Fourth Episode
(The Voice of the NURSE is heard from within, crying, at first inarticulately, then clearly.)
VOICE.Help ho! The Queen! Help, whoso hearkeneth!Help! Theseus' spouse caught in a noose of death!
A WOMAN.God, is it so soon finished? That bright headSwinging beneath the rafters! Phaedra dead!
VOICE.O haste! This knot about her throat is madeSo fast! Will no one bring me a swift blade?
A WOMAN.Say, friends, what think ye? Should we haste within,And from her own hand's knotting loose the Queen?
ANOTHER.Nay, are there not men there? 'Tis an ill roadIn life, to finger at another's load.
VOICE.Let it lie straight! Alas! the cold white thingThat guards his empty castle for the King!
A WOMAN.Ah! "Let it lie straight!" Heard ye what she said?No need for helpers now; the Queen is dead!(The Women, intent upon the voices from the Castle, have not noticed the approach of THESEUS. He enters from the left; his dress and the garland on his head show that he has returned from some oracle or special abode of a God. He stands for a moment perplexed.)
THESEUS.Ho, Women, and what means this loud acclaimWithin the house? The vassals' outcry cameTo smite mine ears far off. It were more meetTo fling out wide the Castle gates, and greetWith a joy held from God's Presence!(The confusion and horror of the Women's faces gradually affects him. A dirge-cry comes from the Castle.)
How?Not Pittheus? Hath Time struck that hoary brow?Old is he, old, I know. But sore it were,Returning thus, to find his empty chair!(The Women hesitate; then the Leader comes forward.)
LEADER.O Theseus, not on any old man's headThis stroke falls. Young and tender is the dead.
THESEUS.Ye Gods! One of my children torn from me?
LEADER.Thy motherless children live, most grievously.
THESEUS.How sayst thou? What? My wife? ...Say how she died.
LEADER.In a high death-knot that her own hands tied.
THESEUS.A fit of the old cold anguish? Tell me all--That held her? Or did some fresh thing befall?
LEADER.We know no more. But now arrived we be,Theseus, to mourn for thy calamity.(THESEUS stays for a moment silent, and puts his hand on his brow. He notices the wreath.)
THESEUS.What? And all garlanded I come to herWith flowers, most evil-starred God's-messenger!Ho, varlets, loose the portal bars; undoThe bolts; and let me see the bitter viewOf her whose death hath brought me to mine own.(The great central door of the Castle is thrown open wide, and the body of PHAEDRA is seen lying on a bier, surrounded by a group of Handmaids, wailing.)
THE HANDMAIDS.Ah me, what thou hast suffered and hast done:A deed to wrap this roof in flame!Why was thine hand so strong, thine heart so bold?Wherefore. O dead in anger, dead in shame,The long, long wrestling ere thy breath was cold?O ill-starred Wife,What brought this blackness over all thy life?(A throng of Men and Women has gradually collected.)
THESEUS.Ah me, this is the last--Hear, O my countrymen!--and bitterestOf Theseus' labours! Fortune all unblest,How hath thine heavy heel across me passed!Is it the stain of sins done long ago,Some fell God still remembereth,That must so dim and fret my life with death?I cannot win to shore; and the waves flowAbove mine eyes, to be surmounted not.Ah wife, sweet wife, what nameCan fit thine heavy lot?Gone like a wild bird, like a blowing flame,In one swift gust, where all things are forgot!Alas! this misery!Sure 'tis some stroke of God's great anger rolledFrom age to age on me,For some dire sin wrought by dim kings of old.
LEADER.Sire, this great grief hath come to many an one,A true wife lost. Thou art not all alone.
THESEUS.Deep, deep beneath the Earth,Dark may my dwelling be,And night my heart's one comrade, in the dearth,O Love, of thy most sweet society.This is my death, O Phaedra, more than thine.(He turns suddenly on the Attendants.)Speak who speak can! What was it? What malignSwift stroke, O heart discounselled, leapt on thee?(He bends over PHAEDRA; then, as no one speaks looks fiercely up.)What, will ye speak? Or are they dumb as death,This herd of thralls, my high house harboureth?(There is no answer. He bends again over PHAEDRA.)
SOME WOMEN.Woe, woe! God brings to birthA new grief here, close on the other's tread!My life hath lost its worth.May all go now with what is finishèd!The castle of my King is overthrown,A house no more, a house vanished and gone!
OTHER WOMEN.O God, if it may be in any way,Let not this house be wrecked! Help us who pray!I know not what is here: some unseen thingThat shows the Bird of Evil on the wing.(THESEUS has read the tablet and breaks out in uncontrollable emotion.)
THESEUS.Oh, horror piled on horror!--Here is writ...Nay, who could bear it, who could speak of it?
LEADER.What, O my King? If I may hear it, speak!
THESEUS.Doth not the tablet cry aloud, yea, shriek,Things not to be forgotten?--Oh, to flyAnd hide mine head! No more a man am I.God what ghastly music echoes here!
LEADER.How wild thy voice! Some terrible thing is near.
THESEUS.No; my lips' gates will hold it back no more;This deadly word,That struggles on the brink and will not o'er,Yet will not stay unheard.(He raises his hand, to make proclamation to all present.)Ho, hearken all this land!(The people gather expectantly about him.)Hippolytus by violence hath laid handOn this my wife, forgetting God's great eye.(Murmurs of amazement and horror; THESEUS, apparently calm, raises both arms to heaven.)Therefore, O Thou my Father, hear my cry,Poseidon! Thou didst grant me for mine ownThree prayers; for one of these, slay now my son,Hippolytus; let him not outlive this day,If true thy promise was! Lo, thus I pray.
LEADER.Oh, call that wild prayer back! O King, take heed!I know that thou wilt live to rue this deed.
THESEUS.It may not be.--And more, I cast him outFrom all my realms. He shall be held aboutBy two great dooms. Or by Poseidon's breathHe shall fall swiftly to the house of Death;Or wandering, outcast, o'er strange land and sea,Shall live and drain the cup of misery.
LEADER.Ah; see! here comes he at the point of need.Shake off that evil mood, O King; have heedFor all thine house and folk--Great Theseus, hear!(THESEUS stands silent in fierce gloom. HIPPOLYTUS comes in from the right.)
HIPPOLYTUS.Father, I heard thy cry, and sped in fearTo help thee, but I see not yet the causeThat racked thee so. Say, Father, what it was.(The murmurs in the crowd, the silent gloom of his Father, and the horror of the Chorus-women gradually work on HIPPOLYTUS and bewilder him. He catches sight of the bier.)Ah, what is that! Nay, Father, not the QueenDead!(Murmurs in the crowd.)'Tis most strange. 'Tis passing strange, I ween.'Twas here I left her. Scarce an hour hath runSince here she stood and looked on this same sun.What is it with her? Wherefore did she die?(THESEUS remains silent. The murmurs increase.)Father, to thee I speak. Oh, tell me, why,Why art thou silent? What doth silence knowOf skill to stem the bitter flood of woe?And human hearts in sorrow crave the more,For knowledge, though the knowledge grieve them sore.It is not love, to veil thy sorrows inFrom one most near to thee, and more than kin.
