Hippolytus

Perseus Greek · Perseus Greek · 516 sections

1162
In one brief word, Hippolytus is dead. ’Tis true one slender thread still links him to the light of life.
1164
Who slew him? Did some husband come to blows with him,
1165
one whose wife, like mine, had suffered brutal violence?
1166
He perished through those steeds that drew his chariot, and through the curses thou didst utter, praying to thy sire, the ocean-king, to slay thy son.
1169
Ye gods and king Poseidon, thou hast proved my parentage
1170
by hearkening to my prayer! Say how he perished; how fell the uplifted hand of Justice to smite the villain who dishonoured me?
1173
Hard by the wave-beat shore were we combing out his horses’ manes,
1175
weeping the while, for one had come to say that Hippolytus was harshly exiled by thee and nevermore would return to set foot in this land. Then came he, telling the same doleful tale to us upon the beach, and with him was a countless throng
1180
of friends who followed after. At length he stayed his lamentation and spake: Why weakly rave on this wise? My father’s commands must be obeyed. Ho! servants, harness my horses to the chariot; this is no longer now city of mine.
1185
Thereupon each one of us bestirred himself, and, ere a man could say ’twas done, we had the horses standing ready at our master’s side. Then he caught up the reins from the chariot-rail, first fitting his feet exactly in the hollows made for them.
1190
But first with outspread palms he called upon the gods, O Zeus, now strike me dead, if I have sinned, and let my father learn how he is wronging me, in death at least, if not in life.
1194
Therewith he seized the whip and lashed
1195
each horse in turn; while we, close by his chariot, near the reins, kept up with him along the road that leads direct to Argos and Epidaurus.
1198
And just as we were coming to a desert spot, a strip of sand beyond the borders of this country,
1200
sloping right to the Saronic gulf, there issued thence a deep rumbling sound, as it were an earthquake, a fearsome noise, and the horses reared their heads and pricked their ears, while we were filled with wild alarm
1205
to know whence came the sound; when, as we gazed toward the wave-beat shore, a wave tremendous we beheld towering to the skies, so that from our view the cliffs of Scirori vanished, for it hid the isthmus and the rock of Asclepius;
1210
then swelling and frothing with a crest of foam, the sea discharged it toward the beach where stood the harnessed car, and in the moment that it broke, that mighty wall of waters, there issued from the wave a monstrous bull,
1215
whose bellowing filled the land with fearsome echoes, a sight too awful as it seemed to us who witnessed it. A panic seized the horses there and then, but our master, to horses’ ways quite used,
1220
gripped in both hands his reins, and tying them to his body pulled them backward as the sailor pulls his oar; but the horses gnashed the forged bits between their teeth and bore him wildly on, regardless of their master’s guiding hand
1225
or rein or jointed car. And oft as he would take the guiding rein and steer for softer ground, showed that bull in front to turn him back again, maddening his team with terror;
1230
but if in their frantic career they ran towards the rocks, he would draw nigh the chariot-rail, keeping up with them, until, suddenly dashing the wheel against a stone, he upset and wrecked the car; then was dire confusion,
1235
axle-boxes and linchpins springing into the air. While he, poor youth, entangled in the reins was dragged along, bound by a stubborn knot, his poor head dashed against the rocks, his flesh all torn, the while he cried out piteously,
1240
Stay, stay, my horses whom my own hand hath fed at the manger, destroy me not utterly. O luckless curse of a father! Will no one come and save me for all my virtue?
1243
Now we, though much we longed to help, were left far behind. At last, I know not how, he broke loose
1245
from the shapely reins that bound him, a faint breath of life still in him; but the horses disappeared, and that portentous bull, among the rocky ground, I know not where.
1249
I am but a slave in thy house, ’tis true, O king,
1250
yet will I never believe so monstrous a charge against thy son’s character, no! not though the whole race of womankind should hang itself, or one should fill with writing every pine-tree tablet grown on Ida, sure as I am of his uprightness.
