Sophocles
Philoctetes
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The translator would like to acknowledge the valuable assistance of Sir Richard Jebb’s Commentary on Philoctetes
Note that in the text below the numbers in square brackets refer to the Greek text. The asterisks indicate links to explanatory endnotes provided by the translator.
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Background Note
Philoctetes was one of the warrior leaders who set off with Agamemnon and Menelaus to attack Troy. On the way he was bitten by a snake, and the wound refused to heal. His cries of pain and the stench of his wound so upset the Greeks that the leaders decided to abandon him on the deserted island of Lemnos, where he remained all by himself. The action of the play takes place ten years after this event.
Dramatis Personae
Odysseus: king of
Ithaca, a leading warrior of the Greek army at Troy.
Neoptolemus: young son of the great Greek hero Achilles.
Philoctetes: Greek warrior abandoned on Lemnos by the Greek forces ten
years earlier.
Chorus: sailors from Neoptolemus’ ship.
Merchant Trader (a spy posing as a Merchant).
Hercules: mortal son of Zeus, later made a god.
The Greek forces fighting at Troy are normally called the Argives or the Achaeans, as in Homer.
Scene: on the deserted island of Lemnos, just outside Philoctetes’ cave. The opening to the cave is on stage, above the level of the orchestra
[Enter into the orchestra Odysseus and Neoptolemus with a sailor attending on Neoptolemus]
ODYSSEUS
So here we are on the shores of Lemnos,
a lonely place—well off the beaten track,
surrounded by the sea. No one lives here.
This was this place, Neoptolemus,
son of Achilles, bravest and best
of all the Greeks, where, many years ago,
I left Philoctetes, son of Poeas,
a man from Malis. I abandoned him,
acting on orders from our two commanders.
His foot was dripping with infectious
sores,
10
painful ulcers. He kept screaming all the
time.
His strange, wild howling rang throughout the
camp.
[10]
He cried so much we couldn’t pray in peace
or make libations and burnt sacrifice.
But what’s the point in talking of that now?
This is no time to tell long stories,
for if he learns I’m here, then my whole scheme,
the one I think will catch him quickly, fails.
Look, your job is to carry out the tasks
we still have left to do—to find a
rock
20
somewhere round here which has two openings,
so shaped that when it’s cool there are two
seats
facing the sun, and when it’s hot, the breeze
wafts sleep in through the chamber tunnel.
To the left below it you might
glimpse
[20]
a water spring, if it’s still functioning.
Climb up there. Keep quiet. Then
signal me
if you see those features there or somewhere
else.
After that I’ll tell you my entire plan.
Then both of us will carry out my
scheme.
30
[Neoptolemus sets out searching, moving up towards the opening of the cave]
NEOPTOLEMUS
Lord Odysseus, that task you mentioned—
I think we’re close. I see a cave up here
quite like the one you mentioned.
ODYSSEUS
Above you?
Or below? I can’t see it.
NEOPTOLEMUS [approaching the mouth of the cave]
It’s up here.
High up. I can’t hear a sound—no
footsteps.
ODYSSEUS
Watch out. He may be there, in bed
asleep.
[30]
NEOPTOLEMUS [peering into the cave]
The place is empty—I don’t see anyone.
ODYSSEUS
Anything in there which might indicate
some human lives inside?
NEOPTOLEMUS
Yes, there is—
a bed of leaves pressed down Someone’s
stayed
here.
40
ODYSSEUS
Is it empty otherwise? Nothing else
hidden in the cave?
NEOPTOLEMUS
There’s a wooden cup,
crudely made, some wretched craftsman’s work—
and kindling, too, set to light a fire.
ODYSSEUS
What you describe must be his possessions.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Look here, there’s something else. Rags
left to dry—
[Neoptolemus inspects the rags]
Agh, they’re full of pus! The stench!
ODYSSEUS
This
is the spot.
Obviously our man lives here and is near
by.
[40]
His foot is crippled with that old disease.
He can’t go far. He’s gone to find some
food
50
or a remedial herb he’s seen somewhere.
Send that man of yours to be our lookout,
in case he stumbles on us unawares.
He’d rather catch me than any other Greek.
[Neoptolemus comes back down and whispers instructions to his attendant, who then leaves]
NEOPTOLEMUS
He’s on his way. He’ll be our sentry
on the path.
If there’s something else you need, just
say so.
ODYSSEUS
Son of Achilles, to fulfill your
mission,
[50]
you must be loyal to your ancestry—
that’s more than something merely
physical.
If you hear a plan you’ve not heard
before
60
and it sounds strange, you must obey it—
you’re with me here as my subordinate.
NEOPTOLEMUS
What are your orders?
ODYSSEUS
With Philoctetes—
when you speak to him, tell him a story.
You have to trick him, lead his mind
astray.
When he asks you who you are, where
you’re from,
say you’re Achilles’ son—no deception
there.
But tell him you intend to sail for
home.
You’ve left the Achaeans’ naval forces
because you truly hate them. And
here’s
why—
70
in their prayers they summoned you from
home
[60]
to Troy, since you’re the only hope
they’ve got
to take the city. But then they
judged you
not good enough to have Achilles’ arms,
although you came to claim them as your
right.
Instead they gave them to Odysseus.
Say what you like of me—pile up the
insults,
the worst there are. That won’t
injure me.
But if you don’t go through with what I
say,
you’ll hurt the Argives, every one of
them.
80
If we don’t get our hands on that man’s
bow,
you’ll never capture Troy successfully,
never destroy the realm of Dardanus*.
Let me tell you why you can talk to
him
[70]
and safely win his trust, while I cannot.
You’ve joined the Trojan expedition
freely—
you’d made no oath to anyone. In
fact,
you weren’t a member of that first
contingent.
But I was, and I can’t deny the fact.
If he sees me while he still has his
bow,
90
I’m lost, and you, as my companion,
will share my fate. That’s why we
need to plan—
we need some way you can be the means
to steal his bow, which is invincible.
My boy, I know your nature is not fit
to make up lies or speak deceitful
things.
[80]
But winning victory’s prize is sweet
indeed,
so force yourself to do it. After
this,
the justice of our actions will be clear.
So now, for one short day, follow my
lead,
100
without a sense of shame. In time
to come
they’ll call you the finest man there is.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Son of Laertes, I hate to carry out
an order which it hurts to listen to.
It’s not my nature to do anything
based on deceit. My father, so they
say,
was just the same. But I am
prepared
[90]
to take the man by force, no trickery.
He’s just one man on foot. He’ll
never win
against so many of us in a fight.
110
Since I was ordered here to work with
you,
I’m not anxious to be called disloyal.
Still, my lord, I’d much prefer to fail
in something honorable, than to win out
with treachery.
ODYSSEUS
You noble father’s son,
when I was young, I, too, had a quiet
tongue.
I let my active hands speak up for
me.
But now I’ve gone out into adult life,
faced all its trials, I see with mortal
men
the tongue, not action, rules in
everything.
120
NEOPTOLEMUS
What are your orders, then, apart from
lying?
[100]
ODYSSEUS
I’m ordering you to use deceitful means
to seize Philoctetes.
NEOPTOLEMUS
But why deceit?
Why not persuade him?
ODYSSEUS
The man won’t listen.
And he’s not someone you can take by
force.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Is he that confident, that powerful?
ODYSSEUS
Indeed, he is. His arrows never
miss.
Every shot brings death.
NEOPTOLEMUS
I’ve no chance at all
if I move out to challenge him?
ODYSSEUS
None whatsoever, unless, as I’ve
said,
130
you use some trick to grab him.
NEOPTOLEMUS
So you don’t think
there’s any shame in saying something
false?
ODYSSEUS
No—not if the lies will save us all.
NEOPTOLEMUS
But how can anyone control his
face
[110]
when he dares speak such lies?
ODYSSEUS
When what you do
brings benefits, you shouldn’t hesitate.
NEOPTOLEMUS
If that man comes to Troy, how do I
benefit?
ODYSSEUS
The only way the city can be captured
is with his bow and arrows.
NEOPTOLEMUS
So I’m not the one
who’ll take that city, as you told
me?
140
ODYSSEUS
Yes, but you need them, and they need
you.
NEOPTOLEMUS
If that’s true, we must track them down,
it seems.
ODYSSEUS
By doing this work, you’ll garner two
rewards.
NEOPTOLEMUS
How? If I knew that, I’d not refuse
it.
ODYSSEUS
In this one act, you’ll get yourself a
name
for shrewdness and nobility.
NEOPTOLEMUS
All
right,
[120]
I’ll do it. I’ll set all shame
aside.
ODYSSEUS
That story I sketched out for you just
now—
do you recall it?
NEOPTOLEMUS
You can be sure of that,
since I’ve at last agreed to do
it.
150
ODYSSEUS
Then, right now you stay here and wait for him.
I’ll move off, so I’m not seen around you.
And I’ll return our lookout to his ship.
Now, if I think you’re taking too much time,
I’ll send that same sailor here again—
but I’ll disguise his actions and his clothes,
to make him captain of some merchant ship,
beyond all recognition. Then, my
boy,
[130]
when he tells you some fancy tale, you listen,
taking from it anything that helps
you.
160
Now I’m going to my ship. It’s up to you.
May Hermes, who guides men through deceptions,
lead us through this, and with Athena, too,
goddess of victory, our city’s patron
and the one who always rescues me.
[Exit Odysseus. Enter the Chorus, members of Neoptolemus’ crew]
CHORUS
My lord, tell me what I must conceal
and what I should say to this Philoctetes.
He’s bound to be full of suspicion.
For I’m a stranger in a foreign place.
The art and judgment of the
man
170
who rules with Zeus’ godlike
sceptre
[140]
exceed the skills of ordinary men.
That age-old authority of kings
has now come down to you, my son.
So tell me what I need to do to serve you.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Right now perhaps you’re eager to inspect
the place here on the shore in which he
lives.
You can look through it—there’s no need to fear—
that dangerous man has left his cave for now.
When he gets back, stand ready to come
out
180
when I give the signal. Try to help me—
give whatever aid I may then require.
CHORUS
My lord, this help you talk
about
[150]
has long been my chief concern—
always to keep my eyes alert
above all to what’s best for you.
Tell me about this man,
the kind of shelter where he lives,
and where he might be now.
That’s something I should
know,
190
in case he comes at me somewhere
when I’m not ready for him.
Where’s he gone off to?
Is he at home in there,
in that cave, or here outside?
NEOPTOLEMUS
Here’s his dwelling with two entrances,
a den carved in the
rock.
[160]
CHORUS
The man who lives here—
where’s the poor wretch gone?
NEOPTOLEMUS
I think that’s clear.
He’s dragging his foot along some place nearby,
looking for things to eat. I’ve heard it
said
200
that that’s the way he usually lives—
in his wretched state it takes all he has
to shoot his feathered arrows at his prey,
and no one ever ventures close enough
to help him cure his sad condition.
