Phaedra

Racine, Jean Baptiste

• Publisher: pubOne.info
• Year: 2010
• eBook ISBN: 9782819936176
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Classics
• Index: Literature

pubOne.info present you this new edition. JEAN BAPTISTE RACINE, the younger contemporary of Corneille, and his rival for supremacy in French classical tragedy, was born at Ferte-Milon, December 21, 1639. He was educated at the College of Beauvais, at the great Jansenist school at Port Royal, and at the College d'Harcourt. He attracted notice by an ode written for the marriage of Louis XIV in 1660, and made his first really great dramatic success with his "e;Andromaque. "e; His tragic masterpieces include "e;Britannicus, "e; "e;Berenice, "e; "e;Bajazet, "e; "e;Mithridate, "e; "e;Iphigenie, "e; and "e;Phaedre, "e; all written between 1669 and 1677. Then for some years he gave up dramatic composition, disgusted by the intrigues of enemies who sought to injure his career by exalting above him an unworthy rival. In 1689 he resumed his work under the persuasion of Mme. de Maintenon, and produced "e;Esther"e; and "e;Athalie, "e; the latter ranking among his finest productions, although it did not receive public recognition until some time after his death in 1699. Besides his tragedies, Racine wrote one comedy, "e;Les Plaideurs, "e; four hymns of great beauty, and a history of Port Royal

ACT I

SCENE I

HIPPOLYTUS, THERAMENES

HIPPOLYTUS

My mind is settled, dear Theramenes,

And I can stay no more in lovely Troezen.

In doubt that racks my soul with mortal anguish,

I grow ashamed of such long idleness.

Six months and more my father has been gone,

And what may have befallen one so dear

I know not, nor what corner of the earth

Hides him.

THERAMENES

And where, prince, will you look for him?

Already, to content your just alarm,

Have I not cross'd the seas on either side

Of Corinth, ask'd if aught were known of Theseus

Where Acheron is lost among the Shades,

Visited Elis, doubled Toenarus,

And sail'd into the sea that saw the fall

Of Icarus? Inspired with what new hope,

Under what favour'd skies think you to trace

His footsteps? Who knows if the King, your father,

Wishes the secret of his absence known?

Perchance, while we are trembling for his life,

The hero calmly plots some fresh intrigue,

And only waits till the deluded fair—

HIPPOLYTUS

Cease, dear Theramenes, respect the name

Of Theseus. Youthful errors have been left

Behind, and no unworthy obstacle

Detains him. Phaedra long has fix'd a heart

Inconstant once, nor need she fear a rival.

In seeking him I shall but do my duty,

And leave a place I dare no longer see.

THERAMENES

Indeed! When, prince, did you begin to dread

These peaceful haunts, so dear to happy childhood,

Where I have seen you oft prefer to stay,

Rather than meet the tumult and the pomp

Of Athens and the court? What danger shun you,

Or shall I say what grief?

HIPPOLYTUS

That happy time

Is gone, and all is changed, since to these shores

The gods sent Phaedra.

THERAMENES

I perceive the cause

Of your distress. It is the queen whose sight

Offends you. With a step-dame's spite she schemed

Your exile soon as she set eyes on you.

But if her hatred is not wholly vanish'd,

It has at least taken a milder aspect.

Besides, what danger can a dying woman,

One too who longs for death, bring on your head?

Can Phaedra, sick'ning of a dire disease

Of which she will not speak, weary of life

And of herself, form any plots against you?

HIPPOLYTUS

It is not her vain enmity I fear,

Another foe alarms Hippolytus.

I fly, it must be own'd, from young Aricia,

The sole survivor of an impious race.

THERAMENES

What! You become her persecutor too!

The gentle sister of the cruel sons

Of Pallas shared not in their perfidy;

Why should you hate such charming innocence?

HIPPOLYTUS

I should not need to fly, if it were hatred.

THERAMENES

May I, then, learn the meaning of your flight?

Is this the proud Hippolytus I see,

Than whom there breathed no fiercer foe to love

And to that yoke which Theseus has so oft

Endured? And can it be that Venus, scorn'd

So long, will justify your sire at last?

Has she, then, setting you with other mortals,

Forced e'en Hippolytus to offer incense

Before her? Can you love?

HIPPOLYTUS

Friend, ask me not.

You, who have kno...

Table of contents

• PHAEDRA
• INTRODUCTORY NOTE
• PHAEDRA
• ACT I
• ACT II
• ACT III
• ACT IV
• ACT V
• Copyright