Racine: Phaedra

PH^DRA 351
Than there to bind it. His shall be the pow'r
I cannot keep ; and he shall teach my son
How to rule men. It may be he will deign
To be to him a father. Son and mother
He shall control. Try ev'ry means to move him
Your words will find more favor than can mine.
show Phaedra dying,
Urge him with groans and tears ;
Nor blush to use the voice of supplication.
In you is my last hope ; I'll sanction all
You say ; and on the issue hangs my fate.
Scene II.
PHiEDRA [alone].—Venus implacable, who seest me shamed
And sore confounded, have I not enough
Been humbled ? How can cruelty be stretch'd
Farther ? Thy shafts have all gone home, and thou
Hast triumph'd. Would'st thou win a new renown?
Attack an enemy more contumacious
Hippolytus neglects thee, braves thy wrath,
Nor ever at thine altars bow'd the knee.
Thy name offends his proud, disdainful ears.
Our interests are alike : avenge thyself,
Force him to love
But what is this ? CEnone
Return'd already ? He detests me then,
And will not hear you.
Scene III.
Phcedra, CEnone.
CEnone.—Madam, you must stifle
A fruitless love. Recall your former virtue
The king who was thought dead will soon appear
Before your eyes, Theseus has just arrived,
Theseus is here. The people flock to see him
With eager haste. I went by your command
To find the prince, when with a thousand shouts
The air was rent—
classics. Vol. 3o-p