The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Philoctetes of Sophocles This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: The Philoctetes of Sophocles Author: Sophocles Translator: Thomas Sheridan Release date: December 26, 2025 [eBook #77548] Language: English Original publication: Dublin: Printed by J. Hyde and E. Dobson for R. Owen, 1725 Credits: Chris Hapka and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.) *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILOCTETES OF SOPHOCLES *** This ebook, based on a book first published in 1725, was created in honour of Distributed Proofreaders’ 25th Anniversary. THE PHILOCTETES OF _SOPHOCLES_. _Translated from the GREEK._ _Graiis ingenium, Graiis dedit ore rotundo Musa loqui, præter laudem nullius avaris._ HOR. _DUBLIN_: Printed by J. HYDE and E. DOBSON, for R. OWEN Bookseller in _Skinner-Row_. M.DCC.XXV. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE Lady_ CARTERET_. Madam, With great Submission I present and dedicate the following Translation to Your Ladyship, having no other way of shewing my Gratitude, for the great Honour _My Lord Lieutenant_ did me by His Presence, when my Scholars acted a Play of _Sophocles_ in _Greek_. I have made choice of the same Author to entertain _Your Ladyship_, and he now makes his Appearance before You in plain _English_, but much to his disadvantage, which I hope will be excused, since I attempted it for the Reason which I already mentioned. The Translation I have made is as close as the Propriety of our Language will admit, and _Your Ladyship_ will observe in it at least some Traces of the Author’s Genius. But as the lowest Painter in drawing _Your Ladyship_’s Picture, would be able to discover, that he at least designed to represent something extraordinary, and the best must needs fall infinitely short of the Original; So I cannot but hope that _Your Ladyship_ will observe in this Translation some faint Lineaments of the Author’s great Genius, superior to that of all modern Tragedians. And I cannot but fear, that you will easily perceive how unable I am to do him Justice, thro’ my own Defects, as well as those of our own Language. And this would still be worse, if _Your Ladyship_ should be so cruel to desire _My Lord Lieutenant_ to criticize upon these Papers, His Excellency will detect, and expose me in every Line, and convince You, in a few Minutes, that I am as far unable to express that Sublime in _Sophocles_, as I should be able to describe the Virtues of Your Ladyship, or His Excellency, which is the only Cause that I pass them over in Silence in this Dedication. I have added a few Notes, to explain some Passages that depend upon the Fabulous Stories of the antient _Greeks_, which perhaps may have escaped _Your Ladyship_’s Reading. I humbly entreat _Your Ladyship_’s Pardon for this my Presumption, and remain with all Respect _Your Ladyship_’s _Most Obedient, Humble Servant_, THOMAS SHERIDAN. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The ARGUMENT. To give some Light into the following Tragedy, it will not be amiss to give a short Account of the Persons concerned in it, that by knowing their Characters beforehand, the Reader may better judge of the Author’s Performance. The first who appears upon the Stage is ULYSSES, of whom I shall give the following short History. ULYSSES was King of _Ithaca_, _Cephalenia_, and _Dulichium_, (Islands in the _Ionian_ Sea). _Homer_ makes him remarkable for his great Experience, Eloquence, Counsel, and Skill in Military Affairs. And likewise very famous for his Stratagems. It was he who detected _Achilles_, disguised among the Daughters of _Lycomedes_; It was he who contriv’d the bringing of _Philoctetes_ and his Arrows against _Troy_; who stole off the Ashes of _Laomedon_; the _Palladium_, or Image of _Minerva_; who killed _Rhesus_ King of _Thrace_, and brought away his Horses, before they drank of the River _Xanthus_. For all these Conditions were necessary to be fullfilled; or _Troy_ could never be taken. NEOPTOLEMUS in the Original signifies a young Warriour; his true Name was _Pyrrhus_. He was the Son of _Achilles_. A young Man of strict Virtue and Honour, and one of great Tenderness and Humanity; but at the same Time he was ambitious. This was the only weak Part where ULYSSES could attack him, which we find he took Advantage of, with great Art and Subtlety. Yet, what gives us great Pleasure in the _Catastrophe_ of this Tragedy, we find, upon the moving Exclamations and Complaints of PHILOCTETES, that his good Nature, and the great Sense he had of Justice, prevails over all other Considerations. As for the CHORUS it is the only thing unaccountable in the antient Tragedians. To examine nicely into the whole Conduct of it would require a particular Treatise, and therefore I pass it by for many Reasons, which would rather be impertinent to the Reader, than any way agreeable, or improving; However it will not be amiss to set down here what _Horace_ says of the _Chorus_, in his Art of Poetry. A _Chorus_ shou’d supply what Action wants, And hath a gen’rous and a manly Part; Bridles wild Rage, loves rigid Honesty, And strict Observance of impartial Laws, Sobriety, Security, and Peace, And begs the Gods to turn blind Fortune’s Wheel, To raise the Wretched, and pull down the Proud. But nothing must be sung between the Acts But what some way conduces to the Plot. ROSCOMMON. PHILOCTETES, Son of _Pæan_, went with seven Ships of his own a Voluntier to _Troy_; and, as _Sophocles_ relates it, he was stung by a Viper in one of his Feet, which occasioned such an offensive Smell, and so great a Pain, that the Disturbance which he gave the _Greeks_ with his Exclamations oblig’d the _Grecian_ Generals to expose him in the Wilds of _Lemnos_. For which monstrous and ungrateful Treatment nothing less than the Ghost of HERCULES appearing to him could make him join a second time against the _Trojans_. The _Merchant_ is a Person unknown, introduced by the Poet to make out the Stratagem of ULYSSES. HERCULES, the Son of _Jupiter_ and _Alcumena_; much persecuted by _Juno_ because he was the Off-spring of a stoln Amour. Hence arise the great Number of Fables of his prodigious Exploits all over the World. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _Dramatis Personæ._ PHILOCTETES. ULYSSES. NEOPTOLEMUS. CHORUS. MERCHANT. Ghost of HERCULES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE _PHILOCTETES_ OF SOPHOCLES. SCENE I. _Enter_ ULYSSES. _Ul._ Now are we landed on the [1]_Lemnian_ Coast, Encompass’d by the Ocean’s rolling Waves, Where not a Print of human Foot is seen, Nor House, nor Hut; where, _Neoptolemus_, Thou blooming Branch of the renown’d _Achilles_, I left expos’d the [2]_Melian_ Son of _Pæan_. Our Princes thus commanded; I obey’d, Because a dreadful, nauseous, ranckling Wound Eat thro’ his Foot, and made him rend the Skies With Shrieks, and loud Laments, which much disturb’d The Army; no Religious Rites cou’d be Perform’d in Peace; of which I’ll say no more; For Time contracts my Tale, and Dread of him, Lest he shou’d find me here; and so confound My secret Wiles to apprehend his Person. The rest is thine. With careful Search explore A pervious Rock, so form’d as to receive The comfortable Beams of Winter-Suns, And the cool Breezes from the Sea in Summer, With fanning Wings inviting gentle Sleep. Fast by this Rock, upon the Left, you’ll find A Spring, if still it’s living Stream be fed; To this repair with silent Pace, and see Whether he lies conceal’d within these Bounds Advance with cautious Steps, and let me know, Then we’ll consult what next is to be done. _Neop._ Short is your Errand; for I now descry The Cave which you express---- _Ul._ ---- above? below? Or where? in vain I cast my Eyes around. _Neop._ ’Tis there above; but not a single Trace Of any Path conducts us tow’rds the Rock. _Ul._ Go search, perhaps he is to Sleep reclin’d. _Neop._ There’s not a human Creature in this Place. _Ul._ Nor fit Provision for a human Creature? _Neop._ Some gather’d Leaves which by Impression shew They have been lain on. _Ul._ Is there nothing more? _Neop._ Yes. I observe a wooden Vessel, fram’d By some unskilful Hand, a little Pot To boil his Food is all that I can see. _Ul._ These then are all the Utensils he has? _Neop._ Alas! they’re all, except some Rags a-drying, Which by their Stains denote his fester’d Wound. _Ul._ Then I’m convinc’d he dwells in this Abode, And can’t be far from hence; his Wounds forbid A distant Walk. Perhaps he went for Food, Or Herbs to ease his Pains; but send this Man To watch his Motion, lest by a Surprize He takes me here; for justly I suspect He’d gladly seize Me above all the _Greeks_. _Neop._ I’ll send him straight to execute your Will---- Speak, is there any more you’d have me do? _Ul._ Son of the great _Achilles_, it behoves thee To use thy Prudence here, as well as Valour; Whatever farther Counsel I shall give, Perform, and with a chearful Mind assist. _Neop._ What’s your Command?