Berenice

By Jean Racine

The 17th century dramatist Jean Racine was considered, along with Molière and Corneille, as one of the three great playwrights of his era. The quality of Racine's poetry has been described as possibly his most important contribution to French literature and his use of the alexandrine poetic line is one of the best examples of such use noted for its harmony, simplicity and elegance. While critics over the centuries have debated the worth of Jean Racine, at present, he is widely considered a literary genius of revolutionary proportions. In this volume of Racine's plays we find "Berenice", the sixth of twelve plays by the author. One of Racine's more popular plays in the modern era it was not performed often until the 20th century. In this work Racine draws upon the histories of Roman historian Suetonius, who recounts the story of the Roman emperor Titus and Berenice of Cilicia. Titus, whose father Vespasian has died, is presumed to be free to marry his beloved Berenice, queen of Palestine. However public opinion against the marrying of a foreign queen may put a wrinkle in Titus' plans.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Digireads.com Publishing
• Release date: Jan 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781420948950

Jean Racine

Jean Racine, né le 22 décembre 1639 à La Ferté-Milon et mort le 21 avril 1699 à Paris, est un dramaturge et poète français. Issu d'une famille de petits notables de la Ferté-Milon et tôt orphelin, Racine reçoit auprès des « Solitaires » de Port-Royal une éducation littéraire et religieuse rare.

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BERENICE

BY JEAN RACINE

TRANSLATED BY ROBERT BRUCE BOSWELL

eBook ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-4895-0

ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-4894-3

This edition copyright © 2013

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION TO BERENICE.

CHARACTERS.

ACT I.

ACT II.

ACT III.

ACT IV.

ACT V.

BERENICE.

INTRODUCTION TO BERENICE.

Unknown to each other both Corneille and Racine had been requested by Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans, the daughter of our Charles I., to write a tragedy on the parting of Titus and Berenice, and both poets fell in with the suggestion. It is said that she had a personal motive in doing so, inasmuch as tender passages had occurred between herself and Louis XIV. Though a finer tragedy than Corneille's Tite et Bérénice, Racine's play is, taken as a whole, decidedly tedious; and the criticism which was pronounced upon it by a candid friend, in the words of a well-known song, is hardly too severe:—

"Marion pleure, Marion crie,

Marion veut qu'on la marie."

which may be rendered—

"Why does Mary cry so sadly?

Mary wants a husband badly."

The first performance seems to have taken place in 1670, or early in the following year.

CHARACTERS.

TITUS, emperor of Rome.

BERENICE, queen of Palestine.

ANTIOCHUS, king of Соттаgепе.

PAULINUS, friend of Titus.

АRSACES, friend of Antiochus.

РHŒNІСE, friend of Berenice.

RUTILUS, а Roman.

Attendants of Тitus.

The scene is laid at Rome, in a chamber between the apartments of Titus and those of Berenice.

BERENICE.

ACT I.

SCENE I. ANTIOCHUS, ARSACES.

ANTIOCHUS. Let us stay here a moment! All this pomp

Is a new sight to you, my Arsaces.

This chamber so superb, and so secluded,

Is ofttimes privy to the Emperor's secrets:

Hither he sometimes from the Court retires,

To pour his passion forth into the ears

Of Berenice. Thro' this door he passes

From his apartments; that one leads to hers.

Go, tell her I regret to trouble her,

But must entreat a secret interview.

ARSACES. To trouble her, my lord! And you her friend,

So true and generous in your care for her!

Her lover once, Antiochus, whom all

The East holds great among her greatest monarchs!

What! Tho' in hope she shares the throne with Titus,

Is she so far removed in rank from you?

ANTIOCHUS. Go, nor concern yourself with other matters,

See if I soon may speak with her in private.

SCENE II.

ANTIOCHUS. Antiochus, art thou the same as ever?

Canst say to her, I love thee, without trembling?

I quake already, and my throbbing heart

Dreads now as much as it desired this moment

Has not fair Berenice slain my hopes,

And did she not enjoin eternal silence?

Five years have they been dead; and, till this day,

My passion has assumed the mask of friendship.

Can I expect the destined bride of Titus

To hear me better than in Palestine?

He weds her. Have I then until this hour

Delay'd to come and own me still her lover?

What fruit will follow from a rash confession?

Since part we must, let's part without displeasure.

I will withdraw unseen, and from her sight

Go, to forget her, or perchance to die.

What! suffer torments that she knows not of

For ever, and for ever feed on tears!

Fear to offend her now when losing her!

And why, fair queen, should I incur thine anger?

Come I to ask you to resign the throne

Of empire, and to love me? Nay, I come

Only to say that, flatter'd for so long

By hope that obstacles might cross my rival,

To-day I find he can do all, and Hymen

Has lit his torch. Vain all my constancy!

After five years of love and wasted hopes,

I leave thee, faithful still, tho' hope be dead,

Can that displease her? Nay