Chorus
[555] O holy fortress of Thebes, o mouth where Dirce's stream pours forth, you could second my account of how Aphrodite comes. For she gave as bride to the blazing thunder [560] the mother of twice-born Bacchus1 and with bloody fate brought her to bed. She is terrible, her breath blows over all and she hovers flittingly like a bee.A shout within is heard. Phaedra rises from her couch and stands with her ear to the palace door.