(aside). Great gods! why do I not unlock my lips, seeing that I am ruined by you, the objects of my reverence? No, I will not; I should nowise persuade those whom I ought to, and in vain should break the oath I swore. Theseus Fie upon thee! that solemn air of thine is more than I can bear. Begone from thy native land forthwith! Hippolytus Whither shall I turn? Ah me! whose friendly house will take me in, an exile on so grave a charge? Theseus Seek one who loves to entertain as guests and partners in his crimes corrupters of men’s wives. Hippolytus Ah me! this wounds my heart and brings me nigh to tears to think 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. [Exit Theseus. Hippolytus The sentence then, it seems, is passed. Ah, misery I 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.	 [Exit Hippolytus. Chorus 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 I survey the fate and doings of the sons of men; change succeeds to change, and man’s life veers and shifts in endless restlessness.