to his father, His exile which your earnest pray'rs obtain'd. PHAEDRA What! Would you have me slander innocence? OENONE My zeal has need of naught from you but silence. Like you I tremble, and am loath to do it; More willingly I'd face a thousand deaths, But since without this bitter remedy I lose you, and to me your life outweighs All else, I'll speak. Theseus, howe'er enraged Will do no worse than banish him again. A father, when he punishes, remains A father, and his ire is satisfied With a light sentence. But if guiltless blood Should flow, is not your honour of more moment? A treasure far too precious to be risk'd? You must submit, whatever it dictates; For, when our reputation is at stake, All must be sacrificed, conscience itself. But someone comes. 'Tis Theseus. PHAEDRA And I see Hippolytus, my ruin plainly written In his stern eyes. Do what you will; I trust My fate to you. I cannot help myself.
SCENE IV THESEUS, HIPPOLYTUS, PHAEDRA, OENONE, THERAMENES
THESEUS Fortune no longer fights against my wishes, Madam, and to your arms restores— PHAEDRA Stay, Theseus! Do not profane endearments that were once So sweet, but which I am unworthy now To taste. You have been wrong'd. Fortune has proved Spiteful, nor in your absence spared your wife. I am unfit to meet your fond caress, How I may bear my shame my only care Henceforth.
Scene V THESEUS, HIPPOLYTUS, THERAMENES
THESEUS Strange welcome for your father, this! What does it mean, my son? HIPPOLYTUS Phaedra alone Can solve this mystery. But if my wish Can move you, let me never see her more; Suffer Hippolytus to disappear For ever from the home that holds your wife. THESEUS You, my son! Leave me? HIPPOLYTUS 'Twas not I who sought her: 'Twas you who led her footsteps to these shores. At your departure you thought meet, my lord, To trust Aricia and the Queen to this Troezenian land, and I myself was charged With their protection. But what cares henceforth Need keep me here? My youth of idleness
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