Racine: Phaedra

374
RACINE
Scene VII.
Theseus, Phcedra, Theramenes, Panope, Guards.
Theseus.—Madam, you've triumph'd, and my son is kill'd
Ah, but what room have I for fear! How justly
Suspicion racks me that in blaming him
I err'd ! But he is dead ; accept your victim
Rightly or wrongly slain, let your heart leap
For joy. My eyes shall be forever blind
Since you accuse him, I'll believe him guilty.
His death afifords me cause enough for tears,
Without a foolish search for further light
Which, pow'rless to restore him to my grief,
Might only serve to make me more unhappy.
Far from this shore and far from you I'll fly,
For here the image of my mangled son
Would haunt my memory and drive me mad.
From the w^hole world I fain would banish me,
For all the world seems to rise up in judgment
Against me ; and my very glory weights
My punishment ; for, were my name less known,
'Twere easier to hide me. All the favors
The gods have granted me I mourn and hate.
Nor will I importune them with vain pray'rs
Henceforth forever. Give me what they may,
What they have taken will all else outweigh.
pHiEDRA.—Theseus, I cannot hear you and keep silence
I must repair the wrong that he has suffer'd
Your son was innocent.
Theseus.— Unhappy father!
And it was on your word that I condemn'd him
Think you such cruelty can be excused
PHiEDRA.—Moments to me are precious ; hear me, Theseus.
'Twas I who cast an eye of lawless passion
On chaste and dutiful Hippolytus.
Heav'n in my bosom kindled baleful fire,
And vile CEnone's cunning did the rest;
She fear'd Hippolytus, knowing my madness.
Would make that passion known which he regarded