Sophocles Philoctetes 519-675

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)) — 519 focus
ὅρα σὺ μὴ νῦν μέν τις εὐχερὴς παρῇς,
ὅταν δὲ πλησθῇς τῆς νόσου ξυνουσίᾳ,
τότ᾽ τόθ᾽ τότ' οὐκέθ᾽ αὑτὸς οὐκέθ᾽ αὐτὸσ οὐκ᾿ ἔθ᾽ ὡὐτὸσ τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις φανῇς.
ἀλλ᾽ ἡ χάρις μὲν τῆς προμηθίας, ξένε,
550
εἰ μὴ κακὸς πέφυκα, προσφιλὴς μενεῖ·
φράσον δ᾽ ἅπερ γ᾽ om. γ' ἔλεξας, ὡς μάθω τί μοι
νεώτερον βούλευμ᾽ βούλευμα ἀπ᾿ ᾿Αργείων ἔχεις.
λέγω. ἐπὶ τοῦτον ἄνδρε τώδ᾽ ἅπερ κλύεις,
ὁ Τυδέως παῖς ἥ τ᾿ Οδυσσέως βία,
διώμοτοι πλέουσιν ἢ ή ή μὴν ἢ λόγῳ
595
πείσαντες ἄξειν, ἢ πρὸς ἰσχύος κράτος.
καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ᾿Αχαιοὶ πάντες ἤκουον σαφῶς
Οδυσσέως λέγοντος, οὗτος γὰρ πλέον
τὸ θάρσος εἶχε θατέρου, δράσειν τάδε.
οὔκουν τάδ', ὦ παῖ, δεινά, τὸν Λαερτίου
630
ἔμ᾽ ἐλπίσαι ποτ᾽ ἂν λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς
δεῖξαι νεὼς ἄγοντ᾽ ἄγονθ ἄγοντ᾿ ἐν om. Ἀργείοις μέσοις;
οὔ. οὔ θᾶσσον ἂν τῆς πλεῖστον ἐχθίστης ἐμοὶ
κλύοιμ᾽ ἐχίδνης, ἡ μ᾿ ἔθηκεν ὧδ᾽ ἄπουν.
ἀλλ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἐκείνῳ πάντα λεκτά, πάντα δὲ
635
τολμητά, καὶ νῦν οἶδ᾽ ὁθούνεχ᾽ ὅθ᾽ οὔνεκ᾽ ὅθ᾽ ὁύνεχ' ἴξεται.
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 519 focus
Thou mak’st small scruple here; but be advised:
Lest, when this plague on board shall weary thee,
Thy voice should alter from this liberal tone.
Then sure ’twere shame, should I more backward prove
Than thou, to labour for the stranger’s need.
Come, if thou wilt, let us make voyage, and he,
Let him set forth with speed. Our ship shall take him.
520
He shall not be refused. Only may Heaven
Lead safely hence and to our destined port!
Well, stranger, for the kindness thou hast shown,—
550
Else were I base,—my heart must thank thee still.
But tell me what thou meanest, that I may learn
What new-laid plot thou bring’st me from the camp.
Then hear me. These two men whom I have named,
Diomedes and Odysseus, are set forth
Engaged on oath to bring this man by force
595
If reasons fail. The Achaeans every one
Have heard this plainly from Odysseus’ mouth.
He was the louder and more confident.
Is not this terrible, Laërtes’ son
630
Should ever think to bring me with soft words
630
And show me from his deck to all their host?
No! Sooner will I listen to the tongue
Of the curs’d basilisk that thus hath maim’d me.
Ay, but he’ll venture anything in word
Or deed. And now I know he will be here.
Come, O my son, let us be gone, while seas
And winds divide us from Odysseus’ ship.
635
Let us depart. Sure timely haste brings rest
635
And quiet slumber when the toil is done.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 519 focus
Sieh, daß du jezt nicht allzuleicht dich willig zeigst,
505
Und, wann der Krankheit Nähe dich mit Ekel füllt,
Nicht als derselbe mehr erscheinst, der dieses sprach.
Für diese Sorgfalt wartet dein liebreicher Dank,
O Freund, so wahr ich edel bin von edler Art.
Doch sage, was du meintest; denn ich wüßte gern,
545
Welch neuen Anschlag über mich das Heer gefaßt.
Nun gut! Nach dem zieh'n Beide, die ich dir genannt,
Der Sohn des Tydeus und Odysseus' Kraft, hinaus;
Sie schwuren, ihn zu bringen, sei's mit klugem Wort
Ihn überredend, oder durch der Stärke Macht.
580
Und deutlich hörten aus Odysseus' Munde dies
Die Wehrgenossen alle; denn er hatte mehr
Vertrau'n, die That zu wagen, als der Andere.
Ist das, o Kind, nicht schrecklich, daß Laertes' Sohn
In's Schiff mit glatten Worten mich zu locken hofft,
615
Mich dort zur Schau zu stellen vor dem ganzen Heer?
Nein! Wahrlich eher hört' ich auf das feindliche
Scheusal, die Natter, die des Fußes mich beraubt.
Doch Alles sagen darf der Mann, darf Alles sich
Erdreisten: jezt auch weiß ich, daß er kommen wird.
620
So laß, o Sohn, uns eilen, daß wir weit hinweg
Von seinem Schiffe durch das Meer geschieden sind.
Auf denn von hinnen! Eilen wir bei guter Zeit,
Wird nach der Arbeit Schlummer uns und süße Rast.
(ab.)
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 519 focus
And the Atridse will I live remote.
I would not see the man I cannot love.
My barren Scyros shall afford me refuge,
And home-felt joys delight my future days.
So, fare thee well, and may th' indulgent gods
no
Heal thy sad wound, and grant thee every wish
Thy soul can form ! Once more, farewell ! I go,
The first propitious gale.
PjiiL. What ! now, my son ?
520
So soon?
Meg. Immediately; the time demands
Wo should be near, and ready to depart.
Never
515
Shall that reproach be ours.
515
Ned. In generous pity
515
Of the afflicted thus to be o'ercome
515
Were most disgraceful to me ; he shall go.
May the kind gods speed our departure hence,
And guide our vessels to the wished-for shore !
Son of great Acliilles,
535
Know, chance alone hath brought me hither, driven
535
By adverse winds to where thy vessels lay,
As home I sailed from Troy. There did I meet
This my companion, who informed me where
Thou mightst be found. Hence to pursue my course
And not to tell thee what concerns thee near
Had been ungenerous, thou perhaps meantime
540
Of Greece and of her counsels naught suspecting.
540
Counsels against thee not by threats alone
Or words enforced, but now in execution.
555
Since I must then, know,
In solemn league combined, the bold Ulysses
And gallant Diomede have sworn by force
595
Or by persuasion to bring back thy friend :
The Grecians heard Laertes' son declare
His purpose ; far more resolute he seemed
Than Diomede, and surer of success.
Lead me — expose me to the Grecian host !
630
And could the insolent Ulysses hope
630
With his soft flatteries e'er to conquer me \
No ! Sooner would 1 listen to the voice
Of that fell serpent, whose envenomed tongue
Hath lamed me thus. But what is there he dare not
Or say or do ? I know he will be here
E'en now, depend on't. Therefore, let's away !
Quick let the sea divide us from Ulysses.
Let us be gone ; for well-timed expedition,
The task performed, brings safety and repose.
635
Ned. Soon {\s the wind permits us we embark,
635
But now 'tis adverse.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 519 focus
Take heed lest now too gentle be thy mind,
But when, embark'd together, his diseasejut
Long time annoys thee, other be thy thoughts.
If such thy judgment: let him come with speed;
O welcome day! Most courteous thou of men!
And you, ye friendly mariners, what thanks
Can I return you? With what words express
The gratitude that glows within my heart?...
But let us go, my son, and pay within "
A farewell greeting to this cheerless cave,id
525
Dwelling unmeet for man; that thou may'st know
525
Where I have lived, and what I have sustain'd
With a firm heart: the sight alone, I think,
Horror on others must impress; but me
Necessity hath taught to love e'en this.
In grateful memory, stranger, I shall hold
Thy kind concern for me, else 1 were base.”
What thou hast hinted speak at large, 'gainst me
The councils by the Grecians lately form'd.
Behoves thee, since to me thou comest a friend,
Nought, which a friend can tell us, to conceal.T
MERC. See what thou dost.
That long hath been my care
MERC. On thee I charge the blame.
595
Charge it, but speak
595
MERC. Then I will speak. Against this man the son I
Of Tydeus, and the stern Ulysses speed
Their sails; their purpose ratified by oath
By soft persuasion or compulsive force
To bring him back: this all the Grecians heard-
Ulysses speak aloud; for bolder hoperidoli
Was his, and firm assurance of successo di
What, hath this vile accurs'd deceiver sworn
To show me to the Grecians? Were I dead,
Then might persuasion bring me from the realms
Of Pluto, like his father, back to light.
Is not this strange? What, dares Ulysses hope:
630
With soothing words to win me to embark
630
With him, and trail me through the Grecian camp
Aspectacle! No: rather would I hear
The serpent, from whose venom'd tooth my foot
Received this wound. But he dares speak and act
Whate'er is base. I know that he will come;
Let us then hence; with all its, broad expanse
Let the sea roll between his bark and us.
635
Let us begone: for well-timed speed (the toil
635
Surmounted) brings the calm of sweet repose.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 519-675 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-287-1 νῦν μὲν … ὅταν δὲ 1

