

284. mvp-comment-201-2 But of this I found sufficient store, my son:' (more literally, 'Abundant opportunity'). This is said with a bitter smile.

285. mvp-comment-202-1 Well, after a while I found the time advancing.' Cp. Hdt. 3. 140, τοῦ χρόνου προβαίνοντος. διὰ χρόνου implies that a certain interval elapsed before Philoctetes completely realised his situation.

285. mvp-comment-202-2 Well, after a while I found the time advancing.' Cp. Hdt. 3. 140, τοῦ χρόνου προβαίνοντος. διὰ χρόνου implies that a certain interval elapsed before Philoctetes completely realised his situation.

286. mvp-comment-203-1 τι] 'More or less.' For this modest expression, or litotes, cp. Ant. 35, ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ. βαιῇ] So the best MSS. But B. and others have βαίᾳ, the more regular form.

286. mvp-comment-203-2 τι] 'More or less.' For this modest expression, or litotes, cp. Ant. 35, ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ. βαιῇ] So the best MSS. But B. and others have βαίᾳ, the more regular form.

287. mvp-comment-204-1 διακονεῖσθαι] Το minister to myself.' For this direct middle, see Essay on L. § 31. p. 52.

287. mvp-comment-204-2 διακονεῖσθαι] Το minister to myself.' For this direct middle, see Essay on L. § 31. p. 52.

288. mvp-comment-205-1 ἐξεύρισκε 'Procured.' Cp. Trach. 25, μή μοι τὸ κάλλος ἄλγος ἐξεύροι ποτέ.

288. mvp-comment-205-2 ἐξεύρισκε 'Procured.' Cp. Trach. 25, μή μοι τὸ κάλλος ἄλγος ἐξεύροι ποτέ.

289. mvp-comment-206-1 For τοῦτο used of a general antecedent, cp. Ant. 709, οὗτοι, κ.τ.λ.

289. mvp-comment-206-2 For τοῦτο used of a general antecedent, cp. Ant. 709, οὗτοι, κ.τ.λ.

290. mvp-comment-207-1 νευροσπαδὴς ἄτρακτος] · The shaft drawn back with the string,' i. e. The arrow from my bow.

290. mvp-comment-207-2 νευροσπαδὴς ἄτρακτος] · The shaft drawn back with the string,' i. e. The arrow from my bow.

291. mvp-comment-208-1 δύστηνος] Schaefer and Hermann defend δύστηνος on the ground that τάλας is a mere exclamation and δύστηνος a predicate. I myself (unhappy one!) would writhe distressfully dragging my foot up to this.' And the broken language suits the situation well. But Canter's conjecture, δύστηνον, is not improbable. Cp. infr. 1377, τῷδε δυστήνῳ ποδί. εἰλύομαι describes a wriggling, uneven motion, like that of a worm.

291. mvp-comment-208-2 δύστηνος] Schaefer and Hermann defend δύστηνος on the ground that τάλας is a mere exclamation and δύστηνος a predicate. I myself (unhappy one!) would writhe distressfully dragging my foot up to this.' And the broken language suits the situation well. But Canter's conjecture, δύστηνον, is not improbable. Cp. infr. 1377, τῷδε δυστήνῳ ποδί. εἰλύομαι describes a wriggling, uneven motion, like that of a worm.

292. mvp-comment-209-1 πρὸς τοῦτ᾽ ἄν] This resumption is in keeping with the somewhat disjointed tenour of the whole speech, and the 'dragging phrase' has also a descriptive effect. ἄν here and in ll. 290, 294, 295, indicates that which happened repeatedly, and therefore might be expected to happen on any particular occasion. Cp. Hdt. 3. 19; 4. 128, 130. εἴ τ᾽ ἔδει] ‘Or if there was need to get some fresh water.' Bergk (with L²) altered εἴ τ' τo εἶτ' (cp. 295), but this introduces an awkward asyndeton at ταῦτ᾽ ἄν in 294.

292. mvp-comment-209-2 πρὸς τοῦτ᾽ ἄν] This resumption is in keeping with the somewhat disjointed tenour of the whole speech, and the 'dragging phrase' has also a descriptive effect. ἄν here and in ll. 290, 294, 295, indicates that which happened repeatedly, and therefore might be expected to happen on any particular occasion. Cp. Hdt. 3. 19; 4. 128, 130. εἴ τ᾽ ἔδει] ‘Or if there was need to get some fresh water.' Bergk (with L²) altered εἴ τ' τo εἶτ' (cp. 295), but this introduces an awkward asyndeton at ταῦτ᾽ ἄν in 294.

293. mvp-comment-210-1 καί που] ‘And perchance.' πάγου χυθέντος] This circumstance suggests not only the necessity of gathering wood, but the discomfort of doing so.

293. mvp-comment-210-2 καί που] ‘And perchance.' πάγου χυθέντος] This circumstance suggests not only the necessity of gathering wood, but the discomfort of doing so.

294. mvp-comment-211-1 θραῦσαι] ‘Το break.' Philoctetes had no axe or other implement and must break the firewood with his hands. He could not do much of this at one time, and hence might well be overtaken by the want of firewood in a time of frost. Nor could he afford much fire. Infr. 297, and note.

294. mvp-comment-211-2 θραῦσαι] ‘Το break.' Philoctetes had no axe or other implement and must break the firewood with his hands. He could not do much of this at one time, and hence might well be overtaken by the want of firewood in a time of frost. Nor could he afford much fire. Infr. 297, and note.

