---
title: "Philoctetes · Φιλοκτήτης"
author: "Sophocles"
translator: "Richard Jebb"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 2 of 3
url: https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-philoctetes/2/
cite: "Sophocles, tr. Richard Jebb, Philoctetes · Φιλοκτήτης, section 2. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-philoctetes/2/"
---

# Philoctetes · Φιλοκτήτης

*Sophocles, tr. Richard Jebb*

Odysseus and the young Neoptolemus must trick an abandoned man out of the bow of Heracles.

> Greek: ed. Francis Storr, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0011.tlg006, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Richard Jebb, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0011.tlg006.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 2. Lines 500–977

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-philoctetes/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-philoctetes/2/#p-N

[¶0] Now, however, since in you I have found one who can be both an escort and a messenger, save me and show me mercy, keeping in mind that all human destiny is full of the fear and the danger that prosperity may be followed by its opposite. He who stands clear of trouble must beware of dangers,
and when a man lives at ease, then it is that he must look most closely to his livelihood, lest it secretly suffer ruin.

> Greek: νῦν δʼ, εἰς σὲ γὰρ πομπόν τε καὐτὸν ἄγγελον
ἥκω, σὺ σῶσον, σύ μʼ ἐλέησον, εἰσορῶν
ὡς πάντα δεινὰ κἀπικινδύνως βροτοῖς
κεῖται παθεῖν μὲν εὖ, παθεῖν δὲ θάτερα.
χρὴ δʼ ἐκτὸς ὄντα πημάτων τὰ δείνʼ ὁρᾶν,
χὤταν τις εὖ ζῇ, τηνικαῦτα τὸν βίον
σκοπεῖν μάλιστα, μὴ διαφθαρεὶς λάθῃ.

[¶1] Chorus:
Have pity, my king! He has told of a struggle with sufferings manifold and oppressive—may the like befall no friend of mine!

> Greek: Χορός:
οἴκτιρʼ, ἄναξ· πολλῶν ἔλεξεν δυσοίστων πόνων
ἆθλʼ, οἷα μηδεὶς τῶν ἐμῶν τύχοι φίλων.

[¶2] And if, my king, you hate the hateful Atreids, then, turning their wrongdoing to this man’s gain,
I would take him in your swift, well-rigged ship to the home for which he longs, and so escape the god’s just wrath.

> Greek: εἰ δὲ πικρούς, ἄναξ, ἔχθεις Ἀτρείδας,
ἐγὼ μέν, τὸ κείνων κακὸν τῷδε κέρδος
μετατιθέμενος, ἔνθαπερ ἐπιμέμονεν,
ἐπʼ εὐστόλου ταχείας νεὼς
πορεύσαιμʼ ἂν ἐς δόμους, τὰν θεῶν
νέμεσιν ἐκφυγών.

[¶3] Neoptolemus:
Though now as a casual spectator you are compliant,
beware lest later, when filled with his disease by its constant company, you prove no longer constant to these sentiments.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ὅρα σὺ μὴ νῦν μέν τις εὐχερὴς παρῇς,
ὅταν δὲ πλησθῇς τῆς νόσου ξυνουσίᾳ,
τότʼ οὐκέθʼ αὑτὸς τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις φανῇς.

[¶4] Chorus:
That will not happen. You will never have just cause to rebuke me for that!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἥκιστα· τοῦτʼ οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως ποτʼ εἰς ἐμὲ
τοὔνειδος ἕξεις ἐνδίκως ὀνειδίσαι.

[¶5] Neoptolemus:
Well, then, it would shame me if the stranger were to find
me less ready than you are to toil for his good. Come, if it pleases you, let us sail. Let the man set out at once; our ship, for her part, will carry him, and will not refuse. Only may the gods give us safe passage from this land, and from here to whatever destination we choose!

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἀλλʼ αἰσχρὰ μέντοι σοῦ γέ μʼ ἐνδεέστερον
ξένῳ φανῆναι πρὸς τὸ καίριον πονεῖν.
ἀλλʼ εἰ δοκεῖ, πλέωμεν, ὁρμάσθω ταχύς·
χἠ ναῦς γὰρ ἄξει κοὐκ ἀπαρνηθήσεται.
μόνον θεοὶ σῴζοιεν ἔκ τε τῆσδε γῆς
ἡμᾶς ὅποι τʼ ἐνθένδε βουλοίμεσθα πλεῖν.

[¶6] Philoctetes:
O day of joy unsurpassed! Most delightful man, and you good sailors! If only I could show you in deeds what a true friend you have made in me! Let us be going, my son, when we two have made a solemn farewell to my homeless home inside, so that you may also learn
by what means I sustained my life, and how stout of heart I was born. For I believe that the mere sight would have deterred any other man but me from enduring these sufferings. But I have been slowly schooled by necessity to endure misery. Neoptolemus is about to follow Philoctetes into the cave.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ὦ φίλτατον μὲν ἦμαρ, ἥδιστος δʼ ἀνήρ,
φίλοι δὲ ναῦται, πῶς ἂν ὑμὶν ἐμφανὴς
ἔργῳ γενοίμην, ὥς μʼ ἔθεσθε προσφιλῆ;
ἴωμεν, ὦ παῖ, προσκύσαντε τὴν ἔσω
ἄοικον εἰσοίκησιν, ὥς με καὶ μάθῃς
ἀφʼ ὧν διέζων ὥς τʼ ἔφυν εὐκάρδιος.
οἶμαι γὰρ οὐδʼ ἂν ὄμμασιν μόνην θέαν
ἄλλον λαβόντα πλὴν ἐμοῦ τλῆναι τάδε·
ἐγὼ δʼ ἀνάγκῃ προύμαθον στέργειν κακά.

[¶7] Chorus:
Wait, let us listen to the two men who are coming!
One is a crewman of your ship, the other a stranger. Go in after you hear their report.
Enter the Merchant, on the spectators’ left, accompanied by a Sailor.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπίσχετον, μάθωμεν· ἄνδρε γὰρ δύο,
ὁ μὲν νεὼς σῆς ναυβάτης, ὁ δʼ ἀλλόθρους,
χωρεῖτον, ὧν μαθόντες αὖθις εἴσιτον.

[¶8] Merchant:
Son of Achilles, I asked my companion here, when he was guarding your ship with two others, to tell me where you might be found,
since I have chanced upon you unexpectedly by the good fortune of coming to anchor off this very coast. With no great company I am homeward bound on my trader’s voyage from Ilium to Peparethus with its cluster-laden vines, but when I heard that the sailors
were all of your crew, I resolved not to continue my voyage in silence, without first giving you my news and getting the due reward. You know nothing, I suspect, of your own affairs: the new designs the Greeks
have regarding you, and not only designs, but deeds in progress and no longer postponed.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
Ἀχιλλέως παῖ, τόνδε τὸν ξυνέμπορον,
ὃς ἦν νεὼς σῆς σὺν δυοῖν ἄλλοιν φύλαξ,
ἐκέλευσʼ ἐμοί σε ποῦ κυρῶν εἴης φράσαι,
ἐπείπερ ἀντέκυρσα, δοξάζων μὲν οὔ,
τύχῃ δέ πως πρὸς ταὐτὸν ὁρμισθεὶς πέδον.
πλέων γὰρ ὡς ναύκληρος οὐ πολλῷ στόλῳ
ἀπʼ Ἰλίου πρὸς οἶκον ἐς τὴν εὔβοτρυν
Πεπάρηθον, ὡς ἤκουσα τοὺς ναύτας ὅτι
σοὶ πάντες εἶεν συννεναυστοληκότες,
ἔδοξέ μοι μὴ σῖγα, πρὶν φράσαιμί σοι,
τὸν πλοῦν ποεῖσθαι, προστυχόντι τῶν ἴσων.
οὐδὲν σύ που κάτοισθα τῶν σαυτοῦ πέρι,
ἃ τοῖσιν Ἀργείοισιν ἀμφὶ σοῦ νέα
βουλεύματʼ ἐστί, κοὐ μόνον βουλεύματα,
ἀλλʼ ἔργα δρώμενʼ, οὐκέτʼ ἐξαργούμενα.

