hippolytus-第4节
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NURSE
If thou art of this mind； 'twere well thou ne'er hadst sinned； but
as it is； hear me； for that is the next best course； I in my house
have charms to soothe thy love；…'twas but now I thought of them；…these
shall cure thee of thy sickness on no disgraceful terms； thy mind
unhurt； if thou wilt be but brave。 But from him thou lovest we must
get some token； word or fragment of his robe； and thereby unite in one
love's twofold stream。
PHAEDRA
Is thy drug a salve or potion？
NURSE
I cannot tell； be content； my child； to profit by it and ask no
questions。
PHAEDRA
I fear me thou wilt prove too wise for me。
NURSE
If thou fear this； confess thyself afraid of all； but why thy
terror！
PHAEDRA
Lest thou shouldst breathe a word of this to Theseus' son。
NURSE
Peace； 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。
（The NURSE goes into the palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
O 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。
antistrophe 1
Idly； 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。
strophe 2
There was that maiden in Oechalia； a girl unwed； that knew no
wooer yet nor married joys； her did the Queen of Love 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！
antistrophe 2
Ah！ 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…born
Bacchus。 All things she doth inspire； dread goddess； winging her
flight hither and thither like a bee。
PHAEDRA
Peace； oh women； peace！ I am undone。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
What； Phaedra； is this dread event within thy house？
PHAEDRA
Hush！ let me hear what those within are saying。
LEADER
I am silent； this is surely the prelude to evil。
PHAEDRA （chanting）
Great gods！ how awful are my sufferings！
CHORUS （chanting）
What a cry was there！ what loud alarm！ say what sudden terror；
lady； doth thy soul dismay。
PHAEDRA
I am undone。 Stand here at the door and hear the noise arising
in the house。
CHORUS （chanting）
Thou art already by the bolted door； 'tis for thee to note the
sounds that issue from within。 And tell me； O tell me what evil can be
on foot。
PHAEDRA
'Tis the son of the horse…loving Amazon who calls； Hippolytus；
uttering foul curses on my servant。
CHORUS （chanting）
I hear a noise but cannot dearly tell which way it comes。 Ah！ 'tis
through the door the sound reached thee。
PHAEDRA
Yes； yes； he is calling her plainly enough a go…between in vice；
traitress to her master's honour。
CHORUS （chanting）
Woe； woe is me！ thou art betrayed； dear mistress！ What counsel
shall I give thee？ thy secret is out； thou art utterly undone。
PHAEDRA
Ah me！ ah me！
CHORUS （chanting）
Betrayed by friends！
PHAEDRA
She hath ruined me by speaking of my misfortune； 'twas kindly
meant； but an ill way to cure my malady。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
O what wilt thou do now in thy cruel dilemma？
PHAEDRA
I only know one way； one cure for these my woes； and that is
instant death。
（HIPPOLYTUS bursts out of the palace； followed closely by the NURSE。）
HIPPOLYTUS
O mother earth！ O sun's unclouded orb！ What words； unfit for any
lips； have reached my ears！
NURSE
Peace； my son； lest some one hear thy outcry。
HIPPOLYTUS
I cannot hear such awful words and hold my peace。
NURSE
I do implore thee by thy fair right hand。
HIPPOLYTUS
Let go my hand； touch not my robe。
NURSE
O by thy knees I pray； destroy me not utterly。
HIPPOLYTUS
Why say this； if； as thou pretendest； thy lips are free from
blame？
NURSE
My son； this is no story to be noised abroad。
HIPPOLYTUS
A virtuous tale grows fairer told to many。
NURSE
Never dishonour thy oath； my son。
HIPPOLYTUS
My tongue an oath did take； but not my heart。
NURSE
My son； what wilt thou do？ destroy thy friends？
HIPPOLYTUS
Friends indeed！ the wicked are no friends of mine。
NURSE
O pardon me； to err is only human； child。
HIPPOLYTUS
Great Zeus； why didst thou； to man's sorrow； put woman； evil
counterfeit； to dwell where shines the sun？ If thou wert minded that
the human race should multiply； it was not from women they should have
drawn their stock； but in thy temples they should have paid gold or
iron or ponderous bronze and bought a family； each man proportioned to
his offering； and so in independence dwelt； from women free。 But now
as soon as ever we would bring this plague into our home we bring
its fortune to the ground。 'Tis clear from this how great a curse a
woman is； the very father； that begot and nurtured her； to rid him
of the mischief； gives her a dower and packs her off； while the
husband； who takes the noxious weed into his home； fondly decks his
sorry idol in fine raiment and tricks her out in robes； squandering by
degrees； unhappy wight！ his house's wealth。 For he is in this dilemma；
say his marriage has brought him good connections； he is glad then
to keep the wife he loathes； or； if he gets a good wife but useless
kin； he tries to stifle the bad luck with the good。 But it is
easiest for him who has settled in his house as wife mere cipher；
incapable from simplicity。 I hate a clever woman； never may she set
foot in my house who aims at knowing more than women need； for in
these clever women Cypris implants a larger store of villainy； while
the artless woman is by her shallow wit from levity debarred。 No
servant should ever have had access to a wife； but men should put to
live with them beasts； which bite； not talk； in which case they
could not speak to any one nor be answered back by them。 But； as it
is； the wicked in their chambers plot wickedness； and their servants
carry it abroad。 Even thus； vile wretch； thou cam'st to make me
partner in an outrage on my father's honour； wherefore I must wash
that stain away in running streams； dashing the water into my ears。
How could I commit so foul a crime when by the very mention of it I
feel myself polluted？ Be well assured； woman； 'tis only my religious
scruple saves thee。 For had not I unawares been caught by an oath；
'fore heaven！ I would not have refrained from telling all unto my
father。 But now I will from the house away； so long as Theseus is
abroad； and will maintain strict silence。 But； when my father comes； I
will return and see how thou and thy mistress face him； and so shall I
learn by experience the extent of thy audacity。 Perdition seize you
both！ I can never satisfy my hate for women； no！ not even though
some say this is ever my theme； for of a truth they always are evil。
So either let some one prove them chaste； or let me still trample on
them for ever。
（HIPPOLYTUS departs in anger。）
CHORUS （chanting）
O the cruel； unhappy fate of women！ What arts； what arguments have
we； once we have made a slip； to loose by craft the tight…drawn knot？
PHAEDRA （chanting）
I have met my deserts。 O earth； O light of day！ How can I escape
the stroke of fate？ How my pangs conceal； kind friends？ What god
will appear to help me； what mortal to take my part or help me in
unrighteousness？ The present calamity of my life admits of no
escape。 Most hapless I of all my sex！
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Alas； alas！ the deed is done； thy servant's schemes have gone
awry； my queen； and all is lost。
PHAEDRA （to the NURSE）
Accursed woman！ traitress to thy friends！ How hast thou ruined me！
May Zeus； my ancestor； smite thee with his fiery bolt and uproot
thee from thy place。 Did I not foresee thy purpose； did I not bid thee
keep silence on the very