295. mvp-comment-212-1 εἶτα .. παρῆν] 'And then (when I had got the wood) there would be no fire (to kindle it with).' ἄν is still descriptive, not inferential (as if ἀλλά were εἰ μή).

295. mvp-comment-212-2 εἶτα .. παρῆν] 'And then (when I had got the wood) there would be no fire (to kindle it with).' ἄν is still descriptive, not inferential (as if ἀλλά were εἰ μή).

296. mvp-comment-213-1 ἐκτρίβων] Seyffert defends ἐκθλίβων (see v. rr). But although this is the less obvious word, it is also less descriptive of a lengthened process. And the use of θλίβω is more frequent in later Greek. The compound with ἐκ denotes more effort than the simple verb. μόλις is to be joined with ἔφηνα.

296. mvp-comment-213-2 ἐκτρίβων] Seyffert defends ἐκθλίβων (see v. rr). But although this is the less obvious word, it is also less descriptive of a lengthened process. And the use of θλίβω is more frequent in later Greek. The compound with ἐκ denotes more effort than the simple verb. μόλις is to be joined with ἔφηνα.

297. mvp-comment-214-1 ἔφην'] The aorist here denotes a momentary action in uncertain time, viz. whenever the need arose. ἄφαντον has been taken to mean simply 'hidden,' and Wakefield compared Virg. Georg. 1.155, 'ut silicis venis abstrusum excuderet ignem.' 'I produced the hidden light.' But the verbal opposition ἔφην' ἄφαντον is then without much point. Either (1) (α = δυσ-) 'I made appear the light that would not appear, i. e. That seemed as if it would never kindle;' or, rather, (2) 'I lighted a dim spark.' Ср. infr. 534, ἄοικον εἰσοίκησιν. The fire was but a poor business, a makeshift for a fire. The words then indicate either (1) the difficulty of kindling the fire, or (2) the smallness of the fire when kindled.

297. mvp-comment-214-2 ἔφην'] The aorist here denotes a momentary action in uncertain time, viz. whenever the need arose. ἄφαντον has been taken to mean simply 'hidden,' and Wakefield compared Virg. Georg. 1.155, 'ut silicis venis abstrusum excuderet ignem.' 'I produced the hidden light.' But the verbal opposition ἔφην' ἄφαντον is then without much point. Either (1) (α = δυσ-) 'I made appear the light that would not appear, i. e. That seemed as if it would never kindle;' or, rather, (2) 'I lighted a dim spark.' Ср. infr. 534, ἄοικον εἰσοίκησιν. The fire was but a poor business, a makeshift for a fire. The words then indicate either (1) the difficulty of kindling the fire, or (2) the smallness of the fire when kindled.

298. mvp-comment-215-1 Philoctetes here states his own experience. It is unnecessary to suppose, with some editors, that he is making a general observation.

298. mvp-comment-215-2 Philoctetes here states his own experience. It is unnecessary to suppose, with some editors, that he is making a general observation.

300ff. mvp-comment-216-1 Neoptolemus as a Greek (234), a neighbour (242), and above all as the son of Achilles (260), has completely won the confidence of Philoctetes, whose misery and isolation, while embittering his sense of wrong, have left unimpaired the open trustfulness of his nature. After pouring out his troubles, he begins to describe the island, his rugged nurse, for which he has formed such an affection (936 foll. 1452 foll.). But this soon brings him back to the main theme, his homeless and hopeless state.

300ff. mvp-comment-216-2 Neoptolemus as a Greek (234), a neighbour (242), and above all as the son of Achilles (260), has completely won the confidence of Philoctetes, whose misery and isolation, while embittering his sense of wrong, have left unimpaired the open trustfulness of his nature. After pouring out his troubles, he begins to describe the island, his rugged nurse, for which he has formed such an affection (936 foll. 1452 foll.). But this soon brings him back to the main theme, his homeless and hopeless state.

300. mvp-comment-217-1 φέρ᾽.. μάθῃς] The construction is the same that is usual in the first person, because φέρε.. μάθῃς is a courteous equivalent for φέρε διδάξω σε. Cp. Ar. Plut. 1027, τί γὰρ ποιήσῃ ; In what follows Philoctetes speaks of Lemnos as he knows it. Cp. supr. l. 2 and note. In some traditions Philoctetes was said to have been cast forth on a desert islet in the neighbourhood of Lemnos. At best Lemnos (Λήμνος ἠγαθέη) was imagined as a wild, uncultivated region in the early times.

300. mvp-comment-217-2 φέρ᾽.. μάθῃς] The construction is the same that is usual in the first person, because φέρε.. μάθῃς is a courteous equivalent for φέρε διδάξω σε. Cp. Ar. Plut. 1027, τί γὰρ ποιήσῃ ; In what follows Philoctetes speaks of Lemnos as he knows it. Cp. supr. l. 2 and note. In some traditions Philoctetes was said to have been cast forth on a desert islet in the neighbourhood of Lemnos. At best Lemnos (Λήμνος ἠγαθέη) was imagined as a wild, uncultivated region in the early times.

302. mvp-comment-218-1 ὅρμος] Cp. Aesch. Phil. fr. 246, ἔνθ᾽ οὔτε μίμνειν ἄνεμος οὔτε πλεῖν ἐᾷ, where, however, the language may be metaphorical.

302. mvp-comment-218-2 ὅρμος] Cp. Aesch. Phil. fr. 246, ἔνθ᾽ οὔτε μίμνειν ἄνεμος οὔτε πλεῖν ἐᾷ, where, however, the language may be metaphorical.