[¶9] Neoptolemus:
The service you have done me by your forethought, sir, unless I am unworthy, will remain in my grateful thoughts. But tell me just what the designs are that you mentioned, so that I may understand
what is the strange plan of the Greeks that you know.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἀλλʼ ἡ χάρις μὲν τῆς προμηθίας, ξένε,
εἰ μὴ κακὸς πέφυκα, προσφιλὴς μενεῖ·
φράσον δʼ ἅπερ, γʼ ἔλεξας, ὡς μάθω τί μοι
νεώτερον, βούλευμʼ ἀπʼ Ἀργείων ἔχεις.

[¶10] Merchant:
Pursuers are on the way in search of you with a fleet. They are the aged Phoenix and the sons of Theseus.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
φροῦδοι διώκοντές σε ναυτικῷ στόλῳ
Φοῖνιξ ὁ πρέσβυς οἵ τε Θησέως κόροι.

[¶11] Neoptolemus:
To bring me back by force, or through persuasion?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ὡς ἐκ βίας μʼ ἄξοντες ἢ λόγοις πάλιν;

[¶12] Merchant:
I do not know; but I have come to tell you what I did hear.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἀκούσας δʼ ἄγγελος πάρειμί σοι.

[¶13] Neoptolemus:
Are Phoenix and his comrades really so eager to do this favor for the Atreids?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἦ ταῦτα δὴ Φοῖνίξ τε χοἰ ξυνναυβάται
οὕτω καθʼ ὁρμὴν δρῶσιν Ἀτρειδῶν χάριν;

[¶14] Merchant:
Be sure that it is being done, and without delay.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
ὡς ταῦτʼ ἐπίστω δρώμενʼ, οὐ μέλλοντʼ ἔτι.

[¶15] Neoptolemus:
Then why was Odysseus not ready to sail on this mission, and bring the message himself? Or did some fear hold him back?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
πῶς οὖν Ὀδυσσεὺς πρὸς τάδʼ οὐκ αὐτάγγελος
πλεῖν ἦν ἕτοιμος; ἢ φόβος τις εἶργέ νιν;

[¶16] Merchant:
Oh, he and the son of Tydeus were readying for pursuit of another man, just as I was leaving port.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
κεῖνός γʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλον ἄνδρʼ ὁ Τυδέως τε παῖς
ἔστελλον, ἡνίκʼ ἐξανηγόμην ἐγώ.

[¶17] Neoptolemus:
Who is this other after whom Odysseus himself was sailing?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
πρὸς ποῖον αὖ τόνδʼ αὐτὸς Οὑδυσσεὺς ἔπλει;

[¶18] Merchant:
There was a man.... But tell me first who that is over there. And whatever you say, do speak quietly.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
ἦν δή τις—ἀλλὰ τόνδε μοι πρῶτον φράσον
τίς ἐστίν· ἃν λέγῃς δὲ μὴ φώνει μέγα.

[¶19] Neoptolemus:
There, sir, before your eyes is the renowned Philoctetes.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ὅδʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ κλεινός σοι Φιλοκτήτης, ξένε.

[¶20] Merchant:
Then do not question me further, but get yourself out of here as quickly as possible and sail away.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
μή νύν μʼ ἔρῃ τὰ πλείονʼ, ἀλλʼ ὅσον τάχος
ἔκπλει σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβὼν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

[¶21] Philoctetes:
What is he saying, boy? Why does the sailor traffic with you about me in these dark whispers?

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
τί φησιν, ὦ παῖ; τί με κατὰ σκότον ποτὲ
διεμπολᾷ λόγοισι πρός σʼ ὁ ναυβάτης;

[¶22] Neoptolemus:
His meaning yet eludes me. But, whatever he will say, he must say openly—to you, me and my men here.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
οὐκ οἶδά πω τί φησι· δεῖ δʼ αὐτὸν λέγειν
εἰς φῶς ὃ λέξει, πρὸς σὲ κἀμὲ τούσδε τε.

[¶23] Merchant:
Seed of Achilles, do not stir the army’s resentment against me for saying what I should not. I receive many benefits for what services I do them, as a poor man may.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
ὦ σπέρμʼ Ἀχιλλέως, μή με διαβάλῃς στρατῷ
λέγονθʼ ἃ μὴ δεῖ· πόλλʼ ἐγὼ κείνων ὕπο
δρῶν ἀντιπάσχω χρηστά θʼ, οἷʼ ἀνὴρ πένης.

[¶24] Neoptolemus:
I am the enemy of the Atreids, and this man is my closest friend precisely because he hates them. Since, then, you have come kindly disposed towards me, you must not hide from us any part of their plans that you have heard.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἐγώ εἰμʼ Ἀτρείδαις δυσμενής· οὗτος δέ μοι
φίλος μέγιστος, οὕνεκʼ Ἀτρείδας στυγεῖ.
δεῖ δή σʼ ἔμοιγʼ ἐλθόντα προσφιλῆ, λόγων
κρύψαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς μηδένʼ ὧν ἀκήκοας.

[¶25] Merchant:
Beware of what you are doing, boy.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
ὅρα τί ποιεῖς, παῖ.

[¶26] Neoptolemus:
I am well aware.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
σκοπῶ κἀγὼ πάλαι.

[¶27] Merchant:
I will hold you accountable.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
σὲ θήσομαι τῶνδʼ αἴτιον.

[¶28] Neoptolemus:
Do so, but speak.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ποιοῦ λέγων.

[¶29] Merchant:
I will. It is after this man that those two whom I named to you, Diomedes and forceful Odysseus, are sailing. They are oath-bound to retrieve him, either by winning words or by overpowering might.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
λέγω. ʼπὶ τοῦτον ἄνδρε τώδʼ ὥπερ κλύεις,
ὁ Τυδέως παῖς ἥ τʼ Ὀδυσσέως βία,
διώμοτοι πλέουσιν ἦ μὴν ἢ λόγῳ
πείσαντες ἄξειν ἢ πρὸς ἰσχύος κράτος.

[¶30] And all the Achaeans heard this clearly from the mouth Odysseus, for his confidence of success in this action was higher than his comrade’s.

> Greek: καὶ ταῦτʼ Ἀχαιοὶ πάντες ἤκουον σαφῶς
Ὀδυσσέως λέγοντος· οὗτος γὰρ πλέον
τὸ θάρσος εἶχε θατέρου δράσειν τάδε.

[¶31] Neoptolemus:
And for the sake of what did the Atreids after so long a time turn their thoughts so urgently towards this man,
whom they were long since keeping an outcast? What was the desire that came over them, or what force? What avenging spirit sent by the gods to exact payment for evil deeds?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τίνος δʼ Ἀτρεῖδαι τοῦδʼ ἄγαν οὕτω χρόνῳ
τοσῷδʼ ἐπεστρέφοντο πράγματος χάριν,
ὅν γʼ εἶχον ἤδη χρόνιον ἐκβεβληκότες;
τίς ὁ πόθος αὐτοὺς ἵκετʼ; ἢ θεῶν βία
καὶ νέμεσις, οἵπερ ἔργʼ ἀμύνουσιν κακά;

[¶32] Merchant:
I will inform you of all that, since it seems that you have not heard. There was a seer of noble birth,
a son of Priam, called Helenus, whom that man, out on a solitary night raid—that deceitful Odysseus, whose repute is all shame and dishonor—captured. Leading him back in bonds, he displayed him publicly to the Achaeans as his glorious prey.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
ἐγώ σε τοῦτʼ, ἴσως γὰρ οὐκ ἀκήκοας,
πᾶν ἐκδιδάξω. μάντις ἦν τις εὐγενής,
Πριάμου μὲν υἱός, ὄνομα δʼ ὠνομάζετο
Ἕλενος, ὃν οὗτος νυκτὸς ἐξελθὼν μόνος,
ὁ πάντʼ ἀκούων αἰσχρὰ καὶ λωβήτʼ ἔπη
δόλιος Ὀδυσσεὺς εἷλε· δέσμιόν τʼ ἄγων
ἔδειξʼ Ἀχαιοῖς ἐς μέσον, θήραν καλήν·

[¶33] Helenus then prophesied for them whatever matter they asked, and, pertaining to Troy, he foretold that they would never sack its towers, unless by winning words they should bring Philoctetes here from the island where he now dwells. And, as soon as he heard the seer prophecy this, Laertes’ son
immediately promised that he would bring the man and show him to the Achaeans. He thought it most likely that he would get him willingly, but, if unwilling, then by force, and he added that, were he to fail in this, whoever wished it might sever his head.

