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[1419-1455] Hippolytus 799
a noble righteous soul. For I with mine own hand will with these unerring
shafts avenge me on another, 6 who is her votary, dearest to her of
all the sons of men. And to thee, poor sufferer, for thy anguish now will I
grant high honours in the city of Troezen; for thee shall maids unwed
before their marriage cut off their hair, thy harvest through the long
roll of time of countless bitter tears. Yea, and for ever shall the virgin
choir hymn thy sad memory, nor shall Phaedra's love for thee fall into
oblivion and pass away unnoticed. But thou, O son of old Aegeus, take
thy son in thine arms, draw him close to thee, for unwittingly thou slewest
him, and men may well commit an error when gods put it in their
way. And thee Hippolytus, I admonish; hate not thy sire, for in this
death thou dost but meet thy destined fate. And now farewell! 'tis not
for me to gaze upon the dead, or pollute my sight with death-scenes, and
e'en now I see thee nigh that evil.
(ARTEMIS vanishes.)
HIPPOLYTUS
Farewell, blest virgin queen! leave me now! Easily thou resignest our
long friendship! I am reconciled with my father at thy desire, yea, for
ever before I would obey thy bidding. Ah me! the darkness is settling
even now upon my eyes. Take me, father, in thy arms, lift me up.
THESEUS
Woe is me, my son! what art thou doing to me thy hapless sire!
HIPPOLYTUS
I am a broken man; yes, I see the gates that close upon the dead.
THESEUS
Canst leave me thus with murder on my soul!
HIPPOLYTUS
No, no; I set thee free from this bloodguiltiness.
THESEUS
What sayest thou? dost absolve me from bloodshed?
HIPPOLYTUS
Artemis, the archer-queen, is my witness that I do.
THESEUS
My own dear child, how generous dost thou show thyself to thy father I
HIPPOLYTUS
Farewell, dear father! a long farewell to thee!