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Title: Esther

Author: Jean Racine

Editor: I.H.B. Spiers

Release Date: May 7, 2005 [EBook #15790]
[Last updated: February 17, 2012]

Language: French / English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ESTHER ***




Produced by Al Haines










Heath's Modern Language Series.



ESTHER

TRAGDIE EN TROIS ACTES


PAR


RACINE.






EDITED, WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND APPENDICES,

BY

I. H. B. SPIERS,



SENIOR ASSISTANT MASTER WILLIAM PENN CHARTER SCHOOL,

PHILADELPHIA.







D. C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS

BOSTON  NEW YORK  CHICAGO




COPYRIGHT, 1891,

By I. H. B. SPIERS.




PREFACE.

The tragedy of _Esther_ commends itself to moderately advanced students
of the French language by the fact that it is both the easiest and the
shortest masterpiece of French tragic literature.  For such students
the present edition has been prepared.  The text has been modified in
all minor points of spelling and grammar so as to conform with present
usage.  The notes are intended either to make clear such matters of
history or grammar as offer any difficulty, or to emphasize that which
may be especially instructive from a literary, historical, or
grammatical point of view.

The appendix contains, in addition to a brief statement of the rules of
French verse, a systematic presentation of quotations from the play
illustrating a few of the grammatical points on which experience
teaches that the student's knowledge, in spite of grammars, is likely
to be vague.

The editor desires to acknowledge gratefully his indebtedness to M.
Paul Mesnard's exhaustive work in the _Collection des Grands crivains
de la France_, published under the direction of M. Ad. Rgnier (Paris,
1865), and also to the excellent editions of Mr. G. Saintsbury (Oxford,
1886), and of Prof. E. S. Joynes (New York, 1882).

    I. H. B. SPIERS.


WILLIAM PENN CHARTER SCHOOL, PHILADELPHIA.  INTRODUCTION.

1. LIFE OF RACINE.

Jean Racine, unquestionably the most perfect of the French tragic
poets, was born in 1639, at La Fert-Milon, near Paris.  He received a
sound classical education at Port-Royal des Champs, then a famous
centre of religious thought and scholastic learning.  At the early age
of twenty he was so fortunate as to attract, by an ode in honor of the
marriage of King Louis XIV., the favor of that exacting monarch,--a
favor which he was to enjoy during forty years.  Yet more fortunate in
the friendship of Molire, of La Fontaine, and especially of his trusty
counsellor, Boileau, he doubtless owed to them his determination to
devote himself to dramatic literature.

His first tragedies to be put upon the stage were _La Thbade_ (1664)
and _Alexandre_ (1665), which gave brilliant promise.  In 1667 appeared
_Andromaque_, his first chef-d'oeuvre, which placed him at once in the
very front rank by the side of Corneille.  From that time forth, until
1677, almost each year was marked by a new triumph.  In 1668, he
produced his one comedy, _Les Plaideurs_, a highly successful satire on
the Law Courts, in the vein of the "Wasps" of Aristophanes.  In 1669,
he resumed his tragedies on historical subjects with _Britannicus_,
largely drawn from Tacitus, followed by _Brnice_ (1670), _Bajazet_
(1672), _Mithridate_ (1673), _Iphignie_ (1674), and _Phdre_ (1677),
the last two being inspired by Euripides.

Incensed at a literary and artistic cabal, by which a rival play of
_Phdre_, by Pradon, was momentarily preferred to his own, Racine now
withdrew from the stage.  Appointed soon after to the not very onerous
post of historiographer to the King, he lived for a period of twelve
years a retired life in the bosom of his family.

In 1689, at the request of Mme. de Maintenon, the secret wife of Louis
XIV., he produced _Esther_, and in 1691, _Athalie_, both drawn from the
Scriptures and intended for private performance only.  Embittered by
the indifference with which the latter tragedy was received,--although
posterity has pronounced it his masterpiece,--Racine definitely gave up
the drama.  He died in 1699, after a few years devoted to his _Histoire
du Rgne de Louis XIV._, his death being hastened by grief at having
incurred the King's displeasure on account of a memoir on the misery of
the people, which he wrote at the request of Mme. de Maintenon.

A devoted husband and father, an adroit but sincere courtier, Racine
has won the regard of posterity by his life as well as its admiration
by his literary genius.  As a poet, he was endowed with the purest gift
of expression ever granted to a mind imbued with the works of the
classical writers of Greece and Rome.


2. FRENCH TRAGEDY.

French tragedy is purely a work of art.  It does not claim to mirror
Nature in her infinite complexity; it is the professedly artificial
presentment, in the noblest form, of _character_ unfolding itself by
means of one action, as far as possible in one place, and within the
limits of one day.   It is bound by other formal and conventional
rules: of versification--such as the alternation of masculine and
feminine pairs of rhymes, and of taste--such as the avoidance of all
"doing of deeds" on the stage (e.g., all fighting and dying take place
behind the scenes) and the grouping of the fewest possible secondary
parts around the one central situation.

There are but three names in the front rank of writers of French
tragedy: Corneille (1606-1684), Racine (1639-1699), and Voltaire
(1694-1778).  Their tragic masterpieces cover but one century of time,
from Corneille's _Le Cid_ (1636) to Voltaire's _Mrope_ (1743).  Before
these poets, French tragedy had not reached such a degree of perfection
as to be entitled to an identity of its own; after them and their few
feeble imitators, it was merged into a new form, and, as classical
French tragedy, ceased altogether to be.

Corneille purified both thought and language of the bad taste due to
the prevailing Spanish influence.  He subordinated the actor to the
play, instead of composing, as his predecessors had done, lengthy
monologues for mere histrionic display.  He did away with absurdly
tangled plots, and focussed the interest of tragedy on character.
Tragedy thus purified, he made immortal by the strength and elevation
of his moral teaching.  His principal plays are _Le Cid_ (1636),
_Cinna_ (1639), _Polyeucte_ (1640).

The new tragedy shaped by Corneille, Racine carried to its highest
perfection of form.  Nothing in his plays betokens struggle,
innovation, or effort.  His is the polished finish of ease and
ripeness.  Subtle delineation of the passions, profound tenderness,
faultlessness of style and expression, distinguish him above all
others.  Yet this very perfection of form robs him of some of the
rough, wholesome vigor, which makes Corneille's plays the most healthy
reading in the French language.  Corneille speaks by the mouths of
heroes, Racine speaks by the mouths of men.

Voltaire is only to be placed by their side for the extraordinary
skill, amounting to genius, with which he followed in their footsteps.
We must not look to him for new departures, nor indeed for the lofty
authority of the one, or the harmonious richness of the other.  Yet in
each particular he succeeds, by the force of art, in getting within
measurable distance of his models: his _Zare_ (1733) and _Mrope_
(1743) would hardly have been disowned by either.

After Voltaire, new times demanded new methods.  The nineteenth century
reacted against the portraiture of character alone, and required more
complete representation of the action; it called for deeds enacted on
the stage, and not in the slips.  Hence, a new form, with a new name,
_le drame_, has taken exclusive possession of the French tragic stage.


3. PRODUCTION OF "ESTHER."

In the year 1687, Mme. de Maintenon had founded at St. Cyr, in the
vicinity of the royal residence of Versailles, an establishment for the
education of two hundred and fifty girls, belonging to noble families
in reduced circumstances.  To this institution she devoted much of her
time and care.

It was usual, in the latter part of the seventeenth century, to
consider the acting of plays a valuable aid to liberal education,
suitable pieces being often written by the heads of the institutions in
which they were to be performed.  Dissatisfied with the compositions of
Mme. de Brinon, the first superior of St. Cyr, and objecting to the
love-making that held such a large place in the works written for the
public stage, Mme. de Maintenon applied to Racine, requesting him to
write a play that should be entirely suitable for performance by very
young ladies.  The courtier poet could not refuse, and the result was
the play of _Esther_, performed in January, 1689, by pupils of St. Cyr,
not one of whom was over seventeen years of age.

The success of the play was startling.  The king witnessed it
repeatedly, and insisted that all his court and guests should do
likewise.  The performances of _Esther_, at St. Cyr, became great
events for the fashionable society of the day.  This unlooked-for
result was not slow to alarm Mme. de Maintenon: their very success
became a danger for the youthful actresses.  Accordingly, Mme. de
Maintenon discountenanced the resumption of _Esther_ after the first
series of performances was concluded, and she entirely withheld from
public representation the second play, _Athalie_, written by Racine in
the following year for the same purpose.  Subsequently Mme. de
Maintenon banished dramatic performances altogether from St. Cyr; she
concluded it was better to train the _reason_[1] by the _solid_[1]
truths of philosophy than the imagination by the unrealities of
dramatic literature.


4. THE PLAY OF "ESTHER."

The subject of _Esther_ is admirably chosen for the purpose Racine had
in view.  The story of Esther, owing mainly to the noble character of
the queen, is as touching as it is lofty.  The poet found it entirely
in the Bible, which should be read side by side with the play from
beginning to end.  Several inspirations, notably that of the beautiful
prayer in the first act, are drawn from the "Rest of the Book of
Esther," i.e., those chapters which being found only in the Greek, and
neither in the Hebrew nor in the Chaldee MSS., are relegated to the
Apocrypha.

Racine follows the theory of the Abb de Saci, and takes the Ahasuerus
of Scripture to be the Darius of secular history.  Modern criticism,
however, inclines to see in him neither Darius, nor, as has been
proposed on the authority of the "Rest of the Book of Esther" (xii. 2),
Artaxerxes Longimanus, but Xerxes, the immediate successor of Darius.

The idea of a Chorus is borrowed from the Greeks, as Racine expressly
declared in his preface.  In this play, as in Greek tragedy, the Chorus
comments upon the action as it unfolds itself, and the great interests
at stake lift the poet to lofty heights of lyrical inspiration.  The
lyrics of the chorus, far from being a relapse into the pernicious
practice, prevalent before the time of Corneille, of providing such
passages for the mere display of the actor's ability, are pure chants
and hymns, like the _Cantiques Spirituels_ which Racine composed
subsequently in detached form, and are a highly appropriate ornament to
religious plays such as _Esther_ and _Athalie_.

Of the form into which the poet has cast his materials, it is
impossible to speak too highly.  It is adequate praise to say that the
language, in its perfect simplicity and exquisite beauty, is in keeping
with the elevation of the thought, which is that of the Scriptures
themselves.  Nor should the constructive skill be unnoticed with which
the dramatist has filled in the characters sketched by the Bible; the
humility and grace of Esther's account of her own triumph (ll. 31-80),
the art with which Haman betrays his cruel nature by the very offer of
services he makes  to the queen (ll. 1151-4), the adroitness of the
court he pays to the king (ll. 593-7), and his readiness of resource in
adversity (ll. 1142-67).

The subjoined chronological table will enable the student to follow the
events referred to in the play.

 B. C. 718 Shalmaneser takes the kingdom of Israel captive.
       606 Nebuchadnezzar takes the kingdom of Juda captive.
       606-536 Captivity of the Jews under the Assyrians.
       587 Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem and destroys the temple.
       536 Cyrus, King of Persia, conquers Balthasar, King of Babylon,
           and suffers the Jews to return to their own country.
       529-522 Cambyses II. reigns over Persia.
       522-521 Pseudo-Smerdis  "          "
       521-485 Darius          "          "
       485-465 Xerxes          "          "
       465-425 Artaxerxes Longimanus      "


[1]These words recur most frequently in her later correspondence with
St. Cyr.




  PROLOGUE.

  LA PIETE.

  Du sjour bienheureux de la Divinit
  Je descends dans ce lieu, par la Grace habit.
  L'Innocence s'y plat, ma compagne ternelle,
  Et n'a point sous les cieux d'asile plus fidle.
  Ici, loin du tumulte, aux devoirs les plus saints            5
  Tout un peuple naissant est form par mes mains.
  Je nourris dans son coeur la semence fconde
  Des vertus dont il doit sanctifier le monde.
  Un roi qui me protge, un roi victorieux,
  A commis  mes soins ce dpt prcieux.                     10
  C'est lui qui rassembla ces colombes timides,
  parses en cent lieux, sans secours et sans guides.
  Pour elles  sa porte levant ce palais,
  Il leur y fit trouver l'abondance et la paix.

