Sophocles Philoctetes 388

Robert Potter (Translator)

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Hercules
HERCULES, PHILOCTETES, NEOPTOLEMUS, 1408
Not yet, O son of Peas: to my words
First be attentive. Know thou hear'st the voice
1410
Of Hercules, thine eyes behold his form.
Leaving the heav'nly mansions for thy sake
I come, announcing the decrees of Jove,
And charge thee not to steer thy purposed course.
Do thou with fix'd attention mark my words.
My fortunes to thy memory I recal,
What dangers I subdued, what toils achieved,
1420
By virtue made immortal, as thine eyes
Behold. And know, thou too must suffer thus,
And by such toils a life of glory gain.
Go with this leader to the walls of Troy;
There first thy fell disease shall be relieved:
There 'midst the host of Greece in valour rank'd
The noblest of her heroes, with thy bow
Paris, the guilty cause of all these ills,
Thou shalt deprive of life, lay waste the state
Of Troy, and send triumphant to thy house,
To Eta, to thy father, the rich spoils,
Selected by the host, thy glorious prize.
But bear thou to my funeral pyre these spoils,
The trophies of my bow.---My mandates now,
Son of Achilles, I to thee address;
For without him thou hast not pow'r to waste

Philoctetes. Sophocles. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1820.

Current edition Experimental

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Robert Potter, 1788))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 388 focus
διδασκάλων λόγοισι γίγνονται κακοί.
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 391-402 focus
Translations (3)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 388 focus
NEO
Ah! but how shall I escape Achaean anger?
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 391 focus
Bergmutter, Erd', Alnährerin, welcher Zeus selbst entsproß, 1
385
Die waltet bei Paktolos' großem, goldnem Strom!
Schon dort, hehre Mutter, dort rief ich zu dir,
Da schmachvollen Hohn ihm des Atreus Geschlecht bot,
Da sie des Vaters Wehr ihm an Laertes' Sohn
Hingaben, als des Ruhms höchsten Preis,
390
du Sel'ge, die auf Berglöwen hoch,
Den Stierwürgern, thront!
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 391-400 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-752-1 μήπω γε 1

mvp-comment-753-1 φάσκειν δ’ 2

mvp-comment-753-2 ἀκοῇ τε κλύειν 3

mvp-comment-754-1 τὴν σὴν … χάριν 4

mvp-comment-755-1 τὰ Διός τε φράσων 5

mvp-comment-755-2 ἣν στέλλει 6

mvp-comment-756-1 καὶ πρῶτα μέν 7 τὰς ἐμὰς λέξω τύχας 8

mvp-comment-757-1 ἀθάνατον ἀρετὴν 9 ὡς πάρεσθ’ ὁρᾶν 10

mvp-comment-757-2 (1) The use of

ἀρετή
as=‘reputation won by merit’ was familiar: e.g., Lycurgus In Leocr. § 49 (quoted by Cavallin)
τὰ γὰρ ἆθλα τοῦ πολέμου τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἐστὶν ἐλευθερία καὶ ἀρετή
. By an easy transition, this idea of fame won by deeds passed into that of ‘distinction’: cp. Theog. 29
μηδ’ αἰσχροῖσιν ἐπ’ ἔργμασι μηδ’ ἀδίκοισιν
|
τιμὰς μηδ’ ἀρετὰς ἕλκεο μηδ’ ἄφενος
: ‘and do not, by shameful deeds or unjust, grasp at honours, or distinctions, or wealth’; where the
τιμαί
refer to office or rank, and the
ἀρεταί
, as the context shows, also denote pre-eminence recognised in some external form.

mvp-comment-757-3 (2) The force of the epithet should be observed. When Plato says,

ὑπὲρ ἀρετῆς ἀθανάτου...πάντες πάντα ποιοῦσιν
( Symp. 208 D), the
ἀθάνατος ἀρετή
is the reputation which survives on earth. But here
ἀθάνατος ἀρετή
is ‘the distinction of one who has been made immortal’: i.e., ‘deathless glory’ here means ‘glorious immortality.’ Thus the peculiar sense of
ἀρετήν
is helped by that sense which the context gives to
ἀθάνατον
.