CHORUS
Well, I pity him for that—
with no human to look after
him,
[170]
and no companion’s face to see,
he lives a miserable life,
alone, always
alone,
210
infected with a cruel disease,
confused about what he should do
to cope with every pressing need—
how does he bear a fate so grim?
It’s the workings of the gods.
What a wretched race of men they are
whose life exceeds due measure.
This man
Philoctetes,
[180]
for all we know, is just as good
as any member of the finest
clan.
220
But here he lies all by himself,
apart from other human beings,
with shaggy goats and spotted deer,
suffering from hunger pangs
and from his painful wound.
It’s pitiful—he has to bear
an agony that has no cure,
and as he cries in bitter pain,
the only answer comes from Echo,
a distant senseless
babble.
230 [190]
NEOPTOLEMUS
Well, nothing in all this surprises me.
Let me explain just how I understand it.
This man’s sufferings come from the gods,
both those afflicting him from savage Chryse*
and those he suffers now without a cure.
The gods are planning that Philoctetes
won’t aim his bow at Troy and shoot his shafts,
those all-conquering arrows from the gods,
until the time is right, when, people say,
those weapons take the city—that’s Troy’s
fate.
240 [200]
CHORUS LEADER
My lad, be quiet.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Why, what’s the matter?
CHORUS LEADER
I heard a noise—a sound that may have come
from someone in distress. From over there,
I think, or maybe there. Yes, I hear it—
I hear the voice of someone hurt. That’s
it—
someone forced to crawl along the path.
That heavy groaning of a man in pain,
even from a distance, is hard to miss.
The cries are just too clear. Now, my lad,
you should listen . . .
NEOPTOLEMUS [interrupting]
To what?
CHORUS
I’ve just been thinking. 250 [210]
This man’s not far away—he’s close to us,
bringing music home, not like a shepherd
piping his flocks back to some melody,
but screaming as he stumbles.
Perhaps his echoing howls
come from his body’s pain
or else he’s seen our ship
at its unwelcoming anchorage.
Either way, his cries are dreadful.
[Enter Philoctetes]
PHILOCTETES
You there, you strangers,
What country are you from? Why land
here,
260 [220]
put into such a desolate location,
without a decent harbour? If I guessed
your homeland or your family, what answer
would be right? You look as if you’re
Greeks,
at least from how you’re dressed, and that’s a
sight
that pleases me. But I’d like to hear you speak.
Please don’t be afraid of me and run away,
scared because I look like such a savage.
Take pity on a wretched, lonely man,
abandoned without friends, in
misery.
270
If you come as friends, speak up. Answer
me.
[230]
It’s only right we talk to one another.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Well, stranger, the first thing you should know
is that we’re Greeks. That’s what you want to
hear.
PHILOCTETES
Ah, that language gives me such delight—
to hear such words spoken by a man like this,
after so many years! Tell me, young man,
what’s made you land here? Something you
need?
Some business? Or a friendly wind? Speak
up—
tell everything, so I know who you
are.
280
NEOPTOLEMUS
My birthplace is the island Scyros. Right
now,
I’m sailing home. I’m
Neoptolemus—
[240]
Achilles’ son. Now you know everything.
PHILOCTETES
My lad, son of a man I truly loved,
and from a land I cherish, you were raised
by old Lycomedes, your mother’s father.
What business brings you to this island?
Where are you sailing from?
NEOPTOLEMUS
Well, if you must know,
I’m sailing now away from Troy.
PHILOCTETES
What’s that you say?
I’m sure you weren’t one of those on
board
290
when our first expedition sailed for Troy.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Did you take part in that great enterprise?
PHILOCTETES
My boy, you mean you don’t know who I am,
you’ve no idea who you’re looking at?
NEOPTOLEMUS
How can I know a man I’ve never
seen?
[250]
PHILOCTETES
You don’t know my name? You’ve never even heard
a rumour of my deadly suffering?
NEOPTOLEMUS
Let me assure you I know none of that—
I’ve no idea what you’re asking.
PHILOCTETES
Oh, how truly miserable I must
be,
300
how bitter to the gods, if not a word,
not even rumours of my living here,
have reached my home or any part of Greece.
Those men who broke god’s laws to leave me here
have hushed it up and laugh, while my disease
keeps flourishing and getting worse. My
boy,
young lad whose father was
Achilles,
[260]
the man who stands here right in front of you
is someone you perhaps have heard about
as master of the arms of Hercules.
310
Yes, I am Poeas’ son, Philoctetes,
the man those two commanders of the army
and that Cephallenian king Odysseus
so disgracefully threw out, deserted here,
while I was suffering from this cruel disease.*
I was bitten by a savage deadly snake.
Our fleet had sailed from Chryse by the
sea.
[270]
It landed here. Then, my boy, they left me
with this infection as my sole companion.
Yes, they left me here alone. Once they
saw
320
my storms of pain had passed and I was sleeping,
they were so happy to abandon me
under an overhanging rock, here onshore,
setting out some rags, some scraps of food,
a pittance—enough to please a beggar.
I hope they get the treatment they gave me!
My boy, can you imagine how I felt
after my sleep that day, when I awoke,
when I got up to find they’d disappeared?
How I wept, how I cried out in
distress,
330
when I saw the ships on which I’d sailed
had all gone off, with no one else
around,
[280]
no one to help, no one to soothe the pain
of my disease? I looked everywhere,
but all I found around me was my pain—
of that, my lad, I had more than my share.
Well, time went by for me, month after month,
alone in this small shelter. I was forced
to look to my own needs all by myself.
This bow gave me the food my stomach
craved,
340
by shooting birds as they passed overhead.
Each time an arrow flew out from this
string
[290]
and struck, I’d go crawling after it, in pain,
dragging this wretched foot behind me.
In winter, when I needed to fetch water,
often there was frost—at that time of year
it’s not uncommon—and I’d have to break
some firewood. I’d drag myself outside,
in agony, and get it. Then, at times,
I had no fire. But by rubbing
stones
350
I finally produced the hidden spark
which keeps me going day by day. In fact,
living here under this roof and with my fire
I have all I need, except, of course,
relief from my disease. You see, my
lad,
[300]
you should know some facts about this island.
No sailor ever comes too near this place—
not if he can help it. There’s no moorage,
or any port where he can buy and sell
to make a profit or find a welcome
host.
360
Sailors with any sense don’t travel here.
If someone ever came unwillingly—
such things do happen often over time
in the full span of one’s life—well then,
when they arrived, my boy, they’d talk to me,
speak a few sympathetic words, and then,
from pity, add some food or clothing.
But there’s one thing no one would ever
do,
[310]
once I suggested it—take me safely home.
This is the tenth year of my
misery,
370
wasting away in hunger and distress,
eaten up by this gluttonous disease.
This is the work of those sons of Atreus
and Odysseus, that brutal man. They did
this.
May the Olympian gods give them someday
full retribution for my agonies!
CHORUS
Son of Poeas, I pity you, as well—
just like those visitors you had before.
NEOPTOLEMUS
I, too, can testify to what you say.
You speak the truth. For I’ve
experienced
380 [320]
how bad the sons of Atreus can be,
and Odysseus’ brutality as well.
PHILOCTETES
What’s that? You mean you, too, have
complaints
against those accursed sons of Atreus—
something they did to you to make you angry?
NEOPTOLEMUS
I wish one day my hand could vent my rage,
so then they’d learn in Sparta and Mycenae,
that Scyros is the mother of brave men.*
PHILOCTETES
Good for you, my lad. But what’s your
reason?
Why are you so angry? What’s the
grudge
390
you have against them?
NEOPTOLEMUS
I’ll tell you, son of Poeas,
but it’s hard to say what I went
through
[330]
on their account when I arrived at Troy.
When fate declared Achilles had to die . . .
PHILOCTETES [interrupting]
What’s that? Stop there. Answer this
question first—
is Achilles, son of Peleus, dead?
NEOPTOLEMUS
He is.
But no mortal killed him. It was a god.
Phoebus Apollo brought him down, they say,
with an arrow shot.
PHILOCTETES
Both noble beings,
the killer and the killed. Now I’m not
sure,
400
my boy, what I should do next—question you
about your suffering or mourn Achilles.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Your own afflictions are enough for you,
I think. You unhappy man, you don’t
need
to mourn the next man’s troubles.
PHILOCTETES
You’re right.
So tell me once again what you went through,
how those men harmed you.
NEOPTOLEMUS
They came to get me
in a fancy decorated ship—Phoenix,
who raised my father, and lord Odysseus.
They said—I don’t know if it’s true or
not—
410
that since my father had been killed,
destiny decreed that no one except me
could seize those towers in Troy. Well, my
friend,
once they’d said that, they gave me little time
before we left. We sailed there at top
speed,
mainly because I had a great
desire
[350]
to see my father’s corpse before the burial,
since I’d never seen him. In addition,
what they’d told me was truly wonderful—
if I went back with them, I’d capture
Troy.
420
Well, we rowed and had a favorable wind,
so on my voyage by the second day
we came to Sigeum*, that bitter place.
Then, when I disembarked, all the army
at once came crowding round to welcome me,
swearing they could see the dead Achilles
alive again. But he just lay there dead.
In my grief I wept for him. Soon after
that,
[360]
I went to Atreus’ sons, as friends of mine,
or so I thought, to claim my father’s
arms
430
and all the rest of what belonged to him.
They gave me the most shameless of replies—
"Seed of Achilles, you may take away
all your father’s things except his weapons.
Another man is master of them now,
Laertes’ son, Odysseus." I jumped up—
my anger was immediate and intense—
tears were in my eyes. Full of bitterness,
I yelled at them, "You miserable men,
have you two dared award my
weapons
440
to another man rather than to
me
[370]
without even keeping me informed?"
Then Odysseus spoke up—it so happened
he was there nearby—"Yes, boy, they did.
And rightly, too, because I rescued them.
I was there to save their master’s body."
In my rage I began to heap on him
every insult I could think of, all at once.
If he meant to steal those weapons from me,
then there was nothing I was holding
back.
450
Hurt by my abuse, though not enraged,
Odysseus said, "You’ve not been where we
have—
you weren’t around when we all needed you.
And now, since you cannot speak
politely,
[380]
you’ll never sail to Scyros with those
arms."
After hearing such rebukes and insults
I’m sailing home without my property,
thanks to that low-born criminal Odysseus.
But I don’t lay the blame so much on him
as on those in command. For any
city
460
depends completely on those in control,
and so must all the army. And when people
grow unruly, it’s what their teachers say
that makes them so corrupt. That’s my
story,
all I have to tell. If there’s any man
who hates those sons of Atreus, I hope
the gods will cherish him the way I
do.
[390]
CHORUS
All-nourishing mountain mother Earth,
mother of Zeus himself,
you who live and
rule
470
in great Pactolus*, rich in gold,
most dread and sacred mother,
over there I called on you,
in Troy, when sons of Atreus
heaped all their insults on this man,
while they were handing over
his father’s armour to Odysseus,
paying highest honours to that man—
such awe-inspiring things.