THESEUS (to himself).Fond race of men, so striving and so blind,Ten thousand arts and wisdoms can ye find,Desiring all and all imagining:But ne'er have reached nor understood one thing,To make a true heart there where no heart is!
HIPPOLYTUS.That were indeed beyond man's mysteries,To make a false heart true against his will.But why this subtle talk? It likes me ill,Father; thy speech runs wild beneath this blow.
THESEUS (as before).O would that God had given us here belowSome test of love, some sifting of the soul,To tell the false and true! Or through the wholeOf men two voices ran, one true and right,The other as chance willed it; that we mightConvict the liar by the true man's tone,And not live duped forever, every one!
HIPPOLYTUS (misunderstanding him; then guessing at something of the truth).What? Hath some friend proved false?Or in thine earWhispered some slander? Stand I tainted here,Though utterly innocent?(Murmurs from the crowd.)Yea, dazed am I;'Tis thy words daze me, falling all awry,Away from reason, by fell fancies vexed!
THESEUS.O heart of man, what height wilt venture next?What end comes to thy daring and thy crime?For if with each man's life 'twill higher climb,And every age break out in blood and liesBeyond its fathers, must not God deviseSome new world far from ours, to hold thereinSuch brood of all unfaithfulness and sin?Look, all, upon this man, my son, his lifeSprung forth from mine! He hath defiled my wife;And standeth here convicted by the dead,A most black villain!(HIPPOLYTUS falls back with a cry and covers his face with his robe.)Nay, hide not thine head!Pollution, is it? Thee it will not stain.Look up, and face thy Father's eyes again!Thou friend of Gods, of all mankind elect;Thou the pure heart, by thoughts of ill unflecked!I care not for thy boasts. I am not mad,To deem that Gods love best the base and bad.Now is thy day! Now vaunt thee; thou so pure,No flesh of life may pass thy lips! Now lureFools after thee; call Orpheus King and Lord;Make ecstasies and wonders! Thumb thine hoardOf ancient scrolls and ghostly mysteries--Now thou art caught and known!Shun men like these,I charge ye all! With solemn words they chasetheir prey, and in their hearts plot foul disgrace.My wife is dead.--"Ha, so that saves thee now,"That is what grips thee worst, thou caitiff, thou!What oaths, what subtle words, shall stronger beThan this dead hand, to clear the guilt from thee?"She hated thee," thou sayest; "the bastard bornIs ever sore and bitter as a thornTo the true brood."--A sorry bargainerIn the ills and goods of life thou makest her,If all her best-beloved she cast awayTo wreck blind hate on thee!--What, wilt thou say"Through every woman's nature one blind strandOf passion winds, that men scarce understand?"--Are we so different? Know I not the fireAnd perilous flood of a young man's desire,Desperate as any woman, and as blind,When Cypris stings? Save that the man behindHas all men's strength to aid him. Nay, 'twas thou...But what avail to wrangle with thee now,When the dead speaks for all to understand,A perfect witness!Hie thee from this landTo exile with all speed. Come never moreTo god-built Athens, not to the utmost shoreOf any realm where Theseus' arm is strong!What? Shall I bow my head beneath this wrong,And cower to thee? Not Isthmian Sinis soWill bear men witness that I laid him low,Nor Skiron's rocks, that share the salt sea's prey,Grant that my hand hath weight vile things to slay!
LEADER.Alas! whom shall I call of mortal menHappy? The highest are cast down again.
HIPPOLYTUS.Father, the hot strained fury of thy heartIs terrible. Yet, albeit so swift thou artOf speech, if all this matter were laid bare,Speech were not then so swift; nay, nor so fair...(Murmurs again in the crowd.)I have no skill before a crowd to tellMy thoughts. 'Twere best with few, that know me well.--Nay that is natural; tongues that sound but rudeIn wise men's ears, speak to the multitudeWith music.None the less, since there is comeThis stroke upon me, I must not be dumb,But speak perforce... And there will I beginWhere thou beganst, as though to strip my sinNaked, and I not speak a word!Dost seeThis sunlight and this earth? I swear to theeThere dwelleth not in these one man--denyAll that thou wilt!--more pure of sin than I.Two things I know on earth: God's worship first;Next to win friends about me, few, that thirstTo hold them clean of all unrighteousness.Our rule doth curse the tempters, and no lessWho yieldeth to the tempters.--How, thou say'st,"Dupes that I jest at?" Nay; I make a jestOf no man. I am honest to the end,Near or far off, with him I call my friend.And most in that one thing, where now thy meshWould grip me, stainless quite! No woman's fleshHath e'er this body touched. Of all such deedNaught wot I, save what things a man may readIn pictures or hear spoke; nor am I fain,Being virgin-souled, to read or hear again.My life of innocence moves thee not; so be it.Show then what hath seduced me; let me see it.Was that poor flesh so passing fair, beyondAll woman's loveliness?Was I some fondFalse plotter, that I schemed to win through herThy castle's heirdom? Fond indeed I were!Nay, a stark madman! "But a crown," thou sayest,"Usurped, is sweet." Nay, rather most unblestTo all wise-hearted; sweet to fools and themWhose eyes are blinded by the diadem.In contests of all valour fain would ILead Hellas; but in rank and majestyNot lead, but be at ease, with good men nearTo love me, free to work and not to fear.That brings more joy than any crown or throne.(He sees from the demeanor of THESEUS and of the crowd that his words are not winning them, but rather making them bitterer than before. It comes to his lips to speak the whole truth.)I have said my say; save one thing...one aloneO had I here some witness in my need,As I was witness! Could she hear me plead,Face me and face the sunlight; well I know,Our deeds would search us out for thee, and showWho lies!But now, I swear--so hear me both,The Earth beneath and Zeus who Guards the Oath--I never touched this woman that was thine!No words could win me to it, nor inclineMy heart to dream it. May God strike me down,Nameless and fameless, without home or town,An outcast and a wanderer of the world;May my dead bones rest never, but be hurledFrom sea to land, from land to angry sea,If evil is my heart and false to thee!(He waits a moment; but sees that his Father is unmoved. The truth again comes to his lips.)If 'twas some fear that made her cast awayHer life ... I know not. More I must not say.Right hath she done when in her was no right;And Right I follow to mine own despite!
LEADER.It is enough! God's name is witness large,And thy great oath, to assoil thee of this charge,
THESEUS.Is not the man a juggler and a mage,Cool wits and one right oath--what more?--to assuageSin and the wrath of injured fatherhood!
HIPPOLYTUS.Am I so cool? Nay, Father, 'tis thy moodThat makes me marvel! By my faith, wert thouThe son, and I the sire; and deemed I nowIn very truth thou hadst my wife assailed,I had not exiled thee, nor stood and railed,But lifted once mine arm, and struck thee dead!
THESEUS.Thou gentle judge! Thou shalt not so be spedTo simple death, nor by thine own decree.Swift death is bliss to men in misery.Far off, friendless forever, thou shalt drainAmid strange cities the last dregs of pain!
HIPPOLYTUS.Wilt verily cast me now beyond thy pale,Not wait for Time, the lifter of the veil?