> Greek: ὃς δὴ τά τʼ ἄλλʼ αὐτοῖσι πάντʼ ἐθέσπισεν
καὶ τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμʼ ὡς οὐ μή ποτε
πέρσοιεν, εἰ μὴ τόνδε πείσαντες λόγῳ
ἄγοιντο νήσου τῆσδʼ ἐφʼ ἧς ναίει τανῦν.
καὶ ταῦθʼ ὅπως ἤκουσʼ ὁ Λαέρτου τόκος
τὸν μάντιν εἰπόντʼ, εὐθέως ὑπέσχετο
τὸν ἄνδρʼ Ἀχαιοῖς τόνδε δηλώσειν ἄγων·
οἴοιτο μὲν μάλισθʼ ἑκούσιον λαβών,
εἰ μὴ θέλοι δʼ, ἄκοντα· καὶ τούτων κάρα
τέμνειν ἐφεῖτο τῷ θέλοντι μὴ τυχών.

[¶34] You have heard everything, boy, and I advise speed for you, and for any man for whom you care.

> Greek: ἤκουσας, ὦ παῖ, πάντα· τὸ σπεύδειν δέ σοι
καὐτῷ παραινῶ κεἴ τινος κήδει πέρι.

[¶35] Philoctetes:
Alas! Has he, the utter plague, sworn to fetch me back to the Achaeans by persuasion? For if that were to happen, I could be persuaded, when dead, to come back up
from Hades into the light, as his father did!

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οἴμοι τάλας· ἦ κεῖνος, ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη,
ἔμʼ εἰς Ἀχαιοὺς ὤμοσεν πείσας στελεῖν;
πεισθήσομαι γὰρ ὧδε κἀξ Ἅιδου θανὼν
πρὸς φῶς ἀνελθεῖν, ὥσπερ οὑκείνου πατήρ.

[¶36] Merchant:
I know nothing about that. But for my part I must return to ship, while for you I pray that god may help you in every possible way. Exit Merchant.

> Greek: Ἔμπορος:
οὐκ οἶδʼ ἐγὼ ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ μὲν εἶμʼ ἐπὶ
ναῦν, σφῷν δʼ ὅπως ἄριστα συμφέροι θεός.

[¶37] Philoctetes:
Now is it not astounding, boy, that Odysseus would ever have expected by means of soft words
to lead me from his ship and show me in the middle of the Greeks? No! I would sooner listen to that greatest and worst of my enemies, the viper which made me crippled as I am! But there is nothing that he would not say or dare. And now I know that he is coming here.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οὔκουν τάδʼ, ὦ παῖ, δεινά, τὸν Λαερτίου
ἔμʼ ἐλπίσαι ποτʼ ἂν λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς
δεῖξαι νεὼς ἄγοντʼ ἐν Ἀργείοις μέσοις;
οὔ· θᾶσσον ἂν τῆς πλεῖστον ἐχθίστης ἐμοὶ
κλύοιμʼ ἐχίδνης, ἥ μʼ ἔθηκεν ὧδʼ ἄπουν.
ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἐκείνῳ πάντα λεκτά, πάντα δὲ
τολμητά· καὶ νῦν οἶδʼ ὁθούνεχʼ ἵξεται.

[¶38] Come, son, let us be moving, so that a wide sea may part us from the ship of Odysseus. Let us go! Good speed in good season brings sleep and rest when toil is finished.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, χωρῶμεν, ὡς ἡμᾶς πολὺ
πέλαγος ὁρίζῃ τῆς Ὀδυσσέως νεώς.
ἴωμεν· ἥ τοι καίριος σπουδὴ πόνου
λήξαντος ὕπνον κἀνάπαυλαν ἤγαγεν.

[¶39] Neoptolemus:
Then as soon as the wind is not at our prow,
we will sail. At present it blows against us.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
οὐκοῦν ἐπειδὰν πνεῦμα τοὐκ πρῴρας ἀνῇ,
τότε στελοῦμεν· νῦν γὰρ ἀντιοστατεῖ.

[¶40] Philoctetes:
The sailing is always fair, when you flee trouble.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἀεὶ καλὸς πλοῦς ἔσθʼ, ὅταν φεύγῃς κακά.

[¶41] Neoptolemus:
Not so; this weather is against them also.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀκείνοισι ταῦτʼ ἐναντία.

[¶42] Philoctetes:
No wind stands in the way of pirates who sense a chance to steal and plunder by force.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οὐκ ἔστι λῃσταῖς πνεῦμʼ ἐναντιούμενον,
ὅταν παρῇ κλέψαι τι χἀρπάσαι βίᾳ.

[¶43] Neoptolemus:
Well, if you are so resolved, let us go, once you have taken from the cave whatever you need or desire most.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἀλλʼ εἰ δοκεῖ, χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβὼν
ὅτου σε χρεία καὶ πόθος μάλιστʼ ἔχει.

[¶44] Philoctetes:
Yes, there are some things that I need, though the choice is not large.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ὧν δεῖ, καίπερ οὐ πολλῶν ἄπο.

[¶45] Neoptolemus:
What is there that will not be available on board my ship?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τί τοῦθʼ ὃ μὴ νεώς γε τῆς ἐμῆς ἔπι;

[¶46] Philoctetes:
I have a store of a certain herb, whereby I can always
best lull this wound, until it is wholly tamed.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
φύλλον τί μοι πάρεστιν, ᾧ μάλιστʼ ἀεὶ
κοιμῶ τόδʼ ἕλκος, ὥστε πραΰνειν πάνυ.

[¶47] Neoptolemus:
Fetch it, then. Now, what else do you wish to take?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἀλλʼ ἔκφερʼ αὐτό. τί γὰρ ἔτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν;

[¶48] Philoctetes:
Any of these arrows that may have been forgotten, and may have slipped away from me, so that I not leave it for another to take.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
εἴ μοί τι τόξων τῶνδʼ ἀπημελημένον
παρερρύηκεν, ὡς λίπω μή τῳ λαβεῖν.

[¶49] Neoptolemus:
Is that indeed the famous bow which you hold?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἦ ταῦτα γὰρ τὰ κλεινὰ τόξʼ ἃ νῦν ἔχεις;

[¶50] Philoctetes:
This, and no other, that I carry in my hand.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ταῦτʼ, οὐ γὰρ ἄλλʼ ἔστʼ, ἀλλʼ ἃ βαστάζω χεροῖν.

[¶51] Neoptolemus:
Is there any way that I might have a closer view of it—and handle it, and salute it as divine?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἆρʼ ἔστιν ὥστε κἀγγύθεν θέαν λαβεῖν
καὶ βαστάσαι με προσκύσαι θʼ ὥσπερ θεόν;

[¶52] Philoctetes:
To you alone, my son, this shall be granted, along with anything else in my power that is in your interest.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
σοί γʼ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ τοῦτο κἄλλο τῶν ἐμῶν
ὁποῖον ἄν σοι ξυμφέρῃ γενήσεται.

[¶53] Neoptolemus:
I do indeed crave to touch it, but my craving takes this form: if it is lawful, I would be glad. If not, think no more of it.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
καὶ μὴν ἐρῶ γε, τὸν δʼ ἔρωθʼ οὕτως ἔχω·
εἴ μοι θέμις, θέλοιμʼ ἄν· εἰ δὲ μή, πάρες.

