hippolytus-第8章
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that I should appear so vile； and thou believe me so。
THESEUS
Thy tears and forethought had been more in season when thou
didst presume to outrage thy father's wife。
HIPPOLYTUS
O house； I would thou couldst speak for me and witness if I am
so vile！
THESEUS
Dost fly to speechless witnesses？ This deed； though it speaketh
not； proves thy guilt clearly。
HIPPOLYTUS
Alas！ Would I could stand and face myself； so should I weep to see
the sorrows I endure。
THESEUS
Ay； 'tis thy character to honour thyself far more than reverence
thy parents； as thou shouldst。
HIPPOLYTUS
Unhappy mother！ son of sorrow！ Heaven keep all friends of mine
from bastard birth！
THESEUS
Ho！ servants； drag him hence！ You heard my proclamation long ago
condemning him to exile。
HIPPOLYTUS
Whoso of them doth lay a hand on me shall rue it； thyself expel
me； if thy spirit move thee； from the land。
THESEUS
I will； unless my word thou straight obey； no pity for thy exile
steals into my heart。
（THESEUS goes in。 The central doors of the palace are closed。）
HIPPOLYTUS
The sentence then； it seems； is passed。 Ah； misery！ How well I
know the truth herein； but know no way to tell it！ O daughter of
Latona； dearest to me of all deities； partner； comrade in the chase；
far from glorious Athens must I fly。 Farewell； city and land of
Erechtheus； farewell； Troezen； most joyous home wherein to pass the
spring of life； 'tis my last sight of thee； farewell！ Come； my
comrades in this land； young like me； greet me kindly and escort me
forth； for never will ye behold a purer soul； for all my father's
doubts。
（HIPPOLYTUS departs。 Many follow him。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
In very deed the thoughts I have about the gods； whenso they
come into my mind； do much to soothe its grief； but though I cherish
secret hopes of some great guiding will； yet am I at fault when survey
the fate and doings of the sons of men； change succeeds to change； and
man's life veers and shifts in endless restlessness。
antistrophe 1
Fortune grant me this； I pray； at heaven's hand；…a happy lot in
life and a soul from sorrow free； opinions let me hold not too precise
nor yet too hollow； but； lightly changing my habits to each morrow
as it comes； may I thus attain a life of bliss！
strophe 2
For now no more is my mind free from doubts； unlooked…for sights
greet my vision； for lo！ I see the morning star of Athens； eye of
Hellas； driven by his father's fury to another land。 Mourn； ye sands
of my native shores； ye oak…groves on the hills； where with his
fleet hounds he would hunt the quarry to the death； attending on
Dictynna； awful queen。
antistrophe 2
No more will he mount his car drawn by Venetian steeds； filling
the course round Limna with the prancing of his trained horses。
Nevermore in his father's house shall he wake the Muse that never
slept beneath his lute…strings； no hand will crown the spots where
rests the maiden Latona 'mid the boskage deep； nor evermore shall
our virgins vie to win thy love； now thou art banished。
epode
While I with tears at thy unhappy fate shall endure a lot all
undeserved。 Ah！ hapless mother； in vain didst thou bring forth； it
seems。 I am angered with the gods； out upon them！ O ye linked
Graces； why are ye sending from his native land this poor youth；
guiltless sufferer； far from his home？
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
But lo！ I see a servant of Hippolytus hasting with troubled
looks towards the palace。
（A MESSENGER enters。）
MESSENGER
Ladies； where may I find Theseus； king of the country？ pray；
tell me if ye know； is he within the palace here？
LEADER
Lo！ himself approaches from the palace。
（THESEUS enters。）
MESSENGER
Theseus； I am the bearer of troublous tidings to thee and all
citizens who dwell in Athens or the bounds of Troezen。
THESEUS
How now？ hath some strange calamity o'ertaken these two
neighbouring cities？
MESSENGER
In one brief word； Hippolytus is dead。 'Tis true one slender
thread still links him to the light of life。
THESEUS
Who slew him？ Did some husband come to blows with him； one whose
wife； like mine； had suffered brutal violence？
MESSENGER
He perished through those steeds that drew his chariot and through
the curses thou didst utter； praying to thy sire； the ocean…king； to
slay thy son。
THESEUS
Ye gods and king Poseidon； thou hast proved my parentage by
hearkening to my prayer！ Say how he perished； how fell the uplifted
hand of justice to smite the villain who dishonoured me？
MESSENGER
Hard by the wave…beat shore were we combing out his horses' manes；
weeping the while； for one had come to say that Hippolytus was harshly
exiled by thee and nevermore would return to set foot in this land。
Then came he； telling the same doleful tale to us upon the beach；
and with him was a countless throng of friends who followed after。
At length he stayed his lamentation and spake： 〃Why weakly rave on
this wise？ My father's commands must be obeyed。 Ho！ servants；
harness my horses to the chariot； this is no longer now city of mine。〃
Thereupon each one of us bestirred himself； and； ere a man could say
'twas done； we had the horses standing ready at our master's side。
Then he caught up the reins from the chariot…rail； first fitting his
feet exactly in the hollows made for them。 But first with outspread
palms he called upon the gods； 〃O Zeus； now strike me dead； if I
have sinned； and let my father learn how he is wronging me； in death
at least； if not in life。〃 Therewith he seized the whip and lashed
each horse in turn； while we； close by his chariot； near the reins；
kept up with him along the road that leads direct to Argos and
Epidaurus。 And just as we were coming to a desert spot； a strip of
sand beyond the borders of this country； sloping right to the
Saronic gulf； there issued thence a deep rumbling sound； as it were an
earthquake； fearsome noise； and the horses reared their heads and
pricked their ears； while we were filled with wild alarm to know
whence came the sound； when； as we gazed toward the wave…beat shore； a
wave tremendous we beheld towering to the skies； so that from our view
the cliffs of Sciron vanished； for it hid the isthmus and the rock
of Asclepius； then swelling and frothing with a crest of foam； the sea
discharged it toward the beach where stood the harnessed car； and in
the moment that it broke； that mighty wall of waters； there issued
from the wave a monstrous bull； whose bellowing filled the land with
fearsome echoes； a sight too awful as it seemed to us who witnessed
it。 A panic seized the horses there and then； but our master； to
horses' ways quite used； gripped in both hands his reins； and tying
them to his body pulled them backward as the sailor pulls his oar； but
the horses gnashed the forged bits between their teeth and bore him
wildly on； regardless of their master's guiding hand or rein or
jointed car。 And oft as he would take the guiding rein and steer for
softer ground； showed that bull in front to turn him back again；
maddening his team with terror； but if in their frantic career they
ran towards the rocks； he would draw nigh the chariot…rail； keeping up
with them； until； suddenly dashing the wheel against a stone； he upset
and wrecked the car； then was dire confusion； axle…boxes and linchpins
springing into the air。 While he； poor youth； entangled
