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1260—1280] thus prudent henceforth, perchance thou mayest keep clear of trouble.

[Exit.

But thou, O son of Poeas, Philoctetes, come forth, leave the shelter of thy rocky home!

. (within). What means this noise of voices once more rising beside my cave?

Why do you call me forth? What would ye have of me, sirs?

[''He appears at the mouth of the cave, and sees''.

Ah me! this bodes no good. Can ye have come as heralds of new woes for me, to crown the old?

. Fear not, but hearken to the words that I bring.

. I am afraid. Fair words brought me evil fortune once before, when I believed thy promises.

. Is there no room, then, for repentance?

. Even such wast thou in speech, when seeking to steal my bow,—a trusty friend, with treason in his heart.

. But not so now;—and I fain would learn whether thy resolve is to abide here and endure, or to sail with us.

. Stop, speak no more! All that thou canst say will be said in vain.

. Thou art resolved? . More firmly, believe me, than speech can tell.

. Well, I could have wished that thou hadst listened to my words; but if I speak not in season, I have done. . Aye, thou wilt say all in vain.