power sweet have had their wits turned by it.

Sure I’d like to win at the Olympic Games

but in politics second place is fine.

I am happy with men of virtue as my friends—

the kind of influence that brings no risk—

much more pleasant than tyranny.

Nothing left to say but this:

if I had a character witness here,

or if I were pleading my case with her alive,

the facts would show you who is evil.

But now I swear an oath to you

by Zeus who guards oaths,

by the plain of earth.

I never touched your marriage bed.

I never wanted to.

I never took the thought in mind.

May I perish unknown and nameless,

may neither sea nor land receive my flesh when dead,

if I was an evil man.

What despair drove this woman to end her life

I don’t know.

I can say no more.

She was not pure but she did one pure thing.

Whereas I—my purity has ruined me.

CHORUS.

Good. The oath was a nice touch.

THESEUS.

Swindler! Sorcerer!—thinks

to rule my soul with his mild manners,

though he has put his own father to shame!

HIPPOLYTOS.

I wonder at your manners too, father.

If you were my child and I your father

and I thought you’d touched my wife,

I’d murder you, not sentence you to exile.

THESEUS.

How like you to say that! But no,

you won’t die so.

Quick death is too kind.

I want you outcast from your father’s country

bleeding a bitter life away in alien places.

HIPPOLYTOS.

OIMOI! [cry]

Is that your intention? You won’t

wait for time to condemn me, just

throw me out?

THESEUS.

Beyond the Black Sea and the boundary of Atlas if I could,

I hate you so.

HIPPOLYTOS.

Without any test of oath or pledge or oracle,

without trial, you’ll cast me out?

THESEUS.

This letter denounces you plainly. No need

for divination! Let the birds of omen

fly over my head—be gone!

HIPPOLYTOS.

O gods! why not speak out—

I am being destroyed for honoring you!

No. He would never believe me.

I’d break my oath in vain.

THESEUS.

OIMOI! [cry]

Your piety will kill me!

Out of my land! Go!

HIPPOLYTOS.

Where shall I turn? Whose house

can I enter, exiled on a charge like this?

THESEUS.

Go to someone who wants his women defiled,

one cozy with evil.

HIPPOLYTOS.

ALAI! [cry]

That goes to the heart. This is near tears,

if I seem evil and you think me so.

THESEUS.

The time for tears was before

you raped your father’s wife.

HIPPOLYTOS.

O house! If only you could speak for me,

bear witness!

THESEUS.

Wise of you to turn to voiceless witnesses.

But your deed speaks aloud.

HIPPOLYTOS.

PHEU! [cry]

I wish that I could stand apart, observe myself

and weep for my own suffering.

THESEUS.