409 BC

PHILOCTETES

by Sophocles

translated by Thomas Francklin

Characters in the Play -

Ulysses, King of Ithaca

Neoptolemus, son of Achilles

Philoctetes, son of Poeas and Companion of Hercules

A Spy

Hercules

Chorus, composed of the companions of Ulysses and Neoptolemus

PHILOCTETES -

(Scene:- A lonely region on the shore of Lemnos,

before a steep cliff in which is the entrance to PHILOCTETES' cave.

ULYSSES, NEOPTOLEMUS and an attendant enter.) -

ULYSSES

At length, my noble friend, thou bravest son

Of a brave father- father of us all,

The great Achilles- we have reached the shore

Of sea-girt Lemnos, desert and forlorn,

Where never tread of human step is seen,

Or voice of mortal heard, save his alone,

Poor Philoctetes, Poeas' wretched son,

Whom here I left; for such were my commands

From Grecia's chiefs, when by his fatal wound

Oppressed, his groans and execrations dreadful

Alarmed our hosts, our sacred rites profaned,

And interrupted holy sacrifice.

But why should I repeat the tale? The time

Admits not of delay. We must not linger,

Lest he discover our arrival here,

And all our purposed fraud to draw him hence

Be ineffectual. Lend me then thy aid.

Surveying round thee, canst thou see a rock

With double entrance- to the sun's warm rays

In winter open, and in summer's heat

Giving free passage to the welcome breeze?

A little to the left there is a fountain

Of living water, where, if yet he breathes,

He slakes his thirst. If aught thou seest of this

Inform me; so shall each to each impart

Counsel most fit, and serve our common cause.

NEOPTOLEMUS (leaving ULYSSES a little behind him)

If I mistake not, I behold a cave,

E'en such as thou describst.

ULYSSES

Dost thou? which way?

NEOPTOLEMUS

Yonder it is; but no path leading thither,

Or trace of human footstep.

ULYSSES

In his cell

A chance but he hath lain down to rest:

Look if he hath not.

NEOPTOLEMUS (advancing to the cave)

Not a creature there.

ULYSSES

Nor food, nor mark of household preparation?

NEOPTOLEMUS

A rustic bed of scattered leaves.

ULYSSES

What more?

NEOPTOLEMUS

A wooden bowl, the work of some rude hand,

With a few sticks for fuel.

ULYSSES

This is all

His little treasure here.

NEOPTOLEMUS

Unhappy man!

Some linen for his wounds.

ULYSSES

This must be then

His place of habitation; far from hence

He cannot roam; distempered as he is,

It were impossible. He is but gone

A little way for needful food, or herb

Of power to 'suage and mitigate his pain,

Wherefore despatch this servant to some place

Of observation, whence he may espy

His every motion, lest he rush upon us.

There's not a Grecian whom his soul so much

Could wish to crush beneath him as Ulysses.

(He makes a signal to the Attendant. who retires.)

NEOPTOLEMUS

He's gone to guard each avenue; and now,

If thou hast aught of moment to impart

Touching our purpose, say it; I attend.

ULYSSES

Son of Achilles, mark me well! Remember,

What we are doing not on strength alone,

Or courage, but oil conduct will depend;

Therefore if aught uncommon be proposed,

Strange to thy ears and adverse to thy nature,

Reflect that 'tis thy duty to comply,

And act conjunctive with me.

NEOPTOLEMUS

Well, what is it?

ULYSSES

We must deceive this Philoctetes; that

Will be thy task. When he shall ask thee who