mvp-comment-287-2 εὐχερὴς 2 τις 3 παρῇς 4

mvp-comment-288-1 τῆς νόσου 5 πλησθῇς· ξυνουσίᾳ 6

mvp-comment-288-2 αὑτὸς τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις 7

mvp-comment-289-1 οὐκ ἔσθ’ ὅπως 8

mvp-comment-290-1 ἀλλὰ … μέντοι 9

mvp-comment-290-2 αἰσχρὰ 10

mvp-comment-290-3 σοῦ γέ μ’ 11 σοῦ γ’ ἔμ’ 12

mvp-comment-290-4 πρὸς τὸ καίριον 13

mvp-comment-290-5 πονεῖν 14

mvp-comment-291-1 ὁρμάσθω 15 ταχύς 16 χἡ ναῦς 17

mvp-comment-291-2 ἀπαρνηθήσεται 18

mvp-comment-292-1 μόνον 19

mvp-comment-292-2 βουλοίμεσθα 20

mvp-comment-293-1 ὦ φίλτατον μὲν 21

mvp-comment-293-2 πῶς ἂν … γενοίμην 22

mvp-comment-294-1 ἴωμεν 23 ἴωμεν 24 ἴωμεν 25 εἰσοίκησιν 26 προσκύσαντε 27 εἰς οἴκησιν 28 προσκύσαντε 29

mvp-comment-294-2 ὡς … καὶ 30

mvp-comment-295-1 ἀφ’ ὧν 31

mvp-comment-295-2 διέζων 32

mvp-comment-296-1 οἶμαι γὰρ 33

mvp-comment-296-2 μόνην 34 μόνον 35 τάδε 36 θέαν λαβόντα 37 τλῆναι 38

mvp-comment-297-1 προὔμαθον 39

mvp-comment-298-1 ἐπίσχετον 40 μάθωμεν 41

mvp-comment-298-2 ἀλλόθρους 42

mvp-comment-298-3 ὧν μαθόντες 43

mvp-comment-298-4 αὖθις 44 εἴσιτον 45

mvp-comment-298-5 542 Odysseus said that he would send back the

σκοπός
, disguised as a merchant captain, if N. seemed to be tarrying too long (126 ff.). The actor who now comes on as
ἔμπορος
would not, however, be the same who played the
σκοπός
(a mute person), but the tritagonist, who played Odysseus. The sailor who accompanies him is a mute person; and that part may have been taken by the former representative of the
σκοπός
.

mvp-comment-298-6 As N. has already ensnared Ph. , and is on the point of starting with him, there is no actual need for the intervention of the

ἔμπορος
. But Odysseus, at the ship, could not know this; and we are to suppose that he had become impatient. The scene which follows heightens the dramatic interest by bringing out the horror with which Ph. regards the idea of returning to Troy.

mvp-comment-298-7 ξυνέμπορον 46

mvp-comment-299-1 φράσαι σε, ποῦ 47

mvp-comment-299-2 κυρῶν εἴης 48

mvp-comment-300-1 δοξάζων μὲν οὔ 49

mvp-comment-300-2 ὁρμισθεὶς 50 ταὐτὸν … πέδον 51

mvp-comment-301-1 οὐ πολλῷ στόλῳ 52

mvp-comment-302-1 Πεπάρηθον 53 εὔβοτρυν 54

mvp-comment-302-2 ἤκουσα τοὺς ναύτας ὅτι 55 πάντες 56 συννεναυστοληκότες 57 οἱ νεναυστοληκότες 58 σοὶ 59

mvp-comment-303-1 ἔδοξέ μοι 60 προστυχόντι 61 ποεῖσθαι 62 μὴ σῖγα, πρὶν φράσαιμι 63 προστυχόντι 64 προστυχόντι 65

