The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]

Antiochus (addressing Arsaces) : Stay one moment. I see plainly, Arsaces, that the pomp of these places is new to your eyes. This superb and solitary cabinet is the depository of the secrets of Titus. Here from time to time he conceals himself from the distractions of the court, when he comes to profess his love to the queen.

Jean Racine still stands at the head of French masters of the serious drama. He is to tragedy what Moliere is to comedy. Born at La Ferte-Milon on December 21, 1039, his youth was passed under the influence of the Port Royal recluses, and in their famous retreat the pious scholars did much to indoctrinate him with ideas which, though not seeming to take effect at the time, exercised wonderful influence later on. He quickly distinguished himself as a student by his rapid attainments in Creek, and at the same time to some extent employed himself in versification. Racine entered the College d'Harcourt, desiring especially to undertake a course in logic and metaphysics, but before long he settled down to the regular composition of dignified and stately historical and sacred dramas which, by their exquisite beauty of style and felicitous phraseology, stand unrivalled in

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Yonder door leads to her apartments. Go to her, and say that I earnestly beg a private interview with her.

Antiochus (left alone and soliloquising) : Now, Antiochus, art thou always the same? Can I with trembling say to her " I love you "? But what! I am trembling already, and dread the moment of meeting with her, for which I have so long wished. She imposed on me an eternal silence, and I have been silent for five years. Am I to imagine that she will be more willing than she was in Palestine to listen to my overtures of affection, now that Titus destines her to supreme elevation? He is about to wed her. Have I then waited till such a moment as this in order once again to come to declare myself her lover ? What will such a rash avowal avail ? Since I must depart, it were better to go without displeasing her. But, O lovely queen, why should you be offended ? Instead of being offended, she will pity me. And what has a lover to fear who cherishes no hope, and who is resolved never to look upon her face again?

Arsaces (returning) : My lord, I have seen the queen, but only after pressing through crowds of people who are attracted by her approaching greatness. Titus has just ceased weeping during eight days of retreat while mourning the death of his father, Vespasian. And now he will appear again in the guise of lover. If we may credit the gossip of the court, my lord, the happy Berenice will before this night have changed the title of queen for that of empress.

Antiochus : Alas! And thus can I not see her without the presence of others?

Arsaces : Berenice is ready to see you alone. Doubtless she will be glad to escape awhile from the oppressive

the French language. He died on April 26, 1699. " Berenice," produced in 1670, well exhibits Racine's peculiar genius. The piece may lack the impassioned energy of Corneille, but is unapproachable in its combination of majesty and tenderness and in the fine rhetoric of heroic declamation on the part of the characters.

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scenes of the court. And, my lord, I have followed all your instructions. War galleys are at Ostia, ready to leave the coast at a moment's notice. But whom are you sending back to Commagene ?

Antiochus: I am going myself. On leaving the palace, I leave Rome, and leave it for ever.

Arsaces: You are going? And why? What caprice renders you an enemy to yourself? Heaven has placed on the throne a prince who loves you, and who in times past witnessed those combats in which he saw you seeking glory or death in his footsteps; while, seconded by your splendid valour, he at length brought rebellious Judea under the yoke of Rome. Titus forgets not that fateful day when you seemed doomed to certain death as you scaled the walls of the besieged city and were hailed conqueror by the whole camp. And now that you should grace with your honoured presence the coming fetes, are you determined to return to the obscurity of your country by the Euphrates, departing secretly, without waiting for the honours with which Titus would surely load you, in the view of all the people ?

Antiochus: What would you have me say? I wait only to hear my fate from the lips of Berenice herself. If it be true that she is to be raised to the throne of the Caesars, then I depart. When we are gone, I will tell you the rest. The queen comes. Adieu. Do all that I have said.

Berenice {attended by Phenice, addresses Antiochus') : My lord, I might have accused you of negligence in leaving me unsought when I should have welcomed a friend in whom to repose confidence, and to whom I might communicate my feelings, when weary of this crowd. Now that you have appeared, I may confess to you how during these last few days my eyes have been steeped in tears. For the long mourning of Titus suspended his overtures of love, and my alarm increased as the days went by lest that love had cooled. You wit

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nessed the impressive scene last night when, to second his pious solicitude, the Senate placed his father amongst the gods. And now that all filial obligations have been sacredly fulfilled, he is about to return to his duties as a lover. And even at this moment, though to me he has not made mention of the matter, he is with the Senate, convoked by his command, and amid them he is about to place on my head the crown over Arabia and Syria, the states which he has joined to Palestine. And he will presently come hither to add to my honours the title of empress.