Hail, blessed goddess, as you
sit
480 [400]
there on your finely decorated throne,
where carved-out lions slaughter bulls*.
PHILOCTETES
You’ve sailed here carrying your grief,
sorrows like my own, a clear guarantee.
You and your story harmonize with mine,
so I can recognize how those men act,
the sons of Atreus and that Odysseus,
a man who, I know well, would set his tongue
to every evil lie or debased
act
to get the unjust end he’s looking
for.
490
No, what you’ve said does not surprise
me,
[410]
though I do wonder how great Ajax,
if he was there, could bear to witness it.
NEOPTOLEMUS
My friend, Ajax was no longer living—
had he been alive, they’d not have robbed me.
PHILOCTETES
What’s that you say? Did death get Ajax,
too?
NEOPTOLEMUS
He’s dead and gone. Imagine Ajax
no longer standing in the sunlight.
PHILOCTETES
No, no. It’s dreadful. But
Diomedes,
son of Tydeus, and that
Odysseus,
500
son of Sisyphus (so people say), sold
to Laertes still in his mother’s womb,
they’ll not die, for they don’t deserve to live*.
NEOPTOLEMUS
No they won’t. That’s something you can
count on.
In fact right now within the Argive
army
[420]
those two are really thriving.
PHILOCTETES
And Nestor?
What about that fine old friend of mine
from Pylos? Is he alive? He’s the
one
who with his prudent counsel often
checked
the nasty things that those two men would
do.
510
NEOPTOLEMUS
Right now he’s not doing well. That son of his,
Antilochus, who stood by him, is dead.
PHILOCTETES
That’s more bad news. Those two men
you mention—
I really didn’t want to hear they’d died.
God knows what we should look for in this world,
when such men perish and Odysseus lives,
and at a time when we should hear the news
that he was dead instead of those two
men.
[430]
NEOPTOLEMUS
He’s a slippery wrestler, Philoctetes,
but even clever schemes are often
checked.
520
PHILOCTETES
Now, for the gods’ sake, what of Patroclus?
On that occasion where was he? Tell me.
Your father loved him more than anyone.
NEOPTOLEMUS
He was also dead. I can tell you why
in one brief saying—given the choice
war takes no evil men. It always wants
to seize the good ones.
PHILOCTETES
There I agree with you.
With that in mind, let me ask you this—
what about that worthless man who was so glib,
so daring with his tongue and yet so
smart?
530 [440]
NEOPTOLEMUS
Surely that can only mean Odysseus?
PHILOCTETES
No, I don’t mean him. There was a man
there
called Thersites, who never was content
to speak up only once, although no one
ever granted him the right to speak at all.*
Do you know if that fellow’s still alive?
NEOPTOLEMUS
I haven’t seen him. But from what I’ve
heard
the man still lives.
PHILOCTETES
Of course, he does.
No evil people ever get destroyed.
The gods are careful to look out for
them.
540
Somehow with all those stubborn criminals
they like to turn them back from Hades,
while always sending good and righteous
men
[450]
down to their deaths. How can I sort that
out?
How can I praise the gods? When I give
thanks
for how the world’s divinely organized,
I find the gods themselves disgraceful.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Well, Philoctetes, you son of Poeas
from Oetea, in future I’ll be careful—
I’ll keep watching what’s going on at
Troy
550
but from a distance, and I’ll do the same
with those two sons of Atreus. Where I see
lesser men in someone’s camp prevail
over their betters, so good men waste away,
while cowards rule—among such groups as these
I’ll never make my friends. No, Scyros’ rock
will be enough for me from this day on.
I’ll be a happy man in my own
home.
[460]
Now I’ll get back to my ship. Farewell,
Philoctetes—as best you can fare
well.
560
I pray the gods will rid you of disease,
in answer to your wishes. We must be off—
ready to sail out when the god permits.
PHILOCTETES
My lad, are you setting off already?
NEOPTOLEMUS
Yes—our opportunities are telling us
to watch for a good wind
close to our ship
and not too far away.
PHILOCTETES
And now, my boy,
by your father, by your
mother, by all
the things you love in
your own home,
I come to you a
suppliant—don’t leave me,
570 [470]
not alone like this,
living helplessly
in such distress.
You see what this is like.
You’ve heard how much I
suffer. Think of me
as something
incidental. Yes, I know
you have a great disgust
for such a load.
But even so, bear with
it. Noble minds
find unkind deeds
disgraceful and good acts
commendable. If
you deny this plea,
what people say about
you won’t be good.
But my boy, if you do
help, you’ll
get
580
the greatest tribute
given to honour,
if I can reach Oeta’s
land alive.
Come, not even one full
day of
trouble.
[480]
Take the chance.
Let me aboard and set me
any place you wish—in the hold, the bow,
the stern—wherever I will least offend
the others in the
ship. Give your consent,
my boy—by Zeus himself,
god of suppliants,
let me convince you! I’m
down on my knees
in front of you, though
I’m weak and
wretched,
590
a cripple. Don’t
leave me alone like this,
so far from any routes
men travel on.
No. Take me safely to
your home, or else
to Euboea, where
Chalcodon lives.
From there it’s no long
trip for me to
reach
[490]
Oeta, the Trachianian
heights,
and the fair-flowing
Spercheius river,
so you can show me off
to my dear father,
although for some time
now I’ve been afraid
he’s gone from me.
I’ve often summoned
him,
600
sending urgent prayers
with those who’ve come here,
for him to send a ship
to rescue me
and take me home.
But either he is dead,
or, what I think more
likely, those I sent,
thinking my affairs a trivial
matter,
hurried to complete
their voyage home.
But now in you I’ve come
across a
man
[500]
who can escort me and be
my messenger.
Have mercy, and rescue
me! Bear in mind
how everything for human
beings is
strange
700
and so precarious—things
can go well,
then change into their
opposite. A man
who stays away from harm
has to watch out
for dreadful things, and
when a man succeeds,
then he must really look
at how he lives,
just in case he’s killed
without a warning.
CHORUS
Oh my king, have pity.
He’s spoken of his struggles,
all that suffering and pain,
ordeals I hope no friend of
mine
710
will every have to undergo.
And if, my lord, you
hate
[510]
those savage sons of Atreus,
I’d transform their evil acts
into some benefit for him
and carry him, as he has asked,
in your rapid well-stocked ship
back to his home, and so avoid
the righteous anger of the gods.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Take care—right now you’re just a
bystander.
720
It’s easy. But later, when you’ve had your
fill
[520]
of his infection by living with it,
you may no longer stand by what you’ve said.
CHORUS
That won’t happen. You’ll never have just
cause
to make that charge against me.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Well, I’d be shamed
if this stranger found me less prepared than you
to work on his behalf. So come on, then,
if it seems all right, let’s put out to sea.
The man should start his trip without delay.
Our ship will carry him. We won’t
refuse.
730
May the gods let us safely leave this land
and sail from here wherever we may choose.
PHILOCTETES
What a glorious day! Oh, you sweet
man,
[530]
you dear sailors, I wish I could do something
to show you how you’ve made me your true friend!
Let’s be gone, my lad, once we’ve kissed the
ground
in ritual farewell to my home in there,
that was no home, so you can also learn
how I sustained myself, how I was born
with a determined heart. For I
believe
740
the very sight of it would have convinced
anyone but me to give up this ordeal.
But from necessity I’ve had to learn
to bear such misery.
[Philoctetes starts to lead Neoptolemus up to his cave]
CHORUS
Wait a moment!
Two men are coming. We should talk to
them.
One’s a sailor from your ship, the other
one
[540]
a stranger. Let’s hear what they have to
say.
Then you can go inside.
[A sailor enters, leading a spy disguised as a
Merchant]
MERCHANT
Son of Achilles,
I asked my companion here, who was on watch,
guarding your ship with two other
sailors, 750
to tell me where I might run into you.
I did not intend to have this meeting,
since I was driven to this very coast
by chance. I’ve been sailing my own ship
without much company on my way home,
back from Troy to wine-rich Peparethus.
But once I heard that all these sailors
here [550]
were from your crew, it seemed a good idea
to say something, not to resume my trip
until I’d talked to you and then
received
760
a fair reward. You may not understand
some matters which concern you—the Argives
have new things in store for you, not just plans
but actions they’ve already set in motion,
no longer mere ideas.
NEOPTOLEMUS
If I’m a worthy man,
stranger, this favour you are doing for me
by your concern will make me your good
friend.
So tell me of these things you spoke about.
I need to understand just what you know
about the latest schemes the Argives
have.
770 [560]
MERCHANT
Old Phoenix and the sons of Theseus
have set sail with a naval escort—
they’re coming for you.
NEOPTOLEMUS
To take me back by force,
or to persuade me to go back
again?
MERCHANT
I don’t know. I’m here to tell you what I
heard.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Are Phoenix and his comrades on the ship
so keen to do a favour for those men,
the sons of Atreus?
MERCHANT
You can be sure
they’re doing it, not wasting any time.
NEOPTOLEMUS
How come Odysseus was not
prepared
780
to make this trip and bring the news himself?
Did some fear prevent him?
MERCHANT
He was getting
ready,
[570]
along with Tydeus’ son, to apprehend
some other man, just as I was leaving.*
NEOPTOLEMUS
What kind of man was Odysseus chasing?
MERCHANT
He was a man. . .
[The Merchant pauses and nods towards Philoctetes]
. . . but first of all tell me
who this man is. And keep your
voice down
when you speak.
NEOPTOLEMUS
This man here in front of you,
stranger, is the famous
Philoctetes.
MERCHANT
Then question me no more. Get out of
here.
790
Sail from this place as quickly as you can.
PHILOCTETES
What’s he saying, my boy? Why is this sailor
trying to haggle with you about me
in the shadows?
NEOPTOLEMUS
I don’t know what he means.
[580]
But what he speaks, he must say openly,
to me, to you, and to the crew, as well.
MERCHANT
Seed of Achilles, don’t make the army
resent me for saying what I should not,
since I get many benefits from them
as payback for the services I
give,
800
the sorts of things a poor man carries out.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Those sons of Atreus are my enemies.
This man hates them, too—that’s the reason
he’s my greatest friend. You’ve come here
out of a sense of friendship towards me,
so when you speak, you must not hide from us
anything you heard.
MERCHANT
Think of what you’re doing.
NEOPTOLEMUS
I’ve been thinking of that for some time now.
MERCHANT
I’ll hold you responsible. . .
.
[590]
NEOPTOLEMUS
All right. Speak up.
MERCHANT
Then I’ll explain it to you. That man there—
810
he’s the one the two of them are chasing,
those men I spoke of, brutal Odysseus
and Diomedes, son of Tydeus.
They’ve sworn an oath to sail and bring him
back,
either by persuading him with reasons
or by overpowering force. All Achaeans
clearly heard Odysseus when he said that.
