Philoctetes

Sophocles

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

  1. Unless I am lacking in judgment, he means to betray me, leave me behind and sail away!
Neoptolemus
  1. Leave you? No, not I. Rather, to your pain, I will bring you along. That is my torment.
Philoctetes
  1. What do you mean, son? I do not understand.
Neoptolemus
  1. I will conceal nothing. You must sail to Troy, back to the Achaeans and the forces of the Atreids.
Philoctetes
  1. Ah, no! What have you said?
Neoptolemus
  1. Do not wail in grief, before you understand!
Philoctetes
  1. Understand what? What do you intend to do to me?
Neoptolemus
  1. Save you, first, from this misery, and then,
  2. together with you, go and plunder Troy’s plains.
Philoctetes
  1. And this is your true intent?
Neoptolemus
  1. A harsh necessity governs these events, so do not be angered at hearing of them.