SCENE IIIHIPPOLYTUS, ARICIA, THERAMENES, ISMENE
THERAMENESPrince, the Queen comes. I herald her approach.'Tis you she seeks.HIPPOLYTUSMe?THERAMENESWhat her thought may beI know not. But I speak on her behalf.She would converse with you ere you go hence.HIPPOLYTUSWhat shall I say to her? Can she expect—ARICIAYou cannot, noble Prince, refuse to hear her,Howe'er convinced she is your enemy,Some shade of pity to her tears is due.HIPPOLYTUSShall we part thus? and will you let me go,Not knowing if my boldness has offendedThe goddess I adore? Whether this heart,Left in your hands—ARICIAGo, Prince, pursue the schemesYour generous soul dictates, make Athens ownMy sceptre. All the gifts you offer meWill I accept, but this high throne of empireIs not the one most precious in my sight.
SCENE IVHIPPOLYTUS, THERAMENES
HIPPOLYTUSFriend, is all ready?But the Queen approaches.Go, see the vessel in fit trim to sail.Haste, bid the crew aboard, and hoist the signal:Then soon return, and so deliver meFrom interview most irksome.
SCENE VPHAEDRA, HIPPOLYTUS, OENONE
PHAEDRA (to OENONE)There I see him!My blood forgets to flow, my tongue to speakWhat I am come to say.OENONEThink of your son,How all his hopes depend on you.PHAEDRAI hearYou leave us, and in haste. I come to addMy tears to your distress, and for a sonPlead my alarm. No more has he a father,And at no distant day my son must witnessMy death. Already do a thousand foesThreaten his youth. You only can defend himBut in my secret heart remorse awakes,And fear lest I have shut your ears againstHis cries. I tremble lest your righteous angerVisit on him ere long the hatred earn'dBy me, his mother.HIPPOLYTUSNo such base resentment,Madam, is mine.PHAEDRAI could not blame you, Prince,If you should hate me. I have injured you:So much you know, but could not read my heart.T' incur your enmity has been mine aim.The self-same borders could not hold us both;In public and in private I declaredMyself your foe, and found no peace till seasParted us from each other. I forbadeYour very name to be pronounced before me.And yet if punishment should be proportion'dTo the offence, if only hatred drawsYour hatred, never woman meritedMore pity, less deserved your enmity.HIPPOLYTUSA mother jealous of her children's rightsSeldom forgives the offspring of a wifeWho reign'd before her. Harassing suspicionsAre common sequels of a second marriage.Of me would any other have been jealousNo less than you, perhaps more violent.PHAEDRAAh, Prince, how Heav'n has from the general lawMade me exempt, be that same Heav'n my witness!Far different is the trouble that devours me!HIPPOLYTUSThis is no time for self-reproaches, Madam.It may be that your husband still beholdsThe light, and Heav'n may grant him safe return,In answer to our prayers. His guardian godIs Neptune, ne'er by him invoked in vain.PHAEDRAHe who has seen the mansions of the deadReturns not thence. Since to those gloomy shoresTheseus is gone, 'tis vain to hope that Heav'nMay send him back. Prince, there is no releaseFrom Acheron's greedy maw. And yet, methinks,He lives, and breathes in you. I see him stillBefore me, and to him I seem to speak;My heart—Oh! I am mad; do what I will,I cannot hide my passion.HIPPOLYTUSYes, I seeThe strange effects of love. Theseus, tho' dead,Seems present to your eyes, for in your soulThere burns a constant flame.PHAEDRAAh, yes for TheseusI languish and I long, not as the ShadesHave seen him, of a thousand different formsThe fickle lover, and of Pluto's brideThe would-be ravisher, but faithful, proudE'en to a slight disdain, with youthful charmsAttracting every heart, as gods are painted,Or like yourself. He had your mien, your eyes,Spoke and could blush like you, when to the isleOf Crete, my childhood's home, he cross'd the waves,Worthy to win the love of Minos' daughters.What were you doing then? Why did he gatherThe flow'r of Greece, and leave Hippolytus?Oh, why