Sir Richard C. Jebb, Commentary on Sophocles: Philoctetes

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οὐδὲν ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος, nothing that deviates from his example. The father (Achilles) is the “παράδειγμα” which regulates the son's conduct,—as in Eth. N. 3. 6 the “σπουδαῖος” is “ὥσπερ κανὼν καὶ μέτρον” (“τῶν καλῶν”). Thus the use of “ἔξω” is justified: it expresses a departure from the lines of the pattern. Cp. Legg. 876 E “δοῦναι τὰ παραδείγματα τοῖς δικασταῖς τοῦ μήποτε βαίνειν ἔξω τῆς δίκης”. Musgrave quotes Libanius 1. 574 “τοῦ τῆς πόλεως ἤθους καὶ τῆς ἐμῆς πολιτείας ἔξω τὸ πρᾶγμα εἶναι δοκεῖ”. The boldness of the expression “ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος” finds some analogy in the phrase “κατά τινα” as=“κατὰ τρόπον τινός”: Plat. Parm. 126C “κατὰ τὸν πάππον...πρὸς τῇ ἱππικῇ διατρίβει” (following his example). So Alciphron can say “ὁ παῖς ἐξεμάξατο τὸν διδάσκαλον” (took the stamp of his teacher), instead of “τὸν τοῦ διδασκάλου χαρακτῆρα” (3. 64). I cannot, then, think with Nauck that φυτεύσαντος is spurious. προσεικότος would be but a tame substitute. A reference to the youth's inherited generosity seems fitting here: cp. 874, 1310. τοὐμφυτευθέντος (Tournier) is ingenious, but less forcible than “τοῦ φυτεύσαντος”.

ἐσθλὸν: Blaydes would take this as= ‘of noble birth,’ in order that Ph. may not praise himself. A similar feeling has prompted conjectures (cr. n.). But by “ἐσθλόν” Ph. means that the kindness of N. is not disgraced by its recipient. The situation is one in which he can say this with perfect dignity and propriety. So he refers to himself elsewhere as the comrade (1131) and benefactor (670) of Heracles; as a zealous ally of the Greek chiefs (1027); as one who has shown rare courage under his trials (535), and who will not fail in gratitude to his deliverer (1370). In like manner Oedipus reminds his Attic hosts that he is no unworthy guest ( Soph. O. C. 287, Soph. O. C. 625 f.).