amphitryon(安菲特利翁)-第8节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
reconciliation with her。 Alcmene is upstairs； is she not？
CLE。 Yes； she is thoroughly upset and wishes to be left alone： she has
forbidden me to follow her。
JUP。 Whatever prohibition she may have given you does not concern
30
… Page 31…
Amphitryon
me。
CLE。 So far as I can see； his grief has beaten a quick retreat。
SCENE V
CLEANTHIS； SOSIE
SOS。 What do you say； Cleanthis； to these cheerful looks； after his
terrible rage？
CLE。 That we should all do well to send all men to the devil； the best
of them is not worth much。
SOS。 You say that because you are in a passion； but you are too fond
of men； upon my word； you would all look as black as thunder if the devil
were to take them all away。
CLE。 Really 。 。 。
SOS。 Here they come。 Hush。
SCENE VI
JUPITER； ALCMENE； CLEANTHIS； SOSIE
JUP。 Do you want to drive me to despair？ Alas！ Stay； lovely Alcmene。
ALC。 No； I cannot remain longer with the author of my grief。
JUP。 I beseech you
ALC。 Leave me。
JUP。 What 。 。 。？
ALC。 Leave me； I tell you。
JUP。 Her tears touch me to the heart； her sorrow troubles me。 Allow
me to
ALC。 No； do not follow me；
JUP。 Where are you going？
ALC。 Where you are not。
JUP。 That would be a vain attempt to make。 I am linked to your beauty
by too close a bond to suffer a moment's separation from you。 I shall
follow you everywhere； Alcmene。
ALC。 And I shall flee from you everywhere。
JUP。 I am very terrible； then！
ALC。 Yes； more than I can say。 Indeed； I look upon you as a frightful
monster； a cruel； furious monster； whose approach is to be feared； as a
monster to be avoided everywhere。 My heart suffers incredible grief at the
31
… Page 32…
Amphitryon
sight of you； it is a torture that overpowers me； I do not know anything
under Heaven so frightful； horrible and odious； that I could not better
endure than you。
JUP。 Alas！ Do these words really come from your mouth？
ALC。 I have many more in my heart； I only regret I cannot find words
to express all I feel。
JUP。 Ah！ What has my heart done to you； Alcmene； that I should be
looked upon as such a monster？
ALC。 Oh！ Just Heaven！ He can ask that？ Is it not enough to drive me
mad？
JUP。 Yet； in a milder spirit 。 。 。
ALC。 No； I do not wish either to see or to hear anything of you。
JUP。 Have you really the heart to treat me thus？ Is this the tender love
which I heard yesterday was to last so long？
ALC。 No； no； it is not； your base insults have ordained it otherwise。
That passionate and tender love does not exist any longer； you have
cruelly killed it in my heart by a hundred keen wounds。 In its place stands
an inflexible wrath； a lively resentment； an invincible indignation； the
despair of a heart justly incensed； which resolves to hate you for this
grievous injury； as much as it was willing to love you； that is to say to hate
as much as possible。
JUP。 Alas！ Your love must have had but little strength； if it can be
killed by so slight a matter！ Can a jest divorce us？ Is there any need to be
so roused at a trifle？
ALC。 Ah！ It is just that which offends me： that which my anger cannot
pardon。 I should have felt less wounded by the justifiable transports of a fit
of jealousy。 Jealousy makes impressions the force of which oftentimes
carries us beyond our control； at such times the most discreet mind； no
doubt； finds it difficult enough to answer for its deeds。 The violence of a
heart which may have been deluded has； in its very delusion； a peace…
offering for an aggrieved soul； and the love that gave birth to its fears；
furnishes； in spite of all its violence； at least some reasons to urge as
excuse。 Outbursts such as these ever have love as an excuse against anger：
for love gave birth to them； and we can easily pardon what we cannot
32
… Page 33…
Amphitryon
control。
But to fly into uncontrollable fury； in gaiety of heart； and so
causelessly and keenly to wound the tenderness and honour of a heart that
dearly loves you； ah！ It is too cruel a blow： my grief can never forget it。
JUP。 Yes； you are right； Alcmene； I admit it。 This action is
unquestionably an odious crime； I do not pretend to justify it longer： yet
allow my heart to defend itself in your eyes； and let it reveal to you who is
to blame for this insulting fury。 To tell you frankly； it is the husband
Alcmene； who has done this wrong； it is the husband whom you must
blame。 The lover has no share in this churlish anger： his heart is not
capable of offending you。 He has too much respect and affection for you
ever to think of it； had he been guilty of the crime of doing aught that
could wound you； he would pierce himself with a hundred stabs before
your eyes。 But the husband has cast aside that humble submission which
should always be yours； by his harsh deeds； the husband has made himself
known； he thought the rights of marriage allowed him everything。 Yes； it
is he no doubt who is guilty towards you； he only has ill…treated your
lovely person。 Hate； detest the husband； I consent to it； I yield him to your
mercy； but； Alcmene； spare the lover from the anger which such an
offence gives you； do not let him suffer； differentiate between him and the
guilty one； and； finally； in order to be just； do not punish him for what he
has not done。
ALC。 Oh！ All these subtleties are but frivolous excuses； such language
only annoys incensed minds。 In vain do you use these ridiculous
prevarications。 I do not make any distinction in him who offends me；
everything in him becomes the object of my anger； the lover and the
husband are alike confounded in its just violence。 Both occupy my
thoughts； both are painted in the same colours by my wounded heart。 Both
are guilty； both have offended me； and both are odious to me。
JUP。 Well！ Then； since you wish it； I must charge myself with the
offence。 Yes； you are right； when you sacrifice me as a guilty victim to
your resentment。 Anger towards me sways you； it is but too just； and all
the terrible wrath you show causes me to suffer only lawful torments。 It is
right you should shun my presence； and in your anger threaten to flee from
33
… Page 34…
Amphitryon
me everywhere。 I must be a detestable object to you； you are right in
thinking ill of me。 My crime in being offensive in your charming eyes
surpasses every horror； it is a crime that offends men and Gods； in short；
as punishment for my insolence I deserve that your hatred should vent its
utmost upon me。 I beg your forgiveness； I beg it upon my knees； I beg it
for the sake of the most lively passion； of the tenderest love for you； which
has ever been kindled in a human breast。 If； charming Alcmene； your heart
refuses me the pardon which I have the audacity to seek； then shall a well…
aimed stroke put an end to my life； and release me from the harsh severity
of a penalty which I can no longer bear。 Yes； this state of things drives me
to despair。 Do not think； Alcmene； that； enamoured as I am of your
celestial charms； I can live a day under your wrath。 Even these moments'
agony is barbarously prolonged and my sad heart sinks under their mortal
blows。 The cruel wounds of a thousand vultures are not comparable in any
way to my lively grief。 Alcmene； you have but to tell me I need not hope
for pardon： and immediately this sword； by a happy thrust； shall pierce the
heart of a miserable wretch before your eyes。 This heart； this traitorous
heart； too deserving of death； since it has offended an adorable being； will
be