were you too young to have embark'dOn board the ship that brought thy sire to Crete?At your hands would the monster then have perish'd,Despite the windings of his vast retreat.To guide your doubtful steps within the mazeMy sister would have arm'd you with the clue.But no, therein would Phaedra have forestall'd her,Love would have first inspired me with the thought;And I it would have been whose timely aidHad taught you all the labyrinth's crooked ways.What anxious care a life so dear had cost me!No thread had satisfied your lover's fears:I would myself have wish'd to lead the way,And share the peril you were bound to face;Phaedra with you would have explored the maze,With you emerged in safety, or have perish'd.HIPPOLYTUSGods! What is this I hear? Have you forgottenThat Theseus is my father and your husband?PHAEDRAWhy should you fancy I have lost remembranceThereof, and am regardless of mine honour?HIPPOLYTUSForgive me, Madam. With a blush I ownThat I misconstrued words of innocence.For very shame I cannot bear your sightLonger. I go—PHAEDRAAh! cruel Prince, too wellYou understood me. I have said enoughTo save you from mistake. I love. But think notThat at the moment when I love you mostI do not feel my guilt; no weak complianceHas fed the poison that infects my brain.The ill-starr'd object of celestial vengeance,I am not so detestable to youAs to myself. The gods will bear me witness,Who have within my veins kindled this fire,The gods, who take a barbarous delightIn leading a poor mortal's heart astray.Do you yourself recall to mind the past:'Twas not enough for me to fly, I chased youOut of the country, wishing to appearInhuman, odious; to resist you better,I sought to make you hate me. All in vain!Hating me more I loved you none the less:New charms were lent to you by your misfortunes.I have been drown'd in tears, and scorch'd by fire;Your own eyes might convince you of the truth,If for one moment you could look at me.What is't I say? Think you this vile confessionThat I have made is what I meant to utter?Not daring to betray a son for whomI trembled, 'twas to beg you not to hate himI came. Weak purpose of a heart too fullOf love for you to speak of aught besides!Take your revenge, punish my odious passion;Prove yourself worthy of your valiant sire,And rid the world of an offensive monster!Does Theseus' widow dare to love his son?The frightful monster! Let her not escape you!Here is my heart. This is the place to strike.Already prompt to expiate its guilt,I feel it leap impatiently to meetYour arm. Strike home. Or, if it would disgrace youTo steep your hand in such polluted blood,If that were punishment too mild to slakeYour hatred, lend me then your sword, if notYour arm. Quick, give't.OENONEWhat, Madam, will you do?Just gods! But someone comes. Go, fly from shame,You cannot 'scape if seen by any thus.
SCENE VIHIPPOLYTUS, THERAMENES
THERAMENESIs that the form of Phaedra that I seeHurried away? What mean these signs of sorrow?Where is your sword? Why are you pale, confused?HIPPOLYTUSFriend, let us fly. I am, indeed, confoundedWith horror and astonishment extreme.Phaedra—but no; gods, let this dreadful secretRemain for ever buried in oblivion.THERAMENESThe ship is ready if you wish to sail.But Athens has already giv'n her vote;Their leaders have consulted all her tribes;Your brother is elected, Phaedra wins.HIPPOLYTUSPhaedra?THERAMENESA herald, charged with a commissionFrom Athens, has arrived to place the reinsOf power in her hands. Her son is King.HIPPOLYTUSYe gods, who know her, do ye thus rewardHer virtue?THERAMENESA faint rumour meanwhile whispersThat Theseus is not dead, but in EpirusHas shown himself. But, after all my search,I know too well—HIPPOLYTUSLet nothing be neglected.This rumour must be traced back to its source.If it be found unworthy of belief,Let us set sail, and cost whate'er it may,To hands deserving trust the sceptre's sway.
