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.Cobet rejects this line. [Exit Artemis. HippolytusFarewell, blest virgin queen! leave me now! How easilySurely this line is a gloss! The sentiment is singularly out of place in the mouth of an ardent votary, whom the goddess has just comforted. 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.TheseusWoe is me, my son! what art thou doing to me thy hapless sire!HippolytusI am a broken man; yes, I see the gates that close upon the dead.TheseusCanst leave me thus with murder on my soul!HippolytusNo, no; I set thee free from this bloodguiltiness.TheseusWhat sayest thou? dost absolve me from bloodshed?HippolytusArtemis, the archer-queen, is my witness that I do.