THESEUS.Aye, if I could, past Pontus, and the redAtlantic marge! So do I hate thine head.
HIPPOLYTUS.Wilt weigh nor oath nor faith nor prophet's wordTo prove me? Drive me from thy sight unheard?
THESEUS.This tablet here, that needs no prophet's lotTo speak from, tells me all. I ponder notThy fowls that fly above us! Let them fly.
HIPPOLYTUS.O ye great Gods, wherefore unlock not IMy lips, ere yet ye have slain me utterly,Ye whom I love most? No. It may not be!The one heart that I need I ne'er should gainTo trust me. I should break mine oath in vain.
THESEUS.Death! but he chokes me with his saintly tone!--Up, get thee from this land! Begone! Begone!
HIPPOLYTUS.Where shall I turn me? Think. To what friend's doorBetake me, banished on a charge so sore?
THESEUS.Whoso delights to welcome to his hallVile ravishers ... to guard his hearth withal!
HIPPOLYTUS.Thou seekst my heart, my tears? Aye, let it beThus! I am vile to all men, and to thee!
THESEUS.There was a time for tears and thought; the timeEre thou didst up and gird thee to thy crime.
HIPPOLYTUS.Ye stones, will ye not speak? Ye castle walls!Bear witness if I be so vile, so false!
THESEUS.Aye, fly to voiceless witnesses! Yet hereA dumb deed speaks against thee, and speaks clear!
HIPPOLYTUS.Alas!Would I could stand and watch this thing, and seeMy face, and weep for very pity of me!
THESEUS.Full of thyself, as ever! Not a thoughtFor them that gave thee birth; nay, they are naught!
HIPPOLYTUS.O my wronged Mother! O my birth of shame!May none I love e'er bear a bastard's name!
THESEUS (in a sudden blaze of rage).Up, thralls, and drag him from my presence! What,'Tis but a foreign felon! Heard ye not?(The thralls still hesitate in spite of his fury.)
HIPPOLYTUS.They touch me at their peril! Thine own handLift, if thou canst, to drive me from the land.
THESEUS.That will I straight, unless my will be done!(HIPPOLYTUS comes close to him and kneels.)Nay! Not for thee my pity! Get thee gone!(HIPPOLYTUS rises, makes a sign of submission, and slowly moves away. THESEUS, as soon as he sees him going, turns rapidly and enters the Castle. The door is closed again. HIPPOLYTUS has stopped for a moment before the Statue of ARTEMIS, and, as THESEUS departs, breaks out in prayer.)
HIPPOLYTUS.So; it is done! O dark and miserable!I see it all, but see not how to tellThe tale.--O thou belovèd, Leto's Maid,Chase-comrade, fellow-rester in the glade,Lo, I am driven with a caitiff's brandForth from great Athens! Fare ye well, O landAnd city of old Erechtheus! Thou, Trozên,What riches of glad youth mine eyes have seenIn thy broad plain! Farewell! This is the end;The last word, the last look!Come, every friendAnd fellow of my youth that still may stay,Give me god-speed and cheer me on my way.Ne'er shall ye see a man more pure of spotThan me, though mine own Father loves me not!(HIPPOLYTUS goes away to the right, followed by many Huntsmen and other young men. The rest of the crowd has by this time dispersed, except the Women of the Chorus and some Men of the Chorus of Huntsmen.)
Words in this poem 71
- inarticulately adv.
- In an inarticulate manner. Hammond.
- whoso pron.
- Whosoever. Piers Plowman.
- spouse v. t.
- To wed; to espouse. [See Espouse, and Spouse, n.]
- oracle v. i.
- To utter oracles.
- abode n.
- Act of waiting; delay. [OE. abad, abood, fr. abiden to abide. See Abide. For the change of vowel, cf. abode, imp. of abide.]
- acclaim v. i.
- To shout applause.
- hoary a.
- White or whitish."The hoary willows."
- motherless a.
- Destitute of a mother; having lost a mother; as, motherless children. [AS. modorleás.]
- bier n.
- A handbarrow or portable frame on which a corpse is placed or borne to the grave. [OE. bæe, beere, AS. b, b; akin to D. baar, OHG. bara, G. bahre, Icel barar, Dbaare, L. feretrum, Gr. , from the same bear to produce. See 1st Bear, and cf. Barr]
- hast
- , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
- wherefore adv.
- For which reason; so; -- used relatively. [Where + for.]
- unblest a.
- Not blest; excluded from benediction; hence, accursed; wretched. [Pref. un- not + blessed, blest.]
- dire a.
- Ill-boding; portentous; as, dire omens. [L. dirus; of uncertain origin.]
- sire n.
- A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
- dearth n.
- Scarcity which renders dear; want; lack; specifically, lack of food on account of failure of crops; famine. [OE. derthe, fr. dere. See Dear.]
- unseen a.
- Not seen or discovered.
- piled a.
- Having a pile or point; pointed. [From 2d Pile.]
- aloud adv.
- With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly. [Pref. a- + loud.]
- brink n.
- The edge, margin, or border of a steep place, as of a precipice; a bank or edge, as of a river or pit; a verge; a border; as, the brink of a chasm. Also Fig. [Dan. brink edge, verge; akin to Sw. brink declivity, hill, Icel. brekka; cf. LG. brink a grassy hill, W. bryn hill, bryncyn hillock.]
- unheard a.
- Not heard; not perceived by the ear; as, words unheard by those present.
- amazement n.
- The condition of being amazed; bewilderment ; overwhelming wonder, as from surprise, sudden fear, horror, or admiration.
- apparently adv.
- Visibly. Hobbes.
- didst
- , the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.
- outlive v. t.
- To live beyond, or longer than; to survive.
- shall v. i.
- To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
- outcast a.
- Cast out; degraded. [Cf. Sw. utkasta to cast out.]
- folk n.
- In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe. [AS. folc; akin to D. volk, OS. & OHG. folk, G. volk, Icel. f, Sw. & Dan. folk, Lith. pulkas crowd, and perh. to E. follow.]
- ween v. i.
- To think; to imagine; to fancy. [OE. wenen, AS. w, fr. w hope, expectation, opinion; akin to D. waan, OFries. w, OS. & OHG. wan, G. wahn delusion, Icel. van hope, expectation, Goth. w, and D. w]
- scarce a.
- Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
- crave v. t.
- To ask with earnestness or importunity; to ask with submission or humility; to beg; to entreat; to beseech; to implore. [AS. crafian; akin to Icel. krefia, Sw. kr, Dan. kr.]
- liar n.
- A person who knowingly utters falsehood; one who lies. [OE. liere. See Lie to falsify.]
- misunderstanding n.
- Mistake of the meaning; error; misconception.
- daze v. t.
- To stupefy with excess of light; with a blow, with cold, or with fear; to confuse; to benumb. [OE. dasen, prob. from Icel. dasask to become weary, a reflexive verb; cf. Sw. dasa to lie idle, and OD. daesen to be foolish, insane, daes, dwaes, D. dwaas, foo]
- deem v. t.
