Hippolytus/The Bacchae | Page 5

her head. No; not secret? Then
Is it a sickness meet for aid of men? Speak, that a leech may tend thee.
Silent still? Nay, Child, what profits silence? If 'tis ill This that I
counsel, makes me see the wrong: If well, then yield to me. Nay, Child,
I long For one kind word, one look! [PHAEDRA _lies motionless.
The_ NURSE _rises._] Oh, woe is me! Women, we labour here all
fruitlessly, All as far off as ever from her heart! She ever scorned me,
and now hears no part Of all my prayers! [Turning to PHAEDRA
_again._] Nay, hear thou shalt, and be, If so thou will, more wild than
the wild sea; But know, thou art thy little ones' betrayer! If thou die
now, shall child of thine be heir To Theseus' castle? Nay, not thine, I
ween, But hers! That barbèd Amazonian Queen Hath left a child to

bend thy children low, A bastard royal-hearted--sayst not so?--
Hippolytus...
PHAEDRA Ah! [_She starts up, sitting, and throws the veil off_.]
NURSE That stings thee?
PHAEDRA Nurse, most sore Thou hast hurt me! In God's name, speak
that name no more.
NURSE Thou seest? Thy mind is clear; but with thy mind Thou wilt
not save thy children, nor be kind To thine own life.
PHAEDRA My children? Nay, most dear I love them,--Far, far other
grief is here.
NURSE (_after a pause, wondering_) Thy hand is clean, O Child, from
stain of blood?
PHAEDRA My hand is clean; but is my heart, O God?
NURSE Some enemy's spell hath made thy spirit dim?
PHAEDRA He hates me not that slays me, nor I him.
NURSE Theseus, the King, hath wronged thee in man's wise?
PHAEDRA Ah, could but I stand guiltless in his eyes!
NURSE O speak! What is this death-fraught mystery?
PHAEDRA Nay, leave me to my wrong. I wrong not thee.
NURSE (_suddenly throwing herself in supplication at PHAEDRA'S
feet_) Not wrong me, whom thou wouldst all desolate leave?
PHAEDRA (_rising and trying to move away_) What wouldst thou?
Force me? Clinging to my sleeve?

NURSE Yea, to thy knees; and weep; and let not go!
PHAEDRA Woe to thee, Woman, if thou learn it, woe!
NURSE I know no bitterer woe than losing thee.
PHAEDRA Yet the deed shall honour me.
NURSE Why hide what honours thee? 'Tis all I claim!
PHAEDRA Why, so I build up honour out of shame!
NURSE Then speak, and higher still thy fame shall stand.
PHAEDRA Go, in God's name!--Nay, leave me; loose my hand!
NURSE Never, until thou grant me what I pray.
PHAEDRA (_yielding, after a pause_) So be it. I dare not tear that hand
away.
NURSE (_rising and releasing PHAEDRA_) Tell all thou wilt,
Daughter. I speak no more.
PHAEDRA (_after a long pause_) Mother, poor Mother, that didst love
so sore!
NURSE What mean'st thou, Child? The Wild Bull of the Tide?
PHAEDRA And thou, sad sister, Dionysus' bride!
NURSE Child! wouldst thou shame the house where thou wast born?
PHAEDRA And I the third, sinking most all-forlorn!
NURSE (_to herself_) I am all lost and feared. What will she say?
PHAEDRA From there my grief comes, not from yesterday.

NURSE I come no nearer to thy parable.
PHAEDRA Oh, would that thou could'st tell what I must tell!
NURSE I am no seer in things I wot not of.
PHAEDRA (_again hesitating_) What is it that they mean, who say
men...love?
NURSE A thing most sweet, my Child, yet dolorous.
PHAEDRA Only the half, belike, hath fallen on us!
NURSE (_starting_) On thee? Love?--Oh, what say'st thou? What
man's son?
PHAEDRA What man's? There was a Queen, an Amazon ...
NURSE Hippolytus, say'st thou?
PHAEDRA (_again wrapping her face in the veil_) Nay, 'twas thou, not
I! [PHAEDRA _sinks back on the couch and covers her face again.
The_ NURSE _starts violently from her and walks up and down._]
NURSE O God! what wilt thou say, Child? Wouldst thou try To kill
me?--Oh, 'tis more than I can bear; Women. I will no more of it, this
glare Of hated day, this shining of the sky. I will fling down my body,
and let it lie Till life be gone! Women, God rest with you, My works
are over! For the pure and true Are forced to evil, against their own
heart's vow, And love it! [She suddenly sees the Statue of CYPRIS,
_and stands with her eyes riveted upon it._] Ah, Cyprian! No god art
thou, But more than god, and greater, that hath thrust Me and my queen
and all our house to dust! [_She throws herself on the ground close to
the statue._]
CHORUS
Some Women O Women, have ye heard? Nay, dare ye hear The
desolate cry of the young Queen's