He was confident they’d be successful,
much more so than his comrade Diomedes.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Why were the sons of Atreus so
keen
820
after so long to redirect their thoughts
onto this man, whom they’d kept in
exile
[600]
for so many years. What’s got hold of
them?
What do they want? Or is it some power
from the gods, the force of retribution
making them pay for evils they have done?
MERCHANT
That’s something you’ve probably not heard,
so I’ll explain it all. There was a
prophet—
his name was Helenus—of noble birth,
a son of Priam. One night
Odysseus,
830
who has a reputation for deceit
and every kind of shame, went out alone
and used his trickery to capture him.
Odysseus tied him up and brought him back,
then put him on display among the Argives,
like a splendid captured beast. Well,
Helenus
foretold all sorts of thing to them and
then,
[610]
concerning Troy, he made this prophecy—
they’d never smash down its great citadel
unless they could persuade
Philoctetes,
840
reason with him, and lead him back to Troy
from the island which he now inhabits.
Once he’d heard this prophecy from Helenus,
Odysseus quickly promised he’d get him
and show him to the Argives. He believed
he’d bring Philoctetes with his consent—
that was the likeliest scenario—
but if he was unwilling, he’d use force.
And he said if he did not succeed in this,
anyone who wished should cut off his
head.
850
Now, boy, you’ve heard it all, and I’d
advise
[620]
that you and anyone you care about
act now without delay.
PHILOCTETES
That’s bad news for me.
Has that man, that source of every injury,
sworn that he’ll convince me to return,
go back to the Achaeans? If I do,
once I’m dead I’ll be persuaded to rise up
into the light from Hades, just the way
his father did.*
MERCHANT
I don’t know about all that.
But I’m going back to my own ship. I
pray
860
somehow god brings you the very best of help.
[Exit Merchant]
PHILOCTETES
My boy, don’t you think it’s extremely odd
Odysseus would ever entertain the hope
his reassuring words could bring me back—
lead me from his ship, and then show
me off
there in the middle of the
Argives.
No!
[630]
I’d rather listen to my greatest foe,
the worst of all, the snake that
crippled me
and made me what I am.
That Odysseus
will say anything and attempt them
all.
870
So now I know he’s coming to this
place.
Come, my lad we should get going from
here
so there’s a wide stretch of sea
between us
and Odysseus’ ship. Let’s go.
Well-timed haste
brings sleep and rest once the work
is done.
NEOPTOLEMUS
We’ll set sail when the wind stops
blowing in
right at our bow. It’s course
is now against
us.
[640]
PHILOCTETES
But whenever one’s escaping trouble
is always an excellent time to sail.
NEOPTOLEMUS
No. This wind is blowing in
their faces,
too.
880
PHILOCTETES
There’s no wind can hold back any
pirates
when they’re intent of
plundering and theft
and using force.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Well, if that’s what you think,
let’s be off, once you’ve taken from
in there
the things you need or really want to
keep.
PHILOCTETES
Some things are necessary, but not much.
NEOPTOLEMUS
What’s there that we won’t have on
board my ship?
PHILOCTETES
I have a certain herb I always use,
the most effective treatment for this
wound
[650]
until it is completely cured.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Bring
that.
890
Is there something else you still
want to get?
PHILOCTETES
Any of the arrows I’ve forgotten
or overlooked, in case I leave them
there
for someone else to take.
NEOPTOLEMUS
What you’re holding there
is that the famous bow?
PHILOCTETES
The very one.
What I have in my hands is no
substitute.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Is there some way I could inspect the bow
more closely, hold it, get a feel for it
as something sacred?
PHILOCTETES
For you alone, my son,
I’ll grant this wish and whatever else I
can
900
that’s in your interest.
NEOPTOLEMUS
I’d love to hold
it,
[660]
but I want that only if it’s lawful.
If not, then forget I asked about it.
PHILOCTETES
What you say, my boy, is just and
pious.
You’re the only one who’s offered me
the light of life, the hope that I
will see
the land of Oeta, my aged father,
and my friends. When I was
lying there,
at my enemies’ feet, you raised me up
beyond their reach. Take courage. This
bow
910
is yours to hold and then give back to me,
the one who gave it to you. You can claim,
thanks to your virtue, you’re the only man
who’s touched it. That’s the reason I
myself
acquired the bow—by acting virtuously.*
[670]
NEOPTOLEMUS
I’m glad I found you and became your friend.
Whoever knows how to return a favour
for a favour he’s received proves himself
a friend more valuable than all possessions.
Please go inside.
PHILOCTETES
I’ll go in there with you.
920
My sick condition craves your company.
[Philoctetes and Neoptolemus enter the cave together]
CHORUS
Though I never saw it happen,
I have heard the distant rumour
how a man once stole up to
Zeus’ marriage bed—and then
how the mighty son of Cronos
lashed him to a whirling wheel.*
But from all I’ve heard and
seen
[680]
I know no other mortal man
who’s run into a fate as
harsh
930
as has Philoctetes, a man
who did no wrong to anyone
by thievery or violence,
but acted fairly towards those
who treated him respectfully,
and then, without deserving it,
he was abandoned here to die.
Amazement seizes me to think
how, as he listened by himself
to breakers crashing on the
shore,
940
he somehow kept a hold on
life
[690]
which brought him so much misery.
He had no neighbour but himself
and lacked the power to walk. No one
for a companion in the place
throughout his illness, no one there
to answer him with sympathy
when he screamed out against the plague
that ate his flesh and made him bleed,
no one to gather healing
leaves
950
when he succumbed to an attack,
to take them from the fertile
earth
[700]
and staunch the burning streams of blood
oozing from the ulcerous sores
on his wounded foot. No. He crept
back and forth, crawling like a child
with no dear nurse attending him,
to any place where he might find
relief to ease his pain, and then
his all-consuming
agonies
960
eventually would subside.
And he could not collect his food
by taking what the earth provides
or any other nourishment
of those of us who feed ourselves
with our own work, except those
times
[710]
he eased his hunger with a meal
he got himself with feathered arrows
from his swiftly striking bow.
He’s lived a miserable
life.
970
He’s enjoyed no succoring wine,
but always for the past ten years
has had to look around and find
whatever puddles he could reach.
But now, with all these troubles past,
he’ll find success and
happiness—
[720]
he’s met a noble family’s son
who’ll take him, after all this time,
aboard his own sea worthy boat
and sail to his ancestral
home,
980
the place where nymphs of Malis dwell,
along Spercheius river banks,
where, high up on Oeta’s heights,
that bronze-shield warrior rose up,
ascended to the gods, ablaze
in his own father’s sacred fire.*
[Neoptolemus and Philoctetes come out from the cave. Philoctetes is carrying his bow and is in obvious pain]
NEOPTOLEMUS
Let’s move out of here, if that’s what you
want.
[730]
Why are you so silent? There’s no need for
that.
Have you been paralyzed?
PHILOCTETES
Aaiiii . . . aaiii.
NEOPTOLEMUS
What’s wrong?
PHILOCTETES
It’s nothing serious, my boy.
990
Just keep going.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Are you suffering pain
from the disease which always bothers you?
PHILOCTETES
No, no. I think it’s better now. Oh
you gods!
NEOPTOLEMUS
Why scream like that and call out to the gods?
PHILOCTETES
For them to come to me in person . . . save me .
. .
Aaaiiiiii! . . . Aaaaaaiiiiii!!! . . .
Aaaaaiiiiiiiiii!
NEOPTOLEMUS
What’s troubling you now? Why not speak
up?
[740]
Why don’t you tell me? It’s obvious enough
you’re in some kind of pain.
PHILOCTETES
I’m done for, my boy.
I can’t conceal this dreadful thing from you . .
.
1000
Aaiiii . . . It goes right through me . . .
shooting pains.
It’s horrible . . . I’m in such agony!
I’m being destroyed, my lad, eaten up . . .
my god . . . oh, my god . . . such awful pain!
Oh, my boy, if you’ve got a sword at hand
by the gods I beg you slice my foot off,
here, where my leg ends. Amputate it now!
Don’t worry about my life. Do it, my
boy!
[750]
NEOPTOLEMUS
What new pain makes you scream so suddenly?
Why groan and cry like this?
PHILOCTETES
You know, my son.
1010
NEOPTOLEMUS
What is it?
PHILOCTETES
My boy, you know the reason.
NEOPTOLEMUS
No, I don’t. What’s wrong with you?
PHILOCTETES
How could you not know? Aaaaiiiii!
NEOPTOLEMUS
It’s the agonizing weight of your disease.
PHILOCTETES
That’s right . . . the pain . . . it’s
indescribable.
Have pity on me!
NEOPTOLEMUS
What shall I do?
PHILOCTETES
Don’t get afraid and just give up on me.
The disease attacks me only now and then,
perhaps when it’s done with roaming elsewhere.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Alas, you’ve had such a miserable
life,
1020
poor man, it seems you’ve really
suffered
[760]
every kind of trouble. What do you want?
Can I help you up? Do you need my hand?
PHILOCTETES
No. Don’t do that. But take this bow
for me—
you just asked me if I’d let you hold it.
Make sure you look after it. Keep it safe,
until this present fit from my disease
eases off. Once the agony gets less,
I’ll be overcome with sleep—it won’t leave
before that time, so let me sleep in
peace.
1030
If those two men get here while I’m asleep,
don’t give them the bow—no, by the
gods,
[770]
I tell you don’t—not of your own free will,
or without wanting to, or through a trick—
you may get yourself destroyed and me,
and I’m your suppliant.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Don’t worry.
I’ll be careful. No one’s hands will touch
the bow
but yours and mine. Let me me take it from
you,
and may it bring good luck!
PHILOCTETES
Here, lad, take it.
Give the gods’ jealousy due
reverence,
1040
in case this bow brings you much suffering,
as it has me and the man who owned it
before I did.*
NEOPTOLEMUS
Gods grant both of us success—
a prosperous quick trip to whatever
place
[780]
we come to on our trip which god thinks right.
PHILOCTETES [still in great pain]
My boy, I’m afraid your prayers are useless.
Dark red blood is dripping down, oozing out
from deep within my sore, and I expect
there’ll be new attack. Ahhh . . . ohhhh .
. .
it’s really bad . . . this accursed foot . .
.
1050
it brings me such torment . . . creeping up . .
.
it’s almost here . . . aaiii, it hurts so
much . . .
You know what’s going on—don’t abandon
me,
[790]
don’t leave . . . aaaaiiiii . . . Ah, Odysseus,
you who were once my guest, how I now wish
you were in such agony, with pains like this
driving straight through your chest! It’s
hard for me . . .
aaaiii . . . it strikes again! You two
commanders—
you, Agamemnon and Menelaus,
may this disease feed on the pair of
you
1060
instead of me and for as many years . . .
it’s too much for me . . . O death, death,
here I keep calling for you all the time.