Scene IPHAEDRA, OENONE
PHAEDRAAh! Let them take elsewhere the worthless honoursThey bring me. Why so urgent I should see them?What flattering balm can soothe my wounded heart?Far rather hide me: I have said too much.My madness has burst forth like streams in flood,And I have utter'd what should ne'er have reach'dHis ear. Gods! How he heard me! How reluctantTo catch my meaning, dull and cold as marble,And eager only for a quick retreat!How oft his blushes made my shame the deeper!Why did you turn me from the death I sought?Ah! When his sword was pointed to my bosom,Did he grow pale, or try to snatch it from me?That I had touch'd it was enough for himTo render it for ever horrible,Leaving defilement on the hand that holds it.OENONEThus brooding on your bitter disappointment,You only fan a fire that must be stifled.Would it not be more worthy of the bloodOf Minos to find peace in nobler cares,And, in defiance of a wretch who fliesFrom what he hates, reign, mount the proffer'd throne?PHAEDRAI reign! Shall I the rod of empire sway,When reason reigns no longer o'er myself?When I have lost control of all my senses?When 'neath a shameful yoke I scarce can breathe?When I am dying?OENONEFly.PHAEDRAI cannot leave him.OENONEDare you not fly from him you dared to banish?PHAEDRAThe time for that is past. He knows my frenzy.I have o'erstepp'd the bounds of modesty,And blazon'd forth my shame before his eyes.Hope stole into my heart against my will.Did you not rally my declining pow'rs?Was it not you yourself recall'd my soulWhen fluttering on my lips, and with your counsel,Lent me fresh life, and told me I might love him?OENONEBlame me or blame me not for your misfortunes,Of what was I incapable, to save you?But if your indignation e'er was rousedBy insult, can you pardon his contempt?How cruelly his eyes, severely fix'd,Survey'd you almost prostrate at his feet!How hateful then appear'd his savage pride!Why did not Phaedra see him then as IBeheld him?PHAEDRAThis proud mood that you resentMay yield to time. The rudeness of the forestsWhere he was bred, inured to rigorous laws,Clings to him still; love is a word he ne'erHad heard before. It may be his surpriseStunn'd him, and too much vehemence was shownIn all I said.OENONERemember that his motherWas a barbarian.PHAEDRAScythian tho' she was,She learned to love.OENONEHe has for all the sexHatred intense.PHAEDRAThen in his heart no rivalShall ever reign. Your counsel comes too lateOenone, serve my madness, not my reason.His heart is inaccessible to love.Let us attack him where he has more feeling.The charms of sovereignty appear'd to touch him;He could not hide that he was drawn to Athens;His vessels' prows were thither turn'd already,All sail was set to scud before the breeze.Go you on my behalf, to his ambitionAppeal, and let the prospect of the crownDazzle his eyes. The sacred diademShall deck his brow, no higher honour mineThan there to bind it. His shall be the pow'rI cannot keep; and he shall teach my sonHow to rule men. It may be he will deignTo be to him a father. Son and motherHe shall control. Try ev'ry means to move him;Your words will find more favour than can mine.Urge him with groans and tears; show Phaedra dying.Nor blush to use the voice of supplication.In you is my last hope; I'll sanction allYou say; and on the issue hangs my fate.
Scene II
PHAEDRA (alone)Venus implacable, who seest me shamedAnd sore confounded, have I not enoughBeen humbled? How can cruelty be stretch'dFarther? Thy shafts have all gone home, and thouHast triumph'd. Would'st thou win a new renown?Attack an enemy more contumacious:Hippolytus neglects thee, braves thy wrath,Nor ever at thine altars bow'd the knee.Thy name offends his proud, disdainful ears.Our interests are alike: avenge thyself,Force him to love—But what is this? OenoneReturn'd already? He detests me then,And will not hear you.
