HKB
HIPPOLYTUS Ah me! Would that a mortal's curse could reach to God!
ARTEMIS Let be! For not, though deep beneath the sod Thou liest, not unrequited nor unsung Shall this fell stroke, from Cypris' rancour sprung, Quell thee, mine own, the saintly and the true! My hand shall win its vengeance through and through, Piercing with flawless shaft what heart soe'er Of all men living is most dear to Her. Yea, and to thee, for this sore travail's sake, Honours most high in Trozên will I make; For yokeless maids before their bridal night Shall shear for thee their tresses; and a rite Of honouring tears be thine in ceaseless store; And virgin's thoughts in music evermore Turn toward thee, and praise thee in the Song Of Phaedra's far-famed love and thy great wrong. O seed of ancient Aegeus, bend thee now And clasp thy son. Aye, hold and fear not thou! Not knowingly hast thou slain him; and man's way, When Gods send error, needs must fall astray. And thou, Hippolytus, shrink not from the King, Thy father. Thou wast born to bear this thing. Farewell! I may not watch man's fleeting breath, Nor strain mine eyes with the effluence of death. And sure that Terror now is very near. [The cloud slowly rises and floats away.]
HIPPOLYTUS Farewell, farewell, most Blessèd! Lift thee clear Of soiling men! Thou wilt not grieve in heaven For my long love! ...Father, thou art forgiven. It was Her will. I am not wroth with thee... I have obeyed Her all my days! ... Ah me, The dark is drawing down upon mine eyes; It hath me! ... Father! ... Hold me! Help me rise!
THESEUS (supporting him in his arms) Ah, woe! How dost thou torture me, my son!
HIPPOLYTUS I see the Great Gates opening. I am gone.
THESEUS Gone? And my hand red-reeking from this thing!
HIPPOLYTUS Nay, nay; thou art assoiled of manslaying.
THESEUS Thou leav'st me clear of murder? Sayst thou so?
HIPPOLYTUS Yea, by the Virgin of the Stainless Bow!
THESEUS Dear Son! Ah, now I see thy nobleness!
HIPPOLYTUS Pray that a true-born child may fill my place.
THESEUS Ah me, thy righteous and god-fearing heart!
HIPPOLYTUS Farewell; A long farewell, dear Father, ere we part! [THESEUS bends down and embraces him passionately.]
THESEUS Not yet!--O hope and bear while thou hast breath!
HIPPOLYTUS Lo, I have borne my burden. This is death... Quick, Father; lay the mantle on my face. [THESEUS covers his face with a mantle and rises.]
THESEUS Ye bounds of Pallas and of Pelops' race, What greatness have ye lost! Woe, woe is me! Thou Cyprian, long shall I remember thee!
CHORUS On all this folk, both low and high, A grief hath fallen beyond men's fears. There cometh a throbbing of many tears, A sound as of waters falling. For when great men die, A mighty name and a bitter cry Rise up from a nation calling. [They move into the Castle, carrying the body of HIPPOLYTUS.]
THE BACCHAE
OF EURIPIDES
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
DIONYSUS, THE GOD; son of Zeus and of the Theban princess Semelê. CADMUS, formerly King of Thebes, father of Semelê. PENTHEUS, King of Thebes, grandson of Cadmus. AGAVE, daughter of Cadmus, mother of Pentheus. TEIRESIAS, an aged Theban prophet. A SOLDIER OF PENTHEUS' GUARD. TWO MESSENGERS. A CHORUS OF INSPIRED DAMSELS, following Dionysus from the East.
"The play was first produced after the death of Euripides by his son who bore the same name, together with the Iphigenia in Aulis and the Alcmaeon, probably in the year 405 B.C."
The background represents the front of the Castle of PENTHEUS, King of Thebes. At one side is visible the sacred Tomb of Semelê, a little enclosure overgrown with wild vines, with a cleft in the rocky floor of it from which there issues at times steam or smoke. The God* DIONYSUS *is discovered alone.