H IP POLYTU S
is proved most greedy in misforfyine's hour.
You should not hide your troubles from your friends,
and, father, those who are closer than your friends. 915
Theseus
What fools men are! You work and work for nothing,
you teach ten thousand tasks to one another,
invent, discover everything. One thing only
you do not know: one thing you never hunt for—
a way to teach fools wisdom. 920
Hippolytus
Clever indeed
would be the teacher able to compel
the stupid to be wise! This is no time
for such fine logic chopping.
I am afraid
your tongue runs wild through sorrow.
Theseus
If there were
some token now, some mark to make the division 925
clear between friend and friend, the true and the false!
All men should have two voices, one the just voice,
and one as chance would have it. In this way
the treacherous scheming voice would be confuted 930
by the just, and we should never be deceived.
Hippolytus
Some friend has poisoned your ear with slanderous tales.
Am I suspected, then, for all my innocence?
I am amazed. I am amazed to hear
your words. They are distraught. They go indeed
far wide of the markl 935
Theseus
The mind of man—how far will it advance?
Where will its daring impudence find limits?
219