The Dramatic Works of Jean Racine: A Metrical English Version, Volume 2G. Bell and sons, 1918 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ABNER ACHILLES ACHMET AGAMEMNON AHASUERUS altar Amurath ARBATES ARCAS ARICIA arms ATALIDE ATHALIAH avenge Bajazet betray'd blood Calchas CENONE charms child CHORUS CLYTEMNESTRA crime cruel dare daughter dear death deceived DORIS dost thou dread E'en ENONE ERIPHYLE ESTHER eyes fain faithful fatal fate father FATIMA favour fear foes fury giv'n glory gods guard HAMAN hand happy hast hate hatred hear heart Heav'n hide HIPPOLYTUS hither holy honour HYDASPES impious IPHIGENIA ISMENE JEHOIADA JEHOSHEBA JOASH King Levites lord Madam MAIDEN marriage MATTAN MITHRIDATES MONIMA mother NABAL ne'er o'er OSMAN palace passion PHÆDRA Pharnaces PHEDIMA pity pow'r pray'rs priests Prince Queen rage Rome ROXANA SALOME Scene secret seem'd shame sight sire slave soul speak Sultan sword tears tell Temple thee THERAMENES THESEUS thine throne traitor tremble vengeance voice wish words wrath wretch XIPHARES ZACHARIAH ZARA zeal
Popular passages
Page 223 - How eagerly my heart hears what you say, Tho' it may be delusion, dear Ismene ! Did it seem possible to you, who know me, That I, sad sport of a relentless Fate, Fed up'on bitter tears by night and day, Could ever taste the maddening draught of love? The last frail offspring of a royal race, Children of Earth, I only have survived War's fury. Cut off in the flow'r of youth, Mown by the sword, six brothers have I lost, The hope of an illustrious house, whose blood Earth drank with sorrow, near akin...
Page 260 - tis too much to let false tongues defame him. Repent; call back your murderous wishes, Sire; 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...
Page 213 - I blush, (Enone, and confusion covers My face, for I have let you see too clearly The shame and grief that, in my own despite, O'erflow these eyes of mine.
Page 265 - Only too sure at last that he lies there Before her, with sad eyes that silently Reproach the gods, she shudders, groans, and falls, Swooning and all but lifeless, at his feet. Ismene, all in tears, kneels down beside her, And calls her back to life — life that is naught But sense of pain. And I, to whom this light Is darkness now, come to discharge the duty The hero has imposed on me, to tell thee His last request — a melancholy task. But hither comes his mortal enemy.
Page 249 - Phaedra has secret cause to know it true. THESEUS Ah! how your shamelessness excites my wrath! HIPPOLYTUS What is my term and place of banishment ? THESEUS Were you beyond the Pillars of Alcides, Your perjured presence were too near me yet. HIPPOLYTUS What friends will pity me, when you forsake And think me guilty of a crime so vile? THESEUS...
Page 245 - With what relentless footsteps Fate pursues me ! Whither I go I know not, nor where now I am. O kind affection ill repaid ! Audacious scheme ! Abominable thought ! To reach the object of his foul desire The wretch disdain'd not to use violence. I know this sword that served him in his fury, The sword I gave him for a nobler use.
Page 238 - PHAEDRA (alone) Venus implacable, who seest me shamed And sore confounded, have I not enough Been humbled? How can cruelty be stretch'd Farther? Thy shafts have all gone home, and thou Hast triumph'd. Would'st thou win a new renown? Attack an enemy more contumacious: Hippolytus neglects thee, braves thy wrath, Nor ever at thine altars bow'd the knee. Thy name offends his proud, disdainful ears. Our interests are alike : avenge thyself, Force him to love — But what is this?
Page 251 - My lord, I come to you, fill'd with just dread. Your voice raised high in anger reach'd mine ears, And much I fear that deeds have follow'd threats. Oh, if there yet is time, spare your own offspring, Respect your race and blood, I do beseech you.
Page 267 - THESEUS. Would that the memory Of her disgraceful deed could perish with her! Ah, disabused too late! Come, let us go, And with the blood of mine unhappy son Mingle our tears, clasping his dear remains, In deep repentance for a pray'r detested. Let him be...
Page 228 - T is you she seeks. HIPPOLYTUS. Me? THERAMENES. What her thought may be I know not. But I speak on her behalf. She would converse with you ere you go hence. HIPPOLYTUS. What shall I say to her? Can she expect — ARICIA. You cannot, noble Prince, refuse to hear her, Howe'er convinced she is your enemy, Some shade of pity to her tears is due. HIPPOLYTUS. Shall we part thus? and will you let me go, Not knowing if my boldness has offended The goddess I adore? Whether this heart Left in your hands —...