The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 61

LEADER OF CH.

Long since thou hadst seen me nearing yonder s.h.i.+p, Had I not spied Odysseus and the son Of great Achilles hastening to our side.

OD. Wilt thou not tell me why thou art hurrying This backward journey with reverted speed?

NEO. To undo what I have wrongly done to-day.

OD. Thy words appal me. What is wrongly done?

NEO. When in obeying thee and all the host--

OD. Thou didst what deed that misbecame thy life?

NEO. I conquered with base stratagem and fraud--

OD. Whom? What new plan is rising in thy mind?

NEO. Not new. But to the child of Poeas here--

OD. What wilt thou do? I quake with strange alarm.

NEO. From whom I took these weapons, back again----

OD. O Heaven! thou wilt not give them! Mean'st thou this?

NEO. Yea, for I have them through base sinful means.

OD. I pray thee, speak'st thou thus to anger me?

NEO. If the truth anger thee, the truth is said.

OD. Achilles' son! What word is fallen from thee?

NEO. Must the same syllables be thrice thrown forth?

OD. Once was too much. Would they had ne'er been said!

NEO. Enough. Thou hast heard my purpose clearly told.

OD. I know what power shall thwart thee in the deed.

NEO. Whose will shall hinder me?

OD. The Achaean host And I among them.

NEO. Thou'rt sharp-witted, sure!

But little wit or wisdom show'st thou here.

OD. Neither thy words nor thy design is wise.

NEO. But if 'tis righteous, that is better far.

OD. How righteous, to release what thou hast ta'en By my device?

NEO. I sinned a shameful sin, And I will do mine utmost to retrieve it.

OD. How? Fear'st thou not the Achaeans in this act?

NEO. In doing right I fear not them nor thee.

OD. I call thy power in question.

NEO. Then I'll fight, Not with Troy's legions, but with thee.

OD. Come on!

Let fortune arbitrate.

NEO. Thou seest my hand Feeling the hilt.

OD. And me thou soon shalt see Doing the like and dallying not!--And yet I will not touch thee, but will go and tell The army, that shall wreak this on thy head. [_Exit_

NEO. Thou show'st discretion: which if thou preserve, Thou may'st maintain a path exempt from pain.

Ho! son of Poeas, Philoctetes, come And leave thy habitation in the rock.

PHI. What noise again is troubling my poor cave?

Why do ye summon me? What crave ye, sirs?

Ha! 'tis some knavery. Are ye come to add Some monster evil to my mountainous woe?

NEO. Fear not, but hearken to what now I speak.

PHI. I needs must fear thee, whose fair words erewhile Brought me to bitter fortune.

NEO. May not men Repent and change?

PHI. Such wast thou in thy talk, When thou didst rob me of my bow,--so bright Without, so black within.

NEO. Ah, but not now, a.s.sure thee! Only let me hear thy will, Is 't constant to remain here and endure, Or to make voyage with us?

PHI. Stop, speak no more!

Idle and vain will all thine utterance be.

NEO. Thou art so resolved?

PHI. More firmly than I say.

NEO. I would I might have brought thee to my mind, But since my words are out of tune, I have done.

PHI. Thou wert best. No word of thine can touch my soul Or win me to thy love, who by deceit Hast reft my life away. And then thou com'st To school me,--of n.o.blest father, basest son!

Perish, the Atridae first of all, and then Laertes' child, and thou!