|
Phaedra
Sample Translations Act
II, Scène iii French
text HIPPOLYTE 569
Cependant vous sortez. Et je pars; et j'ignore 570
Si je n'offense point les charmes
que j'adore! 571
J'ignore si ce coeur que je laisse en vos mains... ARICIE 572
Partez prince, et suivez vos généreux desseins: 573
Rendez de mon pouvoir Athènes tributaire. 574
J'accepte tous les dons que vous me voulez
faire. 575
Mais cet empire enfin si grand, si glorieux, 576
N'est-ce pas de vos présents le plus cher à mes yeux Wilbur
(Our anthology, p. 175) HIPPOLYTUS But
now you’ll leave me! And I shall sail before I
learn my fate from her whom I adore, And
in whose hand I leave this heart of mine. . . . ARICIA Go,
Prince; pursue your generous design. Make
Athens subject to my royal sway. All
of your gifts I gladly take this day, But
that great empire, glorious though it be, In
not the offering most dear to me. Schmidt—a modern translation HIPPOLYTUS (beat)
Before you leave. . . have I offended you? The
passion that I feel— ARICIA There
is no need for
words. You offer me a kingdom, Prince. . . I
prefer your heart. Act
II, Scene V French
text HIPPOLYTE 609
Des droits de ses enfants une mère
jalouse 610
Pardonne rarement au fils d'une autre épouse; 611
Madame, je le sais ; les soupçons importuns 612
Sont d'un second hymen les
fruits les plus communs. 613
Tout autre aurait pour moi pris les mêmes ombrages. 614
Et j'en aurais peut-être essuyé plus d'outrages. PHÈDRE 615
Ah! seigneur! que le ciel, j'ose ici
l'attester, 616
De cette loi commune a voulu m'excepter ! 617
Qu'un soin bien différent me trouble
et me dévore! Wilbur
(Our anthology, p. 176) HIPPOLYTUS It’s
common, Madam, that a mother spites The
stepson who might claim her children’s rights. I
know that in a second marriage-bed Anxiety
and mistrust are often bred. Another
woman would have wished me ill As
you have, and perhaps been harsher still. PHÈDRE Ah,
Prince! By what a different care am I beset! Schmidt—a modern translation HIPPOLYTUS I
understand. You
worry for your son, you wonder now where I
fit in. Of course this happens; a
step-son is rarely his step-mother’s pride. PHÈDRE No,
that isn’t it. JoAnne
Akalaitis adaptation
no. 1 HIPPOLYTUS I
understand. Theseus’
amorous adventures created a
dangerous situation. I’m
older than your son, and you’re jealous of
his rights. You mistrusted me with good reason.
Most women, in your position, would
have been more cruel. PHÈDRE No,
that isn’t it. JoAnne
Akalaitis adaptation
no. 2 HIPPOLYTUS I
think you hate me, and I don’t hate you. Theseus
has many sons, but Athens only one crown. It’s
only natural for you to want it for your son. Most
women, in your position, Would
have been more cruel. PHÈDRE No,
that isn’t it. Act
I, Scene III French
Text OENONE 251
Oublions-les madame; et qu'à tout l'avenir 252
Un silence éternel cache
ce souvenir. Wilbur
(Our anthology, p. 168) OENONE Dear
Queen, forget it; to the end of time Let
silence shroud the memory of that crime. Schmidt—a modern translation ONONE Forget
your mother. The less we say the better. Akalaitis version 1 ENONE Forget
your creepy mother and her lust for the bull. The less we say the better. Akalaitis version 2 ENONE The
curse of Venus has run its course. Surely
your mother’s love for Neptune’s bull and
her son the minotaur satisfied the Goddess’ rage. The
less we say now the better. |