hippolytus-第8节
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discharged it toward the beach where stood the harnessed car； and in
the moment that it broke； that mighty wall of waters； there issued
from the wave a monstrous bull； whose bellowing filled the land with
fearsome echoes； a sight too awful as it seemed to us who witnessed
it。 A panic seized the horses there and then； but our master； to
horses' ways quite used； gripped in both hands his reins； and tying
them to his body pulled them backward as the sailor pulls his oar； but
the horses gnashed the forged bits between their teeth and bore him
wildly on； regardless of their master's guiding hand or rein or
jointed car。 And oft as he would take the guiding rein and steer for
softer ground； showed that bull in front to turn him back again；
maddening his team with terror； but if in their frantic career they
ran towards the rocks； he would draw nigh the chariot…rail； keeping up
with them； until； suddenly dashing the wheel against a stone； he upset
and wrecked the car； then was dire confusion； axle…boxes and linchpins
springing into the air。 While he； poor youth； entangled in the reins
was dragged along； bound by a stubborn knot； his poor head dashed
against the rocks； his flesh all torn； the while he cried out
piteously； 〃Stay； stay； my horses whom my own hand hath fed at the
manger； destroy me not utterly。 O luckless curse of a father！ Will
no one come and save me for all my virtue？〃 Now we； though much we
longed to help； were left far behind。 At last； I know not how； he
broke loose from the shapely reins that bound him； a faint breath of
life still in him； but the horses disappeared； and that portentous
bull； among the rocky ground； I know not where。 I am but a slave in
thy house； 'tis true； O king； yet will I never believe so monstrous
a charge against thy son's character； no！ not though the whole race of
womankind should hang itself； or one should fill with writing every
pine…tree tablet grown on Ida； sure as I am of his uprightness。
LEADER
Alas！ new troubles come to plague us； nor is there any escape from
fate and necessity。
THESEUS
My hatred for him who hath thus suffered made me glad at thy
tidings； yet from regard for the gods and him； because he is my son； I
feel neither joy nor sorrow at his sufferings。
MESSENGER
But say； are we to bring the victim hither； or how are we to
fulfil thy wishes？ Bethink thee； if by me thou wilt be schooled；
thou wilt not harshly treat thy son in his sad plight。
THESEUS
Bring him hither； that when I see him face to face； who hath
denied having polluted my wife's honour； I may by words and heaven's
visitation convict him。
（The MESSENGER departs。）
CHORUS （singing）
Ah！ Cypris； thine the hand that guides the stubborn hearts of gods
and men； thine； and that attendant boy's； who； with painted plumage
gay； flutters round his victims on lightning wing。 O'er the land and
booming deep on golden pinion borne flits the god of Love； maddening
the heart and beguiling the senses of all whom he attacks； savage
whelps on mountains bred； ocean's monsters； creatures of this
sun…warmed earth； and man； thine； O Cypris； thine alone the
sovereign power to rule them all。
（ARTEMIS appears above。）
ARTEMIS （chanting）
Hearken； I bid thee； noble son of Aegeus： lo！ 'tis I； Latona's
child； that speak； I； Artemis。 Why； Theseus； to thy sorrow dost thou
rejoice at these tidings； seeing that thou hast slain thy son most
impiously； listening to a charge not clearly proved； but falsely sworn
to by thy wife？ though clearly has the curse therefrom upon thee
fallen。 Why dost thou not for very shame hide beneath the dark
places of the earth； or change thy human life and soar on wings to
escape this tribulation？ 'Mongst men of honour thou hast now no
share in life。
（She now speaks。）
Hearken； Theseus； I will put thy wretched case。 Yet will it naught
avail thee； if I do； but vex thy heart； still with this intent I came；
to show thy son's pure heart；…that he may die with honour；…as well the
frenzy and； in a sense； the nobleness of thy wife； for she was cruelly
stung with a passion for thy son by that goddess whom all we； that joy
in virgin purity； detest。 And though she strove to conquer love by
resolution； yet by no fault of hers she fell； thanks to her nurse's
