HIPP.  It is more fair to speak fair things to many.

NUR.  O my child, by no means dishonor your oath.

HIPP.  My tongue hath sworn—­my mind is still unsworn.[17]

NUR.  O my son, what wilt thou do? wilt thou destroy thy friends?

HIPP. Friends! I reject the word:  no unjust person is my friend.

NUR.  Pardon, my child:  that men should err is but to be expected.

HIPP.  O Jove, wherefore in the name of heaven didst thou place in the light of the sun that specious[18] evil to men, women? for if thou didst will to propagate the race of mortals, there was no necessity for this to be done by women, but men might, having placed an equivalent in thy temples, either in brass, or iron, or the weighty gold, buy a race of children, each for the consideration of the value paid, and thus might dwell in unmolested houses, without females.  But now, first of all, when we prepare to bring this evil to our homes, we squander away the wealth of our houses.  By this too it is evident, that woman is a great evil; for the father, who begat her and brought her up, having given her a dowry sends her away in order to be rid of the evil.  But the husband, on the other hand, when he has received the baneful evil[19] into his house, rejoices, having added a beautiful decoration to a most vile image, and tricks her out with robes, unhappy man, while he has been insensibly minishing the wealth of the family.  But he is constrained; so that having made alliance with noble kinsmen, he retains with [seeming] joy a marriage bitter to him:  or if he has received a good bride, but worthless parents in law, he suppresses the evil that has befallen him by the consideration of the good.  But his state is the easiest, whose wife is settled in his house, a cipher, but useless by reason of simplicity.  But a wise woman I detest:  may there not be in my house at least a woman more highly gifted with mind than woman ought to be.  For Venus engenders mischief rather among clever women, but a woman who is not endowed with capacity, by reason of her small understanding, is removed from folly.  But it is right that an attendant should have no access to a woman, but with them ought to dwell the speechless brute beasts, in which case they would be able neither to address any one, nor from them to receive a voice in return.  But now, they that are evil follow after their evil devices within, and the servants carry it forth abroad.  As thou also hast, O evil woman, come to the purpose of admitting me to share a bed which must not be approached—­a father’s.  Which impious things I will wash out with flowing stream, pouring it into my ears:  how then could I be the vile one, who do not even deem myself pure, because I have heard such things?—­But be well assured, my piety protects thee, woman, for, had I not been taken unawares by the oaths of the Gods, never would I have refrained from telling these things to my father.  But now will I depart from the