mvp-comment-303-2 τῶν ἴσων 66 προστυχόντι 67 σοι 68

mvp-comment-304-1 ἃ τοῖσιν 69

mvp-comment-304-2 vέα 70

mvp-comment-305-1 οὐκέτ’ ἐξαργούμενα 71 ἔργα 72 δρώμενα 73

mvp-comment-306-1 ἀλλ’ 74 ἡ χάρις … τῆς προμηθίας 75 προμηθίας 76

mvp-comment-306-2 εἰ μὴ κακὸς πέφυκα 77

mvp-comment-306-3 προσφιλὴς 78 χάρις 79

mvp-comment-307-1 ἅπερ γ’ 80 ἅπερ κἄλεξας 81 γε 82 ἅπερ 83

mvp-comment-308-1 νεώτερον 84

mvp-comment-308-2 ἀπ’ Ἀργείων 85 βούλευμα 86 ἔχεις 87 μοι 88

mvp-comment-309-1 φοῖνιξ 89

mvp-comment-309-2 οἵ τε Θησέως κόροι 90

mvp-comment-310-1 ἐκ βίας 91

mvp-comment-310-2 λόγοις 92 δόλοις 93

mvp-comment-311-1 καθ’ ὁρμὴν 94

mvp-comment-312-1 ὡς ταῦτ’ ἐπίστω δρώμεν’ 95

mvp-comment-313-1 πρὸς τάδ’ 96

mvp-comment-313-2 αὐτάγγελος 97

mvp-comment-314-1 κεῖνός γ’ 98

mvp-comment-314-2 ὁ Τυδέως παῖς 99 ἔστελλον 100

mvp-comment-315-1 πρὸς ποῖον αὖ τόνδ’ … ἔπλει 101 αὖ 102 αὖ 103 ἂν 104

mvp-comment-315-2 If ἂν 105

mvp-comment-316-1 σοι 106

mvp-comment-317-1 τὰ πλείον’ 107

mvp-comment-317-2 σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβὼν 108

mvp-comment-318-1 τί με 109 διεμπολᾷ … πρός σε 110 τί με 111 τί δὲ 112 διεμπολᾷ 113

mvp-comment-319-1 εἰς φῶς 114 καί … τε 115

mvp-comment-320-1 σπέρμ’ 116

mvp-comment-320-2 στρατῷ 117

mvp-comment-320-3 ἃ μὴ δεῖ 118

mvp-comment-320-4 δρῶν ἀντιπάσχω 119 οἷ’ ἀνὴρ πένης 120

mvp-comment-320-5 χρηστά θ’ 121

mvp-comment-321-1 ἐγώ εἰμ’ 122

mvp-comment-321-2 φίλος μέγιστος 123

mvp-comment-322-1 λόγων 124 λόγον 125 ὧν 126

mvp-comment-323-1 ὅρα 127

mvp-comment-323-2 πάλαι 128

mvp-comment-324-1 ποιοῦ 129

mvp-comment-324-2 λέγων 130

mvp-comment-325-1 λέγω 131

mvp-comment-325-2 )πὶ τοῦτον 132

mvp-comment-325-3 τοῦτον 133

mvp-comment-325-4 592 Although Odysseus and Diomedes had been named in 570, it is obviously natural that their names should be repeated in this more explicit statement.

mvp-comment-326-1 διώμοτοι 134

mvp-comment-326-2 ἦ μὴν 135

mvp-comment-327-1 πείσαντες 136 πρὸς 137

mvp-comment-328-1 πλέον 138

mvp-comment-328-2 θατέρου 139

mvp-comment-329-1 τίνος … πράγματος χάριν 140

mvp-comment-329-2 χρόνῳ τοσῷδε 141

mvp-comment-329-3 ἐπεστρέφοντο 142

mvp-comment-329-4 ἄγαν οὕτω 143

mvp-comment-329-5 The order of the words is remarkable, not only because τίνος 144 πράγματος 145 τοῦδ’ 146

mvp-comment-330-1 εἶχον … ἐκβεβληκότες 147

mvp-comment-330-2 χρόνιον 148

mvp-comment-331-1 τίς ὁ πόθος 149

mvp-comment-331-2 ἵκετ’ 150

mvp-comment-331-3 θεῶν βία 151

mvp-comment-331-4 νέμεσις 152

mvp-comment-331-5 ἀμύνουσιν 153

mvp-comment-332-1 ὄνομα δ’ ὠνομάζετο 154

mvp-comment-333-1 Ἕλενος 155

mvp-comment-333-2 The statement of the

ἔμπορος
is only part of the truth. Helenus had indeed been captured, and had said that Troy could not be taken without Philoctetes. But he had also said that Troy was destined to be taken that summer,—as if he knew that fate had decreed the return of Philoctetes,—who was then to be healed by the Asclepiadae, and to share with Neoptolemus the glory of the victory (1329—1342). Odysseus, however, believed that Philoctetes would not listen to persuasion, but must be brought back by a stratagem (103). And so the object of the
ἔμπορος
in referring to Helenus is merely to convince Philoctetes that Odysseus is coming, in order that the sufferer may become still more anxious to depart with Neoptolemus for Greece, as he supposes.

mvp-comment-334-1 ἀκούων 156

mvp-comment-334-2 λωβητὰ ἔπη 157

mvp-comment-335-1 ἐς μέσον 158 ἔδειξ’ 159

mvp-comment-336-1 τά τ’ ἄλλα … πάντα 160 καὶ 161

mvp-comment-337-1 τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμ’ 162

mvp-comment-337-2 οὐ μή ποτε πέρσοιεν 163 οὐ μή 164

mvp-comment-337-3 οὐ δηποτε πέρσοιεν 165

mvp-comment-338-1 ἄγοιντο 166 ἀγάγοιντο 167 ἄξοιντο 168 ἄγοιντο 169

mvp-comment-338-2 νήσου 170

mvp-comment-338-3 617 The words οἴοιτο μὲν μάλιστα 171

mvp-comment-338-4 μάλιστα 173 οἴοιτο 174

mvp-comment-339-1 τούτων 175 μὴ τυχών 176

mvp-comment-339-2 κάρα τέμνειν 177 ἐφεῖτο 178

mvp-comment-340-1 τὸ σπεύδειν 179

mvp-comment-340-2 σοι καὐτῷ 180 πέρι 181

mvp-comment-341-1 ἡ πασα βλάβη 182

mvp-comment-342-1 πεισθήσομαι 183

mvp-comment-342-2 γὰρ 184

mvp-comment-342-3 ὧδε 185

mvp-comment-342-4 πρὸς φῶς ἀνελθεῖν 186

mvp-comment-342-5 οὑκείνου πατήρ 187

mvp-comment-343-1 συμφέροι 188

mvp-comment-344-1 τάδε 189

mvp-comment-345-1 ἂν 190 δεῖξαι 191

mvp-comment-345-2 νεὼς ἄγοντ’ 192

mvp-comment-346-1 οὔ· 193

mvp-comment-346-2 πλεῖστον ἐχθίστης 194

mvp-comment-347-1 ἄπουν 195

mvp-comment-348-1 πάντα λεκτά 196

mvp-comment-349-1 ὡς … ὁρίζῃ 197 ὁρίζει 198

mvp-comment-350-1 τοὐκ πρῴρας 199

mvp-comment-350-2 ἀνῇ 200

mvp-comment-350-3 στελοῦμεν 201

mvp-comment-351-1 οὔκ, ἀλλὰ 202 οὐκ 203 οἶδ)· 204 ἀλλ’ οὐχὶ 205

mvp-comment-352-1 ἀλλ’ 206

mvp-comment-352-2 χωρῶμεν … λαβὼν 207 λαβόνθ’ 208

mvp-comment-353-1 καίπερ οὐ πολλῶν ἄπο 209

mvp-comment-354-1 νεώς γε τῆς ἐμῆς ἔπι 210 ἔνι 211 ἔπι 212 ἔνι 213 νεώς 214 ἔνι 215 ἔνι 216

