Eksodos
Philoctetes
Ah, me, what shall I do? How can I ignore this man’s words, when he has advised me with good will? But shall I yield, then? How, after doing that, shall I, ill-fated, come into men’s sight? Whom will I be able to talk to? You orbs that have watched my every suffering,
1350
how could you endure to see me consorting with the sons of Atreus, who caused my ruin, or with the accursed son of Laertes? It is not my resentment for what has already been done that stings me, rather it is the many troubles which I seem to foresee I must suffer at the hands of
1355
these men in the future. For when the mind of men has once mothered wrongdoing, it trains those men to be wrongdoers in all else thereafter. And in you, too, I wonder at this. You should never yourself revisit Troy, and should prevent me from going there, seeing that those men have done you outrage
1360
by stripping you of your father’s arms when, in the suit for the weapons, they judged unhappy Ajax inferior to Odysseus. After that, will you go to fight at their side, and compel me to do the same? No, do not do it, son, but, as you swore to me, escort me home. You yourself remain in Scyros, and leave those evil men to their evil doom.
1365
So shall you win double thanks from me, as from your father, and you will not appear through your service to bad men to be like them in your nature.
1370
Neoptolemus
Your recommendation is reasonable, but nevertheless, I wish that you would put your trust in the gods and in my words,
and sail from this land with me, your friend.
1375
Philoctetes
What! To the plains of Troy and to the abhorred son of Atreus, with this miserable foot?
Neoptolemus
No, rather to those who will free you and your pus-filled limb from pain, and will save you from your sickness.
Philoctetes
You giver of frightening advice, what have you said?
1380
Neoptolemus
I recognize what will be best in the end for you and for me.
Philoctetes
Have you no shame before the gods for saying that?
Neoptolemus
Why should a man be ashamed of benefiting his friends?
Philoctetes
Do you mean a benefit to the Atreids, or for me?
Neoptolemus
For you, certainly, since I am your friend and speak in friendship.
1385
Philoctetes
How can that be, when you would give me up to my enemies?
Neoptolemus
Please, sir, learn to be less defiant in misfortune.
Philoctetes
You will ruin me—I know it—with these words.
Neoptolemus
Not I. But you, I say, will not understand.
Philoctetes
Do I not know already that the Atreids cast me away?
1390
