Part 21

PHILOKTETES

O hands, what you suffer for lack of a bowstring, the prey of that man!

You whose thoughts are sick and slavelike, how you have hunted me! How you tricked me, how you stole up with this boy as a shield, unknown to me. He deserved a better master than you. He is at a loss to do anything but what he's told, and he suffers now for his mischief and the things he has brought upon my head. Your evil, harmful soul has taught him to be a wily criminal, unwilling and unsuited though he was for that. Now you have bound me and plan to take me off from this place where you had cast me away, friendless, homeless, a living corpse.

I curse you. I have cursed you many times before, but the gods have granted me nothing I want, and so you live happily, while I live in this pain, and you and the Atreids mock my anguish, those two generals, for whom you perform this deed. You were yoked to the cause by deceit and force, while I willingly went with my seven ships, willingly to dishonor and my own destruction, to being cast away on this lonely shore. You say they did it, and they blame you.

Why must you take me? I am nothing. For you, I've been dead for years. Blasphemous man, could it be I don't stink now; am I no longer a cripple? If I sail with you, how can you offer burnt sacrifices? How can you pour your libations to the gods? That was your reason for abandoning me.

May a horrible death overtake you. It will for your crimes against me, if the gods still care for justice. I know they do, for you would not have come for my sake alone; the gods' urging must have brought you here. Ancestral land and you gods who look on mortal crimes, take vengeance on these men when the time is right, take vengeance on them all, if you pity me. If I could see them die, then I could also dream that the sickness within me has fled my body.

CHORUS

He is bitter, this stranger; his words are, too, for they do not bend to suffering.

ODYSSEUS

There is no time to say the things I should, and there are many things I could say to him. Just this: I am a man who responds to occasion and adapts himself to the situation. In times of crisis among good and just men, I can be the noblest-minded of all. To win is my overarching wish--- except against you. For you I will stand aside.

Let him go. We don't need him. Let him stay in this place. We have his bow. Teuker is with us, and he is skillful, and I can master those weapons too. I aim straight as well. Why would we need you? Goodbye. Goodbye to Lemnos. Let's go. Perhaps soon I'll win the prize and fame that belong to you.

PHILOKTETES

Oh, what will I do? Will you stand before the Greeks cloaked in the glory of my weapons?

ODYSSEUS

Don't speak to me. We are leaving now.

PHILOKTETES

You have nothing to say to me, son of Achilles? Will you leave without a word?

ODYSSEUS

Come along now, boy. Don't look at him, even though your spirit prompts you to. That may destroy the advantage we have won.

PHILOKTETES

You sailors, will you leave me? Do you have no pity?

CHORUS

The young lord is our master. His words are ours.

NEOPTOLEMOS

Odysseus will chide me for pitying him. You men stay here until the other sailors make ready and we have prayed to the gods of this place. Philoktetes may think better of us. Let us go, Odysseus. You men, come quickly as soon as we call for you.

PHILOKTETES

Rock hollow, cave, sunny, icy, It is true that I was not meant to leave you. You will be a witness to my life and death. Rock walls, filled with my cries of anguish, what will my daily ration be now? What hope have I of dealing with my fate, now that the birds that fled from me above will come down through the winds to destroy me? I have no strength left.

CHORUS