HIPP OLYTU S
Nurse (within)
Quick! Someone bring a knife! 780
Help me cut the knot around her neck.
(The Chorus tdks among itself.)
First Woman
What shall we do, friends? Shall we cross the threshold,
and take the Queen from the grip of the tight-drawn
cords?
Second Woman
Why should we? There are servants enough within
for that. Where hands are overbusy,
there is no safety. 785
Nurse (within)
Lay her out straight, poor lady.
Bitter shall my lord find her housekeeping.
"Third Woman
From what I hear, the queen is dead.
They are already laying out the corpse.
SCENE IV
(Theseus enters.}
Theseus
Women, what is this crying in the house? . 790
I heard heavy wailing on the wind,
as it were servants, mourning. And my house
deigns me no kindly welcome, though I come
crowned with good luck from Delphi.
The doors are shut against me. Can it be
something has happened to my father. He is old. 795
His life has traveled a great journey,
but bitter would be his passing from our house.
'horns Leader
King, it is not the old who claim your sorrow.
Young is the dead and bitterly you'll grieve.
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