mvp-comment-757-4 ἔσχον 11

mvp-comment-757-5 ὡς πάρεσθ’ ὁρᾶν 12

mvp-comment-758-1 τοῦτ’ 13

mvp-comment-758-2 ἐκ 14

mvp-comment-758-3 εὐκλεᾶ θέσθαι 15

mvp-comment-759-1 πρῶτον μ<*> … ἀρετῇ τε 16 τε 17

mvp-comment-759-2 ἐκκρ<*>εὶς 18

mvp-comment-760-1 Ηάριν 19

mvp-comment-760-2 αἴτιος κακῶν 20

mvp-comment-761-1 σκῦλά τ’ 21

mvp-comment-761-2 ἐκλαβὼν 22 ἐκβαλὼν 23

mvp-comment-761-3 πέμψεις 24 Ποίαντι 25

mvp-comment-762-1 ἃ δ’ ἂν λάβῃς 26

mvp-comment-762-2 After the relative clause,

ἃ δ’ ἂν λάβῃς
, we understand, not
ταῦτα
(in apposition with
μνημεῖα
), but a partitive gen.,
τούτων
. This construction is a simple and natural one. For the partitive gen. thus understood, cp. n. on 1161 f., and Xen. Cyr. 8. 1. 20 quoted there. The sentence could have no ambiguity for a Greek audience, familiar with the custom that, after a victory, a part of the spoil (usually a
δεκάτη
) should be dedicated to the gods. Cp. Her. 8. 121 (after the battle of Salamis)
διεδάσαντο τὴν ληίην καὶ τὰ ἀκροθίνια ἀπέπεμψαν ἐς Δελφούς
. Xen. Anab. 5. 3. 4
τὴν δεκάτην ἣν τῷ Ἀπόλλωνι ἐξεῖλον καὶ τῇ Ἐφεσίᾳ Ἀρτέμιδι διέλαβον οἱ στρατηγοί, τὸ μέρος ἕκαστος, φυλάττειν τοῖς θεοῖς
. As Cavallin remarks, the passage was rightly understood by the schol. on 1432,
ἐκ τῶν ἀριστείων κἀμὲ τίμησον
. For the simple gen., τοῦδε τοῦ στρατοῦ 27 λάβῃς 28

mvp-comment-763-1 καὶ σοὶ ταῦτ’ 29 ἐγὼ δ’ 30

mvp-comment-763-2 (1) ταῦτ’ 31 καὶ σοὶ 32 ταῦτ’ 33 ταὔτ’ 34 ταῦτ’ 35

mvp-comment-763-3 (2) ταῦτ’ 36 παρῄνεσα 37 γὰρ 38 καὶ σοὶ 39 σοὶ δὲ 40

mvp-comment-763-4 Heracles confirms what Odysseus had said (115). In glorifying Philoctetes, it was necessary to respect the legend which ascribed the capture of Troy to Neoptolemus (who was the hero of the

Ἰλίου πέρσις
, by Arctînus).

mvp-comment-763-5 For τὸ Τρ. πεδίον 41

mvp-comment-764-1 συννόμω 42

mvp-comment-764-2 φυλάσσετον 43

mvp-comment-765-1 Ἀσκληπιὸν 44

mvp-comment-765-2 Tradition placed Sophocles in a near relation to the cult of Asclepius. The poet is said to have been invested with the ‘priesthood’ (

ἱερωσύνη
, Vit. Soph. § 6) of the hero Alcon, a healing-god akin to Asclepius; indeed, the name
Ἄλκ‐ων
is cognate, if
Ἀσκληπιός
be
Ἀλεξ‐ήπιος
, by metathesis of
σκ
=
ξ
: cp. Preller I. 423 n. 2. A paean to Asclepius by Sophocles was extant in antiquity (Lucian Enc. Dem. 27 etc.), and legend declared that the god had visited the poet's hearth ( Plut. Num. 4 § 6).

