Phæ. 'Tis the son of the horse-loving Amazon who calls, Hippolytus, uttering foul curses on my servant.
Cho. I hear a noise, but cannot clearly tell[1] which way it comes. Ah! 'tis through the door the sound reached thee.
Phæ. Yes, yes, he is calling her plainly enough a go-between in vice, traitress to her master's honour.
Cho. Woe, woe is me! thou art betrayed, dear mistress! What counsel shall I give thee? thy secret is out; thou art utterly undone.
Phæ. Ah me! ah me!
Cho. Betrayed by friends!
Phæ. She hath ruined me by speaking of my misfortune; 'twas kindly meant, but an ill way to cure my malady.
Cho. O what wilt thou do now in thy cruel dilemma?
Phæ. I only know one way, one cure for these my woes, and that is instant death.
Hip. O mother earth! O sun's unclouded orb! What words, unfit for any lips, have reached my ears!
Nur. Peace, my son, lest some one hear thy outcry.
Hip. I cannot hear such awful words and hold my peace.
Nur. I do implore thee by thy fair right hand.
Hip. Let go my hand, touch not my robe.
Nur. O by thy knees I pray, destroy me not utterly.
Hip. Why say this, if, as thou pretendest, thy lips are free from blame?
Nur. My son, this is no story to be noised abroad.
Hip. A virtuous tale grows fairer told to many.
Nur. Never dishonour thy oath, thy son.
Hip. My tongue an oath did take, but not my heart.
Nur. My son, what wilt thou do? destroy thy friends?
Hip. Friends indeed! the wicked are no friends of mine.
Nur. O pardon me; to err is only human, child.
Hip. Great Zeus, why didst thou, to man's sorrow, put woman, evil counterfeit, to dwell where shines the sun? If
- ↑ Reading ὅπᾳ. The old reading was ὄπα.