mvp-comment-355-1 πάνυ 217

mvp-comment-356-1 τί γὰρ ἔτ’ 218

mvp-comment-356-2 γάρ 219

mvp-comment-357-1 εἴ μοί τι τόξων 220 τόξα 221

mvp-comment-357-2 ἀπημελημένον 222

mvp-comment-357-3 παρερρύηκεν 223

mvp-comment-357-4 ὡς λίπω μή 224 λαβεῖν 225

mvp-comment-358-1 οὐ γὰρ ἄλλ’ ἔστ’, ἀλλ’ ἃ κ.τ.λ. 226 ἀλλ’ 227 ἄλλ’ 228 ἄλλος 229 ἃ βαστάζω 230 ταῦτ’ 231 ἄλλα γ’ ἔσθ’ ἃ 232

mvp-comment-359-1 ὥστε 233 ἔστιν 234

mvp-comment-359-2 θεόν 235 θεός 236

mvp-comment-360-1 ξυμφέρῃ 237 ἐρῶ 238

mvp-comment-361-1 καὶ μὴν … γε 239 πάρες 240

mvp-comment-362-1 ὅσια … θέμις 241

mvp-comment-363-1 ὅς γ’ 242

mvp-comment-363-2 φάος 243

mvp-comment-363-3 δέδωκας 244

mvp-comment-363-4 χθόν’ Οἰταίαν 245

mvp-comment-364-1 ἀνέστησας πέρα 246 πέρα 247 πέρα 248 ἔνερθεν 249 πέρα 250 μ’ ὕ 251 περ 252 ἀναστήσας πάρει 253 πέρα 254

mvp-comment-365-1 ταῦτα 255 παρέσται σοι 256 καὶ θιγγάνειν 257

mvp-comment-366-1 καὶ δόντι δοῦναι 258 δοῦναι 259 ἐπεύξασθαι 260 θιγγάνειν 261

mvp-comment-366-2 669 The acc. μόνον 262 δόντι 263 μόνῳ 264 μόνον 265 ς’ 266 ἀρετῆς 267

mvp-comment-367-1 εὐεργετῶν 268

mvp-comment-368-1 These three verses, called ‘manifesto spurii’ by Dindorf, are clearly genuine. If they are rejected, then Neoptolemus deigns no reply beyond

χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω
to the gracious and cordial speech of Philoctetes. In proof that the verses are pointless, Dindorf says:—‘Neque enim quidquam beneficii a Philocteta accepit Neoptolemus, ut
εὖ παθών
dici possit.’ Blaydes, though he does not bracket the verses, assents to this argument:—‘Certainly
εὖ παθὼν
cannot well apply to Neoptolemus.’ But
εὖ παθών
refers, of course, to Philoctetes. Neoptolemus means:—‘I am not sorry that chance drove me to Lemnos, and thus enabled me to gain your friendship. One who is ready to requite a benefit (viz., conveyance to Greece) by such a kindness as this (the promised loan of the bow), must indeed prove to be a priceless friend.’

mvp-comment-369-1 εὖ δρᾶν εὖ παθὼν 269

mvp-comment-369-2 κτήματος 270

mvp-comment-370-1 χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω 271 καὶ σέ γ’ εἰσάξω 272 γε 273 σέ 274 χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω 275

mvp-comment-370-2 τὸ γὰρ 276 νοσοῦν 277 τὸ … νοσοῦν 278

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

391-402;507-518. mvp-comment-280-1 The Chorus show their interest and support Neoptolemus by these strains, which are interwoven with the action, like those in O. T. 660 foll., 689 foll., О. С. 1447-1456, 1477-1485. They wish to assist their master by simulating hatred of the Atreidae and sympathy with Philoctetes. That both feelings are merely assumed, and that the Chorus really understand the situation, is obvious from the exaggerated strength of expression in 510, εἰ δὲ πικρούς, ἄναξ, ἔχθεις ᾿Ατρείδας. Their feigned excitement, to which the mixture of dochmiac and iambo-bacchic metre is well suited, was no doubt expressed with gestures accompanying the recitation, by the two half-choruses, of strophe and antistrophe severally.

507-518. mvp-comment-364-1 In the strophe supr. 391-402, the one half-chorus echoed the falsehood of Neoptolemus. The other half-chorus now in similar measures professedly responds to the appeal of Philoctetes, and recommends him to the kindness of Neoptolemus. L. 510 is equivalent, although not identical in metre, with l. 395: Each consists of two dochmiacs.

515. mvp-comment-368-1 ἐπιμέμονεν] Sc. πορεύεσθαι. Cp. Εl. 1435, ᾗ νοεῖς ἔπειγέ νυν.

516. mvp-comment-369-1 ἐπ᾿ εὐστόλου ταχείας νεώς] Οn your trim swift bark.' For the double epithet, see Essay on L. § 23. P. 37.

517. mvp-comment-370-1 τὰν *θεῶν] ἐκ (see v.rr.) is required by the same metrical reason which led to Λαερτίου being changed το Λαρτίου in l. 401.

518. mvp-comment-371-1 νέμεσιν] The possibility of some Divine retribution following refusal was gently hinted at the conclusion of Philoctetes' speech, ll 501-506.

519. mvp-comment-372-1 Consider, lest you who now stand there so goodnaturedly, may show a different spirit from your present words when you are wearied through contact with the disease.' For the 'paratactic' structure, see Essay on L. § 36. p. 68. τις is added to a predicative word as in Ο. Τ. 618, 9, ὅταν ταχύς τις οὑπιβουλεύων λάθρα χωρῇ. The slight redundancy of the expression, for which, cp. Εl. 506, ὡς ἔμολες αἰανή, κ.τ.λ., has suggested an unnecessary doubt whether παρῆς may not be from παρίημι (‘You grant permission').

521. mvp-comment-373-1 For αὑτὸς τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις, ср. О. Т. 557, καὶ νῦν ἔθ᾽ αὑτός εἰμι τῷ βουλεύματι, and note.

522-523. mvp-comment-374-1 are spoken by the coryphaeus.

524-525. mvp-comment-375-1 'It were shame if I were found more backward than you are to serve a stranger in his need.' ξένῳ either = τῷ ξένῳ, i. e. ‘Τo Philoctetes,' or, with a slight difference, (2) more generally, 'To a stranger-friend,' -as Philoctetes is. The dative depends on ἐνδεέστερον φανῆναι (= γενέσθαι) and is to be resumed with πονεῖν.

525. mvp-comment-376-1 πρὸς τὸ καίριον is an adverbial expression, like πρὸς τὸ κάρτερον, πρὸς τὸ λιπαρές, etc., and the infinitive depends on ἐνδεέστερον.

527. mvp-comment-377-1 οὐκ ἀπαρνηθήσεται] (1) He shall not be denied.' This suits the feeling of the passage better than (2) the impersonal sense (The favour shall not be denied'), which, however, is also possible.

529. mvp-comment-378-1 The emphatic position of ἡμᾶς at the beginning of the line shows that Neoptolemus deliberately includes Philoctetes in his prayer. βουλοίμεσθα is optative because of the preceding optative (cp. 325, 961) and partakes of the indefiniteness of the wish. Neoptolemus feels that when they leave the shore the intention of his voyage will not be that which he now professes, and he trusts that by that time the wish of Philoctetes may be the same with his own.

