And when Philoctetes heard these words, he cried with a very piteous voice, “What a marvel of wickedness thou art that hast done this thing.  Art thou not ashamed to work such wrong to a suppliant?  Give me my bow, for it is my life.  But I speak in vain, for he goeth away and heedeth me not.  Hear me then, ye waters and cliffs, and ye beasts of the field, who have been long time my wonted company, for I have none else to hearken to me.  Hear what the son of Achilles hath done to me.  For he sware that he would carry me to my home, and lo! he taketh me to Troy.  And he gave me the right hand of fellowship, and now he robbeth me of the bow, the sacred bow of Hercules.  Nay—­for I will make trial of him once more—­give back this thing to me and be thy true self.  What sayest thou?  Nothing?  Then am I undone.  O cavern of the rock wherein I have dwelt, behold how desolate I am!  Nevermore shall I slay with my arrows bird of the air or beast of the field; but that which I hunted shall pursue me, and that on which I fed shall devour me.”

And the Prince was cut to the heart when he heard these words, hating the thing which he had done, and cursing the day on which he had come from Scyros to the plains of Troy.  Then turning himself to the sailors, he asked what he should do, and was even about to give back the bow, when Ulysses, who was close at hand, watching what should be done, ran forth crying that he should hold his hand.

Then said Philoctetes, “Is this Ulysses that I see?  Then am I undone.”

“’Tis even so:  and as for what thou askest of this youth, that he should give back the bow, he shall not do it; but rather thou shalt sail with us to Troy; and if thou art not willing, these that stand by shall take thee by force.”

“Lord of fire, that rulest this land of Lemnos, hearest thou this?”

“Nay, ’tis Zeus that is master here, and Zeus hath commanded this deed.”

“What lies are these?  Thou makest the Gods false as thyself.”

“Not so.  They are true and I also.  But this journey thou must take.”

“Methinks I am a slave, and not freeborn, that thou talkest thus.”

“Thou art peer to the bravest, and with them shalt take the great city of Troy.”

“Never; I had sooner cast myself down from this cliff.”

Then Ulysses cried to the men that they should lay hold on him; and this they straightway did.  Then Philoctetes in many words reproached him with all the wrongs that he had done; how at the first he had caused him to be left on this island, and now had stolen his arms, not with his own hands, indeed, but with craft and deceit, serving himself of a simple youth, who knew not but to do as he was bidden.  And he prayed to the Gods that they would avenge him on all that had done him wrong, and chiefly on this man Ulysses.

Then Ulysses made reply, “I can be all things as occasion serveth; such as thou sayest, if need be; and yet no man more pious if the time call for goodness and justice.  One thing only I must needs do, and that is to prevail.  Yet here I will yield to thee.  Thou wilt not go; so be it.  Loose him!  We need thee not, having these arms of thine.  Teucer is with us, an archer not one whit less skilful than thou.  And now I leave thee to this Lemnos of thine.  May be this bow shall bring me the honour which thou refusest.”