  Grand Dieu, que cet ouvrage ait place en ta mmoire.        15
  Que tous les soins qu'il prend pour soutenir la gloire
  Soient gravs de ta main au livre o sont crits
  Les noms prdestins des rois que tu chris.
  Tu m'coutes.  Ma voix ne t'est point trangre.
  Je suis la Pit, cette fille si chre,                     20
  Qui t'offre de ce roi les plus tendres soupirs.
  Du feu de ton amour j'allume ses desirs.
  Du zle qui pour toi l'enflamme et le dvore
  La chaleur se rpand du couchant  l'aurore.
  Tu le vois tous les jours, devant toi prostern,            25
  Humilier ce front de splendeur couronn,
  Et confondant l'orgueil par d'augustes exemples,
  Baiser avec respect le pav de tes temples.
  De ta gloire anim, lui seul de tant de rois
  S'arme pour ta querelle, et combat pour tes droits.         30
  Le perfide intrt, l'aveugle jalousie
  S'unissent centre toi pour l'affreuse hrsie;
  La discorde en fureur frmit de toutes parts;
  Tout semble abandonner tes sacrs etendards,
  Et l'enfer, couvrant tout de ses vapeurs funbres,          35
  Sur les yeux les plus saints a jet ses tnbres.
  Lui seul, invariable et fond sur la foi,
  Ne cherche, ne regarde et n'coute que toi;
  Et bravant du demon l'impuissant artifice,
  De la religion soutient tout l'difice.                     40
  Grand Dieu, juge ta cause, et dploie aujourd'hui
  Ce bras, ce mme bras qui combattait pour lui,
  Lorsque des nations  sa perte animes
  Le Rhin vit tant de fois disperser les armes.
  Des mmes ennemis je reconnais l'orgueil;                   45
  Ils viennent se briser contre le mme cueil.
  Dj, rompant partout leurs plus fermes barrires,
  Du debris de leurs forts il couvre ses frontires.

  Tu lui donnes un fils prompt  le seconder,
  Qui sait combattre, plaire, obir, commander;               50
  Un fils qui, comme lui, suivi de la victoire,
  Semble  gagner son coeur borner toute sa gloire,
  Un fils  tous ses vceux avec amour soumis,
  L'ternel dsespoir de tous ses ennemis.
  Pareil  ces esprits que ta Justice envoie,                 55
  Quand son roi lui dit: Pars, il s'lance avec joie,
  Du tonnerre vengeur s'en va tout embraser,
  Et tranquille  ses pieds revient le dposer.

  Mais tandis qu'un grand roi venge ainsi mes injures,
  Vous qui gotez ici des dlices si pures,                   60
  S'il permet  son coeur un moment de repos,
  A vos jeux innocents appelez ce hros.
  Retracez lui d'Esther l'histoire glorieuse,
  Et sur l'impit la foi victorieuse.

  Et vous, qui vous plaisez aux folles passions               65
  Qu'allument dans vos coeurs les vaines fictions,
  Profanes amateurs de spectacles frivoles,
  Dont l'oreille s'ennuie au son de mes paroles,
  Fuyez de mes plaisirs la sainte austrit.
  Tout respire ici Dieu, la paix, la vrit.                  70




  NOMS DES PERSONNAGES.

  ASSURUS, roi de Perse.
  ESTHER, reine de Perse.
  MARDOCHE, oncle d'Esther.
  AMAN, favori d'Assurus.
  ZARS, femme d'Aman.
  HYDASPE, officier du palais intrieur d'Assurus.
  ASAPH, autre officier d'Assurus.
  LISE, confidente d'Esther.
  THAMAR, Isralite de la suite d'Esther.
  GARDES DU ROI ASSURUS.
  CHOEUR DE JEUNES FILLES ISRALITES.

  LA PIT fait le Prologue.

  La scne est  Suse, dans le palais d'Assurus.




  ESTHER.

  ACTE PREMIER.

  (_Le thatre reprsente l'appartement d'Esther_.)



  SCNE I.

  ESTHER, LISE.


  ESTHER.

  Est-ce toi, chere lise?  O jour trois fois heureux!
  Que bni soit le del qui te rend  mes voeux,
  Toi qui de Benjamin comme moi descendue,
  Fus de mes premiers ans la compagne assidue,
  Et qui, d'un mme joug souffrant l'oppression,               5
  M'aidais  soupirer les malheurs de Sion.
  Combien ce temps encore est cher  ma mmoire!
  Mais toi, de ton Esther ignorais-tu la gloire?
  Depuis plus de six mois que je te fais chercher,
  Quel climat, quel dsert a donc pu te cacher?               10


  ELISE.

  Au bruit de votre mort justement plore,
  Du reste des humains je vivais spare,
  Et de mes tristes jours n'attendais que la fin,
  Quand tout  coup, Madame, un prophte divin:
  C'est pleurer trop longtemps une mort qui t'abuse,         15
  Lve-toi, m'a-t-il dit, prends ton chemin vers Suse.
  L tu verras d'Esther la pompe et les honneurs,
  Et sur le trne assis le sujet de tes pleurs.
  Rassure, ajouta-t-il, tes tribus alarmes,
  Sion: le jour approche o le Dieu des armes                20
  Va de son bras puissant faire clater l'appui;
  Et le cri de son peuple est mont jusqu' lui.
  Il dit; et moi, de joie et d'horreur pntre,
  Je cours.  De ce palais j'ai su trouver l'entre.
  O spectacle!  O triomphe admirable  mes yeux,              25
  Digne en effet du bras qui sauva nos aeux!
  Le fier Assurus couronne sa captive,
  Et le Persan superbe est aux pieds d'une Juive.
  Par quels secrets ressorts, par quel enchanement,
  Le Ciel a-t-il conduit ce grand vnement?                  30


  ESTHER.

  Peut-tre on t'a cont la fameuse disgrce
  De l'altire Vasthi, dont j'occupe la place,
  Lorsque le Roi, contre elle enflamm de dpit,
  La chassa de son trne, ainsi que de son lit.
  Mais il ne put sitt en bannir la pense.                   35
  Vasthi rgna longtemps dans son me offense.
  Dans ses nombreux tats il fallut donc chercher
  Quelque nouvel objet qui l'en pt dtacher.
  De l'Inde a l'Hellespont ses esclaves coururent;
  Les filles de l'gypte  Suse comparurent;                  40
  Celles mme du Parthe et du Scythe indompt
  Y brigurent le sceptre offert  la beaut.
  On m'elevait alors, solitaire et cache,
  Sous les yeux vigilants du sage Mardoche.
  Tu sais combien je dois  ses heureux secours.              45
  La mort m'avait ravi les auteurs de mes jours;
  Mais lui, voyant en moi la fille de son frre,
  Me tint lieu, chre lise, et de pre et de mre.
  Du triste tat des Juifs jour et nuit agit,
  Il me tira du sein de mon obscurit;                        50
  Et sur mes faibles mains fondant leur dlivrance,
  Il me fit d'un empire accepter l'esprance.
  A ses desseins secrets tremblante j'obis.
  Je vins.  Mais je cachai ma race et mon pays.
  Qui pourrait cependant t'exprimer les cabales               55
  Que formait en ces lieux ce peuple de rivales,
  Qui toutes disputant un si grand intrt,
  Des yeux d'Assurus attendaient leur arrt?
  Chacune avait sa brigue et de puissants suffrages:
  L'une d'un sang fameux vantait les avantages;               60
  L'autre, pour se parer de superbes atours,
  Des plus adroites mains empruntait le secours;
  Et moi, pour toute brigue et pour tout artifice,
  De mes larmes au ciel j'offrais le sacrifice.

  Enfin on m'annona l'ordre d'Assurus.                      65
  Devant ce fier monarque, lise, je parus.
  Dieu tient le coeur des rois entre ses mains puissantes.
  Il fait que tout prospre aux mes innocentes,
  Tandis qu'en ses projets l'orgueilleux est tromp.
  De mes faibles attraits le Roi parut frapp.                70
  Il m'observa longtemps dans un sombre silence;
  Et le Ciel, qui pour moi fit pencher la balance,
  Dans ce temps-l sans doute agissait sur son coeur.
  Enfin, avec des yeux o rgnait la douceur:
  Soyez reine, dit-il; et ds ce moment mme                75
  De sa main sur mon front posa son diadme.
  Pour mieux faire clater sa joie et son amour,
  Il combla de prsents tous les grands de sa cour;
  Et mme ses bienfaits, dans toutes ses provinces.
  Invitrent le peuple aux noces de leurs princes.            80

  Helas! durant ces jours de joie et de festins,
  Quelle tait en secret ma honte et mes chagrins!
  Esther, disais-je, Esther dans la pourpre est assise,
  La moiti de la terre  son sceptre est soumise,
  Et de Jrusalem l'herbe cache les murs!                     85
  Sion, repaire affreux de reptiles impurs,
  Voit de son temple saint les pierres disperses,
  Et du Dieu d'Isral les ftes sont cesses!


  LISE.

  N'avez-vous point au Roi confi vos ennuis?


  ESTHER.

  Le Roi, jusqu' ce jour, ignore qui je suis.                90
  Celui par qui le ciel rgle ma destine
  Sur ce secret encor tient ma langue enchane.


  LISE.

  Mardoche?  H! peut-il approcher de ces lieux?


  ESTHER.

  Son amiti pour moi le rend ingnieux.
  Absent, je le consulte; et ses rponses sages               95
  Pour venir jusqu'a moi trouvent mille passages.
  Un pre a moins de soin du salut de son fils.
  Dj mme, dj, par ses secrets avis,
  J'ai dcouvert au Roi les sanglantes pratiques
  Que formaient contre lui deux ingrats domestiques.         100
  Cependant mon amour pour notre nation
  A rempli ce palais de filles de Sion,
  Jeunes et tendres fleurs, par le sort agites,
  Sous un ciel tranger comme moi transplantes.
  Dans un lieu spar de profanes tmoins,                   105
  Je mets  les former mon tude et mes soins;
  Et c'est l que, fuyant l'orgueil du diadme,
  Lasse de vains honneurs, et me cherchant moi-mme,
  Aux pieds de l'ternel je viens m'humilier,
  Et goter le plaisir de me faire oublier.                  110
  Mais a tous les Persans je cache leurs familles.
  Il faut les appeler.  Venez, venez, mes filles,
  Compagnes autrefois de ma captivit,
  De l'antique Jacob jeune postrit.




  SCNE II.

  ESTHER, LISE, LE CHOEUR.


  UNE DES ISRALITES _chante derrire le thtre_.

        Ma soeur, quelle voix nous appelle?                  115


  UNE AUTRE.

      J'en reconnais les agrables sons.
  C'est la Reine.


  TOUTES DEUX.

        Courons, mes soeurs, obissons,
      La Reine nous appelle:
    Allons, rangeons-nous auprs d'elle.

TOUT LE CHOEUR _entrant sur la scne par plusieurs endroits differents_.


        La Reine nous appelle:                               120
      Allons, rangeons-nous auprs d'elle.


  LISE.

  Ciel! quel nombreux essaim d'innocentes beauts
  S'offre  mes yeux en foule et sort de tous cts!
  Quelle aimable pudeur sur leur visage est peinte!
  Prosprez, cher espoir d'une nation sainte.                125
  Puissent jusques au ciel vos soupirs innocents
  Monter comme l'odeur d'un agrable encens!
  Que Dieu jette sur vous des regards pacifiques.


  ESTHER.

  Mes filles, chantez-nous quelqu'un de ces cantiques
  O vos voix si souvent se mlant  mes pleurs              130
  De la triste Sion clbrent les malheurs.


  UNE ISRALITE _seule chante_.

  Dplorable Sion, qu'as-tu fait de ta gloire?
      Tout l'univers admirait ta splendeur:
  Tu n'es plus que poussire; et de cette grandeur
  Il ne nous reste plus que la triste mmoire.               135
  Sion, jusques au ciel lvee autrefois,
      Jusqu'aux enfers maintenant abaisse,
        Puiss-je demeurer sans voix,
      Si dans mes chants ta douleur retrace
  Jusqu'au dernier soupir n'occupe ma pense!                140



  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

  O rives du Jourdain!  champs aims des Cieux!
      Sacrs monts, fertiles valles,
      Par cent miracles signales!
      Du doux pays de nos aeux
      Serons-nous toujours exiles?                          145


  UNE ISRALITE seule.

  Quand verrai-je,  Sion! relever tes remparts,
      Et de tes tours les magnifiques fates?
        Quand verrai-je de toutes parts
  Tes peuples en chantant accourir  tes ftes?


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

  O rives du Jourdain!  champs aims des Cieux!             145
      Sacrs monts, fertiles valles,
      Par cent miracles signalees!
      Du doux pays de nos aeux
      Serons-nous toujours exiles?




  SCNE III.


  ESTHER, MARDOCHE, LISE, LE CHOEUR.


  ESTHER.