533. mvp-comment-379-1 *προσκύσαντε εἰσοίκησιν] Schndw. threw suspicion on these words because of the ἅπαξ λεγόμενον εἰσοίκησις, and various modes of alteration have been suggested. But it is idle to object to every ἅπαξ λεγόμενον. And these words give an excellent sense. If ἐξοικεῖν, a rare word, means ἔξω οἰκεῖν (Lys. 187. 29, Dem. 845. 19), why may not εἰσοικεῖν mean ἔσω οἰκεῖν? (It is so used in Anth. P. 7. 320, according to the MS. reading.) Cp. εἰσίδρυμαι, εἰσίζομαι, εἰσοικίζω. In that case ἡ εἰσοίκησις is ἡ ἔσω οἴκησις, and τὴν ἔσω.. εἰσοίκλησιν is merely a common instance of pleonasm, much as when we speak of the interior of a cave. If εἰς οἴκησιν is read, it becomes necessary to suppose a lacuna, for ἴωμεν here can only mean, 'Let us depart.' For the participial expression (προσκύσαντε = ' but first let us pay a farewell visit to'), ср. О. Т. 680, μαθοῦσά γ' ἥτις ἡ τύχη. Philoctetes'attachment to his bare and comfortless dwelling-place shows itself here, together with the longing expressed supr. 251 foll, that the extent of his misery and endurance might be known.

535. mvp-comment-380-1 ἀφ᾽ ὧν] ἀπο- as in ἀποζῆν. διέζων] 'I kept life afoot.' δια- of a persevering effort, as in διαμάχεσθαι.

536. mvp-comment-381-1 μόνην θέαν] 'Even the mere sight.' The adjective has the force of the adverb μόνον.

538. mvp-comment-382-1 προὔμαθον] Either (1) ‘I long since learned,' or (2) 'I learnt by degrees,' i.e. conquering each evil as it met me. Cp. προδιδάσκειν.

539-541. mvp-comment-383-1 These lines are spoken by the coryphaeus. The Σκοπός of supr. 125 is seen approaching, disguised as a ship-master, and accompanied by another of Neoptolemus's crew.

540. mvp-comment-384-1 ἀλλόθρους is simply a stranger, 'Not one of ourselves.' The word ξένος (infr. 557) would not apply to the man until they knew whether he was of Scyros or not. He professes afterwards to come from Peparethus.

541. mvp-comment-385-1 αὖθις] Blaydes conjectures αὐτίκ'. But αὖθις is 'afterwards,' as αὖτις in Il. 1. 140, ταῦτα μεταφρασόμεσθα καὶ αὖτις. After that, ye shall go in'

542. mvp-comment-386-1 τόνδε τὸν ξυνέμπορον] 'This companion of my way,' viz. from the mooring place to before the cave.

544. mvp-comment-387-1 ποῦ κυρῶν εἴης] • Where you were at this moment to be found.' A conversational pleonasm.

545. mvp-comment-388-1 ἀντέκυρσα] Sc. σοί. ‘Our paths have crossed.' δοξάζων μὲν οὔ] 'Not that I had any thought of such a thing.' For the combination of aorist and imperfect (δοξάζων = ὅτε ἐδόξαζον), cp. Ο. Τ. 1457, θνήσκων ἐσώθην.

546. mvp-comment-389-1 ὁρμισθείς] 'Brought to anchor.' He has been baffled by the headwind mentioned infr. 639.

547. mvp-comment-390-1 ὡς ναύκληρος, οὐ πολλῷ στόλῳ] 'With the modest outfit of a merchant-man.' This accounts for his approach not having been descried. He is supposed to be a purveyor (infr. 583, 4) of provisions to the army, perhaps of wine from his own vine-clad (εὔβοτρυν) island. Cp. ΙΙ. 7. 467, νῆες δ᾽ ἐκ Λήμνοιο παρέστασαν οἶνον ἄγουσαι. Peparethus is midway between Scyros and the entrance to the Maliac gulf. The same wind that is pretended to have detained Neoptolemus would also delay the merchantman on his homeward voyage.

549-550. mvp-comment-391-1 ὡς νεναυστοληκότες] 'When I had ascertained in the course of conversation that the mariners who had manned the vessel were one and all your men' (σοί, possessive pronoun). So Hermann, Opusc. 8. p. 190, rightly, although the reason which he gives ('Nam sic demum nauclerus tuto referre poterat, quae erat narraturus'), is not required. Dobree conjectured συννεναυστοληκότες (‘That they had all accompanied you in your voyage').

552. mvp-comment-392-1 προστυχόντι τῶν ἴσων depends οη τὸν πλοῦν ποιεῖσθαι as an affirmative expression: i. e. ἔδοξέ μοι, φράσαντι καὶ τῶν ἴσων προστυχόντι, οὕτω τὸν πλοῦν ποιεῖσθαι. · When first I had received fair recompense.' For the naiveté of this parenthetical demand, as not unbefitting the relations of the sea-captain to Neoptolemus (who is no less careful to assure him of his gratitude, infr. 557, 8), ср. О. Τ. 1005, 6, καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτ᾽ ἀφικόμην ὅπως | σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι: Trach. 190, 1, ὅπως τοι πρῶτος ἀγγείλας τάδε πρὸς σοῦ τι κερδάναιμι.

553. mvp-comment-393-1 οὐδὲν σύ που] The asyndeton marks the urgency of the intelligence.

554. mvp-comment-394-1 ἀμφὶ σοῦ * νέα] This emendation of Auratus has been generally received. And although the MS. reading may be possibly defended by the comparison of such phrases as τίνος δὴ χάριν ἕνεκα, etc. (see especially Thuc. 8. 92, ὅσον καὶ ἀπὸ βοῆς ἕνεκα), the meaning as well as the grammar is distinctly improved by the change.

556. mvp-comment-395-1 δρώμεν', οὐκέτ᾽ ἐξαργούμενα] Ιn act, no longer left undone.' Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1359, τοῦ δρῶντός ἐστι καὶ τὸ βουλεῦσαι πέρι.

559. mvp-comment-396-1 φράσον . . ἔλεξας] Declare at full what you have now mentioned.'

560. mvp-comment-397-1 ἀπ᾿ ᾿Αργείων] Sc. φαινόμενον. ἔχεις] Cp. Trach. 318, οὐδ᾽ ὄνομα πρὸς του τῶν ξυνεμπόρων ἔχεις; Ο. C. 1451, μάτην γὰρ οὐδὲν ἀξίωμα δαιμόνων ἔχω φράσαι.

562. mvp-comment-398-1 οἱ.. Θησέως κόροι] Acamas and Demophon, said to have been first mentioned in the Ἰλίου πέρσις of Arctinus. These names help to commend the lie to the fancy of the Athenian audience.

563. mvp-comment-399-1 λόγοις] By persuasion.' Cp. infr. 612, 623 foll., 629, 30.

563,565. mvp-comment-400-1 These vague replies show that Neoptolemus has not yet seized his cue. Cp. 570, 1 foll.

