Philoctetes
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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Merchant
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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.
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Neoptolemus
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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.
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Merchant
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Beware of what you are doing, boy.
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Merchant
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I will hold you accountable.
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Merchant
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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.
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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.
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Neoptolemus
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And for the sake of what did the Atreids after so long a time turn their thoughts so urgently towards this man,
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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?
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Merchant
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I will inform you of all that, since it seems that you have not heard. There was a seer of noble birth,
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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.
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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
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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.
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You have heard everything, boy, and I advise speed for you, and for any man for whom you care.
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Philoctetes
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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
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from Hades into the light, as his father did!
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Merchant
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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.
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Philoctetes
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Now is it not astounding, boy, that Odysseus would ever have expected by means of soft words
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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.
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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.
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Neoptolemus
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Then as soon as the wind is not at our prow,
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we will sail. At present it blows against us.
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Philoctetes
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The sailing is always fair, when you flee trouble.
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Neoptolemus
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Not so; this weather is against them also.
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Philoctetes
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No wind stands in the way of pirates who sense a chance to steal and plunder by force.
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Neoptolemus
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Well, if you are so resolved, let us go, once you have taken from the cave whatever you need or desire most.
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Philoctetes
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Yes, there are some things that I need, though the choice is not large.
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Neoptolemus
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What is there that will not be available on board my ship?
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Philoctetes
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I have a store of a certain herb, whereby I can always
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best lull this wound, until it is wholly tamed.
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Neoptolemus
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Fetch it, then. Now, what else do you wish to take?
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Philoctetes
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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.
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Neoptolemus
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Is that indeed the famous bow which you hold?
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Philoctetes
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This, and no other, that I carry in my hand.
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Neoptolemus
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Is there any way that I might have a closer view of it—and handle it, and salute it as divine?
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Philoctetes
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To you alone, my son, this shall be granted, along with anything else in my power that is in your interest.
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Neoptolemus
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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.
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Philoctetes
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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
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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.
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Yes, it was by a good deed that I myself won it.
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Neoptolemus
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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.
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My sickness craves the comfort of your presence. Philoctetes and Neoptolemus enter the cave.
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Chorus
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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
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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,
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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,
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he kept his hold upon a life so full of grief.
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Chorus
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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
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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
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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
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might be supplied, whenever the devouring anguish withdrew.
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Neoptolemus
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Please, come on. Why so silent with no apparent cause? And why are you paralyzed?
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Philoctetes
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Ai, ai!
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Neoptolemus
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What is the matter?
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Philoctetes
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Nothing serious—go on, son.
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Neoptolemus
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Are you in pain from the disease that frequents you?
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Philoctetes
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No, indeed no. I think it is better now.—Gods, oh!
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Neoptolemus
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Why do you groan like this and call on the gods?
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Philoctetes
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That they may come to me with power to save and soothe.—Ai! Ai!
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Neoptolemus
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What troubles you? Speak, do not keep so silent. It is plain enough that you are suffering somehow.
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Philoctetes
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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!
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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!
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Quick, boy, quick!
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Neoptolemus
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What new thing has come on you so suddenly that you wail for yourself with these loud shrieks?
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Philoctetes
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You know, son.
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Neoptolemus
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Yes, terrible is the burden of your disease.
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Philoctetes
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Terrible beyond telling! Oh, pity me!
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Neoptolemus
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What shall I do?
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Philoctetes
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No, no. But take this bow of mine—as you earlier asked of me—and keep it in your care and safe
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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
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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.
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Neoptolemus
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Have no fears as to my caution. The bow shall pass
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into no hands but yours and mine. Give it to me, and may good luck accompany it!
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Philoctetes
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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.
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Neoptolemus
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O gods, grant this to the two of us! And grant us a voyage
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prosperous and unimpeded, to whatever goal the god may deem right and that our mission provides!
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Philoctetes
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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.
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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!
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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
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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,
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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?
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Why this silence? Where are your thoughts, son?
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Neoptolemus
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My heart has long been aching for your load of pain.
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Philoctetes
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Stop, then, and take courage; this visitor comes sharply, but goes quickly. Yet, I beg you, do not leave me alone.
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Neoptolemus
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Take heart, we will remain.
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Philoctetes
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Indeed, I do not think it right to put you under oath.
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Neoptolemus
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Rest assured; it is not lawful for me to leave without you.
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Philoctetes
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Give me your hand in pledge!
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Philoctetes
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Now take me there, over there!
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Neoptolemus
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What is this new delirium? Why do you gaze at the dome above us?
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Philoctetes
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Let me go, let me go!
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Neoptolemus
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I will not.
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Neoptolemus
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There, then, I release you—if in fact you believe it is for the better.
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Philoctetes
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Wide Earth, embrace me now on the verge of death!
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This pain no longer lets me stand up.
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Neoptolemus
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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.
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Come, friends, let us leave him in quietness, so that he may fall asleep.
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Chorus
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Divine Sleep, god who knows no pain, Sleep, stranger to anguish, come in favor to us, come happy, and giving happiness, great King!
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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.
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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.
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Neoptolemus
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No, even though he hears nothing, I see that
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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.