---- _Ul_. ---- To _Philoctetes_ go, With soothing Speeches his Belief betray; When he enquires your Name, and whence you come, Tell him _Pelides_[3] is your Sire; so far Tell Truth; and that you now are homeward bound-- Disgusted at the _Greeks_ you fly their Fleet. That by Entreaties, and incessant Prayers, They flatter’d you from home, to conquer _Troy_; But now your Father’s Armour they deny, Which by _Hereditary Right_ you claim. Tell him they’re giv’n to me; abuse and rail With all the Malice of an injur’d Foe; Speak what you please of Me, you can’t offend. If this Advice you spurn, you bring to all The _Greeks_ one great and universal Sorrow; For if you don’t contrive to get his Arrows, You never can be conquerour of _Troy_. Besides, you had a former Friendship with him, Which makes you now the fitter to betray. You went a Voluntier, not with the first, Who bound by Oaths and fatal Influence, Sail’d against _Ilium_; This was not my Case; So that my Life’s in Danger, your’s no less, If while he’s arm’d with them he sees me here. Your Bus’ness then is to deceive him straight, And steal th’ unconquerable Weapons from him. I know by Nature you are much averse To Artifice, but think how sweet it is To bear such Arrows as are sure of Conquest. Then bravely dare to do what I advise, The Time will come, the World will think you just For this Exploit; lay by your Shame one Hour, And give yourself to me, and ever hence You shall be deem’d the justest Man on Earth. _Neop._ [4]Son of _Laertes_, I am griev’d to hear Such Words from thee; to practise them is Death. I was not born to stoop to such vile Arts, Nor he from whom I glory to be sprung. If open Force or Fortitude require My Aid, I’ll venture; but I scorn Deceit. Sure one poor maimed Wretch can’t overthrow Such as we are, and since I’m sent with thee To join in this Adventure, I will use My utmost Force to help thee, nor betray The Trust repos’d--but let me speak my mind-- I’d rather bravely die, than basely conquer. _Ul._ Son of the greatest Man, when I was young My Tongue was less employ’d, my Hands were more; But now, by long Experience, I’m convinc’d That Language more than Action can prevail. _Neop._ But you a lying Language recommend. _Ul._ I urge it still, this Man you must deceive. _Neop._ But why deceive, can’t I as well perswade. _Ul._ Force and Perswasion are to him the same. _Neop._ Has he so great a Confidence in Strength? _Ul._ Where’er his Arrows fly they carry Death. _Neop._ Who can with Safety then approach his Presence? _Ul._ You can’t, except you circumvent him first. _Neop._ Do you not think it base to forge a Lie? _Ul._ No; when your Safety on a Lie depends. _Neop._ Who when he lies can see another’s Face? _Ul._ When for your Gain you act, you shou’d not scruple. _Neop._ Where is my Gain to make him go to _Troy_? _Ul._ Because his Weapons must o’erthrow the Town. _Neop._ Then, as you said, the Conquest can’t be mine. _Ul._ In vain his Arrows fly without your Aid, And you attack without their Aid in vain. _Neop._ If so, I must deceive---- _Ul._ ---- and well you do, For two Rewards you’re sure of---- _Neop._ ---- ---- ---- what are they? _Ul._ Wisdom and Fortitude will both be thine. _Neop._ Farewel then Modesty, for once farewel. _Ul._ Do you remember all my Counsels? _Neop._ Yes. I can’t forget where once I give Assent. _Ul._ Here wait his coming, I must hence withdraw Lest I be seen; back to the Ship I send Our Spy, and if I find a long Delay I’ll send him hither, dress’d in such Disguise That he shall pass for Captain of the Ship. His very Language too shall be disguis’d; Not so but you shall plainly understand What is convenient to be done; hence then In haste I go, and leave the rest to thee. May _Mercury_ assist, God of Deceit, And wise _Minerva_, on whose Care depend Whole States; for she is still _Ulysses’_ Friend. ANTISTROPHICA STROPHE. Chorus. What shall I do a Stranger here? Or what conceal? Or what reveal? Behold I see the Man appear! Instruct me then; for well I know That Arts may Arts excell, As well Counsels Counsels overthrow. Among the Sceptred Great, Few can fathom the Designs of State. To thee, my Son, this princely Pow’r is given; A Pow’r deriv’d from Heav’n. How far subservient I must be, relate. Neop. Perhaps you willingly wou’d trace, With long expecting Eyes, The wretched solitary Place Where _Philoctetes_ lies. Then look around and do not fear, And when he comes this way, A dreadful Sight approaching near, What I command obey. ANTISTROPHE. Chorus. I was determin’d long before To fix my Eyes on thine, Whatever Object they explore To view the same is mine. But tell me where this wretched Creature lives, Or in what Field he lies, Such Information much Advantage gives; For much I dread Surprize. What Place? what Path? what Seat? Is it an open or a close Retreat? Neop. No Place to rest his weary Head, A pervious Rock you see is both his House and Bed. Chorus. Where is the friendless Creature then? The most unfortunate of Men! Neop. Not far from hence, to find him Food, The poor dejected Soul Is gone to shed the harmless Blood Of some unguarded Fowl: He lives on present Chance they say, His winged Arrows fly, To bring the Food of ev’ry Day Down flutt’ring from the Sky. But what avail him all the slain! For still he feels a sleepless Pain. Chorus. Much I lament his dismal Case, Without the Sight of human Face; Unhappy, and alone! Whole Nights and Days Rack’d with Disease! To sigh, to grieve, to groan! How can he bear the dreadful Shock of Fate? What num’rous Woes Encompass those, Who live not in a middle State. ANTISTROPHE II. Chorus. Shou’d you the noblest ancient Lineage trace, You’ll find him of an equal Race; And yet behold him of all Joy bereft, Behold him solitary left! No Friend, no kind Companion to relieve his Pain. The spotted and the shagged Beasts around Unheeding graze; Hunger and Torment he must both sustain; For both at once the wretched Mortal seize. With piercing Shouts and Cries He rends the Skies, And _Eccho_ faithfully returns the Sound. Neop. Nothing of this my Breast can move, If I in things divine am skill’d, Whatever is decreed above, Must be on Earth fulfill’d. At _Chrysa_ first his Malady began, ’Twas there the angry Gods attack’d the wretched Man. Nor can we think they plac’d him here alone, Without a Friend, For any other End, But that they fix’d a Season of their own, When ev’ry Wall, Of _Troy_ shou’d fall, And _Troy_ no longer be a Town. Chorus. Be silent for a while---- ---- ---- Neop. ---- ---- ---- For what I pray? Chorus. His piteous Groans afflict my Ear, I hear them now approaching near. Neop. What here? or there? or in what Place? Methinks I hear a mournful Cry Of one, who moves a wretched Pace, And dreads his maimed Foot to try. ’Tis he instructed by his Voice I know; I feel the murth’ring Language of his Woe. Chorus. But have my Son---- ---- Neop. ---- ---- have what? Chorus. Some other Thoughts; you see him near at Hand, Not like a Shepherd with a tuneful Reed; But one who dreads upon his Foot to stand, Because the lightest Pressure makes it bleed. If by ill chance he trips against a Stone, With loud lamenting Voice he shrieks and roars; And when he spies a Ship; he cries, begone! Fly far from these inhospitable Shores! _Enter_ PHILOCTETES. _Phil._ Alas, ye Strangers! tell me whence ye come, Whence to these wild, these unfrequented Shores? There’s neither House, nor Port! whence? tell me whence Ye come? your Country and your Names: I see You’re _Greeks_ in Dress, a lovely Dress to me. Delight my Ears for once with welcome Sounds; My native Tongue; ah! don’t ye start, or dread To see me thus grown savage; rather shew Compassion to a poor unfortunate, Friendless, forsaken Wretch; speak if you’re Friends. O! answer me in haste, it is not meet A mutual Conversation shou’d be wanting. _Neop._ Know we are _Greeks_; for this you want to know. _Phil._ O dearest Voice, after ten long years Silence, To hear the Words of such a Man! what Joy! What Rapture does it give! my Son, tell who Has brought you hither? what Necessity? What Expectations? or what friendly Wind Has wafted you to us? O! tell us all, For much I long to know the happy Cause. _Neop._ My Country’s _Scyros_; homewards I am bound; My Sire’s _Achilles_; _Neoptolemus_ My Name; thus I have told you all in short. _Phil._ Son of my dearest Friend, and dearest Country; Of [5]_Lycomedes_ the peculiar Care When young; what Fleet has brought thee here? or whence? _Neop._ From _Troy_ directly, thence I steer my Course. _Phil._ What’s this you say? when first we went to _Troy_ You were not with us on that Expedition. _Neop._ Why, were you one of that advent’rous Fleet? _Phil._ Know you me not, my Son? _Neop._ ---- ---- How shou’d I know A Person whom I never saw before? _Phil._ Did you not hear my Name, or the Report Of all the Torments which have rack’d my Soul? _Neop._ No not one single Word of Name or Torments. _Phil._ Ah! wretched me!--odious to Heav’n’s great Powers!-- My woful Case was neither heard at Home, Nor ev’n among the _Greeks_,--but those who cast Me out smile at my Wrongs, and keep them secret. My Wounds still ranckle, and encrease my Pain. Beloved Youth, Son of the fam’d _Pelides_, I the Successor of great _Hercules_ Possess his Arrows: I’m the Son of _Pæan_, Call’d _Philoctetes_, whom two _Grecian_ Chiefs, Join’d with the subtle [6]_Cephalenian_ Prince Basely cast out into this desert Isle; Torn with wild Anguish, with Impressions dire Of Vipers Teeth all burning; thus they left me Forlorn, when hither they from [7]_Chrysa_ sail’d; Tir’d with the Agitation of the Waves, And sunk to Sleep profound; rejoic’d to find This cruel Opportunity, they fled And laid me in the hollow of a Rock; A few small Rags to bind my noisome Wounds, And present Food a little, all they left me. I wak’d! O Heavens! my Son, what Tongue can tell The Sorrows of my Soul? what Floods of Tears Flow’d down my Cheeks! what Sighs! what Groans! To see them sailing off, and not one Soul With solitary mourning _Philoctetes_. No Help, no friendly Care, no kind Relief To my distracting Sores; I look’d around, And found not one Companion but my Pain; Which ne’er remits. Day after Day went on, I saw my little Cave must be supply’d By my own Care, and Hunger be subdu’d By the wild Doves my faithful Arrows slew. What Birds I shot I crawl’d along with Pain To bring them home, and dragg’d my bleeding Foot With Anguish great. When to the limpid Spring I crept to cool my parching Thirst, or went To gather Fewel for my Fire, (the same Affliction seiz’d me as I limp’d along) This by repeated Stroaks of Flints I kindled, But long before the little Seeds of Fire, Scarce visible, became a living Flame. This is my chief Support, my Cave’s best Comfort; It