Phil. I will strike off my head, and lop my limbs;
My soul thirsts eagerly for blood, for blood.
Chor. But why is this?
Phil. Lo, I my father seek.1210
Chor. Where wilt thou go?
Phil. To Hades, for he lives
No longer in this light.
Ο city, city of my fathers, fain,
All wretched though I be,
Fain would I see thee still!
I who thy sacred stream[1]
Did leave to help my foes the Danai;
And now I am as nought.
Chor. Long since had I been making for my ship,
Had I not seen Odysseus drawing nigh,1220
And, coming with him, great Achilles' son.
Enter Neoptolemos, followed by Odysseus.
Odys. Wilt thou not tell me why so quick thou speed'st,
Turning thy steps upon a backward way?
Neop. I go to undo the wrongs I did before.
Odys. Thou speakest strangely. And what wrong was there?
Neop. That I, obeying thee and all the host . . . .
Odys. What did'st thou do that was not right for thee?
Neop. I tricked a man with shameful fraud and guile.
Odys. Think what he was. What fancy strange is this?
Neop. 'Tis no strange fancy, but to Pœas' son . . . . 1230
Odys. What wilt thou do? A fear comes over me.
Neop. From whom I took this bow, to him again . . . .
- ↑ The "sacred stream" is the Spercheios. Comp. l. 726.
