Phaedra: I conjure thee, go no further! for thy words are plausible
but infamous; for though as yet love has not undermined my soul, yet,
if in specious words thou dress thy foul suggestion, I shall be beguiled
into the snare from which I am now escaping.
Nurse: If thou art of this mind, 'twere well thou ne'er hadst sinned;
but as it is, hear me; for that is the next best course; I in my house
have charms to soothe thy love,-'twas but now I thought of them;-these
shall cure thee of thy sickness on no disgraceful terms, thy mind
unhurt, if thou wilt be but brave. But from him thou lovest we must
get some token, word or fragment of his robe, and thereby unite in
one love's twofold stream.
Phaedra: Is thy drug a salve or potion?
Nurse: I cannot tell; be content, my child, to profit by it and ask no questions.
Phaedra: I fear me thou wilt prove too wise for me.
Nurse: If thou fear this, confess thyself afraid of all; but why thy terror!
Studies
