Phèdre Read online

  Will move the gods, his ancestors, to wrath Against his mother. Live, your guilt is gone, No blame attaches to your passion now.

  The King's decease has freed you from the bonds That made the crime and horror of your love. Hippolytus no longer need be dreaded,

  Him you may see henceforth without reproach. It may be, that, convinced of your aversion, He means to head the rebels. Undeceive him, Soften his callous heart, and bend his pride. King of this fertile land, in Troezen here His portion lies; but as he knows, the laws Give to your son the ramparts that Minerva Built and protects. A common enemy

  Threatens you both, unite them to oppose Aricia.

  PHAEDRA

  To your counsel I consent.

  Yes, I will live, if life can be restored, If my affection for a son has pow'r

  To rouse my sinking heart at such a dangerous hour.

  ACT II

  SCENE I

  ARICIA, ISMENE ARICIA

  Hippolytus request to see me here! Hippolytus desire to bid farewell! Is't true, Ismene? Are you not deceived?

  ISMENE

  This is the first result of Theseus' death. Prepare yourself to see from every side. Hearts turn towards you that were kept away By Theseus. Mistress of her lot at last, Aricia soon shall find all Greece fall low, To do her homage.

  ARICIA

  'Tis not then, Ismene,

  An idle tale? Am I no more a slave? Have I no enemies?

  ISMENE

  The gods oppose

  Your peace no longer, and the soul of Theseus Is with your brothers.

  ARICIA

  Does the voice of fame Tell how he died?

  ISMENE

  Rumours incredible

  Are spread. Some say that, seizing a new bride, The faithless husband by the waves was swallow'd. Others affirm, and this report prevails, That with Pirithous to the world below

  He went, and saw the shores of dark Cocytus, Showing himself alive to the pale ghosts; But that he could not leave those gloomy realms, Which whoso enters there abides for ever.

  ARICIA

  Shall I believe that ere his destined hour A mortal may descend into the gulf Of Hades? What attraction could o'ercome Its terrors?

  ISMENE

  He is dead, and you alone

  Doubt it. The men of Athens mourn his loss. Troezen already hails Hippolytus

  As King. And Phaedra, fearing for her son, Asks counsel of the friends who share her trouble, Here in this palace.

  ARICIA

  Will Hippolytus, Think you, prove kinder than his sire, make light My chains, and pity my misfortunes?

  ISMENE

  Yes,

  I think so, Madam.

  ARICIA

  Ah, you know him not

  Or you would never deem so hard a heart Can pity feel, or me alone except

  From the contempt in which he holds our sex. Has he not long avoided every spot

  Where we resort?

  ISMENE

  I know what tales are told

  Of proud Hippolytus, but I have seen

  Him near you, and have watch'd with curious eye How one esteem'd so cold would bear himself. Little did his behavior correspond

  With what I look'd for; in his face confusion Appear'd at your first glance, he could not turn His languid eyes away, but gazed on you. Love is a word that may offend his pride, But what the tongue disowns, looks can betray.

  ARICIA

  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 upon 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 to his Whom she herself produced. Since then, you know How thro' all Greece no heart has been allow'd To sigh for me, lest by a sister's flame The brothers' ashes be perchance rekindled. You know, besides, with what disdain I view'd My conqueror's suspicions and precautions, And how, oppos'd as I have ever been

  To love, I often thank'd the King's injustice Which happily confirm'd my inclination.

  But then I never had beheld his son.