303. mvp-comment-219-1 ἐξεμπολήσει] Sc. ἐκεῖθεν. ἢ ξενώσεται] «Or be well received.' Fut. mid. with passive meaning.

303. mvp-comment-219-2 ἐξεμπολήσει] Sc. ἐκεῖθεν. ἢ ξενώσεται] «Or be well received.' Fut. mid. with passive meaning.

305. mvp-comment-220-1 †τάχ᾽ οὖν τις ἄκων ἔσχε] 'Well, it may be, one did put in here against his will.' τάχα used as in τάχ᾽ ἄν. Cp. Plat. Legg. B. 4. 711 Α, ὑμεῖς δὲ τάχα οὐδὲ τεθέασθε τυραννουμένην πόλιν. οὖν introduces a modification or admission. 'No one puts in here willingly; unwillingly. however, some one may have brought his ship this way.' ἔσχε] For the aor., cp. supr. 297, ἔφην. ἔσχε = κατέσχε, the simple verb for the compound. But query *κατ᾽ οὖν τις ἄκων ἔσχε (i. e. κατέσχε τις οὖν ἄκων)? (For a case of tmesis in the senarii, cp. infr. 817). πολλὰ γὰρ . . χρόνῳ] 'Such incidents might happen many times in the long course of human history.' πολλά is predicative and τάδε = τοιάδε. For this, cp. Aj. 1246, ἐκ τῶνδε μέντοι τῶν τρόπων οὐκ ἄν ποτε | κατάστασις γένοιτ᾽ ἂν οὐδενὸς νόμου. It may be doubted whether ἀνθρώπων is to be taken with τάδε = 'Such human accidents,' or with χρόνῳ = ' The time during which men have existed.' For the latter, cp. Hdt. 6. 109, μνημόσυνα λιπέσθαι ἐς τὸν ἅπαντα ἀνθρώπων βίον. And for the idea, cp. Hdt. 5. 9, γένοιτο δ᾽ ἂν πᾶν ἐν τῷ μακρῷ χρόνῳ: Agathon, Fr. 9. τάχ᾿ ἄν τις εἰκὸς αὐτὸ τοῦτ᾽ εἶναι λέγοι | βροτοῖσι πολλὰ τυγχάνειν οὐκ εἰκότα.

305. mvp-comment-220-2 †τάχ᾽ οὖν τις ἄκων ἔσχε] 'Well, it may be, one did put in here against his will.' τάχα used as in τάχ᾽ ἄν. Cp. Plat. Legg. B. 4. 711 Α, ὑμεῖς δὲ τάχα οὐδὲ τεθέασθε τυραννουμένην πόλιν. οὖν introduces a modification or admission. 'No one puts in here willingly; unwillingly. however, some one may have brought his ship this way.' ἔσχε] For the aor., cp. supr. 297, ἔφην. ἔσχε = κατέσχε, the simple verb for the compound. But query *κατ᾽ οὖν τις ἄκων ἔσχε (i. e. κατέσχε τις οὖν ἄκων)? (For a case of tmesis in the senarii, cp. infr. 817). πολλὰ γὰρ . . χρόνῳ] 'Such incidents might happen many times in the long course of human history.' πολλά is predicative and τάδε = τοιάδε. For this, cp. Aj. 1246, ἐκ τῶνδε μέντοι τῶν τρόπων οὐκ ἄν ποτε | κατάστασις γένοιτ᾽ ἂν οὐδενὸς νόμου. It may be doubted whether ἀνθρώπων is to be taken with τάδε = 'Such human accidents,' or with χρόνῳ = ' The time during which men have existed.' For the latter, cp. Hdt. 6. 109, μνημόσυνα λιπέσθαι ἐς τὸν ἅπαντα ἀνθρώπων βίον. And for the idea, cp. Hdt. 5. 9, γένοιτο δ᾽ ἂν πᾶν ἐν τῷ μακρῷ χρόνῳ: Agathon, Fr. 9. τάχ᾿ ἄν τις εἰκὸς αὐτὸ τοῦτ᾽ εἶναι λέγοι | βροτοῖσι πολλὰ τυγχάνειν οὐκ εἰκότα.

306. mvp-comment-221-1 ἄν om add

306. mvp-comment-221-2 ἄν om add

308. mvp-comment-222-1 μέν] Νo doubt,' belonging in sense rather to λόγοις than to ἐλεοῦσι. καί που .. προσέδοσαν] ‘And perchance have gone so far (προσ-) as to impart to me some portion of food.' The gnomic aorist is used of that which happens now and again. 'They always express pity, they sometimes give.'

308. mvp-comment-222-2 μέν] Νo doubt,' belonging in sense rather to λόγοις than to ἐλεοῦσι. καί που .. προσέδοσαν] ‘And perchance have gone so far (προσ-) as to impart to me some portion of food.' The gnomic aorist is used of that which happens now and again. 'They always express pity, they sometimes give.'

309. mvp-comment-223-1 οἰκτείραντες, Touched with compassion, 'is also in the 'momentary' tense.

309. mvp-comment-223-2 οἰκτείραντες, Touched with compassion, 'is also in the 'momentary' tense.

310. mvp-comment-224-1 ἐκεῖνο] «That which is always in my thoughts.' Cp. Ar. Nub. 657, ἐκεῖν, ἐκεῖνο, τὸν ἀδικώτερον λόγον. The pronoun here stands in the place of an infinitive.

