Act III

Scene IV

THESEUS,HIPPOLYTUS,PHÆDRA,ŒNONE,THERAMENES

Theseus

Fortune no longer fights against my wishes,

Madam, and to your arms restores—

Phædra

Stay, Theseus!

Do not profane endearments that were once

So sweet, but which I am unworthy now

To taste. You have been wrong’d. Fortune has proved

Spiteful, nor in your absence spared your wife.

I am unfit to meet your fond caress,

How I may bear my shame my only care

Henceforth.