Racine: Phaedra

PH^DRA 369
Inherited your hatred and injustice;
He did not treat me Uke a criminal.
Theseus.—That is to say, he swore eternal love.
Do not rely on that inconstant heart
To others has he sworn as much before. ^
Aricia.—He, Sire?
Theseus.—You ought to check his roving taste
How could you bear a partnership so vile ?
Aricia.—And how can you endure that vilest slanders
Should make a life so pure as black as pitch?
Have you so little knowledge of his heart ?
Do you so ill distinguish between guilt
And innocence? What mist before your eyes
Blinds them to virtue so conspicuous?
Ah !
Repent ; call back your murderous wishes, Sire
'tis too much to let false tongues defame him.
Fear, fear lest Heav'n in its severity
Hate you enough to hear and grant your pray'rs.
Oft in their wrath the gods accept our victims,
And oftentimes chastise us with their gifts.
Theseus.—No, vainly would you cover up his guilt
Your love is blind to his depravity.
But I have witness irreproachable:
Tears have I seen, true tears, that may be trusted.
Aricia.—Take heed, my lord. Your hands invincible
Have rid the world of monsters numberless
But all are not destroy'd, one you have left
Alive— your son forbids me to say more.
Knowing with what respect he still regards you,
I should too much distress him if I dared
Complete my sentence. I will imitate
His reverence, and, to keep silence, leave you.
Scene IV.
Theseus [alone].—What is there in her mind? What meaning
lurks
In speech begun but to be broken short ?
Would both deceive me with a vain pretence ?
Have they conspired to put me to the torture?