Why can’t you ever come? O noble boy,
my child, my good friend, carry me away,
and burn me in that famous Lemnian
fire.
[800]
I
thought it right to do that service once
for Zeus’ son—and in return I got
those weapons you are holding for me now.*
Why do you say, lad? What do you
say?
1070
Why so quiet? What’s on your mind, my son?
NEOPTOLEMUS
I feel so sorry for you—what you’re going
through
has for some time now filled me with distress.
PHILOCTETES
Don’t worry about that, my lad. Cheer up.
These fits are severe but pass off quickly.
So I beg you, don’t leave me alone.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Don’t be afraid. We’ll
stay.
[810]
PHILOCTETES
You won’t leave.
NEOPTOLEMUS
You can be sure of it.
PHILOCTETES
Well, my lad,
I don’t think it’s fair to make you swear to it.
NEOPTOLEMUS
There’s no need. It would be against the
law
1080
for me to go without you.
PHILOCTETES
Give me your hand—
a pledge of trust.
NEOPTOLEMUS
I will stay. Here’s my pledge.
[Neoptolemus and Philoctetes shake hands. Then a new fit attacks Philoctetes and he falls to his knees]
PHILOCTETES
Take me back—in there.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Where do you mean?
PHILOCTETES [indicating the opening to the cave above them]
Up there—there!
NEOPTOLEMUS [grabbing Philoctetes]
Is this another fit?
Why roll your eyes up at the sky?
PHILOCTETES
Let go!
Get your hands away from me!
NEOPTOLEMUS
If I do,
where will you go?
PHILOCTETES
Take your hands off me!
NEOPTOLEMUS
I won’t do that, I tell you.
PHILOCTETES
You’ll kill me
if you keep grabbing me.
NEOPTOLEMUS
All right, I’ll let go,
if you really think that’s better for
you.
1090
PHILOCTETES
I’m close to death—O Earth, embrace me now!—
these fits won’t let me stand up any more.
[820]
[Philoctetes collapses prone on the ground]
NEOPTOLEMUS
I think sleep will overpower him soon.
His head is sinking back. His whole body
is soaked in sweat, and a black flow of blood
has burst through on his heel. Leave him
alone,
my friends, so he can fall asleep.
CHORUS
O Sleep who knows no pain,
sweet Sleep so free of suffering,
come to us with joy, my
king,
1100
and bring him happiness.
Hold before his eyes that
light
[830]
which shines around them now.
Come down, I pray, and heal him.
CHORUS LEADER
My son, think about where you are right now
and how you sort out where we go from here.
Do you see him there? He’s asleep. Let’s
act.
Why hesitate? For Opportunity,
which takes everything into account,
often wins decisively in one quick blow.*
1110
NEOPTOLEMUS [looking down at sleeping Philoctetes]
He cannot hear a thing. But even so,
I know if we set off without this
man,
[840]
we’ll have hunted down this bow in vain.
The crown of victory belongs to him—
the god instructed us to lead him back.
We’ll bring disgrace and shame upon ourselves
boasting of what we did, when the result
was incomplete and when we lied, as well.
CHORUS
But the god will see to that, my boy.
And when you answer me
again
1120
you must whisper to me, lad,
speak softly when you talk.
In sickness all men’s slumber
is not real sleep—it has keen eyes.
I think you should use the utmost care,
doing everything within your power,
and take that bow—a major prize.
[850]
Get it without alerting him.
If you hold to what you intend for him—
and you know clearly what I
mean—
1130
then there are surely going to be
some desperate problems facing us,
which a shrewd man could well foresee.*
Now, lad, a fair wind blows you on
your course,
this man’s eyes are closed, his weapon’s gone,
and he’s stretched out in a dark sleep—
and in this heat a man sleeps soundly.
He can’t control his hands or
feet—
[860]
like someone lying with Hades.
So think if what you’ve talked
about
1140
is practical. Consider that. My boy,
as far as I can grasp what’s happening,
the finest action is the one
where there’s nothing to fear.
PHILOCTETES
Keep quiet, I tell you. Don’t lose your
wits.
He’s opening his eyes—raising his head.
[Philoctetes wakes up and struggles to stand and look around him]
PHILOCTETES
Ah, to sleep and then to see the daylight
and friendly people watching out for me,
a sight beyond my fondest hopes! My boy,
I never would have thought you’d do
this—
1150
remain here with such sympathy and
wait
[870]
to help me until my fit was over.
Those fine generals, the sons of Atreus,
you can be sure, would not have done that,
not so readily. But your nature, lad,
is good—you’ve got a noble ancestry.
So you bore all these troubles easily,
the cries of pain and the appalling stench.
And now it looks as if I can forget
this illness and rest awhile. So, my
boy,
1160
lift me up. Help me to my feet, lad.
When I recover from this
dizziness,
[880]
we’ll go to the ship, sail without delay.
NEOPTOLEMUS
I’m glad to see you’re still alive, breathing
without that pain. What I was expecting
was something else—in your endless suffering
your symptoms made you look as if you’d died.
Now you should get up. Or, if you prefer,
these men will carry you. It’s no trouble,
since you and I agree what we’re to
do.
1170
PHILOCTETES
Thanks, my lad. Why not help me up yourself,
as you were going to? Leave the men
alone,
[890]
so they don’t get upset by the foul stench
before they have to. It will be hard
enough
for them to be on board the ship with me.
NEOPTOLEMUS
All right, then. I’ll take hold of
you. Stand up.
PHILOCTETES
Don’t worry. I’ll do what I always do
to get up on my feet.
[Philoctetes struggles with great difficulty to stand up. Neoptolemus watches him]
NEOPTOLEMUS
This is dreadful—
what am I supposed to do at this point?
PHILOCTETES
What is it, lad? Those words sound out of
place.
1180
NEOPTOLEMUS
I don’t know how I need to frame my words . . .
Things are so confused. . . .
PHILOCTETES
You’re confused?
No, no, my boy, don’t say such things.
NEOPTOLEMUS
The position I’m in . . . it makes me feel like
that.
PHILOCTETES
The disgust you feel about my
sickness—
[900]
surely that feeling has not persuaded you
not to take me on your ship?
NEOPTOLEMUS
When a man
abandons his own nature and then acts
against his character, everything is bad.
PHILOCTETES
But you, at least, by helping a good
man
1190
have not been doing or saying anything
your father wouldn’t have done.*
NEOPTOLEMUS
I’ll be dishonored—
that’s the thought that keeps tormenting me.
PHILOCTETES
No, not because of what you’re doing now.
But the way you’re talking has me worried.
NEOPTOLEMUS
O Zeus, what do I do? Will I be disgraced
twice over—hiding what I should not hide
and forfeiting my honour with my words?
PHILOCTETES
Unless I’ve judged this situation
badly,
[910]
this man’s intending to betray
me—
1200
he’ll leave me here and sail away.
NEOPTOLEMUS
No!
I won’t abandon you. I’ll take you with
me,
but you’ll really find the trip distressing.
All this time that’s what’s been troubling me.
PHILOCTETES
What do you mean, my boy? I don’t
understand.
NEOPTOLEMUS
I won’t hide a thing. You must sail to
Troy,
back to the Achaeans and the army
led by the sons of Atreus.
PHILOCTETES
Oh no!
What are you saying?
NEOPTOLEMUS
Don’t start wailing,
not until you learn what it’s
about.
1210
PHILOCTETES
What’s there to learn? What are you doing
with me?
NEOPTOLEMUS
First, I’m saving you from this wretched place.
And then I’m going with you to plunder
Troy.
[920]
PHILOCTETES
Is this what you really mean to do?
NEOPTOLEMUS
There’s a powerful necessity at work,
controlling these events. Keep your temper
when you hear about them.
PHILOCTETES
I’m done for . . .
betrayed . . . this is appalling! You
stranger,
why have you done this to me? My bow—
give it back to me back right now!
NEOPTOLEMUS
I can’t do
that.
1220
Both my duty and my own self-interest
compel me to obey those in command.
PHILOCTETES
You destructive fire . . . you total monster . .
.
you hateful masterpiece of fearful treachery—
what you’ve done to me, how you’ve betrayed me!
Aren’t you ashamed to look at me, a man
who was your suppliant, who begged your
mercy?
[930]
You wretch! When you take away my bow,
you deprive me of my life. Hand it back.
I’m begging you. Please, my lad, return
it.
1230
By your fathers’ gods, don’t take away my life!
[Neoptolemus remains silent and cannot look at Philoctetes]
This is atrocious! He’s not
speaking to me.
He won’t even look me in the eye,
as if he’ll never give me back my bow.
O you bays and headlands, you mountain beasts,
who’ve been part of my life, you jagged rocks,
to you I call—there’s no one else to hear me.
So to you, my customary companions,
I cry out what this boy has done to
me,
[940]
Achilles’ son, who made me a
promise
1240
he’d take me home and who now leads me off
to Troy. With his right hand he pledged
his word,
then took my bow and keeps it for himself,
the sacred bow of Hercules, Zeus’ son,
which he wants to show off to the Argives.
He’s taking me by force, as if I were
some mighty warrior—he doesn’t realize
he’s destroying a corpse, a smoky shadow,
no more than a mere ghost. If I were
strong,
he’d not have captured me—even as it
is,
1250
with me in this condition, he’d not prevail
except by trickery. It’s my harsh fate.
My hopes have been betrayed. What should I
do?
Give back the bow. Return to who you
are,
[950]
to your true character. What do you say?
You’re silent, and I’m a wretched nothing!
I’ll go back once again to you, my rock
with your two entrances, but unarmed now,
without a way to get my nourishment.
And in this cave I’ll waste away
alone,
1260
unable to bring down with my arrows
birds on the wing or beasts that roam the hills.
Instead I’ll die a miserable death.
Now I’m a feast for those I used to feed on,
the prey of those I hunted down before.
I’ll pay a full reprisal with my life,
my dismal life, for those lives I took,
thanks to a man who looked as if he
had
[960]
no sense of evil. May you perish, too!
But no, not quite yet, not before I
see
1270
if you’ll change your mind again. If not,
then I hope you die a miserable death!
CHORUS
What shall we do? It’s up to you, my king,
whether we sail off now or else comply
with what he’s asking.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Pity for this man,
a dreadful pity, has come over me,
and not for the first time. No. I’ve
felt it
for a while.
PHILOCTETES
By the gods, my boy,
have mercy on me. Don’t give people cause
to criticize you for deceiving
me.
1280
NEOPTOLEMUS
No, not that! What am I going to do?
I wish I’d never sailed away from
Scyros—
[970]
what’s going on here is just too painful.
PHILOCTETES
You’re not an evil man, but it seems to me
you came here after learning shameful things
from wicked men. Leave bad deeds to
others,
those fit to act that way, and sail from here.
But first give me back my weapon.
NEOPTOLEMUS
You men,
what shall we do?
