Racine: Phaedra

So
SOPHOCLES
The twisted rope he loosens, and she fell,
Ill-starred one, on the ground. Then came a sight
Most fearful. Tearing from her robe the clasps,
All chased with gold, with which she decked herself,
He with them struck the pupils of his eyes.
With words like these — " Because they had not seen
What ills he suffered and what ills he did,
They in the dark should look, in time to come,
On those whom they ought never to have seen.
Nor know the dear ones whom he fain had known."
With such like wails, not once or twice alone.
Raising his eyes, he smote them, and the balls.
All bleeding, stained his cheek, nor poured they forth
Gore drops slow trickling, but the purple shower
Fell fast and full, a pelting storm of blood.
Such were the ills that sprang from both of them.
Not on one only, wife and husband both.
His ancient fortune, which he held of old.
Was truly fortune ; but for this day's doom
Wailing and woe, and death and shame, all forms
That man can name of evil, none have failed.
Chorus.—What rest from suffering hath the poor wretch now ?
Second Messenger.—He calls to us to ope the bolts, and show
To all in Thebes his father's murderer.
His mother's . . . Foul and fearful were the words
He spoke ; I dare not speak them. Then he said
That he would cast himself adrift, nor stay
At home accursed, as himself had cursed.
Some stay he surely needs, or guiding hand,
For greater is the ill than he can bear,
And this he soon will show thee, for the bolts
Of the two gates are opening, and thou'lt see
A sight to touch e'en hatred's self with pity.
[The doors of the Palace are thrown open, and (Edipus is seen
within.^
Chorus.—Oh, fearful sight for men to look upon
Most fearful of all woes
I hitherto have known ! What madness strange
Has come on thee, thou wretched one ?