Racine: Phaedra

agS
MOLIERE
AcASTE. She is known for a perfect prude wherever she goes,
and the ardor of her zeal . . .
Celimene. Yes, yes, all pure afifectation. In her inmost soul
she is as worldly as any of us, and all her anxiety is to
hook somebody—not that she has any chance of success.
She looks with envy at the lovers of others, and, seeing her-
self forsaken by all, she ever raves against the blindness
of the age. She tries to hide behind the sham veil of the
prude the frightful isolation of her heart and, to save the
credit of her feeble charms, she condemns as criminal the
power they do not possess. Yet a lover would greatly
please the lady, and she has a certain weakness for Alceste,
The addresses he pays me are an insult to her attractions,
a robbery of which she is the victim ; and her jealous vexation,
which she can scarcely hide, vents itself anywhere
and at any time by some underhand fling at me. Indeed,
I never saw anything more stupid ; she is rude to the last
degree, and . .
Scene IV.
Arsinoe, Celimene, Clitandre, Acaste
Celimene. Ah, madam! what happy chance brings you here?
I was getting sincerely anxious about you.
Arsinoe. I have come, prompted by duty, to give you some
advice.
Celimene. Ah, how pleased I am to see you
[Exeunt Clitandre and Acaste, laughing.
Scene V.
Arsinoe, Celimene
Arsinoe. Their departure could not be more opportune.
Celimene. Shall we sit down?
Arsinoe. No, it is not necessary. Friendship, madam, ought
especially to show itself in those things which we consider
of the greatest consequence to us ; and as there are none
of more importance than honor and reputation, I come to