- To decide; to judge; to sentence; to condemn. [OE. demen to judge, condemn, AS. d, fr. d doom; akin to OFries. d, OS. ad, D. doemen, OHG. tuommen, Icel. dæma, Sw. dömma, Dan. dömme, Goth. d. See Doom, n., an]
- orpheus n.
- The famous mythic Thracian poet, son of the Muse Calliope, and husband of Eurydice. He is reputed to have had power to entrance beasts and inanimate objects by the music of his lyre.
- ghostly a.
- Relating to the soul; not carnal or secular; spiritual; as, a ghostly confessor. [OE. gastlich, gostlich, AS. gastlic. See Ghost.]
- caitiff a.
- Captive; wretched; unfortunate. [OE. caitif, cheitif, captive, miserable, OF. caitif, chaitif, captive, mean, wretched, F. chétif, fr. L. captivus captive, fr. capere to take, akin to E. heave.]
- bargainer n.
- One who makes a bargain; -- sometimes in the sense of bargainor.
- desperate a.
- Without hope; given to despair; hopeless. [L. desperatus, p. p. of desperare. See Despair, and cf. Desperado.]
- cypris n.
- A genus of small, bivalve, freshwater Crustacea, belonging to the Ostracoda; also, a member of this genus. [L. Cypris, the Cyprian goddess Venus, Gr. Cyprian.]
- albeit conj.
- Even though; although; notwithstanding. [OE. al be although it be, where al is our all. Cf. Although.]
- perforce v. t.
- To force; to compel.
- jest n.
- A deed; an action; a gest. [OE. jeste, geste, deed, action, story, tale, OF. geste, LL. gesta, orig., exploits, neut. pl. from L. gestus, p. p. of gerere to bear, carry, accomplish, perfor]
- mesh n.
- The opening or space inclosed by the threads of a net between knot and knot, or the threads inclosing such a space; network; a net. [AS. masc, max, m; akin to D. maas, masche, OHG. masca, Icel. möskvi; cf. Lith. mazgas a knot, megsti to weave nets, to knot.]
- stainless a.
- Free from stain; immaculate.
- spoke n.
- The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly. [OE. spoke, spake, AS, spaca; akin to D. speek, LG. speke, OHG. speihha, G. speiche. sq. root170. Cf. Spike a nail.]
- fain v. t.
- To be glad ; to wish or desire.
- loveliness n.
- The state or quality of being lovely. [From Lovely.]
- plotter n.
- One who plots or schemes; a contriver; a conspirator; a schemer.
- heirdom n.
- The state of an heir; succession by inheritance. Burke.
- stark adv.
- Wholly; entirely; absolutely; quite; as, stark mind.
- demeanor n.
- Management; treatment; conduct. [For demeanure, fr. demean. See Demean, v. t.]
- nameless a.
- Without a name; not having been given a name; as, a nameless star.
- fameless a.
- Without fame or renown.
- angry a.
- Troublesome; vexatious; rigorous. [See Anger.]
- unmoved a.
- Not moved; fixed; firm; unshaken; calm; apathetic.
- assoil v. t.
- To set free; to release. [OF. assoiler, absoiler, assoldre, F. absoudre, L. absolvere. See Absolve.]
- mage n.
- A magician. Spenser. [F. mage. See Magi.]
- fatherhood n.
- The state of being a father; the character or authority of a father; paternity.
- shalt
- 2d per. sing. of Shall.
- friendless a.
- Destitute of friends; forsaken. [AS. freóndleás.]
- amid prep.
- In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
- lifter n.
- One who, or that which, lifts.
- marge n.
- Border; margin; edge; verge. [F. marge. See Margin.]
- needs adv.
- Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and equivalent to of need. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. - wards.]
- unlock v. t.
- To unfasten, as what is locked; as, to unlock a door or a chest. [Cf. AS. unl. See 1st Un-, and Lock, v. t.]
- saintly a.
- Like a saint; becoming a holy person.
- betake v. t.
- To take or seize. [Pref. be- + take.]
- withal adv.
- With this; with that. [With + all.]
- voiceless a.
- Having no voice, utterance, or vote; silent; mute; dumb.
- glade n.
- An open passage through a wood; a grassy open or cleared space in a forest. [Prob. of Scand. origin, and akin to glad, a.; cf. also W. golead, goleuad, a lighting, illumination, fr. goleu light, clear, bright, goleu fwlch glade, lit., a ]
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
Fourth Episode is in the public domain. This text is taken from Hippolytus of Euripides, translated into English rhyming verse by Gilbert Murray (Harvard Classics reprint), Project Gutenberg ebook #8418, the Gilbert Murray translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: Euripides, Fourth Episode, in Hippolytus (1902), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #8418, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/euripides-hippolytus/fourth-episode.html, id L28793.
Form and metre
Fourth Episode is 440 lines in 63 stanzas. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 84%).
See other poems in iambic pentameter.
Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.
Rhyme words, stanza by stanza
The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.
- 2 -AA voice · hearkenethA · deathA
- 3 -AA woman · headA · deadA
- 4 -AA voice · madeA · bladeA
- 5 AAA womanA · withinA · queenA
- 6 -AA another · roadA · loadA
- 7 -AA voice · thingA · kingA
- 8 -AA- woman · saidA · deadA · perplexed
- 9 -AABB-- theseus · acclaimA · cameA · meetB · greetB · presence · castle
- 10 AA--- howA · browA · were · chair · forward
- 11 -AA leader · headA · deadA
- 16 -AA theseus · allA · befallA
- 18 ---AA-- theseus · her · messenger · undoA · viewA · own · wailing
- 19 --ABABCC- handmaids · done · flameA · boldB · shameA · coldB · wifeC · lifeC · collected
- 20 -AAAABCCBDEDED-F-F theseus · lastA · bitterestA · unblestA · passedA · agoB · rememberethC · deathC · flowB · notD · nameE · lotD · flameE · forgotD · misery · rolledF · me · oldF
- 22 -ABA-C-CB-DD- theseus · earthA · beB · dearthA · society · thineC · attendants · malignC · theeB · up · deathD · harbourethD · phaedra
- 23 -A-A--- women · birthA · tread · worthA · finishèd · overthrown · gone
- 24 -AABB- women · wayA · prayA · thingB · wingB · emotion
- 25 -AA theseus · writA · itA
- 27 --AA- theseus · shriek · flyA · iA · here
- 29 --A-A-B-BCDCDDEE theseus · more · wordA · o'er · unheardA · present · landB · him · handB · eyeC · heavenD · cryC · ownD · sonD · dayE · prayE
- 30 -AA leader · heedA · deedA
- 31 -AABB-- theseus · outA · aboutA · breathB · deathB · sea · misery
- 32 -AA-- leader · needA · heedA · hear · right
- 33 -ABBAC--CDDE-EFFGGHH hippolytus · fearA · causeB · wasB · bierA · queenC · dead · crowd · weenC · runD · sunD · dieE · increase · whyE · knowF · woeF · moreG · soreG · inH · kinH
- 34 -AABB- himself · blindA · findA · imaginingB · thingB · is
- 35 --AA- hippolytus · mysteries · willA · illA · blow
- 36 --AABB-- before · below · soulA · wholeA · rightB · mightB · tone · one
- 37 --AA--BB- truth · false · earA · hereA · innocent · crowd · iB · awryB · vexed
- 38 --AABBCCDDEC-ECCFFGGHHIIJ-JKKLLMMNN--OOPPQQRRSST-TUUVVWWXX theseus · next · crimeA · climbA · liesB · deviseB · thereinC · sinC · lifeD · wifeD · deadE · villainC · robe · headE · stainC · againC · electF · unfleckedF · madG · badG · pureH · lureH · lordI · hoardI · mysteriesJ · known · theseJ · chaseK · disgraceK · nowL · thouL · beM · theeM · bornN · thornN · bargainer · her · awayO · sayO · strandP · understandP · fireQ · desireQ · blindR · behindR · thouS · nowS · understandT · witness · landT · moreU · shoreU · strongV · wrongV · soW · lowW · preyX · slayX
- 39 -AA leader · menA · againA