grants me all but a Release from Pain. But now, my Son, ’tis Time I should relate The Nature of this Place. No Sailor steers With willing Sails to these inhuman Shores; No Trade; no Harbours; here no Mortal dwells With hospitable Care to tend a Stranger; None in their Senses will approach this Place. If hither by tempestuous waves they’re driven (As oft it happens in the length of Time) To soft Compassion mov’d, my sad Condition They pity, and some Food and Raiment give; But not a Soul will take me home, but here I’m left to perish in the desert Wilds. For ten long Years of Hunger and of Pain, I fed the Wounds, that feed themselves on me. This the [8]_Atridæ_ did, and this _Ulysses_; For which may Heav’n inflict like Woes on them. Chorus. Like those by chance who hither sail, I feel Compassion rise; Thy Suff’rings force me to bewail, They pierce my wounded Heart and melt my Eyes. _Neop._ I am a Witness of thy sad Complaint; The Truth of what you say I cannot doubt; I by Experience know, how violent The Sons of _Atreus_ and _Ulysses_ are. _Phil._ Have you then felt their curst, destructive Power, That with a just Resentment you accuse them? _Neop._ I wish my Passion were with Arms supply’d, That [9]_Sparta_ and _Mycenæ_ both might know, What valiant Heroes _Scyros_ can produce. _Phil._ Well said, my Son, what is your Cause of Anger? _Neop._ Thou Son of _Pæan_, I’ll impart it all, Tho’ Words are wanting justly to describe The injur’d _Neoptolemus_, when he Had lost his best Defence, his martial Father. _Phil._ Alas! proceed no farther ’till I hear Whether the [10]Son of _Peleus_ be no more. _Neop._ He fell, but by no mortal hand; they say It was _Apollo_ sent the fatal Shaft. _Phil._ Great was the Hand that slew! and great the slain! But now, my Son, I am divided much Between thy Suff’rings and his Death to know Whether to hear thy Griefs, or wail his Fate. _Neop._ Thy own Misfortunes bring sufficient Pains, And leave no room to think of any others. _Phil._ You reason well. Then to yourself proceed, And let me know the Injuries you bear. _Neop._ _Ulysses_ and my Tutour _Phœnix_ came Both in one Ship to me, and this their Message; That now my Father was no more, my Help Was requisite to conquer _Troy_; none else Alive could do. For so the Fates decreed. How true or false I shan’t presume to say. With quick Perswasion off I went, but more Desirous far to see my Father’s Body; But saw it not. Yet still Ambition fir’d My gen’rous Soul with glorious Thoughts of Conquest. In two days Time on the [11]_Sigeian_ Shore I landed; wretched was that Shore to me! While the whole Army stood around to pay Their due Respect, and all did loudly swear They saw _Achilles_ still alive in me; But he, alas! was dead; unhappy I Let fall some silent Tears, and so retir’d A while to think of him, and grieve alone. To the _Atridæ_, whom I thought my Friends, I went, demanding my dead Father’s Treasures, Among the rest his Armour; when, alas! How great my Sorrow! this the dismal Answer. “Son of _Achilles_, all the rest is thine; “The Armour is dispos’d of to _Ulysses_. At this Intelligence I griev’d; and wept. At length my Passion struggling broke its way, And thus I spoke; Injurious Prince, who durst Without my Leave dispose of what was mine? Then said _Ulysses_, standing near, they’re mine; “And justly were they given: I sav’d your Sire “From being stript of them and dragg’d him off, “When hostile Foes wou’d make his Coarse a Prey. Now much enrag’d, my swelling Anger burst, And out in dreadful Imprecations flew Upon them all, for such injurious Treatment. _Ulysses_ then advanc’d, suppress’d his Anger; But stung at what he heard, he thus reply’d. _You ran no Risk, but staid behind at Home; Rant as you please, you ne’er shall bear it hence._ Thus injur’d and repuls’d, I homeward sail’d, Spoil’d of my native Right, by one I deem The worst of Men, I mean the base _Ulysses_. But yet I blame the chief Commanders more; The Army and the Civil Pow’r is theirs; Their Orders all obey; when Wrongs are done, It is by their Connivance, or Example. I’ve told you all; whoever hates th’ _Atridæ_, I hold him dear both to the Gods and me. Chorus. All feeding Mother Earth, On whom the lofty [12]Mountains stand, From thee great _Jove_ derives his [13]Birth, Supported by thy bounteous Hand. Thou who dost dwell where rich [14]_Pactolus_ shines With Wealth exhausted from the Golden Mines, Shall I invoke thy Name Within that Stream? And tell what Injuries are done To _Neoptolemus_, the Son Of great _Pelides_, that great Man of Fame? His Armour to _Ulysses_ given, And he the Son from his own native Right is driven. Thee, mighty Goddess, we invoke, Who dost Bull-slaught’ring [15]Lyons Yoke, And drawn by them in Car-triumphant ride, Humble th’ _Atridæ_ and pull down their Pride. ----- Footnote 1: _Lemnian_ Coast. _Lemnos_ is an Island in the _Ægean_ Sea, South of _Thrace_, in the Latitude of 41 Deg. now called _Stalimene_ by the _Turks_: The Form of it is Quadrangular, it is 25 Miles over, which makes it 100 Miles about. Footnote 2: _Melian_ Son of _Pæan_. _Philoctetes_ the _Thessalian_ Son of _Pæan_, and Companion of _Hercules_. Footnote 3: _Pelides._ _Achilles_ the Son of _Peleus_.] Footnote 4: Son of _Laertes_. _Ulysses._ Footnote 5: _Lycomedes_ King of _Scyros_, (one of the _Cyclades_) to whom the Goddess _Thetis_ gave her Son _Achilles_ in Charge, having stoln him from his Master _Chiron_, as he was asleep; because she foresaw that he would never return alive from the Siege of _Troy_. For this Reason he was kept at the Court of _Lycomedes_, in a Woman’s Dress, among his Daughters, the better to conceal him. He was at last discover’d by a Stratagem of _Ulysses_. Footnote 6: _Cephalenian_ Prince. _Ulysses._ So call’d from the Island _Cephalenia_, of which he was King. Footnote 7: _Chrysa_, an Island near _Lemnos_. Footnote 8: _Atridæ._ _Agamemnon_ and _Menelaus_, the two Sons of _Atreus_. One was King of _Mycenæ_, and the other of _Sparta_. They were the chief Commanders of the _Greeks_ who went upon the _Trojan_ Expedition. Footnote 9: _Sparta_ and _Mycenæ_. Both Towns of the _Peleponnesus_ in _Greece_. Footnote 10: Son of _Peleus_. _Achilles._ _Peleus_ was King of _Thessaly_. Footnote 11: _Sigeum_, a Promontory near _Troy_. Footnote 12: _Orea_, or Mountains according to Mythologists were said to be Daughters of the Goddess _Terra_, or Earth. Footnote 13: _Jupiter_ was born in _Crete_. Footnote 14: _Pactolus_, a River in _Lydia_, which has its Rise from the Mountain _Tmolus_ famous for Golden Sands. Footnote 15: _Cybele_, who was the same with _Terra_, or the Earth, had her Chariot drawn by Lyons. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCENE II. _Phil._ Strangers, ye seem to bear the Marks of Sorrow, And I perceive your Sentiments and mine Concerning the _Atridæ_, and _Ulysses_, Are both the same: As for his Part, I know His artful, false, disguis’d, deluding Tongue, To Truth and Justice is a perfect Stranger: At which I wonder not, but much admire How braver [16]_Ajax_ cou’d allow such Wrongs. _Neop._ _Ajax_, my Friend, is dead, or had he Life, I shou’d not thus be made a shameful Prey. _Phil._ And is the great, the valiant _Ajax_ dead? _Neop._ He now no longer breathes in Heav’ns fair Light. _Phil._ Wretched am I--There’s [17]_Diomede_ alive And curs’d _Ulysses_, sprung from [18]_Sisyphus_, And both unworthy of the Breath they draw. _Neop._ Both live and flourish, both in Pomp appear, Peculiar Fav’rites of the _Grecian_ Host. _Phil._ Where is my good, my old, my faithful Friend, [19]_Nestor_ of _Pylos_? for he well foresaw Their dark Designs, their base, their treach’rous Deeds. _Neop._ Loaded with Woes, his only Son is dead, _Antilochus_; the Comfort of his Age. _Phil._ Two dismal Evils you have told, I hear Them both with much Affliction; O my Heart! What shall I think? The brave are dead and gone; _Ulysses_ lives! who well deserv’d to die. _Neop._ He wisely fights; but even the wise sometimes Perceive their deepest Counsels overthrown. _Phil._ Tell me, I pray thee by the Gods, where was Thy Father’s dearest Friend [20]_Patroclus_ then. _Neop._ Slain with the rest. Observe this one Remark, _Mars_ ever singles out the brave to die; Cowards are safe; he scorns their panting Breast. _Phil._ I grant it’s true; and for this Cause I shall Enquiry make for one unworthy Wretch, Whose Tongue had Words and Cunning at command, In what Condition’s he?---- ---- _Neop._ ---- ---- ----_Ulysses_ sure You mean; this Character suits none but him. _Phil._ No. One [21]_Thersites_ clamorous and loud, In spight of Opposition; does he live? _Neop._ I saw him not, but heard he was alive. _Phil._ ’Tis like, because no Evil yet is dead. The Gods to me seem Guardians to the base, And take a Pleasure to preserve from Death The false and fraudulent; the just and good They snatch away from hence. What shall we think Of this? or how give Praise to them? who shew So much Regard to wicked Men their Fav’rites. _Neop._ As for myself, I’ll freely speak my Thoughts, Thou Son of _Pæan_, I resolve to live Remote from _Troy_, and the _Atridæ_ both; Where wicked Men with Pow’r oppress the Good, Where Virtue is destroy’d, and Vice commands. As for my self, I cannot love such Men; And rocky _Scyros_ shall hereafter be My best Content----There shall I joy to live. Now to my Ship I go, dear Son of _Pæan_, Farewel; with all my Soul farewel; and may The Gods remove thy Pain ev’n as thou wilt; For go we must, whenever Heav’n is pleas’d To send a fair and favourable Wind. _Phil._ And do ye now prepare?