you must have seen their meetings, watched
them
sneak
off to their forest, playing hide-and-seek !
Alas, such rendezvous are no offense:
innocent nature smiles on innocence,
for them each natural impulse was allowed,
each day was summer and without a cloud.
Oenone, nature hated me. I fled
its light, as if a price were on my head.
I masked my grace and hungered for my end.
Death was the only God my vows could bend.
And even while my desolation served
me gall and tears, I knew I was observed;
I never had security or leisure
for honest weeping, but must steal this pleasure.
Oh hideous pomp; a monarch only wears
the robes of majesty to hide her tears!
OENONE:
How can their folly help them? They will never
enjoy its fruit.
PHAEDRA:
Ugh, they will love forever-
even while I am talking, they embrace,
they taunt me, they are laughing in my face!
In the teeth of exile, I can hear them swear
they will be true forever, everywhere.
Oenone, have pity on my jealous rage;
I'll
kill
this happiness that jeers at age.
I'll summon Theseus; hate shall answer hate!
I'll drive my husband to annihilate
Aricia-let no trivial punishment,
her instant death, or bloodless banishment . . .
What am I saying? Have I lost my mind?
I am jealous, and call my husband! Bind
me, gag me; I am frothing with desire.
My husband is alive, and I'm on fire!
