hippolytus-第2节
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sorrow for her grievous fate is to her bed confined？
epode
Yea； and oft o'er woman's wayward nature settles a feeling of
miserable helplessness； arising from pains of child…birth or of
passionate desire。 I； too； have felt at times this sharp thrill
shoot through me； but I would cry to Artemis； queen of archery； who
comes from heaven to aid us in our travail； and thanks to heaven's
grace she ever comes at my call with welcome help。 Look！ where the
aged nurse is bringing her forth from the house before the door； while
on her brow the cloud of gloom is deepening。 My soul longs to learn
what is her grief； the canker that is wasting our queen's fading
charms。
（PHAEDRA is led out and placed upon a couch by the NURSE and
attendants。 The following lines between the NURSE and PHAEDRA are
chanted。）
NURSE
O； the ills of mortal men！ the cruel diseases they endure！ What
can I do for thee？ from what refrain？ Here is the bright sunlight；
here the azure sky； lo！ we have brought thee on thy bed of sickness
without the palace； for all thy talk was of coming hither； but soon
back to thy chamber wilt thou hurry。 Disappointment follows fast
with thee； thou hast no joy in aught for long； the present has no
power to please； on something absent next thy heart is set。 Better
be sick than tend the sick； the first is but a single ill； the last
unites mental grief with manual toil。 Man's whole life is full of
anguish； no respite from his woes he finds； but if there is aught to
love beyond this life； night's dark pall doth wrap it round。 And so we
show our mad love of this life because its light is shed on earth； and
because we know no other； and have naught revealed to us of all our
earth may hide； and trusting to fables we drift at random。
PHAEDRA （wildly）
Lift my body； raise my head！ My limbs are all unstrung； kind
friends。 O handmaids； lift my arms； my shapely arms。 The tire on my
head is too heavy for me to wear； away with it； and let my tresses
o'er my shoulders fall。
Be of good heart； dear child； toss not so wildly to and fro。 Lie
still； be brave； so wilt thou find thy sickness easier to bear；
suffering for mortals is nature's iron law。
PHAEDRA
Ah！ would I could draw a draught of water pure from some dew…fed
spring； and lay me down to rest in the grassy meadow 'neath the
poplar's shade！
NURSE
My child； what wild speech is this？ O say not such things in
public； wild whirling words of frenzy bred！
PHAEDRA
Away to the mountain take me！ to the wood； to the pine…trees
will go； where hounds pursue the prey； hard on the scent of dappled
fawns。 Ye gods！ what joy to hark them on； to grasp the barbed dart； to
poise Thessalian hunting…spears close to my golden hair； then let them
fly。
NURSE
Why； why； my child； these anxious cares？ What hast thou to do with
the chase？ Why so eager for the flowing spring； when hard by these
towers stands a hill well watered； whence thou may'st freely draw？
PHAEDRA
O Artemis； who watchest o'er sea…beat Limna and the race…course
thundering to the horse's hoofs； would I were upon thy plains
curbing Venetian steeds！
NURSE
Why betray thy frenzy in these wild whirling words？ Now thou
wert for hasting hence to the hills away to hunt wild beasts； and
now thy yearning is to drive the steed over the waveless sands。 This
needs a cunning seer to say what god it is that reins thee from the
course； distracting thy senses； child。
PHAEDRA （more sanely）
Ah me！ alas！ what have I done？ Whither have I strayed； my senses
leaving？ Mad； mad！ stricken by some demon's curse！ Woe is me！ Cover my
head again； nurse。 Shame fills me for the words I have spoken。 Hide me
then； from my eyes the tear…drops stream； and for very shame I turn
them away。 'Tis painful coming to one's senses again； and madness；
evil though it be； has this advantage； that one has no knowledge of
reason's overthrow。
NURSE
There then I cover thee； but when will death hide my body in the
grave？ Many a lesson length of days is teaching me。 Yea； mortal men
should pledge themselves to moderate friendships only； not to such
as reach the very heart's core； affection's ties should be light
upon them to let them slip or draw them tight。 For one poor heart to
