EURIPIDES
Shall I who cannot even hear such impurity,
and feel myself untouched, . . . shall I turn sinner? 655
Woman, know this. It is my piety saves you.
Had you not caught me off my guard and bound
my lips with an oath, by heaven I would not refrain
from telling this to my father.
Now I will go and leave this house until
Theseus returns from his foreign wanderings,
and 111 be silent. But 111 watch you close. 660
I'll walk with my father step by step and see
how you look at him, . . . you and your mistress both.
I have tasted of the daring of your infamy.
I'll know it for the future. Curses on you!
I'll hate you women, hate and hate and hate you,
and never have enough of hating. . . .
Some
say that I talk of this eternally, 665
yes, but eternal, too, is woman's wickedness.
Either let someone teach them to be chaste,
or suffer me to trample on them forever.
(Phaedra comes out from behind the door.
Exit Hippolytas.)
Phaedra
Bitter indeed is woman's destiny!
I have failed. What trick is there now, what cunning plea 670
to loose the knot around my neck?
I have had justice. O earth and the sunlight!
Where shall I escape from my fate?
How shall I hide my trouble?
What God or man would appear
to bear hand or part in my crime? 675
There is a limit to all suffering and I have reached it.
I am the unhappiest of women.
Chorus
Alas, mistress, all is over now 680
your servant's schemes have failed and you are ruined.
208