Philoctetes

Sophocles

Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 4: The Philoctetes. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1898.

  1. What is the matter? Where strays your speech?
Neoptolemus
  1. I do not know where to turn my tongue when my thoughts are so confused.
Philoctetes
  1. Confused? How so? No, do not say it!
Neoptolemus
  1. My mind is indeed brought to that condition.
Philoctetes
  1. It cannot be that offense at my sickness has persuaded you not to take me aboard your ship?
Neoptolemus
  1. All is offense when a man has abandoned his true nature and does what does not suit him.
Philoctetes
  1. But you, at least, are not departing from your begetter’s
  2. example either in word or deed, when you help a man who is noble.
Neoptolemus
  1. I shall be found to have no honor—this is the thought that long torments me.
Philoctetes
  1. Not because of your present deeds, at least. But because of your words, I worry.
Neoptolemus
  1. O Zeus, what shall I do? Must I be twice found base—by disloyal silence, as well as by shameful speech?