- 40 -AABB-CCDD-EEFF-GGGGHHIIHHJJKK------L-LMM--NN--OOP-PQQRR-SSTTUUVVWW-XXYY hippolytus · heartA · artA · bareB · fairB · crowd · tellC · wellC · rudeD · multitudeD · music · comeE · dumbE · beginF · sinF · word · seeG · theeG · denyG · iG · firstH · thirstH · unrighteousnessI · lessI · say'stH · jestH · endJ · friendJ · meshK · fleshK · deed · read · fain · again · it · it · beyondL · loveliness · fondL · herM · wereM · sayest · unblest · themN · diademN · i · majesty · nearO · fearO · throneP · truth · aloneP · needQ · pleadQ · knowR · showR · lies · bothS · oathS · thineT · inclineT · downU · townU · worldV · hurledV · seaW · theeW · lips · awayX · sayX · rightY · despiteY
- 41 -AA leader · largeA · chargeA
- 43 --AABB- hippolytus · mood · thouA · nowA · assailedB · railedB · dead
- 44 ----AA theseus · sped · decree · misery · drainA · painA
- 45 -AA hippolytus · paleA · veilA
- 46 -AA theseus · redA · headA
- 47 -AA hippolytus · wordA · unheardA
- 48 -AA- theseus · lotA · notA · fly
- 49 -A-ABB hippolytus · iA · utterly · beA · gainB · vainB
- 51 -AA hippolytus · doorA · soreA
- 52 -AA theseus · hallA · withalA
- 53 -AA hippolytus · beA · theeA
- 54 -AA theseus · timeA · crimeA
- 56 -AA theseus · hereA · clearA
- 57 AABB hippolytusA · alasA · seeB · meB
- 58 -AA theseus · thoughtA · naughtA
- 59 -AA hippolytus · shameA · nameA
- 61 -AA hippolytus · handA · landA
- 63 -AABBCC--D-DEEFF- hippolytus · miserableA · tellA · maidB · gladeB · brandC · landC · trozên · seen · endD · look · friendD · stayE · wayE · spotF · notF · huntsmen
Scansion, line by line
Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| (The Voice of the NURSE is heard from within, crying, at first inarticulately, then clearly.) | 24 | ··········/˘··········/˘ |
| VOICE. | 1 | · |
| Help ho! The Queen! Help, whoso hearkeneth! | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Help! Theseus' spouse caught in a noose of death! | 10 | ·········· |
| A WOMAN. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| God, is it so soon finished? That bright head | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Swinging beneath the rafters! Phaedra dead! | 10 | /˘···/˘··· |
| VOICE. | 1 | · |
| O haste! This knot about her throat is made | 10 | ·········· |
| So fast! Will no one bring me a swift blade? | 10 | ·········· |
| A WOMAN. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| Say, friends, what think ye? Should we haste within, | 10 | ·········· |
| And from her own hand's knotting loose the Queen? | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| ANOTHER. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Nay, are there not men there? 'Tis an ill road | 10 | ·········· |
| In life, to finger at another's load. | 10 | ···/˘·˘/˘· |
| VOICE. | 1 | · |
| Let it lie straight! Alas! the cold white thing | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| That guards his empty castle for the King! | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| A WOMAN. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| Ah! "Let it lie straight!" Heard ye what she said? | 10 | ·········· |
| No need for helpers now; the Queen is dead! | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| (The Women, intent upon the voices from the Castle, have not noticed the approach of THESEUS. He enters from the left; his dress and the garland on his head show that he has returned from some oracle or special abode of a God. He stands for a moment perplexed.) | 65 | ·/˘˘/···/˘··/˘··/˘·˘/····/˘·······/˘·······˘/··/˘·/˘˘/·······/˘˘/ |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Ho, Women, and what means this loud acclaim | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| Within the house? The vassals' outcry came | 10 | ·····/˘/·· |
| To smite mine ears far off. It were more meet | 10 | ·········· |
| To fling out wide the Castle gates, and greet | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| With a joy held from God's Presence! | 8 | ······/˘ |
| (The confusion and horror of the Women's faces gradually affects him. A dirge-cry comes from the Castle.) | 26 | ·˘/˘·/˘··/˘/˘/˘˘/·······/˘ |
| How? | 1 | · |
| Not Pittheus? Hath Time struck that hoary brow? | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Old is he, old, I know. But sore it were, | 10 | ·········· |
| Returning thus, to find his empty chair! | 10 | ˘/˘····/˘· |
| (The Women hesitate; then the Leader comes forward.) | 13 | ·/˘/˘···/˘·/˘ |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| O Theseus, not on any old man's head | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| This stroke falls. Young and tender is the dead. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Ye Gods! One of my children torn from me? | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Thy motherless children live, most grievously. | 11 | ·/˘˘/˘··/˘˘ |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| How sayst thou? What? My wife? ... | 6 | ······ |
| Say how she died. | 4 | ···· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| In a high death-knot that her own hands tied. | 10 | ·········· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| A fit of the old cold anguish? Tell me all-- | 11 | ······/˘··· |
| That held her? Or did some fresh thing befall? | 10 | ········˘/ |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| We know no more. But now arrived we be, | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| Theseus, to mourn for thy calamity. | 10 | ······˘/˘˘ |
| (THESEUS stays for a moment silent, and puts his hand on his brow. He notices the wreath.) | 21 | ·····/˘/˘········/˘·· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| What? And all garlanded I come to her | 10 | ···/˘˘···· |
| With flowers, most evil-starred God's-messenger! | 11 | ·/˘·/˘··/˘˘ |
| Ho, varlets, loose the portal bars; undo | 10 | ·····/˘·˘/ |
| The bolts; and let me see the bitter view | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Of her whose death hath brought me to mine own. | 10 | ·········· |
| (The great central door of the Castle is thrown open wide, and the body of PHAEDRA is seen lying on a bier, surrounded by a group of Handmaids, wailing.) | 39 | ··/˘···/˘··/˘···/˘·····/˘···˘/˘······/˘ |
| THE HANDMAIDS. | 3 | ··· |
| Ah me, what thou hast suffered and hast done: | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| A deed to wrap this roof in flame! | 8 | ········ |
| Why was thine hand so strong, thine heart so bold? | 10 | ·········· |
| Wherefore. O dead in anger, dead in shame, | 10 | /˘···/˘··· |
| The long, long wrestling ere thy breath was cold? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| O ill-starred Wife, | 4 | ···· |
| What brought this blackness over all thy life? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| (A throng of Men and Women has gradually collected.) | 13 | ·····/˘·/˘˘/˘ |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Ah me, this is the last | 6 | ······ |
| --Hear, O my countrymen!--and bitterest | 10 | ···/˘˘·/˘˘ |
| Of Theseus' labours! Fortune all unblest, | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| How hath thine heavy heel across me passed! | 10 | ···/˘·˘/·· |
| Is it the stain of sins done long ago, | 10 | ········˘/ |
| Some fell God still remembereth, | 8 | ····˘/˘˘ |
| That must so dim and fret my life with death? | 10 | ·········· |
| I cannot win to shore; and the waves flow | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Above mine eyes, to be surmounted not. | 10 | ······˘/˘· |
| Ah wife, sweet wife, what name | 6 | ······ |
| Can fit thine heavy lot? | 6 | ···/˘· |
| Gone like a wild bird, like a blowing flame, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| In one swift gust, where all things are forgot! | 10 | ········˘/ |