1255
Alas! new troubles come to plague us, nor is there any escape from fate and necessity.
1257
My hatred for him who hath thus suffered made me glad at thy tidings, yet from regard for the gods and him, because he is my son,
1260
I feel neither joy nor sorrow at his sufferings.
1261
But say, are we to bring the victim hither, or how are we to fulfil thy wishes? Bethink thee; if by me thou wilt be schooled, thou wilt not harshly treat thy son in his sad plight.
1265
Bring him hither, that when I see him face to face, who hath denied having polluted my wife’s honour, I may by words and heaven’s visitation convict him.
1268
Ah! Cypris, thine the hand that guides the stubborn hearts of gods and men; thine,
1270
and that attendant boy’s, who, with painted plumage gay, flutters round his victims on lightning wing. O’er the land and booming deep on golden pinion borne flits the god of Love,
1275
maddening the heart and beguiling the senses of all whom he attacks, savage whelps on mountains bred, ocean’s monsters, creatures of this sun-warmed earth,
1280
and man; thine, O Cypris, thine alone the sovereign power to rule them all.
1283
Hearken, I bid thee, noble son of Aegeus:
1285
lo! ’tis I Latona’s child, that speak, I, Artemis. Why, Theseus, to thy sorrow dost thou rejoice at these tidings, seeing that thou hast slain thy son most impiously, listening to a charge not clearly proved, but falsely sworn to by thy wife? though clearly has the curse therefrom upon thee fallen.
1290
Why dost thou not for very shame hide beneath the dark places of the earth, or change thy human life and soar on wings to escape this tribulation? ’Mongst men of honour thou hast
1295
now no share in life.
1296
Hearken, Theseus; I will put thy wretched case. Yet will it naught avail thee, if I do, but vex thy heart; still with this intent I came, to show thy son’s pure heart,—that he may die with honour,—
1300
as well the frenzy, and, in a sense, the nobleness of thy wife; for she was cruelly stung with a passion for thy son by that goddess whom all we, that joy in virgin purity, detest. And though she strove to conquer love by resolution,
1305
yet by no fault of hers she fell, thanks to her nurse’s strategy, who did reveal her malady unto thy son under oath. But he would none of her counsels, as indeed was right, nor yet, when thou didst revile him, would he break the oath he swore, from piety.
1310
She meantime, fearful of being found out, wrote a lying letter, destroying by guile thy son, but yet persuading thee.
1313
Woe is me!
1313a
Doth my story wound thee, Theseus? Be still awhile; hear what follows, so wilt thou have more cause to groan.
1315
Dost remember those three prayers thy father granted thee, fraught with certain issue? ’Tis one of these thou hast misused, unnatural wretch, against thy son, instead of aiming it at an enemy. Thy sea-god sire, ’tis true, for all his kind intent, hath granted that boon he was compelled, by reason of his promise, to grant.
1320
But thou alike in his eyes and in mine hast shewn thy evil heart, in that thou hast forestalled all proof or voice prophetic, hast made no inquiry, nor taken time for consideration, but with undue haste cursed thy son even to the death.
1325
Perdition seize me! Queen revered!
1325b
An awful deed was thine, but still even for this thou mayest obtain pardon; for it was Cypris that would have it so, sating the fury of her soul. For this is law amongst us gods; none of us will thwart
1330
his neighbour’s will, but ever we stand aloof. For be well assured, did I not fear Zeus, never would I have incurred the bitter shame of handing over to death a man of all his kind to me most dear. As for thy sin,
1335
first thy ignorance absolves thee from its villainy, next thy wife, who is dead, was lavish in her use of convincing arguments to influence thy mind.
1338
On thee in chief this storm of woe hath burst, yet is it some grief to me as well; for when the righteous die, there is no joy in heaven,
1340
albeit we try to destroy the wicked, house and home.
