Racine: Phaedra

THE MISANTHROPE 287
have more reason to be offended, if you saw me entirely
taken up with one.
Alceste. Yet I, whom you blame for too much jealousy, pray
what have I more than any of them ?
Celimene. The happiness of knowing that you are loved.
Alceste. And how can my yearning heart feel assured of it ?
Celimene. I should think that as I have taken the trouble to
tell you so, such a confession ought to satisfy you.
Alceste. But how shall I feel sure that you do not say as much
to everybody else at the same time?
Celimi^ne, Truly, a pretty speech for a lover! You make me
out to be a nice person ! Very well ; to spare you any
such suspicion, I retract at once all that I have said ; and
the possibility of being deceived, rests now with you alone.
Are you satisfied ?
Alceste. Alas! why do I love you so much? Oh! if ever
I free my heart from this thraldom, I will bless Heaven
for my rare good fortune ! I do not wish to hide it from
you; I do all I can to tear from my heart this terrible
fondness, but my most strenuous efforts have failed hither-
to. It is for my sins that I love you thus.
Celimene. It is true, your love for me is unparalleled.
Alceste. Yes, I can challenge the whole world. The depth
of my love no one can conceive, and never, madam, has
any man loved as I do.
Celimene. Quite so; your method is entirely new, for you
love people only to quarrel with them ;
your passion breaks
out only in unkind words, and never was there seen such
a grumbling lover.
Alceste. But it depends entirely on you for his grumbling
to cease. For pity's sake, let us cut short all these dis-
cussions, and let us deal openly with one another, and see
if we can put a stop to . . .
Scene II.
Celimene, Alceste, Basque
Celimene. What is the matter?
Ba.sque. Acastc is downstairs.
Celimene. Very well ; tell him to come up.