  Not that, attracted merely by the eye, I love him for his beauty and his grace,

  Endowments which he owes to Nature's bounty, Charms which he seems to know not or to scorn. I love and prize in him riches more rare, The virtues of his sire, without his faults. I love, as I must own, that generous pride Which ne'er has stoop'd beneath the amorous yoke. Phaedra reaps little glory from a lover So lavish of his sighs; I am too proud

  To share devotion with a thousand others, Or enter where the door is always open. But to make one who ne'er has stoop'd before Bend his proud neck, to pierce a heart of stone, To bind a captive whom his chains astonish, Who vainly 'gainst a pleasing yoke rebels,— That piques my ardour, and I long for that. 'Twas easier to disarm the god of strength Than this Hippolytus, for Hercules

  Yielded so often to the eyes of beauty, As to make triumph cheap. But, dear Ismene, I take too little heed of opposition

  Beyond my pow'r to quell, and you may hear me, Humbled by sore defeat, upbraid the pride I now admire. What! Can he love? and I

  Have had the happiness to bend—

  ISMENE

  He comes

  Yourself shall hear him.

  SCENE II

  HIPPOLYTUS, ARICIA, ISMENE HIPPOLYTUS

  Lady, ere I go

  My duty bids me tell you of your change

  Of fortune. My worst fears are realized; My sire is dead. Yes, his protracted absence Was caused as I foreboded. Death alone,

  Ending his toils, could keep him from the world Conceal'd so long. The gods at last have doom'd Alcides' friend, companion, and successor. I think your hatred, tender to his virtues, Can hear such terms of praise without resentment, Knowing them due. One hope have I that soothes My sorrow: I can free you from restraint. Lo, I revoke the laws whose rigour moved My pity; you are at your own disposal,

  Both heart and hand; here, in my heritage, In Troezen, where my grandsire Pittheus reign'd Of yore and I am now acknowledged King,

  I leave you free, free as myself,—and more.

  ARICIA

  Your kindness is too great, 'tis overwhelming. Such generosity, that pays disgrace

  With honour, lends more force than you can think To those harsh laws from which you would release me.

  HIPPOLYTUS

  Athens, uncertain how to fill the throne Of Theseus, speaks of you, anon of me, And then of Phaedra's son.

  ARICIA Of me, my lord? HIPPOLYTUS

  I know myself excluded by strict law:

  Greece turns to my reproach a foreign mother. But if my brother were my only rival,

  My rights prevail o'er his clearly enough To make me careless of the law's caprice. My forwardness is check'd by juster claims: To you I yield my place, or, rather, own

  That it is yours by right, and yours the sceptre, As handed down from Earth's great son, Erechtheus. Adoption placed it in the hands of Aegeus: Athens, by him protected and increased,

  Welcomed a king so generous as my sire,

  And left your hapless brothers in oblivion. Now she invites you back within her walls; Protracted strife has cost her groans enough, Her fields are glutted with your kinsmen's blood Fatt'ning the furrows out of which it sprung At first. I rule this Troezen; while the son Of Phaedra has in Crete a rich domain.

  Athens is yours. I will do all I can

  To join for you the votes divided now

  Between us.

  ARICIA

  Stunn'd at all I hear, my lord,

  I fear, I almost fear a dream deceives me. Am I indeed awake? Can I believe

  Such generosity? What god has put it

  Into y
our heart? Well is the fame deserved That you enjoy! That fame falls short of truth! Would you for me prove traitor to yourself? Was it not boon enough never to hate me, So long to have abstain'd from harbouring The enmity—

  HIPPOLYTUS

  To hate you? I, to hate you?

  However darkly my fierce pride was painted, Do you suppose a monster gave me birth? What savage temper, what envenom'd hatred Would not be mollified at sight of you? Could I resist the soul-bewitching charm—

  ARICIA

  Why, what is this, Sir? HIPPOLYTUS

  I have said too much

  Not to say more. Prudence in vain resists The violence of passion. I have broken Silence at last, and I must tell you now The secret that my heart can hold no longer. You see before you an unhappy instance Of hasty pride, a prince who claims compassion I, who, so long the enemy of Love,

  Mock'd at his fetters and despised his captives, Who, pitying poor mortals that were shipwreck'd, In seeming safety view'd the storms from land, Now find myself to the same fate exposed, Toss'd to and fro upon a sea of troubles! My boldness has been vanquish'd in a moment, And humbled is the pride wherein I boasted. For nearly six months past, ashamed, despairing, Bearing where'er I go the shaft that rends My heart, I struggle vainly to be free

  From you and from myself; I shun you, present; Absent, I find you near; I see your form In the dark forest depths; the shades of night, Nor less broad daylight, bring back to my view The charms that I avoid; all things conspire To make Hippolytus your slave. For fruit Of all my bootless sighs, I fail to find My former self. My bow and javelins

  Please me no more, my chariot is forgotten, With all the Sea God's lessons; and the woods Echo my groans instead of joyous shouts Urging my fiery steeds.