SCENE IIIPHAEDRA, OENONE
OENONEMadam, you must stifleA fruitless love. Recall your former virtue:The king who was thought dead will soon appearBefore your eyes, Theseus has just arrived,Theseus is here. The people flock to see himWith eager haste. I went by your commandTo find the prince, when with a thousand shoutsThe air was rent—PHAEDRAMy husband is alive,That is enough, Oenone. I have own'dA passion that dishonours him. He lives:I ask to know no more.OENONEWhat?PHAEDRAI foretold it,But you refused to hear. Your tears prevail'dOver my just remorse. Dying this morn,I had deserved compassion; your adviceI took, and die dishonour'd.OENONEDie?PHAEDRAJust Heav'ns!What have I done to-day? My husband comes,With him his son: and I shall see the witnessOf my adulterous flame watch with what faceI greet his father, while my heart is bigWith sighs he scorn'd, and tears that could not move himMoisten mine eyes. Think you that his respectFor Theseus will induce him to concealMy madness, nor disgrace his sire and king?Will he be able to keep back the horrorHe has for me? His silence would be vain.I know my treason, and I lack the boldnessOf those abandon'd women who can tasteTranquillity in crime, and show a foreheadAll unabash'd. I recognize my madness,Recall it all. These vaulted roofs, methinks,These walls can speak, and, ready to accuse me,Wait but my husband's presence to revealMy perfidy. Death only can removeThis weight of horror. Is it such misfortuneTo cease to live? Death causes no alarmTo misery. I only fear the nameThat I shall leave behind me. For my sonsHow sad a heritage! The blood of JoveMight justly swell the pride that boasts descentFrom Heav'n, but heavy weighs a mother's guiltUpon her offspring. Yes, I dread the scornThat will be cast on them, with too much truth,For my disgrace. I tremble when I thinkThat, crush'd beneath that curse, they'll never dareTo raise their eyes.OENONEDoubt not I pity both;Never was fear more just than yours. Why, then,Expose them to this ignominy? WhyWill you accuse yourself? You thus destroyThe only hope that's left; it will be saidThat Phaedra, conscious of her perfidy,Fled from her husband's sight. HippolytusWill be rejoiced that, dying, you should lendHis charge support. What can I answer him?He'll find it easy to confute my tale,And I shall hear him with an air of triumphTo every open ear repeat your shame.Sooner than that may fire from heav'n consume me!Deceive me not. Say, do you love him still?How look you now on this contemptuous prince?PHAEDRAAs on a monster frightful to mine eyes.OENONEWhy yield him, then, an easy victory?You fear him? Venture to accuse him first,As guilty of the charge which he may bringThis day against you. Who can say 'tis false?All tells against him: in your hands his swordHappily left behind, your present trouble,Your past distress, your warnings to his father,His exile which your earnest pray'rs obtain'd.PHAEDRAWhat! Would you have me slander innocence?OENONEMy zeal has need of naught from you but silence.Like you I tremble, and am loath to do it;More willingly I'd face a thousand deaths,But since without this bitter remedyI lose you, and to me your life outweighsAll else, I'll speak. Theseus, howe'er enragedWill do no worse than banish him again.A father, when he punishes, remainsA father, and his ire is satisfiedWith a light sentence. But if guiltless bloodShould flow, is not your honour of more moment?A treasure far too precious to be risk'd?You must submit, whatever it dictates;For, when our reputation is at stake,All must be sacrificed, conscience itself.But someone comes. 'Tis Theseus.PHAEDRAAnd I seeHippolytus, my ruin plainly writtenIn his stern eyes. Do what you will; I trustMy fate to you. I cannot help myself.
SCENE IVTHESEUS, HIPPOLYTUS, PHAEDRA, OENONE, THERAMENES
THESEUSFortune no longer fights against my wishes,Madam, and to your arms restores—PHAEDRAStay, Theseus!Do not profane endearments that were onceSo sweet, but which I am unworthy nowTo taste. You have been wrong'd. Fortune has provedSpiteful, nor in your absence spared your wife.I am unfit to meet your fond caress,How I may bear my shame my only careHenceforth.
