dignities, who is in Philoctetes' mind. Every Athenian in the audience would remember the description of him in the Iliad. He is alive, of course? Neoptolemus understands that he is, though he has never seen him. Philoctetes replies bitterly—
"Well may he live, for nothing bad will die,
So well the gods do fence it round about;
And still they joy to turn from Hades back
The cunning and the crafty, while they send
The just and good below."—(P.)
Neoptolemus purposes ostensibly to return to his ship, to wait for the rising of the breeze which is to bear him home to Scyros. For he will never see the Greek camp and the sons of Atreus more. Never again will he be found amongst a company
"Where still the evil lord it o'er the good,
And honour starves, and cowardice bears sway."
He bids farewell to Philoctetes, and prays that heaven may soon send some cure for his pains. Then follows a scene which, in the hands of a good actor, must have been one of the most effective in the play. Seeing himself about to be thus a second time deserted, Philoctetes breaks into an agonised entreaty that the young chief and his sailors will take him on board their vessel. Put him where they will, "in hold, or stem, or stern," he cares not, so he may see once more his father and his native land. It will be a noble deed, and
"Noble souls
Still find the base is hurtful, and the good
Is full of glory."
