Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/463

Rh To those Achæans? Just as soon would I

Be moved, when dead, from Hades to return

To light of day, as that man's father did.

Attend. Of this I know not. To my ship I go,

And now God send you all his choicest gifts.

Phil. And is it not, boy, dreadful that this man,

The son of Lartios, should expect to bring me

With glozing words, and show me from his ship

To all the crowd of Argives? Nay, not so:

For rather would I listen to the voice

Of that dread viper which my soul most hates,

That made me thus disabled. But his soul

Will say all, dare all, and I know full well

That he will come. But now, boy, let us go,

That a wide sea may part us from the ship

Odysseus sails in. Oft hath timely haste,

When toil hath ceased, brought slumber and repose.

Neop. Were it not well, when this head-wind shall cease,

Then to sail on, for now 'tis in our teeth?

Phil. 'Tis all fair sailing when thou flee'st from ill.

Neop. *I know it, but the wind retards them too.

Phil. There is no wind retards the pirate's work,

When time is come for theft and plundering.

Neop. Well, if it please thee, let us go, but first

Take what thou needest and desirest most.

Phil. Some things there are I need, though small the choice.

Neop. What is there which thou find'st not on my ship?

Phil. A herb there is with which I mostly lull

My wound's sharp pain, and make it bearable.