| Alas! this misery! | 6 | ˘/·/˘˘ |
| Sure 'tis some stroke of God's great anger rolled | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| From age to age on me, | 6 | ······ |
| For some dire sin wrought by dim kings of old. | 10 | ·········· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Sire, this great grief hath come to many an one, | 10 | /······/·· |
| A true wife lost. Thou art not all alone. | 10 | ········˘/ |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Deep, deep beneath the Earth, | 6 | ······ |
| Dark may my dwelling be, | 6 | ···/˘· |
| And night my heart's one comrade, in the dearth, | 10 | ·····/···· |
| O Love, of thy most sweet society. | 10 | ······˘/˘˘ |
| This is my death, O Phaedra, more than thine. | 10 | ·········· |
| (He turns suddenly on the Attendants.) | 10 | ··/˘˘··˘/˘ |
| Speak who speak can! What was it? What malign | 10 | ········˘/ |
| Swift stroke, O heart discounselled, leapt on thee? | 10 | ·········· |
| (He bends over PHAEDRA; then, as no one speaks looks fiercely up.) | 14 | ···········/˘· |
| What, will ye speak? Or are they dumb as death, | 10 | ·········· |
| This herd of thralls, my high house harboureth? | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| (There is no answer. He bends again over PHAEDRA.) | 12 | ···/˘··˘/··· |
| SOME WOMEN. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| Woe, woe! God brings to birth | 6 | ······ |
| A new grief here, close on the other's tread! | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| My life hath lost its worth. | 6 | ······ |
| May all go now with what is finishèd! | 9 | ········· |
| The castle of my King is overthrown, | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| A house no more, a house vanished and gone! | 10 | ······/˘·· |
| OTHER WOMEN. | 4 | /˘/˘ |
| O God, if it may be in any way, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Let not this house be wrecked! Help us who pray! | 10 | ·········· |
| I know not what is here: some unseen thing | 10 | ·······˘/· |
| That shows the Bird of Evil on the wing. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| (THESEUS has read the tablet and breaks out in uncontrollable emotion.) | 18 | ·····/˘·····˘/˘/˘˘ |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Oh, horror piled on horror!--Here is writ... | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| Nay, who could bear it, who could speak of it? | 10 | ·········· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| What, O my King? If I may hear it, speak! | 10 | ·········· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Doth not the tablet cry aloud, yea, shriek, | 10 | ···/˘·˘/·· |
| Things not to be forgotten?--Oh, to fly | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| And hide mine head! No more a man am I. | 10 | ·········· |
| God what ghastly music echoes here! | 9 | ··/˘/˘/˘· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| How wild thy voice! Some terrible thing is near. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| No; my lips' gates will hold it back no more; | 10 | ·········· |
| This deadly word, | 4 | ·/˘· |
| That struggles on the brink and will not o'er, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Yet will not stay unheard. | 6 | ····˘/ |
| (He raises his hand, to make proclamation to all present.) | 15 | ·/˘·····˘/˘··/˘ |
| Ho, hearken all this land! | 6 | ·/˘··· |
| (The people gather expectantly about him.) | 12 | ·/˘/˘······· |
| Hippolytus by violence hath laid hand | 10 | ˘/˘·/˘˘··· |
| On this my wife, forgetting God's great eye. | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| (Murmurs of amazement and horror; THESEUS, apparently calm, raises both arms to heaven.) | 21 | /˘·˘/˘·/˘··˘/˘·/˘···/ |
| Therefore, O Thou my Father, hear my cry, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Poseidon! Thou didst grant me for mine own | 10 | ˘/˘······· |
| Three prayers; for one of these, slay now my son, | 10 | ·········· |
| Hippolytus; let him not outlive this day, | 10 | ˘/˘····/·· |
| If true thy promise was! Lo, thus I pray. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Oh, call that wild prayer back! O King, take heed! | 10 | ·········· |
| I know that thou wilt live to rue this deed. | 10 | ·········· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| It may not be.--And more, I cast him out | 10 | ·········· |
| From all my realms. He shall be held about | 10 | ·········· |
| By two great dooms. Or by Poseidon's breath | 10 | ······˘/˘· |
| He shall fall swiftly to the house of Death; | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Or wandering, outcast, o'er strange land and sea, | 10 | ·/˘/······ |
| Shall live and drain the cup of misery. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Ah; see! here comes he at the point of need. | 10 | ·········· |
| Shake off that evil mood, O King; have heed | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| For all thine house and folk--Great Theseus, hear! | 10 | ·········· |
| (THESEUS stands silent in fierce gloom. HIPPOLYTUS comes in from the right.) | 16 | ···/˘···˘/˘····· |
| HIPPOLYTUS. | 4 | ˘/˘˘ |
| Father, I heard thy cry, and sped in fear | 10 | /˘········ |
| To help thee, but I see not yet the cause | 10 | ·········· |
| That racked thee so. Say, Father, what it was. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| (The murmurs in the crowd, the silent gloom of his Father, and the horror of the Chorus-women gradually work on HIPPOLYTUS and bewilder him. He catches sight of the bier.) | 43 | ·/˘····/˘···/˘··/˘··/˘/˘/˘··˘/˘·˘/˘··/˘···· |
| Ah, what is that! Nay, Father, not the Queen | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Dead! | 1 | · |
| (Murmurs in the crowd.) | 5 | /˘··· |
| 'Tis most strange. 'Tis passing strange, I ween. | 9 | ····/˘··· |
| 'Twas here I left her. Scarce an hour hath run | 10 | ·······/·· |
| Since here she stood and looked on this same sun. | 10 | ·········· |
| What is it with her? Wherefore did she die? | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| (THESEUS remains silent. The murmurs increase.) | 11 | ··˘//˘·/˘/· |
| Father, to thee I speak. Oh, tell me, why, | 10 | /˘········ |
| Why art thou silent? What doth silence know | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Of skill to stem the bitter flood of woe? | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| And human hearts in sorrow crave the more, | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| For knowledge, though the knowledge grieve them sore. | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| It is not love, to veil thy sorrows in | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| From one most near to thee, and more than kin. | 10 | ·········· |
| THESEUS (to himself). | 5 | ···˘/ |
| Fond race of men, so striving and so blind, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Ten thousand arts and wisdoms can ye find, | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| Desiring all and all imagining: | 11 | ˘/˘˘···˘/˘˘ |
| But ne'er have reached nor understood one thing, | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| To make a true heart there where no heart is! | 10 | ·········· |
| HIPPOLYTUS. | 4 | ˘/˘˘ |
| That were indeed beyond man's mysteries, | 10 | ··˘/···/˘˘ |
| To make a false heart true against his will. | 10 | ·········· |