Scene VTHESEUS, HIPPOLYTUS, THERAMENES
THESEUSStrange welcome for your father, this!What does it mean, my son?HIPPOLYTUSPhaedra aloneCan solve this mystery. But if my wishCan move you, let me never see her more;Suffer Hippolytus to disappearFor ever from the home that holds your wife.THESEUSYou, my son! Leave me?HIPPOLYTUS'Twas not I who sought her:'Twas you who led her footsteps to these shores.At your departure you thought meet, my lord,To trust Aricia and the Queen to thisTroezenian land, and I myself was chargedWith their protection. But what cares henceforthNeed keep me here? My youth of idlenessHas shown its skill enough o'er paltry foesThat range the woods. May I not quit a lifeOf such inglorious ease, and dip my spearIn nobler blood? Ere you had reach'd my ageMore than one tyrant, monster more than oneHad felt the weight of your stout arm. Already,Successful in attacking insolence,You had removed all dangers that infestedOur coasts to east and west. The traveller fear'dOutrage no longer. Hearing of your deeds,Already Hercules relied on you,And rested from his toils. While I, unknownSon of so brave a sire, am far behindEven my mother's footsteps. Let my courageHave scope to act, and if some monster yetHas 'scaped you, let me lay the glorious spoilsDown at your feet; or let the memoryOf death faced nobly keep my name alive,And prove to all the world I was your son.THESEUSWhy, what is this? What terror has possess'dMy family to make them fly before me?If I return to find myself so fear'd,So little welcome, why did Heav'n release meFrom prison? My sole friend, misled by passion,Was bent on robbing of his wife the tyrantWho ruled Epirus. With regret I lentThe lover aid, but Fate had made us blind,Myself as well as him. The tyrant seized meDefenceless and unarm'd. PirithousI saw with tears cast forth to be devour'dBy savage beasts that lapp'd the blood of men.Myself in gloomy caverns he inclosed,Deep in the bowels of the earth, and nighTo Pluto's realms. Six months I lay ere Heav'nHad pity, and I 'scaped the watchful eyesThat guarded me. Then did I purge the worldOf a foul foe, and he himself has fedHis monsters. But when with expectant joyTo all that is most precious I draw nearOf what the gods have left me, when my soulLooks for full satisfaction in a sightSo dear, my only welcome is a shudder,Embrace rejected, and a hasty flight.Inspiring, as I clearly do, such terror,Would I were still a prisoner in Epirus!Phaedra complains that I have suffer'd outrage.Who has betray'd me? Speak. Why was I notAvenged? Has Greece, to whom mine arm so oftBrought useful aid, shelter'd the criminal?You make no answer. Is my son, mine ownDear son, confederate with mine enemies?I'll enter. This suspense is overwhelming.I'll learn at once the culprit and the crime,And Phaedra must explain her troubled state.
Scene VIHIPPOLYTUS, THERAMENES
HIPPOLYTUSWhat do these words portend, which seem'd to freezeMy very blood? Will Phaedra, in her frenzyAccuse herself, and seal her own destruction?What will the King say? Gods! What fatal poisonHas love spread over all his house! Myself,Full of a fire his hatred disapproves,How changed he finds me from the son he knew!With dark forebodings in my mind alarm'd,But innocence has surely naught to fear.Come, let us go, and in some other placeConsider how I best may move my sireTo tenderness, and tell him of a flameVex'd but not vanquish'd by a father's blame.
Scene ITHESEUS, OENONE
THESEUSAh! What is this I hear? Presumptuous traitor!And would he have disgraced his father's honour?With what relentless footsteps Fate pursues me!Whither I go I know not, nor where knowI am. O kind affection ill repaid!Audacious scheme! Abominable thought!To reach the object of his foul desireThe wretch disdain'd not to use violence.I know this sword that served him in his fury,The sword I gave him for a nobler use.Could not the sacred ties of blood restrain him?And Phaedra,—was she loath to have him punish'd?She held her tongue. Was that to spare the culprit?OENONENay, but to spare a most unhappy father.O'erwhelm'd with shame that her eyes should have kindledSo infamous a flame and prompted himTo crime so heinous, Phaedra would have died.I saw her raise her arm, and ran to save her.To me alone you owe it that she lives;And, in my pity both for her and you,Have I against my will interpretedHer tears.THESEUSThe traitor! He might well turn pale.'Twas fear that made him tremble when he saw me.I was astonish'd that he show'd no pleasure;His frigid greeting chill'd my tenderness.But was this guilty passion that devours himDeclared already ere I banish'd himFrom Athens?OENONESire, remember how the QueenUrged you. Illicit love caused all her hatred.THESEUSAnd then this fire broke out again at Troezen?OENONESire, I have told you all. Too long the QueenHas been allow'd to bear her grief aloneLet me now leave you and attend to her.