---- ---- _Neop._ ---- ---- ----No Time we lose; The moment that the Winds invite, we go. _Phil._ O! for thy Father’s, and thy Mother’s sake, For all that can be dear to thee at home, I beg, beseech, and pray you not to leave A poor, forsaken, solitary Man, In all the dire Calamities you see; And such as I already have related; But place me any where, in any manner. I know a wretched Burthen that I am, However bear me to the generous Soul; What’s base is hateful; Goodness is his Glory. If I be left behind, it brings Disgrace; But if you take me off, it brings you Honour. If I shall get alive to _Oeta_’s Land, ’Tis but the trouble of one single Day; Then dare to take me, throw me where you please; Or by the Pump, or Stern, or Prow, my Friend, Or any part, where I shall give no Pain. By _Jove_, who over suppliant Men presides, I beg you to consent, my Son; I fall Down prostrate, and in Tears embrace your Knees; A poor, lame, helpless, miserable Man. Ah! leave me not alone, where not a Print Of human Foot is seen; but save me hence; Whether you take me to your native home, Or land me on [22]_Eubea_’s Coast; from thence To [23]_Oeta_ I’ve not far to go; not far To the _Trachinian_ Hills, where [24]_Spercheus_ winds It’s lovely Stream; there let my Father see me. Tho’ long since much I fear he’s dead; for oft By many Passengers I sent, to beg He’d send a Ship to take me safely home; But he is either dead, or they perhaps Slighted my Message; or they pass’d him by. Now is my last Resort, be thou at once Conductor both and Messenger; O save, And have Compassion, and consider well How frail are human Things; how much expos’d To Change! This day the happy Man may be Cast down from all his Joy; then he who stands Without the Storm, shou’d cast a tender Eye On the poor shipwreck’d Man, and bring Relief; ’Tis in the midst of Happiness we shou’d Live on our Guard, for fear of a Surprize. Chorus. O Prince, for once be kind, Let him Compassion find. He told you all his dreadful Woes, Which Heaven avert from any Friend of mine. Then let the Joy be thine, To make th’ _Atridæ_ know He shall obtain Release from Pain, And ev’ry haughty Foe. Then haste away and hoist your Sails, Make haste to catch the flying Gales, And waft him o’er Unto his native Shore, Lest Heav’n pursues you if my Counsel fails. ----- Footnote 16: _Ajax_, the Son of _Telamon_ and _Hesione_, accounted the next Hero to _Achilles_ among the _Greeks_. Footnote 17: _Diomede_, Son of _Tydeus_, next in Prowess to _Ajax_. _Homer_ makes him wound _Mars_ and _Venus_. Footnote 18: _Sisyphus_, a great Robber in _Attica_, the Grandfather of _Ulysses_. Footnote 19: _Nestor._ An experienc’d General and Orator, Son of _Neleus_; So excellent in Wisdom, that _Agamemnon_ said, if he had ten such in his Army, _Troy_ would soon be conquer’d. Footnote 20: _Patroclus_, Son of _Menætius_. When he was young having kill’d one of his Playfellows by accident, was forc’d to fly his Country, and go to _Pthia_ in _Thessaly_, where he was receiv’d by _Tydeus_, and bred up with his Son _Achilles_ under _Chiron_: This made him and _Achilles_ such inseparable Companions and Friends. Footnote 21: _Thersites._ The most deformed of all the _Greeks_. He is painted by _Homer_ in a most ridiculous Manner. Footnote 22: _Eubea_, an Island in the _Ægean_ Sea, now called _Negrepont_. Footnote 23: _Oeta_, a Mountain on the Borders of _Thessaly_. _Trachin_ a Town near it, whence the Hills are called _Trachinian_. Footnote 24: _Spercheus._ A River which runs with a rapid Course from a Mountain in _Thessaly_. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCENE III. _Neop._ Take care you do not now disguise your Thoughts, And soon again with Violence exclaim, When he no longer can suppress his Anguish. _Chorus._ Falshood be far from me, such foul Disgrace You shall not justly have to charge me with. _Neop._ It wou’d be scandalous and base in me, To be less willing to assist this Stranger; Then sail we must away, let him prepare With Expedition; for I shan’t deny To take him in my Ship, and may the Gods Propitious prove, and safely fill our Sails. _Phil._ O friendly Day to me! O best of Men! Ye dearest Mariners, how shall I make Acknowledgments? or how can I express What Obligations bind me to you all? But let us go, my Son, to visit now My little homeless Home, and there you’ll see What Life I led; how strong my Heart to bear Such Hardships; that the Place wherein I lay Wou’d give your Eyes offence; yet I, alas! Was by Necessity inur’d to this. _Chorus._ Hold, let us see; two Men advance this Way, The one belongs to thee, t’other I know Him not, but hither they approach. Before We go, ’tis fit we shou’d enquire their Business. _Enter the_ Merchant. _Mer._ Son of _Achilles_, here by Chance I came; And unexpected find thee, by this Man Inform’d; for he, it seems, with two Men more, Guarded thy Vessel. Sailing right from _Troy_ And homewards bound to [25]_Peparethos_ fam’d For Vines, I heard these Men, prepar’d to sail, Were thine; I straightway then resolv’d to hail The Crew, and not to pass before I shou’d Acquaint you, what you little think; The _Greeks_ Have form’d Designs against you, which not long Will so be call’d, for soon you’ll find them Facts. _Neop._ My Friend, I thank thee for thy Care; I shou’d Be base indeed, were you not dear to me For this Intelligence. What new Designs Concerning me? What have the _Greeks_ resolv’d? _Mer._ Old _Phœnix_ and the Sons of _Theseus_ in Pursuit of thee set sail---- _Neop._ ---- ---- ----Do they intend By Force of Arms, or Reason, to subdue And bring me back?---- _Mer._ ---- ----I know not which they mean; But this Intelligence I thought was proper. _Neop._ Will _Phœnix_ and his Men, to gratify The base _Atridæ_, turn their Force on me? _Mer._ They have resolv’d so far, they won’t delay. _Neop._ Why not _Ulysses_, Was it Fear detain’d him? _Mer._ He and the Son of _Diomede_ are bent Upon another Prey, they hoist their Sails The very day I launch’d my Ship from thence. _Neop._ Against what Man is this _Ulysses_ sent? _Mer._ A certain Man--But whisper me who’s this? _Neop._ This is the famous _Philoctetes_, Friend. _Mer._ Say not a Word--But hence--begone in Haste;-- Fly from this Island with your utmost Speed. _Phil._ What does he say, my Son? what private Gain Does he propose by whisp’ring thus of me? _Neop._ I know not what he means. He must himself Explain it, in the Presence of us all. _Mer._ Son of _Achilles_, do not you betray me, For thus disclosing what I shou’d conceal; Because I’m much indebted to the _Greeks_, Bound by the strongest Ties of Gratitude; For I was poor, and they reliev’d my Want’s. _Phil._ To the _Atridæ_ I’m an Enemy---- But here’s my greatest Friend, because his Hate For them with mine agrees; and now you’re come, Sincerely act, and do not ought conceal That may be grateful for my Soul to know. _Mer._ See what you do, my Friend---- _Neop._ ---- ---- ----I’ve thought on’t well. _Mer._ The Blame shall all be thine---- ---- _Neop._ ---- ----On what Account? _Mer._ Once more, my Friend, I must acquaint you, That The Son of _Tydeus_ and _Ulysses_ come Against this Person, sworn by Force to take him, Or by Perswasion sooth him back again; This from _Ulysses_ all the _Grecians_ heard; For none beside had so much Confidence. _Neop._ What mov’d th’ _Atridæ_, after so long Time, To have a Thought of banish’d _Philoctetes_? Whence this Desire for him? was it because They fear’d the Vengeance of th’ offended Gods? _Mer._ I’ll tell thee all; (perhaps you heard it not) A Royal Prophet, Son of aged _Priam_, Call’d _Helenus_, in dead of Night betray’d By false _Ulysses_, (that detested Man!) Was led in Chains, and brought a glorious Prey By him presented to the _Greeks_; he told All his Prophetick Soul cou’d then foresee Concerning _Troy_; That it wou’d ne’er be conquer’d, Except they brought this Person, whom you see Upon this Island; which _Laertes’_ Son No sooner hear’d, but he straight undertook The Task, and said he’d bring him to the _Greeks_ With free Consent, or else against his Will; If not, he wou’d engage to lose his Head. Now you have heard it all, I urge your Haste, And his, and any else whom you regard. _Phil._ Alas for me! did he, who’s stain’d all thro’ With Crimes, engage to bring me back again? He might as well perswade me back from Death To Life, as basely as his Father came. _Mer._ These Things I know not, but I must from hence On Board; may some good God conduct you both. _Phil._ Is not this harden’d Impudence, that he Shou’d hope by flatt’ring Speeches to prevail, And take me to the _Greeks_? I’d sooner hear The Viper which depriv’d me of my Foot. But he will say and dare do ev’ry Thing; And now I know for certain he will come. But let us go, my Son, that we may be Divided by a distant Sea from him. Let us be gone--a seasonable Haste, When Labour’s over, brings a pleasing Rest. _Neop._ How can we go when Heav’n’s against our Sails, Adverse the Wind, commanding us to stay? _Phil._ No Wind’s against us when we fly from Evils. _Neop._ It blows against their Sails as much as ours. _Phil._ By adverse Winds a Pyrate ne’er is hindred, When forth he sallies for his lawless Plunder. _Neop._ Since you request it, let us go, and take Whatever Things are needful for your Voyage. _Phil._ Some I shall want, but they are very few. _Neop._ What can you need which I cannot supply? _Phil._ Some Herbs, whose Virtues mitigate my Pain, And often put my restless Wounds to sleep. _Neop._ Well--bring them out----what other Things beside? _Phil._ My Bow--Alas I had almost forgot! And left it here behind a Prey to him. _Neop._ Is this the celebrated Bow you bear? _Phil._ The very same; my Hand no other holds. _Neop._ Give me a nearer View, and let me take It in my Hands, and pay it Adoration. _Phil._ This, and whatever else I have, my Son, Whatever pleases you, you may command. _Neop._ I love thee well, and thus I shew my Love; If Heav’n permits to touch thy Bow, I will; If not, refuse me; if a wrong Request. _Phil._ You speak religiously, my Son, you may-- You who have brought me to the Sun’s fair Light, To see the sweet _Oetean_ Fields again, My aged Father, and my dearest Friends; Who