The Tragedies of Sophocles, from the Greek; By T. Francklin. with a Dissertation on Antient Tragedy (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1809 edition. Excerpt: ...of art, Unwilling as he was, instructed him, And made him soon a master in deceit. I am thy pris'ner now; e'en now thou mean'st To drag me hence, from this unhappy shore Where first thy malice left me, a poor exile, Deserted, friendless, and tho' living, dead To all mankind: perish the vile betrayer O I have curst thee often, but the god Will never hear the pray'rs of Philoctetes. Life and its joys are thine; whilst I unhappy Am but the scorn of thee, and the Atridae, Thy haughty masters fraud and force compell'd thee, Or thou had'st never sail'd with them to Troy. From its dark recess, S;c. The Greek is' Ita, farfw Shtmtr', 'per latebraS 1 prospiciens the expression is remarkable, and the translation therefore almost literal. Fraud and force compeWd thee. Ulysses, unwilling fo go among the other chiefs to the seige of Troy, feigned himself mad; but being detected by Palamedes, was after all obliged to join them. I lent my willing aid; with sev'n brave ships I plough'd the main to serve 'em in return They cast me forth, disgrac'd me, left me here; Thou say'st they did it; they impute the crime To thee; and what will you do with me now? And whither must I go? what end, what purpose, Cou'd urge thee to it? I am nothing, lost And dead already; wherefore, tell me, wherefore I Am I not still the same detested burthen, Loathsome and lame? Again must Philoctetes Disturb your holy rites r If I am with you How can you make libations? That was once Your vile pretence for inhumanity. O may you perish for the deed The gods Will grant it sure, if justice be their care, And that it is, I know. You had not left Your native soil to seek a wretch like me, Had not some impulse from the pow'rs above Spite of yourselves, ordain'd it: O my country, And you, O ...