Scene IITHESEUS, HIPPOLYTUS
THESEUSAh! There he is. Great gods! That noble mienMight well deceive an eye less fond than mine!Why should the sacred stamp of virtue gleamUpon the forehead of an impious wretch?Ought not the blackness of a traitor's heartTo show itself by sure and certain signs?HIPPOLYTUSMy father, may I ask what fatal cloudHas troubled your majestic countenance?Dare you not trust this secret to your son?THESEUSTraitor, how dare you show yourself before me?Monster, whom Heaven's bolts have spared too long!Survivor of that robber crew whereofI cleansed the earth. After your brutal lustScorn'd even to respect my marriage bed,You venture—you, my hated foe—to comeInto my presence, here, where all is fullOf your foul infamy, instead of seekingSome unknown land that never heard my name.Fly, traitor, fly! Stay not to tempt the wrathThat I can scarce restrain, nor brave my hatred.Disgrace enough have I incurr'd for everIn being father of so vile a son,Without your death staining indeliblyThe glorious record of my noble deeds.Fly, and unless you wish quick punishmentTo add you to the criminals cut offBy me, take heed this sun that lights us nowNe'er sees you more set foot upon this soil.I tell you once again,—fly, haste, return not,Rid all my realms of your atrocious presence.To thee, to thee, great Neptune, I appealIf erst I clear'd thy shores of foul assassinsRecall thy promise to reward those efforts,Crown'd with success, by granting my first pray'r.Confined for long in close captivity,I have not yet call'd on thy pow'rful aid,Sparing to use the valued privilegeTill at mine utmost need. The time is comeI ask thee now. Avenge a wretched father!I leave this traitor to thy wrath; in bloodQuench his outrageous fires, and by thy furyTheseus will estimate thy favour tow'rds him.HIPPOLYTUSPhaedra accuses me of lawless passion!This crowning horror all my soul confounds;Such unexpected blows, falling at once,O'erwhelm me, choke my utterance, strike me dumb.THESEUSTraitor, you reckon'd that in timid silencePhaedra would bury your brutality.You should not have abandon'd in your flightThe sword that in her hands helps to condemn you;Or rather, to complete your perfidy,You should have robb'd her both of speech and life.HIPPOLYTUSJustly indignant at a lie so blackI might be pardon'd if I told the truth;But it concerns your honour to conceal it.Approve the reverence that shuts my mouth;And, without wishing to increase your woes,Examine closely what my life has been.Great crimes are never single, they are link'dTo former faults. He who has once transgress'dMay violate at last all that men holdMost sacred; vice, like virtue, has degreesOf progress; innocence was never seenTo sink at once into the lowest depthsOf guilt. No virtuous man can in a dayTurn traitor, murderer, an incestuous wretch.The nursling of a chaste, heroic mother,I have not proved unworthy of my birth.Pittheus, whose wisdom is by all esteem'd,Deign'd to instruct me when I left her hands.It is no wish of mine to vaunt my merits,But, if I may lay claim to any virtue,I think beyond all else I have display'dAbhorrence of those sins with which I'm charged.For this Hippolytus is known in Greece,So continent that he is deem'd austere.All know my abstinence inflexible:The daylight is not purer than my heart.How, then, could I, burning with fire profane—THESEUSYes, dastard, 'tis that very pride condemns you.I see the odious reason of your coldnessPhaedra alone bewitch'd your shameless eyes;Your soul, to others' charms indifferent,Disdain'd the blameless fires of lawful love.HIPPOLYTUSNo, father, I have hidden it too long,This heart has not disdain'd a sacred flame.Here at your feet I own my real offence:I love, and love in truth where you forbid me;Bound to Aricia by my heart's devotion,The child of Pallas has subdued your son.A rebel to your laws, her I adore,And breathe forth ardent sighs for her