mvp-comment-766-1 τὸ δεύτερον 45 αὐτὴν 46 Ἴλιον 47

mvp-comment-767-1 ἐννοεῖθ’ 48 ἐννοεῖσθ’ 49

mvp-comment-767-2 εὐσεβεῖν 50

mvp-comment-768-1 ὡς τἄλλα πάντα 51 ὡς 52 δεύτερ’ ἡγεῖται 53 γάρ 54

mvp-comment-768-2 In v. 1443 the old emendation οὐ 55 ἡ 56 ἡ γὰρ εὐσέβεια συνθνῄσκει βροτοῖς 57 οὐ γὰρ ηὑσέβεια συνθνῄσκει βροτοῖς 58

mvp-comment-768-3 A further objection to the MS. reading arises from the sense given to συνθνῄσκει 59

mvp-comment-768-4 Two objections have been made to the emendation οὐ 60 ἡ 61 τἄλλα πάντα 62 οὐ … συνθνῄσκει 63 οὐκ ἀπόλλυται 64

mvp-comment-768-5 Dindorf rejects all three verses (1442— 1444). But the conclusion, at v. 1441, would then be too abrupt. Schneidewin formerly spared v. 1442, rejecting only the two next vv. He supposed ( a) that Ζεύς 65 πατήρ 66

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

1409. mvp-comment-930-1 Heracles now appears on the θεολογεῖον. His approach (on the μηχανή) is marked by the anapaestic movement, ll. 1409-1417, at the end of which he is seen in full view.

1413. mvp-comment-931-1 ἀκοῇ τε] For the position of Te, see Essay on L. § 36. p. 65.

1414. mvp-comment-932-1 οὐρανίας ἕδρας] ‘My abode in heaven.' Cp. Aj. 460, ναυλόχους λιπὼν ἕδρας.

1418. mvp-comment-933-1 λέξω] Dindorf says that λέγω would be preferable, presumably because the recital which the future tense seems to promise is not given. But the whole of this speech has the appearance of a hasty sketch. The real knot of the drama has been solved, and the action hastens to a close.

1419-1420. mvp-comment-934-1 Philoctetes knew the labours of Heracles, but not the glory which is now revealed to him. The emphasis conveyed by ὅσους therefore belongs rather to the main predication than to the relative clause: 'How, after all that course of labour, I attained immortal renown.' ἀρετή is 'Glory of virtue,' as δυσσέβεια, in Ant. 924, is 'Meed of impiety.' For ἔσχον = κάτέσχον, ‘I won,' see Essay on L. § 55. p. 101, and § 32. p. 55 , and cp. Aj. 465, ὧν αὐτὸς ἔσχε στέφανον εὐκλείας μέγαν. The aor. ἔσχον = 'I came to have,' as ἐβασίλευσε = 'He came to reign.' See many instances of this use in Ast's Lexicon Platonicum, s. v. ἔχειν.

1420. mvp-comment-935-1 ὡς πάρεσθ' ὁρᾶν] This implies some more elaborate stage effect than is commonly supposed to have belonged to the Greek theatre.

1421. mvp-comment-936-1 τοῦτ᾽ ὀφείλεται παθεῖν] 'This fate is destined.' Cp. El. 1173, πᾶσιν γὰρ ἡμῖν τοῦτ᾽ ὀφείλεται παθεῖν.

1422. mvp-comment-937-1 ἐκ.. βίον] In apposition with τοῦτο. For this epexegesis, cp. supr. 1355,6.

1423. mvp-comment-938-1 τῷδ᾽ ἀνδρί] τῷ Νεοπτολέμῳ.

1425. mvp-comment-939-1 For μέν followed by τε, see Essay on L. § 36. p. 65. And, for ἀρετῇ, κ.τ.λ., supr. 997, 1062, 1344, 5.

1428-1430. mvp-comment-940-1 σκύλα] The spoils which Philoctetes is to send home are those which he receives as the prize of valour; those which he is to carry to the place of Heracles' pyre are the trophies taken by him in battle with the bow. (Unless we are to suppose an annual procession to Mount Oeta with the σκύλα Τρωϊκά.)

1429. mvp-comment-941-1 ἐκλαβών] Cp. Hdt. 8. 11, καὶ τὸ ἀριστήϊον ἔλαβε οὗτος: ib. 123.

1430. mvp-comment-942-1 Οἴτης] For Oeta, as a name for the country of Trachis, cp. supr. 453, ὦ γένεθλον Οἰταίου πατρός. This word in the mouth of Heracles appeals more than all else to the heart of Philoctetes.

