Racine: Phaedra

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EURIPIDES
On which he glories, with his artful tongue,
That he a fair appearance can bestow,
He dares to practise, nor is truly wise.
No longer then this specious language hold
To me, who by one word can strike thee dumb.
Hadst thou not acted with a base design,
It was thy duty first to have prevailed
On me to give consent, ere these espousals
Thou hadst contracted, nor kept such design
A secret from thy friends.
Jason.— You would have served
My cause most gloriously, had I disclosed
To you my purposed nuptials, when the rage
Of that proud heart still unsubdued remains.
Medea,—Thy real motive was not what thou say'st,
But a Barbarian wife, in thy old age.
Might have appeared to tarnish thy renown.
Jason.—Be well assured, love urged me not to take
The daughter of the monarch to my bed.
But 'twas my wish to save you from distress,
As I already have declared, and raise
Some royal brothers to our former sons.
Strengthening with fresh supports our shattered house.
Medea.—May that prosperity which brings remorse
Be never mine, nor riches such as sting
The soul with anguish.
Jason.— Are you not aware
You soon will change your mind and grow more wise!
Forbear to spurn the blessings you possess,
Nor droop beneath imaginary woes.
When you are happy.
Medea.— Scoff at my distress,
For thou hast an asylum to receive thee
But from this land am I constrained to roam
A lonely exile.
Jason.— This was your own choice
Accuse none else.
Medea.— What have I done—betrayed
My plighted faith and sought a foreign bed ?