[¶54] Philoctetes:
Your words are reverent, son, and your wish is lawful. For you alone have given to my eyes the light of life and the hope of seeing the land of Oeta, of seeing
my aged father and my friends; and you alone, when I lay beneath the feet of my enemies, have lifted me beyond their reach. Be bold. The bow shall be yours to handle and to return to the hand that gave it, and you will be able to boast aloud that in reward for your goodness, you alone of mortals have touched it.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ὅσιά τε φωνεῖς ἔστι τʼ, ὦ τέκνον, θέμις,
ὅς γʼ ἡλίου τόδʼ εἰσορᾶν ἐμοὶ φάος
μόνος δέδωκας, ὃς χθόνʼ Οἰταίαν ἰδεῖν,
ὃς πατέρα πρέσβυν, ὃς φίλους, ὃς τῶν ἐμῶν
ἐχθρῶν μʼ ἔνερθεν ὄντʼ ἀνέστησας πέρα.
θάρσει, παρέσται ταῦτά σοι καὶ θιγγάνειν
καὶ δόντι δοῦναι κἀξεπεύξασθαι βροτῶν
ἀρετῆς ἕκατι τῶνδʼ ἐπιψαῦσαι μόνον·

[¶55] Yes, it was by a good deed that I myself won it.

> Greek: εὐεργετῶν γὰρ καὐτὸς αὔτʼ ἐκτησάμην.

[¶56] Neoptolemus:
I am not sorry that I found you and have gained your friendship, since whoever knows how to render benefit for a benefit received must prove a friend more valuable than any possession. Please, do go inside.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
οὐκ ἄχθομαί σʼ ἰδών τε καὶ λαβὼν φίλον·
ὅστις γὰρ εὖ δρᾶν εὖ παθὼν ἐπίσταται,
παντὸς γένοιτʼ ἂν κτήματος κρείσσων φίλος. χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω.

[¶57] Philoctetes:
Agreed, and I will bring you also.
My sickness craves the comfort of your presence. Philoctetes and Neoptolemus enter the cave.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
καὶ σέ γʼ εἰσάξω· τὸ γὰρ
νοσοῦν ποθεῖ σε ξυμπαραστάτην λαβεῖν.

[¶58] Chorus:
I have heard a rumor, but never seen with my eyes, how the man who once approached the bed of Zeus was bound upon a
swift wheel by the almighty son of Cronus. But of no other mortal do I know, either by hearsay or by sight, that has encountered a doom so repugnant as this of Philoctetes. For though he had wronged no one by force or thievery,
but conducted himself fairly towards the fair, he was left to perish so undeservedly. I truly marvel how—how in the world—as he listened in solitude to the breakers rushing around him,
he kept his hold upon a life so full of grief.

> Greek: Χορός:
λόγῳ μὲν ἐξήκουσʼ, ὄπωπα δʼ οὐ μάλα,
τὸν πελάταν λέκτρων ποτὲ τῶν Διὸς
κατὰ δρομάδʼ ἄμπυκα δέσμιον ὡς ἔβαλεν παγκρατὴς Κρόνου παῖς·
ἄλλον δʼ οὔτινʼ ἔγωγʼ οἶδα κλύων οὐδʼ ἐσιδὼν μοίρᾳ
τοῦδʼ ἐχθίονι συντυχόντα
θνατῶν, ὃς οὔτʼ ἔρξας τινʼ οὔ τι νοσφίσας,
ἀλλʼ ἴσος ὢν ἴσοις ἀνήρ,
ὤλλυθʼ ὧδʼ ἀναξίως.
τόδε τοι θαῦμά μʼ ἔχει,
πῶς ποτε πῶς ποτʼ ἀμφιπλάκτων ῥοθίων μόνος κλύων,
πῶς ἄρα πανδάκρυτον οὕτω βιοτὰν κατέσχεν·

[¶59] Chorus:
Here, he alone was his own neighbor, powerless to walk, with no one in the land to be his companion while he suffered—no one to whom he could cry out a lament that would be answered
for the plague that gnawed his flesh and drained his blood—no one to lull with healing herbs gathered from the nourishing earth the burning blood which oozed from the ulcers of his
envenomed foot, whenever the torment attacked him. Instead he would then creep this way or that, stumbling like a child without his kind nurse, to any place from where his needs
might be supplied, whenever the devouring anguish withdrew.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἵνʼ αὐτὸς ἦν πρόσουρος, οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν,
οὐδέ τινʼ ἐγχώρων κακογείτονα,
παρʼ ᾧ στόνον ἀντίτυπον βαρυβρῶτʼ ἀποκλαύσειεν αἱματηρόν·
ὃς τὰν θερμοτάταν αἱμάδα κηκιομέναν ἑλκέων
ἐνθήρου ποδὸς ἠπίοισι
φύλλοις κατευνάσειεν, εἴ τις ἐμπέσοι,
φορβάδος ἐκ γαίας ἑλών·
εἷρπε γὰρ ἄλλοτʼ ἀλλαχᾷ
τότʼ ἂν εἰλυόμενος
παῖς ἄτερ ὡς φίλας τιθήνας ὅθεν εὐμάρειʼ ὑπάρ-
χοι πόρου, ἁνίκʼ ἐξανείη δακέθυμος ἄτα·

[¶60] Chorus:
For food he did not gather the fruit of holy Earth, nor anything else that we mortals feed on by our labor,
except when on occasion he obtained food to ease his hunger by means of feathered shafts from his swift-striking bow. Ah, joyless was his life, who for ten years never knew the delight of wine,
but ever directed his path towards any stagnant pool that he could find as he gazed around him.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐ φορβὰν ἱερᾶς γᾶς σπόρον, οὐκ ἄλλων
αἴρων τῶν νεμόμεσθʼ ἀνέρες ἀλφησταί,
πλὴν ἐξ ὠκυβόλων εἴ ποτε τόξων
πτανοῖς ἰοῖς ἀνύσειε γαστρὶ φορβάν.
ὦ μελέα ψυχά,
ὃς μηδʼ οἰνοχύτου πώματος ἥσθη δεκέτει χρόνῳ,
λεύσσων δʼ ὅπου γνοίη στατὸν εἰς ὕδωρ,
ἀεὶ προσενώμα.

[¶61] Chorus:
But now, after those troubles, he will attain happiness and heartiness in the end
because of his meeting with this son of a noble race, who after the fullness of many months carries him aboard our sea-crossing hull to his ancestral home,
the haunt of Malian nymphs, and to the banks of the Spercheius in that very land where, above Oeta’s heights, the hero of the brazen shield approached the gods, illuminated by his father’s divine fire.

> Greek: Χορός:
νῦν δʼ ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν παιδὸς ὑπαντήσας
εὐδαίμων ἀνύσει καὶ μέγας ἐκ κείνων·
ὅς νιν ποντοπόρῳ δούρατι, πλήθει
πολλῶν μηνῶν, πατρίαν ἄγει πρὸς αὐλὰν
Μαλιάδων νυμφᾶν
Σπερχειοῦ τε παρʼ ὄχθας, ἵνʼ ὁ χάλκασπις ἀνὴρ θεοῖς
πλάθει πατρὸς θείῳ πυρὶ παμφαής,
Οἴτας ὑπὲρ ὄχθων.

[¶62] Neoptolemus:
Please, come on. Why so silent with no apparent cause? And why are you paralyzed?
Philoctetes:
Ai, ai!

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἕρπʼ, εἰ θέλεις. τί δή ποθʼ ὧδʼ ἐξ οὐδενὸς
λόγου σιωπᾷς κἀπόπληκτος ὧδʼ ἔχει;

[¶63] Neoptolemus:
What is the matter?

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.

[¶64] Philoctetes:
Nothing serious—go on, son.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τί δʼ ἔστιν;
Φιλοκτήτης:
οὐδὲν δεινόν· ἀλλʼ ἴθʼ, ὦ τέκνον.

[¶65] Neoptolemus:
Are you in pain from the disease that frequents you?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
μῶν ἄλγος ἴσχεις τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου;

[¶66] Philoctetes:
No, indeed no. I think it is better now.—Gods, oh!

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οὐ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄρτι κουφίζειν δοκῶ. ὦ θεοί.

[¶67] Neoptolemus:
Why do you groan like this and call on the gods?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τί τοὺς θεοὺς ὧδʼ ἀναστένων καλεῖς;

[¶68] Philoctetes:
That they may come to me with power to save and soothe.—Ai! Ai!