  Hearing this tale

  Of passion so uncouth, you blush perchance At your own handiwork. With what wild words I offer you my heart, strange captive held By silken jess! But dearer in your eyes Should be the offering, that this language comes Strange to my lips; reject not vows express'd So ill, which but for you had ne'er been form'd.

  SCENE III

  HIPPOLYTUS, ARICIA, THERAMENES, ISMENE THERAMENES

  Prince, the Queen comes. I herald her approach. 'Tis 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—

  ARICIA

  Go, Prince, pursue the schemes

  Your generous soul dictates, make Athens own My sceptre. All the gifts you offer me Will I accept, but this high throne of empire Is not the one most precious in my sight.

  SCENE IV

  HIPPOLYTUS, THERAMENES HIPPOLYTUS

  Friend, is all ready?

  But the Queen approaches.

  Go, see the vessel in fit trim to sail.

  Haste, bid the crew aboard, and hoist the signal: Then soon return, and so deliver me

  From interview most irksome.

  SCENE V

  PHAEDRA, HIPPOLYTUS, OENONE PHAEDRA (to OENONE)

  There I see him!

  My blood forgets to flow, my tongue to speak What I am come to say.

  OENONE

  Think of your son,

  How all his hopes depend on you.

  PHAEDRA

  I hear

  You leave us, and in haste. I come to add My tears to your distress, and for a son Plead my alarm. No more has he a father, And at no distant day my son must witness My death. Already do a thousand foes

  Threaten his youth. You only can defend him But in my secret heart remorse awakes, And fear lest I have shut your ears against His cries. I tremble lest your righteous anger Visit on him ere long the hatred earn'd By me, his mother.

  HIPPOLYTUS

  No such base resentment, Madam, is mine.

  PHAEDRA

  I could not blame you, Prince,

  If you should hate me. I have injured you: So much you know, but could not read my heart. T' incur your enmity has been mine aim. The self-same borders could not hold us both; In public and in private I declared

  Myself your foe, and found no peace till seas Parted us from each other. I forbade Your very name to be pronounced before me. And yet if punishment should be proportion'd To the offence, if only hatred draws Your hatred, never woman merited

  More pity, less deserved your enmity.

  HIPPOLYTUS

  A mother jealous of her children's rights Seldom forgives the offspring of a wife Who reign'd before her. Harassing suspicions Are common sequels of a second marriage. Of me would any other have been jealous No less than you, perhaps more violent.

  PHAEDRA

  Ah, Prince, how Heav'n has from the general law Made me exempt, be that same Heav'n my witness! Far different is the trouble that devours me!

  HIPPOLYTUS

  This is no time for self-reproaches, Madam. It may be that your husband still beholds The light, and Heav'n may grant him safe return, In answer to our prayers. His guardian god Is Neptune, ne'er by him invoked in vain.

  PHAEDRA

  He who has seen the mansions of the dead Returns not thence. Since to those gloomy shores Theseus is gone, 'tis vain to hope that Heav'n May send him back. Prince, there is no release From Acheron's greedy maw. And yet, methinks, He lives, and breathes in you. I see him still Before me, and to him I seem to speak;

  My heart—

  Oh! I am mad; do what I will,

  I cannot hide my passion.

  HIPPOLYTUS

  Yes, I see

  The strange effects of love. Theseus, tho' dead, Seems present to your eyes, for in your soul There burns a constant flame.