rais’d me up, o’erwhelm’d by envious Foes; You shall, and welcome, take it in your Hands; But then return it safely to it’s Owner. Then may you boast that you’re the only Man, Whom for your Virtue, and for that alone, So much I’ve honour’d, as to touch this Bow; ’Twas giv’n to me for human Acts; for which I’m pleas’d to see so good a Friend enjoy it. _Whoever knows for Benefits receiv’d To make a just Return, that Man I deem A Friend beyond the Value of all Treasure._ _Neop._ ---- ----’Tis Time to enter in thy Cave. _Phil._ ---- ---- ---- ----And thee I must entreat to go; for I shall want thy Help. ANTISTROPHICA STROPHE I. Chorus. I heard of those eternal Pains, Which rack’d [26]_Ixion_ feels, Fast bound by Adamantine Chains To ever-turning Wheels. Doom’d to this Fate by angry _Jove_, For tempting to embrace The Queen of Heav’n with impious Love; His Torments never cease. But never did I hear or see A Man so rack’d before, As _Philoctetes_ seems to me, What Suff’rings can be more? He never did an Act was wrong, But Justice still maintain’d; I wonder much that he so long, Such Torments has sustain’d. Tell me the Cause, ye angry Pow’rs, In Fortune’s stormy Seas, He’s tost so many tedious Hours, Without one Moment’s Ease. ANTISTROPHE I. Expos’d to all the Storms that blow, From whence he cannot fly; And not a Friend to feel his Woe Returning Sigh for Sigh. Not one the healing Herb applies To sooth his angry Wound; But torn with Anguish, there he lies Extended on the Ground. The Instant that his Pains abate, He like an Infant creeps, To find a Plant to quell that Heat, And thus the Venom sleeps. STROPHE II. Not from the sacred Earth his Foods Nor from the Tiller’s Care, Does he recruit his streaming Blood, But from the Bird-flown Air. When soaring Fowls advance this Way He lets his Arrows fly; To certain Death the feather’d Prey Falls flutt’ring from the Sky. Ah! wretched Soul, thy Fate was hard, To live ten Years in Pain, To be from joyful Wine debarr’d To drink the tastless Rain. ANTISTROPHE II. His Fortune’s now revers’d we see, A gen’rous Youth’s inclin’d To waft him Home; to set him free; And ease his tortur’d Mind. Lo! to the _Melian_ Nymphs he’s gone, To _Sperchius’_ vagrant Streams, To _Oeta_’s Mount where _Jove_’s great Son To Heav’n aspir’d in Flames. _Neop._ Come, gently move along; what means this Silence? Why stand you thus confounded in amaze? _Phil._ Alas! alas! alas!---- ---- ---- _Neop._ ---- ---- ----What mean these Sounds? _Phil._ Nothing that’s worth Complaint; my Friend proceed. _Neop._ Perhaps our walking may increase your Pains. _Phil._ Not in the least, I rather feel my Wound Much lighter since our Walk. Ye heav’nly Powers! (_aside_) _Neop._ Why do you then invoke the heav’nly Powers? _Phil._ To be propitious, and attend our Voyage. O Heav’ns, what Pains I feel!---- ---- _Neop._ ---- ---- ----What Suff’rings now? Why are you silent? For you seem to me By Starts and Groans your Torture to confess. _Phil._ My Son, I’m lost; no longer I conceal The Malady; it wounds my very Soul; It pierces thro’ and thro’; O wretched me! Murther’d! undone! and lost beyond Redress. O dismal, racking, burning, poison’d Pains! Reach me a Sword, my Son, an Ax, a Dagger; Cut off my Foot this instant; spare it not. _Neop._ What new Addition do you feel, that makes You roar with hideous Exclamation loud. _Phil._ You know, my Son---- ---- _Neop._ ----Not I---- _Phil._ You know indeed. _Neop._ What do you mean? _Phil._ ----I know not what I mean. _Neop._ Why know you not? _Phil._ ---- ---- ----I cannot speak for Pain. _Neop._ Dreadful the shooting of thy Wound indeed! _Phil._ Dreadful beyond Expression; O! my Friend, Have some Compassion on the Woes I feel. _Neop._ What shall I do to give thee Ease?---- _Phil._ ---- ---- ---- ----Ah! don’t Forsake me for the piteous Moans I make. By Fits and Starts, my Torments come and go Like Vagabonds, to feed; and then they vanish. _Neop._ Unhappy Mortal, I lament thy Fate, And all the lamentable Shocks thou bearest-- Shall I support you as you walk along? _Phil._ Support me not, but hold my Bow a-while, Until the present Torment which I feel Abates, and keep it safe; for when my Pains Are at the full, I sink to sleep; no means Beside can give me Ease; then sleep I must, And let me lie from all Disturbance free; If in that Interval my Foes shou’d come, By all the Gods I must conjure thee, not To part it from thy Hands, by Will, or Force, Or any Stratagem may be contriv’d To get it from thee; for on this depends Thy Safety, and thy humble Suppliant’s Life. _Neop._ Fear not, thy Caution I’ll observe--No Man Alive shall touch this Bow, except thy self, And me--Give it--May Fortune guard us both. _Phil._ Take it--Good luck attend thee--But adore The Goddess _Envy_ first, lest the same Fate Pursues thee which annoy’d its former Masters. _Neop._ Ye Gods! grant my Request; may happy Winds, When ye think fit, convey us home with Safety. _Phil._ I fear your Pray’rs are all in vain, my Son; The boiling Blood ’stills from my burning Sole. Some Change much worse I dread, alas! alas! O wretched Foot, what Evils do you feed! Now, now it tears, now to my Soul it comes, Attacks with greatest Force. O wretched me! Bear with my loud Complaints, and fly not hence, My Friends, O fly not from my dismal Groans. My _Cephalenian_ Friend, I wish thy Breast Felt all my Grief at once. O _Agamemnon_, And you his Brother-Leader _Menelaus_, How would you bear these Wounds I feel, so long? Ah me what num’rous Evils I endure! O Death! Death! Death! whom ev’ry Day I call; Will you not come and end my loathsome Life? Thou generous Youth in whom true Pity dwells, Take me and throw me in the _Lemnian_ Flames; There burn me all, do me that friendly Office, Which I did for the Son of _Jove_, when he Bequeath’d these Arrows, which to thee I’ve given. What do you say? ah! speak, and be not silent; Where’s thy Attention? where’s thy wand’ring Mind. _Neop._ I grieve long since and all thy Pains deplore. _Phil._ But, O my Son, bear; bear my Griefs a-while; They’re short, and violent, and quickly gone; Therefore I beg you leave me not alone. _Neop._ I shall not leave thee. _Phil._ No? _Neop._ For certain not. _Phil._ I shall not by an Oath engage thy Faith. _Neop._ It is not fit I leave thee behind. _Phil._ Pledge me your Hand you’ll stay. _Neop._ I do. _Phil._ O place me there, there place me. _Neop._ In what Place? _Phil._ Above. _Neop._ What makes you wildly look around. _Phil._ O let me go from hence. _Neop._ Where let thee go? _Phil._ Let me, I say. _Neop._ I will not let thee go. _Phil._ One Touch is Murder. _Neop._ Then I let thee go. Hast thou recover’d yet thy perfect Senses? _Phil._ O Earth receive me sinking to thy Bosom. I can’t sustain myself one Moment longer. _Neop._ Poor Man! a sudden Slumber seals his Eyes! His drooping Head upon his Breast is fallen! The dewy Sweat distils from all his Pores; And bursting Gore streams from his tortur’d Foot. O let us leave him now to Rest and Quiet; Let him forget himself in Sleep a while. ----- Footnote 25: _Peparethos._ One of the Cluster of Islands in the _Ægean_ Sea called the _Cyclades_. Footnote 26: _Ixion._ After he had murther’d his Father-in-law _Deioneus_ being much rack’d on that Account, _Jupiter_ in Compassion translated him to Heaven, where he basely attempted _Juno_; for which, _Jupiter_ had him fix’d to a Wheel in Hell, which was to turn round for ever. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCENE IV. EPODICA. STROPHE I. Chorus. Soft Sleep, thou Stranger to all Pain, Breathe on him with thy softest Gale; Thou Prince of a most happy Reign, Upon his Eye-Lids gently steal. Keep off the bright extended Rays of Light, And gather all the gloomy Shades of Night. Come hither thou Physician sure, Thou the universal Cure. ANTISTROPHE. Resolve, my Son, what you must do, Why are you wav’ring in Suspense? Our first Designs we shou’d pursue, At once surprize and bear him hence. The wisest Counsels still we see Depend on Opportunity. And now this favourable Hour Entirely puts him in our Pow’r. _Neop._ Tho’ fast asleep he hears us not, in vain We take his Bow, and leave him here behind; The Crown is due to him, the Gods desire That we shou’d take him with us, but to boast A vain Attempt will bring us foul Disgrace. ANTISTROPHE. Chorus. These Things are to the Gods alone, To their all-searching Wisdom known; But in your Answer tell in short, And fix upon our last Resort; For Pains th’ afflicted wakeful keep, They only have a sleepless Sleep. Whatever Counsel’s best to thee, That Counsel is the best for me; But see it be in secret done, You know the Man I fix upon. If your Opinion be the same With mine, to prosecute the Scheme, You’ll find what Difficulty lies In all the Projects of the wise. EPODOS. We cannot have a fairer Wind, Behold you see the Man is blind! Helpless in Darkness there he lies; Nocturnal Sleep has clos’d his Eyes. No Motion, Hand, or Foot, or Breath, He lies all silent there as Death; But now he seems to look around, And murmur out a deadly Sound. Our Bus’ness is to seize him here; Success is to be void of Fear. _Neop._ Be silent then and resolute; you see His Eyes are open’d, and his Head is rais’d. _Phil._ O Light succeeding Sleep, Death’s Image! see, Beyond my Hopes, the Stranger’s faithful Guard! This I could never hope, my Son, to find, That you with such Compassion cou’d behold The dismal racking Torments which I bear, And wait with kind Assistance, to relieve A poor afflicted Soul; not so the good, The great _Atridæ_, were they here, wou’d grant Such friendly Aid; But thou art gen’rous, good, And great; of Ancestors the same you’re sprung. My nauseous Wounds, my tiresome Groans you bore With unexampled Patience; now my Pains Abate, they’re gone, and sunk in sweet Oblivion, Do you yourself with helping Hand up raise me. Now that my Torture’s vanish’d, let us haste On Board; for Time requires our Speed. _Neop._ What Joys I feel at this surprizing Sight! To see you free from Pains and breathing still! For all the Marks of ghastly Death I saw In thy pale Face, by Life deserted quite. Arise, my Friend, and these shall bear thee hence, Well pleas’d to do’t if you and I command. _Phil._ I thank thee for thy Offer; but, my Son, Raise me thy self, lest the ungrateful Stench Offend their Nostrils; they must bear it all While I’m on Board, and giv’n to them in Charge. _Neop._ Thy Will is mine----But help to raise thy self. _Phil._ I shall; for well I’m us’d to this hard Task. _Neop._ Ye Gods! what shall I do?