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
σωτῆρας αὐτοὺς ἠπίους θʼ ἡμῖν μολεῖν. ἀᾶ, ἀᾶ.

[¶69] Neoptolemus:
What troubles you? Speak, do not keep so silent. It is plain enough that you are suffering somehow.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τί ποτε πέπονθας; οὐκ ἐρεῖς, ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἔσει
σιγηλός; ἐν κακῷ δέ τῳ φαίνει κυρῶν.

[¶70] Philoctetes:
I am destroyed, boy—I can never conceal my suffering when you are close. Ah! Ah! It shoots through me, shoots straight through! Oh, the pain, the misery!

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον, κοὐ δυνήσομαι κακὸν
κρύψαι παρʼ ὑμῖν, ἀτταταῖ· διέρχεται
διέρχεται. δύστηνος, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ.

[¶71] I am destroyed, boy—I am devoured! Ah, by the gods I beg you, if you have a sword ready to hand, strike at my ankle—cut it off now! Do not spare my life!
Quick, boy, quick!

> Greek: ἀπόλωλα, τέκνον· βρύκομαι, τέκνον· παπαῖ,
ἀπαππαπαῖ, παπαππαπαππαπαππαπαῖ.
πρὸς θεῶν, πρόχειρον εἴ τί σοι, τέκνον, πάρα
ξίφος χεροῖν, πάταξον εἰς ἄκρον πόδα·
ἀπάμησον ὡς τάχιστα· μὴ φείσῃ βίου. ἴθʼ, ὦ παῖ.

[¶72] Neoptolemus:
What new thing has come on you so suddenly that you wail for yourself with these loud shrieks?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τί δʼ ἔστιν οὕτω νεοχμὸν ἐξαίφνης, ὅτου
τοσήνδʼ ἰυγὴν καὶ στόνον σαυτοῦ ποεῖ;

[¶73] Philoctetes:
You know, son.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οἶσθʼ, ὦ τέκνον;

[¶74] Neoptolemus:
What is it?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τί δʼ ἔστιν;

[¶75] Philoctetes:
You know, boy.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οἶσθʼ, ὦ παῖ;

[¶76] Neoptolemus:
What ails you? I do not know.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τί σοί;
οὐκ οἶδα.

[¶77] Philoctetes:
How could you not know? Oh, oh!

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
πῶς οὐκ οἶσθα; παππαπαππαπαῖ.

[¶78] Neoptolemus:
Yes, terrible is the burden of your disease.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
δεινόν γε τοὐπίσαγμα τοῦ νοσήματος.

[¶79] Philoctetes:
Terrible beyond telling! Oh, pity me!

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
δεινὸν γὰρ οὐδὲ ῥητόν· ἀλλʼ οἴκτιρέ με.

[¶80] Neoptolemus:
What shall I do?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τί δῆτα δράσω;

[¶81] Philoctetes:
Do not betray me because of fear. This plague comes only now and then,—perhaps when she has been sated with her roamings elsewhere.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
μή με ταρβήσας προδῷς·
ἥκει γὰρ αὕτη διὰ χρόνου πλάνοις ἴσως
ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη.

[¶82] Neoptolemus:
Ah, poor wretch! Poor man, truly for all your sufferings! Shall I support you, or somehow offer a helping hand?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἰὼ ἰὼ δύστηνε σύ,
δύστηνε δῆτα διὰ πόνων πάντων φανείς.
βούλει λάβωμαι δῆτα καὶ θίγω τί σου;

[¶83] Philoctetes:
No, no. But take this bow of mine—as you earlier asked of me—and keep it in your care and safe
until this present bout with my disease is past. For indeed sleep takes me as soon as this pain passes away, nor can it cease before then. But you must allow me to sleep in peace. And if
those men come in the meantime, then by the gods I forbid you willingly or unwillingly, or by any skilled trickery, to give up this bow to them, lest you bring destruction at once on yourself and on me, who am your suppliant.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
μὴ δῆτα τοῦτό γʼ· ἀλλά μοι τὰ τόξʼ ἑλὼν
τάδʼ, ὥσπερ ᾐτοῦ μʼ ἀρτίως, ἕως ἀνῇ
τὸ πῆμα τοῦτο τῆς νόσου τὸ νῦν παρόν,
σῷζʼ αὐτὰ καὶ φύλασσε. λαμβάνει γὰρ οὖν
ὕπνος μʼ, ὅταν περ τὸ κακὸν ἐξίῃ τόδε·
κοὐκ ἔστι λῆξαι πρότερον· ἀλλʼ ἐᾶν χρεὼν
ἕκηλον εὕδειν. ἢν δὲ τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ
μόλωσʼ ἐκεῖνοι, πρὸς θεῶν ἐφίεμαι
ἑκόντα μηδʼ ἄκοντα μηδέ τῳ τέχνῃ
κείνοις μεθεῖναι ταῦτα, μὴ σαυτόν θʼ ἅμα
κἄμʼ, ὄντα σαυτοῦ πρόστροπον, κτείνας γένῃ.

[¶84] Neoptolemus:
Have no fears as to my caution. The bow shall pass
into no hands but yours and mine. Give it to me, and may good luck accompany it!

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
θάρσει προνοίας οὕνεκʼ· οὐ δοθήσεται
πλὴν σοί τε κἀμοί· ξὺν τύχῃ δὲ πρόσφερε.

[¶85] Philoctetes:
There, take it boy. And humble yourself before the jealous gods, so that the bow may not prove baneful for you, as it did for me and for him who owned it before me.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἰδοὺ δέχου, παῖ· τὸν φθόνον δὲ πρόσκυσον
μή σοι γενέσθαι πολύπονʼ αὐτὰ μηδʼ ὅπως
ἐμοί τε καὶ τῷ πρόσθʼ ἐμοῦ κεκτημένῳ.

[¶86] Neoptolemus:
O gods, grant this to the two of us! And grant us a voyage
prosperous and unimpeded, to whatever goal the god may deem right and that our mission provides!

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ὦ θεοί, γένοιτο ταῦτα νῷν· γένοιτο δὲ
πλοῦς οὔριός τε κεὐσταλὴς ὅποι ποτὲ
θεὸς δικαιοῖ χὠ στόλος πορσύνεται.

[¶87] Philoctetes:
Futile, I fear, are your prayers, boy. Look, once again the dark blood is oozing drop by drop from deep in the wound, and I look for worse to come.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἀλλʼ οὖν δέδοικα μὴ ἀτέλεστʼ εὔχῃ, τέκνον.
στάζει γὰρ αὖ μοι φοίνιον τόδʼ ἐκ βυθοῦ
κηκῖον αἷμα, καί τι προσδοκῶ νέον.

[¶88] Ah, me, oh, oh! Cursed foot, what torment you cause me! It creeps on me, it is coming near! Ah, misery! Now you know my condition. Do not flee, no!

> Greek: παπαῖ, φεῦ.
παπαῖ μάλʼ, ὦ πούς, οἷά μʼ ἐργάσει κακά.
προσέρπει,
προσέρχεται τόδʼ ἐγγύς. οἴμοι μοι τάλας.
ἔχετε τὸ πρᾶγμα· μὴ φύγητε μηδαμῇ.

[¶89] Oh, alas! Odysseus of Cephallene, once my friend, would that this anguish might stick to you, and pierce your chest! Ah, me! Ah, me! O you twin marshalls, Agamemnon, and you, Menelaus, may your flesh instead of mine
nourish this plague, and for as long! Oh, Ah, me! O Death, Death, though I am always summoning you day after day, why do you never come? O son, noble youth, seize me,
burn me up, true friend, in that fire famed as Lemnian. I, too, once deemed it lawful to do that very service for the son of Zeus, in return for which I received these same arms, which are now in your keeping. What do you say, boy, what do you say?

