Page:The Plays of Euripides Vol. 1- Edward P. Coleridge (1910).djvu/119

Rh. 'Tis the son of the horse-loving Amazon who calls, Hippolytus, uttering foul curses on my servant.

. I hear a noise, but cannot clearly tell which way it comes. Ah! 'tis through the door the sound reached thee.

. Yes, yes, he is calling her plainly enough a go-between in vice, traitress to her master's honour.

. Woe, woe is me! thou art betrayed, dear mistress! What counsel shall I give thee? thy secret is out; thou art utterly undone.

. Ah me! ah me!

. Betrayed by friends!

. She hath ruined me by speaking of my misfortune; 'twas kindly meant, but an ill way to cure my malady.

. O what wilt thou do now in thy cruel dilemma?

. I only know one way, one cure for these my woes, and that is instant death.

. O mother earth! O sun's unclouded orb! What words, unfit for any lips, have reached my ears!

. Peace, my son, lest some one hear thy outcry.

. I cannot hear such awful words and hold my peace.

. I do implore thee by thy fair right hand.

. Let go my hand, touch not my robe.

. O by thy knees I pray, destroy me not utterly.

. Why say this, if, as thou pretendest, thy lips are free from blame?

. My son, this is no story to be noised abroad.

. A virtuous tale grows fairer told to many.

. Never dishonour thy oath, thy son.

. My tongue an oath did take, but not my heart.

. My son, what wilt thou do? destroy thy friends?

. Friends indeed! the wicked are no friends of mine.

. O pardon me; to err is only human, child.

. Great Zeus, why didst thou, to man's sorrow, put woman, evil counterfeit, to dwell where shines the sun? If