Racine: Phaedra

THE MISANTHROPE 301
that over-estimation of our own merit which we all have.
It depends entirely on you, madam, for us two to continue
this kindly office with equal zeal on both sides, and
to take great care to repeat what we hear : you of me,
I of you.
•Arsinoe. Ah! madam, I can hear nothing to your disadvan-
tage ; it is only in me that there is so much to reprove.
Celimene. Madam, my belief is that we may praise or blame
everything ; and that everything is right according to age
and taste. There is a time for gallantry, and a time for
prudery. We may adopt the latter out of policy, when the
glorious freshness of our youth has left us ; it covers much
vexatious neglect. I am not at all sure but that I shall follow
your example some day. Age will bring about many
changes; but it is not the time, madam, as you will acknowledge,
to play the prude at twenty.
Arsinoe. You boast of a very trifling advantage, madam,
and you proclaim your age very loudly. The difference
there may be between yours and mine is not so very great
for you to make so much of it, and I do not know why you
give way to so passionate an outburst and abuse me so
unmercifully.
Celimene. Neither do I know, madam, why you should everywhere
show yourself so bitter against me. Why should you
lay at my door all the vexations you may have ? Am I re-
sponsible for the advances that are not made to you? If
my presence inspires men with love, and if they persist in
offering me every day attentions which your heart may de-
sire for yourself, I have no power to prevent it, and it is
really no fault of mine. You are perfectly at liberty, and
I do not forbid you to have charms to attract them.
ARSiNoiJ. Alas ! and do you really think that I trouble myself
much about the number of lovers you are so vain of ; and
that it is not very easy to judge what is the price paid now-
adays to attract them? Do you wish to make people be-
lieve, with what we see going on, that your merit attracts
all that crowd ? that they are all inspired with a pure, honest
love for you? and that it is to your virtues alone they pay
their court? The world is no dupe, and is not blinded by
idle pretences. It sees some women who are made to inspire