> Greek: ἀτταταῖ.
ὦ ξένε Κεφαλλήν, εἴθε σου διαμπερὲς
στέρνων ἔχοιτʼ ἄλγησις ἥδε. φεῦ, παπαῖ,
παπαῖ μάλʼ αὖθις. ὦ διπλοῖ στρατηλάται,
Ἀγάμεμνον, ὦ Μενέλαε, πῶς ἂν ἀντʼ ἐμοῦ
τὸν ἴσον χρόνον τρέφοιτε τήνδε τὴν νόσον; ἰώ μοι.
ὦ Θάνατε Θάνατε, πῶς ἀεὶ καλούμενος
οὕτω κατʼ ἦμαρ, οὐ δύνᾳ μολεῖν ποτε;
ὦ τέκνον ὦ γενναῖον, ἀλλὰ συλλαβὼν
τῷ Λημνίῳ τῷδʼ ἀνακαλουμένῳ πυρὶ
ἔμπρησον, ὦ γενναῖε· κἀγώ τοί ποτε
τὸν τοῦ Διὸς παῖδʼ ἀντὶ τῶνδε τῶν ὅπλων,
ἃ νῦν σὺ σῴζεις, τοῦτʼ ἐπηξίωσα δρᾶν. τί φής, παῖ;

[¶90] Why this silence? Where are your thoughts, son?

> Greek: τί φής; τί σιγᾷς; ποῦ ποτʼ ὤν, τέκνον, κυρεῖς;

[¶91] Neoptolemus:
My heart has long been aching for your load of pain.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἀλγῶ πάλαι δὴ τἀπὶ σοὶ στένων κακά.

[¶92] Philoctetes:
Stop, then, and take courage; this visitor comes sharply, but goes quickly. Yet, I beg you, do not leave me alone.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχʼ· ὡς ἥδε μοι
ὀξεῖα φοιτᾷ καὶ ταχεῖʼ ἀπέρχεται.
ἀλλʼ ἀντιάζω, μή με καταλίπῃς μόνον.

[¶93] Neoptolemus:
Take heart, we will remain.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
θάρσει, μενοῦμεν.

[¶94] Philoctetes:
Will you?

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἦ μενεῖς;

[¶95] Neoptolemus:
Be sure of it.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
σαφῶς φρόνει.

[¶96] Philoctetes:
Indeed, I do not think it right to put you under oath.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οὐ μήν σʼ ἔνορκόν γʼ ἀξιῶ θέσθαι, τέκνον.

[¶97] Neoptolemus:
Rest assured; it is not lawful for me to leave without you.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ὡς οὐ θέμις γʼ ἐμοὔστι σοῦ μολεῖν ἄτερ.

[¶98] Philoctetes:
Give me your hand in pledge!

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἔμβαλλε χειρὸς πίστιν.

[¶99] Neoptolemus:
I give it—to stay.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἐμβάλλω μενεῖν.

[¶100] Philoctetes:
Now take me there, over there!

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἐκεῖσε νῦν μʼ, ἐκεῖσε

[¶101] Neoptolemus:
Where do you mean?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ποῖ λέγεις;

[¶102] Philoctetes:
Up there!

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἄνω

[¶103] Neoptolemus:
What is this new delirium? Why do you gaze at the dome above us?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τί παραφρονεῖς αὖ; τί τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις κύκλον;

[¶104] Philoctetes:
Let me go, let me go!

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
μέθες μέθες με.

[¶105] Neoptolemus:
Where will you go, if I do so?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ποῖ μεθῶ;

[¶106] Philoctetes:
Let me go, I say!

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
μέθες ποτέ.

[¶107] Neoptolemus:
I will not.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
οὔ φημʼ ἐάσειν.

[¶108] Philoctetes:
You will kill me, if you touch me further.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἀπό μʼ ὀλεῖς, ἢν προσθίγῃς.

[¶109] Neoptolemus:
There, then, I release you—if in fact you believe it is for the better.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
καὶ δὴ μεθίημʼ, εἴ τι δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς.

[¶110] Philoctetes:
Wide Earth, embrace me now on the verge of death!
This pain no longer lets me stand up.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ὦ γαῖα, δέξαι θανάσιμόν μʼ ὅπως ἔχω
τὸ γὰρ κακὸν τόδʼ οὐκέτʼ ὀρθοῦσθαί μʼ ἐᾷ.

[¶111] Neoptolemus:
Sleep, I think, will take him before long. See, his head sinks backward. Yes, a sweat runs over his whole body, and a dark, hemorrhaging vein has burst from his heel.
Come, friends, let us leave him in quietness, so that he may fall asleep.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἔοικεν ὕπνος οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου
ἕξειν· κάρα γὰρ ὑπτιάζεται τόδε·
ἱδρώς γέ τοί νιν πᾶν καταστάζει δέμας,
μέλαινά τʼ ἄκρου τις παρέρρωγεν ποδὸς
αἱμορραγὴς φλέψ. ἀλλʼ ἐάσωμεν, φίλοι,
ἕκηλον αὐτόν, ὡς ἂν εἰς ὕπνον πέσῃ.

[¶112] Chorus:
Divine Sleep, god who knows no pain, Sleep, stranger to anguish, come in favor to us, come happy, and giving happiness, great King!

> Greek: Χορός:
Ὕπνʼ ὀδύνας ἀδαής, Ὕπνε δʼ ἀλγέων,
εὐαὲς ἡμῖν ἔλθοις,
εὐαίων εὐαίων, ὦναξ·

[¶113] Keep before his eyes such light as is spread before them now. Come to him, I pray you, come with power to heal! Son, consider what position you will take, and to what strategy you will next direct our course.
You see his condition now! Why should we hesitate to act? Opportunity, the umpire of all contests, often wins a great victory by one swift stroke.

> Greek: ὄμμασι δʼ ἀντίσχοις
τάνδʼ αἴγλαν, ἃ τέταται τανῦν.
ἴθι ἴθι μοι παιών.
ὦ τέκνον, ὅρα ποῦ στάσει,
ποῖ δέ μοι τἀνθένδε βάσει,
φροντίδος. ὁρᾷς ἤδη.
πρὸς τί μενοῦμεν πράσσειν;
καιρός τοι πάντων γνώμαν ἴσχων
πολύ τι πολὺ παρὰ πόδα κράτος ἄρνυται.

[¶114] Neoptolemus:
No, even though he hears nothing, I see that
we have made this bow our quarry to no end, if we sail without him. His must be the victor’s crown. It is he that the god commanded we bring. It would be a foul disgrace upon us to boast of deeds in which failure and fraud had equal parts.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἀλλʼ ὅδε μὲν κλύει οὐδέν, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁρῶ οὕνεκα θήραν
τήνδʼ ἁλίως ἔχομεν τόξων, δίχα τοῦδε πλέοντες.
τοῦδε γὰρ ὁ στέφανος, τοῦτον θεὸς εἶπε κομίζειν.
κομπεῖν δʼ ἔστʼ ἀτελῆ σὺν ψεύδεσιν αἰσχρὸν ὄνειδος.

[¶115] Chorus:
Well, the god must look to that, son. But when you answer me again,
softly, please, softly whisper your words. For sick men’s restless sleep is quick to vision. But, please, use your utmost care to win that prize,
that great prize, by stealth. For if you maintain your present purpose towards this man—you know what purpose I mean—then truly there are irremediable troubles in store, which a shrewd mind can foresee.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλά, τέκνον, τάδε μὲν θεὸς ὄψεται·
ὧν δʼ ἂν ἀμείβῃ μʼ αὖθις,
βαιάν μοι, βαιάν, ὦ τέκνον,
πέμπε λόγων φάμαν·
ὡς πάντων ἐν νόσῳ εὐδρακὴς
ὕπνος ἄϋπνος λεύσσειν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτι δύνᾳ μάκιστον
κεῖνο δή μοι κεῖνο λάθρᾳ
ἐξιδοῦ ὅπᾳ πράξεις.
οἶσθα γὰρ ἃν αὐδῶμαι,
εἰ ταύταν τούτων γνώμαν ἴσχεις,
μάλα τοι ἄπορα πυκινοῖς ἐνιδεῖν πάθη.