310. mvp-comment-224-2 ἐκεῖνο] «That which is always in my thoughts.' Cp. Ar. Nub. 657, ἐκεῖν, ἐκεῖνο, τὸν ἀδικώτερον λόγον. The pronoun here stands in the place of an infinitive.

311. mvp-comment-225-1 σῶσαι] Cp. infr. 488, 496.

311. mvp-comment-225-2 σῶσαι] Cp. infr. 488, 496.

312. mvp-comment-226-1 ἔτος .. δέκατον] These words are to be joined with ἀπόλλυμαι and resumed with βόσκων.

312. mvp-comment-226-2 ἔτος .. δέκατον] These words are to be joined with ἀπόλλυμαι and resumed with βόσκων.

313. mvp-comment-227-1 βόσκων] 'Supporting.' Philoctetes only lived to suffer. Cp. infr. 795, 1167. ἀδηφάγον] Cp. infr. 756-8.

313. mvp-comment-227-2 βόσκων] 'Supporting.' Philoctetes only lived to suffer. Cp. infr. 795, 1167. ἀδηφάγον] Cp. infr. 756-8.

314. mvp-comment-228-1 ἤ τ᾿ Οδυσσέως βία] ‘And great Odysseus.' Cp. infr. 321, 344. The Epic phrase is used with a touch of sarcastic irony, but probably (unlike Virgil's 'violentia Turni') without direct reference to the violence of the act.

314. mvp-comment-228-2 ἤ τ᾿ Οδυσσέως βία] ‘And great Odysseus.' Cp. infr. 321, 344. The Epic phrase is used with a touch of sarcastic irony, but probably (unlike Virgil's 'violentia Turni') without direct reference to the violence of the act.

315. mvp-comment-229-1 Whom may the Olympian gods some day cause to suffer in their own persons (αὐτοῖς) full requital for my wrong!' So Brunck, Linwood, Paley, rightly. For the emphatic αὐτοῖς here opposed to ἐμοῦ, cp. supr. 275. In order to avoid this Porson conjectured οἱ Ὀλύμπιοι θεοί.

315. mvp-comment-229-2 Whom may the Olympian gods some day cause to suffer in their own persons (αὐτοῖς) full requital for my wrong!' So Brunck, Linwood, Paley, rightly. For the emphatic αὐτοῖς here opposed to ἐμοῦ, cp. supr. 275. In order to avoid this Porson conjectured οἱ Ὀλύμπιοι θεοί.

317. mvp-comment-230-1 ἔοικα] It would seem that I.' Cp. Aesch. Prom. 1007, λέγων ἔοικα πολλὰ καὶ μάτην ἐρεῖν.

317. mvp-comment-230-2 ἔοικα] It would seem that I.' Cp. Aesch. Prom. 1007, λέγων ἔοικα πολλὰ καὶ μάτην ἐρεῖν.

317-318. mvp-comment-231-1 The Chorus express pity for Philoctetes, but tacitly remind themselves that their pity will not be shown in action.

317-318. mvp-comment-231-2 The Chorus express pity for Philoctetes, but tacitly remind themselves that their pity will not be shown in action.

319. mvp-comment-232-1 Neoptolemus. But I do more than pity him, for I am a witness on his side.' καί with the whole sentence. For ἐν, ὢν has been conjectured. But ἐν may well express that Neoptolemus enters into the cause of Philoctetes, and is not merely an auditor of his case. Myself a witness in this plea, I know it to be well-founded.'

319. mvp-comment-232-2 Neoptolemus. But I do more than pity him, for I am a witness on his side.' καί with the whole sentence. For ἐν, ὢν has been conjectured. But ἐν may well express that Neoptolemus enters into the cause of Philoctetes, and is not merely an auditor of his case. Myself a witness in this plea, I know it to be well-founded.'

320. mvp-comment-233-1 συντυχών] συντυχεῖν is generally construed with a dative, and the preposition has therefore here a separate meaning. Having in like manner found. So the Scholiast and Nauck.

320. mvp-comment-233-2 συντυχών] συντυχεῖν is generally construed with a dative, and the preposition has therefore here a separate meaning. Having in like manner found. So the Scholiast and Nauck.

324. mvp-comment-234-1 May it be mine one day to satiate my wrathful soul with violent action!' There can be little doubt that the correction is right. For a similar confusion in all the MSS., cp. O. Т. 376.

324. mvp-comment-234-2 May it be mine one day to satiate my wrathful soul with violent action!' There can be little doubt that the correction is right. For a similar confusion in all the MSS., cp. O. Т. 376.

327. mvp-comment-235-1 εὖ γ᾽, ὦ τέκνον] 'Well said, my son!' Philoctetes' delight in Neoptolemus is further heightened by this supposed discovery of a common resentment. τίνος . . ἐλήλυθας] ‘For what cause do you thus bring against them the accusation of your violent anger?' τίνος, genitive of the reason (Essay on L. § 10. p. 15). Cp. Ο. Τ. 698, ὅτου μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις. γάρ asks for explanation. ἐλήλυθας is redundant (Essay on L. § 40. p. 75). τὸν μέγαν χόλον] The mighty anger which you now evince.' For the slight inexactness in ἐγκαλεῖν χόλον, cp. О. Т. 702, λέγ', εἰ σαφῶς τὸ νεῖκος ἐγκαλῶν ἐρεῖς.