  Quel profane en ce lieu s'ose avancer vers nous?           155
  Que vois-je?  Mardoche?  O mon pre, est-ce vous?
  Un ange du Seigneur, sous son aile sacre,
  A donc conduit vos pas et cach votre entre?
  Mais d'o vient cet air sombre, et ce cilice affreux,
  Et cette cendre enfin qui couvre vos cheveux?              160
  Que nous annoncez-vous?


  MARDOCHEE.

  O Reine infortunee!
  O d'un peuple innocent barbare destinee!
  Lisez, lisez l'arret detestable, cruel.
  Nous sommes tons perdus, et c'est fait d'Israel.


  ESTHER.

  Juste Ciel! tout mon sang dans mes veines se glace.        165


  MARDOCHEE.

  On doit de tous les Juifs exterminer la race.
  Au sanguinaire Aman nous sommes tous livres.
  Les glaives, les couteaux sont de'ja prepares.
  Toute la nation a la fois est proscrite.
  Aman, l'impie Aman, race d'Amalecite,                      170
  A pour ce coup funeste arme tout son credit;
  Et le Roi, trop cre'dule, a signe cet edit.
  Prevenu centre nous par cette bouche impure,
  Il nous croit en horreur a toute la nature.
  Ses ordres sont donnes; et dans tous ses Etats,            175
  Le jour fatal est pris pour tant d'assassinats.
  Cieux, eclairerez-vous cet horrible carnage?
  Le fer ne connaitra ni le sexe ni l'age;
  Tout doit servir de proie aux tigres, aux vautours;
  Et ce jour effroyable arrive dans dix jours.               180


  ESTHER.

  O Dieu, qui vois former des desseins si funestes,
  As-tu donc de Jacob abandonne les restes?


  UNE DES PLUS JEUNES ISRAELITES.

  Ciel, qui nous defendra, si tu ne nous defends?


  MARDOCHEE.

  Laissez les pleurs, Esther, a ces jeunes enfants.
  En vous est tout I'espoir de vos malheureux freres.        185
  II faut ies secourir.  Mais les heures sont cheres:
  Le temps vole, et bientot amenera le jour
  Ou le nom des Hebreux doit perir sans retour.
  Toute pleine du feu de tant de saints prophetes,
  Allez, osez au Roi declarer qui vous etes.                 190


  ESTHER.

  Helas! ignorez-vous quelles severes lois
  Aux timides mortels cachent ici les rois?
  Au fond de leur palais leur majeste terrible
  Affecte a leurs sujets de se rendre invisible;
  Et la mort est le prix de tout audacieux                   195
  Qui, sans etre appele, se presente a teurs yeux,
  Si le Roi dans l'instant, pour sauver le coupable,
  Ne lui donne a baiser son sceptre redoutable.
  Rien ne met a l'abri de cet ordre fatal,
  Ni le rang, ni le sexe, et le crime est e'gal.             200
  Moi-meme, sur son trone, a ses cotes assise,
  Je suis a cette loi comme une autre soumise;
  Et sans le prevenir, il faut, pour lui parler,
  Qu'il me cherche, ou du moins qu'il me fasse appeler.


  MARDOCHEE.

  Quoi? lorsque vous voyez perir votre patrie,               205
  Pour quelque chose, Esther, vous comptez votre vie!
  Dieu parle, et d'un mortel vous craignez le courroux!
  Que dis-je? votre vie, Esther, est-elle a vous?
  N'est-elle pas au sang dont vous etes issue?
  N'est-elle pas a Dieu dont vous l'avez recue?              210
  Et qui sait, lorsqu'au trne il conduisit vos pas,
  Si pour sauver son peuple il ne vous gardait pas?

  Songez-y bien: ce Dieu ne vous a pas choisie
  Pour tre un vain spectacle aux peuples de l'Asie,
  Ni pour charmer les yeux des profanes humains.             215
  Pour un plus noble usage il rserve ses saints.
  S'immoler pour son nom et pour son hritage,
  D'un enfant d'Isral voil le vrai partage:
  Trop heureuse pour lui de hasarder vos jours!
  Et quel besoin son bras a-t-il de nos secours?             220
  Que peuvent contre lui tous les rois de la terre?
  En vain ils s'uniraient pour lui faire la guerre:
  Pour dissiper leur ligue il n'a qu' se montrer;
  Il parle, et dans la poudre il les fait tous rentrer.
  Au seul son de sa voix la mer fuit, le ciel tremble;       225
  Il voit comme un nant tout l'univers ensemble;
  Et les faibles mortels, vains jouets du trpas,
  Sont tous devant ses yeux comme s'ils n'taient pas.

  S'il a permis d'Aman l'audace criminelle,
  Sans doute qu'il voulait prouver votre zle.              230
  C'est lui qui, m'excitant  vous oser chercher,
  Devant moi, chre Esther, a bien voulu marcher;
  Et s'il faut que sa voix frappe en vain vos oreilles,
  Nous n'en verrons pas moins clater ses merveilles.
  Il peut confondre Aman, il peut briser nos fers            235
  Par la plus faible main qui soit dans l'univers.
  Et vous, qui n'aurez point accept cette grce,
  Vous prirez peut-tre, et toute votre race.


  ESTHER.

  Allez.  Que tous les Juifs dans Suse rpandus,
  A prier avec vous jour et nuit assidus,                    240
  Me prtent de leurs voeux le secours salutaire,
  Et pendant ces trois jours gardent un jene austre.
  Dj la sombre nuit a commenc son tour:
  Demain, quand le soleil rallumera le jour,
  Contente de prir, s'il faut que je prisse,               245
  J'irai pour mon pays m'offrir en sacrifice.
  Qu'on s'loigne un moment.

  (_Le Choeur se retire vers le fond du thtre_.)




  SCNE IV.


  ESTHER, LISE, LE CHOEUR.

  ESTHER.

              O mon souverain Roi!
  Me voici donc tremblante et seule devant toi.
  Mon pre mille fois m'a dit dans mon enfance
  Qu'avec nous tu juras une sainte alliance,                 250
  Quand, pour te faire un peuple agrable  tes yeux,
  Il plut  ton amour de choisir nos aeux.
  Mme tu leur promis de ta bouche sacre
  Une postrit d'ternelle dure.
  Hlas!  ce peuple ingrat a mpris ta loi;                 255
  La nation chrie a viol sa foi;
  Elle a rpudie son poux et son pre,
  Pour rendre  d'autres dieux un honneur adultre.
  Maintenant elle sert sous un matre tranger.
  Mais c'est peu d'tre esclave, on la veut gorger.         260
  Nos superbes vainqueurs, insultant  nos larmes,
  Imputent  leurs dieux le bonheur de leurs armes,
  Et veulent aujourd'hui qu'un mme coup mortel
  Abolisse ton nom, ton peuple et ton autel.
  Ainsi donc un perfide, aprs tant de miracles,             265
  Pourrait anantir la foi de tes oracles,
  Ravirait aux mortels le plus cher de tes dons,
  Le saint que tu promets et que nous attendons?
  Non, non, ne souffre pas que ces peuples farouches,
  Ivres de notre sang, ferment les seules bouches            270
  Qui dans tout l'univers clbrent tes bienfaits;
  Et confonds tous ces dieux qui ne furent jamais.

  Pour moi, que tu retiens parmi ces infidles,
  Tu sais combien je hais leurs ftes criminelles,
  Et que je mets au rang des profanations                    275
  Leur table, leurs festins, et leurs libations;
  Que mme cette pompe o je suis condamne,
  Ce bandeau, dont il faut que je paraisse orne
  Dans ces jours solennels  l'orgueil ddis,
  Seule et dans le secret je le foule  mes pieds;           280
  Qu' ces vains ornements je prfre la cendre,
  Et n'ai de got qu'aux pleurs que tu me vois rpandre,
  J'attendais le moment marqu dans ton arrt,
  Pour oser de ton peuple embrasser l'intrt.
  Ce moment est venu: ma prompte obissance                  285
  Va d'un roi redoutable affronter la prsence,
  C'est pour toi que je marche.  Accompagne mes pas
  Devant ce fier lion qui ne te connat pas,
  Commande en me voyant que son courroux s'apaise,
  Et prte  mes discours un charme qui lui plaise.          290
  Les orages, les vents, les cieux te sont soumis:
  Tourne enfin sa fureur centre nos ennemis.




  SCNE V.

  (_Toute cette scne est chante_.)

  LE CHOEUR.


  UNE ISRALITE _seule_.

  Pleurons et gmissons, mes fidles compagnes;
    A nos sanglots donnons un libre cours.
    Levons les yeux vers les saintes montagnes               295
    D'o l'innocence attend tout son secours.
      O mortelles alarmes!
  Tout Isral prit.  Pleurez, mes tristes yeux:
    Il ne fut jamais sous les cieux
    Un si juste sujet de larmes.                             300


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

      O mortelles alarmes!


  UNE AUTRE ISRALITE.

  N'tait-ce pas assez qu'un vainqueur odieux
  De l'auguste Sion et dtruit tous les charmes,
  Et tran ses enfants captifs en mille lieux?


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

      O mortelles alarmes!                                   305


  LA MME ISRALITE.

  Faibles agneaux livrs  des loups furieux,
      Nos soupirs sont nos seules armes.
  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

      O mortelles alarmes!


  UNE DES ISRALITES.

  Arrachons, dchirons tous ces vains ornements
      Qui parent notre tte.                                 310


  UNE AUTRE.

      Revtons-nous d'habillements
      Conformes  l'horrible fte
      Que l'impie Aman nous apprte.


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

  Arrachons, dchirons tous ces vains ornements
      Qui parent notre tte.                                 315


  UNE ISRALITE _seule_.

    Quel carnage de toutes parts!
  On gorge  la fois les enfants, les vieillards,
      Et la soeur et le frre,
      Et la fille et la mre,
      Le fils dans les bras de son pre.                     320
  Que de corps entasss! que de membres pars
      Privs de spulture!
    Grand Dieu! tes saints sont la pture
    Des tigres et des lopards.


  UNE DES PLUS JEUNES ISRALITES.

      Hlas! si jeune encore,                                325
  Par quel crime ai-je pu mriter mon malheur?
    Ma vie  peine a commenc d'clore.
      Je tomberai comme une fleur
      Qui n'a vu qu'une aurore.
      Hlas! si jeune encore,                                330
  Par quel crime ai-je pu mriter mon malheur?


  UNE AUTRE.

  Des offenses d'autrui malheureuses victimes,
  Que nous servent, hlas! ces regrets superflus?
  Nos pres ont pch, nos pres ne sont plus,
    Et nous portons la peine de leurs crimes.                335


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

  Le Dieu que nous servons est le Dieu des combats.
      Non, non, il ne souffrira pas
      Qu'on gorge ainsi l'innocence.


  UNE ISRALITE _seule_.

    H quoi? dirait l'impit,
  O donc est-il ce Dieu si redout                          340
  Dont Isral nous vantait la puissance?


  UNE AUTRE.

  Ce Dieu jaloux, ce Dieu victorieux,
    Frmissez, peuples de la terre,
  Ce Dieu jaloux, ce Dieu victorieux
    Est le seui qui commande aux cieux.                      345
    Ni les clairs ni le tonnerre
    N'obissent point  vos dieux.


  UNE AUTRE.

    Il renverse l'audacieux.


  UNE AUTRE.

      Il prend l'humble sous sa dfense.


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

  Le Dieu que nous servons est le Dieu des combats.          350
      Non, non, il ne souffrira pas
      Qu'on gorge ainsi l'innocence.


  DEUX ISRALITES.

      O Dieu, que la gloire couronne,
      Dieu, que la lumire environne,
      Qui voles sur l'aile des vents,                        355
    Et dont le trne est port par les anges!


  DEUX AUTRES DES PLUS JEUNES.

    Dieu, qui veux bien que de simples enfants
      Avec eux chantent tes louanges!


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

      Tu vois nos pressants dangers:
      Donne  ton nom la victoire:                           360
      Ne souffre point que ta gloire
      Passe  des dieux trangers.


  UNE ISRALITE _seule_.

      Arme-toi, viens nous dfendre.
  Descends tel qu'autrefois la mer te vit descendre.
    Que les mchants apprennent aujourd'hui                  365
      A craindre ta colre.
  Qu'ils soient comme la poudre et la paille legere
    Que le vent chasse devant lui.


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

      Tu vois nos pressants dangers:
      Donne  ton nom la victoire;                           370
      Ne souffre point que ta gloire
      Passe  des dieux trangers.




  ACTE SECOND.

  (_Le thtre reprsente la chambre o
  est le trne Assurus_.)


  SCNE I.

  AMAN, HYDASPE.


  AMAN.

  H quoi? lorsque le jour ne commence qu' luire,
  Dans ce lieu redoutable oses-tu m'introduire?