[¶116] Chorus:
Now, son, a fair wind blows you on your way: sightless and helpless, the man lies stretched in darkness—sleep in the heat is sound—
with no command of hands or feet, but stripped of all his powers, like one who rests with Hades. Take note, see if your pronouncements are seasonable. So far as my thoughts can seize the truth, boy, the best strategy is that which stirs no alarm.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὖρός τοι, τέκνον, οὖρος·
ἁνὴρ δʼ ἀνόμματος οὐδʼ ἔχων
ἀρωγὰν ἐκτέταται νύχιος,
ʽἁ̓λεὴς ὕπνος ἐσθλός,ʼ
οὐ χερός, οὐ ποδός, οὔ τινος ἄρχων,
ἀλλά τις ὡς Ἀΐδᾳ παρακείμενος.
ὅρα, βλέπʼ εἰ καίρια
φθέγγει· τὸ δʼ ἁλώσιμον
ἐμᾷ φροντίδι, παῖ,
πόνος ὁ μὴ φοβῶν κράτιστος.

[¶117] Neoptolemus:
Quiet, I say, and do not abandon your wits—the man is opening his eyes and lifts his head.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
σιγᾶν κελεύω μηδʼ ἀφεστάναι φρενῶν·
κινεῖ γὰρ ἁνὴρ ὄμμα κἀνάγει κάρα.

[¶118] Philoctetes:
Ah, light succeeding upon sleep! Ah, friendly watchers, sight unlooked for even in my dreams! I could never have expected this, son—
that you would have the patience to wait so tenderly upon my sufferings by staying close beside me and helping to relieve me. The Atreids, certainly, those valiant generals, had no heart to bear this burden so lightly. But your nature is noble and drawn of a noble line,
and so you have made little of all this, though loud cries and stenches afflicted you. And now, since the plague seems to allow me a space of forgetfulness and peace at last, lift me up yourself and set me on my feet,
so that, when the faintness releases me at length, we may set out to the ship, and not hold back our sailing.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ὦ φέγγος ὕπνου διάδοχον τό τʼ ἐλπίδων
ἄπιστον οἰκούρημα τῶνδε τῶν ξένων.
οὐ γάρ ποτʼ, ὦ παῖ, τοῦτʼ ἂν ἐξηύχησʼ ἐγώ,
τλῆναί σʼ ἐλεινῶς ὧδε τἀμὰ πήματα
μεῖναι παρόντα καὶ ξυνωφελοῦντά μοι.
οὔκουν Ἀτρεῖδαι τοῦτʼ ἔτλησαν εὐφόρως
οὕτως ἐνεγκεῖν, ἁγαθοὶ στρατηλάται.
ἀλλʼ εὐγενὴς γὰρ ἡ φύσις κἀξ εὐγενῶν,
ὦ τέκνον, ἡ σή, πάντα ταῦτʼ ἐν εὐχερεῖ
ἔθου, βοῆς τε καὶ δυσοσμίας γέμων.
καὶ νῦν ἐπειδὴ τοῦδε τοῦ κακοῦ δοκεῖ
λήθη τις εἶναι κἀνάπαυλα δή, τέκνον,
σύ μʼ αὐτὸς ἆρον, σύ με κατάστησον, τέκνον,
ἵνʼ, ἡνίκʼ ἂν κόπος μʼ ἀπαλλάξῃ ποτέ,
ὁρμώμεθʼ ἐς ναῦν μηδʼ ἐπίσχωμεν τὸ πλεῖν.

[¶119] Neoptolemus:
It pleases me to see you living unpained and breathing still, however contrary to my expectation. For in view of your persistent sufferings,
your symptoms seemed to speak of death. But now lift yourself, or, if you prefer, these men will carry you. The labor will not be grudged, since you and I are of one mind.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἀλλʼ ἥδομαι μέν σʼ εἰσιδὼν παρʼ ἐλπίδα
ἀνώδυνον βλέποντα κἀμπνέοντʼ ἔτι·
ὡς οὐκέτʼ ὄντος γὰρ τὰ συμβόλαιά σου
πρὸς τὰς παρούσας ξυμφορὰς ἐφαίνετο.
νῦν δʼ αἶρε σαυτόν· εἰ δέ σοι μᾶλλον φίλον,
οἴσουσί σʼ οἵδε· τοῦ πόνου γὰρ οὐκ ὄκνος,
ἐπείπερ οὕτω σοί τʼ ἔδοξʼ ἐμοί τε δρᾶν.

[¶120] Philoctetes:
Thank you, son, and help me up, as you will.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
αἰνῶ τάδʼ, ὦ παῖ, καί μʼ ἔπαιρʼ, ὥσπερ νοεῖς·

[¶121] Yet do not trouble your men, so that they may not suffer from the foul stench before it is necessary. It will be trial enough for them to live on board with me.

> Greek: τούτους δʼ ἔασον, μὴ βαρυνθῶσιν κακῇ
ὀσμῇ πρὸ τοῦ δέοντος· οὑπὶ νηὶ γὰρ
ἅλις πόνος τούτοισι συνναίειν ἐμοί.

[¶122] Neoptolemus:
So be it. Now stand up, and take hold of me.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἔσται τάδʼ· ἀλλʼ ἵστω τε καὐτὸς ἀντέχου.

[¶123] Philoctetes:
Do not worry, my habitual method will help me to my feet.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
θάρσει· τό τοι σύνηθες ὀρθώσει μʼ ἔθος.

[¶124] Neoptolemus:
God! What am I to do next?

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
παπαῖ· τί δῆτʼ ἂν δρῷμʼ ἐγὼ τοὐνθένδε γε;

[¶125] Philoctetes:
What is the matter? Where strays your speech?

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

[¶126] Neoptolemus:
I do not know where to turn my tongue when my thoughts are so confused.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅποι χρὴ τἄπορον τρέπειν ἔπος.

[¶127] Philoctetes:
Confused? How so? No, do not say it!

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

[¶128] Neoptolemus:
My mind is indeed brought to that condition.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἀλλʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἤδη τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους κυρῶ.

[¶129] Philoctetes:
It cannot be that offense at my sickness has persuaded you not to take me aboard your ship?

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οὐ δή σε δυσχέρεια τοῦ νοσήματος
ἔπεισεν ὥστε μή μʼ ἄγειν ναύτην ἔτι;

[¶130] Neoptolemus:
All is offense when a man has abandoned his true nature and does what does not suit him.

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

[¶131] Philoctetes:
But you, at least, are not departing from your begetter’s
example either in word or deed, when you help a man who is noble.

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

[¶132] Neoptolemus:
I shall be found to have no honor—this is the thought that long torments me.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
αἰσχρὸς φανοῦμαι· τοῦτʼ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι.

[¶133] Philoctetes:
Not because of your present deeds, at least. But because of your words, I worry.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οὔκουν ἐν οἷς γε δρᾷς· ἐν οἷς δʼ αὐδᾷς ὀκνῶ.

[¶134] Neoptolemus:
O Zeus, what shall I do? Must I be twice found base—by disloyal silence, as well as by shameful speech?

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

[¶135] Philoctetes:
Unless I am lacking in judgment, he means to betray me, leave me behind and sail away!

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

[¶136] Neoptolemus:
Leave you? No, not I. Rather, to your pain, I will bring you along. That is my torment.

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

[¶137] Philoctetes:
What do you mean, son? I do not understand.

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

[¶138] Neoptolemus:
I will conceal nothing. You must sail to Troy, back to the Achaeans and the forces of the Atreids.

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

[¶139] Philoctetes:
Ah, no! What have you said?

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οἴμοι, τί εἶπας;

[¶140] Neoptolemus:
Do not wail in grief, before you understand!

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
μὴ στέναζε, πρὶν μάθῃς.

[¶141] Philoctetes:
Understand what? What do you intend to do to me?

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ποῖον μάθημα; τί με νοεῖς δρᾶσαί ποτε;

[¶142] Neoptolemus:
Save you, first, from this misery, and then,
together with you, go and plunder Troy’s plains.

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

[¶143] Philoctetes:
And this is your true intent?

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ δρᾶν νοεῖς;

[¶144] Neoptolemus:
A harsh necessity governs these events, so do not be angered at hearing of them.

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

[¶145] Philoctetes:
I am destroyed—ah, misery!—betrayed! What have you done to me, stranger? Return my bow at once!

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

[¶146] Neoptolemus:
No, it is not possible. My duty and my interest alike constrain me to obey those in power.