[Enter Odysseus with a small escort of armed sailors. Philoctetes does see him immediately]
ODYSSEUS
What are you doing,
you traitor? Come back here. Give me
that
bow.
1290
PHILOCTETES
Who’s that? Do I hear Odysseus’ voice?
ODYSSEUS [stepping forward]
Yes, it’s Odysseus. Now you understand
the way things are. I’m here. See
for yourself.
PHILOCTETES
Alas, I’ve been betrayed. I’m being
destroyed.
So he’s the one who really caught me out
and stole my weapons.
ODYSSEUS
That right. It’s was
me
[980]
and no one else. I’ll acknowledge that.
PHILOCTETES
Give me the bow, boy. Hand it over.
ODYSSEUS
He won’t do it, even if he wants to.
No. You’ve got to come along with
me.
1300
If not, these men will take you off by force.
PHILOCTETES
Of all evil men, you’re the nastiest—
and boldest, too. They’ll take me in by
force?
ODYSSEUS
Yes, unless you come of your own free will.
PHILOCTETES
O Lemnos and you all-powerful flames
kindled by Hephaestus, can you bear this—
that this man will force me away from you?
ODYSSEUS
I tell you it’s Zeus who rules this country.
Yes, Zeus. And all this is ordained by
Zeus.
[990]
I am his servant.
PHILOCTETES
You despicable
man, 1310
you just invent the things you wish to say,
and by making claims about the gods,
you turn them into liars.
ODYSSEUS
No, I don’t.
They speak the truth. We have to go.
PHILOCTETES
I won’t.
ODYSSEUS
But I say you will. You have to obey.
PHILOCTETES
This is so shameful—it’s clear enough
my father conceived in me a slave
and no free man.
ODYSSEUS
You’re wrong. He made a man
to be just like the finest warriors
with whom you’re going to capture Troy by
force
1320
and then destroy it.
PHILOCTETES
I’ll never do it,
not even if I have to undergo
every kind of torment, not while I stand
with steep island cliffs below
me.
[1000]
ODYSSEUS
What will you do?
PHILOCTETES
I’ll throw myself directly from this cliff
and smash my head in on the rocks down there.
ODYSSEUS [to his attendants]
Grab him, you two! Don’t let him do
that!
[The two sailors rush up and grab Philoctetes by his arms]
PHILOCTETES
Oh my arms, what suffering you must bear
because you lack that bow you cherish so!
Now you’ve become a tied-up captive
beast,
1330
thanks to this man. And you, who cannot
think
a healthy thought that suits a man who’s free,
you’ve sneaked up and snagged me once again,
using this young lad whom I didn’t know
to be your screen. Though he’s too good
for you,
he’s someone worthy of my company—
he only thought of following his
orders,
[1010]
and he’s already showing his remorse
for mistakes he’s made and what I’ve suffered.
Your vicious spirit, always peering
out
1340
from secret hiding places, trained him well
to be adept in acting wickedly,
though that was not his nature or his wish.
And now, you wretch, you mean to tie me up
and take me from the very shore where once
you left me by myself—without a friend,
without a city—for all living men
nothing but a corpse. Ah, I hope you die!
I’ve often prayed that death would come for you.
But gods have granted nothing sweet to
me,
1350 [1020]
so you remain alive and keep on laughing,
while I am suffering pain and living on
with so much affliction, a laughing stock
for you and those two sons of Atreus,
those commanders you serve in doing this,
although you only sailed away with them
once you’d been forced under their yoke by
tricks
and by compulsion. But I sailed with them
of my own free will, bringing seven ships.*
A complete disaster! They
threw me
out,
1360
off the ship, like someone with no honour.
You say they did it; they say it was you.
So why are you now taking me away?
Why am I going with you? What’s the
reason?
I’m nothing, and, so far as you’re
concerned,
[1030]
for a long time I’ve been dead. How is it,
you creature whom the gods despise, that now
you don’t view me as a stinking cripple?
If I sail with you, how will you then
make holy sacrifices any
more?
1370
Or pour libations? That was
your excuse
for throwing me ashore back then. I hope
you die a disgusting death! And you
will,
for the evil things you’ve done to hurt me,
if the gods have any sense of justice.
I know they are concerned about these things—
you never would’ve sailed on such a trip,
all for the sake of such a wretched man,
unless some god-sent spur was pricking you
to come and get me. O land of my
fathers 1380 [1040]
and you gods who gaze down on what men do,
if you pity me, bring on your vengeance,
and, after all these years, pay them all back.
My life deserves your pity. If I could see
them killed, I’d think I was no longer sick.
CHORUS
What the stranger said was harsh, Odysseus—
his troubles have not eased his bitterness.
ODYSSEUS
I could go on and answer him at length,
if I had time. There’s only one thing now
I’ll say to him. I’m the kind of
man
1390
who adapts himself to each occasion.
So, faced with the judgment by good fair
men,
[1050]
you’d find no one more pious than myself.
By nature I’m a man who needs to win
in everything—however, not with you.
So now I’ll happily defer to you.
Let him go. There’s no longer any need
for you to hold him. Let him remain here.
We have Teucer with us, a skilled archer.*
So am I, and I believe it’s
possible
1400
for me to use this bow no worse than you—
my hand can aim it just as well as yours.
So why do we need you? Enjoy
yourself
[1060]
strolling here on Lemnos. We’ll be on our
way.
Your prize may quickly bring me honours
which should belong to you.
PHILOCTETES
No, not that!
You’re going to parade among the Argives
dressed up in weapons which belong to me?
ODYSSEUS
Don’t argue with me any more. I’m going.
PHILOCTETES
Son of Achilles, am I going to
hear
1410
your voice say anything to me? Are you
about to leave without another word?
ODYSSEUS [to Neoptolemus]
Move on. Don’t look at him. You may well
be
a noble man, but don’t ruin our good luck.
PHILOCTETES [to the Chorus]
And you, my guests, will you leave me like
this
[1070]
and not pity me?
CHORUS
The boy commands our ship.
What he says to you—that’s what we say, too.
NEOPTOLEMUS [to the Chorus]
Odysseus will say I am too sensitive—
but you stay here, if that’s all right with him,
until the sailors have prepared the
ship
1420
and we have offered prayers up to the gods.
Philoctetes may quickly change his mind
and soon think better of us. But we two
are leaving now. When we call for
you,
[1080]
make sure you set off from here at once.
[Neoptolemus and Odysseus leave]
PHILOCTETES [addressing his cave]
You cavern in this hollow rock,
always freezing cold or else too hot,
it seems true, then, in my misery
it’s never been my fate to leave you,
and so you’ll also watch me
die.
1430
Alas, for me! Yes, for me!
Sad cave full of those painful cries
wrung from me in my agony,
what will each day bring me now?
Where will I find my
nourishment
[1090]
or any hope of getting food?
Wild pigeons will pass overhead,
flying on through the piercing winds—
I can no longer shoot them down.
CHORUS
You’ve brought this on
yourself,
1440
you ill-fated man—your bad luck
arises from no other source,
nor from a man with greater strength.
You could have been more sensible.
But no—you preferred a worse fate
when you could have picked one
better.
[1100]
PHILOCTETES
Then I’m a miserable man,
truly miserable, beaten down
by hardships I’ve been
through.
So from now on I’ll live and
die, 1450
a suffering man, with no one else.
Alas, what agony!
I can no longer bring my food
back to where I live, no longer
can I hold my feathered weapons
in my strong hands. A crafty mind
tricked me with sly, deceiving lies.
How I wish I might see the man
who devised this scheme condemned
to bear my pain for just as
long!
1460
CHORUS
This is your fate set by the gods.
You’ve not been tricked by hands of mine.
So aim your dreadful fatal
curse
[1120]
at other men. What most concerns me
is that you don’t reject our friendship.
PHILOCTETES
Alas for me! I see him now—
sitting beside the salt white ocean shore,
laughing at me, as he waves the bow
which fed me in my wretched life,
which no one else had ever
held.
1470
O my lovely bow, a friend
wrenched from these loving hands,
if you had power to
understand,
[1130]
you’d feel pity as you looked at me,
for Hercules’ friend no more
will from now on be using you.
Another man will handle you,
a man of much deceit. You’ll see
his shameless tricks, his hateful face,
that enemy whom I
despise,
1480
whose plans have injured me so much,
products of his disgraceful skill.
O Zeus!
CHORUS
A man should say what’s right and
useful,
[1140]
and, as he does, his tongue should never speak
malicious hurtful insults. Odysseus
was made the single representative
for many men, and, at their command,
has brought his friends a common benefit.
PHILOCTETES
You feathered birds, you flocks of bright-eyed
beasts
who graze up on the hillside
slopes,
1490
no longer will you spring from me
and run away from your own
dens.
[1150]
My hands no longer grip those shafts
which gave me power before,
and now my plight is desperate.
You’re free to roam around at will,
with nothing more to make you fear.
It’s now time to take blood for blood,
to take your time and gorge yourself
on my contaminated
flesh.
1500
I’ll give up this life soon enough.
Where can I find my nourishment?
Who can feed himself on
winds
[1160]
once he no longer has those things
which the life-giving earth supplies?
CHORUS
If you feel you can respect
a stranger who comes up to you
with all good will, then, by the
gods,
approach the man more closely.
But know this—keep it well in
mind—
1510
it’s up to you to evade that fate.
To nourish it with your own flesh
is pitiful, and there’s no way
you can endure the countless pains
that live inside your body.
PHILOCTETES
You remind me one more time again
of that old agonizing
thought,
[1170]
though you are nicer than those men
who visited this place before.
Why have you destroyed
me?
1520
What have you done to me?
CHORUS
What do you mean?
PHILOCTETES
You hoped to take me off to Troy,
a land which I despise.
CHORUS
Yes.
I think that would be best.
PHILOCTETES
Then go away. Leave me at once.
CHORUS
That’s all right with me—in fact,
I like the order you just gave.
I’ll do it willingly. Let’s go.
Let’s be off, every
sailor
1530 [1180]
to his station on the ship.
[The Chorus turns and starts moving off]
PHILOCTETES
No, don’t go. I’m begging you,
in the name of Zeus, the god
who hears men’s curses.
CHORUS
Calm down.
PHILOCTETES
O strangers, by the gods, stay here.
CHORUS
Why are you calling?
PHILOCTETES
Aaaaiiii . . . aaaaiiii . . .
That demon’s killing me . . . savage god . .
.
my foot . . . this foot of mine . . .
how shall I deal with you
in what remains to me of
life?
1540
O friends, return to me
again.
[1190]
Come back!
CHORUS
What should we do?
Do you have something else in mind
that alters what you said
before?
PHILOCTETES
You should not grow so indignant
when someone in a storm of pain
says things that make no sense.
CHORUS
Then, you unhappy man, come with us,
as we are asking you.
PHILOCTETES
Never! Never!
That you can be sure of! No, not even
1550
if the lord of blazing lightning comes
ready to blast me with his fiery thunder.