327. mvp-comment-235-2 εὖ γ᾽, ὦ τέκνον] 'Well said, my son!' Philoctetes' delight in Neoptolemus is further heightened by this supposed discovery of a common resentment. τίνος . . ἐλήλυθας] ‘For what cause do you thus bring against them the accusation of your violent anger?' τίνος, genitive of the reason (Essay on L. § 10. p. 15). Cp. Ο. Τ. 698, ὅτου μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις. γάρ asks for explanation. ἐλήλυθας is redundant (Essay on L. § 40. p. 75). τὸν μέγαν χόλον] The mighty anger which you now evince.' For the slight inexactness in ἐγκαλεῖν χόλον, cp. О. Т. 702, λέγ', εἰ σαφῶς τὸ νεῖκος ἐγκαλῶν ἐρεῖς.

329. mvp-comment-236-1 μόλις δ᾽ ἐρῶ] 'Though I shall find it hard to speak of it, i.e. To command myself sufficiently to do so. Schol. ὑπὸ τῆς ὀργῆς. Cp. Ο. C. 326, λύπῃ . . μόλις βλέπω.

329. mvp-comment-236-2 μόλις δ᾽ ἐρῶ] 'Though I shall find it hard to speak of it, i.e. To command myself sufficiently to do so. Schol. ὑπὸ τῆς ὀργῆς. Cp. Ο. C. 326, λύπῃ . . μόλις βλέπω.

331. mvp-comment-237-1 ἐπεὶ γάρ] These words introduce the occasion of his coming, in explanation of μολών. ἔσχε.. θανεῖν] 'The fate of death overtook Achilles.' θανεῖν, epexegetic inf. For ἔσχε, cp. Eur. Hec. 5, ἐπεὶ Φρυγῶν πόλιν | κίνδυνος ἔσχε δορὶ πεσεῖν Ἑλληνικῷ.

331. mvp-comment-237-2 ἐπεὶ γάρ] These words introduce the occasion of his coming, in explanation of μολών. ἔσχε.. θανεῖν] 'The fate of death overtook Achilles.' θανεῖν, epexegetic inf. For ἔσχε, cp. Eur. Hec. 5, ἐπεὶ Φρυγῶν πόλιν | κίνδυνος ἔσχε δορὶ πεσεῖν Ἑλληνικῷ.

332-339. mvp-comment-238-1 This brief digression and the longer one below (410-460), have the effect (a) of showing the generous nature of Philoctetes, who, beneath his apparently obdurate resentment, really retains an unabated interest in the affairs of the army, and (b) of giving opportunity for the growth of friendly feeling between him and Neoptolemus. The news of Achilles' death so affects him as to make him for a moment forget his own suffering (339-40).

332-339. mvp-comment-238-2 This brief digression and the longer one below (410-460), have the effect (a) of showing the generous nature of Philoctetes, who, beneath his apparently obdurate resentment, really retains an unabated interest in the affairs of the army, and (b) of giving opportunity for the growth of friendly feeling between him and Neoptolemus. The news of Achilles' death so affects him as to make him for a moment forget his own suffering (339-40).

334. mvp-comment-239-1 ἀνδρός is genitive of cause, for which ὕπο afterwards supplies a more distinct construction.

334. mvp-comment-239-2 ἀνδρός is genitive of cause, for which ὕπο afterwards supplies a more distinct construction.

335. mvp-comment-240-1 τοξευτὸς .. δαμείς] Subdued, so they tell the tale, with an arrow from the bow of Phoebus.' τοξευτός is a subsidiary predicate to δαμείς, for which word in this connection, cp. Il. 19. 417, θεῷ τε καὶ ἀνέρι ἶφι δαμῆναι. ἐκ rather than ὑπό, because the arrow came from the hand of Apollo. Cp. Il. 21. 277, 8, ἥ μ᾿ ἔφατο Τρώων ὑπὸ τείχεϊ θωρηκτάων | λαιψηροῖς ὀλέεσθαι᾿ Απόλλωνος βελέεσσιν. Or, if the arrow were that of Paris, ἐκ denotes the remote agent, and Neoptolemus must be supposed to avoid mentioning the slight man' who had been the immediate author of Achilles' death.

335. mvp-comment-240-2 τοξευτὸς .. δαμείς] Subdued, so they tell the tale, with an arrow from the bow of Phoebus.' τοξευτός is a subsidiary predicate to δαμείς, for which word in this connection, cp. Il. 19. 417, θεῷ τε καὶ ἀνέρι ἶφι δαμῆναι. ἐκ rather than ὑπό, because the arrow came from the hand of Apollo. Cp. Il. 21. 277, 8, ἥ μ᾿ ἔφατο Τρώων ὑπὸ τείχεϊ θωρηκτάων | λαιψηροῖς ὀλέεσθαι᾿ Απόλλωνος βελέεσσιν. Or, if the arrow were that of Paris, ἐκ denotes the remote agent, and Neoptolemus must be supposed to avoid mentioning the slight man' who had been the immediate author of Achilles' death.

336. mvp-comment-241-1 Cp. Il. 21. 280, τῷ κ᾿ ἀγαθὸς μὲν ἔπεφν᾽, ἀγαθὸν δέ κεν ἐξενάριξεν.

336. mvp-comment-241-2 Cp. Il. 21. 280, τῷ κ᾿ ἀγαθὸς μὲν ἔπεφν᾽, ἀγαθὸν δέ κεν ἐξενάριξεν.

337-338. mvp-comment-242-1 The delicate courtesy of these lines is no less obvious than their self-forgetfulness.

337-338. mvp-comment-242-2 The delicate courtesy of these lines is no less obvious than their self-forgetfulness.

