Hippolytus Come follow, friends, singing to Artemis, daughter of Zeus, throned in the sky, whose votaries we are.
Attendants of Hippolytus Lady goddess, awful queen, daughter of Zeus, all hail! hail! child of Latona and of Zeus, peerless mid the virgin choir, who hast thy dwelling in heaven’s wide mansions at thy noble father’s court, in the golden house of Zeus. All hail! most beauteous Artemis, lovelier far than all the daughters of Olympus!
Hippolytus For thee, O mistress mine, I bring this woven wreath, culled from a virgin meadow, where nor shepherd dares to herd his flock nor ever scythe hath mown, but o’er the mead unshorn the bee doth wing its way in spring; and with the dew from rivers drawn purity that garden tends. Such as know no cunning lore, yet in whose nature self-control, made perfect, hath a home, these may pluck the flowers, but not the wicked world. Accept, I pray, dear mistress, mine this chaplet from my holy hand to crown thy locks of gold; for I, and none other of mortals, have this high guerdon, to be with thee, with thee converse, hearing thy voice, though not thy face beholding. So be it mine to end my life as I began.
Attendants My prince! we needs must call upon the gods, our lords, so wilt thou listen to a friendly word from me?
Hippolytus Why, that will I! else were I proved a fool.
Attendants Dost know, then, the way of the world?
Hippolytus Not I; but wherefore such a question?
Attendants It hates reserve which careth not for all men’s love.
Hippolytus And rightly too; reserve in man is ever galling.
Attendants But there’s a charm in courteous affability?
Hippolytus The greatest surely; aye, and profit, too, at trifling cost.
Attendants Dost think the same law holds in heaven as well?
Hippolytus I trow it doth, since all our laws we men from heaven draw.
Attendants Why, then, dost thou neglect to greet an august goddess?
Hippolytus Whom speak’st thou of? Keep watch upon thy tongue lest it some mischief cause.
Attendants Cypris I mean, whose image is stationed o’er thy gate.
Hippolytus I greet her from afar, preserving still my chastity.
Att Yet is she an august goddess, far renowned on earth.
Hippolytus ’Mongst gods as well as men we have our several preferences.
Attendants I wish thee luck, and wisdom too, so far as thou dost need it.
Hippolytus No god, whose worship craves the night, hath charms for me.
Attendants My son, we should avail us of the gifts that gods confer.
Hippolytus Go in, my faithful followers, and make ready food within the house; a well-filled board hath charms after the chase is o’er. Rub down my steeds ye must, that when I have had my all I may yoke them to the chariot and give them proper exercise. As for thy Queen of Love, a long farewell to her.
Attendants Meantime I with sober mind, for I must not copy my young master, do offer up my prayer to thy image, lady Cypris, in such words as it becomes a slave to use. But thou should’st pardon all, who, in youth’s impetuous heat, speak idle words of thee; make as though thou hearest not, for gods must needs be wiser than the sons of men.
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