Damn Troy and all those warriors
there,
[1200]
before the city, who dared throw away
this poor lame foot of mine. But, friends,
please grant me one request I have.
CHORUS
What request is that?
PHILOCTETES
Give me a sword,
if you’ve got one there, or an axe—
any weapon will do.
CHORUS
What are you going to do?
Something drastic?
PHILOCTETES
Hack away my flesh
1560
and cut these bones apart, all of them.
To die, yes, my mind now thinks on death.
CHORUS
But why do
that?
[1210]
PHILOCTETES
To find my father.
CHORUS
Where does he live?
PHILOCTETES
He’s in Hades.
He can’t be still living in the daylight.
O my city, city of my fathers,
how I wish I could see you now—
I brought myself such misery
when I left your sacred river,
to help Danaans, my
enemies.
1570
I’m nothing any more, nothing.
[Philoctetes exits into his cave, leaving the Chorus alone on stage]
CHORUS
I’d have left you here some time ago
back to my ship, if I’d not observed
Odysseus coming here, bringing with
him
[1220]
Achilles’ son. They’re getting close to
us.
[Enter Neoptolemus and Odysseus. Neoptolemus is still carrying Philoctetes’ bow and arrows]
ODYSSEUS
Why are you coming back along this path
at such a rapid pace?
NEOPTOLEMUS
I was wrong before.
I have to fix all the mistakes I made.
ODYSSEUS
You sound odd. What mistakes are
those?
NEOPTOLEMUS
When I obeyed you and all the
army.
1580
ODYSSEUS
What error did you make that shamed you so?
NEOPTOLEMUS
I used disgraceful lies and sly deceit
to catch a man.
ODYSSEUS
What sort of man? Oh, oh.
Are you thinking up some foolhardy scheme?
NEOPTOLEMUS
No, nothing rash. But with Poeas’ son
. .
.
[1230]
ODYSSEUS [interrupting]
What are you going to do? A certain fear
has just occurred to me . . .
NEOPTOLEMUS
. . . whose bow I took . . .
give it back.
ODYSSEUS
By Zeus, what are you saying?
You don’t intend to hand it back to him?
NEOPTOLEMUS
Yes. I got it in a shameful
manner,
1590
and it’s not right for me to keep it.
ODYSSEUS
By the gods, are you saying this to mock me?
NEOPTOLEMUS
Only if it’s mockery to speak the truth.
ODYSSEUS
Son of Achilles, what are you saying?
What do you mean?
NEOPTOLEMUS
Do I really need
to say the same thing two or three times over?
ODYSSEUS
I didn’t want to hear it even once.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Well, you must clearly understand it
now—
[1240]
you’ve heard all I have to
say.
ODYSSEUS
There are those
who will prevent you carrying that
out.
1600
NEOPTOLEMUS
What are you saying? Who will prevent me?
ODYSSEUS
The whole Achaean army—including me.
NEOPTOLEMUS
You were born wise, but there’s no wisdom now
in what you say.
ODYSSEUS
But these words of yours
and what you’re going to do are most unwise.
NEOPTOLEMUS
But if they’re right, then they’re more powerful
than wisdom.
ODYSSEUS
How can it be right and just,
to give back what you won thanks to my plan?
NEOPTOLEMUS
I made a mistake which cost me my honour—
I must try to get it back.
ODYSSEUS
If you do
try,
[1250]
aren’t you afraid of the Achaean
troops?
1610
NEOPTOLEMUS
With justice at my side, I do not fear
the danger you describe.
ODYSSEUS
[Your justice—
my hand will make that justice bend to me.*]
NEOPTOLEMUS
Even so, I won’t obey those arms of yours.
I won’t do what you ask.
ODYSSEUS
Well, then, our fight
is not against the Trojans but with you.
NEOPTOLEMUS
If that’s what it has to be, so be it.
ODYSSEUS
Do you see my right hand resting on my sword?
NEOPTOLEMUS
You’ll see me doing the same. I won’t
hesitate. 1620
ODYSSEUS
All right, I’ll leave you for now. But
I’ll
go
and tell the entire army what’s going on.
And they will punish you.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Now you’re reasonable.
If you keep up this frame of mind in future,
perhaps you’ll not wander into
trouble.
[1260]
[Odysseus moves away, as if leaving for the ship, but conceals himself and observes what now happens]
NEOPTOLEMUS [calling up to the cave]
You there, son of Poeas . . . I’m calling you.
Philoctetes . . . come out. Leave that
rock
you call your home.
PHILOCTETES [from inside the cave]
Now who’s standing there
making an unruly noise outside the cave?
Why are you calling me? What do you want? 1630
[Philoctetes partly emerges from the cave and sees Neoptolemus]
Oh, no. This is a wretched
business.
Are you here to bring me some new trouble
on top of all the others?
NEOPTOLEMUS
Don’t despair.
Listen to the news I bring.
PHILOCTETES
I’m afraid.
Fine words brought me ruin once before,
when I trusted what you said.
NEOPTOLEMUS
But now
is there no way I can
apologize?
[1270]
PHILOCTETES
You used words like that when you stole my bow—
you won my confidence, but secretly
you worked for my destruction. 1640
NEOPTOLEMUS
But now I’m not like that. I wish to
hear
whether you want to stay on living here,
enduring these conditions, or sail with us.
PHILOCTETES
Stop there. Don’t speak any more.
What you say
will all be wasted.
NEOPTOLEMUS
You’re sure of that.
PHILOCTETES
Yes, I am—more sure than any words can say.
NEOPTOLEMUS
I wish my words could’ve persuaded you.
But if there’s nothing I can say to help,
then I’ll
stop. I
PHILOCTETES
Everything you say is useless.
[1280]
You’ll never win my confidence, not now 1650
you’ve taken away my livelihood, robbed
me
and with a trick. Then you come over here
to give me your advice, you disgraceful son
of such a noble father. May you all die—
the sons of Atreus first, then Laertes’ son,
then you.
NEOPTOLEMUS [holding out the bow and arrows]
Stop making all those curses,
and take these weapons from my hand.
PHILOCTETES
What do you mean? Am I being tricked
again?
NEOPTOLEMUS
No. I swear by the sacred majesty of Zeus.
PHILOCTETES
Such welcome words, if what you say is
true. 1660 [1290]
NEOPTOLEMUS
My actions will show that. Put out your
hand
and take back your weapons.
[As Neoptolemus hands the bow to Philoctetes, Odysseus re-emerges from his hiding place and moves forward]
ODYSSEUS
No!
In the name of the sons of Atreus
and the whole army, I’m telling you no,
as gods are my witnesses!
PHILOCTETES
My lad,
who was that speaking? Was it Odysseus?
ODYSSEUS [moving forward]
Yes. It’s me. Now you can see up
close
the man who’ll take you off to Troy by force,
whether Achilles son wants that or not.
PHILOCTETES [putting an arrow to his bow string]
That won’t bring you any joy, if this arrow 1670
flies straight, directly to its
mark.
[Odysseus moves away to hide again. Neoptolemus grabs Philoctetes to stop him shooting his arrow]
NEOPTOLEMUS
By the gods, don’t shoot that arrow
off.
[1300]
PHILOCTETES
In the name of the gods, dear lad, let go.
NEOPTOLEMUS [continuing to restrain Philoctetes]
No, I won’t.
PHILOCTETES
Alas! Why did you spoil
my chance to use this bow of mine to kill
that enemy I hate?
NEOPTOLEMUS
That would have been bad
for both of us, you and me.
PHILOCTETES
You should realize
the army’s leaders, lying spokesmen for the Greeks,
though bold in speech, are cowards in a fight.
NEOPTOLEMUS
That may be true. But now you have the
bow, 1680
you have no reason to be angry with
me
or complain about my conduct.
PHILOCTETES
I
agree.
[1310]
My lad, you’ve shown the family lineage
you sprang from. Your father was not
Sisyphus.
No, you come from Achilles, who, in his
life,
had the finest reputation of them all,
just as he now has among the dead.
NEOPTOLEMUS
I’m pleases me to hear you praise my father
and me, as well. But pay attention now
to what I’d like from you. Men must endure
1690
those fortunes given to them by the
gods.
But when they insist on injuring themselves,
the way you’re doing now, then it’s not right
to pity or excuse them. You’ve
become
[1320]
a savage man, rejecting all advice.
If someone who’s a friend of yours speaks up
and says you’re doing wrong, you hate the man.
You call him your enemy, a traitor.
But still, I’ll speak to you, invoking Zeus,
who punishes the men who break their oaths. 1700
Keep these words in mind—write them on your heart—
You’ve been suffering from this infection
as fate sent from the gods, because you went
too close to Chryse’s secret sentinel,
the snake which keeps watch where she lives and
guards
her sacred precinct open to the sky.
Know this, too—you will never find an end
to this distressful agony of yours,
not while the sun still rises in the
east
[1330]
and then sets in the west, until you come, 1710
of your own free will, to the Trojan
plain,
and there, among us, meet Asclepius’ sons,
find relief from this disease, and with help
from me and from that bow be known to all
as the man who smashed the towers of Troy.*
I’ll tell you how I come to know these things.
We captured a Trojan called Helenus,
an excellent prophet, who clearly states
these things must happen and, in addition,
that all Troy must be seized this coming
summer. 1720 [1340]
If his words prove false, he’ll offer
himself,
quite willingly, for slaughter. And so
now,
since you know all this, you should be willing
to concede. It’s one more fine benefit.
You’ll be judged the most exceptional
man
among the Greeks—first, for coming there
to hands which healed you, then, in addition,
for capturing Troy, source of so much grief.
You’ll win the very highest fame there is.
PHILOCTETES
O hateful life, why keep me here above, 1730
gazing at sunlight? Why not release
me,
send me down to Hades? What shall I
do?
[1350]
Alas! How can I distrust what this man
says?
He’s giving me advice as a good friend.
So, then, do I concede? If I do yield,
how can I, given my miserable fate,
appear in public view? Who do I talk to?
You eyes of mine who’ve witnessed everything
I’ve had to go through, how could you bear it,
to see me socializing with those men, 1740
the sons of Atreus, who ruined
me?
Or with Laertes all-destroying son?
It’s not just the pain of what I’ve been through
that gnaws at me—I seem to see ahead
all the things I’ll have to suffer from them
from now on. Once a man’s mind has
become
[1360]
the mother of evil acts, it trains him
to do wrong in everything that follows.
And in this matter I’m surprised at you.
You must never go back to Troy yourself 1750
and should prevent me going there. Those
men
did you an injury by taking away
your father’s weapons, when, in that contest
for his arms, they judged heart-broken Ajax
inferior to Odysseus. After that,
will you fight as their ally and force me
to do so, too? Do not do it, my son,
but take me home, as you have sworn to do.
