§1ἀκτὴ μὲν ἥδε τῆς περιρρύτου χθονὸς §2Λήμνου, βροτοῖς ἄστιπτος οὐδʼ οἰκουμένη, §3ἔνθʼ, ὦ κρατίστου πατρὸς Ἑλλήνων τραφεὶς §4Ἀχιλλέως παῖ Νεοπτόλεμε, τὸν Μηλιᾶ §5Ποίαντος υἱὸν ἐξέθηκʼ ἐγώ ποτε, §6ταχθεὶς τόδʼ ἔρδειν τῶν ἀνασσόντων ὕπο, §7νόσῳ καταστάζοντα διαβόρῳ πόδα· §8ὅτʼ οὔτε λοιβῆς ἡμὶν οὔτε θυμάτων §9παρῆν ἑκήλοις προσθιγεῖν, ἀλλʼ ἀγρίαις §10κατεῖχʼ ἀεὶ πᾶν στρατόπεδον δυσφημίαις, §11βοῶν, στενάζων.
This is the shore of the sea-girt land of Lemnos, untrodden by mortals and uninhabited, where, O Neoptolemus, reared as the son of the noblest of the Greeks, Achilles, I once cast ashore the Melian son of Poeas, having been ordered to do this by those who rule, since his foot was dripping with a devouring disease; when it was not possible for us to touch either drink-offerings or sacrifices in peace, but with wild and ill-omened cries he always filled the whole camp, shouting and groaning.
ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν τί δεῖ
But why is there any need to speak of these things?
§12λέγειν; ἀκμὴ γὰρ οὐ μακρῶν ἡμῖν λόγων, §13μὴ καὶ μάθῃ μʼ ἥκοντα κἀκχέω τὸ πᾶν §14σόφισμα, τῷ νιν αὐτίχʼ αἱρήσειν δοκῶ.
For it is not the moment for us for long words, lest he learn that I have come and I pour out the whole scheme, by which I think I shall soon capture him.
§15ἀλλʼ ἔργον ἤδη σὸν τὰ λοίφʼ ὑπηρετεῖν §16σκοπεῖν θʼ ὅπου ʼστʼ ἐνταῦθα δίστομος πέτρα §17τοιάδʼ, ἵνʼ ἐν ψύχει μὲν ἡλίου διπλῆ §18πάρεστιν ἐνθάκησις, ἐν θέρει δʼ ὕπνον §19διʼ ἀμφιτρῆτος αὐλίου πέμπει πνοή· §20βαιὸν δʼ ἔνερθεν ἐξ ἀριστερᾶς τάχʼ ἂν §21ἴδοις ποτὸν κρηναῖον, εἴπερ ἐστὶ σῶν.
But indeed it is now your task to assist in what remains, and to look where hereabouts is a two-mouthed rock of such a kind, where in the cold there is a double seat in the sun, and in the summer a breeze sends sleep through the double-mouthed cave; and a little below, on the left, you might perhaps see a spring of water, if indeed it is still safe.
§22ἅ μοι προσελθὼν σῖγα σήμαινʼ εἴτʼ ἐκεῖ §23χῶρον τὸν αὐτὸν τόνδʼ ἔτʼ εἴτʼ ἄλλῃ κυρεῖ, §24ὡς τἀπίλοιπα τῶν λόγων σὺ μὲν κλύῃς, §25ἐγὼ δὲ φράζω, κοινὰ δʼ ἐξ ἀμφοῖν ἴῃ.
Approach this silently and signal to me whether he still occupies this same place, or if he is elsewhere, so that you may hear the rest of my words, and I may speak, and a common purpose may proceed from us both.
Lord Odysseus, the task you speak of is not far off; for I think I see a cave such as you described.
§28ἄνωθεν ἢ κάτωθεν;
Above or below?
οὐ γὰρ ἐννοῶ.
For I do not perceive it.
§29τόδʼ ἐξύπερθε· καὶ στίβου γʼ οὐδεὶς κτύπος.
This one is above; and indeed there is no sound of a footstep.
§30ὅρα καθʼ ὕπνον μὴ καταυλισθεὶς κυρεῖ.
Watch out lest he happen to be lying asleep.
§31ὁρῶ κενὴν οἴκησιν ἀνθρώπων δίχα.
I see an empty dwelling, without any human.
§32οὐδʼ ἔνδον οἰκοποιός ἐστί τις τροφή;
And is there no household food within?
§33στιπτή γε φυλλὰς ὡς ἐναυλίζοντί τῳ.
There is indeed a bed of leaves trodden down, as if for someone lodging.
§34τὰ δʼ ἄλλʼ ἔρημα, κοὐδέν ἐσθʼ ὑπόστεγον;
Is the rest empty, and is there nothing under the roof?
