truth which I am seeking here. ARICIA (aside to ISMENE) Get ready, dear Ismene, for our flight.
SCENE III THESEUS, ARICIA
THESEUS Your colour comes and goes, you seem confused, Madame! What business had my son with you? ARICIA Sire, he was bidding me farewell for ever. THESEUS Your eyes, it seems, can tame that stubborn pride; And the first sighs he breathes are paid to you. ARICIA I can't deny the truth; he has not, Sire, Inherited your hatred and injustice; He did not treat me like a criminal. THESEUS That is to say, he swore eternal love. Do not rely on that inconstant heart; To others has he sworn as much before. ARICIA He, Sire? THESEUS You ought to check his roving taste. How could you bear a partnership so vile? ARICIA And how can you endure that vilest slanders Should make a life so pure as black as pitch? Have you so little knowledge of his heart? Do you so ill distinguish between guilt And innocence? What mist before your eyes Blinds them to virtue so conspicuous? Ah! 'tis too much to let false tongues defame him. Repent; call back your murderous wishes, Sire; Fear, fear lest Heav'n in its severity Hate you enough to hear and grant your pray'rs. Oft in their wrath the gods accept our victims, And oftentimes chastise us with their gifts. THESEUS No, vainly would you cover up his guilt. Your love is blind to his depravity. But I have witness irreproachable: Tears have I seen, true tears, that may be trusted. ARICIA Take heed, my lord. Your hands invincible Have rid the world of monsters numberless; But all are not destroy'd, one you have left Alive—Your son forbids me to say more. Knowing with what respect he still regards you, I should too much distress him if I dared Complete my sentence. I will imitate His reverence, and, to keep silence, leave you.
SCENE IV
THESEUS (alone) What is there in her mind? What meaning lurks In speech begun but to be broken short? Would both deceive me with a vain pretence? Have they conspired to put me to the torture?
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