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

[¶147] Philoctetes:
You destroying fire, you utter monster, you hateful masterpiece of astounding wickedness! What treachery you have done to me! How thoroughly you have deceived me! And are you, you wretch, unashamed to look at me,
the suppliant who turned to you for mercy? In taking my bow, you have robbed me of my life. Return it, I beg you, return it, I pray you, son! By the gods of your fathers, do not rob me of my life! Ah, me! He speaks to me no more.
He looks away, as if he will never give it up! O you inlets and headlands, you wild creatures of the hills who have shared my life, and you jagged cliffs, to you—for you alone hear me—to you my accustomed companions,
I bewail the treacherous treatment I have received from the son of Achilles. Although he swore to take me to my home, it is to Troy that he takes me. Although he gave me his right hand in pledge of his word, he has taken my bow, the sacred bow, once belonging to Zeus’s son Heracles, and he keeps it, and wants to show it to the Argives as his own.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ὦ πῦρ σὺ καὶ πᾶν δεῖμα καὶ πανουργίας
δεινῆς τέχνημʼ ἔχθιστον, οἷά μʼ εἰργάσω,
οἷʼ ἠπάτηκας· οὐδʼ ἐπαισχύνει μʼ ὁρῶν
τὸν προστρόπαιον, τὸν ἱκέτην, ὦ σχέτλιε;
ἀπεστέρηκας τὸν βίον τὰ τόξʼ ἑλών.
ἀπόδος, ἱκνοῦμαί σʼ, ἀπόδος, ἱκετεύω, τέκνον·
πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων, τὸν βίον με μὴ ἀφέλῃ.
ὤμοι τάλας. ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ προσφωνεῖ μʼ ἔτι,
ἀλλʼ ὡς μεθήσων μήποθʼ, ὧδʼ ὁρᾷ πάλιν.
ὦ λιμένες, ὦ προβλῆτες, ὦ ξυνουσίαι
θηρῶν ὀρείων, ὦ καταρρῶγες πέτραι,
ὑμῖν τάδʼ, οὐ γὰρ ἄλλον οἶδʼ ὅτῳ λέγω,
ἀνακλαίομαι παροῦσι τοῖς εἰωθόσιν,
οἷʼ ἔργʼ ὁ παῖς μʼ ἔδρασεν οὑξ Ἀχιλλέως·
ὀμόσας ἀπάξειν οἴκαδʼ, ἐς Τροίαν μʼ ἄγει·
προσθείς τε χεῖρα δεξιάν, τὰ τόξα μου
ἱερὰ λαβὼν τοῦ Ζηνὸς Ἡρακλέους ἔχει,
καὶ τοῖσιν Ἀργείοισι φήνασθαι θέλει·

[¶148] By force he drags me away, as if he had captured a strong man, and does not see that he is cutting down a corpse, the shadow of smoke, a mere phantom. In my strength he could not have taken me—no!—nor even in my present condition, save by deceit. But now, because of my rotten fate, I have been tricked. What should I do?

> Greek: ὡς ἄνδρʼ ἑλὼν ἰσχυρόν ἐκ βίας μʼ ἄγει,
κοὐκ οἶδʼ ἐναίρων νεκρὸν ἢ καπνοῦ σκιάν,
εἴδωλον ἄλλως· οὐ γὰρ ἂν σθένοντά γε
εἷλέν μʼ· ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ἂν ὧδʼ ἔχοντʼ, εἰ μὴ δόλῳ.
νῦν δʼ ἠπάτημαι δύσμορος. τί χρή με δρᾶν;

[¶149] Wait, give it back! Now, at least, recover your true self! What do you say? Silence! I am nothing! Double-gated cave, back, back again I return to you, but now stripped and lacking the means to live. Yes, in that chamber I will wither away alone,
bringing down with that bow no winged bird, no beast that roams the hills. Rather I myself shall die in misery, and supply a feast for those who fed me, becoming the prey of those on whom I preyed. Ah, in requital for blood my own blood will flow,
shed at the hands of a man who seemed all unknowing of evil! May destruction seize you!—but no, not yet, not before I learn whether you will change your mind. But if not, may you die a cruel death!

> Greek: ἀλλʼ ἀπόδος, ἀλλὰ νῦν ἔτʼ ἐν σαυτῷ γενοῦ.
τί φής; σιωπᾷς; οὐδέν εἰμʼ ὁ δύσμορος.
ὦ σχῆμα πέτρας δίπυλον, αὖθις αὖ πάλιν
εἴσειμι πρὸς σὲ ψιλός, οὐκ ἔχων τροφήν·
ἀλλʼ αὐανοῦμαι τῷδʼ ἐν αὐλίῳ μόνος,
οὐ πτηνὸν ὄρνιν οὐδὲ θῆρʼ ὀρειβάτην
τόξοις ἐναίρων τοισίδʼ, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς τάλας
θανὼν παρέξω δαῖθʼ ὑφʼ ὧν ἐφερβόμην,
καί μʼ οὓς ἐθήρων πρόσθε θηράσουσι νῦν·
φόνον φόνου δὲ ῥύσιον τίσω τάλας
πρὸς τοῦ δοκοῦντος οὐδὲν εἰδέναι κακόν.
ὄλοιο—μή πω, πρὶν μάθοιμʼ εἰ καὶ πάλιν
γνώμην μετοίσεις· εἰ δὲ μή, θάνοις κακῶς.

[¶150] Chorus:
What shall we do? It rests with you, my king, whether we now sail, or move forward to answer his pleas.

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δρῶμεν; ἐν σοὶ καὶ τὸ πλεῖν ἡμᾶς, ἄναξ,
ἤδη ʼστὶ καὶ τοῖς τοῦδε προσχωρεῖν λόγοις.

[¶151] Neoptolemus:
A startling pity for him has come upon me—and not now for the first time, but long ago.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
ἐμοὶ μὲν οἶκτος δεινὸς ἐμπέπτωκέ τις
τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς οὐ νῦν πρῶτον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάλαι.

[¶152] Philoctetes:
Show mercy, boy, for the love of the gods, and do not give men cause to reproach you for having cheated me.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
ἐλέησον, ὦ παῖ, πρὸς θεῶν, καὶ μὴ παρῇς
σαυτοῦ βροτοῖς ὄνειδος, ἐκκλέψας ἐμέ.

[¶153] Neoptolemus:
Ah, no, what shall I do? I wish I had never left
Scyros, so pained am I by these doings.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
οἴμοι, τί δράσω; μή ποτʼ ὤφελον λιπεῖν
τὴν Σκῦρον· οὕτω τοῖς παροῦσιν ἄχθομαι.

[¶154] Philoctetes:
You are not in and of yourself wicked, but you seem to have come to me after learning the shameless lessons of wicked masters. Now leave such behavior to others, whom it suits, and sail from here—once you have given me back my weapons.

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οὐκ εἶ κακὸς σύ, πρὸς κακῶν δʼ ἀνδρῶν μαθὼν
ἔοικας ἥκειν αἰσχρά· νῦν δʼ ἄλλοισι δοὺς
οἷς εἰκὸς ἔκπλει, τἀμά μοι μεθεὶς ὅπλα.

[¶155] Neoptolemus:
What shall we do, friends?
Enter Odysseus with several armed attendants.

> Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος:
τί δρῶμεν, ἄνδρες;
Ὀδυσσεύς:
ὦ κάκιστʼ ἀνδρῶν, τί δρᾷς;

[¶156] Odysseus:
Traitor, what are you doing? Come back here and surrender that bow to me!

> Greek: οὐκ εἶ μεθεὶς τὰ τόξα ταῦτʼ ἐμοὶ πάλιν;

[¶157] Philoctetes:
Who is that? Do I hear Odysseus?

> Greek: Φιλοκτήτης:
οἴμοι, τίς ἁνήρ; ἆρʼ Ὀδυσσέως κλύω;

[¶158] Odysseus:
Yes, Odysseus, be sure of it. Here I am before your eyes.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
Ὀδυσσέως, σάφʼ ἴσθʼ, ἐμοῦ γʼ, ὃν εἰσορᾷς.