---- ---- _Phil._ ---- ---- ----What’s this, my Son? What means this sudden Change? and why these Sighs? _Neop._ O my distracted Soul! what Doubts arise! _Phil._ And do you doubt, my Son? O never own it. _Neop._ My Suff’rings now are equal to his Pains. (_aside._) _Phil._ Are you offended at my foul Disease, And now relent to take me in your Ship? Is this the Hardship that weighs down your Spirits. _Neop._ All is a Hardship to a gen’rous Soul, When ’tis oblig’d to turn against its Nature; To act against Compassion, which was stampt Upon it’s Essence when it first began. _Phil._ But you do neither act nor speak a Thing That’s unbecoming of your noble Sire, In doing good to me a virtuous Man. _Neop._ But for the Character which I must bear, The base, the treach’rous Character, my Friend! That is my Grief, ’tis that which wounds me most. _Phil._ Your Actions give me no great Cause to fear, But your Expressions much alarm my Soul. _Neop._ Great _Jove_, what shall I do! I’m doubly curss’d, Both in concealing what I shou’d reveal, And speaking what I rather shou’d keep secret. _Phil._ If I mistake not I am now betray’d, And your Intent’s to leave me here behind. _Neop._ I shall not leave thee, but my only Grief Is that I take thee hence, to thy great Sorrow. _Phil._ What’s this you say, my Son? your Words explain. _Neop._ I shall no longer hide my Thoughts; you must For _Troy_ prepare, and to the _Grecian_ Fleet We must from hence to the _Atridæ_ sail. _Phil._ Ah me! what’s this?---- ---- _Neop._ ---- ----Don’t grieve before you know. _Phil._ Know what? inform me what you mean to do. _Neop._ To free thee from this foul Disease, and then To lay _Troy_ waste by thy assisting Hand. _Phil._ Are you for certain then resolv’d on this? _Neop._ Necessity commands, you must obey; Be deaf to Anger, and in Peace submit. _Phil._ Undone! poor Wretch! betray’d! is’t thus you act, My Friend? O give me back my faithful Bow. _Neop._ That cannot be; for to the Pow’rs Supreme Justice and Publick Good command our Faith. _Phil._ All-seeing Sun, all Terror, all Deceit! Detested Wretch, what hast thou done to me? How am I now betray’d? dost thou not blush To see me thus on bended Knees before thee? Thou impious, cruel, base, destructive Man! Of Life you robb’d me when you took my Bow. O give it back, upon my Knees I beg; Return my Life’s Support, by all your Gods, Your Country Gods! don’t rob me of my Life. O wretched me! will you not speak one Word, But look averse, resolv’d to keep my Right? Ye Shores, ye Promontories, and ye Rocks, Ye Beasts, my dumb Companions in this Isle, To you I now complain; none else will hear My sad Complaints, to you I speak my Grief: To you so well acquainted with my Woes. See what the Son of great _Achilles_ does! He who has sworn to take me home, to _Troy_ Now bears me; and forgetful of his Vow And plighted Hand, the sacred Bow he keeps, Which once belong’d to the great Son of _Jove_. He drags me to the hated _Greeks_ away, As if some mighty Conquest he had gain’d; What is his Triumph! but a poor dead Carcass! A Cloud of Smoak! an incorporeal Shade! Had I the Strength I once possess’d, in vain Wou’d he attempt (or ev’n as now I am) To force me; had he not o’ercome by Fraud. Now I’m betray’d, undone! what shall I do? Return my Bow, and be thy self again. No Answer; but dumb Silence; then I’m lost. To thee again, my pervious Rock, I go, Naked and void of any earthly Food; Now must I die enclos’d alone in thee. No Bird, or Mount-ascending Beast shall be Slain by my Bow; but I, poor lonely I, Who fed on them, shall be to them for Food; They’ll hunt for me for whom I hunted once; And Blood for Blood, and slain for slain I’ll be. This Evil’s from an unexpected Hand! O may you never die, before I know Whether for this base Action you repent! If not; I wish you an inglorious Death. _Chorus._ What shall we do? ’Tis now full Time to sail, To put in Execution our Commands. _Neop._ Compassion moves me for this friendless Man; And has long since engag’d my Heart to him. _Phil._ O for the Gods let pity plead for me! And do not brand thy self with such a Stain Of black Disgrace, as to be thought perfidious. _Neop._ What shall I do? I wish I never had Left _Scyros_ to be thus perplex’d with Woes. _Phil._ Thou’rt not inclin’d to wicked Deeds thy self, Thy Nature’s gentler far; some horrid Mind Suggested this to thee; let others whom So base a Crime befits perform this Task. _Neop._ What shall we do, my Friends---- ---- _Ul._ ---- ---- ----Basest of Men! You think not to return the Bow again. _Phil._ O Heav’ns, methinks I hear _Ulysses_ speak! _Ul._ And you may see him too as well as hear him. _Phil._ Alas for me! deceiv’d! betray’d! undone! ’Tis he contriv’d the Fraud--he got my Bow. _Ul._ ’Twas I--I own the Fraud--and no one else. _Phil._ O give me back my Bow again---- ---- _Ul._ ---- ---- ----Not I, But you shall march with it by Peace or Force. _Phil._ Detested Man! shall these use Force to me? _Ul._ They shall, except you willingly depart. _Phil._ O _Lemnian_ Land! and all-subduing Flames Of _Vulcan_! can you bear that I shou’d hence Be dragg’d by Force, in Spight of thy Protection? _Ul._ ’Tis _Jove_ that o’er this Isle presides; ’tis _Jove_; ’Tis _Jove_ decrees what I must execute. _Phil._ Impious _Ulysses_, what Pretence is this! You introduce the Gods to vouch your Lies. _Ul._ No. But my Truths;----Therefore be gone you must. _Phil._ This I deny---- ---- _Ul._ ---- ----You shall, and must obey. _Phil._ Alas my Father has begot a Slave! To gen’rous Freedom I’m a perfect Stranger. _Ul._ Not so. But equal to those mighty Princes, With whom you’re destin’d to demolish _Troy_. _Phil._ Who I! all Racks I rather wou’d endure; I’d rather live for ever here alone. _Neop._ What do you mean to do?---- ---- _Phil._ ---- ---- ----I mean to fall Headlong, and dash my Brains upon that Rock. _Ul._ Seize him, and take him from the Precipice. _Phil._ My Hands! what rude Affronts are these ye feel! Robb’d of your faithful Bow, your best Defence! You who have never fram’d one Thought of Good; Or shewn one gen’rous Principle within; How have you circumvented me! and gain’d Upon my honest Heart, under Disguise Of my Friend’s Son estrang’d, not fit to join With thee, as he was fit to take my Part; Artless to do but what he was enjoin’d---- ’Tis evident he grieves at what is done; At his own Rashness, and my Suff’rings more; Thy wicked Soul, from dark Retirement, still Contriving Evils, gain’d upon his Weakness, And took Advantage of his tender Years; His unexperienc’d Years; to work thy Plot: And now, insulting Man, you bind me fast To take me from these Shores, where once you left me, Friendless, forsaken, banish’d, and alone; Dead ’midst the living; may some horrid Fate Attend thee for it; This I often pray’d. No Joys to me the Gods propitious give; You live in Pleasures; I am doom’d to Woes. And what is worse become a Sport to thee And the _Atridæ_, whom you come to serve. It was by Force and Stratagem compell’d You sail’d with them from _Greece_; I freely went With sev’n good Ships commanded by my self; From whence, as you relate, they cast me out; As they relate it all the Blame is thine. Whom come you now to take? why lead me hence? On what Account? For I am nothing now. Long since I’ve been translated to the Dead. Thou who art hated by the Gods above, Am I not lame, and loathsome, with my Wounds? How can you pray to them? or burn your Incense? Or with Libations those high Pow’rs invoke; While I am in the Ship, in which you sail? ’Twas this Pretence you made to leave me here. O may you perish for these Injuries! (I once again with Zeal repeat my Curse) For what you’ve done to me; _if Heav’n regards The just, and makes Reprizals for the wrongs They bear; and I am sure it does_--or else You had not hither come----some Sting divine Must goad you with Remorse, to think of me; O’erwhelm’d with all the Sorrows Man can bear. O my dear native Land! and all ye Gods! Who see what’s done within this World below, Avenge my present Suff’rings on them all, If ye can pity such a Wretch as me; In their Destruction I should find a Cure. _Chorus._ Wretched the Man, and grievous is his Speech! He has a Soul that will not stoop to Evils. _Ul._ I cou’d say many things in answer to This Speech of his, cou’d Arguments prevail; But now I use but one; for such ’tis meet; This is my Method with such Men as he; When there’s a Trial of the Just and Good, There’s none alive more piously inclin’d---- My Reasons ever did subdue; but thee I can’t convince; for which I shall submit---- Detain him not----but let him stay behind---- We shall not need thee, while we have thy Bow; _Teucer_ can manage it as well as you; And I myself can bend the Bow as well, At least as you; and take as good an Aim---- Where is the Use of thee?