VOLTAIRE: 60+ Works in One Volume - Philosophical Writings, Novels, Historical Works, Poetry, Plays & Letters. Вольтер. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: Вольтер
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But say,

       Is it your will that he depart?

      jocaste.

       It is:

       And O! if he would listen to Jocaste,

       Never return, never behold me more;

       Fly from this fatal, this distressful scene,

       And save my life and fame. But what detains him?

       Why hastes he not? Ægina, fly—

      SCENE II.

       Table of Contents

      philoctetes, ægina, jocaste.

      jocaste.

       He’s here.

       O prince, my soul is on the rack; I blush

       To see the man whom duty bids me shun,

       Which says I should forget and not betray thee.

       Doubtless thou knowest the dreadful fate that hangs

       O’er thy devoted head.

      philoctetes.

       The clamorous people

       Demand my life; but they have suffered much,

       And therefore, though unjust, I pity them.

      jocaste.

       Yield not thyself a victim to their rage:

       Away, begone; as yet thou art thyself

       The master of thy fate; but this perhaps

       Is the last minute that can give me power

       To save thee: far, O fly far from Jocaste;

       And, in return for added life, I beg thee

       But to forget ’twas I who thus preserved it.

      philoctetes.

       I could have wished, Jocaste, thou hadst shown

       More strength of mind, and less compassion for me;

       Preferred with me my honor to my life,

       And rather bade me die than meanly quit

       My station here: I yet am innocent,

       But in obeying thee I should be guilty.

       Of all the blessings heaven bestowed upon me,

       My honor and my fame alone remain

       Untouched. O! do not rob me of a treasure

       So precious to me; do not make me thus

       Unworthy of Jocaste. I have lived,

       Lived to fulfil the fate allotted to me;

       Have passed my sacred word to Œdipus,

       And whatsoever suspicions he may cherish,

       I am a stranger to the breach of honor.

      jocaste.

       O Philoctetes, let me here entreat thee,

       By the just gods, by that ill-fated passion,

       Which once inspired thy breast, if aught remains

       Of tender friendship, if thou still rememberest

       How much my happiness on thine depended,

       Deign to prolong a glorious life, and days

       That should have been united with Jocaste.

      philoctetes.

       To thee devoted I would have them still

       In equal tenor flow, and worthy of thee;

       I’ve lived far from thee, and shall die content,

       If thy regard attends me to the tomb

       Who knows but heaven may yet refuse to see

       This bloody sacrifice; perhaps, in mercy

       It guided me to Thebes to save Jocaste;

       Shortened my days, perhaps, to lengthen thine.

       Happy event! the blood of innocence

       May be accepted; mine is not unworthy.

      SCENE III.

       Table of Contents

      œdipus, jocaste, philoctetes, ægina, araspes, with Attendants.

      œdipus.

       Fear not the clamors of an idle crowd,

       That rage tumultuous, and demand thy death:

       Know, Philoctetes, I have calmed their rage

       And will myself, if needful, be thy guard.

       I judge not with the hasty multitude,

       But wish to see thy innocence appear:

       My doubtful mind, uncertain where to fix,

       Nor dares or to condemn, or to acquit thee:

       Heaven can alone determine all, which hears

       My ardent prayer; at length it seems appeased,

       And by its priest shall soon point out the victim.

       The gods shall soon decide ’twixt Thebes and thee.

      philoctetes.

       Great is thy love of truth, O king, but know

       Justice extreme is height of injury;

       We must not always hearken to the voice

       Of rigor: honor is the first of laws,

       Let us observe it. But thou seest me sunk

       Beneath myself, answering the slandrous tongues

       Of base defamers, whom I should despise.

       O let not Œdipus unite with such

       To ruin my fair fame! it is enough

       That I deny it; ’tis enough to call

       My life before thee. Let Alcides come,

       And bring with him the monsters I destroyed,

       The tyrants I subdued; let these stand forth

       My witnesses, and let my enemies confute them.

       But ask your priest whether his gods condemn me;

       I’ll wait their sentence; not because I fear it,

       But to preserve thy persecuted people.

      SCENE IV.

       Table of Contents

      œdipus, jocaste, high priest, araspes, philoctetes, ægina, Attendants, chorus.

      œdipus.

       Will heaven at last indulgent to our prayers

       Withdraw its vengeance? By what murderous hand

       Was it offended?

      philoctetes.

       Speak, whose blood must flow

       For expiation?

      high priest.

       Fatal gift of heaven!

       Unhappy knowledge! to what dangers oft

       Dost thou betray the heart of curious man!

       O would that fate, thus open to my view,

       Had o’er its secrets drawn the eternal veil

       To hide them from my sight!

      philoctetes.