I've confessed an
unworthy
love he'll deplore.
Racine - Phaedra
Yet cruel one, if you still seek fresh glory
Attack some more rebellious enemy.
Hippolytus flees you, who, braving your anger,
Has never bowed his knees before your altar. 820
Your name seems to offend those proud ears of his.
Goddess, take vengeance! We share the same cause.
If only he loves. But already you return,
Oenone? He detests me: he will not listen.
Act III Scene III (Phaedra, Oenone)
Extinguish all thought of this vain amour,
Madame. And summon up your former honour. 825
The King, thought dead, will appear before your face:
Theseus is here: Theseus has reached this place.
The crowd go now to see him, in a headlong rush,
I went out, at your command, to find Hippolytus,
When a thousand cries split the heavens. . . 830
Phaedra
My husband is alive, Oenone, that's sufficient.
I've confessed an unworthy love he'll deplore.
He lives. And I wish to know of nothing more.
Oenone
What?
Phaedra
I predicted it, but you'd not accept it. 835
Your tears prevailed then over my deep regret.
Dying this morning I would have been wept for:
I followed your counsel: I die without honour.
Oenone
You die?
Phaedra
Just heavens! This day, what have I done?
My husband will appear: with him is his son. 840
I'll see the witness to my adulterous amour
Noting the manner in which I greet his father,
My heart full of the sighs he would not embrace,
My eyes wet with the tears scorned by that ingrate.
Do you think that he, conscious of Theseus' honour, 845
Will conceal what I am burning with, this ardour?
Will he let his king and father be betrayed?
Can he contain the horror he's displayed?
He'd be silent in vain.
