house, and stay during the time that Theseus is absent from the land, and will keep my mouth silent; but I will see, returning with my father’s return, how you will look at him, both you and your mistress.  But your boldness I shall know, having before had proof of it.  May you perish:  but never shall I take my fill of hating women, not even if any one assert, that I am always saying this.  For in some way or other they surely are always bad.  Either then let some one teach them to be modest, or else let him suffer me ever to utter my invectives against them.

CHORUS, PHAEDRA, NURSE.

CHOR.  Oh unhappy ill-fated fortune of women! what art now or what words have we, having failed as we have, to extricate the knot caused by [these] words?

PHAE.  We have met a just reward; O earth, and light, in what manner, I pray, can I escape from my fortunes? and how, my friends, can I conceal my calamity?  Who of the Gods will appear my succorer, or what mortal my ally, or my fellow-worker in unjust works? for the suffering of my life that is at present on me comes hardly to be escaped.[20] I am the most ill-fated of women.

CHOR.  Alas! alas! we are undone, lady, and the arts of thy attendant have not succeeded, and it fares ill with us.

PHAE.  O thou most vile, and the destruction of thy friends, what hast thou done to me!  May Jove, my ancestor, tear thee up by the roots, having stricken thee by his fire.  Did not I tell thee (did not I foresee thy intention?) to be silent with regard to those things with which I am now tormented? but thou couldst not refrain; wherefore I can no longer die with glory:  but I must now in sooth employ new measures.  For he, now that his mind is made keen with rage, will tell, to my detriment, thy errors to his father, and will fill the whole earth with the most vile reports.  Mayst thou perish, both thou and whoever else is forward to assist friends against their will otherwise than by honorable means.

NUR.  Lady, thou canst indeed blame the evil I have wrought; for that which gnaws upon thee masters thy better judgment;—­but I too have somewhat to say in answer to these things, if thou wilt admit it:  I brought thee up, and have a kind affection toward thee; but, while searching for medicine for thy disease, I found not that I wished for.  But if I had succeeded, I had been surely ranked among the wise; for we have the reputation of sense according to our success.

PHAE.  What? is this conduct just, and satisfactory to me, to injure me first, and then to meet me in argument?

NUR.  We talk too long—­I did not behave wisely.  But even from this state of things it is possible that thou mayest be saved, my child.

PHAE.  Desist from speaking; for before also thou didst not well advise for me, and didst attempt evil things.  But depart from my sight, and take care about thyself; for I will settle my own affairs in an honorable manner.  But you, noble daughters of Troezene, grant thus much to me requesting it, bury in silence what you here have heard.