Chorus What shall we do? It rests with you, my king, whether we now sail, or move forward to answer his pleas.
Neoptolemus A startling pity for him has come upon me—and not now for the first time, but long ago.
Philoctetes Show mercy, boy, for the love of the gods, and do not give men cause to reproach you for having cheated me.
Neoptolemus Ah, no, what shall I do? I wish I had never left Scyros, so pained am I by these doings.
Philoctetes You are not in and of yourself wicked, but you seem to have come to me after learning the shameless lessons of wicked masters. Now leave such behavior to others, whom it suits, and sail from here—once you have given me back my weapons.
Neoptolemus What shall we do, friends?
Odysseus Traitor, what are you doing? Come back here and surrender that bow to me!
Philoctetes Who is that? Do I hear Odysseus?
Odysseus Yes, Odysseus, be sure of it. Here I am before your eyes.
Philoctetes Ah, me, I am sold, destroyed! It was he, then, who entrapped me and robbed me of my arms.
Odysseus Yes, I and no other. I avow it.
Philoctetes Give back my bow, boy, give it up.
Odysseus That he shall never do, even if he wished to. And, what is more, you must come along with it, or my men will bring you by force.
Philoctetes Me, you basest and boldest of scoundrels, they will take me by force?
Odysseus Unless you come of your own free will.
Philoctetes O Lemnos, and you all-conquering flame kindled by Hephaestus, will you indeed endure it that this man should take me from your domain by force?
Odysseus Zeus it is, I tell you, Zeus, who rules this land, and it is by Zeus that these actions are decreed. I am his servant.
Philoctetes Hated creature, what clever pleading you devise! By sheltering yourself behind the gods, you make the gods liars.
Odysseus No, but true prophets. Now our march must begin.
Philoctetes Never!
Odysseus Now, I say. You must obey.
Philoctetes Ah, misery! Clearly, then, my father sired me to be a slave and no free man.
Odysseus Not so, but to be the peer of the best and bravest, with whom you are destined to take Troy and force it to the ground.
Philoctetes No, never—even if I must suffer every torment, so long as I have this island’s steep cliffs beneath me!
Odysseus What do you plan to do?
Philoctetes Throw myself now from the rock and shatter my head on the rocks below!
Odysseus Quick, seize him, both of you! Do not give him the chance!
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