hippolytus-第4章
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she rides； from her all nature springs； she sows the seeds of love；
inspires the warm desire to which we sons of earth all owe our
being。 They who have aught to do with books of ancient scribes； or
themselves engage in studious pursuits； know how Zeus of Semele was
enamoured； how the bright…eyed goddess of the Dawn once stole Cephalus
to dwell in heaven for the love she bore him； yet these in heaven
abide nor shun the gods' approach； content； I trow； to yield to
their misfortune。 Wilt thou refuse to yield？ thy sire； it seems；
should have begotten thee on special terms or with different gods
for masters； if in these laws thou wilt not acquiesce。 How many；
prithee； men of sterling sense； when they see their wives
unfaithful； make as though they saw it not？ How many fathers； when
their sons have gone astray； assist them in their amours？ 'Tis part of
human wisdom to conceal the deed of shame。 Nor should man aim at too
great refinement in his life； for they cannot with exactness finish
e'en the roof that covers in a house； and how dost thou； after falling
into so deep a pit； think to escape？ Nay； if thou hast more of good
than bad； thou wilt fare exceeding well； thy human nature
considered。 O cease； my darling child； from evil thoughts； let
wanton pride be gone； for this is naught else； this wish to rival gods
in perfectness。 Face thy love； 'tis heaven's will thou shouldst。
Sick thou art； yet turn thy sickness to some happy issue。 For there
are charms and spells to soothe the soul； surely some cure for thy
disease will be found。 Men； no doubt； might seek it long and late if
our women's minds no scheme devise。
LEADER
Although she gives thee at thy present need the wiser counsel；
Phaedra； yet do I praise thee。 Still my praise may sound more harsh
and jar more cruelly on thy ear than her advice。
PHAEDRA
'Tis even this； too plausible a tongue； that overthrows good
governments and homes of men。 We should not speak to please the ear
but point the path that leads to noble fame。
NURSE
What means this solemn speech？ Thou needst not rounded
phrases；…but a man。 Straightway must we move to tell him frankly how
it is with thee。 Had not thy life to such a crisis come； or wert
thou with self…control I endowed； ne'er would I to gratify thy
passions have urged thee to this course； but now 'tis a struggle
fierce to save thy life； and therefore less to blame。
PHAEDRA
Accursed proposal！ peace； woman！ never utter those shameful
words again！
NURSE
Shameful； maybe； yet for thee better than honour's code。 Better
this deed； if it shall save thy life； than that name thy pride will
kill thee to retain。
PHAEDRA
I conjure thee； go no further！ for thy words are plausible but
infamous； for though as yet love has not undermined my soul； yet； if
in specious words thou dress thy foul suggestion； I shall be
beguiled into the snare from which I am now escaping。
NURSE
If thou art of this mind； 'twere well thou ne'er hadst sinned； but
as it is； hear me； for that is the next best course； I in my house
have charms to soothe thy love；…'twas but now I thought of them；…these
shall cure thee of thy sickness on no disgraceful terms； thy mind
unhurt； if thou wilt be but brave。 But from him thou lovest we must
get some token； word or fragment of his robe； and thereby unite in one
love's twofold stream。
PHAEDRA
Is thy drug a salve or potion？
NURSE
I cannot tell； be content； my child； to profit by it and ask no
questions。
PHAEDRA
I fear me thou wilt prove too wise for me。
NURSE
If thou fear this； confess thyself afraid of all； but why thy
terror！
PHAEDRA
Lest thou shouldst breathe a word of this to Theseus' son。
NURSE
Peace； my child！ I will do all things well； only be thou； queen
Cypris； ocean's child； my partner in the work！ And for the rest of
my purpose； it will be enough for me to tell it to our friends
within the house。
（The NURSE goes into the palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
O Love； Love； that from the eyes diffusest soft desire； bringing
on the souls of those； whom thou dost camp against； sweet grace； O
never in evil mood appear to me； nor out of time and tune approach！
Nor fire nor meteor hurls a mightier bolt than Aphrodite's shaft
shot by the hands of Love； the child of Zeus。
antistrophe 1
Idly； idly by the streams of Alpheus and in the Pythian shrines of
Phoebus； Hellas heaps the slaughtered steers； while Love we worship
not； Love； the king of men； who holds the key to Aphrodite's
sweetest bower；…worship not him who； when he comes； lays waste and
marks his path to mortal hearts by wide…spread woe。
strophe 2
There was that maiden in Oechalia； a girl unwed； that knew no
wooer yet nor married joys； her did the Queen of Love snatch from
her home across the sea and gave unto Alcmena's son； mid blood and
smoke and murderous marriage…hymns； to be to him a frantic fiend of
hell； woe！ woe for his wooing！
antistrophe 2
Ah！ holy walls of Thebes； ah！ fount of Dirce； ye could testify
what course the love…queen follows。 For with the blazing levin…bolt
did she cut short the fatal marriage of Semele； mother of Zeus…born
Bacchus。 All things she doth inspire； dread goddess； winging her
flight hither and thither like a bee。
PHAEDRA
Peace； oh women； peace！ I am undone。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
What； Phaedra； is this dread event within thy house？
PHAEDRA
Hush！ let me hear what those within are saying。
LEADER
I am silent； this is surely the prelude to evil。
PHAEDRA （chanting）
Great gods！ how awful are my sufferings！
CHORUS （chanting）
What a cry was there！ what loud alarm！ say what sudden terror；
lady； doth thy soul dismay。
PHAEDRA
I am undone。 Stand here at the door and hear the noise arising
in the house。
CHORUS （chanting）
Thou art already by the bolted door； 'tis for thee to note the
sounds that issue from within。 And tell me； O tell me what evil can be
on foot。
PHAEDRA
'Tis the son of the horse…loving Amazon who calls； Hippolytus；
uttering foul curses on my servant。
CHORUS （chanting）
I hear a noise but cannot dearly tell which way it comes。 Ah！ 'tis
through the door the sound reached thee。
PHAEDRA
Yes； yes； he is calling her plainly enough a go…between in vice；
traitress to her master's honour。
CHORUS （chanting）
Woe； woe is me！ thou art betrayed； dear mistress！ What counsel
shall I give thee？ thy secret is out； thou art utterly undone。
PHAEDRA
Ah me！ ah me！
CHORUS （chanting）
Betrayed by friends！
PHAEDRA
She hath ruined me by speaking of my misfortune； 'twas kindly
meant； but an ill way to cure my malady。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
O what wilt thou do now in thy cruel dilemma？
PHAEDRA
I only know one way； one cure for these my woes； and that is
instant death。
（HIPPOLYTUS bursts out of the palace； followed closely by the NURSE。）
HIPPOLYTUS
O mother earth！ O sun's unclouded orb！ What words； unfit for any
lips； have reached my ears！
NURSE
Peace； my son； lest some one hear thy outcry。
HIPPOLYTUS
I cannot hear such awful words and hold my peace。
NURSE
I do implore thee by thy fair right hand。
HIPPOLYTUS
Let go my hand； touch not my robe。
NURSE
O by thy knees I pray； destroy me not utterly。
HIPPOLYTUS
Why say this； if； as thou pretendest； thy lips are free from
blame？
NURSE
My son； this is no story to be noised abroad。
HIPPOLYTUS
A virtuous tale grows fairer told to many。
