philoctetes-第3节
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As great Achilles died…
PHILOCTETES
Oh； stay； my son！
Is then Achilles dead？
NEOPTOLEMUS
He is； and not
By mortal hand； but by Apollo's shaft
Fell glorious。
PHILOCTETES
Oh！ most worthy of each other；
The slayer and the slain！ Permit me； son；
To mourn his fate； ere I attend to thine。
NEOPTOLEMUS
Alas！ thou needst not weep for others' woes；
Thou hast enough already of thy own。
PHILOCTETES
'Tis very true； and therefore to thy tale。
NEOPTOLEMUS
Thus then it was。 Soon as Achilles died；
Phoenix； the guardian of his tender years；
Instant sailed forth； and sought me out at Scyros；
With him the wary chief Ulysses came。
They told me then （or true or false I know not）；
My father dead； by me； and me alone
Proud Troy must fall。 I yielded to their prayers；
I hoped to see at least the dear remains
Of him whom living I had long in vain
Wished to behold。 Safe at Sigeum's port
Soon we arrived。 In crowds the numerous host
Thronged to embrace me； called the gods to witness
In me once more they saw their loved Achilles
To life restored； but he； alas！ was gone。
I shed the duteous tear； then sought my friends
Th' Atreidae friends I thought 'em！…claimed the arms
Of my dead father； and what else remained
His late possession： when… O cruel words！
And wretched I to hear them… thus they answered：
〃Son of Achilles； thou in vain demandst
Those arms already to Ulysses given；
The rest be thine。〃 I wept。 〃And is it thus；〃
Indignant I replied； 〃ye dare to give
My right away？〃 〃Know； boy；〃 Ulysses cried；
〃That right was mine。 and therefore they bestowed
The boon on me： me who preserved the arms；
And him who bore them too。〃 With anger fired
At this proud speech； I threatened all that rage
Could dictate to me if he not returned them。
Stung with my words； yet calm； he answered me：
〃Thou wert not with us； thou wert in a place
Where thou shouldst not have been； and since thou meanst
To brave us thus； know； thou shalt never bear
Those arms with thee to Scyros； 'tis resolved。〃
Thus injured； thus deprived of all I held
Most precious； by the worst of men； I left
The hateful place； and seek my native soil。
Nor do I blame so much the proud Ulysses
As his base masters… army； city； all
Depend on those who rule。 When men grow vile
The guilt is theirs who taught them to be wicked。
I've told thee all； and him who hates the Atreidae
I hold a friend to me and to the gods。
CHORUS （singing）
O Earth！ thou mother of great Jove；
Embracing all with universal love；
Author benign of every good；
Through whom Pactolus rolls his golden flood！
To thee； whom in thy rapid car
Fierce lions draw； I rose and made my prayer…
To thee I made my sorrows known；
When from Achilles' injured son
Th' Atreidae gave the prize； that fatal day
When proud Ulysses bore his arms away。
PHILOCTETES
I wonder not； my friend； to see you here；
And I believe the tale； for well I know
The man who wronged you； know the base Ulysses
Falsehood and fraud dwell on his lips； and nought
That's just or good can be expected from him。
But strange it is to me that； Ajax present；
He dare attempt it。
NEOPTOLEMUS
Ajax is no more；
Had he been living； I had ne'er been spoiled
Thus of my right。
PHILOCTETES
Is he then dead？
NEOPTOLEMUS
He is。
PHILOCTETES
Alas！ the son of Tydeus； and that slave；
Sold by his father Sisyphus； they live；
Unworthy as they are。
NEOPTOLEMUS
Alas！ they do；
And flourish still。
PHILOCTETES
My old and worthy friend
The Pylian sage； how is he？ He could see
Their arts； and would have given them better counsels。
NEOPTOLEMUS
Weighed down with grief he lives； but most unhappy；
Weeps his lost son； his dear Antilochus。
PHILOCTETES
O double woe！ whom I could most have wished
To live and to be happy； those to perish！
Ulysses to survive！ It should not be。
NEOPTOLEMUS
Oh！ 'tis a subtle foe； but deepest plans
May sometimes fail。
PHILOCTETES
Where was Patroclus then；
Thy father's dearest friend？
NEOPTOLEMUS
He too was dead。