342. mvp-comment-243-1 ὅτῳ σ᾽ ἐνύβρισαν] ὅτῳ (governed by ἐν in ἐνύβρισαν) is best taken separate from τὸ σὸν πρᾶγμα. ‘Tell me your own affair; what was the point in which they insulted you?'

342. mvp-comment-243-2 ὅτῳ σ᾽ ἐνύβρισαν] ὅτῳ (governed by ἐν in ἐνύβρισαν) is best taken separate from τὸ σὸν πρᾶγμα. ‘Tell me your own affair; what was the point in which they insulted you?'

343. mvp-comment-244-1 ἦλθον.. μέτα = μετῆλθον. ποικιλοστόλῳ] = σὺν ποικιλίαις ἐσταλμένῃ, 'Decked out with ornament,' as being sent on an honorific mission. Others, With variegated prow' (στόλος); but in this less poetical sense it would be better to read ποικιλοστόμῳ. See v. rr.

343. mvp-comment-244-2 ἦλθον.. μέτα = μετῆλθον. ποικιλοστόλῳ] = σὺν ποικιλίαις ἐσταλμένῃ, 'Decked out with ornament,' as being sent on an honorific mission. Others, With variegated prow' (στόλος); but in this less poetical sense it would be better to read ποικιλοστόμῳ. See v. rr.

344. mvp-comment-245-1 δῖος] The constant Homeric title, which Neoptolemus uses out of habit. χώ τροφεύς] Phoenix.

344. mvp-comment-245-2 δῖος] The constant Homeric title, which Neoptolemus uses out of habit. χώ τροφεύς] Phoenix.

345. mvp-comment-246-1 μάτην] 'Groundlessly.'

345. mvp-comment-246-2 μάτην] 'Groundlessly.'

346. mvp-comment-247-1 ὡς . . γίγνοιτ'] 'That it came to be a thing irreconcileable with destiny.' Cp. Ant. 260, κἂν ἐγίγνετο, and note.

346. mvp-comment-247-2 ὡς . . γίγνοιτ'] 'That it came to be a thing irreconcileable with destiny.' Cp. Ant. 260, κἂν ἐγίγνετο, and note.

348-349. mvp-comment-248-1 οὐ πολὺν .. ταχύ] · They did not long restrain me, but that I set forth with speed.' On the indirectness of this way of saying, 'Their words were like a goad inciting me,' see Essay on L. § 42, a. p. 79. For μή we should rather expect μὴ οὐ. But though the addition of οὐ is permissible in such cases, there is no absolute rule. And ὦ ξένε, by suggesting 'You may imagine,' gives an hypothetical turn to the expression.

348-349. mvp-comment-248-2 οὐ πολὺν .. ταχύ] · They did not long restrain me, but that I set forth with speed.' On the indirectness of this way of saying, 'Their words were like a goad inciting me,' see Essay on L. § 42, a. p. 79. For μή we should rather expect μὴ οὐ. But though the addition of οὐ is permissible in such cases, there is no absolute rule. And ὦ ξένε, by suggesting 'You may imagine,' gives an hypothetical turn to the expression.

351. mvp-comment-249-1 οὐ γὰρ εἰδόμην] 'For I had not seen my father.' Schol. ζῶντα. It is objected to this that when Achilles went to Troy from Scyros, Neoptolemus must have been old enough to remember him. But this is one of those improbabilities which are external to the action and were it otherwise, there is no proof that Sophocles in the Philoctetes follows the version of the story which made Scyros Achilles' starting-point for Troy. Nor would there be anything unnatural in Neoptolemus saying, 'I had not seen him,' without adding, for so long.' Cp. Aj. 570, εἰσαεί, and note; Eur. Troad. 377, οὐ παῖδας εἶδον, sc. πάλιν. Seyffert reads, οὐδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ εἰδόμην, and Prof. Jebb has suggested εἰ γὰρ εἰδόμην. But (a), as Mr. Blaydes remarks, it is natural to infer from 359 that Neoptolemus did see the body of Achilles: and (b) does not such an ejaculation unduly interrupt the flow of the narrative? Neoptolemus is not speaking from real feeling, and there is no occasion for him to 'daub it so far, nor for the poet to invent the circumstance of his failing to see the body. The language resembles that of Od. 4. 200, 1, οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε | ἤντησ᾽ οὐδὲ ἴδον, said by Peisistratus of his eldest brother Antilochus. But Peisistratus (Od. 3. 401) would be a mere infant at the time of the departure for Troy.

351. mvp-comment-249-2 οὐ γὰρ εἰδόμην] 'For I had not seen my father.' Schol. ζῶντα. It is objected to this that when Achilles went to Troy from Scyros, Neoptolemus must have been old enough to remember him. But this is one of those improbabilities which are external to the action and were it otherwise, there is no proof that Sophocles in the Philoctetes follows the version of the story which made Scyros Achilles' starting-point for Troy. Nor would there be anything unnatural in Neoptolemus saying, 'I had not seen him,' without adding, for so long.' Cp. Aj. 570, εἰσαεί, and note; Eur. Troad. 377, οὐ παῖδας εἶδον, sc. πάλιν. Seyffert reads, οὐδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ εἰδόμην, and Prof. Jebb has suggested εἰ γὰρ εἰδόμην. But (a), as Mr. Blaydes remarks, it is natural to infer from 359 that Neoptolemus did see the body of Achilles: and (b) does not such an ejaculation unduly interrupt the flow of the narrative? Neoptolemus is not speaking from real feeling, and there is no occasion for him to 'daub it so far, nor for the poet to invent the circumstance of his failing to see the body. The language resembles that of Od. 4. 200, 1, οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε | ἤντησ᾽ οὐδὲ ἴδον, said by Peisistratus of his eldest brother Antilochus. But Peisistratus (Od. 3. 401) would be a mere infant at the time of the departure for Troy.