  HYDASPE.

  Vous savez qu'on s'en peut reposer sur ma foi,             375
  Que ces portes, Seigneur, n'obissent qu' moi.
  Venez.  Partout ailleurs on pourrait nous entendre.


  AMAN.

  Quel est donc le secret que tu me veux apprendre?


  HYDASPE.

  Seigneur, de vos bienfaits mille fois honor,
  Je me souviens toujours que je vous ai jur                380
  D'exposer  vos yeux par des avis sincres
  Tout ce que ce palais renferme de mystres.
  Le Roi d'un noir chagrin parat envelopp.
  Quelque songe effrayant cette nuit l'a frapp.
  Pendant que tout gardait un silence paisible,              385
  Sa voix s'est fait entendre avec un cri terrible.
  J'ai couru.  Le dsordre tait dans ses discours.
  Il s'est plaint d'un pril qui menaait ses jours:
  Il parlait d'ennemi, de ravisseur farouche;
  Mme le nom d'Esther est sorti de sa bouche.               390
  Il a dans ces horreurs pass toute la nuit.
  Enfin, las d'appeler un sommeil qui le fuit,
  Pour carter de lui ces images funbres,
  Il s'est fait apporter ces annales clbres
  O les faits de son rgne, avec soin amasss,              395
  Par de fideles mains chaque jour sont tracs.
  On y conserve crits le service et l'offense,
  Monuments ternels d'amour et de vengeance.
  Le Roi, que j'ai laiss plus caime dans son lit,
  D'une oreille attentive ecout ce rcit.                   400


  AMAN.

  De quel temps de sa vie a-t-il choisi l'histoire?


  HYDASPE.

  Il revoit tous ces temps si remplis de sa gloire,
  Depuis le fameux jour qu'au trne de Cyrus
  Le choix du sort plaa l'heureux Assurus.


  AMAN.

  Ce songe, Hydaspe, est donc sorti de son ide?             405


  HYDASPE.

  Entre tous les devins fameux dans la Chalde,
  Il a fait assembler ceux qui savent le mieux
  Lire en un songe obscur les volonts des cieux.
  Mais quel trouble vous-mme aujourd'hui vous agite?
  Votre me, en m'coutant, parat toute interdite.          410
  L'heureux Aman a-t-il quelques secrets ennuis?


  AMAN.

  Peux-tu le demander dans la place o je suis,
  Ha, craint, envi, souvent plus misrable
  Que tous les malheureux que mon pouvoir accable?


  HYDASPE.

  H! qui jamais du Ciel eut des regards plus doux?          415
  Vous voyez l'univers prostern devant vous.


  AMAN.

  L'univers?  Tous les jours un homme. . . un vil esclave,
  D'un front audacieux me ddaigne et me brave.


  HYDASPE.

  Quel est cet ennemi de l'tat et du Roi?


  AMAN.

  Le nom de Mardoche est-il connu de toi?                   420


  HYDASPE.

  Qui? ce chef d'une race abominable, impie?


  AMAN.

  Oui, lui-mme.


  HYDASPE.

          H, Seigneur! d'une si belle vie
  Un si faible ennemi peut-il troubler la paix?


  AMAN.

  L'insolent devant moi ne se courba jamais.
  En vain de la faveur du plus grand des monarques           425
  Tout rvre  genoux les glorieuses marques;
  Lorsque d'un saint respect tous les Persans touchs
  N'osent lever leurs fronts  la terre attachs,
  Lui, fierement assis, et la tte immobile,
  Traite tous ces honneurs d'impit servile,                430
  Prsente  mes regards un front sditieux,
  Et ne daignerait pas au moins baisser les yeux.
  Du palais cepeudant il assige la porte:
  A quelque heure que j'entre, Hydaspe, ou que je sorte,
  Son visage odieux m'afflige et me poursuit;                435
  Et mon esprit troubl le voit encor la nuit.
  Ce matin j'ai voulu devancer la lumire:
  Je l'ai trouv couvert d'une affreuse poussire,
  Revtu de lambeaux, tout ple; mais son oeil
  Conservait sous la cendre encor le mme orgueil.           440
  D'o lui vient, cher ami, cette impudente audace?
  Toi, qui dans ce palais vois tout ce qui se passe,
  Crois-tu que quelque voix ose parler pour lui?
  Sur quel roseau fragile a-t-il mis son appui?


  HYDASPE.

  Seigneur, vous le savez, son avis salutaire                445
  Dcouvrit de Thars le complot sanguinaire.
  Le Roi promit alors de le rcompenser.
  Le Roi, depuis ce temps, parat n'y plus penser.


  AMAN.

  Non, il faut  tes yeux dpouiller l'artifice.
  J'ai su de mon destin corriger l'injustice,                450

  Dans les mains des Persans jeune enfant apport,
  Je gouverne l'empire o je fus achet.
  Mes richesses des rois galent l'opulence.
  Environn d'enfants, soutiens de ma puissance,
  Il ne manque  mon front que le bandeau royal.             455
  Cependant (des mortels aveuglement fatal!)
  De cet amas d'honneurs la douceur passagre
  Fait sur mon coeur  peine une atteinte lgre;
  Mais Mardoche, assis aux portes du palais,
  Dans ce coeur malheureux enfonce mille traits;             460
  Et toute ma grandeur me devient insipide,
  Tandis que le soleil claire ce perfide.


  HYDASPE.

  Vous serez de sa vue affranchi dans dix jours:
  La nation entire est promise aux vautours.


  AMAN.

  Ah! que ce temps est long  mon impatience!                465
  C'est lui, je te veux bien cofier ma vengeance,
  C'est lui qui, devant moi refusant de ployer,
  Les a livrs au bras qui les va foudroyer.
  C'tait trop peu pour moi d'une telle victime:
  La vengeance trop faible attire un second crime.           470
  Un homme tel qu'Aman, lorsqu'on l'ose irriter,
  Dans sa juste fureur ne peut trop clater.
  Il faut des chtiments dont l'univers frmisse;
  Qu'on tremble en comparant l'offense et le supplice;
  Que les peuples entiers dans le sang soient noys.         475
  Je veux qu'on dise un jour aux sicles effrays:
  Il fut des Juifs, il fut une insolente race;
  Rpandus sur la terre, ils en couvraient la face,
  Un seul osa d'Aman attirer le courroux,
  Aussitt de la terre ils disparurent tous.                480


  HYDASPE.

  Ce n'est donc pas, Seigneur, le sang amalcite
  Dont la voix  les perdre en secret vous excite?


  AMAN.

  Je sais que, descendu de ce sang malheureux,
  Une ternelle haine a d m'armer centre eux;
  Qu'ils firent d'Amalec un indigne carnage;                 485
  Que jusqu'aux vils troupeaux tout prouva leur rage,
  Qu'un dplorable reste  peine fut sauv.
  Mais, crois-moi, dans le rang o je suis lve,
  Mon me,  ma grandeur tout entire attache,
  Des intrts du sang est faiblement touche.               490
  Mardochee est coupable; et que faut-il de plus?
  Je prvins donc contre eux l'esprit d'Assurus:
  J'inventai des couleurs; j'armai la calomnie;
  J'intressai sa gloire; il trembla pour sa vie.
  Je les peignis puissants, riches, sditieux,               495
  Leur dieu mme ennemi de tous les autres dieux.
  Jusqu' quand souffre-t-on que ce peuple respire,
  Et d'un culte profane infecte votre empire?
  trangers dans la Perse,  nos lois opposs,
  Du reste des humains ils semblent diviss,                 500
  N'aspirent qu' troubler le repos o nous sommes,
  Et dtests partout, dtestent tous les hommes,
  Prevenez, punissez leurs insolents efforts;
  De leur depouille enfin grossissez vos trsors.
  Je dis, et l'on me crut.  Le Roi, des l'heure mme,       505
  Mit dans ma main le sceau de son pouvoir suprme;
  Assure, me dit-il, le repos de ton roi;
  Va, perds ces malheureux: leur dpouille est  toi.
  Toute la nation fut ainsi condamne.
  Du carnage avec lui je rglai la journe.                  510
  Mais de ce tratre enfin le trpas differ
  Fait trop souffrir mon coeur de son sang altr.
  Un je ne sais quel trouble empoisonne ma joie.
  Pourquoi dix jours encor faut-il que je le voie?


  HYDASPE.

  Et ne pouvez-vous pas d'un mot l'exterminer?               515
  Dites au Roi, Seigneur, de vous l'abandonner.


  AMAN.

  Je viens pour epier le moment favorable.
  Tu connais comme moi ce prince inexorable.
  Tu sais combien terrible en ses soudains transports,
  De nos desseins souvent il rompt tous les ressorts.        520
  Mais  me tourmenter ma crainte est trop subtile:
  Mardoche  ses yeux est une me trop vile.


  HYDASPE.

  Que tardez-vous?  Allez, et faites promptement
  lever de sa mort le honteux instrument.


  AMAN.

  J'entends du bruit; je sors.
                      Toi, si le Roi m'appelle. . . .        525


  HYDASPE.

  Il suffit.



  SCNE II.

  ASSURUS, HYDASPE, ASAPH, SUITE D'ASSURUS.

  ASSURUS.

  Ainsi donc, sans cet avis fidle,
  Deux tratres dans son lit assassinaient leur roi?
  Qu'on me laisse, et qu'Asaph seui demeure avec moi.



  SCNE III.

  ASSURUS, ASAPH.


  ASSURUS, _assis sur son trne_.

  Je veux bien l'avouer: de ce couple perfide
  J'avais presque oubli l'attentat parricide;               530
  Et j'ai pli deux fois au terrible rcit
  Qui vient d'en retracer l'image  mon esprit.
  Je vois de quel succs leur fureur fut suivie,
  Et que dans les tourments ils laissrent la vie.
  Mais ce sujet zl qui, d'un oeil si subtil,               535
  Sut de leur noir complot dvelopper le fil,
  Qui me montra sur moi leur main dj leve,
  Enfin par qui la Perse avec moi fut sauve,
  Quel honneur pour sa foi, quel prix a-t-il reu?


  ASAPH.

  On lui promit beaucoup: c'est tout ce que j'ai su.         540
  ASSURUS.

  O d'un si grand service oubli trop condamnable!
  Des embarras du trne effet invitable!
  De soins tumultueux un prince environn
  Vers de nouveaux objets est sans cesse entran;
  L'avenir l'inquite, et le prsent le frappe,              545
  Mais plus prompt que l'clair, le passe nous chappe;
  Et de tant de mortels,  toute heure empresss
  A nous faire valoir leurs soins intresss,
  Il ne s'en trouve point qui, touchs d'un vrai zle,
  Prennent  notre gloire un intrt fidle,                 550
  Du mrite oubli nous fassent souvenir;
  Trop prompts  nous parler de ce qu'il faut punir.
  Ah! que plutt l'injure chappe  ma vengeance,
  Qu'un si rare bienfait  ma reconnaissance!
  Et qui voudrait jamais s'exposer pour son roi?             555
  Ce mortel qui montra tant de zle pour moi,
  Vit-il encore?


  ASAPH.

          Il voit l'astre qui vous claire.


  ASSURUS.

  Et que n'a-t-il plus tt demand son salaire?
  Quel pays recul le cach a mes bienfaits?


  ASAPH.

  Assis le plus souvent aux portes du palais,                560
  Sans se plaindre de vous, ni de sa destine,
  Il y trane, Seigneur, sa vie infortune.


  ASSURUS.

  Et je dois d'autant moins oublier la vertu,
  Qu'elle-mme s'oublie.  Il se nomme, dis-tu?


  ASAPH.

  Mardoche est le nom que je viens de vous lire.            565


  ASSURUS.

  Et son pays?


  ASAPH.

            Seigneur, puisqu'il faut vous le dire,
  C'est un de ces captifs  prir destins,
  Des rives du Jourdain sur l'Euphrate amens.


  ASSURUS.

  Il est donc Juif?  O ciel!  Sur le point que la vie
  Par mes propres sujets m'allait tre ravie,                570
  Un Juif rend par ses soins leurs efforts impuissants?
  Un Juif m'a prserv du glaive des Persans?
  Mais puisqu'il m'a sauv, quel qu'il soil, il n'importe.
  Hol! quelqu'un.



  SCNE IV.

  ASSURUS, HYDASPE, ASAPH.


  HYDASPE.

            Seigneur.


  ASSURUS.

              Regarde  cette porte.
  Vois s'il s'offre  tes yeux quelque grand de ma cour.     575


  HYDASPE.

  Aman  votre porte a devanc le jour.


  ASSURUS.

  Qu'il entre.  Ses avis m'claireront peut-tre.



