NEOPTOLEMOS I am giving it back to its rightful owner. ODYSSEUS You mean you'll return it? NEOPTOLEMOS Yes. I got it by shameful tricks. ODYSSEUS Do you really mean it? NEOPTOLEMOS I am telling the truth. ODYSSEUS What are you saying, son of Achilles? NEOPTOLEMOS Must we go over the same ground twice? ODYSSEUS I wish we had not gone over it the first time. NEOPTOLEMOS You have heard everything now. ODYSSEUS Someone will keep you from doing it. NEOPTOLEMOS Who? ODYSSEUS The whole Greek army, and I among them. NEOPTOLEMOS You are clever, Odysseus, but what you say is not. ODYSSEUS Neither your words nor your acts are clever. NEOPTOLEMOS But they are just. That is better. ODYSSEUS How can it be just to give away what you have won with my counsel? NEOPTOLEMOS I have committed injustice and strayed off course. I must undo all that. ODYSSEUS And you have no fear of what the Greeks will do? NEOPTOLEMOS I am not afraid of any of you, since I act with justice. You will not force me. ODYSSEUS Then we will fight not Troy, but you. NEOPTOLEMOS So be it. ODYSSEUS Do you see my hand drawing out this sword? NEOPTOLEMOS You'll see me do the same, and right away. ODYSSEUS I will leave you to it, then. I'll return to Troy and tell the Greeks, and they will come here to punish you. NEOPTOLEMOS It is a cautious thing you do. Remain as cautious, and perhaps you'll keep clear of future danger. Philoktetes, son of Poias, come out of your cave. I call on you. PHILOKTETES What do you want? Why do you call me? It bodes ill. Some new trouble is at hand, some new grief to heap on my miseries. NEOPTOLEMOS Be calm. I simply ask that you listen. PHILOKTETES I listened to you once, and you spoke well then. My troubles came from sweet words, when I believed them. NEOPTOLEMOS Is it not possible, then, to apologize? PHILOKTETES You spoke as smoothly as you do now when you stole my bow, trustworthy on the surface, but treacherous below. NEOPTOLEMOS That is not the case now. Are you resolved to stay here as before, or will you come with us? PHILOKTETES Stop. Your words will be wasted on me. NEOPTOLEMOS Are you resolved? PHILOKTETES More resolved than words can say. NEOPTOLEMOS I wish that I could make you change your mind. But if my words are pointless, then I am finished. PHILOKTETES Your words are useless. You will never win me with words to your friendship. You have destroyed me with deceitful talk, and then you come to make speeches, bastard son of a noble father. A curse on you, on the Atreids and Odysseus, but especially on you. NEOPTOLEMOS Curse no more. Take your bow. I give it back to you now, Philoktetes. PHILOKTETES Is this yet another of your tricks? NEOPTOLEMOS No. I swear it by almighty Zeus. PHILOKTETES Your words are good, if they are true. NEOPTOLEMOS They are. Reach out, and take the bow. ODYSSEUS