Chapter 52 52

They landed on the desolate island of Remnos.Odysseus quickly searched for the place where Philoctetes had been abandoned, and saw that everything was as it had been before.However, there was no one in the cave, only a pile of flat leaves, as if someone had slept on it, a cup roughly carved out of wood, and a pile of firewood.These show that there are still people living here.Many blood-stained rags were drying in the sun outside the door.There is no doubt that Philoctetes still lived here. "Let's try to persuade him while he's not here." Odysseus said to Achilles' youngest son, "I think I'd better avoid it and meet him first, because He has enough reasons to hate me! If he asks who you are and where you come from, you can answer truthfully and tell him that you are the son of Achilles. Then you tell him lies, just Said that you left the Greeks in a rage, and were about to return home, because the Greeks begged you from the island of Scyros to help them attack the city. But they refused to give you back your father's arms, but instead Give it to me, give it to Odysseus. Then you can yell at me all you want, and it won't do me any harm. If we don't use this trick, we can't win this man, You can’t get his magic arrow. Therefore, you have to think about how to persuade him and get his perfect bow and arrow.”

Neoptolemus interrupted him, saying: "Son of Laertes, I am tired of hearing you talk like this, and I really don't want to do it. Neither I nor my father Loves tricks. I would rather win him by force than by deceit. Besides, he is alone and has only one good leg, so how can he win us?" "Because he has a perfect bow and arrow!" replied Odysseus calmly. "I know, my boy, that you are not born to deceive. I was quick and clumsy when I was young, but experience later taught me that Words are more effective than actions. You only need to think that the only way to conquer Troy is with the strong bow of Hercules, then you will not refuse to say a few deceitful lies!

At last Neoptolemus was persuaded by his elder friend, and Odysseus hid. A moment later, a groan was heard in the distance, indicating the return of the tormented Philoctetes He saw the ships moored by the sea in the distance, and he approached Neoptolemus and his followers. "Who are you," he asked loudly, "and what are you doing here on this deserted island?I see you in Greek clothes, but I still want to hear your voices.I look like a savage in tatters, I hope that doesn't scare you away.Abandoned here by my friends and troubled by disease, I am an unfortunate man.If you didn't come here with malice, please speak up. "

Neoptolemus repeated what Odysseus had taught him.Philoctetes cried out with joy. "Ah, I hear the native tongue! O son of noble Achilles! My dear Lycomedes! And you, child of his upbringing, what did you say? Treat me like they did back then! When they took me lying on the beach under the high mountain and slept soundly, they abandoned me here, leaving me only a few poor rags and a little food, just like treating a beggar. A hard bow helped me to shoot the game I needed, but how hard it was to get it! I had to go limping to get water from the spring, and cut wood in the woods. There was no fire here, and it was a long time before I found one. Flint. This island is the barrenest place in the world. No ship will come ashore. Those who come to this island are always forced to be shipwrecked. There have been a few such people in the past. They sympathized with me, I was given a little food and clothing, but no one would take me home. Here I have been starving for ten years. All this is the fault of the sons of Odysseus and Atreus, May God only punish them!"

Hearing this, Neoptolemus was very moved, but he remembered Odysseus' warning to him, so he suppressed his excitement again.He told the sick hero that his father had died, and told him many anecdotes about his hometown and friends.In the conversation he weaves in the lies that Odysseus told him.Philoctetes was greatly moved by this, and took Neoptolemus by the hand, and said: "Now, I beg you, my dear child, for the sake of your parents, take me away, Don't make me suffer any more. I know I'm not a welcome traveler, but please take me away from this dreadful desert island. Take me back to your homeland. From It's not far from Otta, where my father lives."

With a heavy heart, Neoptolemus pretended to grant his request. We can embark and set sail immediately if you will.May God only grant us a smooth wind so that we can leave this deserted island and reach our destination safely! ’ Philoctetes, limping his wounded leg, sprang to his feet, and joyfully took the young man’s hand. At that moment the servant whom they had sent to inquire suddenly appeared, disguised as a Greek sailor, There was another sailor with them. They told Neoptolemus a message, which of course was a trick of Odysseus. They said that Diomedes and Odysseus were on their way, going to Looking for a man named Philoctetes, because the prophet Calchas said that without Philoctetes, the city of Troy could not be broken. When Philoctetes heard this news, he was very worried. Immediately took out the arrow of Hercules, gave it to the young hero Neoptolemus whom he trusted completely, asked him to keep it for him, and walked out of the cave with him.

Neoptolemus could bear it no longer, and the instinct to tell the truth overcame the vice of lying.No sooner had they reached the shore than he told the truth. "Philoctetes, I can't hide it from you. You must go to Troy with me now. The Greeks and the sons of Atreus are waiting for you there!" Run, he cursed and prayed. Before the young hero could sympathize with him, Odysseus sprang from the concealed bushes.He ordered his servants to arrest the unfortunate old hero.Philoctetes recognized him immediately. "Oh, my God!" he shouted, "I have been betrayed. The man who is arresting me is the same man who abandoned me before, and now he has cheated me of my bow and arrows!" Then he turned to Neop again. Toremus said, "My dear boy, give me back my bow and arrows!"

Odysseus interrupted him. "No! Even if the little hero agrees! You must go back with us, because this is related to the happiness of the Greeks and the demise of Troy!" As he said, he handed over the old hero to his subordinates to take care of him, and dragged him away without saying goodbye. Shouting Neoptolemus.Philoctetes stood before the mouth of the cave, refusing to move. He cursed this shameless deception, and begged the gods to avenge him.Suddenly, he saw the two of them back, arguing.Philoctetes heard the young man cry out angrily: "No, I have committed a crime and deceived a noble man with a shameful trick! I will make up for my crime. You cannot against his will, put him Take it to Troy, unless you kill me first." Both men drew their swords, and the atmosphere was tense.But Philoctetes went up and threw himself at the feet of Achilles' son, begging him. "Promise to save me, and I promise you, to defend your homeland from anyone with the arrow of my friend Hercules!"

"Come with me!" said Neoptolemus, lifting the old man from the ground, "to-day we will go back to Futsia, to my country." At this time, the blue sky suddenly became dark.They all looked up, and Philoctetes first saw his old friend Hercules standing on the cloud.Hercules has become a god. "Don't go back!" Hercules shouted in the sky with a godlike voice, which made the earth rumble. "Listen, my friend Philoctetes, I will tell you the decision of Zeus with my own mouth, and you must obey! You know that I have suffered to become an immortal god. Fate also ordered you to suffer Only hard work can lead to glory. If you go to Troy with this young man, your wounds will be healed. In addition, the gods have only appointed you to kill Paris and eliminate the culprit of this disaster; Precious spoils. You will return to your homeland laden with spoils to meet your father Paas who is still alive. If there is anything left of your spoils, you will sacrifice them to me beside my grave.

Goodbye! ’ When Philoctetes heard this, he stretched out his hands to his friend, as he faded away into the distant air. "Well then!" he cried, "let us aboard, heroes. Let us shake hands, noble son of Achilles. And you, Odysseus, come with me, for your A wish is the wish of a god!"