  SCNE V.

  ASSURUS, AMAN, HYDASPE, ASAPH.


  ASSURUS.

  Approche, heureux appui du trne de ton matre,
  me de mes conseils, et qui seul tant de fois              580
  Du sceptre dans ma main as soulag le poids.
  Un reproche secret embarrasse mon me.
  Je sais combien est pur le zee qui t'enflamme:
  Le mensonge jamais n'entra dans tes discours,
  Et mon intrt seul est le but o tu cours.
  Dis-moi donc: que doit faire un prince magnanime           585
  Qui veut combler d'honneurs un sujet qu'il estime?
  Par quel gage clatant et digne d'un grand roi
  Puis-je rcompenser le mrite et la foi?
  Ne donne point de borne  ma reconnaissance.
  Mesure tes conseils sur ma vaste puissance.                590


  AMAN, _tout bas_.

  C'est pour toi-mme, Aman, que tu vas prononcer;
  Et quel autre que toi peut-on rcompenser?


  ASSURUS.

  Que penses-tu?


  AMAN.

              Seigneur, je cherche, j'envisage,
  Des monarques persans la conduite et l'usage.
  Mais  mes yeux en vain je les rappelle tous:              595
  Pour vous rgler sur eux que sont-ils prs de vous?
  Votre rgne aux neveux doit servir de modle.
  Vous voulez d'un sujet reconnatre le zle.
  L'honneur seul peut flatter un esprit gnreux;
  Je voudrais donc, Seigneur, que ce mortel heureux,         600
  De la pourpre aujourd'hui par comme vous-mme,
  Et portant sur le front le sacr diadme,
  Sur un de vos coursiers pompeusement orn,
  Aux yeux de vos sujets dans Suse ft men;
  Que, pour comble de gloire et de magnificence,             605
  Un seigneur minent en richesse, en puissance,
  Enfin de votre empire aprs vous le premier,
  Par la bride guidt son superbe coursier;
  Et lui-mme, marchant en habits magnifiques,
  Crit  haute voix dans les places publiques:              610
  Mortels, prosternez-vous: c'est ainsi que le Roi
  Honore le mrite et couronne la foi.


  ASSURUS.

  Je vois que la sagesse elle-mme t'inspire.
  Avec mes volonts ton sentiment conspire.
  Va, ne perds point de temps.  Ce que tu m'as dict,        615
  Je veux de point en point qu'il soit excut.
  La vertu dans l'oubli ne sera plus cache.
  Aux portes du palais prends le Juif Mardochee:
  C'est lui que je prtends honorer aujourd'hui.
  Ordonne son triomphe, et marche devant lui.                620
  Que Suse par ta voix de son nom retentisse,
  Et fais  son aspect que tout genou flechisse.
  Sortez tous.


  AMAN.

            Dieux!



  SCNE VI.

  ASSURUS, _seul_.

              Le prix est sans doute inou:
  Jamais d'un tel honneur un sujet n'a joui.
  Mais plus la rcompense est grande et glorieuse,           625
  Plus mme de ce Juif la race est odieuse,
  Plus j'assure ma vie, et montre avec clat
  Combien Assurus redoute d'tre ingrat.
  On verra l'innocent discern du coupable.
  Je n'en perdrai pas moins ce peuple abominable.            630
  Leurs crimes. . . .



  SCNE VII.

  ASSURUS, ESTHER, ELISE, THAMAR, PARTIE DU CHOEUR.

  (_Esther entre, s'appuyant sur lise; quatre Isralites
  soutiennent sa robe_?)


  ASSURUS.

              Sans mon ordre on porte ici ses pas?
  Quel mortel insolent vient chercher le trpas?
  Gardes. . . . C'est vous, Esther?  Quoi? sans tre attendue?


  ESTHER.

  Mes filles, soutenez votre reine perdue.
  Je me meurs.
              (_Elle tombe vanouie_.)


  ASSURUS.

              Dieux puissants! quelle trange pleur         635
  De son teint tout  coup efface la couleur?
  Esther, que craignez-vous?  Suis-je pas votre frre?
  Est-ce pour vous qu'est fait un ordre si svre?
  Vivez, le sceptre d'or, que vous tend cette main,
  Pour vous de ma clmence est un gage certain.              640


  ESTHER.

  Quelle voix salutaire ordonne que je vive,
  Et rappelle en mon sein mon me fugitive?


  ASSURUS.

  Ne connaissez-vous pas la voix de votre poux?
  Encore un coup, vivez, et revenez  vous.


  ESTHER.

  Seigneur, je n'ai jamais contempl qu'avec crainte         645
  L'auguste majest sur votre front empreinte:
  Jugez combien ce front irrit contre moi
  Dans mon me trouble a d jeter d'effroi.
  Sur ce trne sacr, qu'environne la foudre,
  J'ai cru vous voir tout prt  me reduire en poudre.       650
  Hlas! sans frissonner, quel coeur audacieux
  Soutiendrait les clairs qui partaient de vos yeux?
  Ainsi du Dieu vivant la colre tincelle. . . .

  ASSURUS.

  O soleil!  flambeaux de lumire immortelle!
  Je me trouble moi-mme, et sans fremissement               655
  Je ne puis voir sa peine et son saisissement.
  Calmez, Reine, calmez la frayeur qui vous presse
  Du coeur d'Assurus souveraine matresse,
  prouvez seulement son ardente amiti:
  Faut-il de mes tats vous donner la moiti?                660


  ESTHER.

  H! se peut-il qu'un roi craint de la terre entire;
  Devant qui tout flchit et baise la poussire,
  Jette sur son esclave un regard si serein,
  Et m'offre sur son coeur un pouvoir souverain?


  ASSURUS.

  Croyez-moi, chre Esther, ce sceptre, cet empire,          665
  Et ces profonds respects que la terreur inspire,
  A leur pompeux clat mlent peu de douceur,
  Et fatiguent souvent leur triste possesseur.
  Je ne trouve qu'en vous je ne sais quelle grce
  Qui me charme toujours et jamais ne me lasse.              670
  De l'aimable vertu doux et puissants attraits!
  Tout respire en Esther l'innocence et la paix.
  Du chagrin le plus noir elle carte les ombres,
  Et fait des jours sereins de mes jours les plus sombres
  Que dis-je? sur ce trne assis auprs de vous,             675
  Des astres ennemis j'en crains moins le courroux,
  Et crois que votre front prte  mon diadme
  Un clat qui le rend respectable aux dieux mme.
  Osez donc me rpondre, et ne me cachez pas
  Quel sujet important conduit ici vos pas.                  680
  Quel intrt, quels soins vous agitent, vous pressent?
  Je vois qu'en m'coutant vos yeux au Ciel s'adressent.
  Parlez: de vos dsirs le succs est certain,
  Si ce succs dpend d'une mortelle main.


  ESTHER.

  O bont qui m'assure autant qu'elle m'honore!
  Un intrt pressant veut que je vous implore.
  J'attends ou mon malheur ou ma flicit;
  Et tout dpend, Seigneur, de votre volont.
  Un mot de votre bouche, en terminant mes peines,
  Peut rendre Esther heureuse entre toutes les reines.       690


  ASSURUS.

  Ah! que vous enflammez mon dsir curieux!


  ESTHER.

  Seigneur, si j'ai trouv grce devant vos yeux,
  Si jamais  mes voeux vous ftes favorable,
  Permettez, avant tout, qu'Esther puisse  sa table
  Recevoir aujourd'hui son souverain Seigneur,               695
  Et qu'Aman soit admis  cet excs d'honneur.
  J'oserai devant lui rompre ce grand silence,
  Et j'ai, pour m'expliquer, besoin de sa prsence.


  ASSURUS.

  Dans quelle inquitude, Esther, vous me jetez!
  Toutefois, qu'il soit fait comme vous souhaitez.           700
                (_A ceux de sa suite._)
  Vous, que l'on cherche Aman; et qu'on lui fasse entendre
  Qu'invit chez la Reine, il ait soin de s'y rendre.


  HYDASPE.

  Les savants Chaldens, par votre ordre appels,
  Dans cet appartement, Seigneur, sont assembls.


  ASSURUS.

  Princesse, un songe trange occupe ma pense.              705
  Vous-mme en leur rponse etes intresse.
  Venez, derrire un voile coutant leurs discours,
  De vos propres clarts me prter le secours.
  Je crains pour vous, pour moi, quelque ennemi perfide.


  ESTHER.

  Suis-moi, Thamar.  Et vous, troupe jeune et timide,        710
  Sans craindre ici les yeux d'une profane cour,
  A l'abri de ce trne attendez mon retour.



  SCNE VIII.

  (_Cette scne est partie dclame sans chant,
  et partie chante.)

  LISE, PARTIE DU CHOEUR.


  LISE.

  Que vous semble, mes soeurs, de l'tat o nous sommes?
    D'Esther, d'Aman, qui le doit emporter?
        Est-ce Dieu, sont-ce les hommes                      715
      Dont les oeuvres vont clater?
    Vous avez vu quelle ardente colre,
  Allumait de ce roi le visage svre.


  UNE DES ISRALITES.

  Des clairs de ses yeux l'oeil tait bloui.


  UNE AUTRE.

  Et sa voix m'a paru comme un tonnerre horrible.            720


  LISE.

      Comment ce courroux si terrible
    En un moment s'est-il vanoui?


  UNE DES ISRALITES _chante_.

  Un moment a chang ce courage inflexible.
  Le lion rugissant est un agneau paisible.
  Dieu, notre Dieu sans doute a vers dans son coeur         725
        Cet esprit de douceur.


  LE CHOEUR _chante_.

  Dieu, notre Dieu sans doute a vers dans son coeur
        Cet esprit de douceur.


  LA MEME ISRALITE _chante_.

        Tel qu'un ruisseau docile
  Obit  la main qui dtourne son cours,                    730
  Et, laissant de ses eaux partager le secours,
      Va rendre tout un champ fertile,
  Dieu, de nos volonts arbitre souverain,
    Le coeur des rois est ainsi dans ta main.


  LISE.

  Ah! que je crains, mes soeurs, les funestes nuages         735
    Qui de ce prince obscurcissent les yeux!
  Comme il est aveugl du culte de ses dieux!


  UNE DES ISRALITES.

  Il n'atteste jamais que leurs noms odieux.


  UNE AUTRE.

  Aux feux inanims dont se parent les cieux
      Il rend de profanes hommages.                          740


  UNE AUTRE.

  Tout son palais est plein de leurs images.


  LE CHOEUR _chante_.

  Malheureux! vous quittez le matre des humains
    Pour adorer l'ouvrage de vos mains.


  UNE ISRALITE _chante_.

    Dieu d'Isral, dissipe enfin cette ombre:
  Des larmes de tes saints quand seras-tu touch?            745
      Quand sera le voile arrach
  Qui sur tout l'univers jette une nuit si sombre?
    Dieu d'Isral, dissipe enfin cette ombre:
      Jusqu'a quand seras-tu cach?


  UNE DES PLUS JEUNES ISRALITES.

  Parlons plus bas, mes soeurs.  Ciel! si quelque infidle,  750
  coutant nos discours, nous allait dceler!


  LISE.

  Quoi? fille d'Abraham, une crainte mortelle
    Semble dj vous faire chanceler?
  H! si l'impie Aman, dans sa main homicide
  Faisant luire  vos yeux un glaive menaant,               755
    A blasphmer le nom du Tout-Puissant
    Voulait forcer votre bouche timide?


  UNE AUTRE ISRALITE.

  Peut-tre Assurus, frmissant de courroux,
      Si nous ne courbons les genoux
      Devant une muette idole,                               760
      Commandera qu'on nous immole.
      Chre soeur, que choisirez-vous?


  LA JEUNE ISRALITE.

  Moi! je pourrais trahir le Dieu que j'aime?
  J'adorerais un dieu sans force et sans vertu,
  Reste d'un tronc par les vents abattu,                     765
  Qui ne peut se sauver lui-mme?


  LE CHOEUR _chante_.

  Dieux impuissants, dieux sourds, tous ceux qui vous implorent
       Ne seront jamais entendus.
    Que les dmons, et ceux qui les adorent,
    Soient  jamais dtruits et confondus.                   770


  UNE ISRALITE _chante_.

  Que ma bouche et mon coeur, et tout ce que je suis,
  Rendent honneur au Dieu qui m'a donn la vie!
    Dans les craintes, dans les ennuis,
    En ses bonts mon me se confie.
  Veut-il par mon trpas que je le glorifie?                 775
  Que ma bouche et mon coeur, et tout ce que je'suis,
  Rendent honneur au Dieu qui m'a donn la vie.


  LISE.

