Racine: Phaedra

PH.EDRA 339
As King. And Phaedra, fearing for her son,
Asks counsel of the friends who share her trouble.
Here in this palace.
A.iaciA.
Will Hippolytus,
Think you, prove kinder than his sire, make light
My chains, and pity my misfortunes ?
IsMENE. Yes,
I think so, Madam.
Aricia.— Ah, you know him not
Or you would never deem so hard a heart
Can pity feel, or me alone except
From the contempt in which he holds our sex.
Has he not long avoided every spot
Where we resort ?
ISMENE. I know what tales are told
Of proud Hippolytus, but I have seen
Him near you, and have watch'd with curious eye
How one esteem'd so cold would bear himself.
Little did his behavior correspond
With what I look'd for ; in his face confusion
Appear'd at your first glance, he could not turn
His languid eyes away, but gazed on you.
Love is a word that may offend his pride,
But what the tongue disowns, looks can betray.
Aricia.—How eagerly my heart hears what you say,
Tho' it may be delusion, dear Ismene
Did it seem possible to you, who know me.
That I, sad sport of a relentless Fate,
Fed upon bitter tears by night and day,
Could ever taste the maddening draught of love?
The last frail offspring of a royal race,
Children of Earth, I only have survived
War's fury. Cut off in the flow'r of youth,
Mown by the sword, six brothers have I lost,
The hope of an illustrious house, whose blood
Earth drank with sorrow, near akin to his
Whom she herself produced. Since then, you know
How thro' all Greece no heart has been allow'd
To sigh for me, lest by a sister's flame
The brothers' ashes be perchance rekindled.