THE BOOK WAS DRENCHED - OUDL Home

PHILOCTETES
No more of that; 'tis vain
And useless all.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Art thou then fixed?
PHILOCTETES
It is impossible to say how firmly.
I am;
NEOPTOLEMUS
I thought I could have moved thee, but I'Ve done.
PHILOCTETES
'Tis well thou hast; thy labour had been vain;
For never could my soul esteem the man
Who robbed me of my dearest, best possession,
And now would have me listen to his counsels—
Unworthy offspring of the best of men!
Perish th' Atreidae! perish first Ulysses!
Perish thyself!
NEOPTOLEMUS
Withhold thy imprecations,
And take thy arrows back.
PHILOCTETES
A second time
Wouldst thou deceive me?
NEOPTOLEMUS
By th' almighty power
Of sacred Jove I swear.
PHILOCTETES
O joyful sound!
If thou sayst truly.
NEOPTOLEMUS
Let my actions speak.
Stretch forth thy hand, and take thy arms again.
(As NEOPTOLEMUS gives the bow and arrows to PHILOCTETES,
ULYSSES suddenly enters,)