University of Virginia Library

Act II.

Scene I.

Enter CHORUS and NURSE.
CHORUS.
O speak, dear Nurse, what News? where is the Queen?
Is no Abatement of her Passion seen?

Nur.

PHÆDRA
lying on a Couch.
Maids, take those Richer Garments from my Eye;
Hence with those Robes that shine with Tyrian Dye;
And Vests of Silk by Eastern Seres wrought
On Boughs of Trees, from Lands far distant brought.
A shorter Zone my tuckt up Garments bind,
No Carcanet my Neck, nor Pearls of Inde
Adorn my charged Ears; No Odors spread
Or rich Assyrian Perfumes on my Head.
So 'bout my Neck let my loose Hairs hang down
In careless order, and my Shoulders crown;
That as I run they with the Wind may play:
My Left-hand shall my shogging Quiver stay,
My Right shall brandish a Thessalian Spear,
Such my stern Love's fair Mother did appear,
When she, forsaking the cold Pontick Strands,
With Tanaitick and Mæotick Bands,
Made Cavalcado's o'er the Attick Lands.
A crescent Shield flanking her tender side,
Her Hair now loose, in knotted Curls now ty'd.
Drest in this manner to the Woods I'll fly.

Nur.
Cease these sad Plaints; “Grief cures not Misery.

Phæ.
Can ought my cruel Griefs or ease, or end!

Nur.
Let's pray the Virgin Huntress would befriend.

[Exit Phædra.
Manet Nurse, who, on the behalf of Phædra, offers Supplications and Sacrifice to Diana or Hecate.
NURSE.
Hail the Woods Queen! the only Deitie
Honour'st the Hills, which only honour thee;
These sad and threatning Omens of her Heart,
Great Goddess of the Groves! to good convert.
Bright Lamp of Heav'n! thou Ornament of Night!
That chear'st the World with thy alternate Light.
Three-formed Hecate! O be inclin'd
T'our Pray'rs! and bow Hippolytus stern Mind.
To love now let him learn, and be inflam'd
With mutual Fires; be his fierce Heart reclaim'd,
And stoop to Venus Laws; to this wish'd End,
Adored Goddess! all thy Pow'rs intend.
So shine thy Looks with Lustre ever bright,
And break through the obscuring Clouds by Night
With Silver Horns. So Charms thee never force
To leave thy Sphere, nor interupt thy Course.
So never Shepherd boast thee for his Prize.
Come, O invok'd! and this our Sacrifice
Accept. Behold the Goddess does assent.
[Enter Hippolytus.
I see him, with religious Intent,
His sacred Rites performing all alone.
What doubt'st? see Fortune Time and Place hath shown.
Now to our Arts.—What? do we trembling stand?
“'Tis hard to execute an ill Command.
“Who Royal Mandates serve yet, must lay by
“All Sense of Just and Honest: Modesty
“Is an ill Agent for a Prince's Ends.

Hip.
Kind Nurse, why com'st thou with a Look portends
Sadness and Care? I hope no News o'th'King,
Queen, or my Brothers, that is bad, you bring.

