Racine: Phaedra

338
RACINE
ACT SECOND.
Scene I.
Aricia, Istneive.
Aricia.—Hippolytus request to see me here
Hippolytus desire to bid farewell
Is 't true, Ismene? Are you not deceived?
ISMENE.—This is the first result of Theseus' death.
Prepare yourself to see from every side
Hearts turn toward you that were kept away
By Theseus. Mistress of her lot at last,
Aricia soon shall find all Greece fall low,
To do her homage.
Aricia.— 'Tis not then, Ismene,
An idle tale ? Am I no more a slave ?
Have I no enemies?
Ismene.— The gods oppose
Your peace no longer, and the soul of Theseus
Is with your brothers.
Aricia.— Does the voice of fame
Tell how he died?
Ismene.— Rumors incredible
Are spread. Some say that, seizing a new bride,
The faithless husband by the waves was swallow'd.
Others affirm, and this report prevails.
That with Pirithous to the world below
He went, and saw the shores of dark Cocytus,
Showing himself alive to the pale ghosts
But that he could not leave those gloomy realms.
Which whoso enters there abides forever.
Aricia.—Shall I believe that ere his destined hour
A mortal may descend into the gulf
Of Hades ? What attraction could o'ercome
Its terrors?
Ismene.— He is dead, and you alone
Doubt it. The men of Athens mourn his loss.
Troezen already hails Hippolytus