In war； alas… so fate ordains it ever…
The coward 'scapes； the brave and virtuous fall。
PHILOCTETES
It is too true； and now thou talkst of cowards；
Where is that worthless wretch； of readiest tongue；
Subtle and voluble？
NEOPTOLEMUS
Ulysses？
PHILOCTETES
No；
Thersites； ever talking； never heard。
NEOPTOLEMUS
I have not seen him； but I hear he lives。
PHILOCTETES
I did not doubt it： evil never dies；
The gods take care of that。 If aught there be
Fraudful and vile； 'tis safe； the good and just
Perish unpitied by them。 Wherefore is it？
When gods do ill； why should we worship them？
NEOPTOLEMUS
Since thus it is； since virtue is oppressed；
And vice triumphant； who deserve to live
Are doomed to perish； and the guilty reign。
Henceforth； O son of Poeas！ far from Troy
And the Atreidae will I live remote。
I would not see the man I cannot love。
My barren Scyros shall afford me refuge；
And home… felt joys delight my future days。
So； fare thee well； and may th' indulgent gods
Heal thy sad wound； and grant thee every wish
Thy soul can form！ Once more； farewell！ I go；
The first propitious gale。
PHILOCTETES
What！ now； my son？
So soon？
NEOPTOLEMUS
Immediately； the time demands
We should be near； and ready to depart。
PHILOCTETES
Now； by the memory of thy honoured sire；
By thy loved mother； by whate'er remains
On earth most dear to thee； oh！ hear me now；
Thy suppliant！ Do not； do not thus forsake me；
Alone； oppressed； deserted； as thou seest；
In this sad place。 I shall； I know it must； be
A burthen to thee。 But； oh！ bear it kindly；
For ever doth the noble mind abhor
Th' ungenerous deed； and loves humanity；
Disgrace attends thee if thou dost forsake me；
If not； immortal fame rewards thy goodness。
Thou mayst convey me safe to Oeta's shores
In one short day； I'll trouble you no longer。
Hide me in any part where I may least
Molest you。 Hear me！ By the guardian god
Of the poor suppliant； all… protecting Jove；
I beg。 Behold me at thy feet； infirm；
And wretched as I am； I clasp thy knees。
Leave me not here then； where there is no mark
Of human footstep… take me to thy home！
Or to Euboea's port； to Oeta； thence
Short is the way to Trachin； or the banks
Of Spercheius' gentle stream； to meet my father；
If yet he lives； for； oh！ I begged him oft
By those who hither came； to fetch me hence…
Or is he dead； or they neglectful bent
Their hasty course to their own native soil。
Be thou my better guide！ Pity and save
The poor and wretched。 Think； my son； how frail
And full of danger is the state of man…
Now prosperous； now adverse。 Who feels no ills
Should therefore fear them； and when fortune smiles
Be doubly cautious； lest destruction come
Remorseless on him； and he fall unpitied。
CHORUS （singing）
Oh； pity him； my lord； for bitterest woes
And trials most severe he hath recounted；
Far be such sad distress from those I love！
Oh！ if thou hat'st the base Atreidae； now
Revenge thee on them； serve their deadliest foe；
Bear the poor suppliant to his native soil；
So shalt thou bless thy friend； and 'scape the wrath
Of the just gods； who still protect the wretched。
NEOPTOLEMUS
Your proffered kindness； friends； may cost you dear；
When you shall feel his dreadful malady
Oppress you sore； you will repent it。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Never
Shall that reproach be ours。
NEOPTOLEMUS
In generous pity
Of the afflicted thus to be o'ercome
Were most disgraceful to me； he shall go。
May the kind gods speed our departure hence；
And guide our vessels to the wished…for shore！
PHILOCTETES
O happy hour！ O kindest； best of men！
And you my dearest friends！ how shall I thank you？
What shall I do to show my grateful heart？
Let us be gone！ But； oh！ permit me first
To take a last farewell of my poor hut；
Where I so long have lived。 Perhaps you'll say
I must have had a noble mind to bear it。
The very sight to any eyes but mine
Were horrible； but sad necessity
At length prevailed； and made it pleasing to me。
LEADER
One from our ship； my l
