THESEUS There was a time for tears and thought; the time Ere thou didst up and gird thee to thy crime. HIPPOLYTUS Ye stones, will ye not speak? Ye castle walls! Bear witness if I be so vile, so false! THESEUS Aye, fly to voiceless witnesses! Yet here A dumb deed speaks against thee, and speaks clear! HIPPOLYTUS Alas! Would I could stand and watch this thing, and see My face, and weep for very pity of me! THESEUS Full of thyself, as ever! Not a thought For them that gave thee birth; nay, they are naught! HIPPOLYTUS O my wronged Mother! O my birth of shame! May none I love e'er bear a bastard's name! THESEUS (_in a sudden blaze of rage_) Up, thralls, and drag him from my presence! What, 'Tis but a foreign felon! Heard ye not? [_The thralls still hesitate in spite of his fury._] HIPPOLYTUS They touch me at their peril! Thine own hand Lift, if thou canst, to drive me from the land. THESEUS That will I straight, unless my will be done! [HIPPOLYTUS _comes close to him and kneels._] Nay! Not for thee my pity! Get thee gone! [HIPPOLYTUS _rises, makes a sign of submission, and slowly moves away._ THESEUS, _as soon as he sees him going, turns rapidly and enters the Castle. The door is closed again._ HIPPOLYTUS _has stopped for a moment before the Statue of _ARTEMIS, _and, as _THESEUS_ departs, breaks out in prayer._] HIPPOLYTUS So; it is done! O dark and miserable! I see it all, but see not how to tell The tale.--O thou belovèd, Leto's Maid, Chase-comrade, fellow-rester in the glade, Lo, I am driven with a caitiff's brand Forth from great Athens! Fare ye well, O land And city of old Erechtheus! Thou, Trozên, What riches of glad youth mine eyes have seen In thy broad plain! Farewell! This is the end; The last word, the last look! Come, every friend And fellow of my youth that still may stay, Give me god-speed and cheer me on my way. Ne'er shall ye see a man more pure of spot Than me, though mine own Father loves me not! [HIPPOLYTUS _goes away to the right, followed by many Huntsmen and other young men. The rest of the crowd has by this time dispersed, except the Women of the Chorus and some Men of the Chorus of Huntsmen_.] CHORUS _Men_ Surely the thought of the Gods hath balm in it alway, to win me Far from my griefs; and a thought, deep in the dark of my mind, Clings to a great Understanding. Yet all the spirit within me Faints, when I watch men's deeds matched with the guerdon they find. For Good comes in Evil's traces, And the Evil the Good replaces; And Life, 'mid the changing faces, Wandereth weak and blind.