POETRY.
PASSAGES PARAPHRASED IN ENGLISH FROM RACINE'S PHEDRE.
(Phedre envies the true lovers.) Their happy loves shall no remorse condemn. Pure and serene each morning dawns for them.
(Phedre imagines herself before the Judgment-seat of Minos.) Constrained my crimes to count, perchance to tell, Of deeds as yet unregistered in Hell.
(drone's threat of suicide.) A thousand roads lie open night and day—
To that dread shore I'll take the nearest way.
-(Hippolytus discloses his passion to Aricie.) Through the deep woods your image haunts my flight, In the sun's blaze and in the shades of night. I see the beauties that I dare not meet. Nature abhors the rebel Hippolyte.
((Boone tells Phedre that she must falsely acense Hippolytus in
order to save her honour.) A father when he punishes is still A father. If with ire his heart he fill, His love shall yet play traitor to his will. Light falls the stroke on children that do ill. But even if the guiltless blood must flow, 'Twere better than our Honour's overthrow.
Be that preserved without or blot or stain, A treasure which once lost none e'er regain.
To such necessity you needs must yield. No law can help you here, or prove your shield. Madam, when Honour is the prize at stake, There is no sacrifice you dare not make.
E'en Virtue on that altar-stone must bleed—
But see ! 'Tis Theseus comes. Pause and take heed,
J. ST. LOE STRACHEY.
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