Nay, 'twas thou, not I!
[PHAEDRA _sinks back on the couch and covers her face again.
The_ NURSE _starts violently from her and walks up and down._]

NURSE
O God! what wilt thou say, Child? Wouldst thou try
To kill me?--Oh, 'tis more than I can bear;
Women. I will no more of it, this glare
Of hated day, this shining of the sky.
I will fling down my body, and let it lie
Till life be gone!
Women, God rest with you,
My works are over! For the pure and true
Are forced to evil, against their own heart's vow,
And love it!
[_She suddenly sees the Statue of_ CYPRIS, _and
stands with her eyes riveted upon it._]
Ah, Cyprian! No god art thou,
But more than god, and greater, that hath thrust
Me and my queen and all our house to dust!
[_She throws herself on the ground close to the statue._]

CHORUS

_Some Women_
O Women, have ye heard? Nay, dare ye hear
The desolate cry of the young Queen's misery?

_A Woman_
My Queen, I love thee dear,