566. mvp-comment-401-1 οὕτω καθ' ὁρμήν] ‘Thus incontinently' (in the old sense); referring to supr. 555. 6.

567. mvp-comment-402-1 ὡς ταῦτ᾽ ἐπίστω δρώμεν] i. e. ἐπίστασο, ὡς ταῦτα δρώμενα (sc. ἐστίν). For ἐπίστασο ταῦτα ὡς δρώμενα this would be too violent an inversion.

568. mvp-comment-403-1 πρὸς τάδε] 'Hereupon,' i. e. 'When such was the counsel of the Argives.' αὐτάγγελος] ‘'Bringing the message in person;' i. e. αὐτὸς καὶ μὴ δι᾽ ἄλλων ἀγγέλων. Phoenix and the Theseidae were ἄγγελοι of the resolution of the chieftains to Neoptolemus.

569. mvp-comment-404-1 ἢ.. νιν] Neoptolemus assumes a spirited tone, and suggests a mean motive in Odysseus, in order to gratify Philoctetes.

570. mvp-comment-405-1 ἐπ᾿ ἄλλον ἄνδρα] ‘With designs upon another person.'

571. mvp-comment-406-1 When I left the harbour, they were making ready.'

572. mvp-comment-407-1 'Who could this be. with a view to whom Odysseus himself was setting forth?' i e. ποῖος ἂν εἴη πρὸς ὃν ἔπλει; So the unusual insertion of ἄν may be explained. See Essay on L. § 27. p. 45. And the meaning is so appropriate, that it seems better to retain the particle, although πρὸς ποῖον αὖ τόν δ' is a conjectural reading involving only a slight change.

575. mvp-comment-408-1 'Sir, you have the privilege of seeing here the famous Philoctetes.' Thus Neoptolemus humours the feeling which Philoctetes had shown supra 261, 2, ὅδ᾽ εἴμ᾽ ἐγώ σοι κεῖνος, ὃν κλύεις ἴσως | τῶν Ἡρακλείων ὄντα δεσπότην ὅπλων.

576. mvp-comment-409-1 τὰ πλείον'] For the article, cp. Trach. 731, and note.

577. mvp-comment-410-1 ἔκπλει σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβών] 'Snatch yourself up and sail away.' Cp. Eur. H. F. 833 foll., ἄλλ' εἶ', ἄτεγκτον ξυλλαβοῦσα καρδίαν . . ἔλαυνε, κίνει, κ.τ.λ.: also Plat. Rep. 1. 336 В, συστρέψας ἑαυτὸν ἧκεν ἐφ' ἡμᾶς. The Ἔμπορος speaks low, as he had charged Neoptolemus to do. This awakens the lively suspicion of Philoctetes, who hears enough to understand that there is a danger of his being left behind. Mr. Paley conjectures, ἔκπλευσον αὐτὸν συλλαβών, comparing infr. 621. But there the case is altered by Neoptolemus having avowed his friendship for Philoctetes in ll. 585, 6.

578. mvp-comment-411-1 κατὰ σκότον] 'In secret.' So infr. 581, εἰς φῶς, Openly."

579. mvp-comment-412-1 διεμπολᾷ λόγοισι πρός σε] Is treating me dishonestly in his talk with thee.' Cp. Ant. 1036, ἐξημπόλημαι κἀκπεφόρτισμαι.

581. mvp-comment-413-1 εἰς φῶς = 'Openly.' Cp. О. Т. 93, ἐς πάντας αύδα. τούσδε τε] The Chorus.

582-583. mvp-comment-414-1 μή με.. ἃ μὴ δεῖ] 'Bring me not into discredit with the army, through my telling what I should keep close; i. e. Do not make me tell, and so make them angry with me. λέγοντα = διὰ τὸ λέγειν, cp. Thuc. 8.87, ἣν εἶπε πρόφασιν οὐ κομίσας (i. e. δι᾽ ὅ, τι οὐκ ἐκόμισεν).

583-584. mvp-comment-415-1 'I. being poor, receive much kindness from them for service which I do.' For γε, which modifies the sentence, to which it gives a pleading tone, see Essay on L. § 26. p. 41. οἱ᾿ ἀνὴρ πένης] (1) As is natural in the case of one who is poor: rather than, (2) 'Such service as a poor man may do.' Cp. supr. 273, and note.

585ff. mvp-comment-416-1 Neoptolemus professes to demand that, if there is danger, the Ἔμπορος should risk it for his and Philoctetes' sake. The Ἔμπορος in his reply insinuates that the danger, if he is made to speak, is common to them all three, and that Neoptolemus will be responsible for the consequences.

589. mvp-comment-417-1 καί belongs in meaning to the whole sentence = καὶ δὴ σκοπῶ. ἐγώ] 'Of myself,' without this caution from you.

590. mvp-comment-418-1 ποιοῦ λέγων] 'Make me so, if you will but speak. For this emphatic use of the participle, cp. especially O. C. 1038, χωρῶν ἀπείλει νυν, -also supr. 481, and note.

591. mvp-comment-419-1 ἅπερ κλύεις] Supr. 570, 1.

592. mvp-comment-420-1 ἥ τ᾿ Ὀδυσσέως βία] Cp. supr. 314, 321.

593. mvp-comment-421-1 διώμοτοι] 'Expressly sworn.' Cp. Trach. 378, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων διώμνυτο: Ο. Τ. 834, διεῖπε χρῆναι, κ.τ.λ. For the meaning, cp. infr. 618, 9, 623.

594. mvp-comment-422-1 ἢ . . κράτος] Or were they to prevail by force.'

597. mvp-comment-423-1 δράσειν τάδε is added as a resumption of ταῦτα, depending on λέγοντος (not on θάρσος εἶχε).

598-599. mvp-comment-424-1 i. ε. τίνος δὲ πράγματος χάριν ᾿Ατρείδαι, χρόνῳ τοσῷδε, οὕτως ἄγαν ἐπεστρέφοντο τοῦδε. For the order of the words, see Essay on L. § 41. p. 78, 8.

600. mvp-comment-425-1 εἶχον . . *ἐκβεβληκότες] Cp. El. 590, ἐκβαλοῦσ᾽ ἔχεις. The periphrasis serves to fix on the agent the responsibility of the consequences of his act.

601-602. mvp-comment-426-1 'Whence came they thus to wish him back again? Or were they moved by a mighty impulse from the angry gods: the gods, who requite evil deeds?' For θεῶν βία, cp. Aesch. Suppl. 97, βίαν . . τὰν ἄπονον δαιμονίαν (?).

603. mvp-comment-427-1 ἴσως . . ἀκήκοας] 'For I dare say you have not heard of it.' The important share of Neoptolemus in the prophecy of Helenus is studiously concealed, and it is assumed that in his short stay at Troy the circumstance may have escaped him altogether. The true account is given by Neoptolemus afterwards, infr. 1337 foll. He himself in supr. 344 foll. had professed to attach slight importance to the assertion that he was destined to take Troy.

607. mvp-comment-428-1 ἀκούων] 'Called by,' i.e. deserving. αἰσχρὰ.. ἔπη] 'Names of disgrace and contumely.' On the meaning of the verbal adjective, see Essay on L. § 53. p. 98.