| But why this subtle talk? It likes me ill, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Father; thy speech runs wild beneath this blow. | 10 | /˘········ |
| THESEUS (as before). | 5 | ····· |
| O would that God had given us here below | 10 | ·····/···· |
| Some test of love, some sifting of the soul, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| To tell the false and true! Or through the whole | 10 | ·········· |
| Of men two voices ran, one true and right, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| The other as chance willed it; that we might | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Convict the liar by the true man's tone, | 10 | ˘/·/˘····· |
| And not live duped forever, every one! | 10 | ····˘/˘/˘· |
| HIPPOLYTUS (misunderstanding him; then guessing at something of the truth). | 17 | ˘/˘·˘/˘··/˘·/˘··· |
| What? Hath some friend proved false? | 6 | ······ |
| Or in thine ear | 4 | ···· |
| Whispered some slander? Stand I tainted here, | 10 | /˘·/˘··/˘· |
| Though utterly innocent? | 7 | ·/˘˘/˘˘ |
| (Murmurs from the crowd.) | 5 | /˘··· |
| Yea, dazed am I; | 4 | ···· |
| 'Tis thy words daze me, falling all awry, | 10 | ·····/˘·˘/ |
| Away from reason, by fell fancies vexed! | 10 | ˘/·/˘··/˘· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| O heart of man, what height wilt venture next? | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| What end comes to thy daring and thy crime? | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| For if with each man's life 'twill higher climb, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And every age break out in blood and lies | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Beyond its fathers, must not God devise | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| Some new world far from ours, to hold therein | 10 | ·····/···· |
| Such brood of all unfaithfulness and sin? | 10 | ·········· |
| Look, all, upon this man, my son, his life | 10 | ·········· |
| Sprung forth from mine! He hath defiled my wife; | 10 | ·········· |
| And standeth here convicted by the dead, | 10 | ·/˘·˘/˘··· |
| A most black villain! | 5 | ···/˘ |
| (HIPPOLYTUS falls back with a cry and covers his face with his robe.) | 16 | ˘/˘······/˘····· |
| Nay, hide not thine head! | 5 | ····· |
| Pollution, is it? Thee it will not stain. | 10 | ˘/˘······· |
| Look up, and face thy Father's eyes again! | 10 | ·····/˘·˘/ |
| Thou friend of Gods, of all mankind elect; | 10 | ······//˘/ |
| Thou the pure heart, by thoughts of ill unflecked! | 10 | ·········· |
| I care not for thy boasts. I am not mad, | 10 | ·········· |
| To deem that Gods love best the base and bad. | 10 | ·········· |
| Now is thy day! Now vaunt thee; thou so pure, | 10 | ·········· |
| No flesh of life may pass thy lips! Now lure | 10 | ·········· |
| Fools after thee; call Orpheus King and Lord; | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Make ecstasies and wonders! Thumb thine hoard | 10 | ·/˘˘·/˘··· |
| Of ancient scrolls and ghostly mysteries-- | 10 | ·/˘··/˘/˘˘ |
| Now thou art caught and known! | 6 | ······ |
| Shun men like these, | 4 | ···· |
| I charge ye all! With solemn words they chase | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| their prey, and in their hearts plot foul disgrace. | 10 | ········˘/ |
| My wife is dead.--"Ha, so that saves thee now," | 10 | ·········· |
| That is what grips thee worst, thou caitiff, thou! | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| What oaths, what subtle words, shall stronger be | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Than this dead hand, to clear the guilt from thee? | 10 | ·········· |
| "She hated thee," thou sayest; "the bastard born | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| Is ever sore and bitter as a thorn | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| To the true brood."--A sorry bargainer | 10 | ·····/˘/˘˘ |
| In the ills and goods of life thou makest her, | 11 | ··········· |
| If all her best-beloved she cast away | 10 | ····˘/··˘/ |
| To wreck blind hate on thee!--What, wilt thou say | 10 | ·········· |
| "Through every woman's nature one blind strand | 10 | ·/˘/˘/˘··· |
| Of passion winds, that men scarce understand?"-- | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| Are we so different? Know I not the fire | 10 | ···/˘····/ |
| And perilous flood of a young man's desire, | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| Desperate as any woman, and as blind, | 10 | /˘·/˘/˘··· |
| When Cypris stings? Save that the man behind | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Has all men's strength to aid him. Nay, 'twas thou... | 10 | ·········· |
| But what avail to wrangle with thee now, | 10 | ··˘/·/˘··· |
| When the dead speaks for all to understand, | 10 | ········˘/ |
| A perfect witness! | 5 | ·/·/˘ |
| Hie thee from this land | 5 | ····· |
| To exile with all speed. Come never more | 10 | ·/·····/˘· |
| To god-built Athens, not to the utmost shore | 11 | ···/˘···/·· |
| Of any realm where Theseus' arm is strong! | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| What? Shall I bow my head beneath this wrong, | 10 | ·········· |
| And cower to thee? Not Isthmian Sinis so | 11 | ·/···/˘˘··· |
| Will bear men witness that I laid him low, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Nor Skiron's rocks, that share the salt sea's prey, | 10 | ·········· |
| Grant that my hand hath weight vile things to slay! | 10 | ·········· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Alas! whom shall I call of mortal men | 10 | ˘/·····/˘· |
| Happy? The highest are cast down again. | 10 | /˘·/˘···˘/ |
| HIPPOLYTUS. | 4 | ˘/˘˘ |
| Father, the hot strained fury of thy heart | 10 | /˘···/˘··· |
| Is terrible. Yet, albeit so swift thou art | 11 | ·/˘·˘/˘···· |
| Of speech, if all this matter were laid bare, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Speech were not then so swift; nay, nor so fair... | 10 | ·········· |
| (Murmurs again in the crowd.) | 7 | /˘˘/··· |
| I have no skill before a crowd to tell | 10 | ·········· |
| My thoughts. 'Twere best with few, that know me well.-- | 10 | ·········· |
| Nay that is natural; tongues that sound but rude | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| In wise men's ears, speak to the multitude | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| With music. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| None the less, since there is come | 7 | ······· |
| This stroke upon me, I must not be dumb, | 10 | ·········· |
| But speak perforce... And there will I begin | 10 | ··˘/····˘/ |
| Where thou beganst, as though to strip my sin | 10 | ·········· |
| Naked, and I not speak a word! | 9 | /˘˘······ |
| Dost see | 2 | ·· |
| This sunlight and this earth? I swear to thee | 10 | ·/········ |
| There dwelleth not in these one man--deny | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| All that thou wilt!--more pure of sin than I. | 10 | ·········· |
| Two things I know on earth: God's worship first; | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Next to win friends about me, few, that thirst | 10 | ·········· |
| To hold them clean of all unrighteousness. | 10 | ·········· |
| Our rule doth curse the tempters, and no less | 10 | /········· |
| Who yieldeth to the tempters.--How, thou say'st, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| "Dupes that I jest at?" Nay; I make a jest | 10 | ·········· |
| Of no man. I am honest to the end, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Near or far off, with him I call my friend. | 10 | ·········· |