1431. mvp-comment-943-1 τοῦδε τοῦ στρατοῦ] Sc. τοῦ Τρωϊκοῦ. For this vague use of the pronoun ὅδε, see Essay on L. § 22. p. 34 , and cp. supr. 1426, ὃς τῶνδ᾽ αἴτιος κακῶν ἔφυ, τοῦδε τοῦ πόνου. Schndw. conj. τοῦ δῄου στρατοῦ.

1432. mvp-comment-944-1 μνημεῖα] Accusative in apposition to κόμιζε: “An act commemorative of my bow.' πυρὰν ἐμήν] It is evident that the high-place on Mount Oeta, where Heracles was supposed to have been glorified, after having been laid upon the pyre, was kept sacred in the time of Sophocles; and, like the place of Oedipus' disappearance, it is imagined to have been a place of worship in heroic times. Hyllus had often stood there sacrificing, Trach. 1192. Perhaps some well-known image of the hero there, with a brazen shield, may have occasioned the expression in supr. 727.

1433-1437. mvp-comment-945-1 καὶ σοὶ τόνδ'] These words are διὰ μέσου. Heracles turns for a moment to Neoptolemus, and then resumes his address to Philoctetes. ταῦτα refers generally to all that precedes. Neoptolemus must aid Philoctetes and not forget his obligation to the bow of Heracles.

1434-1435. mvp-comment-946-1 Cp. supr. 112-115.

1435. mvp-comment-947-1 τὸ Τροίας πεδίον] Supr. 69.

1436. mvp-comment-948-1 λέοντε συννόμω] 'Two lions, who share one hunting-ground.'

1437. mvp-comment-949-1 ἐγὼ δ' ᾿Ασκληπιόν] Having so far broken ground with the supernatural, the poet carries the celestial machinery one step further. Machaon was the healer of Philoctetes, according to the common story which is followed supr. 1333. in the anticipation of Neoptolemus. Here it is Asclepius himself.

1439. mvp-comment-950-1 τὸ δεύτερον] For the taking of Troy by Heracles in the former time, cp. II. 5.638-642: Pindar, Nem. 4.25: Aj. 1300 foll.

1440. mvp-comment-951-1 ἐννοεῖσθ᾽] 'Keep this in your thoughts.' For ἐννοεῖν, of an intention or design, cp. O. T. 330, ἀλλ' ἐννοεῖς ἡμᾶς προδοῦναι, κ.τ.λ. The force of the middle voice is, 'Be careful to bear in mind.' Cp. supr. 375. 'His non paruit Neoptolemus.' Lambinus.

1441. mvp-comment-952-1 τὰ πρός] 'As towards.' Cp. O. C. 617, καὶ ταῖσι Θήβαις εἰ τανῦν εὐημερεῖ | καλῶς *τὸ πρὸς σέ.

1442. mvp-comment-953-1 δεύτερ᾽ ἡγεῖται] O. C. 351.

1443. mvp-comment-954-1 συνθνήσκει βροτοῖς] ‘Follows men in death.' Of the pious only can it be said that their works do follow them. A confused expression, arising from haste or inadvertence like many that might be quoted from Shakspeare. The whole of this speech of Heracles, as compared with the rest of Sophocles, is a careless piece of work. Did the poet leave the ῥῆσις ἀπὸ μηχανῆς to Iophon or to some pupil, being unheedful of the celestial machinery, like Shakspeare in Cymbeline? Or is this a case, like that of Iphigeneia in Aulide, where a later interpolation has taken the place of the original text? Nothing is to be gained here by conjectural emendation (see for example that of Hermann suggested by Ellendt, ἡ γὰρ εὐσέβεια συνθνήσκειν βρότοις, | κἂν ζῶσι, κἂν θάνωσιν, οὐκ ἐπίσταται: or that of Cavallin, ἡ γ. εὐσ. συμφέρει βροτοῖς, | καὶ ζῶσι καὶ θανοῦσιν, οὐδ᾽ ἀπόλλυται), nor by obelizing particular lines. In ll. 1452-1471, the master's hand is again apparent. For the sentiment, cp. Pind. Isthm. 4. 41, καὶ πάγ καρπον ἐπὶ χθόνα καὶ διὰ πόντου βέβακεν | ἐργμάτων ἀκτὶς καλῶν, ἄσβεστος αἰεί : Thuc. 2. 43.