Nur.
Remit these Fears: thy Father's Court and State
Flourish at present with a Prosp'rous Fate.
Would'st thou for happier Fortune be inclin'd;
The Care of thee afflicts my aged Mind,
Who to thy self art rigorously unkind.
Whom Fates have made so, may live wretched; those
Who uncompell'd themselves to Ills expose,
And their own Tort'rers prove, deserve to lose
Those Joys, like Fools, they know not how to use.
Thy Years remembring, give thy Mind the rein,
And in the solemn Feasts, with sportive vein,
Brandish thy Torch: drown all thy Cares in Wine,
And, while thou may'st, enjoy this Life of thine,
Which quickly flies away. An am'rous Breast,
And gentle Venus suit a Young-man best.
Cheer up! why ly'st thou all alone a Nights?
This Sadness quit, and revel in Delights.
Let not thy Youth thus Perish in its Prime;
God hath a Duty set for every Time,
And does our Life through its Degrees extend,
And to our Age proportions a fit End.
Mirth is the Ornament of youthful Years,
Sad Looks and Gravity become Grey Hairs.
Why dost thy pregnant Genius thus restrain?
That Corn does yield the Plowman ample Gain,
Which in unvexed Furrows freely grows;
And 'bove the Wood that Tree extends its Boughs
Which no malignant Hand does lop: Wits be
“Apt to rise high, cherish'd by Liberty.
Thou like a churlish Huntsman lead'st thy Life,
Nor, young, wilt know the Pleasures of a Wife.
Think'st thou that Nature Men for this did frame,
To suffer Hardship, and wild Beasts to tame?
Or manage bloody Wars? Ah no: that great
And wise Disposer of this All, hath set
This Law, that since Fates so rapacious are,
We with successive Issue should repair
Nature's Decays. Venus this World exclude,
(Venus, by whom our human Stock's renew'd)
And all the Beauty of this World decay,
No Ships will Sails on empty Seas display;
Skies will want Birds; Woods will want Game to kill,
And nought but Wind will Air's vast Region fill.
Alas! how many kinds of Death there be
Attending Man! Seas, Sword and Treachery.
Say we were subject to no Laws of Fate,
Yet of our selves we haste to our Lives Date,
To Styx dark shades; should barren Youth then lead
A single Life, nor know the Marriage Bed,
All that thou seest, in one short Age of Man,
Would come to Ruine; follow Nature then,
The Guide of Life: thy Time in Towns be spent,
And Jovial Society frequent.

Hip.
No Life so happy, none from Ill so free,
So near the elder Times Integrity.
As that which, leaving Towns in Fields is led:
No avaricious Fury fills his Head,
Who lives the harmless Guest of Hills and Wood.
No Breath of People, faithless to the Good,
Nor rancorous Spleen, nor Favour's fickle Grace,
Nor fleeting Riches, nor vain Honour's Chace,
Affect his Soul.—
He's no Court Vassal: gapes not for a Crown,
Nor toils to compass it: fears no man's Frown,
Ne'er couzen'd is with flatt'ring Hopes; nor yet
By the base Tooth of black-mouth'd Envy bit.
Nor of those Ills which reign in Cities knows.
Nor conscious fears how the loud Rumour goes.
Studies no Lies: nor seeks his House to build
Upon a thousand Collumns; or begil'd
His carved Roofs: nor sacrificing, drowns
In Blood the Altar: nor slays Hecatombs
Of Snow-white Oxen with Meal-sprinkled Crowns.
But harmless wand'ring in the open Air,
The Solitary Country's Sweets dos share.
No cunning Subtleties or Craft he knows,
But to intrap wild Beasts; and when he grows
Weary with Toil, his tired Limbs he laves
In cool Ilissus pure refreshing Waves.
Now by the Banks of swift Alphæus strays,
And the thick Coverts of the Woods surveys.
Where Lerna's Streams with chilling Waters pass,
Clear and pellucid as transparent Glass.
His Seat oft changes: from their warbling Throats
The querelous Birds here strain a thousand Notes.
Whilst through the Leaves the whisp'ring Zephyre blows,
And wags the aged Beaches spreading Boughs.
There, by the Current of some silver Spring,
Upon a Turf behold him slumbering;
Whilst the licentious Stream through new-sprung Flow'rs
With pleasing Murmurs its sweet Water pours,
Red-sided Apples, falling from the Trees,
And Straw-berries, new-gather'd, do appease
His Hunger with soon purchas'd Food, who flies
Th'abhor'd Excess of Princely Luxuries.
In Gold let fearful Tyrants quaff: his Cup's
His Hand, whence he with greater Gusto sups
Some fresh cool Spring: he sleeps more sound and sure
On a hard Bed, than they who do secure
Their Thefts in dark Receptacles; afraid,
Tho under multiplicious shelter laid.
He seeks the Light, and makes the Heav'n and Skies
To witness how he lives. Sure on this wise
The first Age liv'd, when Gods convers'd with Men.
No blind Desire of Gold possess'd them then.
Nor did there any Sacred Land-mark bound
Unto the People the unmeasur'd Ground.
No credulous Ships as yet did plough the Flood,
Each knew his own Seas; as yet Cities stood
Ungirt with a deep Trench and flanked Line;
The Soldier did not yet to Arms incline
His fiercer Hands; as yet no bar'd up Ports
By the Balista's weighty Shot were Forc'd.
Beneath no Lords Commands the Earth did bow,
Nor did yoak'd Oxen draw the furrowing Plough.
But then the free and self-impregned Field
Did Food to the contented People yield:
The Woods on them their native Wealth bestow'd,
Their Native Houses to dark Caves they ow'd.
Rash Anger, and the wicked Love of Gain,
Unbounded Lust, and bloody Thirst of Reign,
This sacred League first broke: the Strong then o'er
The Weak began to prey, Right then was Pow'r.
At first the Combat by bare Fists was try'd,
Then Stones, and ruder Staves their Arms supply'd.
The lighter Cornet was not tipt with Steel;
No Sword adorn'd the Thigh; no Head did feel
The weight of plumed Casque. Rage first made Arms,
And furious Mars invented unknown Harms,
And thousand Forms of Death: hence Blood did stain
The Face of Earth, and the Seas wat'ry Plain.
Then Ills through each House ran without restraint,
Nor was there Crime without a Precedent.
Brothers by Brothers, Fathers were of Life
By Sons depriv'd, the Husband by the Wife;
And wicked Mothers their own Children slew.
(Not to name Step-Mothers; that cursed Crew,
Than Beasts more merciless;) But Woman kind,
First mover of all horrid Crimes, inclin'd
Mens Thoughts to ill; whose wicked Lusts and Dire
Incests have set so many Towns on fire.
So many Nations rais'd to Arms, o'erthrown
So many Empires; wave all else, alone
Ægeus Wife, Medea can declare
How great a Curse and Mischief Women are.