| And most in that one thing, where now thy mesh | 10 | ·········· |
| Would grip me, stainless quite! No woman's flesh | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Hath e'er this body touched. Of all such deed | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Naught wot I, save what things a man may read | 10 | ·········· |
| In pictures or hear spoke; nor am I fain, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Being virgin-souled, to read or hear again. | 10 | //˘·····˘/ |
| My life of innocence moves thee not; so be it. | 11 | ···/˘······ |
| Show then what hath seduced me; let me see it. | 11 | ····˘/····· |
| Was that poor flesh so passing fair, beyond | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| All woman's loveliness? | 6 | ·/˘/˘˘ |
| Was I some fond | 4 | ···· |
| False plotter, that I schemed to win through her | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Thy castle's heirdom? Fond indeed I were! | 10 | ·/˘/˘·˘/·· |
| Nay, a stark madman! "But a crown," thou sayest, | 10 | ···/······ |
| "Usurped, is sweet." Nay, rather most unblest | 10 | ·/···/˘··· |
| To all wise-hearted; sweet to fools and them | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Whose eyes are blinded by the diadem. | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| In contests of all valour fain would I | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| Lead Hellas; but in rank and majesty | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| Not lead, but be at ease, with good men near | 10 | ·········· |
| To love me, free to work and not to fear. | 10 | ·········· |
| That brings more joy than any crown or throne. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| (He sees from the demeanor of THESEUS and of the crowd that his words are not winning them, but rather making them bitterer than before. It comes to his lips to speak the whole truth.) | 44 | ····˘/˘············/˘··/˘/˘················· |
| I have said my say; save one thing...one alone | 11 | ·········˘/ |
| O had I here some witness in my need, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| As I was witness! Could she hear me plead, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Face me and face the sunlight; well I know, | 10 | ·····/···· |
| Our deeds would search us out for thee, and show | 10 | /········· |
| Who lies! | 2 | ·· |
| But now, I swear--so hear me both, | 8 | ········ |
| The Earth beneath and Zeus who Guards the Oath-- | 10 | ·········· |
| I never touched this woman that was thine! | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| No words could win me to it, nor incline | 10 | ········˘/ |
| My heart to dream it. May God strike me down, | 10 | ·········· |
| Nameless and fameless, without home or town, | 10 | /˘·/˘····· |
| An outcast and a wanderer of the world; | 10 | ·/···/˘··· |
| May my dead bones rest never, but be hurled | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| From sea to land, from land to angry sea, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| If evil is my heart and false to thee! | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| (He waits a moment; but sees that his Father is unmoved. The truth again comes to his lips.) | 22 | ···/˘····/˘·˘/··˘/···· |
| If 'twas some fear that made her cast away | 10 | ········˘/ |
| Her life ... I know not. More I must not say. | 10 | ·········· |
| Right hath she done when in her was no right; | 10 | ·········· |
| And Right I follow to mine own despite! | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| It is enough! God's name is witness large, | 10 | ··˘/···/˘· |
| And thy great oath, to assoil thee of this charge, | 11 | ·····˘/···· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Is not the man a juggler and a mage, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Cool wits and one right oath--what more?--to assuage | 11 | ·········˘/ |
| Sin and the wrath of injured fatherhood! | 10 | ·····/˘/˘· |
| HIPPOLYTUS. | 4 | ˘/˘˘ |
| Am I so cool? Nay, Father, 'tis thy mood | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| That makes me marvel! By my faith, wert thou | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| The son, and I the sire; and deemed I now | 10 | ·····/···· |
| In very truth thou hadst my wife assailed, | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| I had not exiled thee, nor stood and railed, | 10 | ···/······ |
| But lifted once mine arm, and struck thee dead! | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Thou gentle judge! Thou shalt not so be sped | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| To simple death, nor by thine own decree. | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| Swift death is bliss to men in misery. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| Far off, friendless forever, thou shalt drain | 10 | ··/˘˘/˘··· |
| Amid strange cities the last dregs of pain! | 10 | ˘/·/˘····· |
| HIPPOLYTUS. | 4 | ˘/˘˘ |
| Wilt verily cast me now beyond thy pale, | 11 | ·/˘˘······· |
| Not wait for Time, the lifter of the veil? | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Aye, if I could, past Pontus, and the red | 10 | ·········· |
| Atlantic marge! So do I hate thine head. | 10 | ˘/˘······· |
| HIPPOLYTUS. | 4 | ˘/˘˘ |
| Wilt weigh nor oath nor faith nor prophet's word | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| To prove me? Drive me from thy sight unheard? | 10 | ········˘/ |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| This tablet here, that needs no prophet's lot | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| To speak from, tells me all. I ponder not | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Thy fowls that fly above us! Let them fly. | 10 | ·········· |
| HIPPOLYTUS. | 4 | ˘/˘˘ |
| O ye great Gods, wherefore unlock not I | 10 | ····/˘˘/·· |
| My lips, ere yet ye have slain me utterly, | 11 | ········/˘˘ |
| Ye whom I love most? No. It may not be! | 10 | ·········· |
| The one heart that I need I ne'er should gain | 10 | ·········· |
| To trust me. I should break mine oath in vain. | 10 | ·········· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Death! but he chokes me with his saintly tone!-- | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Up, get thee from this land! Begone! Begone! | 10 | ······˘/˘/ |
| HIPPOLYTUS. | 4 | ˘/˘˘ |
| Where shall I turn me? Think. To what friend's door | 10 | ·········· |
| Betake me, banished on a charge so sore? | 10 | ˘/·/˘····· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Whoso delights to welcome to his hall | 10 | /˘˘/·/˘··· |
| Vile ravishers ... to guard his hearth withal! | 10 | ········˘/ |
| HIPPOLYTUS. | 4 | ˘/˘˘ |
| Thou seekst my heart, my tears? Aye, let it be | 10 | ·········· |
| Thus! I am vile to all men, and to thee! | 10 | ·········· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| There was a time for tears and thought; the time | 10 | ·········· |
| Ere thou didst up and gird thee to thy crime. | 10 | ·········· |
| HIPPOLYTUS. | 4 | ˘/˘˘ |
| Ye stones, will ye not speak? Ye castle walls! | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Bear witness if I be so vile, so false! | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| THESEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Aye, fly to voiceless witnesses! Yet here | 10 | ···/˘/˘˘·· |
The first 400 of 440 lines; the reader marks them all.
The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.