[_The Voice of the_ NURSE _is heard from within, crying, at first inarticulately, then clearly_.] VOICE Help ho! The Queen! Help, whoso hearkeneth! Help! Theseus' spouse caught in a noose of death! A WOMAN God, is it so soon finished? That bright head Swinging beneath the rafters! Phaedra dead! VOICE O haste! This knot about her throat is made So fast! Will no one bring me a swift blade? A WOMAN Say, friends, what think ye? Should we haste within, And from her own hand's knotting loose the Queen? ANOTHER Nay, are there not men there? 'Tis an ill road In life, to finger at another's load. VOICE Let it lie straight! Alas! the cold white thing That guards his empty castle for the King! A WOMAN Ah! "Let it lie straight!" Heard ye what she said? No need for helpers now; the Queen is dead! [_The Women, intent upon the voices from the Castle, have not noticed the approach of_ THESEUS. _He enters from the left; his dress and the garland on his head show that he has returned from some oracle or special abode of a God. He stands for a moment perplexed_.] THESEUS Ho, Women, and what means this loud acclaim Within the house? The vassals' outcry came To smite mine ears far off. It were more meet To fling out wide the Castle gates, and greet With a joy held from God's Presence! [_The confusion and horror of the Women's faces gradually affects him. A dirge-cry comes from the Castle_.] How? Not Pittheus? Hath Time struck that hoary brow? Old is he, old, I know. But sore it were, Returning thus, to find his empty chair! [_The Women hesitate; then the Leader comes forward_.] LEADER O Theseus, not on any old man's head This stroke falls. Young and tender is the dead. THESEUS Ye Gods! One of my children torn from me? LEADER Thy motherless children live, most grievously. THESEUS How sayst thou? What? My wife? ... Say how she died. LEADER In a high death-knot that her own hands tied. THESEUS A fit of the old cold anguish? Tell me all-- That held her? Or did some fresh thing befall? LEADER We know no more. But now arrived we be, Theseus, to mourn for thy calamity. [THESEUS _stays for a moment silent, and puts his hand on his brow. He notices the wreath_.] THESEUS What? And all garlanded I come to her With flowers, most evil-starred God's-messenger! Ho, varlets, loose the portal bars; undo The bolts; and let me see the bitter view Of her whose death hath brought me to mine own. [_The great central door of the Castle is thrown open wide, and the body of_ PHAEDRA _is seen lying on a bier, surrounded by a group of Handmaids, wailing_.]