  PHAEDRA

  Ah, yes for Theseus

  I languish and I long, not as the Shades

  Have seen him, of a thousand different forms The fickle lover, and of Pluto's bride

  The would-be ravisher, but faithful, proud E'en to a slight disdain, with youthful charms Attracting every heart, as gods are painted, Or like yourself. He had your mien, your eyes, Spoke and could blush like you, when to the isle Of Crete, my childhood's home, he cross'd the waves, Worthy to win the love of Minos' daughters. What were you doing then? Why did he gather The flow'r of Greece, and leave Hippolytus? Oh, why were you too young to have embark'd On board the ship that brought thy sire to Crete? At your hands would the monster then have perish'd, Despite the windings of his vast retreat. To guide your doubtful steps within the maze My sister would have arm'd you with the clue. But no, therein would Phaedra have forestall'd her, Love would have first inspired me with the thought; And I it would have been whose timely aid Had taught you all the labyrinth's crooked ways. What anxious care a life so dear had cost me! No thread had satisfied your lover's fears: I would myself have wish'd to lead the way, And share the peril you were bound to face; Phaedra with you would have explored the maze, With you emerged in safety, or have perish'd.

  HIPPOLYTUS

  Gods! What is this I hear? Have you forgotten That Theseus is my father and your husband?

  PHAEDRA

  Why should you fancy I have lost remembrance Thereof, and am regardless of mine honour?

  HIPPOLYTUS

  Forgive me, Madam. With a blush I own That I misconstrued words of innocence. For very shame I cannot bear your sight Longer. I go—

  PHAEDRA

  Ah! cruel Prince, too well

  You understood me. I have said enough

  To save you from mistake. I love. But think not That at the moment when I love you most

  I do not feel my guilt; no weak compliance Has fed the poison th
at infects my brain. The ill-starr'd object of celestial vengeance, I am not so detestable to you

  As to myself. The gods will bear me witness, Who have within my veins kindled this fire, The gods, who take a barbarous delight

  In leading a poor mortal's heart astray.

  Do you yourself recall to mind the past:

  'Twas not enough for me to fly, I chased you Out of the country, wishing to appear

  Inhuman, odious; to resist you better,

  I sought to make you hate me. All in vain! Hating me more I loved you none the less: New charms were lent to you by your misfortunes. I have been drown'd in tears, and scorch'd by fire; Your own eyes might convince you of the truth, If for one moment you could look at me.

  What is't I say? Think you this vile confession That I have made is what I meant to utter? Not daring to betray a son for whom

  I trembled, 'twas to beg you not to hate him I came. Weak purpose of a heart too full

  Of love for you to speak of aught besides! Take your revenge, punish my odious passion; Prove yourself worthy of your valiant sire, And rid the world of an offensive monster! Does Theseus' widow dare to love his son? The frightful monster! Let her not escape you! Here is my heart. This is the place to strike. Already prompt to expiate its guilt,

  I feel it leap impatiently to meet

  Your arm. Strike home. Or, if it would disgrace you To steep your hand in such polluted blood, If that were punishment too mild to slake Your hatred, lend me then your sword, if not Your arm. Quick, give't.

  OENONE

  What, Madam, will you do?

  Just gods! But someone comes. Go, fly from shame, You cannot 'scape if seen by any thus.

  SCENE VI

  HIPPOLYTUS, THERAMENES THERAMENES

  Is that the form of Phaedra that I see

  Hurried away? What mean these signs of sorrow? Where is your sword? Why are you pale, confused?

  HIPPOLYTUS

  Friend, let us fly. I am, indeed, confounded With horror and astonishment extreme. Phaedra—but no; gods, let this dreadful secret Remain for ever buried in oblivion.

  THERAMENES

  The ship is ready if you wish to sail. But Athens has already giv'n her vote; Their leaders have consulted all her tribes; Your brother is elected, Phaedra wins.

  HIPPOLYTUS Phaedra? THERAMENES

  A herald, charged with a commission From Athens, has arrived to place the reins Of power in her hands. Her son is King.