Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/195

Rh Nurse: He'll flee. Phaedra: Through Ocean's self I'll follow him. Nurse: Thy sire remember. Phaedra: And my mother too. Nurse: Women he hates. Phaedra: Then I'll no rival fear. Nurse: Thy husband comes. Phaedra: With him Pirithoüs! Nurse: Thy sire! Phaedra: To Ariadne he was kind. Nurse: O child, by these white locks of age, I pray, This care-filled heart, these breasts that suckled thee, Put off this rage; to thine own rescue come. The greater part of life is will to live. Phaedra: Shame has not wholly fled my noble soul. I yield: let love, which will not be controlled, Be conquered. Nor shalt thou, fair fame, be stained. This way alone is left, sole hope of woe: Theseus I'll follow, and by death shun sin. Nurse: Oh, check, my child, this wild, impetuous thought; Be calm. For now I think thee worthy life, Because thou hast condemned thyself to death. Phaedra: I am resolved to die, and only seek The mode of death. Shall I my spirit free By twisted rope, or fall upon the sword, Or shall I leap from yonder citadel? Nurse: Shall my old age permit thee thus to die Self-slain? Thy deadly, raging purpose stay. No one may easily come back to life. Phaedra: No argument can stay the will of one Who has resolved to die, and ought to die. Quick, let me arm myself in honor's cause. Nurse: Sole comfort of my weary age, my child, If such unruly passion sways thy heart, Away with reputation! 'Tis a thing Which rarely with reality agrees; It smiles upon the ill-deserving man, And from the good withholds his meed of praise. Let us make trial of that stubborn soul.