Her leaders have taken
soundings
of every man.
Racine - Phaedra
Avoid hateful witnesses: remove:
Come, return home: flee now from certain shame.
Act II Scene VI (Hippolyte, Theramenes)
Theramenes
Is that Phaedra fleeing, or rather being led away?
Why, my Lord, why then all these signs of grief? 715
I see you without your sword, stunned, pale beyond belief.
Hippolytus
Theramenes, my astonishment's complete.
I can't view myself without horror. Let us leave.
Phaedra. . . No! You gods! In what deep oblivion
Must this appalling secret be entombed! 720
Theramenes
If you're ready to depart, the sails are rigged.
But Athens, my Lord, has already voted.
Her leaders have taken soundings of every man.
Your brother carried the day: Phaedra has won.
Hippolytus
Phaedra?
Theramenes
A herald charged with Athen's demands 725
Comes now, to place control of the state in her hands.
Her son is king, my Lord.
Hippolytus
You gods, who know her,
Is it for her virtues you now reward her?
Theramenes
Meanwhile vague rumours say the king still lives.
They claim that Theseus appeared in Epirus. 730
But I who looked for him, my Lord, well knowing. . .
Hippolytus
No matter: listen to all, and neglect nothing
Let's look into this rumour, trace its source.
If it doesn't merit any change of course,
We'll leave: and whatever the cost to us may be, 735
We'll yet place the sceptre in hands more worthy.
Act III Scene I (Phaedra, Oenone)
Oh! If they'd take elsewhere the honours they send me!
Importunate girl, do you want them to see me?
Come, return home: flee now from certain shame.
Act II Scene VI (Hippolyte, Theramenes)
Theramenes
Is that Phaedra fleeing, or rather being led away?
Why, my Lord, why then all these signs of grief? 715
I see you without your sword, stunned, pale beyond belief.
Hippolytus
Theramenes, my astonishment's complete.
I can't view myself without horror. Let us leave.
Phaedra. . . No! You gods! In what deep oblivion
Must this appalling secret be entombed! 720
Theramenes
If you're ready to depart, the sails are rigged.
But Athens, my Lord, has already voted.
Her leaders have taken soundings of every man.
Your brother carried the day: Phaedra has won.
Hippolytus
Phaedra?
Theramenes
A herald charged with Athen's demands 725
Comes now, to place control of the state in her hands.
Her son is king, my Lord.
Hippolytus
You gods, who know her,
Is it for her virtues you now reward her?
Theramenes
Meanwhile vague rumours say the king still lives.
They claim that Theseus appeared in Epirus. 730
But I who looked for him, my Lord, well knowing. . .
Hippolytus
No matter: listen to all, and neglect nothing
Let's look into this rumour, trace its source.
If it doesn't merit any change of course,
We'll leave: and whatever the cost to us may be, 735
We'll yet place the sceptre in hands more worthy.
Act III Scene I (Phaedra, Oenone)
Oh! If they'd take elsewhere the honours they send me!
Importunate girl, do you want them to see me?
