I was
astonished
by such lack of joyousness, 1025
His cold embrace has chilled my tenderness.
His cold embrace has chilled my tenderness.
Racine - Phaedra
O kindness so ill repaid!
1005
A detestable design! A plot so boldly made!
To achieve the object of his dark course,
His insolence employed the use of force.
I recognise this blade, tool of his madness,
I armed him with it for a nobler purpose. 1010 Did our blood ties not provide enough restraint!
And Phaedra has delayed his punishment!
Phaedra's silence has spared the guilty one!
Oenone
Phaedra has rather spared a father's pain.
Ashamed of a passionate lover's designs 1015
The criminal desire reflected in his eyes,
Phaedra was dying. My Lord, a deadly sight,
Her hand quenching her eyes' innocent light.
I saw her lift her arm: I ran to save her.
I alone, for your love, have preserved her: 1020
And pitying both her distress and your fears,
Despite myself, I've served to explain her tears.
Theseus
The traitor couldn't prevent himself turning pale!
I saw him shudder with fear, finding me again.
I was astonished by such lack of joyousness, 1025
His cold embrace has chilled my tenderness.
But had he already declared this guilty love
In Athens, this passion by which he's devoured?
Oenone
My lord, remember the Queen's complaints.
His guilty passion the cause of all her hate. 1030
Theseus
And his passion then began again in Troezen?
Oenone
I've explained, my Lord, all that happened then.
The Queen has been left too long in mortal pain:
Allow me to leave you, and go to her again.
Act IV Scene II (Theseus, Hippolyte)
Theseus
Ah! He is there. High gods! Tell me whose seeing 1035
Wouldn't be misled, like mine, by noble bearing?
How can the brow of this profane adulterer
Shine out with virtue's sacred character?
And shouldn't we be able to recognise
The heart of a treacherous mortal by sure signs? 1040
Hippolytus
May I ask you, my Lord, what gloomy cloud,
Allows itself to trouble your noble brow?
Will you dare to confide this secret to me?
Theseus
Traitor, do you dare to show yourself before me?
A detestable design! A plot so boldly made!
To achieve the object of his dark course,
His insolence employed the use of force.
I recognise this blade, tool of his madness,
I armed him with it for a nobler purpose. 1010 Did our blood ties not provide enough restraint!
And Phaedra has delayed his punishment!
Phaedra's silence has spared the guilty one!
Oenone
Phaedra has rather spared a father's pain.
Ashamed of a passionate lover's designs 1015
The criminal desire reflected in his eyes,
Phaedra was dying. My Lord, a deadly sight,
Her hand quenching her eyes' innocent light.
I saw her lift her arm: I ran to save her.
I alone, for your love, have preserved her: 1020
And pitying both her distress and your fears,
Despite myself, I've served to explain her tears.
Theseus
The traitor couldn't prevent himself turning pale!
I saw him shudder with fear, finding me again.
I was astonished by such lack of joyousness, 1025
His cold embrace has chilled my tenderness.
But had he already declared this guilty love
In Athens, this passion by which he's devoured?
Oenone
My lord, remember the Queen's complaints.
His guilty passion the cause of all her hate. 1030
Theseus
And his passion then began again in Troezen?
Oenone
I've explained, my Lord, all that happened then.
The Queen has been left too long in mortal pain:
Allow me to leave you, and go to her again.
Act IV Scene II (Theseus, Hippolyte)
Theseus
Ah! He is there. High gods! Tell me whose seeing 1035
Wouldn't be misled, like mine, by noble bearing?
How can the brow of this profane adulterer
Shine out with virtue's sacred character?
And shouldn't we be able to recognise
The heart of a treacherous mortal by sure signs? 1040
Hippolytus
May I ask you, my Lord, what gloomy cloud,
Allows itself to trouble your noble brow?
Will you dare to confide this secret to me?
Theseus
Traitor, do you dare to show yourself before me?
