Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/476

378 By me inflicted; and all this is done

By one who seemed to know no evil thought:

Destruction seize thee. Nay, not yet, till I

Have learnt if thou wilt once more change thy mood;

If not, then may'st thou perish miserably!

Chor. [To .] What shall we do? It rests

with thee, Ο prince,

To bid us sail, or with his words comply.

Neop. Not for the first time now, but long ago

Has a strange pity seized me for this man.

Phil. Have mercy on me, boy, by all the Gods,

And do not shame thyself by tricking me.

Neop. What shall I do? Ah, would I ne'er had left

My Skyros! so great evils press on me.

Phil. Thou art not base thyself, but from the base

Learning foul evil, thou, 'twould seem, did'st come:

Now leaving it to those whom it befits,

Sail on thy way but first give back my arms.

Neop. [To Chorus.] What shall we do, friends?

Odys. Wretch, what doest thou?

Wilt not go back, and give the bow to me?

Phil. Ah! Who is this? Do I Odysseus hear?

Odys. Know well, it is Odysseus that stands here.

Phil. Woe! woe! I am entrapped, I am undone;

And was it he who snared me, filched mine arms?

Odys. I and none other. I avow the deed.

Phil. [To .] Dear boy, restore it; give

me back my bow.

Odys. That he shall not do, even though he wish;

Thou too go'st with them, or these men shall force thee.

Phil. What? me? thou basest and all-daring one;

And shall they force me?