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Philoctetes
468
Now by thy father's honour'd shade, my son,
465
And by thy mother, by whate'er thy house.
465
Holds dear to thee, thy suppliant I implore
465
Thy pity, do not leave me thus alone,
Abandon'd in these ills, which now thou seest,
And with which thou hast heard I long have had
My dwelling here. Receive me in thy bark,
Allow me there a place; this freight, I know;
Will be offensive; yet disdain it not:
Whate'er is base the noble mind abhors,
But glories in the kind and generous deed.
Not to perform this kindness were reproach.
To thee, and shame; but granting my request,
High honour waits thee. If I reach alive
The land of Eta, I shall burden thee
Not one whole day; refuse not my request;
470
Throw me where'er thou wilt, into the hold,
470
The prow, the stern, where least I may annoy!".
470
The mariners; assent, my son, by Jove
Protector of the suppliant, grant my pray'r.
Infirm, and lame, and wretched as I am,
Low at thy knees I fall; forsake me not
Far from the haunt of men abandon'd thus
But save me, bear me to thy friendly shore,
Or to Chalcodon's ports that deep indenti
Euboœa; thence the passage is not long
To Eta, and to Trachin's rocky heights,
And to Sperchius, beauteous-rolling stream.
Show me to my loved father; yet long since
The tomb, I fear, received him; for to those,
Who reach'd this coast, I oft gave charge, and oft
475
Sent my request that he would speed a bark.
475
To bear me hence in safety to my home.
475
But he is dead, or they perchance, (for this
Might be expected) on whose promised aid
I built my hopes, of my disastrous state
Made small account, and steer'd their onward course
To their own ports. But now I come to thee
To bear my message, nay, to bear me hence. 1.
Save me, have pity on me; for thou seest.
The dangers, and the horrible events
Now by thy father's honour'd shade, my son,
465
And by thy mother, by whate'er thy house.
465
Holds dear to thee, thy suppliant I implore
465
Thy pity, do not leave me thus alone,
Abandon'd in these ills, which now thou seest,
And with which thou hast heard I long have had
My dwelling here. Receive me in thy bark,
Allow me there a place; this freight, I know;
Will be offensive; yet disdain it not:
Whate'er is base the noble mind abhors,
But glories in the kind and generous deed.
Not to perform this kindness were reproach.
To thee, and shame; but granting my request,
High honour waits thee. If I reach alive
The land of Eta, I shall burden thee
Not one whole day; refuse not my request;
470
Throw me where'er thou wilt, into the hold,
470
The prow, the stern, where least I may annoy!".
470
The mariners; assent, my son, by Jove
Protector of the suppliant, grant my pray'r.
Infirm, and lame, and wretched as I am,
Low at thy knees I fall; forsake me not
Far from the haunt of men abandon'd thus
But save me, bear me to thy friendly shore,
Or to Chalcodon's ports that deep indenti
Euboœa; thence the passage is not long
To Eta, and to Trachin's rocky heights,
And to Sperchius, beauteous-rolling stream.
Show me to my loved father; yet long since
The tomb, I fear, received him; for to those,
Who reach'd this coast, I oft gave charge, and oft
475
Sent my request that he would speed a bark.
475
To bear me hence in safety to my home.
475
But he is dead, or they perchance, (for this
Might be expected) on whose promised aid
I built my hopes, of my disastrous state
Made small account, and steer'd their onward course
To their own ports. But now I come to thee
To bear my message, nay, to bear me hence. 1.
Save me, have pity on me; for thou seest.
The dangers, and the horrible events
Philoctetes. Sophocles. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1820.