Chorus
Have pity, my king! He has told of a struggle with sufferings manifold and oppressive—may the like befall no friend of mine! And if, my king, you hate the hateful Atreids, then, turning their wrongdoing to this man’s gain, I would take him in your swift, well-rigged ship to the home for which he longs, and so escape the god’s just wrath.
Neoptolemus Though now as a casual spectator you are compliant, beware lest later, when filled with his disease by its constant company, you prove no longer constant to these sentiments.
Chorus That will not happen. You will never have just cause to rebuke me for that!
Neoptolemus Well, then, it would shame me if the stranger were to find me less ready than you are to toil for his good. Come, if it pleases you, let us sail. Let the man set out at once; our ship, for her part, will carry him, and will not refuse. Only may the gods give us safe passage from this land, and from here to whatever destination we choose!
Philoctetes O day of joy unsurpassed! Most delightful man, and you good sailors! If only I could show you in deeds what a true friend you have made in me! Let us be going, my son, when we two have made a solemn farewell to my homeless home inside, so that you may also learn by what means I sustained my life, and how stout of heart I was born. For I believe that the mere sight would have deterred any other man but me from enduring these sufferings. But I have been slowly schooled by necessity to endure misery.
Chorus Wait, let us listen to the two men who are coming! One is a crewman of your ship, the other a stranger. Go in after you hear their report.
Merchant Son of Achilles, I asked my companion here, when he was guarding your ship with two others, to tell me where you might be found, since I have chanced upon you unexpectedly by the good fortune of coming to anchor off this very coast. With no great company I am homeward bound on my trader’s voyage from Ilium to Peparethus with its cluster-laden vines, but when I heard that the sailors were all of your crew, I resolved not to continue my voyage in silence, without first giving you my news and getting the due reward. You know nothing, I suspect, of your own affairs: the new designs the Greeks have regarding you, and not only designs, but deeds in progress and no longer postponed.
Neoptolemus The service you have done me by your forethought, sir, unless I am unworthy, will remain in my grateful thoughts. But tell me just what the designs are that you mentioned, so that I may understand what is the strange plan of the Greeks that you know.
Merchant Pursuers are on the way in search of you with a fleet. They are the aged Phoenix and the sons of Theseus.
Neoptolemus To bring me back by force, or through persuasion?
Merchant I do not know; but I have come to tell you what I did hear.
Neoptolemus Are Phoenix and his comrades really so eager to do this favor for the Atreids?
Merchant Be sure that it is being done, and without delay.
Neoptolemus Then why was Odysseus not ready to sail on this mission, and bring the message himself? Or did some fear hold him back?
Merchant Oh, he and the son of Tydeus were readying for pursuit of another man, just as I was leaving port.
Neoptolemus Who is this other after whom Odysseus himself was sailing?
Merchant There was a man. . . . But tell me first who that is over there. And whatever you say, do speak quietly.
Neoptolemus There, sir, before your eyes is the renowned Philoctetes.
Merchant Then do not question me further, but get yourself out of here as quickly as possible and sail away.
Philoctetes What is he saying, boy? Why does the sailor traffic with you about me in these dark whispers?
Neoptolemus His meaning yet eludes me. But, whatever he will say, he must say openly—to you, me and my men here.
Merchant Seed of Achilles, do not stir the army’s resentment against me for saying what I should not. I receive many benefits for what services I do them, as a poor man may.
Neoptolemus I am the enemy of the Atreids, and this man is my closest friend precisely because he hates them. Since, then, you have come kindly disposed towards me, you must not hide from us any part of their plans that you have heard.
Merchant Beware of what you are doing, boy.
Neoptolemus I am well aware.
Merchant I will hold you accountable.
Neoptolemus Do so, but speak.
Merchant I will. It is after this man that those two whom I named to you, Diomedes and forceful Odysseus, are sailing. They are oath-bound to retrieve him, either by winning words or by overpowering might. And all the Achaeans heard this clearly from the mouth Odysseus, for his confidence of success in this action was higher than his comrade’s.
Neoptolemus And for the sake of what did the Atreids after so long a time turn their thoughts so urgently towards this man, whom they were long since keeping an outcast? What was the desire that came over them, or what force? What avenging spirit sent by the gods to exact payment for evil deeds?
Merchant I will inform you of all that, since it seems that you have not heard. There was a seer of noble birth, a son of Priam, called Helenus, whom that man, out on a solitary night raid—that deceitful Odysseus, whose repute is all shame and dishonor—captured. Leading him back in bonds, he displayed him publicly to the Achaeans as his glorious prey. Helenus then prophesied for them whatever matter they asked, and, pertaining to Troy, he foretold that they would never sack its towers, unless by winning words they should bring Philoctetes here from the island where he now dwells. And, as soon as he heard the seer prophecy this, Laertes’ son immediately promised that he would bring the man and show him to the Achaeans. He thought it most likely that he would get him willingly, but, if unwilling, then by force, and he added that, were he to fail in this, whoever wished it might sever his head. You have heard everything, boy, and I advise speed for you, and for any man for whom you care.
Philoctetes Alas! Has he, the utter plague, sworn to fetch me back to the Achaeans by persuasion? For if that were to happen, I could be persuaded, when dead, to come back up from Hades into the light, as his father did!
Merchant I know nothing about that. But for my part I must return to ship, while for you I pray that god may help you in every possible way.
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