alone.THESEUSYou love her? Heav'ns!But no, I see the trick.You feign a crime to justify yourself.HIPPOLYTUSSir, I have shunn'd her for six months, and stillLove her. To you yourself I came to tell it,Trembling the while. Can nothing clear your mindOf your mistake? What oath can reassure you?By heav'n and earth and all the pow'rs of nature—THESEUSThe wicked never shrink from perjury.Cease, cease, and spare me irksome protestations,If your false virtue has no other aid.HIPPOLYTUSTho' it to you seem false and insincere,Phaedra has secret cause to know it true.THESEUSAh! how your shamelessness excites my wrath!HIPPOLYTUSWhat is my term and place of banishment?THESEUSWere you beyond the Pillars of Alcides,Your perjured presence were too near me yet.HIPPOLYTUSWhat friends will pity me, when you forsakeAnd think me guilty of a crime so vile?THESEUSGo, look you out for friends who hold in honourAdultery and clap their hands at incest,Low, lawless traitors, steep'd in infamy,The fit protectors of a knave like you.HIPPOLYTUSAre incest and adultery the wordsYou cast at me? I hold my tongue. Yet thinkWhat mother Phaedra had; too well you knowHer blood, not mine, is tainted with those horrors.THESEUSWhat! Does your rage before my eyes lose allRestraint? For the last time,—out of my sight!Hence, traitor! Wait not till a father's wrathForce thee away 'mid general execration.
Scene III
THESEUS (alone)Wretch! Thou must meet inevitable ruin.Neptune has sworn by Styx—to gods themselvesA dreadful oath,—and he will executeHis promise. Thou canst not escape his vengeance.I loved thee; and, in spite of thine offence,My heart is troubled by anticipationFor thee. But thou hast earn'd thy doom too well.Had father ever greater cause for rage?Just gods, who see the grief that overwhelms me,Why was I cursed with such a wicked son?
SCENE IVPHAEDRA, THESEUS
PHAEDRAMy lord, I come to you, fill'd with just dread.Your voice raised high in anger reach'd mine ears,And much I fear that deeds have follow'd threats.Oh, if there yet is time, spare your own offspring.Respect your race and blood, I do beseech you.Let me not hear that blood cry from the ground;Save me the horror and perpetual painOf having caused his father's hand to shed it.THESEUSNo, Madam, from that stain my hand is free.But, for all that, the wretch has not escaped me.The hand of an Immortal now is chargedWith his destruction. 'Tis a debt that NeptuneOwes me, and you shall be avenged.PHAEDRAA debtOwed you? Pray'rs made in anger—THESEUSNever fearThat they will fail. Rather join yours to mineIn all their blackness paint for me his crimes,And fan my tardy passion to white heat.But yet you know not all his infamy;His rage against you overflows in slanders;Your mouth, he says, is full of all deceit,He says Aricia has his heart and soul,That her alone he loves.PHAEDRAAricia?THESEUSAye,He said it to my face! an idle pretext!A trick that gulls me not! Let us hope NeptuneWill do him speedy justice. To his altarsI go, to urge performance of his oaths.
SCENE V
PHAEDRA (alone)Ah, he is gone! What tidings struck mine ears?What fire, half smother'd, in my heart revives?What fatal stroke falls like a thunderbolt?Stung by remorse that would not let me rest,I tore myself out of Oenone's arms,And flew to help Hippolytus with allMy soul and strength. Who knows if that repentanceMight not have moved me to accuse myself?And, if my voice had not been choked with shame,Perhaps I had confess'd the frightful truth.Hippolytus can feel, but not for me!Aricia has his heart, his plighted troth.Ye gods, when, deaf to all my sighs and tears,He arm'd his eye with scorn, his brow with threats,I deem'd his heart, impregnable to love,Was fortified 'gainst all my sex alike.And yet another has prevail'd to tameHis pride, another has secured his favour.Perhaps he has a heart easily melted;I am the only one he cannot bear!And shall I charge myself with his defence?