and gave unto Alcmena’s son, mid blood and smoke and murderous marriage-hymns, to be to him a frantic fiend of hell; woe! woe for his wooing!

ChorusAh! holy walls of Thebes, ah! fount of Dirce, ye could testify what course the love-queen follows. For with the blazing levin-bolt did she cut short the fatal marriage of Semele, mother of Zeus-bom Bacchus. All things she doth inspire, dread goddess, winging her flight hither and thither like a bee.

PhaedraPeace, ladies, peace! I am undone.ChorusWhat, Phaedra, is this dread event within thy house?PhaedraHush! let me hear what those within are saying.ChorusI am silent; this is surely the prelude to mischief.PhaedraGreat gods! how awful are my sufferings!

ChorusWhat a cry was there! what loud alarm! say what sudden terror, lady, doth thy soul dismay.PhaedraI am undone. Stand here at the door and hear the noise arising in the house.

ChorusThou art already by the bolted door; ’tis for thee to note the sounds that issue from within. And tell me, O tell me what mischief can be on foot.Phaedra’Tis the son of the horse-loving Amazon who calls, Hippolytus, uttering foul curses on my servant.

ChorusI hear a noise, but cannot clearly tellReading ὅπᾳ. The old reading was ὔπα. which way it comes. Ah! ’tis through the door the sound reached thee.PhaedraYes, yes, he is calling her plainly enough a go-between in vice, traitress to her master’s honour.

ChorusWoe, woe is me! thou art betrayed, dear mistress! What counsel shall I give thee? thy secret is out; thou art utterly undone.PhaedraAh me! ah me!ChorusBetrayed by friends!PhaedraShe hath ruined me by speaking of my misfortune; ’twas kindly meant, but an ill way to cure my malady.