352-353. mvp-comment-250-1 However, besides this, the proposal had a fair colour given to it in their declaration that, if I came (ἰών), Ι should take the citadel that commanded Troy.' For ὁ λόγος, cp. supr. 345-7. προσῆν] Cp. supr. 129, ὡς ἂν ἀγνοία προσῇ.

352-353. mvp-comment-250-2 However, besides this, the proposal had a fair colour given to it in their declaration that, if I came (ἰών), Ι should take the citadel that commanded Troy.' For ὁ λόγος, cp. supr. 345-7. προσῆν] Cp. supr. 129, ὡς ἂν ἀγνοία προσῇ.

353. mvp-comment-251-1 For εἰ.. αἱρήσοιμι, see Essay on L. § 28. p. 46.

353. mvp-comment-251-2 For εἰ.. αἱρήσοιμι, see Essay on L. § 28. p. 46.

355. mvp-comment-252-1 πικρὸν Σίγειον] 'Cruel Sigeum,' i. e. where I was destined to find so much vexation: the mourning for his father, who was buried there, being embittered by the refusal of the arms. Cp. Rhes. 734, ὦ στυγνοτάτην Τροίαν ἐσιδών. To this, however, some editors prefer the conjecture of Burges, 'π' ἄκρον Σίγειον ! οὐρίῳ πλάτῃ] · With favourable voyage.' This is objected to, apparently because oars would not be used under a fair wind. But πλάτη often occurs in Tragedy in the general sense of making way at sea. Cp. Eur. Hel. 192, Ι. Τ. 242. And as the vessel drew near shore the sail would of course be lowered, and the oars brought into play.

355. mvp-comment-252-2 πικρὸν Σίγειον] 'Cruel Sigeum,' i. e. where I was destined to find so much vexation: the mourning for his father, who was buried there, being embittered by the refusal of the arms. Cp. Rhes. 734, ὦ στυγνοτάτην Τροίαν ἐσιδών. To this, however, some editors prefer the conjecture of Burges, 'π' ἄκρον Σίγειον ! οὐρίῳ πλάτῃ] · With favourable voyage.' This is objected to, apparently because oars would not be used under a fair wind. But πλάτη often occurs in Tragedy in the general sense of making way at sea. Cp. Eur. Hel. 192, Ι. Τ. 242. And as the vessel drew near shore the sail would of course be lowered, and the oars brought into play.

356-357. mvp-comment-253-1 κατηγόμην, | καὶ καὶ . . εὐθὺς .. ἐκβάντα] The narrative is condensed.

356-357. mvp-comment-253-2 κατηγόμην, | καὶ καὶ . . εὐθὺς .. ἐκβάντα] The narrative is condensed.

358. mvp-comment-254-1 'Achilles, who no longer lived, alive again.' Cp. the Trag. fr. quoted by Plutarch, Alc. 203 D, οὐ παῖς ᾿Αχιλλέως ἀλλ᾽ ἐκεῖνος αὐτὸς εἶ.

359. mvp-comment-255-1 ἔκειτ'] 'Lay low.' The most natural way of understanding this is to suppose that Neoptolemus saw his father laid out and buried, without being burned. Cp. Aj. sub fin. (from 1402). It might also mean that Achilles was already buried when Neoptolemus arrived. But, as Hermann observes, there is nothing to indicate that the hope expressed in supr. 351 was thus disappointed. The fiction of Neoptolemus is rather that after the funeral the question of the arms was quickly disposed of whilst he was absorbed in his grief.

360. mvp-comment-256-1 οὐ μακρῷ χρόνῳ] • Before long.' These words are connected with what follows, and imply that the mourning did not long detain him from the object of his ambition.

361. mvp-comment-257-1 πρὸς φίλους, ὡς εἰκὸς ἦν] i. e. πρὸς ᾿Ατρ. ὡς πρὸς φίλους, ὥσπερ εἰκὸς ἦν αὐτοὺς εἶναι φίλους. For the omission of ὡς with ὡς following, see Essay on L. § 39. p. 73, 5, a. 'Assuming their friendship, as I had reason to do.'

362. mvp-comment-258-1 ὅσ᾽ ἦν] Sc. τοῦ πατρός.

363. mvp-comment-259-1 οἴμοι expresses not only personal disappointment (infr. 368, καταλγήσας), but also grieved astonishment that men could be so hardened.

364-365. mvp-comment-260-1 τἄλλα .. πατρῷ᾽ ἑλέσθαι] Cp. Αj. 572, μήθ᾽ ὁ λυμεὼν ἐμός. In ordinary Greek the article would be repeated with πατρῷα, which, however, is here resumed in close connection with ἑλέσθαι. 'To take in right of your father the other things:' i. e. To take the other things which are yours in right of your father.

365. mvp-comment-261-1 κείνων] "Those well-known arms,' viz. τῶν Ἡφαιστοτεύκτων.

367-368. mvp-comment-262-1 Then tears burst from me, and I straightway rose in grievous wrath, and broke forth on them indignantly, and said.' καταλγήσας, sc. κατ᾿ αὐτῶν.

