228
her at thy request, for before also I was wont to obey thy words. Ah! ah! darkness now covers me over mine eyes. Take hold on me, my father, and lift up my body.
THES. Ah me! my son, what dost thou, do to me unhappy?
HIPP. I perish, and do indeed see the gates of hell.
THES. What? leaving my mind uncleansed from thy blood?
HIPP. No in sooth, since I free thee from this murder.
THES. What sayest thou? dost thou remit me free from the guilt of blood?
HIPP. I call to witness Dian that slays with the bow.
THES. O most dear, how noble thou appearest to thy father!
HIPP. O farewell thou too, take my best farewell, my father!
THES. Oh me! for thy pious and brave soul!
HIPP. Pray to have legitimate sons like me.
THES. Do not, I prithee, leave me, my son, but be strong.
HIPP. My time of strength is past; for I perish, my father: but cover my face as quickly as possible with robes.
THES. O famous realms of Athens and of Pallas, of what a man will ye have been bereaved! Oh unhappy I! What abundant reason, Venus, shall I have to remember thy ills!
CHOR. This common grief to all the citizens hath come unexpectedly. There will be a fast falling of many tears; for the mournful stories of great men rather obtain.
* * * * *
NOTES ON HIPPOLYTUS
* * * *
[1] The construction in the original furnishes a remarkable example of the "nominativus pendens."
[2] Or, that posterity might know it. TR. Dindorf would omit these words. B.
[3] Dindorf would omit these lines. I think the difficulty in the structure may be removed by reading [Greek: hostis] instead of [Greek: hosois]. The enallage, [Greek: hostis ... toutois], is by no means unusual. B.
[4] Cf. Soph. Oed. Col. 121, sqq. B.
[5] Which at present you do not appear to have.
[6] Monk would join [Greek: ôkeanou] with [Greek: petra], as in the translation, but other commentators prefer, which is certainly more simpl
The Tragedies of Euripides, Volume I, page 227
by Euripides