of Pallas that overlooks this land, she raised a temple to Venus, loving an absent love; and gave out afterward,[2] that the Goddess was honored with her temple for Hippolytus’s sake.  But now since Theseus has left the land of Cecrops, in order to avoid the pollution of the murder of the sons of Pallas, and is sailing to this land with his wife, having submitted to a year’s banishment from his people; there indeed groaning and stricken with the stings of love, the wretched woman perishes in secret; and not one of her domestics is conscious of her malady.  But this love must by no means fall to the ground in this way:  but I will open the matter to Theseus, and it shall become manifest.  And him that is our enemy shall the father kill with imprecations, which Neptune, king of the ocean, granted as a privilege to Theseus, that he should make no prayer thrice to the God in vain.  But Phaedra dies, an illustrious woman indeed, yet still [she must die]; for I will not make her ills of that high consequence, that will hinder my enemies from giving me such full vengeance as may content me.  But, as I see the son of Theseus coming, having left the toil of the chase, I will depart from this spot.  But with him a numerous train of attendants following behind raise a clamor, praising the Goddess Dian with hymns, for he knows not that the gates of hell are opened, and that this day is the last he beholds.

HIPPOLYTUS, ATTENDANTS.

HIPP.  Follow, follow, singing the heavenly Dian, daughter of Jove; Dian, under whose protection we are.

ATT.  Holy, holy, most hallowed offspring of Jove, hail! hail!  O Dian, daughter of Latona and of Jove, most beauteous by far of virgins, who, born of an illustrious sire, in the vast heaven dwellest in the palace of Jove, that mansion rich in gold.

HIPP.  Hail, O most beauteous, most beauteous of virgins in Olympus, Dian!  For thee, my mistress, bear I this wreathed garland from the pure mead, where neither does the shepherd think fit to feed his flocks, nor yet came iron there, but the bee ranges over the pure and vernal mead, and Reverence waters it with river dews.  Whosoever has chastity, not that which is taught in schools, but that which is by nature, for this description of persons it is lawful thence to pluck, but for the evil it is not lawful.[3] But, O my dear mistress, receive this wreath to bind your golden tresses from a pious hand.  For to me alone of mortals is allowed this privilege.  With thee I am both present, and exchange words with thee, hearing thy voice, but not seeing thy countenance.  But may I finish the last turn of my course of life, even as I began.

ATT.  O king, (for the Gods alone ought we to call Lords,) will you hear somewhat from me, who advise you well?

HIPP.  Most certainly, or else I should not seem wise.

ATT.  Knowest thou then the law, which is established among men?

HIPP.  I know not; but what is the one, about which thou askest me?