The Argument.
Hippolytvs, the Sonne of THESEVS & ANTIOPA Quene of the
Amazons, renouncing al Worldly pleasures,
and carnall delightes, lyued a Batcheler, forbearing all Womens company,
and amorous allurements: and only vowed himselfe to the seruice of chaste DIANA,
pursuing the Gentlemanly pastime of hunting. In the absence of THESEVS his Father, it
chaunced that his Stepmother PHÆDRA ardently enamored
with his beawty and lusty age, enueigled him by all
meanes shee coulde, to commit wyth her filthy, and monstruous
adultry. Whych her beastly, vnchaste, and vndutifull
practise, hee dutifully loathinge, shee turned hir former
loue into extreame hatred, and told her husband THESEVS
at his returne home, that his Sonne HIPPOLYTVS
woulde haue vnlawfully layne with her. THESEVS
belieuing his Wyues most vntrue accusation, meant to
haue put his sonne to death. HIPPOLYTVS vnderstāding
thereof, got vp into his Chariot and fled. THESEVS
being therewith tickeled, and after some pursuite, not ouertaking
him, went to his Father ÆGÆVS beeing a God of
the Sea, desiring him to graunt him three Wishes: the last
whereof was, the destruction and Death of HIPPOLYTVS:
wherevpon ÆGÆVS sent out certaine great Sea-monsters,
or Whirlepooles, which affrighting the Horses in
HIPPOLYTVS Charyot, made them to ouerturne the
Charyot, and to runne through thick and thinne till they had
dismēbred true HIPPOLYTVS in pieces. The remorse
of which villany so strake PHÆDRA in Conscience, that
with a Sword shee stabbed herselfe into the Entrailes, & died
vpon the body of HIPPOLYTVS.
