Racine: Phaedra

CEDIPUS REX 81
What Power with one fell swoop.
Ills heaping upon ills,
Than greatest greater yet,
Has marked thee for its prey?
Woe ! woe ! thou doomed one, wishing much to ask.
And much to learn, and much to gaze into,
I cannot look on thee.
So horrible the sight
(Edipus,—Ah, woe ! ah, woe ! ah, woe
Woe for my misery!
Where am I wandering in my utter woe?
Where floats my voice in air?
Dread Power, with crushing might
Thou leaped'st on my head.
Chorus.—Yea, with dread doom nor sight nor speech may bear.
CEdipus.—O cloud of darkness, causing one to shrink,
That onward sweeps with dread ineffable,
Resistless, borne along by evil blast,
Woe, woe, and woe again
How through me darts the throb these clasps have caused.
And memory of my ills.
Chorus.—And who can wonder that in such dire woes
Thou mournest doubly, bearing twofold ills ?
CEdipus.—Ah, friend.
Thou only keepest by me, faithful found.
Nor dost the blind one slight.
Woe, woe,
For thou escap'st me not ; I clearly know,
Though all is dark, at least that voice of thine.
Chorus.—O man of fearful deeds, how could'st thou bear
Thine eyes to outrage ? What power stirred thee to it ?
CEdipus.—Apollo, oh, my friends, the god, Apollo,
Who worketh out all these, my bitter woes
Yet no man's hand but mine has smitten them.
What need for me to see.
When nothing's left that's sweet to look upon ?
Chorus.—Too truly dost thou speak the thing that is.
CEdipus.—Yea, what remains to see.
Or what to love, or hear,
With any touch of joy?