Philoctetes
Sophocles
Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 4: The Philoctetes. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1898.
- This is the headland of sea-washed Lemnos, land untrodden by men and desolate. It was here, child bred of the man who was the noblest of the Greeks, Neoptolemus son of Achilles, that I exposed
- long ago the native of Malis, Poeas’ son, on the express command of the two chieftains to do so, because his foot was all running with a gnawing disease. Neither libation nor burnt sacrifice could be attempted by us in peace, but with his wild, ill-omened cries
- he filled the whole camp continually with shrieking, moaning. But what need is there to speak of that? The time is not ripe for too many words, lest he even learn that I am here, and I so waste the whole ruse whereby I think soon to take him.
- Come, it is your task to serve as my ally in what remains, and to seek where in this region there is a cave with two mouths. During cold weather it provides two seats facing the sun, while in summer a breeze wafts sleep through the tunnelled chamber.
- And a little below, on the left hand, perhaps, you will see water rising from a spring, if it has not failed. Go there silently, and signal to me whether he still dwells in this same place, or is to be found elsewhere, so that the rest of my plan may be explained by me, heard by you,
- and sped by the joint effort of us both.
- King Odysseus, the completion of the task that you set me is not far off, for I believe I see a cave like that which you have described.
- Above you, or below? I do not see it.
- Here, high up—and of footfalls there is not a sound.
- See that he is not sheltered there asleep.
- I see an empty dwelling, without occupants.
- And is there no provision inside for human habitation?
- There is—a bed of leaves, as if for some one who makes his lodging here.
- And all else is bare? There is nothing else beneath the roof?
- Just a cup of bare wood, the masterpiece of a sorry craftsman, and with it these tools for kindling.
- His is the store that you describe.
- Ha! Yes, and here besides are some rags drying in the sun, stained by some severe infection.
- The man inhabits these regions, clearly, and is somewhere not far off. How could he go far afield when his foot is maimed by that old plague? No, he has gone out in quest of food, or of some soothing herb that he may have noted somewhere.
- Send your attendant, therefore, to keep watch, lest he come upon me unawares, since he would rather take me than all the Greeks together.
- The man is going, and the path will be watched. And now, if you need anything else, say so.Exit Attendant, on the spectators’ left.