369. mvp-comment-263-1 ὦ σχέτλι', ἢ τολμήσατ᾽] The voc. sing. σχέτλιε is addressed to Agamemnon, or whichever was the spokesman of the Atreidae. It is unnecessary to suppose a crasis of σχέτλιοι ἦ. For ἀντ' ἐμοῦ, cp. Αj. 444, οὐκ ἄν τις αὔτ᾽ ἔμαρψεν ἄλλος ἀντ᾿ ἐμοῦ.

370. mvp-comment-264-1 τὰ τεύχη τἀμά] The repeated article here emphasizes both words. 'Those arms, my arms, without consulting me!' πρὶν μαθεῖν ἐμοῦ] 'Before understanding from me,' sc. my will concerning them.

371. mvp-comment-265-1 ὁ δ᾽ εἰπ᾿ Ὀδυσσεύς] The order of words is in the Epic manner (see Essay on L. § 21. p. 33, 5), the noun being placed in apposition to the article as a demonstrative pronoun. 'Then spake that other, Odysseus, for he was at hand.' ὢν κύρει] The omission of the augment, Epicè, in narrative ῥήσεις is proved by the crucial instance τινὸς | θώϋξεν in O. C. 1623, 4. It was therefore unnecessary to resort to conjectural emendation here. (ἦν κυρῶν, Brunck.)

372. mvp-comment-266-1 ναί, παῖ] 'Yea, child!' Odysseus is supposed to treat the youth with insolent condescension.

373. mvp-comment-267-1 This achievement of Odysseus is alluded to in Od. 5. 309, ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι πλεῖστοι χαλκήρεα δοῦρα | Τρώες ἐπέρριψαν περὶ Πηλείωνι θανόντι. It was doubtless fully narrated in the Ilias Minor, from which Ovid probably derived it, Met. 13. 284, (quoted by Gedike): 'His humeris, his, inquam, humeris ego corpus Achillis | Et simul arma tuli, quae nunc quoque ferre laboro.' παρών hints the reproach which comes out afterwards, l. 379.

374. mvp-comment-268-1 ἤρασσον] 'I laid it on ;' ἀράσσω is here used absolutely. Cp. Ar. Nub. 1373, ἐξαράττω. And for the meaning, 'To assail with violent words,' cp. also Aj. 725, (αὐτὸν . . ὀνείδεσιν) ἤρασσον ἔνθεν κἄνθεν.

375. mvp-comment-269-1 οὐδὲν ἐνδεὲς ποιούμενος, εἰ] The clause with εἰ (for which see Essay on L. § 28, 1. p. 46), depends on the notion of the middle voice in ποιούμενος. Not caring to make any omission' (sparing no abuse) 'when I thought how my arms were to be taken from me by Odysseus.' Cp. Od. 21. 170, (νεμεσσῶμαι δέ τ᾽ ἀκούων) εἰ δὴ τοῦτό γε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει | θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς. ποιούμενος is subj. middle, - for my part.'

376. mvp-comment-270-1 κεῖνος] i. e. ὁ κακὸς κἀκ κακῶν Ὀδυσσεύς, infr. 384.

377. mvp-comment-271-1 ἐνθάδ᾽ ἥκων] 'At this pass,' i. e. when he found himself resisted by a boy.

378. mvp-comment-272-1 δηχθεὶς πρὸς ἁξήκουσεν] ‘Stung at what he heard.' πρός with accusative, as in πρὸς ταῦτα. πρὸς ἀξ. should be joined in the first instance with δηχθείς, and resumed with ἠμείψατο.

379. mvp-comment-273-1 ἵν᾿ οὐ σ᾽ ἔδει] Sc. ἀπεῖναι. 'Where you ought to have been present.' The reproach is not that Neoptolemus was at Scyros, but that he was not in the battle field at Troy at the time when his father fell. Schol., οὐ παρῆς, ἔνθα ἔδει σε παρεῖναι. Infr. 429.

380. mvp-comment-274-1 The language is not perfectly exact; ταῦτα is primarily the object of ἔχων, but is to be resumed with λέγεις in a different sense. For such ellipse, see E. on L. § 39. p. 73, and cp. supr. 361, and note.

384. mvp-comment-275-1 κἀκ κακῶν] Alluding to the supposed Sisyphian parentage, which threw suspicion on the nobility of δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς. To this extent Neoptolemus follows the suggestion of Odysseus, supr. 64, 5.

385. mvp-comment-276-1 ὡς = τοσοῦτον ὅσον, cp. Aj. 679, 80, Ant. 775.

386-387. mvp-comment-277-1 'For a city or army depends wholly upon those who govern.' ἔστι with the genitive here means, 'Is determined by,' i. e. Takes its character from.' πᾶσα = σύμπασα, Wholly, rather than 'Every city.'

388. mvp-comment-278-1 διδασκάλων.. κακοί] Have teachers from whose instruction their badness flows.' This remark is not immediately relevant to Odysseus, but rather to the vote of the army by which the arms were awarded to him, and which is supposed to have been instigated by the Atreidae. Schndw. conjectured δ. τρόποισι.

390. mvp-comment-279-1 ἐμοί θ᾽ ὁμοίως... φίλος] The sentence in being expanded is changed from an assertion to a wish; i.e. ἐμοί τέ ἐστι φίλος καὶ ὁμοίως εἴη καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς φίλος. Cp. Ant. 686, οὔτ᾽ ἂν δυναίμην, μήτ' ἐπισταίμην λέγειν.