HIPP. Oh! unhappy thou, because of this calamity, my father!
THES. I perish, my son, nor have I delight in life.
HIPP. I lament thee rather than myself on account of thy error.
THES. My son, would that I could die in thy stead!
HIPP. Oh! the bitter gifts of thy father Neptune!
THES. Would that the prayer had never come into my mouth.
HIPP. Wherefore this wish? thou wouldst have slain me, so enraged wert thou
then.
THES. For I was deceived in my notions by the Gods.
HIPP. Alas! would that the race of mortals could curse the Gods!
DI. Let be; for not even when thou art under the darkness of the earth
shall the rage arising from the bent of the Goddess Venus descend upon thy
body unrevenged: by reason of thy piety and thy excellent mind. For with
these inevitable weapons from mine own hand will I revenge me on
another,[52] whoever to her be the dearest of mortals. But to thee, O
unhappy one, in recompense for these evils, will I give the greatest honors
in the land of Trœzene; for the unwedded virgins before their nuptials
shall shear their locks to thee for many an age, owning the greatest sorrow
tears can give; but ever among the virgins shall there be a remembrance of
thee that shall awake the song, nor dying away without a name shall
Phædra's love toward thee pass unrecorded:--But thou, O son of the aged
Ægeus, take thy son in thine arms and clasp him to thee; for unwillingly
thou didst destroy him, but that men should err, when the Gods dispose
events, is but to be expected!--and thee, Hippolytus, I exhort not to
remain at enmity with thy father; for thou perceivest the fate, whereby
thou wert destroyed. And farewell! for it is not lawful for me to behold
the dead, nor to pollute mine eye with the gasps of the dying; but I see
that thou art now near this calamity.
HIPP. Go thou too, and farewell, blessed virgin! But thou easily quittest a
long companionship. But I give up all enmity against my father at thy
request, for before also I was wont to obey thy words. Ah! ah! darkness now
covers me over mine eyes. Take hold on me, my father, and lift up my body.
THES. Ah me! my son, what dost thou, do to me unhappy?
HIPP. I perish, and do indeed see the gates of hell.
THES. What? leaving my mind uncleansed from thy blood?
HIPP. No in sooth, since I free thee from this murder.
THES. What sayest thou? dost thou remit me free from the guilt of blood?
HIPP. I call to witness Dian that slays with the bow.
THES. O most dear, how noble thou appearest to thy father!
HIPP. O farewell thou too, take my best farewell, my father!
THES. Oh me! for thy pious and brave soul!
HIPP. Pray to have legitimate sons like me.
THES. Do not, I prithee, leave me, my son, but be strong.
HIPP. My time of strength is past; for I perish, my father: but cover my
face as quickly as possible with robes.
THES. O famous realms of Athens and of Pallas, of what a man will ye have
been bereaved! Oh unhappy I! What abundant reason, Venus, shall I have to
remember thy ills!
CHOR. This common grief to all the citizens hath come unexpectedly. There
will be a fast falling of many tears; for the mournful stories of great men
rather obtain.
* * * * *