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Phaedra (Act 4 Scene 1) Lyrics by Jean Racine

Phaedra

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Scene I
THESEUS, OENONE
THESEUS
Ah! What is this I hear? Presumptuous traitor!
And would he have disgraced his father's honour?
With what relentless footsteps Fate pursues me!
Whither I go I know not, nor where know
I am. O kind affection ill repaid!
Audacious scheme! Abominable thought!
To reach the object of his foul desire
The wretch disdain'd not to use violence.
I know this sword that served him in his fury,
The sword I gave him for a nobler use.
Could not the sacred ties of blood restrain him?
And Phaedra,—was she loath to have him punish'd?
She held her tongue. Was that to spare the culprit?
OENONE
Nay, but to spare a most unhappy father.
O'erwhelm'd with shame that her eyes should have kindled
So infamous a flame and prompted him
To crime so heinous, Phaedra would have died.
I saw her raise her arm, and ran to save her.
To me alone you owe it that she lives;
And, in my pity both for her and you,
Have I against my will interpreted
Her tears.
THESEUS
The traitor! He might well turn pale.
'Twas fear that made him tremble when he saw me.
I was astonish'd that he show'd no pleasure;
His frigid greeting chill'd my tenderness.
But was this guilty passion that devours him
Declared already ere I banish'd him
From Athens?
OENONE
Sire, remember how the Queen
Urged you. Illicit love caused all her hatred.
THESEUS
And then this fire broke out again at Troezen?
OENONE
Sire, I have told you all. Too long the Queen
Has been allow'd to bear her grief alone
Let me now leave you and attend to her.
Credits
Jean Racine

Jean Racine

About “Phaedra (Act 4 Scene 1)” by Jean Racine

Read the complete lyrics to "Phaedra (Act 4 Scene 1)" by Jean Racine from the album "Phaedra". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"Phaedra (Act 4 Scene 1)" is performed by Jean Racine. from the album "Phaedra" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Phaedra (Act 4 Scene 1)", explore more songs by Jean Racine using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Phaedra (Act 4 Scene 1)" is credited to Jean Racine. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Phaedra (Act 4 Scene 1)" appears on "Phaedra".

Visit the Jean Racine artist page at /artist/jean-racine for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.