Nur.
Why should the Faults of some on all be prest?

Hipp.
Out! I abhor the Sex, abjure, detest;
Whether by Reason, Nature, Rage inclin'd,
I hate 'em all. Floods shall with Flames be joyn'd,
And Ships secure in swallowing Quick-Sands ride,
Phœbus from Tethys Western Lap be spy'd
To take his rise; Wolves to young Kids be kind,
Ere Woman Place in my Affections find.

Nur.
The most perverse have yet been tam'd by Love,
Whose Power, from Hearts, all Hatred can remove;
The truth of this thy Mothers Kingdoms prove.
Those fierce Virago's Venus Yoke sustain,
Thou sole-born of thy Mother mak'st this plain.

Hipp.
My Mothers death does me this help allow,
That I can freely hate all Women now.

Nur.
As the firm Rock does the Waves Charge sustain,
And beats th'assailing Surges back again;
So he my words repels—But Phædra, see
Hurrying with Speed, and wild Impatiencie!
What wills she? Whether tends her furious Race?
Alas! She's fall'n into a Swoon, her Face
Is pale as Death.—Look up! Speak Phædra! See
Thy dear Hippolytus embraces thee.

Phæ.
O who recalls my Sorrows with my Breath!
And my fierce Flames renews? How sweetly Death
Had took me from my self and them! Yet why
Should'st thou the sweeter Joys Life offers, fly?
Take courage; freely act thy own Command.
Speak boldly. “They who timorously stand
“T'intreat, teach to deny. The greatest part
Of my Crime's past. Shame comes too late; my Heart
By Love nefandous foil'd. Yet, it may be,
(If e'er their wished Ends my Wishes see)
The name of Marriage may my Shame suppress.
“Some Crimes have been made honest by success.
On then, begin.—Let me intreat your Ear
A while in private; if there be any near,
Withdraw—

Hipp.
The place is free from Ear or Eye.

Phæd.
My Tongue doth utterance to my Words deny.
A great Force strives my bashful Speech t'eject,
Which by a greater Force again is checkt.
Be witness, O ye Gods! The thing I would—
—Is 'gainst my Will.

