How firmly dost thou hold me by the ties1115
Of blood! How thou dost force me to obey
Thy will! I wished to slay my guilty son,
While yet he lived; but now I mourn his loss.
Messenger: One may not rightly mourn what he has willed.[24]
Theseus: This is indeed the crowning woe, I think,
When chance fulfils the prayers we should not make.1120
Messenger: If still you hate your son, why weep for him?
Theseus: Because I slew, not lost my son, I weep.