609. mvp-comment-429-1 ἔδειξ᾽.. ἐς μέσον] Displayed publicly to the Achaeans. ἔδειξε marks Odysseus' pride at bringing in his captive. Cp. infr. 616, δηλώσειν : 630, δεῖξαι: 944, φήνασθαι.

610. mvp-comment-430-1 The part of the prophecy which relates to Neoptolemus is thus slurred over.

611. mvp-comment-431-1 τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμα] Cp.supr. 353.

612. mvp-comment-432-1 πέρσοιεν (as being the oratio obliqua of πέρσετε) seems to be an exception to the rule that οὐ μή takes after it not the future indicative, but the aorist subjunctive. But this is not a sufficient ground for altering the reading. Paley compares Plat. Crito, p. 44 B, οὐδένα μήποτε εὑρήσω.

613. mvp-comment-433-1 ἄγοιντο] The middle voice implies, 'Should bring for their purpose.' νήσου τῆσδ'] For the genitive of place, see Essay on L. § 8. p. 11, a. Observe the alliteration in νήσου .. ναίει .. νῦν.

614. mvp-comment-434-1 ταῦτα] Governed of ἤκουσε and resumed with τὸν μάντιν εἰπόντα, which is added to complete the sentence.

615ff. mvp-comment-435-1 The statement in supr. 593-7 is here repeated with some additional circumstances.

617. mvp-comment-436-1 οἴοιτο] The optative is used in turning the parenthetical οἴομαι into the oratio obliqua, as if ὅτι had preceded. Cp. Lys p. 130, Θηραμένης ἀναστὰς λέγει ὅτι ποιήσει ὥστε τὴν πόλιν ἐλαττῶσαι μηδέν· οἴοιτο δὲ καὶ ἄλλο τι ἀγαθὸν εὑρήσεσθαι.

618-619. mvp-comment-437-1 'And if he failed in this, he offered his head to any who chose, to cut it off.' For the order of words, see Essay on L. § 41, α. p. 77. κάρα governed (1) of ἐφεῖτο, and (2) οἱ τέμνειν, which is epexegetic inf. μὴ τυχών = εἰ μὴ τύχοι. For the sense, cp. II. 2. 259, μηκέτ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ Ὀδυσῆϊ κάρη ὤμοισιν ἐπείη, κ.τ.λ.: Od. 16. 102 αὐτίκ᾽ ἔπειτ' ἀπ᾿ ἐμεῖο κάρη τάμοι ἀλλότριος φώς, εἰ μή, κ.τ.λ. τέμνειν = ἀποτέμνειν. Cp. καράτομος.

620. mvp-comment-438-1 τὸ σπεύδειν] The article probably refers to supr. 576, 7.

621. mvp-comment-439-1 κεἴ τινος κήδει πέρι] Sc. παραινῶ ἐκείνῳ τὸ αὐτό. The supposed stranger does not venture to compromise himself by giving this advice directly to Philoctetes. He alludes to supr. 585, 6.

622. mvp-comment-440-1 Οι ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη, ‘That utter pest.' see Essay on L. § 51. p. 95; and cp. El. 301.

624-625. mvp-comment-441-1 'The persuasion that has force to bring me back to Troy, would fetch me from the dead.'

626. mvp-comment-442-1 οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταῦτ] The professed Ἔμπορος is too discreet to mix further than he can help in such a hazardous business. Cp. O. Τ. 530, οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ὁ γὰρ δρῶσ᾽ οἱ κρατοῦντες οὐχ ὁρῶ. The purpose of his coming has been accomplished, and he retires. For the synaphea, cp. especially O. T. 555, ὡς χρείη μ᾽ ἐπὶ | τὸν σεμνόμαντιν, κ.τ.λ.

627. mvp-comment-443-1 σφῶν.. θεός] 'May heaven be with you both for your best good!' συμφέρειν is used nearly as συμφέρεσθαι in O. C. 641, τῇδε γὰρ ξυνοίσομαι (‘Your choice shall have my concurrence').

628ff. mvp-comment-444-1 Should have imagined it possible ever with cajoling words to bring and show me on his ship amongst the Argives.' Philoctetes has hitherto had his attention fixed on the Ἔμπορος, and has said ll. 622-5 half to himself. But as the stranger departs he turns to Neoptolemus with these indignant words.

629. mvp-comment-445-1 ποτ᾿ ἄν with δεῖξαι = ὅτι δείξειεν ἄν ποτε. λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς] Cp. O. С. 774, σκληρὰ μαλθακῶς λέγων.

630. mvp-comment-446-1 δείξαι] Cp. supr. 616, δηλώσειν. δεῖξαι νεὼς ἄγοντα = δεῖξαι ἐκ νεὰς ἄγοντα ἐπὶ νηΐ. Or, in other words, the phrase, On ship-board,' which should depend on ἄγοντα, is attracted into a new construction with δεῖξαι. See Essay on L. § 35. p. 60, and cp. О. Т. 808, ὄχου . . τηρήσας. κ.τ.λ. : Εl. 900. Herm. and Schndw. take νεὼς ἄγοντα to mean, 'Bringing ashore.' Cp. supr. 355-7. But ἄγειν is continually used elsewhere in the play for conveyance by sea; and the instrumental dative λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς connects more naturally with ἄγοντα than with δεῖξαι. Moreover, the meaning obtained by so joining νεὼς ἄγοντ' is wanting in simplicity.

631. mvp-comment-447-1 οὔ] Those who have suspected this reading have not observed the frequency of asyndeton in the language of Philoctetes (Essay on L. § 34. p. 58). The proposed readings, οὗ θᾶσσον (Welcker), ἢ θᾶσσον (Schndw.), are less forcible than the MS. text. Schndw. imagined οὔ to be a marginal gloss on ἢ. For the double superlative in πλεῖστον ἐχθίστης, see Essay on L. § 40. p. 76.

632. mvp-comment-448-1 ἄπουν = οὐκ ἔχοντα βάσιν, infr. 692.

633. mvp-comment-449-1 ἐκείνῳ.. λεκτά] 'He is capable of saying anything.' Cp. O. С. 495, ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐχ ὁδωτά : ibid. 1000, 1, εἶ γὰρ οὐ δίκαιος, ἀλλ᾽ ἅπαν καλὸν | λέγειν νομίζων, ῥητὸν ἄρρητόν τ᾽ ἔπος.

635-636. mvp-comment-450-1 ὡς.. ὁρίζῃ] • That wide seas may part us.'

637. mvp-comment-451-1 ἥ τοι.. ἤγαγεν] Cp. Aj. 674,5, ἐκοίμισε . . πόντον, and note.

639. mvp-comment-452-1 ἐπειδὰν πνεῦμα τοὐκ πρώρας ἀνῇ] When this head wind (1) ceases' (ἀνῇ absolute), or (2) 'lets us go' (ἀνῇ ἡμᾶς, sc.). The same doubt occurs in Hdt. 2. 113, οὐ γὰρ ἀνίει τὰ πνεύματα (sc. μιν?) Cp. Od. 19. 199, ἔνθα δυώδεκα μὲν μένον ἤματα δίοι ᾿Αχαιοί, | εἴλει γὰρ βορέης ἄνεμος μέγας, κ.τ.λ. | τῇ τρισκαιδεκάτῃ δ' ἄνεμος πέσε, τοὶ δ᾽ ἀνάγοντο. The correction of Pierson here is all but certain.