Hipp.
What does thy Tongue withold?

Phæd.
“Small Griefs can speak, the great are stupifi'd.

Hipp.
Fear not, dear Mother, in my Breast to hide
Thy Cares.

Phæd.
That Name of Mother is too proud
A stile, an humbler Title would b'allow'd
Our Loves; Or Sister me, or Servant call,
But Servant rather: For whose sake I shall
Refuse no kind of Service; bid me go,
And Ill climb Pindus, crown'd with Ice and Snow;
Through Fire I'll pass, or (if thou say't) upon
Arm'd Troops, and the drawn Swords of Foes I'll run.
To thee, m' intrusted Scepter, I resign,
With that, my self; accept of me as thine.
It thee becomes to rule, me to obey,
Thy Fathers Realms suit not a Womans Sway.
Do thou, adorn'd with vigorous Youth, this Land
And People govern under thy command;
And me, thy Suppliant and thy Servant, take
Into thy Bosom; and for Pity's sake,
Pity a Widow.

Hipp.
Heav'ns make the Omen vain!
My Father safe will soon return again.

Phæd.
The King who Hell's tenacious Empire sways,
And silent Styx, made no retreating ways
To Light again. Think'st thou he'll e'er let scape
Him, who intended to his Bed a Rape?
Unless his sterner Mind do gentle prove,
And pardon his Offence, since caus'd by Love.

Hipp.
The righteous Gods will his Return befriend.
But whilst our Wishes those high Powers suspend,
I shall my Brothers with that Love affect,
As fits a Brother, and shall thee protect.
Think not thy self a Widow; I'll to thee
A Husband in my Father's absence be.

Phæd.
How credulous are Lovers Hopes! O vain
Delusive Love! Is this enough, and plain
H' hath spoke? I'll try him further yet with Pray'rs.
O pity me, and bow thy gentle Ears
To my Complaints; fain would I speak, yet loth
I am—

Hipp.
What is thy Grief?

Phæd.
Such as, in troth,
Thou'l't scarce believe, should e'er a Step-Dame vex.

Hipp.
Thy words are still ambiguous, and perplex.
Speak plainer.

Phæd.
Know then, Loves fierce Flames my Breast
Do scorch, and on my inmost Marrow feast;
The Flame within my Bowels hid, doth fly
Through all my Veins, and every Artery.
As when a Fire some House hath seiz'd upon,
The nimble Flame from Beam to Beam does run.

Hipp.
The Love of Theseus these chast Flames does move;

Phæd.
'Tis true, my dear Hippolytus, I love
Those former Looks of Theseus, that young Face,
When first the budding Down his Cheeks did grace.
When from the Gnossian Monster's Den, b' a Thred
He through the winding Labyrinth was led.
How shone he then, his Locks with Ribbands ty'd,
Whilst his pure Looks a Scarlet Tincture dy'd.
Strong Arms! His Face did like thy Phœbe's shine,
Or like my Phœbus looks, or rather thine.
Such, such he seem'd then, when he pleas'd the Eye
Ev'n of his Foe: So bare his Head on high.
Thy Looks are free from all adulterate Grace,
Thy very Father's Looks; yet in thy Face
Part of thy Mothers Sternness, with a sweet
And a becoming Mixture seems to meet.
A Scythian Rigour in a Grecian Look.
Hadst thou that Voyage with thy Father took,
When to the Cretan Monster he was sent,
My Sister thee, not him, the Clue had lent.
Oh Sister, wheresoe'er in Heav'n you shine,
Help me, now plung'd in a Distress like thine!
To one House both of us our Ruin owe,
Thou to the Father, I the Son. See, low,
As to thy Knees, a royal Suppliant bows,
And her unblemish'd Fame and Honour vows
To thy sole Will: With this resolved Mind,
Or of my Grief or Life an end to find.
Pity a Lover then.