----Then fare thee well. Here traverse _Lemnos_; we shall sail away, And gain that Honour which you might obtain. _Phil._ What shall I do? Unhappy Wretch, Shall you Shine with those Arms among the hated _Greeks_? _Ul._ In vain you contradict, for now I go. _Phil._ Son of _Achilles_, won’t you speak one Word E’er you depart, but leave me thus forlorn. _Ul._ Begone without Regard, lest you relent; Your gen’rous Heart must not defeat our Fortune. _Phil._ Will ye, my Friends, fly off, and leave me thus? And have no pity for the Wrongs I feel? _Chorus._ This is our Captain; He determines all; What he prescribes must be a Law to us. _Neop._ I know _Ulysses_ will condemn me for The Tenderness I shew; However stay, If it seems good to _Philoctetes_; stay Until the Sailors have the Ship prepar’d, And we our Vows perform unto the Gods. Perhaps his Mind may change, and then we go, And see that you be ready at our Call. ANTISTROPHICA. STROPHE I. Phil. My lonely Cave, my last Retreat, Expos’d alike to Cold and Heat; I never shou’d thy Limits leave, But make thee both my House and Grave. Alas! by me thy craggy Stones Are fill’d with Sobs, and Sighs, and Groans! What will become of me this Day! No Hopes to catch the flying Prey! I wish that Vultures here wou’d fly, And bear me swiftly to the Sky, And tear me piece-meal in the Air; This wretched Life I cannot bear. STROPHE II. The Fault’s thy own, And thine alone ’Tis to your self you owe this Fate: ’Twas in your Breast To chuse the best, And yet you chose this dismal State. _Phil._ O wretched, wretched me! what Woes I find! Of human Conversation quite debarr’d! For ever--and for ever----to this Cave Confin’d----’till Death alone must give Release. No more I hope for Food; Life’s Fewel’s gone---- The Birds in Safety hover o’er my Head---- My Arrows lost! which were more swift than they---- A dark and subtle Stratagem’s my Ruin---- O cou’d I see its Author feel my Pains As long as I! what Pleasure wou’d it give! Chorus. Not I, but Heav’n, I’d have thee know, Inflicts on thee this dreadful Blow; Thy Imprecations then refrain, And blame not others for thy Pain; For I’m resolv’d, against thy Will, To shew my Friendship for thee still. _Phil._ What shall I do? Upon the sandy Shore He bears the sure Provider of my Food---- Which no Hand ever forc’d before; and there Derides my Woes, and jests upon my Torments. O my dear Bow, wrench’d from these friendly Hands, Cou’d you but see or feel the Wrongs I bear! That I, who did the Son of _Jove_ succeed, In Right of thee, must never more enjoy thee---- But by a cursed Usurpation seiz’d, By one who had no Right to thy Succession. Coud’st thou but see this vile deceitful Man Of base Extraction, my insulting Foe; What num’rous Evils he contriv’d for me, How wou’d it grieve thee to be born by him! Chorus. Whate’er this Person has express’d, You shou’d interpret it the best, Nor wrest his Meaning to invidious Sense; The publick Orders he obey’d Justly in ev’ry thing he said, And well contriv’d it for his Friends Defence. _Phil._ Ye wanton Fowl, that skim the liquid Air; Ye spotted Beasts that graze the sloaping Hills; Ye need not now be shy, to come within The Reach of this my solitary Cave; My Bow is ravish’d from me, my keen Shafts Are gone, and I am now compleatly wretched. What need ye fly from this unguarded Place! Now is your Time to come and make Reprizals; Eat me alive, and take your Flesh again; Soon I shall quit my Life for want of Food. Who can on empty Air support himself, Devoid of those Supplies, those Fruits which grow Our Nourishment from the Life-giving Earth? Chorus. By all the Gods, if Strangers are Entitled to thy friendly Care, Let him a good Reception find, I thee conjure, with willing Mind. You may your present Grievance shun; For none but Fools to ruin run. _Phil._ Again, again my Anguish is renew’d; Thou best of Men why am I ruin’d thus? What’s this you do? why do you back re-call My sleeping Mem’ry to my former Pains? _Chorus._ Why say you so?---- ---- ---- _Phil._ ---- ----Because you now propose With cruel Force to take me hence to _Troy_. _Chorus._ It best seems so to me---- ---- _Phil._ ---- ---- ----Leave me behind. _Chorus._ This I’m content to do; therefore I shall Obey your Will----and to the Ship we go. _Phil._ Don’t for the Love of _Jove_, to whom we pray. _Chorus._ Be mod’rate then---- ---- _Phil._ ---- ----O for the Gods don’t leave me. _Chorus._ What makes you roar with so much Vehemence? _Phil._ O Fortune, Fortune, I’m undone for ever! My painful, burning Foot, how shall I now Hereafter thy unhappy Wound sustain! Return, my Friends, ah! turn again to me. _Chorus._ What can we do but what you have desir’d? _Phil._ Why shou’d my loud Complaints provoke your Anger? I’m not my self; Distraction makes me wild. _Chorus._ Then be advis’d, and come along with us. _Phil._ No--never--never--firmly I’m resolv’d---- Tho’ threat’ning _Jove_ with his red flaming Hand Shou’d come, and point his Thunder at my Breast; Farewel to _Troy_, and all the Army round it, Who cast me off for these distracting Pains. One thing I must entreat you, grant me one. _Chorus._ What’s that?---- ---- ---- _Phil._ ---- ----A Sword, or Ax, or any Weapon. _Chorus._ What Murder wou’d you fain commit?---- _Phil._ ---- ---- ---- ----My Head---- My Limbs--with my own Hands, I’d chop them off; For my Disease does loudly call for Death. _Chorus._ Why so?---- _Phil._ Because I want to go and seek my Father. _Chorus._ Speak in what Country---- _Phil._ ---- ---- ---- ----With the Shades below; For he no longer lives upon the Earth. O my dear Father’s Country, how I long To see you once again! I who forsook Your sacred Altars to attend the _Greeks_, My greatest Foes; for which I’m thus rewarded. _Chorus._ Long since I had departed to my Ship, But that I see _Ulysses_ here advance, And _Neoptolemus_ attends him hither. _Ul._ Tell me the Reason why you hasten back? _Neop._ To mend the Wrongs I did some time ago. _Ul._ You shock me much. What were the Wrongs you did? _Neop._ ’Twas in obeying you and all the Army. _Ul._ What did you act repugnant to your Honour? _Neop._ By Fraud I did ensnare the Innocent. _Ul._ As how? Alas, what new Device is this? _Neop._ No new Device. But as to _Pæan_’s Son---- _Ul._ What will you do? I dread what he intends. _Neop._ I will return his Bow again to him. _Ul._ O Heav’ns! what do you mean? You will not sure. _Neop._ I got them basely, ’gainst all Laws of Justice. _Ul._ Is’t to perplex me that you say this thing? Speak, by th’ Immortal Gods I must conjure thee. _Neop._ Is it perplexing to declare the Truth? _Ul._ What say’st thou? or what Speech is this that ’scapes Thy Lips? thou Son of great _Achilles_, tell. _Neop._ Once can’t suffice; but twice, or thrice I must Repeat my Words. You’re slow of Apprehension. _Ul._ I wish I had not heard thee once begin. _Neop._ Then be content; you’ve heard my Resolution. _Ul._ There is a certain Person will prevent thee. _Neop._ What say you? who will dare presume to do it? _Ul._ Why all the _Greeks_; and I amongst the rest. _Neop._ Tho’ you be wise you talk like one that’s mad. _Ul._ But you do neither think or act with Wisdom. _Neop._ _Justice surpasses Wisdom----I am just._ _Ul._ How are you just, when what’s acquir’d by me, You now return without my Leave?-- _Neop._ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----But I, ’Tis plain, was guilty of a horrid Crime. _Ul._ Do you not dread the _Grecian_ Army, Friend? _Neop._ When Justice sides with me I dread it not; Nor shall I ever by thy Pow’r be sway’d. _Ul._ I shall not with the _Trojans_ fight, but thee. _Neop._ Happen what will---- ---- ---- _Ul._ ---- ---- ----You see my Right Hand fixt Upon the Handle of my Sword---- ---- _Neop._ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----I do; And am no less prepar’d to fight than you. _Ul._ Well, Sir--I’ll let the Army know your Mind, And they will find a way to punish you. _Neop._ You’re wise indeed, if always thus you act; You never will have any Cause to grieve---- Thou Son of _Pæan_, _Philoctetes_, come And leave thy lonesome craggy Habitation. _Phil._ What Clamour’s this I hear disturbs my Cave? Why do ye call me out? For what, my Friends? Alas! some Evil sure. What brought you here? Is it to add Misfortunes to Misfortunes? _Neop._ Confide in me, and listen to my Words. _Phil._ So you dissembled once before when you Prov’d false, and robb’d me of my faithful Bow. _Neop._ I don’t dissemble now; but tell me whether You here intend to stay, or sail with us. _Phil._ Hold--not one Word--you speak them all in vain. _Neop._ You’re so resolv’d---- ---- ---- _Phil._ ---- ----More fixt than Words can tell. _Neop._ All my Design was to perswade you hence; But since I find that my Proposal’s vain, And much afflicts your Mind, I shall desist. _Phil._ All that you say is vain, and you shall never Gain the Affection of my Heart; for you Basely betray’d me of my Life. And now, Thou worst of Men, worst Son of the best Father, You come with your Advice, whom most I hate. May the _Atridæ_ perish, and may you And your Companion, subtle, false _Ulysses_. _Neop._ Curse us no more, but here receive your Bow. _Phil._ How say you! sure I’m not deceiv’d again. _Neop._ No. By the Pow’r of sacred _Jove_ you’re not. _Phil._ How grateful is thy Speech, if this be true! _Neop._ It shall be true in Fact; here stretch thy Hand, And be Possessor of thy Arms again. _Ul._ This I forbid----I call the Gods to witness. In the _Atridæ_’s Name, and all the Army. _Phil._ Whose Voice is this, my Son? is’t not _Ulysses_? _Ul._ ’Tis I for certain, and I’ll take thee hence. Whether _Achilles’_ Son consents or no. _Phil._ You shall not triumph long, if once I take This Arrow, and direct it at thy Breast. _Neop._ O shoot him not----I beg thee lay it down. _Phil._ Restrain me not----My dearest Son let go. _Neop._ I will not---- ---- ---- _Phil._ ----You have hindred me from killing An Enemy---- ---- ---- _Neop._ ----’Tis neither good for you nor me. _Phil._ Thus much I’d have thee know, the _Grecian_ Chiefs Are Cowards all; but valiant in their Tongues. _Neop._ ’Tis true--But now you’ve got your Bow, your Anger Ceases of Course, and all Complaints of me. _Phil._ I grant they do; and O my Son! you’ve shewn The noble Race from whence you sprung, not from