No rest by night, no deep slumber frees me from care. A malady feeds and grows within my heart, and it burns there hot as the stream that wells from Aetna’s caverns. Pallas’ loom stands idle and my task slips from my listless hands; no longer it pleases me to deck the temples with votive offerings, nor at the altars, midst bands of Athenian dames, to wave torches in witness of he silent rites, nor with pure prayers and pious worship to approach the goddess who guards the land once granted to her! My joy is to follow in pursuit of the startled beasts and with soft hand to hurl stiff javelins.
Join us on Thursday, March 16 at 11 a.m. EDT for a community reading of Seneca’s tragedy Phaedra, via Google+ Hangout. This will be an informal, friendly event, and all members of the Kosmos Society are invited to participate. If you are interested, please sign up here in the forum, and, if you have a preference, indicate which role you would prefer to read.
We will be using the translation by Frank Miller Justus, which is available free online:
- Web page, at theoi.com
- Available to view or to download in various formats, at archive.org
- If you wish to read the book on screen this play begins at page 318 on archive.org
Please remember to use earbuds or headphones. Costume and props are not necessary, but feel free to use them if you like!