1450
Act V Scene IV (Theseus)
Theseus
What is she thinking?
Act V Scene IV (Theseus)
Theseus
What is she thinking?
Racine - Phaedra
1430
Is it only your eyes an odious cloud covers,
Hiding his virtue that shines out to others?
Ah! To leave him to malicious tongues now.
Stop. And repent of your murderous vow:
Be fearful, my Lord, fearful lest heaven's rigour 1435
Hates you enough to execute your desire.
Often in anger it accepts our sacrifice:
Its gifts are often the punishment for our crimes.
Theseus
No, you'll conceal his offence in vain.
Your love blinds you in favour of the man. 1440
But I trust in sure irreproachable witnesses:
I've seen, I've seen true tears flow to excess.
Aricia
Take care, my Lord. Your unconquerable hand
From countless monsters, has freed the land:
But not all are destroyed, and you have spared 1445
One. . . your son, my Lord, forbids me to declare
What, knowing the respect he'd show to you,
I'd grieve him too much by daring to pursue.
I'll echo his discretion, and flee your presence,
So that I'm not required to break my silence.
1450
Act V Scene IV (Theseus)
Theseus
What is she thinking? And what do these words hide,
Hesitantly begun, and then quickly denied?
Are they trying to blind me with a useless feint?
Are they conspiring to cause me inner pain?
But I myself, despite my firm severity 1455
What plaintive voice calls out within me?
A hidden pity afflicts me, stuns my mind.
Let me question Oenone a second time.
I wish to be clearer about this whole affair.
Guards! Have Oenone alone come to me here. 1460
Act V Scene V (Theseus, Panope)
Panope
I'm not aware what purpose the Queen intends,
My Lord. But I fear where these throes may end.
A mortal despair is printed on her face:
The pallor of death already leaves its trace.
Already, driven in shame from her side, 1465
Oenone has drowned herself in the ocean tide.
No one knows what made those wild thoughts arise:
But the waves have snatched her forever from our eyes.
Theseus
What is this I hear?
Is it only your eyes an odious cloud covers,
Hiding his virtue that shines out to others?
Ah! To leave him to malicious tongues now.
Stop. And repent of your murderous vow:
Be fearful, my Lord, fearful lest heaven's rigour 1435
Hates you enough to execute your desire.
Often in anger it accepts our sacrifice:
Its gifts are often the punishment for our crimes.
Theseus
No, you'll conceal his offence in vain.
Your love blinds you in favour of the man. 1440
But I trust in sure irreproachable witnesses:
I've seen, I've seen true tears flow to excess.
Aricia
Take care, my Lord. Your unconquerable hand
From countless monsters, has freed the land:
But not all are destroyed, and you have spared 1445
One. . . your son, my Lord, forbids me to declare
What, knowing the respect he'd show to you,
I'd grieve him too much by daring to pursue.
I'll echo his discretion, and flee your presence,
So that I'm not required to break my silence.
1450
Act V Scene IV (Theseus)
Theseus
What is she thinking? And what do these words hide,
Hesitantly begun, and then quickly denied?
Are they trying to blind me with a useless feint?
Are they conspiring to cause me inner pain?
But I myself, despite my firm severity 1455
What plaintive voice calls out within me?
A hidden pity afflicts me, stuns my mind.
Let me question Oenone a second time.
I wish to be clearer about this whole affair.
Guards! Have Oenone alone come to me here. 1460
Act V Scene V (Theseus, Panope)
Panope
I'm not aware what purpose the Queen intends,
My Lord. But I fear where these throes may end.
A mortal despair is printed on her face:
The pallor of death already leaves its trace.
Already, driven in shame from her side, 1465
Oenone has drowned herself in the ocean tide.
No one knows what made those wild thoughts arise:
But the waves have snatched her forever from our eyes.
Theseus
What is this I hear?
