thus prudent henceforth, perchance thou mayest keep clear of trouble.1260
[Exit Odysseus.
But thou, O son of Poeas, Philoctetes, come forth, leave the shelter of thy rocky home!
Ph. (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 Neoptolemus.
Ah me! this bodes no good. Can ye have come as heralds of new woes for me, to crown the old?
Ne. Fear not, but hearken to the words that I bring.
Ph. I am afraid. Fair words brought me evil fortune once before, when I believed thy promises.
Ne. Is there no room, then, for repentance?1270
Ph. Even such wast thou in speech, when seeking to steal my bow,—a trusty friend, with treason in his heart.
Ne. But not so now;—and I fain would learn whether thy resolve is to abide here and endure, or to sail with us.
Ph. Stop, speak no more! All that thou canst say will be said in vain.
Ne. Thou art resolved? Ph. More firmly, believe me, than speech can tell.
Ne. Well, I could have wished that thou hadst listened to my words; but if I speak not in season, I have done. Ph. Aye, thou wilt say all in vain.1280