1342
Lo! where he comes, this hapless youth, his fair young flesh and auburn locks most shamefully handled. Unhappy house!
1345
what twofold sorrow doth o’ertake its halls, through heaven’s ordinance!
1347
Ah! ah! woe is me! foully undone by an impious father’s impious imprecation!
1350
Undone, undone! woe is me! Through my head shoot fearful pains; my brain throbs convulsively. Stop, let me rest my worn-out frame.Oh, oh!
1355
Accursed steeds, that mine own hand did feed, ye have been my ruin and my death. O by the gods, good sirs, I beseech ye, softly touch my wounded limbs.
1360
Who stands there at my right side? Lift me tenderly; with slow and even step conduct a poor wretch cursed by his mistaken sire. Great Zeus, dost thou see this? Me thy reverent worshipper,
1365
me who left all men behind in purity, plunged thus into yawning Hades ’neath the earth, reft of life; in vain the toils I have endured through my piety towards mankind.
1370
Ah me! ah me! O the thrill of anguish shooting through me! Set me down, poor wretch I am; come Death to set me free! Kill me, end my sufferings.
1375
O for a sword two-edged to hack my flesh, and close this mortal life! Ill-fated curse of my father! the crimes of bloody kinsmen. ancestors of old,
1380
now pass their boundaries and tarry not, and upon me are they come all guiltless as I am; ah! why? Alas, alas!
1385
what can I say? How from my life get rid of this relentless agony? O that the stern Death-god, night’s black visitant, would give my sufferings rest!
1389
Poor sufferer! cruel the fate that links thee to it!
1390
Thy noble soul hath been thy ruin.
1391
Ah! the fragrance from my goddess wafted! Even in my agony I feel thee near and find relief; she is here in this very place, my goddess Artemis.
1394
She is, poor sufferer! the goddess thou hast loved the best.
1395
Dost see me, mistress mine? dost see my present suffering?
1396
I see thee, but mine eyes no tear may weep.
1397
Thou hast none now to lead the hunt or tend thy fane.
1398
None now; yet e’en in death I love thee still.
1399
None to groom thy steeds, or guard thy shrines.
1400
Twas Cypris, mistress of iniquity, devised this evil.
1401
Ah me! now know I the goddess who destroyed me.
1402
She was jealous of her slighted honour, vexed at thy chaste life.
1403
Ah! then I see her single hand hath struck down three of us.
1404
Thy sire and thee, and last thy father’s wife.
1405
My sire’s ill-luck as well as mine I mourn.
1406
He was deceived by a goddess’s design.
1407
Woe is thee, my father, in this sad mischance!
1408
My son, I am a ruined man; life has no joys for me.
1409
For this mistake I mourn thee rather than myself.
1410
O that I had died for thee, my son!
1411
Ah! those fatal gifts thy sire Poseidon gave.
1412
Would God these lips had never uttered that prayer!
1413
Why not? thou wouldst in any case have slain me in thy fury then.
1414
Yes; Heaven had perverted my power to think.
1415
O that the race of men could bring a curse upon the gods!
1416
Enough! for though thou pass to gloom beneath the earth, the wrath of Cypris shall not, at her will, fall on thee unrequited, because thou hadst a noble righteous soul.
1420
For I with mine own hand will with these unerring shafts avenge me on another, 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;
1425
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,
1430
nor shall Phaedra’s love for thee fall into oblivion and pass away unnoticed.
1431
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.
1435
And thee Hippolytus, I admonish; hate not thy sire, for in this death thou dost but meet thy destined fate.
1437
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 moment. [Exit Artemis.
1440
Farewell, blest virgin queen! leave me now! How easily thou resignest our long friendship! I am reconciled with my father at thy desire, yea, for ever before I would obey thy bidding.
1444
Ah me! the darkness is settling even now upon my eyes.
1445
Take me, father, in thy arms, lift me up.

Perseus Greek. CTS URN tlg0006.tlg005.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: Available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source.