Then you should keep yourself on Scyros,
and leave those bad men to be destroyed 1760
in their own nasty way. If you do
that, [1370]
you’ll get double gratitude from me,
and from my father, too. And you won’t
seem
because of how you helped those evil men
to have an inbred nature just like theirs.
NEOPTOLEMUS
What you say is reasonable. Nonetheless,
I’d like you to rely upon the gods
and my own words and sail away from here
with me, your friend.
PHILOCTETES
You mean I should set off
with this wretched foot to the Trojan
plain 1770
and that abominable son of
Atreus?
NEOPTOLEMUS
No. You should go to those who’ll end the
pain
in that pus-filled foot of yours—they’ll save
you
from your sickness.
PHILOCTETES
The advice you’re giving
[1380]
is frightening me. What are you saying?
NEOPTOLEMUS
I recognize what’s best for you and me.
PHILOCTETES
When you say that, you don’t feel any shame
before the gods?
NEOPTOLEMUS
How can a man feel shame
when he’s helping out a friend of his?
PHILOCTETES
Are you talking about some benefit 1780
for the sons of Atreus or for
me?
NEOPTOLEMUS
For you, of course. I’m your friend.
What I say
is spoken in friendship.
PHILOCTETES
How can that be true?
You want to hand me to my enemies.
NEOPTOLEMUS
My dear man, in such troubles you must learn
not to be so stubborn.
PHILOCTETES
You’ll ruin me
with these words of yours. I know that.
NEOPTOLEMUS
No, I won’t. But you don’t understand—
that’s what I’m saying.
PHILOCTETES
Don’t I understand
how those sons of Atreus threw me
aside? 1790 [1390]
NEOPTOLEMUS
Yes, they cast you off, but you should
see
if they will rescue you again.
PHILOCTETES
Never—
not if I must agree to go to Troy.
NEOPTOLEMUS
What can I do then, if what I say
will not convince you? The easiest thing
for me is to stop talking, and then you
can go on living as you’re doing now,
without being rescued.
PHILOCTETES
Let me keep suffering
whatever I must suffer. But those things
you swore to me, with your right hand in mine— 1800
to take me home—do that for me, my
son,
and don’t hold back or keep reminding
me
[1400]
about Troy any more. I’ve had enough
of howling lamentations here.
NEOPTOLEMUS
All right,
if that’s what you really want, let’s leave.
PHILOCTETES
Ah, such noble words!
[Philoctetes starts to move down from his cave]
NEOPTOLEMUS
Plant your feet firmly.
PHILOCTETES
I will—as firmly as my strength allows.
NEOPTOLEMUS
How will I escape being blamed for this
by the Achaeans?
PHILOCTETES
Forget about them.
NEOPTOLEMUS
What if they destroy my country?
PHILOCTETES
I’ll be there . . . 1810
NEOPTOLEMUS [interrupting]
What assistance will you give?
PHILOCTETES
. . . with these
arrows
which come from Hercules . . .
NEOPTOLEMUS
What are you saying?
PHILOCTETES
I’ll stop them coming in.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Then let’s leave,
once you’ve made your farewells to this island.
[Hercules appears above the stage]*
HERCULES
Not yet, son of Poeas, not until you’ve heard
the words that I shall utter. Know
this—
[1410]
you’re listening to the voice of Hercules
and you’re gazing on his face. For your
sake
I have left the throne of heaven and come
to announce to you the purposes of Zeus 1820
and to stop the journey you’re
proposing.
So pay attention now to what I say.
First, I will tell you of my own exploits,
for by struggling with so many labours
and by seeing my work through to the end,
I won immortal glory for
myself,
[1420]
as you can see. As for you, you must know
it is your destiny that, from these troubles,
you make your life something men celebrate.
With this man you’ll reach the Trojan city, 1830
where, first, your savage illness will be
cured,
then you’ll be chosen as the finest man
from all the warriors, and with my bow,
will cut short the life of Paris, the man
who is the cause of all this wickedness.
You will ransack Troy and from the army
carry off the prize for utmost bravery,
and take it home with you to Oeta,
to your native mountains, to the
delight
[1430]
of your father, Poeas. Whatever prizes 1840
you get from the army, select from
them
an offering for my bow and carry it
to my funeral pyre. Son of Achilles,
this advice I’m giving is for you, as well.
You are not strong enough to capture Troy
without this man, and he’s not strong enough
without you there. Like a pair of lions
stalking prey on common ground, you two must
protect each other’s life. To cure your
illness,
I’ll send Asclepius to Troy, which is doomed 1850
to
fall a second time thanks to my arrows.*
But remember this—when you waste that
land,
[1440]
show reverence to the gods, for Father Zeus
thinks of all other things as less than that.
And when men perish, piety does not—
whether they’ re alive or dead, it does not die.
PHILOCTETES
O that voice I have longed to hear, my
friend
who stands revealed to me after so long!
I will not disobey what you have said.
NEOPTOLEMUS
And I, too, give my consent as well. 1860
HERCULES
Then don’t spend a long time waiting
here.
There’s a stern wind to urge you
onward.
[1450]
The time is right to sail.
PHILOCTETES
All right, then,
let me salute this land as I depart.
Farewell, you shelter that shared my vigil,
and farewell, you nymphs of streams and meadows,
you pounding headlands beaten by the sea,
where in the inner spaces of my cave
the blasts from south wind often soaked my head,
where many times Mount Hermaea would
echo 1870 [1460]
the cries I shouted in my storms of
pain.
But now, you Lycian streams and waters,
I am leaving you, going away at last,
beyond all hopes I ever entertained.
Farewell, you sea-circled land of Lemnos,
send me away content on a fair voyage,
to the place ordained by mighty Fate
by the opinions of my friends, and by the god
who subdues all and has brought all this about.
CHORUS
Let’s all leave in a group, once we’ve prayed
to the ocean nymphs, so they will
come
1880 [1470]
and guide us safely on our journey home.
[They all move off together]
Notes
*Dardanus: son of Zeus, legendary founder of Troy. [Back to Text]
*Chryse: This name refers to the nymph who punished Philoctetes with the snake bite for desecrating her shrine. It is also the name of a small island close to Troy. [Back to Text]
*Cephallenian: Cephallenia was an island in Odysseus’ kingdom, but the name is often applied to his territory generally (and his soldiers are commonly called the Cephallenians). [Back to Text]
*Sparta . . . Mycenae . . . Scyros: Menelaus is king of Sparta, and Agamemnon is king of Mycenae. Neoptolemus was born and raised on the island of Scyros. [Back to Text]
*Sigeum: a prominent coastal location northwest of Troy. [Back to Text]
*Pactolus: a river in Asia Minor celebrated for its rich deposits of gold. [Back to Text]
*. . . slaughter bulls: This detail seems to suggest (according to Jebb) that the goddess is riding on lions or that her throne is a chariot drawn by lions. [Back to Text]
*. . . deserve to live: Sisyphus, the founder of Corinth, was famous for his nasty ways. According to one story very popular among Odysseus’ enemies, he was the father of Odysseus and sold his mother to Laertes while Odysseus was still in the womb. [Back to Text]
*. . . at all: Thersites is the only common soldier given an important dramatic role in Homer’s Iliad—in Book Two he challenges Agamemnon with a series of very rude insults. [Back to Text]
*. . . Tydeus’ son: A reference to the famous Greek warrior Diomedes, a frequent companion of Odysseus on various adventures. [Back to Text]
*. . . father did: The reference here is to Sisyphus who ordered his wife not to bury him. When he came to Hades, he complained about his wife’s conduct and was given permission to go back to punish her. Once out of Hades, Sisyphus stayed on earth. Calling Sisyphus the father of Odysseus here is the second reference to the insulting story that Sisyphus sold Odysseus while he was still in his mother’s womb to Laertes (see line 501 above). [Back to Text]
*. . . acting virtuously: The virtuous act Philoctetes is referring to is (according to Jebb) lighting the funeral pyre for Hercules. [Back to Text]
*. . . whirling wheel: This is a reference to Ixion, the first mortal charged with murder. Zeus pardoned his crime. But then Ixion attempted to seduce Zeus’ wife Hera in her own bed. Zeus had Ixion tied onto a wheel of fire in Hades. [Back to Text]
*. . . sacred fire: These lines are a reference to Hercules who was burned alive at his own request on top of mount Oeta. Hercules was a son of Zeus and, because of his amazing exploits, the only mortal hero to be taken up into heaven as a god. [Back to Text]
* . . . before I did: This is a reference to Hercules, who also suffered a great deal in life and had an agonizing death. Philoctetes (Jebb notes) is reminding Neoptolemus that whoever owns the bow seems to get punished by the gods who are jealous of any man’s possessing such a weapon. [Back to Text]
. . . *Lemnian fire: Jebb notes that this seems to be a reference to a volcanic mountain called Mosuchlos on the east coast of Lemnos, near Philoctetes’ cave. Hercules was taken up to the top of mount Oeta by Hyllus, his son, who helped construct the pyre but would not set it alight. Philoctetes did so and, as a reward, got Hercules’ bow. [Back to Text]
* . . . one quick blow: Opportunity (Kairos) is here personified as if it were divine. Jebb notes that there was an altar to Kairos at the entrance to the Olympian stadium, where athletes could ask for success at a key moment in the competition. [Back to Text]
*. . . well foresee: The Chorus is advising Neoptolemus to take the bow and leave and thus abandon what he is presently intending (to take Philoctetes on board his ship). The trouble they are talking about is what might happen on board once Philoctetes learns that he is going to Troy rather than back home. For them the easiest course seems to be to take the bow and abandon Philoctetes. [Back to Text]
* . . . father would not do: Neoptolemus’ father is, of course, Achilles, who establishes for him and others a standard of excellence in heroic conduct. [Back to Text]
* . . . taking seven ships: Philoctetes is contrasting his willingness to go along on the expedition to Troy with Odysseus’ reluctance to join in. When the messenger came to enlist his support, Odysseus pretended to be mad, ploughing with an ox and an ass yoked together. The messenger placed Odysseus’ infant son in front of the plough. Odysseus stopped before he could injure his son, thus revealing that his madness was a pretense. [Back to Text]
* . . . a skilled archer: Teucer, an important minor character in Homer’s Iliad, is one of the finest archers in the Greek forces. Archery is not normally a skill associated with the most important warriors, other than Odysseus (in the Odyssey). [Back to Text]
*This short speech of Odysseus is a conjecture based on Jebb’s commentary to supply a line which is apparently missing from the manuscript. [Back to Text]
*. . . Asclepius’ sons: Asclepius was the Greek hero (or god) associated with medicine. In the Iliad, his sons are the most important healers in the Greek forces at Troy. [Back to Text]
* . . . above the stage: This sudden appearance of a divine figure near the end of the play (the deus ex machina) may have had Hercules lowered from above or he may have appeared on a platform above the stage. [Back to Text]
* . . . to my arrows: Hercules himself had
in earlier times attacked the king of Troy, Laomedon, and captured the
city. [Back to Text]
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