Philoktetes Part 8

What can they hope to win, those men, to turn their thoughts after so many years to Philoktetes, whom they made an outcast?

Do they miss him now? Or have the G.o.ds brought vengeance upon them, since they punish crime?

TRADER

I will tell you. You may not know this story.

There was a seer from a n.o.ble family, one of Priam's sons, in fact, called Helenos.

He was captured one night on a reconnaissance by Odysseus himself, who bears all our curses as a badge of dishonor.

Odysseus tricked him, and paraded him before the whole Greek army.

Helenos then poured out a flood of prophesy, especially about Troy, and how the Greeks would never take it until they were able to persuade Philoktetes to come to their aid, after he had been rescued from this place.

The minute Odysseus heard him say this, he promised to fetch this man, either by persuasion or by force.

If he failed, he said, they could punish him.

Boy, now you know why I've urged you and those whom you care for to leave.

PHILOKTETES

Ah! He swore he would persuade me to sail off with him, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d?

He'd sooner persuade me to come back from the grave, when I am dead, to rise up, as his father did.

TRADER

I don't know that story. I must leave you now.

May the G.o.ds help you all.

PHILOKTETES

Isn't it shameful, boy, that Odysseus thinks his words are wondrous enough to persuade me to let him cart me back to Troy, and parade me too before the whole Greek army?

I would sooner trust my enemy, the viper that bit me and crippled me at Chryse.

Let him try what he will, now that I know he's coming.

Let us go now, boy, and hope that a great seaswell will rise and crest and keep our s.h.i.+p from Odysseus's.

To be quick at the right occasion, you know, makes for untroubled sleep when work is done.

NEOPTOLEMOS

When the headwind dies down, we will sail.

The powers of the air work against us now.

PHILOKTETES

Whenever you flee evil men, that is good sailing.

NEOPTOLEMOS

True, but the wind is against them as well.

PHILOKTETES

In the minds of pirates, no wind is against them so long as they can steal and pillage.

NEOPTOLEMOS

Let us go away, then. Fetch from your cave the few things you most need or want.

PHILOKTETES

I do need a few things. I don't have many to choose from.

NEOPTOLEMOS

Things that we do not have on board?

PHILOKTETES

I have an herb to ease my pain, to put it to sleep.

NEOPTOLEMOS

Get it, then. What else do you want?

PHILOKTETES

Any arrows I may have left lying around.

I cannot leave any for another man to find.

NEOPTOLEMOS

Is that your famous bow?

PHILOKTETES

Yes. I have never set it aside.

NEOPTOLEMOS

May I hold it? May I cradle it in my hands?

PHILOKTETES

Only you. Hold it, and take whatever is useful to you.

NEOPTOLEMOS

I would love to hold it, if that is no violation, if it is lawful. If not, let it be.

PHILOKTETES

You speak piously, child. It is lawful, for you alone have granted me the light of the sun that s.h.i.+nes above us and the sight of Oeta, my beloved land, the sight of my father, and of my dear friends.

You have taken me away from my enemies, who stood above me. Courage, boy.

Hold this bow, then give it back to me, and proclaim to everyone that you alone could hold it, a merit won by strength of character.