grieve for twain； as I do for my mistress； is a burden sore to bear。
Men say that too engrossing pursuits in life more oft cause
disappointment than pleasure； and too oft are foes to health。
Wherefore do not praise excess so much as moderation； and with me wise
men will agree。
（PHAEDRA lies back upon the couch。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS （speaking）
O aged dame； faithful nurse of Phaedra； our queen； we see her
sorry plight； but what it is that ails her we cannot discern； so
fain would learn of thee and hear thy opinion。
NURSE
I question her； but am no wiser； for she will not answer。
LEADER
Nor tell what source these sorrows have？
NURSE
The same answer thou must take； for she is dumb on every point。
LEADER
How weak and wasted is her body！
NURSE
What marvel？ 'tis three days now since she has tasted food。
LEADER
Is this infatuation； or an attempt to die？
NURSE
'Tis death she courts； such fasting aims at ending life。
LEADER
A strange story if it satisfies her husband。
NURSE
She hides from him her sorrow； and vows she is not ill。
LEADER
Can he not guess it from her face？
NURSE
He is not now in his own country。
LEADER
But dost not thou insist in thy endeavour to find out her
complaint； her mind？
NURSE
I have tried every plan； and all in vain； yet not even now will
I relax my zeal； that thou too； if thou stayest； mayst witness my
devotion to my unhappy mistress。 Come； come； my darling child； let
us forget； the twain of us； our former words； be thou more mild；
smoothing that sullen brow and changing the current of thy thought；
and I； if in aught before failed in humouring thee； will let that be
and find some better course。 If thou art sick with ills thou canst not
name； there be women here to help to set thee right； but if thy
trouble can to men's ears be divulged； speak； that physicians may
pronounce on it。 Come； then； why so dumb？ Thou shouldst not so remain；
my child； but scold me if I speak amiss； or； if I give good counsel；
yield assent。 One word； one look this way！ Ah me！ Friends； we waste
our toil to no purpose； we are as far away as ever； she would not
relent to my arguments then； nor is she yielding now。 Well； grow
more stubborn than the sea； yet be assured of this； that if thou diest
thou art a traitress to thy children； for they will ne'er inherit
their father's halls； nay； by that knightly queen the Amazon who
bore a son to lord it over thine； a bastard born but not a bastard
bred； whom well thou knowest； e'en Hippolytus…
（At the mention of his name PHAEDRA'S attention is suddenly caught。）
PHAEDRA
Oh！ oh！
NURSE
Ha！ doth that touch the quick？
PHAEDRA
Thou hast undone me； nurse； I do adjure by the gods； mention
that man no more。
NURSE
There now！ thou art thyself again； but e'en yet refusest to aid
thy children and preserve thy life。
PHAEDRA
My babes I love； but there is another storm that buffets me。
NURSE
Daughter； are thy hands from bloodshed pure？
PHAEDRA
My hands are pure； but on my soul there rests a stain。
NURSE
The issue of some enemy's secret witchery？
PHAEDRA
A friend is my destroyer； one unwilling as myself。
NURSE
Hath Theseus wronged thee in any wise？
PHAEDRA
Never may I prove untrue to himl
NURSE
Then what strange mystery is there that drives thee on to die？
PHAEDRA
O； let my sin and me alone； 'tis not 'gainst thee I sin。
NURSE
Never willingly！ and； if I fail； 'twill rest at thy door。
PHAEDRA
How now？ thou usest force in clinging to my hand。
NURSE
Yea； and I will never loose my hold upon thy knees。
PHAEDRA
Alas for thee！ my sorrows； shouldst thou learn them； would
recoil on thee。
NURSE
What keener grief for me than failing to win thee？
PHAEDRA
'Twill be death to thee； though to me that brings renown。
NURSE
And dost thou then conceal this boon despite my prayers？
PHAEDRA
I do； for 'tis out of shame I am planning an honourable escape。
NURSE
Tell it； and thine honour shall the brighter shine。
PHAEDRA
Away； I do conjure thee； loose my hand。
NURSE
I will not； for the boon thou shouldst have granted me is denied。
PHAEDRA
I will grant it out of reverence for thy holy suppliant touch。
NURSE
Henceforth I hold my peace； 'tis thine to speak from now。
PHAEDRA
Ah！ hapless mother；