641. mvp-comment-453-1 Cp. Il. 14. 80, οὐ γάρ τις νέμεσις φυγέειν κακόν, οὐδ᾽ ἀνὰ νύκτα,

642. mvp-comment-454-1 οὔκ· ἀλλά] 'Nay, but -.' οὐ denies the general drift of the preceding line; i. e. The evil is not so imminent that you need fly from it with such haste. Cp. Plat. Rep. 6. 491 Ε, οὔκ, ἀλλά, ἢ δ᾽ ὅς, οὕτως, where there is a nearly similar inexactness of response. There is no sufficient ground for transposing 643, 4, 2, 1, with Prof. Paley. The order is far more natural as it stands.

643-644. mvp-comment-455-1 'Robbers feel not any contrary wind when it is a time to steal and take by force.'

645. mvp-comment-456-1 χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβών] 'Let us depart, when you have taken from within.' The participle agrees with part of the subject, and the second person has been implied in εἰ δοκεῖ, SC. σοι. For the limitation of subject, see Essay on L. § 33. p. 56, and cp. Trach. 205, ὀλολύξατε δόμοις, | ὁ μελλόνυμφος, ἐν δὲ κοινὸς ἀρσένων | ἴτω κλάγγα, κ.τ.λ. : ib. 333: Aesch. Eum. 141.

648. mvp-comment-457-1 What, that is not somewhere on board my ship?' νεώς, partitive genitive. Essay on L. § 10. p. 15. Ср. Αj. 659, γαίας ὀρύξας ἔνθα, κ.τ.λ.: Ο. C. 694, γᾶς ᾿Ασίας οὐκ ἐπακούω. τοῦθ᾽ ὅ is singular, though ὧν in 647 is plural. Essay on L. § 20, B. p. 31.

649. mvp-comment-458-1 φύλλον . . πάρεστιν] 'There is a leaf which I have.' Cp. infr. 704, ὅθεν εὐμάρει᾽ ὑπάρχοι: supr. 44: Ο.Τ. 766.

650. mvp-comment-459-1 πραΰνειν] 'To assuage its violence.' There is no example of πραΰνειν being used intransitively. πρᾷος is opposed to ἄγριος, cp. supr. 265. Philoctetes is eager to assure Neoptolemus that the evil is not intractable. Cp. infr. 733 foll.

651. mvp-comment-460-1 τί γὰρ ἔτ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν] Philoctetes shows by his manner that the herb is not the only thing that he requires. To this look of longing hesitation γάρ refers.

652. mvp-comment-461-1 εἰ.. παρερρύηκεν] This is said to explain his unsatisfied look (' I would make search,' implied in ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν), * in case some of these my arrows may have slipped from my side.' Cp. Il. 13. 256, ἔρχομαι, εἴ τί τοι ἔγχος ἐνὶ κλισίῃσι λέλειπται, | οἰσόμενος.

653. mvp-comment-462-1 ὡς λίπω μή] For the order, see Essay on L. § 41, γ. p. 78.

655. mvp-comment-463-1 οὐ γὰρ ἄλλα γ᾽ ἔσθ'] 'For indeed there is no other.' These words have been commonly taken as equivalent to ἐκεῖνα καὶ οὐκ ἄλλα: whence Blaydes conjectures ταῦτ᾽ οὐ γὰρ οὖν ἔστ᾿ ἄλλ'. But the meaning given above is more in point. Cp. Morris' Story of Sigurd, That hath not the like in the heavens, nor hath earth of its fellow told.'

656. mvp-comment-464-1 ἆρ᾿ ἔστιν ὥστε] 'Is it possible that one might?' ὥστε as after verbs of permission asked or obtained. The periphrasis is expressive of modesty. κἀγγύθεν] From close at hand, as well as from a distance. For με added in the second clause, cp. supr. 257.

657. mvp-comment-465-1 For the sacredness of the bow, cp. infr. 943.

658. mvp-comment-466-1 τῶν ἐμῶν] Of things within my power.'

659. mvp-comment-467-1 ὁποῖον. ξυμφέρῃ] 'That is of a nature to accord with your desires.' Cp. supr. 627, and note. γενήσεται] 'Shall be granted.'

661. mvp-comment-468-1 πάρες] 'Let it go by;' i.e. Take no more notice of my wish.

662. mvp-comment-469-1 ὅσια .. φωνεῖς] 'Your words are blameless.' 'You speak innocently.'

663. mvp-comment-470-1 For the suppressed antecedent in the expression of strong feeling, see Essay on L. § 39. p. 72, 2. And for the emphatic repetition of ὅς, cp. O. C. 610, φθίνει μὲν ἰσχὺς γῆς, φθίνει δὲ σώματος, and see E. on L. § 44. p. 83.

664. mvp-comment-471-1 μόνος] Supr. 500.

665. mvp-comment-472-1 πέρα] 'Above their reach.' 'Where they cannot come.' ἀνιστάναι here is not merely 'To raise upright,' but To set up on high.' Cр. O. С. 661-3, κείνοις δ᾽ ἴσως κεὶ δείν᾽ ἐπερρώσθη λέγειν | τῆς σῆς ἀγωγῆς, οἶδ᾽ ἐγώ, φανή- | σεται | μακρὸν τὸ δεῦρο πέλαγος, οὐδὲ πλώσιμον: Aesch. Cho. 789.

666. mvp-comment-473-1 θιγγάνειν] ‘To handle for a while.’ This word, expressing a lingering process, is rightly in the continuous tense, although δόντι . . ἐξεπεύξασθαι are aorists. Cp. Il. 6. 322, τόξ᾽ ἁφόωντα.

667. mvp-comment-474-1 καὶ δόντι δοῦναι] This illogical addition is singularly expressive of the nervous anxiety of Philoctetes at the thought of giving the bow out of his hands: 'You shall have it in your grasp; I will give it you, and you will give it me again; and then you shall freely boast, etc.' While saying this, Philoctetes does not at once give the bow to Neoptolemus. Cp. infr. 762 foll.

669. mvp-comment-475-1 Cp. infr. 801-3.

670-672. mvp-comment-476-1 These three lines seem out of place. Either there is a lacuna after 670, or they have crept into the text out of the margin, where some hand had inserted them as an apposite quotation from some other play. They have not the appearance of a deliberate interpolation, nor is the difficulty obviated by assigning them to Neoptolemus. If they are retained, they can only mean, 'I do not feel this generous action burdensome, now that I have seen and found a friend in you. For no possession can be equal to a friend who knows (as I am sure you do) how to return kindness for kindness done to him.' In other words, to secure so true a friend as Neoptolemus, even the effort of relinquishing the bow for a moment is not too much. But ἄχθομαι has no object; and the promised kindness of Neoptolemus was not conditional on his being allowed to handle the bow.