  Je n'admirai jamais la gloire de l'impie.


  UNE AUTRE ISRALITE.

  Au bonheur du mchant qu'une autre porte envie.


  LISE.

      Tous ses jours paraissent charmants;                   780
      L'or clate en ses vtements;
  Son orgueil est sans borne ainsi que sa richesse;
  Jamais l'air n'est troubl de ses gmissements;
  Il s'endort, il s'veille au son des instruments;
      Son coeur nage dans la mollesse.                       785


  UNE AUTRE ISRALITE.

      Pour comble de prosprit,
  Il espre revivre en sa postrit;
  Et d'enfants  sa table une riante troupe
  Semble boire avec lui la joie  pleine coupe.
                           (_Tout le reste est chant_.)


  LE CHOEUR.

    Heureux, dit-on, le peuple florissant                    790
    Sur qui ces biens coulent en abondance!
      Plus heureux le peuple innocent
  Qui dans le Dieu du Ciel a mis sa confiance!


  UNE ISRALITE _seule_.

  Pour contenter ses frivoles dsirs,
  L'homme insens vainement se consume;                      795
      Il trouve l'amertume
      Au milieu des plaisirs.


  UNE AUTRE, _seule_.

  Le bonheur de l'impie est toujours agit;
  Il erre  la merci de sa propre inconstance.
      Ne cherchons la flicit                               800
      Que dans la paix de l'innocence.


  LA MME _avec une autre_.

        O douce paix!
      O lumire ternelle!
      Beaut toujours nouvelle!
  Heureux le coeur pris de tes attraits!                    805
        O douce paix!
      O lumire ternelle!
  Heureux le coeur qui ne te perd jamais!


  LE CHOEUR.

        O douce paix!
      O lumire ternelle!
      Beaut toujours nouvelle!                              810
        O douce paix!
  Heureux le coeur qui ne te perd jamais!


  LA MME _seule_.

  Nulle paix pour l'impie.  Il la cherche, elle fuit,
  Et le calme en son coeur ne trouve point de place.         815
  Le glaive au dehors le poursuit;
  Le remords au dedans le glace.


  UNE AUTRE.

  La gloire des mchants en un moment s'teint.
    L'affreux tombeau pour jamais les dvore.
  Il n'en est pas ainsi de celui qui te craint:              820
  Il renatra, mon Dieu, plus brillant que l'aurore.


  LE CHOEUR.

          O douce paix!
    Heureux le coeur qui ne te perd jamais!


  LISE, _sans chanter_.

  Mes soeurs, j'entends du bruit dans la chambre prochaine.
  On nous appelle: allons rejoindre notre reine.             825




  ACTE TROISIEME.

  Le thtre reprsente les jardins d'Esther,
  et un des cts du salon o se fait le festin.


  SCNE I.

  AMAN, ZARS.


  ZARS.

  C'est donc ici d'Esther le superbe jardin;
  Et ce salon pompeux est le lieu du festin.
  Mais tandis que la porte en est encor ferme,
  coutez les conseils d'une pouse alarme.
  Au nom du sacr noeud qui me lie avec vous,                830
  Dissimulez, Seigneur, cet aveugle courroux;
  claircissez ce front o la tristesse est peinte;
  Les rois craignent surtout le reproche et la plainte.
  Seul entre tous les grands par la Reine invit,
  Ressentez donc aussi cette flicit.                       835
  Si le mal vous aigrit, que le bienfait vous touche.
  Je l'ai cent fois appris de votre propre bouche:
  Quiconque ne sait pas dvorer un affront,
  Ni de fausses couleurs se dguiser le front,
  Loin de l'aspect des rois qu'il s'carte, qu'il fuie.      840
  Il est des contre-temps qu'il faut qu'un sage essuie.
  Souvent avec prudence un outrage endur
  Aux honneurs les plus hauts a servi de dgre.


  AMAN.

  O douleur!  supplice affreux  la pense!
  O honte, qui jamais ne peut tre efface!                  845
  Un excrable Juif, l'opprobre des humains,
  S'est donc vu de la pourpre habill par mes mains!
  C'est peu qu'il ait sur moi remport la victoire;
  Malheureux, j'ai servi de hraut  sa gloire.
  Le tratre!  Il insultait  ma confusion;                  850
  Et tout le peuple mme avec drision,
  Observant la rougeur qui couvrait mon visage,
  De ma chute certaine en tirait le prsage.
  Roi cruel! ce sont l les jeux o tu te plais.
  Tu ne m'as prodigu tes perfides bienfaits                 855
  Que pour me faire mieux sentir ta tyrannie,
  Et m'accabler enfin de plus d'ignominie.


  ZARS.

  Pourquoi juger si mal de son intention?
  Il croit rcompenser une bonne action.
  Ne faut-il pas, Seigneur, s'tonner au contraire           860
  Qu'il en ait si longtemps diffr le salaire?
  Du reste, il n'a rien fait que par votre conseil.
  Vous-mme avez dict tout ce triste appareil.
  Vous tes aprs lui le premier de l'Empire.
  Sait-il toute l'horreur que ce Juif vous inspire?          865


  AMAN.

  Il sait qu'il me doit tout, et que pour sa grandeur
  J'ai foul sous les pieds remords, crainte, pudeur;
  Qu'avec un coeur d'airain exerant sa puissance,
  J'ai fait taire les lois et gmir l'innocence,
  Que pour lui, des Persans bravant l'aversion,              870
  J'ai chri, j'ai cherch la maldiction;
  Et pour prix de ma vie  leur haine expose,
  Le barbare aujourd'hui m'expose  leur rise!


  ZARS.

  Seigneur, nous sommes seuls.  Que sert de se flatter?
  Ce zle que pour lui vous ftes clater,                   875
  Ce soin d'immoler tout  son pouvoir suprme,
  Entre nous, avaient-ils d'autre objet que vous-mme?
  Et sans chercher plus loin, tous ces Juifs dsols,
  N'est-ce pas  vous seul que vous les immolez?
  Et ne craignez-vous point que quelque avis funeste. . . .  880
  Enfin la cour nous hait, le peuple nous dteste.
  Ce Juif mme, il le faut confesser malgr moi,
  Ce Juif, combl d'honneurs, me cause quelque effroi.
  Les malheurs sont souvent enchans l'un  l'autre,
  Et sa race toujours fut fatale  la vtre,                 885
  De ce lger affront songez  profiter.
  Peut-tre la fortune est prte  vous quitter;
  Aux plus affreux excs son inconstance passe.
  Prevnez son caprice avant qu'elle se lasse.
  O tendez-vous plus haut?  Je frmis quand je voi          890
  Les abmes profonds qui s'offrent devant moi:
  La chute dsormais ne peut tre qu'horrible.
  Osez chercher ailleurs un destin plus paisible.
  Regagnez l'Hellespont, et ces bords carts
  O vos aeux errants jadis furent jets,                   895
  Lorsque des Juifs contre eux la vengeance allume
  Chassa tout Amalec de la triste Idume.
  Aux malices du sort enfin drobez-vous.
  Nos plus riches trsors marcheront devant nous.
  Vous pouvez du dpart me laisser la conduite;              900
  Surtout de vos enfants j'assurerai la fuite.
  N'ayez soin cependant que de dissimuler.
  Contente, sur vos pas vous me verrez voler:
  La mer la plus terrible et la plus orageuse
  Est plus sre pour nous que cette cour trompeuse.          905
  Mais  grands pas vers vous je vois quelqu'un marcher.
  C'est Hydaspe.



  SCNE II.

  AMAN, ZARS, HYDASPE.


  HYDASPE.

           Seigneur, je courais vous chercher.
  Votre absence en ces lieux suspend toute la joie;
  Et pour vous y conduire Assurus m'envoie.


  AMAN.

  Et Mardoche est-il aussi de ce festin?                    910

  HYDASPE.

  A la table d'Esther portez-vous ce chagrin?
  Quoi? toujours de ce Juif l'image vous dsole?
  Laissez-le s'applaudir d'un triomphe frivole,
  Croit-il d'Assurus viter la rigueur?
  Ne possdez-vous pas son oreille et son coeur?             915
  On a pay le zle, on punira le crime;
  Et l'on vous a, Seigneur, orn votre victime.
  Je me trompe, ou vos voeux, par Esther seconds
  Obtiendront plus encor que vous ne demandez.


  AMAN.

  Croirai-je le bonheur que ta bouche m'annonce?             920


  HYDASPE.

  J'ai des savants devins entendu la rponse:
  Ils disent que la main d'un perfide tranger
  Dans le sang de la Reine est prte  se plonger;
  Et le Roi, qui ne sait o trouver le coupable,
  N'impute qu'aux seuls Juifs ce projet dtestable.          925


  AMAN.

  Oui, ce sont, cher ami, des monstres furieux;
  Il faut craindre surtout leur chef audacieux.
  La terre avec horreur ds longtemps les endure;
  Et l'on n'en peut trop tt dlivrer la nature.
  Ah! je respire enfin.  Chre Zars, adieu.                 930


  HYDASPE.

  Les compagnes d'Esther s'avancent vers ce lieu.
  Sans doute leur concert va commencer la fte.
  Entrez, et recevez l'honneur qu'on vous apprte.



  SCNE III.

  LISE, LE CHOEUR.

  (_Ceci se rcite sans chant_.)


  UNE LES ISRALITES.

  C'est Aman.


  UNE AUTRE.

            C'est lui-mme, et j'en frmis, ma soeur.



  LA PRMIERE.

  Mon coeur de crainte et d'horreur se resserre.             935


  L'AUTRE.

    C'est d'Isral le superbe oppresseur.


  LA PRMIERE.

      C'est celui qui trouble la terre.


  LISE.

  Peut-on, en le voyant, ne le connatre pas?
  L'orgueil et le ddain sont peints sur son visage.


  UNE ISRALITE.

  On lit dans ses regards sa fureur et sa rage.              940


  UNE AUTRE.

  Je croyais voir marcher la Mort devant ses pas.


  UNE DES PLUS JEUNES.

  Je ne sais si ce tigre a reconnu sa proie;
  Mais en nous regardant, mes soeurs, il m'a sembl
  Qu'il avait dans les yeux une barbare joie,
    Dont tout mon sang est encore troubl.                   945


  LISE.

  Que ce nouvel honneur va crotre son audace!
      Je le vois, mes soeurs, je le voi:
  A la table d'Esther l'insolent prs du Roi
        A dj pris sa place.


  UNE DES ISRALITES.

  Ministres du festin, de grce dites-nous,                  950
  Quels mets  ce cruel, quel vin prparez-vous?


  UNE AUTRE.

  Le sang de l'orphelin,


  UNE TROISIEME.

                        Les pleurs des misrables,


  LA SECONDE.

      Sont ses mets les plus agrables.


  LA TROISIEME.

      C'est son breuvage le plus doux.


  LISE.

  Chres soeurs, suspendez la douleur qui vous presse.       955
  Chantons, on nous t'ordonne; et que puissent nos chants
  Du coeur d'Assurus adoucir la rudesse,
  Comme autrefois David par ses accords touchants
  Calmait d'un roi jaloux la sauvage tristesse!

        (_Tout le reste de cette scene est chante_.)


  UNE ISRALITE.

        Que le peuple est heureux,                           960
        Lorsqu'un roi genreux,
  Craint dans tout l'univers, veut encore qu'on l'aime!
    Heureux le peuple! heureux le roi lui-mme!


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

      O repos!  tranquillit!
  O d'un parfait bonheur assurance ternelle,                965
      Quand la suprme autorit
  Dans ses conseils a toujours auprs d'elle
      La justice et la vrit!


  (_Ces quatre stances sont chantes alternativement par
  une voix seule et par tout le choeur_.)

  UNE ISRALITE.

           Rois, chassez la calomnie.
           Ses criminels attentats                           970
           Des plus paisibles tats
           Troublent l'heureuse harmonie,

           Sa fureur, de sang avide,
           Poursuit partout l'innocent.
           Rois, prenez soin de l'absent                     975
           Contre sa langue homicide.

           De ce monstre si farouche
           Craignez la feinte douceur.
           La vengeance est dans son coeur,
           Et la piti dans sa bouche.                       980

           La fraude adroite et subtile
           Sme de fleurs son chemin;
           Mais sur ses pas vient enfin
           Le repentir inutile.


  UNE ISRALITE _seule_.

  D'un souffle l'aquilon carte les nuages,                  985
    Et chasse au loin la foudre et les orages.
  Un roi sage, ennemi du langage menteur,
  carte d'un regard le perfide imposteur.


  UNE AUTRE.

