I cannot tell; be content, my child, to profit by it and ask no questions.PhaedraI fear me thou wilt prove too wise for me.NurseIf thou fear this, confess thyself afraid of all; but why thy terror?PhaedraLest thou shouldst breathe a word of this to Theseus’ son.NursePeace, my child! I will do all things well; only be thou, queen Cypris, ocean’s child, my partner in the work! And for the rest of my purpose, it will be enough for me to tell it to Our friends within the house. [Exit Nurse.

ChorusO Love, Love, that from the eyes diffusest soft desire, bringing on the souls of those, whom thou dost camp against, sweet grace, O never in evil mood appear to me, nor out of time and tune approach! Nor fire nor meteor hurls a mightier bolt than Aphrodite’s shaft shot by the hands of Love, the child of Zeus.

ChorusIdly, idly by the streams of Alpheus and in the Pythian shrines of Phoebus, Hellas heaps the slaughtered steers; while Love we worship not, Love, the king of men, who holds the key to Aphrodite’s sweetest bower,—worship not him who, when he comes, lays waste and marks his path to mortal hearts by wide-spread woe.

ChorusThere was that maidenIole, daughter of Eurytus, king of Oechalia. Her father refused, after promising, to give her to Heracles, who thereupon took her by force. in Oechalia, a girl unwed, that knew no wooer yet nor married joys; her did the queen of LoveThere is some corruption here. It is probable the doubtful εἰρεσίᾳ conceals an allusion to Euryptus, as Monk indeed suggest; but the passage is not yet satisfactorily emended. snatch from her home across the sea and gave unto Alcmena’s son, mid blood and smoke and murderous marriage-hymns, to be to him a frantic fiend of hell; woe! woe for his wooing!

ChorusAh! holy walls of Thebes, ah! fount of Dirce, ye could testify what course the love-queen follows. For with the blazing levin-bolt did she cut short the fatal marriage of Semele, mother of Zeus-bom Bacchus. All things she doth inspire, dread goddess, winging her flight hither and thither like a bee.

PhaedraPeace, ladies, peace! I am undone.ChorusWhat, Phaedra, is this dread event within thy house?PhaedraHush! let me hear what those within are saying.ChorusI am silent; this is surely the prelude to mischief.PhaedraGreat gods! how awful are my sufferings!

ChorusWhat a cry was there! what loud alarm! say what sudden terror, lady, doth thy soul dismay.PhaedraI am undone. Stand here at the door and hear the noise arising in the house.

ChorusThou art already by the bolted door; ’tis for thee to note the sounds that issue from within. And tell me, O tell me what mischief can be on foot.Phaedra’Tis the son of the horse-loving Amazon who calls, Hippolytus, uttering foul curses on my servant.

ChorusI hear a noise, but cannot clearly tellReading ὅπᾳ. The old reading was ὔπα. which way it comes. Ah! ’tis through the door the sound reached thee.PhaedraYes, yes, he is calling her plainly enough a go-between in vice, traitress to her master’s honour.

ChorusWoe, woe is me! thou art betrayed, dear mistress! What counsel shall I give thee? thy secret is out; thou art utterly undone.PhaedraAh me! ah me!ChorusBetrayed by friends!PhaedraShe hath ruined me by speaking of my misfortune; ’twas kindly meant, but an ill way to cure my malady.