NUR.  My mistress, just now indeed thy calamity coming upon me unawares, gave me a dreadful alarm.  But now I perceive I was weak; and somehow or other among mortals second thoughts are the wisest.  For thou hast not suffered any thing excessive nor extraordinary, but the anger of the Goddess hath fallen upon thee.  Thou lovest—­what wonder this? with many mortals.—­And then will you lose your life for love?  There is then no advantage for those who love others, nor to those who may hereafter, if they must needs die.  For Venus is a thing not to be borne, if she rush on vehement.  Who comes quietly indeed on the person who yields; but whom she finds haughty and of lofty notions, him taking (how thinkest thou?) she chastises.  But Venus goes through air, and is on the ocean wave; and all things from her have their birth.  She it is that sows and gives forth love, from whence all we on earth are engendered.  As many indeed as ken the writings of the ancients, or are themselves ever among the muses, they know indeed, how that Jove was formerly inflamed with the love of Semele; they know too, how that formerly the lovely bright Aurora bore away Cephalus up to the Gods, for love, but still they live in heaven, and fly not from the presence of the Gods:  but they acquiesce yielding, I ween, to what has befallen them.  And wilt thou not bear it?  Thy father then ought to have begotten thee on stipulated terms, or else under the dominion of other Gods, unless thou wilt be content with these laws.  How many, thinkest thou, are in full and complete possession of their senses, who, when they see their bridal bed diseased, seem not to see it!  And how many fathers, thinkest thou, have aided their erring sons in matters of love, for this is a maxim among the wise part of mankind, “that things that show not fair should be concealed.”  Nor should men labor too exactly their conduct in life, for neither would they do well to employ much accuracy in the roof wherewith their houses are covered; but having fallen into fortune so deep as thou hast, how dost thou imagine thou canst swim out?  But if thou hast more things good than bad, mortal as thou art, thou surely must be well off.  But cease, my dear child, from these evil thoughts, cease too from being haughty, for nothing else save haughtiness is this, to wish to be superior to the Gods.  But, as thou art in love, endure it; a God hath willed it so:  and, being ill, by some good means or other try to get rid of thy illness.  But there are charms and soothing spells:  there will appear some medicine for this sickness.  Else surely men would be slow indeed in discoveries, if we women should not find contrivances.

CHOR.  Phaedra, she speaks indeed most useful advice in thy present state:  but thee I praise.  Yet is this praise less welcome than her words, and to thee more painful to hear.

PHAE.  This is it that destroys cities of men and families well governed—­words too fair.  For it is not at all requisite to speak words pleasant to the ear, but that whereby one may become of fair report.