There is a cup of rough wood, the handiwork of some clumsy craftsman, and these tinder-wood tools together with it.
§37κείνου τὸ θησαύρισμα σημαίνεις τόδε.
It is his treasure that you indicate.
§38ἰοὺ ἰού·
Oh, look!
καὶ ταῦτά γʼ ἄλλα θάλπεται §39ῥάκη, βαρείας του νοσηλείας πλέα.
Here are some other rags drying, full of the discharge of some heavy sickness.
§40ἁνὴρ κατοικεῖ τούσδε τοὺς τόπους σαφῶς, §41κἄστʼ οὐχ ἑκάς που· πῶς γὰρ ἂν νοσῶν ἀνὴρ §42κῶλον παλαιᾷ κηρὶ προσβαίη μακράν;
The man clearly inhabits these places, and is not far off; for how could a sick man go far with a limb afflicted by an ancient plague?
But he has either gone out in search of food, or because he knows of some pain-assuaging leaf somewhere.
§45τὸν οὖν παρόντα πέμψον εἰς κατασκοπήν, §46μὴ καὶ λάθῃ με προσπεσών· ὡς μᾶλλον ἂν §47ἕλοιτό μʼ ἢ τοὺς πάντας Ἀργείους λαβεῖν.
Therefore send the attendant who is present to keep watch, lest he fall upon me unawares; for he would rather capture me than all the other Argives.
§48ἀλλʼ ἔρχεταί τε καὶ φυλάξεται στίβος.
Well, he is going, and the path will be watched.
§49σὺ δʼ, εἴ τι χρῄζεις, φράζε δευτέρῳ λόγῳ.
But do you, if you have any need, speak in your next words.
§50Ἀχιλλέως παῖ, δεῖ σʼ ἐφʼ οἷς ἐλήλυθας §51γενναῖον εἶναι, μὴ μόνον τῷ σώματι, §52ἀλλʼ ἤν τι καινὸν ὧν πρὶν οὐκ ἀκήκοας §53κλύῃς, ὑπουργεῖν, ὡς ὑπηρέτης πάρει.
Son of Achilles, you must be noble in that for which you have come, not only in body, but even if you hear something new, which you have not heard before, you must serve it, since you are here as an assistant.
§54τί δῆτʼ ἄνωγας;
What then do you command?
You must beguile the soul of Philoctetes with your words as you speak.
§56ὅταν σʼ ἐρωτᾷ τίς τε καὶ πόθεν πάρει, §57λέγειν, Ἀχιλλέως παῖς· τόδʼ οὐχὶ κλεπτέον· §58πλεῖς δʼ ὡς πρὸς οἶκον, ἐκλιπὼν τὸ ναυτικὸν §59στράτευμʼ Ἀχαιῶν, ἔχθος ἐχθήρας μέγα, §60οἵ σʼ ἐν λιταῖς στείλαντες ἐξ οἴκων μολεῖν, §61μόνην ἔχοντες τήνδʼ ἅλωσιν Ἰλίου, §62οὐκ ἠξίωσαν τῶν Ἀχιλλείων ὅπλων §63ἐλθόντι δοῦναι κυρίως αἰτουμένῳ, §64ἀλλʼ αὔτʼ Ὀδυσσεῖ παρέδοσαν· λέγων ὅσʼ ἂν §65θέλῃς καθʼ ἡμῶν ἔσχατʼ ἐσχάτων κακά.
When he asks you who you are and from where you come, say that you are the son of Achilles; this must not be concealed; and that you are sailing for home, having left the naval host of the Achaeans, having conceived a great hatred for them, who, having summoned you with prayers to come from home, since they had this as their only way to capture Ilium, did not deem you worthy of the arms of Achilles, to give them to you when you came and rightfully asked for them, but delivered them to Odysseus; and speak against us whatever uttermost evils you wish.
For by this you will not pain me at all; but if you do not do this, you will cast grief upon all the Argives.
For if this man's bow is not taken, it is not possible for you to sack the plain of Dardanus.
And learn how for me there is no, but for you there is, a trustworthy and secure approach to this man.
§72σὺ μὲν πέπλευκας οὔτʼ ἔνορκος οὐδενὶ §73οὔτʼ ἐξ ἀνάγκης οὔτε τοῦ πρώτου στόλου· §74ἐμοὶ δὲ τούτων οὐδέν ἐστʼ ἀρνήσιμον.
You have sailed bound by oath to no one, nor by necessity, nor as part of the first expedition; but none of these things can be denied by me.
Consequently, if he perceives me while he is master of the bow, I am lost, and I shall destroy you also who are with me.