Part 20

PHILOKTETES

Your evil nature is beyond belief. Will they take me off against my will?

ODYSSEUS

If you don't crawl along on your own, they will.

PHILOKTETES

O land of Lemnos and the all-powerful fire, created by Hephaistos in the great volcano, must I submit to this? Must I let him force me to go with them?

ODYSSEUS

Zeus rules this island. Zeus has ordered this. I am his servant. I obey his commands.

PHILOKTETES

O despicable man, the lies you spin! You call on the gods and you make the gods liars.

ODYSSEUS

The gods speak truly. This course must be followed.

PHILOKTETES

I say no.

ODYSSEUS

And I say yes. You must obey.

PHILOKTETES

Clearly we are slaves, and not freeborn men. This is what our fathers brought us up to be.

ODYSSEUS

No, as equals of the noblest men, with whom you must storm Troy's walls and demolish the city, as destiny proclaims.

PHILOKTETES

No, I'll do anything but that, Odysseus. I still have my seacliff.

ODYSSEUS

What did you have in mind?

PHILOKTETES

To throw myself from the rocks above and break myself on the rocks below.

ODYSSEUS

Take him! Keep him from jumping!