Hippolytus
Euripides
Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Translated into English Prose from the Text of Paley. Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.
- Thou hast undone me, nurse; I do adjure by the gods, mention that man no more.
- There now! thou art thyself again, but e’en yet refusest to aid thy children and preserve thy life.
- My babes I love, but there is another storm that buffets me.
- Daughter, are thy hands from bloodshed pure?
- My hands are pure, but on my soul there rests a stain.
- The issue of some enemy’s secret witchery?
- A friend is my destroyer, one unwilling as myself.
- Hath Theseus wronged thee in any wise?
- Never may I prove untrue to him[*](i.e. as he never has proved so to me.)
- Then what strange mystery is there that drives thee on to die?
- O, let my sin and me alone! ’tis not ’gainst thee I sin.
- Never willingly! and, if I fail, ’twill rest at thy door.
- How now? thou usest force in clinging to my hand.
- Yea, and I will never loose my hold upon thy knees.
- Alas for thee! my sorrows, shouldst thou learn them, would recoil on thee.
- What keener grief for me than failing to win thee?
- ’Twill be death to thee; though to me that brings renown.[*](ὀλεῖ (1) 2nd sing. Fut. Mid. thou wilt die as a consequence of sharing my secret (Paley). (2) 3rd sing. Fut. Active it will kill me to keep silence, though that better ensures my honour.)
- And dost thou then conceal this boon despite my prayers?
- I do, for ’tis out of shame I am planning an honourable escape.
- Tell it, and thine honour shall the brighter shine.