The subtle _Sisyphus_; but from _Achilles_, Famous among the Living, and the Dead. _Neop._ Thy Praises of my Father, and my self, Transport me much; but hear what I advise. _Whatever Lot by Heav’n’s assign’d to us We must with humble Patience bear, ’tis fixt, And once decreed must be unalterable._ Those who submit to voluntary Woes Deserve not our Forgiveness, or Compassion. You are grown fierce with Anger, and won’t hear The Counsel of a Friend; for tho’ he comes With true Benevolence to set thee right; You spurn his Admonitions, and you deem Him as your greatest Foe. But still I’ll speak; And call great _Jove_ to witness what I say. Then hear the Sequel--print it in thy Mind-- And be convinc’d this Wound, which frets thee so, Was Heav’n’s Decree; because you did approach The Guard of _Chrysa_, that same hidden Viper, Which watches the uncover’d Temple there. And know, thou never shalt enjoy Release From grievous Pain, while that all-seeing Sun Rises in th’ Eastern Clime, and sets again, Except you go a Voluntier to _Troy_; Where we shall have the Sons of _Æsculapius_ To work thy Cure, and _Troy_ shall be subdu’d By these thy Arrows, and by my Assistance. How I’m inform’d of this be pleas’d to hear---- We have a _Trojan_ Prophet taken Pris’ner, One _Helenus_, who says all this must be Fulfill’d, and he’s a Prophet of undoubted Credit; Nay more, he says this very Summer will The Fate of _Troy_ determine; if ’tis false He does declare his Life shall be the Forfeit. Now you’re assur’d of this, consent and come; It is a noble Prize, that you alone Of all the _Greeks_ shou’d be esteem’d the bravest; And next to have Release from all thy Pains; To gain a Conquest over _Troy_, that shall Bring you the greatest Glory Man can gain. _Phil._ Detested Life! why am I here preserv’d! Why not transmitted to the Shades below! What shall I do? How shall I now suspect His Truth, who’s so benevolent to me? But grant I yield; How then shall I behold The Light of Heav’n? To whom shall I appeal? Ye shining Orbs above, that view all things, How will ye bear to see me go, and join The Sons of _Atreus_, who were once my Ruin? Or join with all-destroying false _Ulysses_? ’Tis not the past that frets my anxious Soul, But the sad Prospects of my Grief’s to come; For they whose Minds are pregnant still with Evils, Pour forth a num’rous Brood, they never fail. I wonder more at you for this, who ought Never to think of _Troy_, when such Disgrace Befel you there, robb’d of your Father’s Armour, Which was adjudg’d to curss’d _Laertes’_ Son, And _Ajax_ turn’d aside; methinks you shou’d Use all your Pow’r to hinder me from going; Sure after such Affronts you cannot go To join in their Designs; and force me hence; But sacred keep your Oath, and steer us home; And there at _Scyros_ pass your Life in Peace; Let all those Wretches die as they deserve. Thus will you doubly please your aged Sire, And me, and equal Thanks from both receive; Thus you’ll escape a foul Surmise, nor be Suppos’d a Fav’rer of such wicked Men. _Neop._ All that you say is well. But still I wou’d Entreat you to obey the Gods and me; Sail with your Friend, and leave this hated Shore. _Phil._ What! to the Land of _Troy_! to _Atreus’_ Sons! And with this bleeding Foot, which oft reminds me What barb’rous Treatment I from them receiv’d. _Neop._ It is my best Advice; for there you’ll find A full Discharge of all the Pains you feel. _Phil._ What’s this you say? what’s the Advice you give? _Neop._ ’Tis what will bring Advantage to us both. _Phil._ Don’t you disgrace the Gods in saying this? _Neop._ No. But I rather their Commands fulfil. _Phil._ For the _Atridæ_ do you speak, or me? _Neop._ I am your Friend--and I shall say no more. _Phil._ Where is your Friendship, when you thus betray And give me up unto my Enemies? _Neop._ My Friend, be humbler in Adversity. _Phil._ I know you well, you now contrive my Ruin. _Neop._ Not I----But this I’ll say----You’re much mistaken. _Phil._ I don’t mistake, that I was here expos’d By the _Atridæ_, and by all the _Greeks_. _Neop._ Your Foes are now your Friends, and come to save you. _Phil._ I never will consent to go to _Troy_. _Neop._ What shall I do! since you reject my Counsel, I can with Ease desist; and say no more; But leave you to your Choice to live in Pain. _Phil._ Then give me leave to do what suits me best, And as you pledg’d your Right-hand’s Faith to do it, Conduct me home, my Son, without delay; And think no more of _Troy_;----I’ve griev’d enough. _Neop._ Since ’tis your Will we go---- _Phil._ ---- ---- ----O gen’rous Word! _Neop._ Then let us move---- _Phil._ ---- ----As well as Pains allow. _Neop._ How shall I shun the Fury of the _Greeks_? _Phil._ Let that be not thy Care---- _Neop._ ---- ---- ----But what if they Shou’d come and work my Country’s Overthrow! _Phil._ Then I am there---- _Neop._ ---- ----But how can you assist. _Phil._ I have the Arrows here of _Hercules_. _Neop._ What do you say?---- ---- _Phil._ ----I’ll drive them from thy Country. _Neop._ If this you’ll do--march on--adore the Earth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCENE V. _Enter the Ghost of_ HERCULES. _Her._ O Son of _Pæan_, move not hence, before You hear my Words, and you yourself shall own You do not only hear, but see me too; ’Tis for your sake I leave my Heav’nly Mansion, Here to impart _Jove_’s Will; ’tis on his Errand I come, to stop the Journey you intend; Thy Bus’ness is my Counsel to obey. Then first I shall of my own Fate inform thee; How many Labours, Toils, and Pains, I pass’d, Immortal Glory to obtain; which now You may behold in me; ’tis destin’d too That you thro’ Danger’s Path arrive at Fame. With this Prince, going to the Town of _Troy_, The first Advantage you shall find, will be A Freedom from Disease; and next, the _Greeks_ Shall well distinguish you the first in Valour, _Paris_ to slay, the Author of their Woes, With these my fatal never-failing Arrows. And _Troy_ shall sink by them; the richest Spoils Be thine, by full Consent of all the _Greeks_; These to thy Native _Oeta_ thou shalt send Unto thy Father _Pæan_. All the Spoils, Which from the _Grecian_ Army you shall take, Bear them unto my Pile, and there erect A Monument to this my faithful Bow. Son of _Achilles_, this Advice be thine---- You must not think to conquer _Troy_ without His Help; or _Philoctetes_ without your’s; But, like two Lyon’s Whelps, each other’s Aid Engage; one Moment don’t ye part asunder. To cure thy Wounds, I’ll _Æsculapius_ bring To _Troy_, which must a second time submit To these my Arrows; But remember this---- _When you the Conquest gain, return your Thanks To Heav’n for your Success; for _Jove_ regards Religious Rites above all human Acts. Religion, which attends departing Souls, Whether we live or die, is still immortal._ _Phil._ O Voice desirable to me, tho’ long Unheard! I shall not disobedient be. _Neop._ To the same Counsel I with Joy subscribe. _Her._ Haste then and hoist your Sails; the Winds are fair. _Phil._ Off then I go; but let me thus express My last farewel, it is a Debt I owe. My little Cave, wherein I dwelt so long; Ye wat’ry Nymphs, which tread the verdant Meads; Ye stormy Sounds that break upon the Shore, Which often did convey your frothy Dews Upon my Head, as in my Cave I lay, And loudly of the Tempest’s Rage complain’d, ’Till the _Hermean_ Promontory rung. Ye Springs, from whose delicious Streams I drank, I leave ye all; beyond my Hopes I leave you; To thee, dear _Lemnos_, I must bid farewel, Which in the Ocean’s swelling Bosom liest; Grant us a lucky Voyage hence; and land Our Ship in Safety where the Fates decree; And where our Friends direct; where Heav’ns great King, Who conquers all, commands that we shou’d go. Chorus. Then let us leave the _Lemnian_ Shore, And all together sail; The Nymphs who guide the Seas implore To send a prosp’rous Gale. FINIS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Transcriber’s Notes This file uses _underscores_ to indicate italic text. In the original printed text, the Argument and all verse passages were printed in italic text, with upright text used for emphasis. For the sake of readability, in those passages _underscores_ are used only for the emphasized (upright) text. New original cover art included with this ebook is granted to the public domain. In some cases, two short lines of dialogue were printed on the same line in the printed play; each of these has been moved to its own line. The following changes and corrections have been made: • Dedication: Supplied missing period after phrase “some Traces of the Author’s Genius.” • p. 6: Capitalized and formatted heading “Strophe” to match other occurrences. • p. 13: Added comma after “Sigeum” in note 11. • p. 21: Supplied missing period after speaker “Neop.” before phrase “Do they intend / By Force of Arms.” • p. 40: Replaced “Friendip” with “Friendship” in phrase “To shew my Friendship for thee still.” • p. 43: Supplied missing period after speaker “Neop.” before phrase “Tho’ you be wise you talk like one that’s mad.” • p. 47: Replaced “Souls” with “Soul” in phrase “’Tis not the past that frets my anxious Soul.” *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILOCTETES OF SOPHOCLES *** Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed. Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. START: FULL LICENSE THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. 1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed: This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that: • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.” • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works. • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work. • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. 1.F. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org. This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.