Racine - Phaedra - College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

196 / JEAN RACINE
Shall slander ruin him? That were too much to bear.
Turn back: repent now of your murderous prayer.
Fear, my lord, fear lest the stem deities
So hate you as to grant your wrathful pleas.
Our sacrifices anger Heaven at times;
Its gifts are often sent to scourge our crimes.
THESEUS Your words can't cover up that sin of his:
Love's blinded you to what the scoundrel is.
But I've sure proofs on which I may rely:
I have seen tears-yes, tears which could not lie.
ARICIA Take care, my lord. You have, in many lands,
Slain countless monsters with your conquering hands;
But all are not destroyed; there still lives one
Who ... No, I am sworn to silence by your son.
Knowing his wish to shield your honor, I'd
Afflict him if I further testified.
I'll imitate his reticence, and flee
Your presence, lest the truth should burst from me.
,..
SCENE 4
THESEUS, alone
THESEUS What does she mean? These speeches which begin
And then break off-what are they keeping in?
Is this some sham those two have figured out?
Have they conspired to torture me with doubt?
But I myself, despite my stern control-
What plaintive voice cries from my inmost soul?
I feel a secret pity, a surge ofpain.
Oenone must be questioned once again.
I'll have more lighten this'. Not.all is known.
Guards, go and bringOenoneherevalone.. '
SCEN!' 5
. I.;.;'
PANOPE I don't know what.the.Queen may-contemplate;
My lord, but she is in a frightening state.
Mortal despair is what her looks bespeak; ..
Death's pallor is already on her cheek.
Oenone, driven from -her in disgrace,
Has thrown herself into the sea's .embrace.
None knows what madness caused the thing she did;
Beneath the waves she lies forever hid.
THESEUS What do you tell. me?
PANOPE This death has left the Queen
No calmer; her distraction grows more keen.
At moments, to allay her dark unrest, .
..,.:
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