Goddess, take
vengeance!
Racine - Phaedra
800
Let him place the sacred diadem on his brow:
The honour of setting it there's all I wish now.
Let's cede the power we can't hold to this man.
He'll teach my son how to exercise command.
Perhaps he'd truly like to replace his father. 805
I'll commit to his power both son and mother.
Try every means you can to change his mind:
Your words will find a more ready ear than mine.
Urge him, weep; moan; paint Phaedra as dying,
Don't be ashamed to adopt a suppliant's sighing. 810
I'll approve you in all: I've no hope but you.
Go, I'll await you, then decide what I shall do.
Act III Scene II (Phaedra)
Phaedra
O you, who see the shame into which I fall,
Implacable Venus, am I sufficiently in thrall?
You could take your cruelty no further though. 815
Your triumph's complete: your arrows all strike home.
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?
Let him place the sacred diadem on his brow:
The honour of setting it there's all I wish now.
Let's cede the power we can't hold to this man.
He'll teach my son how to exercise command.
Perhaps he'd truly like to replace his father. 805
I'll commit to his power both son and mother.
Try every means you can to change his mind:
Your words will find a more ready ear than mine.
Urge him, weep; moan; paint Phaedra as dying,
Don't be ashamed to adopt a suppliant's sighing. 810
I'll approve you in all: I've no hope but you.
Go, I'll await you, then decide what I shall do.
Act III Scene II (Phaedra)
Phaedra
O you, who see the shame into which I fall,
Implacable Venus, am I sufficiently in thrall?
You could take your cruelty no further though. 815
Your triumph's complete: your arrows all strike home.
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?