strategy； who did reveal her malady unto thy son under oath。 But he
would none of her counsels； as indeed was right； nor yet； when thou
didst revile him； would he break the oath he swore； from piety。 She
meantime； fearful of being found out； wrote a lying letter； destroying
by guile thy son； but yet persuading thee。
THESEUS
Woe is me！
ARTEMIS
Doth my story wound thee； Theseus？ Be still awhile； hear what
follows； so wilt thou have more cause to groan。 Dost remember those
three prayers thy father granted thee； fraught with certain issue？
'Tis one of these thou hast misused； unnatural wretch； against thy
son； instead of aiming it at an enemy。 Thy sea…god sire； 'tis true；
for all his kind intent； hath granted that boon he was compelled； by
reason of his promise； to grant。 But thou alike in his eyes and in
mine hast shewn thy evil heart； in that thou hast forestalled all
proof or voice prophetic； hast made no inquiry； nor taken time for
consideration； but with undue haste cursed thy son even to the death。
THESEUS
Perdition seize me！ Queen revered！
ARTEMIS
An awful deed was thine； but still even for this thou mayest
obtain pardon； for it was Cypris that would have it so； sating the
fury of her soul。 For this is law amongst us gods； none of us will
thwart his neighbour's will； but ever we stand aloof。 For be well
assured； did I not fear Zeus； never would I have incurred the bitter
shame of handing over to death a man of all his kind to me most
dear。 As for thy sin； first thy ignorance absolves thee from its
villainy； next thy wife； who is dead； was lavish in her use of
convincing arguments to influence thy mind。 On thee in chief this
storm of woe hath burst； yet is it some grief to me as well； for
when the righteous die； there is no joy in heaven； albeit we try to
destroy the wicked； house and home。
CHORUS （chanting）
Lo！ where he comes； this hapless youth； his fair young flesh and
auburn locks most shamefully handled。 Unhappy house！ what two…fold
sorrow doth o'ertake its halls； through heaven's ordinance！
（HIPPOLYTUS enters； assisted by his attendants。）
HIPPOLYTUS （chanting）
Ah！ ah！ woe is me！ foully undone by an impious father's impious
imprecation！ Undone； undone！ woe is me！ Through my head dart fearful
pains； my brain throbs convulsively。 Stop； let me rest my worn…out
frame。 Oh； oh！ Accursed steeds； that mine own hand did feed； ye have
been my ruin and my death。 O by the gods； good sirs； beseech ye；
softly touch my wounded limbs。 Who stands there at my right side？ Lift
me tenderly； with slow and even step conduct a poor wretch cursed by
his mistaken sire。 Great Zeus； dost thou see this？ Me thy reverent
worshipper； me who left all men behind in purity； plunged thus into
yawning Hades 'neath the earth； reft of life； in vain the toils I have
endured through my piety towards mankind。 Ah me！ ah me！ O the thrill
of anguish shooting through me！ Set me down； poor wretch I am； come
Death to set me free！ Kill me； end my sufferings。 O for a sword
two…edged to hack my flesh； and close this mortal life！ Ill…fated
curse of my father！ the crimes of bloody kinsmen； ancestors of old；
now pass their boundaries and tarry not； and upon me are they come all
guiltless as I am； ah！ why？ Alas； alas！ what can I say？ How from my
life get rid of this relentless agony？ O that the stern Death…god；
night's black visitant； would give my sufferings rest！
ARTEMIS
Poor sufferer！ cruel the fate that links thee to it！ Thy noble
soul hath been thy ruin。
HIPPOLYTUS
Ah！ the fragrance from my goddess wafted！ Even in my agony I
feel thee near and find relief； she is here in this very place； my
goddess Artemis。
ARTEMIS
She is； poor sufferer！ the goddess thou hast loved the best。
HIPPOLYTUS
Dost see me； mistress mine？ dost see my present suffering？
ARTEMIS
I see thee； but mine eyes no tear may weep。
HIPPOLYTUS
Thou hast none now to lead the hunt or tend thy fane。
ARTEMIS
None now； yet e'en in death I love thee still。
HIPPOLYTUS
None to groom thy steeds； or guard thy shrines。
ARTEMIS
'Twas Cypris； mistress of iniquity； devised this evil。
HIPPOLYTUS
Ah me！ now know I the goddess who destroyed me。
ARTEMIS
She was jealous of her slighted honour； vexed at thy chaste life。
HIPPOLYTUS
Ah！ then I see her single hand hath struck down three of us。
ARTEMIS
Thy sire and thee； a
