Hippolytus [1]
far than all the daughters of Olympus! HIPPOLYTUS (speaking) For thee, O mistress mine, I bring this woven wreath, culled from a virgin meadow, where nor shepherd dares to herd his flock nor ever scythe hath mown, but o'er the mead unshorn the bee doth wing its way in spring; and with the dew from rivers drawn purity that garden tends. Such as know no cunning lore, yet in whose nature self-control, made perfect, hath a home, these may pluck the flowers, but not the wicked world. Accept, I pray, dear mistress, mine this chaplet from my holy hand to crown thy locks of gold; for I, and none other of mortals, have this high guerdon, to be with thee, with thee converse, hearing thy voice, though not thy face beholding. So be it mine to end my life as I began. LEADER OF THE ATTENDANTS My prince! we needs must call upon the gods, our lords, so wilt thou listen to a friendly word from me? HIPPOLYTUS Why, that will I! else were I proved a fool. LEADER Dost know, then, the way of the world? HIPPOLYTUS Not I; but wherefore such a question? LEADER It hates reserve which careth not for all men's love. HIPPOLYTUS And rightly too; reserve in man is ever galling. LEADER But there's a charm in courtesy? HIPPOLYTUS The greatest surely; aye, and profit, too, at trifling cost. LEADER Dost think the same law holds in heaven as well? HIPPOLYTUS I trow it doth, since all our laws we men from heaven draw. LEADER Why, then, dost thou neglect to greet an august goddess? HIPPOLYTUS Whom speak'st thou of? Keep watch upon thy tongue lest it same mischief cause. LEADER Cypris I mean, whose image is stationed o'er thy gate. HIPPOLYTUS I greet her from afar, preserving still my chastity. LEADER Yet is she an august goddess, far renowned on earth. HIPPOLYTUS 'Mongst gods as well as men we have our several preferences. LEADER I wish thee luck, and wisdom too, so far as thou dost need it. HIPPOLYTUS No god, whose worship craves the night, hath charms for me. LEADER My son, we should avail us of the gifts that gods confer. HIPPOLYTUS Go in, my faithful followers, and make ready food within the house; a well-filled board hath charms after the chase is o'er. Rub down my steeds ye must, that when I have had my fill I may yoke them to the chariot and give them proper exercise. As for thy Queen of Love, a long farewell to her.
(HIPPOLYTUS goes into the palace, followed by all the ATTENDANTS except the LEADER, who prays before the statue of APHRODITE.)
LEADER Meantime I with sober mind, for I must not copy my young master, do offer up my prayer to thy image, lady Cypris, in such words as it becomes a slave to use. But thou should'st pardon all, who, in youth's impetuous heat, speak idle words of thee; make as though thou hearest not, for gods must needs be wiser than the sons of men.
(The LEADER goes into the palace. The CHORUS OF TROEZENIAN WOMEN enters.)
CHORUS (singing)
strophe 1
A rock there is, where, as they say, the ocean dew distils, and from its beetling brow it pours a copious stream for pitchers to be dipped therein; 'twas here I had a friend washing robes of purple in the trickling stream, and she was spreading them out on the face of warm sunny rock; from her I had the tidings, first of all, that my mistress-
antistrophe 1
Was wasting on the bed of sickness, pent within her house, a thin veil o'ershadowing her head of golden hair. And this is the third day I hear that she hath closed her lovely lips and denied her chaste body all sustenance, eager to hide her suffering and reach death's cheerless bourn.
strophe 2
Maiden, thou must be possessed, by Pan made frantic or by Hecate, or by the Corybantes dread, and Cybele the mountain mother. Or maybe thou hast sinned
(HIPPOLYTUS goes into the palace, followed by all the ATTENDANTS except the LEADER, who prays before the statue of APHRODITE.)
LEADER Meantime I with sober mind, for I must not copy my young master, do offer up my prayer to thy image, lady Cypris, in such words as it becomes a slave to use. But thou should'st pardon all, who, in youth's impetuous heat, speak idle words of thee; make as though thou hearest not, for gods must needs be wiser than the sons of men.
(The LEADER goes into the palace. The CHORUS OF TROEZENIAN WOMEN enters.)
CHORUS (singing)
strophe 1
A rock there is, where, as they say, the ocean dew distils, and from its beetling brow it pours a copious stream for pitchers to be dipped therein; 'twas here I had a friend washing robes of purple in the trickling stream, and she was spreading them out on the face of warm sunny rock; from her I had the tidings, first of all, that my mistress-
antistrophe 1
Was wasting on the bed of sickness, pent within her house, a thin veil o'ershadowing her head of golden hair. And this is the third day I hear that she hath closed her lovely lips and denied her chaste body all sustenance, eager to hide her suffering and reach death's cheerless bourn.
strophe 2
Maiden, thou must be possessed, by Pan made frantic or by Hecate, or by the Corybantes dread, and Cybele the mountain mother. Or maybe thou hast sinned