Artemis
Enough! for though thou pass to gloom beneath the earth, the wrath of Cypris shall not, at her will, fall on thee unrequited, because thou hadst a noble righteous soul. For I with mine own hand will with these unerring shafts avenge me on another, who is her votary, dearest to her of all the sons of men. And to thee, poor sufferer, for thy anguish now will I grant high honours in the city of Troezen; for thee shall maids unwed before their marriage cut off their hair, thy harvest through the long roll of time of countless bitter tears. Yea, and for ever shall the virgin choir hymn thy sad memory, nor shall Phaedra’s love for thee fall into oblivion and pass away unnoticed.
Artemis But thou, O son of old Aegeus, take thy son in thine arms, draw him close to thee, for unwittingly thou slewest him, and men may well commit an error when gods put it in their way. And thee Hippolytus, I admonish; hate not thy sire, for in this death thou dost but meet thy destined fate. And now farewell! ’tis not for me to gaze upon the dead, or pollute my sight with death-scenes, and e’en now I see thee nigh that evil moment.
Hippolytus Farewell, blest virgin queen! leave me now! How easily thou resignest our long friendship! I am reconciled with my father at thy desire, yea, for ever before I would obey thy bidding. Ah me! the darkness is settling even now upon my eyes. Take me, father, in thy arms, lift me up.
Theseus Woe is me, my son! what art thou doing to me thy hapless sire!
Hippolytus I am a broken man; yes, I see the gates that close upon the dead.
Theseus Canst leave me thus with murder on my soul!
Hippolytus No, no; I set thee free from this bloodguiltiness.
Theseus What sayest thou? dost absolve me from bloodshed?
Hippolytus Artemis, the archer-queen, is my witness that I do.
Theseus My own dear child, how generous dost thou show thyself to thy father!
Hippolytus Pray to have children such as me bom in lawful wedlock.
Theseus O that holy, noble soul of thine!
Hippolytus Farewell, dear father! a long farewell to thee!
Theseus O leave me not, my son; endure awhile.
Hippolytus ’Tis finished, my endurance; I die, father; quickly cover my face with a mantle.
Theseus O glorious Athens, realm of Pallas, what a splendid hero ye have lost! Ah me, ah me! How oft shall I remember thy evil work, O Cypris!
Chorus
On all our citizens hath come this universal sorrow, unforeseen. Now shall the copious tear gush forth, for sad news about great men takes more than usual hold upon the heart.
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