Hipp.
Dread Sovereign
Of Heav'n-thron'd Deities! Crimes thus profane
Dost thou so slowly see; so slowly hear!
Sleeps thy just Vengeance? When will thy severe
Hand Thunder dart, if now the Heavens be clear?
Now let the forced Skies descend, and Clouds
The day invellop in dark pitchy Shrouds.
Stars retrograde their Course obliquely run!
O thou sidereal Head, thou radiant Sun!
Seest thou these horrid Crimes of thy bright Race?
Fly, fly for shame, and hide in Night thy Face.
Why is thy Hand thus idle, O thou Sire
Of Gods and Men? Why scapes the World the Fire
Of thy three-forked Thunder? At my Head
Level; let thy quick Lightning strike me dead.
I guilty am, and well deserve, since I
This wicked Stepmother did please, to dye.
Was I for thy foul Incest worthy thought?
Seem'd I alone fit matter to be wrought
To thy base Ends? Has my Austerity
Merited this? O thou, who dost outvy
Thy impious Sex in high Impiety?
That dar'st a more abominable Fact,
Than did thy Monster-bearing Mother act.
Far worse than she that bare thee: She with plain
Whoredom alone her Marriage-Bed did stain;
Yet was her Crime at last, tho' long conceal'd,
By her strange Issues double shape, reveal'd.
When the ambiguous Infant did proclaim,
With a fierce savage Look, its Mothers shame.
The Womb that bare that Monster, brought forth thee.
Thrice, oh, thrice happy, who by Treacherie
Or Hate, their Lives have lost. Father thy Fate
I envy, and deplore my own sad State.
A greater Mischief far is mine to me,
Than was thy Colchian Stepdame unto thee.

Phæd.
O now our wretched Houses Fate we find!
What we should fly we follow: Of my mind
All Rule is lost. Yet thee, through Fire, through Seas,
O'er Rocks, through Torrents threatning Deluges,
Fearless I'll follow: Wheresoe'er thou go'st,
Like to a Frantick, after thee I'll post.
Disdainful Youth! See! I again decline
My prostrate Limbs, and on my Knees hug thine.

Hipp.
Take off thy Hands, nor my chast Limbs pollute.
How's this? Like a lascivious Prostitute,
Into Embraces rushing? Then my Sword
Unto her Crime due Punishment afford.
See! In the Tresses of the impudent
My Hand I've wound; and her Head backward bent.
No juster Sacrifice, thou bow-arm'd Maid,
Was ever on thy Virgin-Altars laid.

Phæd.
Now thou art kind; thou grant'st me my Desires,
Hippolytus, and cur'st my raging Fires.
'Tis 'bove my Wish that slain by thee I dye
Without a Wrong unto my Chastity.

Hipp.
Hence! Live; lest to thy Pray'rs I seem to yield.
This Sword too, by thy lustful Touch defil'd,
Quit my chast side. What Tanais, from this Stain,
Or what Mœotis, near the Pontic Main,
Can wash me clean? Not Neptune with his whole
Ocean can ever expiate so foul,
So great a Guilt.—O Woods! O Beasts!

[Exit.
Nur.
Her Crime
Detected is.—What dull'd my Wits? No Time
Is to be lost: Turn back the Crime we must.
And charge Hippolytus with horrid Lust.
“Mischief with Mischief must be veil'd: We see't,
“'Tis safest, Dangers that are fear'd, to meet.
We may be Sufferers, not Aggressors thought,
Who knows? Since there's no Witness of the Fault.
Help! Help Athenians! Servants, help your Queen:
Behold Hippolytus (O horrid Sin!)
Attemps a Rape upon his Fathers Wife,
Threatning to force her Honour or her Life.
Now hence he's fled, swift as the Wings of Wind,
Yet in his Fear, hath left his Sword behind.
Which, as the Witness of his soul intent,
We keep; but first, be your Endeavours bent
To comfort the sad Queen. Let her torn Hair
Hang as it does; into the City bear
The Marks of this unparallel'd Offence.
Madam, cheer up, recover your lost Sence.
Tear not your self; or to be seen distast.
“Not Fortune makes us, but the Mind, unchast.

CHORUS.
Declaring the Flight, and praising the comely Person of Hippolytus.