The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 55

NEO. He wrestles cleverly; but, O my friend, Even ablest wits are ofttimes snared at last.

PHI. Tell me, I pray, what was become of him, Patroclus, whom thy father loved so well?

NEO. He, too, was gone. I'll teach thee in a word One truth for all. War doth not willingly s.n.a.t.c.h off the wicked, but still takes the good.

PHI. True! and to prove thy saying, I will inquire The fate of a poor dastard, of mean worth, But ever shrewd and nimble with his tongue.

NEO. Whom but Odysseus canst thou mean by this?

PHI. I meant not him. But there was one Thersites, Who ne'er made conscience to stint speech, where all Cried 'Silence!' Is he living, dost thou know?

NEO. I saw him not, but knew he was alive.

PHI. He must be: for no evil yet was crushed.

The Heavens will ever s.h.i.+eld it. 'Tis their sport To turn back all things rancorous and malign From going down to the grave, and send instead The good and true. Oh, how shall we commend Such dealings, how defend them? When I praise Things G.o.d-like, I find evil in the G.o.ds.

NEO. I, O thou child of a Trachinian sire, Henceforth will take good care, from far away To look on Troy and Atreus' children twain.

Yea, where the trickster lords it o'er the just, And goodness languishes and rascals rule, --Such courses I will nevermore endure.

But rock-bound Scyros henceforth shall suffice To yield me full contentment in my home.

Now, to my vessel! And thou, Poeas' child, Farewell, right heartily farewell! May Heaven Grant thy desire, and rid thee of thy plague!

Let us be going, that when G.o.d shall give Fair voyage, that moment we may launch away.

PHI. My son, are ye now setting forth?

NEO. Our time Bids us go near and look to sail erelong.

PHI. Now, by thy father, by thy mother,--nay, By all thy love e'er cherished in thy home, Suppliant I beg thee, leave me not thus lone, Forlorn in all my misery which thou seest, In all thou hast heard of here surrounding me!

Stow me with other freightage. Full of care, I know, and burdensome the charge may prove.

Yet venture! Surely to the n.o.ble mind All shame is hateful and all kindness blest.

And shame would be thy meed, didst thou fail here But, doing this, thou shalt have glorious fame, When I return alive to Oeta's vale.

Come, 'tis the labour not of one whole day.

So thou durst take me, fling me where thou wilt O' the s.h.i.+p, in hold, prow, stern, or wheresoe'er I least may trouble those on board with me.

Ah! by great Zeus, the suppliant's friend, comply, My son, be softened! See, where I am fall'n Thus on my knees before thee, though so weak, Crippled and powerless. Ah! forsake me not Thus far from human footstep. Take me, take me!

If only to thy home, or to the town Of old Chalcodon[5] in Euboea.--From thence I have not far to Oeta, and the ridge Of Trachis, and Spercheius' lordly flood.

So thou shalt bless my father with my sight.

And yet long since I fear he may be gone.

For oft I sent him suppliant prayers by men Who touched this isle, entreating him to fetch And bear me safely home with his own crew.

But either he is dead, or else, methinks, It well may be, my messengers made light Of my concerns, and hastened onward home.

But now in thee I find both messenger And convoy, thou wilt pity me and save.

For, well thou knowest, danger never sleeps, And fear of dark reverse is always nigh.

Mortals, when free, should look where mischief lurks, And in their happiest hour consider well Their life, lest ruin unsuspected come.

CH. Pity him, O my king! 2 Many a crus.h.i.+ng woe He telleth, such as I pray None of my friends may know.

And if, dear master, thou mislikest sore Yon cruel-hearted lordly pair, I would, Turning their plan of evil to his good, On swift s.h.i.+p bear him to his native sh.o.r.e, Meeting his heart's desire; and free thy path From fear of heavenly wrath.

NEO. Thou mak'st small scruple here; but be advised: Lest, when this plague on board shall weary thee, Thy voice should alter from this liberal tone.

CH. No, truly! Fear not thou shalt ever have Just cause to utter such reproach on me.

NEO. Then sure 'twere shame, should I more backward prove Than thou, to labour for the stranger's need.

Come, if thou wilt, let us make voyage, and he, Let him set forth with speed. Our s.h.i.+p shall take him.

He shall not be refused. Only may Heaven Lead safely hence and to our destined port!

PHI. O morning full of brightness! Kindest friend, Sweet mariners, how can I make you feel, In act, how dearly from my heart I love you!

Ye have won my soul. Let us be gone, my son,-- First having said farewell to this poor cave, My homeless dwelling-place, that thou may'st know, How barely I have lived, how firm my heart!

Methinks another could not have endured The very sight of what I bore. But I Through strong necessity have conquered pain.

CH. Stay: let us understand. There come two men A stranger, with a s.h.i.+pmate of thy crew.

When ye have heard them, ye may then go in.

_Enter_ Messenger, _disguised as a merchantman_.

MERCHANTMAN. Son of Achilles, my companion here, Who with two more remained to guard thy s.h.i.+p, Agreed to help me find thee where thou wert, Since unexpectedly, through fortune's will, I meet thee, mooring by the self-same sh.o.r.e.

For like a merchantman, with no great sail, Making my course from Ilion to my home, Grape-cl.u.s.tered Peparethos, when I heard The mariners declare that one and all Were of thy crew, I would not launch again, Without a word, till we had told our news.-- Methinks thou knowest nought of thine own case, What new devices of the Argive chiefs Surround thee; nor devices only now, But active deeds, no longer unperformed.

NEO. Well, stranger, for the kindness thou hast shown,-- Else were I base,--my heart must thank thee still.

But tell me what thou meanest, that I may learn What new-laid plot thou bring'st me from the camp.

MER. Old Phoenix, Acamas and Demophon Are gone in thy pursuit with s.h.i.+ps and men.

NEO. To bring me back with reasons or perforce?

MER. I know not. What I heard, I am here to tell.

NEO. How? And is this in act? Are they set forth To please the Atridae, Phoenix and the rest?

MER. The thing is not to do, but doing now.

NEO. What kept Odysseus back, if this be so, From going himself? Had he some cause for fear?

MER. He and the son of Tydeus, when our s.h.i.+p Hoist sail, were gone to fetch another man.

NEO. For whom could he himself be sailing forth?

MER. For some one,--but first tell me, whispering low Whate'er thou speakest,--who is this I see?

NEO. (_speaking aloud_).

This, sir, is Philoctetes the renowned.

MER. (_aside to_ NEOPTOLEMUS).

Without more question, s.n.a.t.c.h thyself away And sail forth from this land.

PHI. What saith he, boy?

Through what dark traffic is the mariner Betraying me with whispering in thine ear?

NEO. I have not caught it, but whate'er he speaks He must speak openly to us and thee.

MER. Seed of Achilles, let me not offend The army by my words! Full many a boon, Being poor, I reap from them for service done.