      J'admire un roi victorieux,
  Que sa valeur conduit triomphant en tous lieux,            990
    Mais un roi sage et qui hait l'injustice,
    Qui sous la loi du riche imprieux
  Ne souffre point que le pauvre gmisse,
    Est le plus beau prsent des cieux.


  UNE AUTRE.

          La veuve en sa dfense espre.                     995


  UNE AUTRE.

        De l'orphelin il est le pre;


  TOUTES ENSEMBLE.

  Et les larmes du juste implorant son appui
      Sont prcieuses devant lui.


  UNE ISRALITE _seule_.

  Dtourne, Roi puissant, dtourne tes oreilles
    De tout conseil barbare et mensonger.                   1000
        Il est temps que tu t'veilles:
  Dans le sang innocent ta main va se plonger,
        Pendant que tu sommeilles.
  Dtourne, Roi puissant, dtourne tes oreilles
    De tout conseil barbare et mensonger.                   1005


  UNE AUTRE.

  Ainsi puisse sous toi trembler la terre entire:
  Ainsi puisse  jamais contre tes ennemis
  Le bruit de ta valeur te servir de barrire!
  S'ils t'attaquent, qu'ils soient en un moment soumis.

    Que de ton bras la force les renverse;                  1010
    Que de ton nom la terreur les disperse;
  Que tout leur camp nombreux soit devant tes soldats
    Comme d'enfants une troupe inutile;
  Et si par un chemin il entre en tes tats,
          Qu'il en sorte par plus de mille.                 1015



  SCNE IV.

  ASSURUS, ESTHER, AMAN, LISE, LE CHOEUR.


  ASSURUS, _ Esther_.

  Oui, vos moindres discours ont des grces secrtes;
  Une noble pudeur  tout ce que vous faites
  Donne un prix que n'ont point ni la pourpre ni l'or.
  Quel climat renfermait un si rare trsor?
  Dans quel sein vertueux avez-vous pris naissance?         1020
  Et quelle main si sage leva votre enfance?
  Mais dites promptement ce que vous demandez:
  Tous vos desirs, Esther, vous seront accords,
  Dussiez-vous, je l'ai dit, et veux bien le redire,
  Demander la moiti de ce puissant empire.                 1025


  ESTHER.

  Je ne m'gare point dans ces vastes dsirs.
  Mais puisqu'il faut enfin expliquer mes soupirs,
  Puisque mon roi lui-mme  parler me convie,
            (Elle se jette aux pieds du Roi.)
  J'ose vous implorer, et pour ma propre vie,
  Et pour les tristes jours d'un peuple infortun,          1030
  Qu' prir avec moi vous avez condamn.


  ASSURUS, _la relevant_.

  A prir?  Vous?  Quel peuple?  Et quel est ce mystre?


  AMAN _tout bas_.

  Je tremble.


  ESTHER.

            Esther, Seigneur, eut un Juif pour son pre.
  De vos ordres sanglants vous savez la rigueur.


  AMAN.

  Ah! dieux!


  ASSURUS.

            Ah! de quel coup me percez-vous le coeur?       1035
  Vous la fille d'un Juif?  H quoi? tout ce que j'aime,
  Cette Esther, l'innocence et la sagesse mme,
  Que je croyais du ciel les plus chres amours,
  Dans cette source impure aurait puis ses jours?
  Malheureux!


  ESTHER.

                Vous pourrez rejeter ma prire.             1040
  Mais je demande au moins que, pour grce dernire,
  Jusqu'a la fin, Seigneur, vous m'entendiez parler,
  Et que surtout Aman n'ose point me troubler.


  ASSURUS.

  Parlez.


  ESTHER.

          O Dieu, confonds l'audace et l'imposture,
  Ces Juifs, dont vous voulez dlivrer la nature,           1045
  Que vous croyez, Seigneur, le rebut des humains,
  D'une riche contre autrefois souverains,
  Pendant qu'ils n'adoraient que le Dieu de leurs pres,
  Ont vu bnir le cours de leurs destins prospres.

    Ce Dieu, matre absolu de la terre et des cieux,        1050
  N'est point tel que l'erreur le figure  vos yeux.
  L'ternel est son nom.  Le monde est son ouvrage;
  Il entend les soupirs de l'humble qu'on outrage,
  Juge tous les mortels avec d'gales lois,
  Et du haut de son trne interroge les rois.               1055
  Des plus fermes tats la chute pouvantable,
  Quand il veut, n'est qu'un jeu de sa main redoutable.
  Les Juifs  d'autres dieux osrent s'adresser:
  Roi, peuples, en un jour tout se vit disperser.
  Sous les Assyriens leur triste servitude                  1060
  Devint le juste prix de leur ingratitude.

    Mais pour punir enfin nos matres  leur tour,
  Dieu fit choix de Cyrus avant qu'il vt le jour,
  L'appela par son nom, le promit  la terre,
  Le fit natre, et soudain l'arma de son tonnerre,         1065
  Brisa les fiers remparts et les portes d'airain,
  Mit des superbes rois la dpouille en sa main,
  De son temple dtruit vengea sur eux l'injure.
  Babylone paya nos pleurs avec usure.
  Cyrus, par lui vainqueur, publia ses bienfaits,           1070
  Regarda notre peuple avec des yeux de paix,
  Nous rendit et nos lois et nos ftes divines;
  Et le temple dj sortait de ses ruines.
  Mais de ce roi si sage hritier insens,
  Son fils interrompit l'ouvrage commenc,                  1075
  Fut sourd  nos douleurs.  Dieu rejeta sa race,
  Le retrancha lui-mme, et vous mit en sa place.

    Que n'esprions-nous point d'un roi si gnreux?
  Dieu regarde en piti son peuple malheureux,
  Disions-nous: un roi rgne, ami de l'innocence.          1080
  Partout du nouveau prince on vantait la clmence:
  Les Juifs partout de joie en poussrent des cris.
  Ciel! verra-t-on toujours par de cruels esprits
  Des princes les plus doux l'oreille environne,
  Et du bonheur public la source empoisonne?               1085
  Dans le fond de la Thrace un barbare enfant
  Est venu dans ces lieux souffler la cruaut.
  Un ministre ennemi de votre propre gloire. . . .


  AMAN.

  De votre gloire?  Moi?  Ciel!  Le pourriez-vous crone?
  Moi, qui n'ai d'autre objet ni d'autre dieu. . . .


  ASSURUS.

                          Tais-toi.                         1090
  Oses-tu donc parler sans l'ordre de ton roi?


  ESTHER.

  Notre ennemi cruel devant vous se dclare:
  C'est lui.  C'est ce ministre infidle et barbare,
  Qui, d'un zle trompeur  vos yeux revtu,
  Contre notre innocence arma votre vertu.                  1095
  Et quel autre, grand Dieu! qu'un Scythe impitoyable
  Aurait de tant d'horreurs dict l'ordre effroyable?
  Partout l'affreux signal en mme temps donn
  De meurtres remplira l'univers tonn.
  On verra, sous le nom du plus juste des princes,          1100
  Un perfide tranger dsoler vos provinces,
  Et dans ce palais mme, en proie  son courroux,
  Le sang de vos sujets regorger jusqu' vous.

  Et que reproche aux Juifs sa haine envenime?
  Quelle guerre intestine avons-nous allume?               1105
  Les a-t-on vus marcher parmi vos ennemis?
  Fut-il jamais au joug esclaves plus soumis?
  Adorant dans leurs fers le Dieu qui les chtie,
  Pendant que votre main sur eux appesantie
  A leurs perscuteurs les livrait sans secours,            1110
  Ils conjuraient ce Dieu de veiller sur vos jours,
  De rompre des mchants les trames criminelles,
  De mettre votre trne  l'ombre de ses ailes.
  N'en doutez point, Seigneur, il fut votre soutien.
  Lui seui mit  vos pieds le Parthe et l'Indien,           1115
  Dissipa devant vous les innombrables Scythes,
  Et renferma les mers dans vos vastes limites.
  Lui seul aux yeux d'un Juif dcouvrit le dessein
  De deux tratres tout prts  vous percer le sein.
  Hlas! ce Juif jadis m'adopta pour sa fille.              1120


  ASSURUS.

  Mardoche?


  ESTHER.

            Il restait seui de notre famille.
  Mon pre tait son frre.  Il descend comme moi
  Du sang infortun de notre premier roi.
  Plein d'une juste horreur pour un Amalcite,
  Race que notre Dieu de sa bouche a maudite,               1125
  Il n'a devant Aman pu flchir les genoux,
  Ni lui rendre un honneur qu'll ne croit d qu' vous.
  De l contre les Juifs et contre Mardoche
  Cette haine, Seigneur, sous d'autres noms cache.
  En vain de vos bienfaits Mardoche est par:              1130
  A la porte d'Aman est dj prpar
  D'un infme trpas l'instrument excrable.
  Dans une heure au plus tard ce vieillard vnrable,
  Des portes du palais par son ordre arrach,
  Couvert de votre pourpre y doit tre attach.             1135


  ASSURUS.

  Quel jour ml d'horreur vient effrayer mon me?
  Tout mon sang de colre et de honte s'enflamme.
  J'tais donc le jouet. . . .  Ciel, daigne m'clairer.
  Un moment sans tmoins cherchons  respirer.
  Appelez Mardoche, il faut aussi l'entendre.              1140
              (_Le Roi s'loigne_.)


  UNE ISRALITE.

  Vrit, que j'implore, achve de descendre!



  SCNE V.

  ESTHER, AMAN, LE CHOEUR.


  AMAN, _ Esther_.

  D'un juste tonnement je demeure frapp;
  Les ennemis des Juifs m'ont trahi, m'ont tromp.
  J'en atteste du Ciel la puissance suprme.
  En les perdant j'ai cru vous assurer vous-mme.           1145
  Princesse, en leur faveur, employez mon crdit:
  Le Roi, vous le voyez, flotte encore interdit.
  Je sais par quels ressorts on le'pousse, on l'arrte,
  Et fais, comme il me plat, le calme et la tempte.
  Les intrts des Juifs dj me sont sacrs.               1150
  Parlez: vos ennemis aussitt massacrs,
  Victimes de la foi que ma bouche vous jure,
  De ma fatale erreur rpareront l'injure.
  Quel sang demandez-vous?


  ESTHER.

                        Va, tratre, laisse-moi.
  Les Juifs n'attendent rien d'un mchant tel que toi.      1155
  Misrable, le Dieu vengeur de l'innocence,
  Tout prt  te juger, tient dj sa balance.
  Bientt son juste arrt te sera prononce.
  Tremble.  Son jour approche, et ton rgne est pass.


  AMAN.

  Oui, ce Dieu, je l'avoue, est un Dieu redoutable.         1160
  Mais veut-il que l'on garde une haine implacable?
  C'en est fait: mon orgueil est forc de plier;
  L'inexorable Aman est rduit  prier.
          (_Il se jette  ses pieds_.)
  Par le salut des Juifs, par ces pieds que j'embrasse,
  Par ce sage vieillard, l'honneur de votre race,           1165
  Daignez d'un roi terrible apaiser le courroux.
  Sauvez Aman, qui tremble  vos sacrs genoux.



  SCNE VI.

  ASSURUS, ESTHER, AMAN, LISE, GARDES, LE CHOEUR.


  ASSURUS.

  Quoi? le tratre sur vous porte ses mains hardies?
  Ah! dans ses yeux confus je lis ses perfidies;
  Et son trouble, appuyant la foi de vos discours,          1170
  De tous ses attentats me rappelle le cours.
  Qu' ce monstre  l'instant l'me soit arrache;
  Et que devant sa porte, au lieu de Mardoche,
  Apaisant par sa mort et la terre et les cieux,
  De mes peuples vengs il repaisse les yeux.               1175
            (_Aman est emmen par les Gardes_.)



  SCNE VII.

  ASSURUS, ESTHER, MARDOCHE, LISE, LE CHOEUR.


  ASSURUS _continue en s'adressant  Mardoche_.

  Mortel chri du ciel, mon salut et ma joie,
  Aux conseils des mchants ton roi n'est plus en proie.
  Mes yeux sont dessills, le crime est confondu.
  Viens briller prs de moi dans le rang qui t'est d.
  Je te donne d'Aman les biens et la puissance;             1180
  Possde justement son injuste opulence.
  Je romps le joug funeste o les Juifs sont soumis;
  Je leur livre le sang de tous leurs ennemis;
  A lgal des Persans je veux qu'on les honore,
  Et que tout tremble au nom du Dieu qu'Esther adore.       1185
  Rebtissez son temple, et peuplez vos cits;
  Que vos heureux enfants dans leurs solennits
  Consacrent de ce jour le triomphe et la gloire,
  Et qu' jamais mon nom vive dans leur mmoire.



