§562et versa ab imo regna tot populos premunt.
And kingdoms overturned from their depths oppress so many peoples.
Let others be silent: Aegeus' wife alone, Medea, will show that women are a dread race.
§565Cur omnium fit culpa paucarum scelus?
Why does the crime of a few become the guilt of all?
§566Detestor omnis, horreo fugio execror.
I detest them all, I shudder at, flee, and curse them.
Be it reason, be it nature, be it dread madness: it has pleased me to hate.
§569et amica ratibus ante promittet vada §570incerta Syrtis, ante ab extremo sinu §571Hesperia Tethys lucidum attollet diem §572et ora dammis blanda praebebunt lupi, §573quam victus animum feminae mitem geram.
You will join water with fire, and the uncertain Syrtis will sooner promise safe shallows friendly to ships, sooner from the furthest gulf will Hesperian Tethys bring forth the bright day, and wolves present gentle faces to does, than I, vanquished, will bear a mild heart toward a woman.
§574Saepe obstinatis induit frenos Amor §575et odia mutat, regna materna aspice: §576illae feroces sentiunt Veneris iugum; §577testaris istud unicus gentis puer.
Often Love puts reins upon the obstinate and changes hatreds; look at your mother's realm: even those fierce women feel the yoke of Venus; you, the only youth of that race, bear witness to this.
I carry one consolation for my lost mother: that now it is permitted to hate all women.
§580Vt dura cautes undique intractabilis §581resistit undis et lacessentes aquas §582longe remittit, verba sic spernit mea.
As a hard cliff, inaccessible on all sides, resists the waves and flings back the provoking waters far away, so does he despise my words.
But Phaedra steps forward headlong, impatient; whither will fortune turn? Whither will her madness lean?
Suddenly her lifeless body falls to the ground, and a color like death has covered her face.
Lift up your face, remove the delay of your voice: behold, foster-daughter, your own Hippolytus holds you.
§589Quis me dolori reddit atque aestus graves
Who restores me to grief and places heavy boils of passion back in my soul?
§590reponit animo? quam bene excideram mihi!
How well had I escaped from myself!
§591Cur dulce munus redditae lucis fugis?
Why do you flee the sweet gift of restored light?
§592Aude, anime, tempta, perage mandatum tuum.
Dare, my soul, try, accomplish your design.
§593intrepida constent verba: qui timide rogat
Let fearless words stand firm: he who asks timidly teaches refusal.
A great part of my crime was performed long ago; shame is late for us: we have loved forbidden things.
§596amavimus nefanda, si coepta exsequor, §597forsan iugali crimen abscondam face: §598honesta quaedam scelera successus facit— §599en incipe, anime!— Commodes paulum, precor, §600secretus aures, si quis est abeat comes.
If I follow through with what I started, perhaps I may conceal the crime with a wedding torch: success makes some crimes honorable— behold, begin, my soul!— Grant, I pray, for a little while, your ears in secret; if there is any companion, let him depart.
§601En locus ab omni liber arbitrio vacat.
Behold, the place is free, vacant of all witnesses.
But my lips refuse passage to the words begun; a great force sends forth my voice, and a greater holds it back.
I call you all to witness, heavenly ones, that this which I wish— Is the soul, desiring, unable to speak anything?
§607Curae leves loquuntur, ingentes stupent.
Light cares speak, huge ones are struck dumb.
§608Committe curas auribus, mater, meis.
Commit your cares to my ears, mother.
§609Matris superbum est nomen et nimium potens: §610nostros humilius nomen affectus decet; §611me vel sororem, Hippolyte, vel famulam voca, §612famulamque potius: omne servitium feram, §613non me per altas ire si iubeas nives, §614pigeat gelatis ingredi Pindi iugis; §615non, si per ignes ire et infesta agmina, §616cuncter paratis ensibus pectus dare.
The name of mother is proud and too powerful: a humbler name suits our feelings; call me either sister, Hippolytus, or handmaid, and handmaid rather: I will bear all servitude, even if you order me to go through deep snows, it would not grieve me to enter the frozen ridges of Pindus; not, if ordered to go through fires and hostile ranks, would I hesitate to offer my breast to ready swords.
§617mandata recipe sceptra, me famulam accipe: §619muliebre non est regna tutari urbium; §620tu qui iuventae flore primaevo viges §621cives paterno fortis imperio rege, §622sinu receptam supplicem ac servam tege.
Take the sceptre committed to you, receive me as a handmaid: it is not a woman's part to protect the kingdoms of cities; you, who flourish in the prime flower of youth, bravely rule the citizens with your father's power, protect her who is received in your bosom as a suppliant and a slave.
Pity the widow— May the supreme god avert this omen; your father will be here safe immediately.
§625Regni tenacis dominus et tacitae Stygis §626nullam relictos fecit ad superos viam: §627thalami remittet ille raptorem sui?
The lord of the tenacious realm and of silent Styx has made no path back to the gods above for those who have left: will he release the ravisher of his own bridal chamber?
§628nisi forte amori placidus et Pluton sedet.
Unless perchance Pluto too sits placid toward love.
§629Illum quidem aequi caelites reducem dabunt, §630sed dum tenebit vota in incerto deus, §631pietate caros debita fratres colam §632et te merebor esse ne viduam putes §633ac tibi parentis ipse supplebo locum.
Indeed, the just heavenly ones will grant him return, but while the god keeps our prayers in uncertainty, I will cherish my dear brothers with due devotion, and I will deserve that you do not think yourself a widow, and I myself will supply the place of a parent to you.
§634O spes amantum credula, o fallax Amor!
O credulous hope of lovers, o deceitful Love!
§635satisne dixi? precibus admotis agam.
Have I said enough? I will proceed with prayers applied.
Have pity, hear the prayers of a silent mind— it pleases me to speak, and yet it shames me.
§637bQuodnam istud malum est?
What evil indeed is that?
§638Quod in novercam cadere vix credas malum.
An evil which you would scarcely believe could fall upon a stepmother.
You throw perplexed words in an ambiguous voice: speak out openly.