  SCNE VIII.

  ASSURUS, ESTHER, MARDOCHE, ASAPH, LISE, LE CHOEUR.


  ASSURUS.

  Que veut Asaph?                                           1190


  ASAPH.

                Seigneur, le tratre est expir
  Par le peuple en fureur  moiti dchir.
  On trane, on va donner en spectacle funeste
  De son corps tout sanglant le misrable reste.


  MARDOCHE.

  Roi, qu' jamais le Ciel prenne soin de vos jours.
  Le pril des Juifs presse, et veut un prompt secours.     1195


  ASSURUS.

  Oui, je t'entends.  Allons, par des ordres contraires,
  Rvoquer des mchants les ordres sanguinaires.


  ESTHER.

  O Dieu, par quelle route inconnue aux mortels
  Ta sagesse conduit ses desseins ternels!



  SCNE IX.

  LE CHOEUR.


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

          Dieu fait triompher l'innocence:                  1200
          Chantons, clbrons sa puissance.


  UNE ISRALITE.

  Il a vu contre nous les mchants s'assembler,
        Et notre sang prt  couler.
  Comme l'eau sur la terre ils allaient le rpandre:
      Du haut du ciel sa voix s'est fait entendre;          1205
        L'homme superbe est renvers.
        Ses propres flches l'ont perc.


  UNE AUTRE.

      J'ai vu l'impie ador sur la terre.
      Pareil au cdre, il cachait dans les cieux
          Son front audacieux,                              1210
  Il semblait  son gr gouverner le tonnerre,
      Foulait aux pieds ses ennemis vaincus.
  Je n'ai fait que passer, il n'tait dj plus.


  UNE AUTRE.

  On peut des plus grands rois surprendre la justice.
          Incapables de tromper,                            1215
          Ils ont peine  s'chapper
          Des piges de l'artifice.
  Un coeur noble ne peut souponner en autrui
          La bassesse et la malice.
            Qu'il ne sent point en lui.                     1220


  UNE AUTRE.

          Comment s'est calm l'orage?


  UNE AUTRE.

  Quelle main salutaire a chass le nuage?


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

    L'aimable Esther a fait ce grand ouvrage.
  De l'amour de son Dieu son coeur s'est embras;
          Au pril d'une mort funeste                       1225
          Son zle ardent s'est expos.
        Elle a parl.  Le Ciel a fait le reste.


  DEUX ISRALITES.

  Esther a triomph des filles des Persans.
  La nature et le Ciel  l'envi l'ont orne.


  L'UNE DES DEUX.

  Tout ressent de ses yeux les charmes innocents.           1230
  Jamais tant de beaut fut-elle couronne?


  L'AUTRE.

  Les charmes de son coeur sont encor plus puissants,
  Jamais tant de vertu fut-elle couronne?


  TOUTES DEUX _ensemble_.

  Esther a triomph des filles des Persans.
  La nature et le Ciel  l'envi l'ont orne.                1235


  UNE ISRALITE _seule_.

          Ton Dieu n'est plus irrit.
  Rjouis-toi, Sion, et sors de la poussire.
  Quitte les vtements de ta captivit,
      Et reprends ta splendeur premire.

  Les chemins de Sion  la fin sont ouverts.                1240
              Rompez vos fers,
              Tribus captives.
            Troupes fugitives,
        Repassez les monts et les mers.
      Rassemblez-vous des bouts de l'univers.


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

            Rompez vos fers,
            Tribus captives.
          Troupes fugitives,
      Repassez les monts et les mers.
    Rassemblez-vous des bouts de l'univers.                 1250


  UNE ISRALITE _seule_.

    Je reverrai ces campagnes si chres.


  UNE AUTRE.

    J'irai pleurer au tombeau de mes pres.


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

        Repassez les monts et les mers.
    Rassemblez-vous des bouts de l'univers.


  UNE ISRALITE _seule_.

  Relevez, relevez les superbes portiques                   1255
  Du temple o notre Dieu se plat d'etre ador.
  Que de l'or le plus pur son autel soit par,
  Et que du sein des monts le marbre soit tir.
  Liban, dpouille-toi de tes cedres antiques.
  Prtres sacrs, prparez vos cantiques.                   1260


  UNE AUTRE.

  Dieu descend et revient habiter parmi nous.
      Terre, frmis d'allgresse et de crainte;
        Et vous, sous sa majest sainte,
          Cieux, abaissez-vous!


  UNE AUTRE.

  Que le Seigneur est bon! que son joug est aimable!        1265
  Heureux qui ds l'enfance en connat la douceur!
  Jeune peuple, courez  ce matre adorable!
  Les biens les plus charmants n'ont rien de comparable
  Aux torrents de plaisirs qu'il rpand dans un coeur.
  Que le Seigneur est bon! que son joug est aimable!        1270
  Heureux qui ds l'enfance en connat la douceur!


  UNE AUTRE.

          Il s'apaise, il pardonne.
        Du coeur ingrat qui l'abandonne
          Il attend le retour.
        Il excuse notre faiblesse.                          1275
        A nous chercher mme il s'empresse.
        Pour l'enfant qu'elle a mis au jour
        Une mre a moins de tendresse.
  Ah! qui peut avec lui partager notre amour?


  TROIS ISRALITES.

  Il nous fait remporter une illustre victoire.             1280


  L'UNE DES TROIS.

      Il nous a rvl sa gloire.


  TOUTES TROIS _ensemble_.

  Ah! qui peut avec lui partager notre amour?


  TOUT LE CHOEUR.

  Que son nom soit bni, que son nom soit chant!
      Que l'on clbre ses ouvrages
      Au del des temps et des ges,                        1285
      Au del de l'ternit!




NOTES TO PROLOGUE.

[This prologue is an afterthought, having been written to provide a
part for Mme. de Caylus, a niece of Mme. de Maintenon.  It is never
spoken on the stage, and rarely, if ever, read in French schools.  It
is here given for the sake of completeness only.]


3 ce lieu, of course is St. Cyr.

9 un roi, Louis XIV.

13  sa porte, St. Cyr being in the vicinity of Versailles, the king's
residence.

15 cet ouvrage, the founding of this institution.

24 Louis XIV. supported foreign missions in the East and in the
_Nouveau Monde_.

31-32 Allusion is here made to the Augsburg League (1687), in which
Austria joined Sweden, Saxony, etc., for the purpose of opposing Louis
XIV.  Its leading spirit was the protestant William of Orange.

36 The pope Innocent III. was accused by Louis XIV. of aiding the
anti-Roman designs of William of Orange,

48 Allusion to the taking of Philippsburg, Mannheim and Frankenthal, in
the preceding year.

49 un fils.  The Grand Dauphin had conducted the above campaign, with
the great engineer Vauban.




NOTES TO PLAY.

2 Beni soit is the usual form.  The retained _que_ is therefore
emphatic.--_Voeux_ very frequent in poetry for _prieres_, for metrical
reasons.  The whole expression is elliptical: _qui te rend [a moi en
reponse] a_ etc.

3 Cf. Book of Esther, ii. 5, for the descent of Mordecai, and
consequently of Esther herself, his brother's daughter.

4 For tense of _fus_, see App. II., ii. B. b.

5 d'un meme is stronger than _du meme_.  Cf. l. 263.

8 Note the mode of emphasizing pronouns, Cf. ll. 23, 443, and contrast
ll. 47, 429.

9 je te fais chercher, see App. III.  Note the present tense.

10 donc, emphatic, untranslatable here.  Observe the order _quel
climat_, _quel desert_, and the reason for it.

11 eploree, quite different from _deploree_, is an adjective, meaning
"weeping," "tearful." Cf. Alfred de Musset:

  _Plantez un saule an cimetiere;
  J'aime son feuillage eplore . . ._

13 When ne . . . que = "only," _que_ precedes the word specially
qualified by the adverb in English.  Here the sense makes "only"
qualify _attendais_ rather than _la fin_.  For similar construction see
l. 373.

15 Note: _abuser quelqu'un_, "to deceive a person."
         _abuser de_, "to use improperly."
         _injurier_, "to abuse" or "insult."

16 Suse, "Shushan the palace" of the Bible, on the river Eulaeus, was
the winter residence of the first Persian kings, the Achemenidae.
Susa, Persepolis, and Ecbatana were the principal towns of, Persia, the
biblical "Elam."

18 Note the formal masc. _assis_.

20 Sion, properly one of the four hills, on which Jerusalem was built,
and often used as the name of the town itself, here stands for the
Jewish nation, to which Jerusalem stood in the same relation as Mecca
to the Mohammedans.

23 horreur, a very strong word, because expressing the physical effect
of fear (here "religious awe").  Cf. Latin _horridus_, _horresco_, etc.

24 J'ai su.  For tense, see App. II, iii. B.  Savoir is often elegantly
used = "to succeed," especially in this tense.

37 For this _Assuerus_, see Introduction, section IV.

29 ressort (lit. that which "comes out again" when pressed in) is any
mechanical "spring;" often used figuratively.

31-34 See Book of Esther, i. 10-22.   On the assumption that Assuerus
is Darius, Vashti is Atossa, daughter of Cyrus, and wife, successively,
of Cambyses II., Smerdis, and Darius, to the last of whom she bore
Xerxes and Artabazanus.

33-34 Epexegesis, or explanation, of _disgrace_.  Cf. ll. 250-252.

36 offensee, in the correct etymological sense of "wounded."  Vashti
left an "aching void" in the king's heart.

39 L'Inde, now usually _l'Indus_, is generally the river, and rarely
_India_, in Racine's writings.

40 comparaitre, always used of appearance in answer to official summons.

41 indompte, a classical epithet.  Cf. _indomitique Dahae_, Verg. Aen.
VIII. 728.  The warlike and nomadic character of the Scythians
increased in the mind their geographical remoteness.  The Parthians are
supposed to have sprung from Scythian exiles.  The two races occupied
the vast regions of north-western Asia.

45 heureux, like "happy," often = "successful."

49 agite refers of course to _il_ in l. 50.

51 The exquisite taste and modesty of the queen's narrative has been
commented upon in Introd. section IV.

54 ma race et mon pays.  We are told (Book of Esther, ii. 5-7) that
Mordecai, who had taken Esther for his daughter, had been carried away
from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar; whence it follows that Esther, too,
was not only a Jewess by race, but a native of Palestine.  The Book of
Esther (ii. 20) says she had not showed "her kindred nor her people."

56 peuple means: 1. "nation;" 2. "mass of common people," in
contradistinction to _la noblesse_; 3. "crowd."

57 intrt, whose meaning is always "a matter of interest," will have
to be variously translated; e.g., "prize," "cause," "need," etc.

58 arrt is the decision at which, when reached, a "stop" is made.
Hence, "decree," "edict," and here "doom."

59 brigue is correctly defined by Mr. Saintsbury as "the whole process
of endeavoring to secure a favor by interest and
influence."--_Suffrages_ is here used of the claims to preference put
forward by each.

69 Note that tandis que has two uses: 1 "during the time that," and 2.
"whereas."  _Pendant que_ has only the former.

75 ds has always the force of "as early as," but the translation must
vary.

79-80 Cf. Book of Esther, ii. 18: "And he made a release to the
provinces and gave gifts . . ."  Line 80 is figurative: the king's
releases and gifts did not actually "invite" the masses of his subjects
(see N. to l. 56) to the royal nuptials, but "made them partake of the
joy" of these nuptials.--_Leurs princes_ = Ahasuerus and his new queen.
_Leurs_, a _constructio ad sensum_ with the collective singular
_peuple_.

84 Literally true of the then known world, since the one hundred and
twenty-seven provinces of the Persian Empire extended from the Indus in
the East to the Hellespont in the West.

88 sont cesses.  _Cesser_ was both transitive and intransitive, as
early as the sixteenth century: hence the passive is legitimate, and
lays additional stress on the state resulting from the action.

89 ennuis = "troubles."  _Trouble_ (cf. l. 1170) = "agitation."

92 encor.  See App. I, Metre.

96 jusque has always the force of "as far as," but must be variously
translated.

98 avis. Cf.: _C'est moit avis.--Avis au lecteur.--Quand je serai prt,
je vous en donnerai avis.--Le Prsident prit l'avis de la chambre.--Il
donne trof d'avis.

99 dcouvrir here, as several times in this play, "to reveal."  Cf.
Merchant of Venice, (Act II. Sc. vii.) "Draw aside the curtains and
discover the several caskets."

Pratiques, like our "practices," always unfavorable when = "doings."

100 domestiques = "officers of the household."  The "Rest of the Book
of Esther" gives their names, Gabatha and Tharra, and states that they
were keepers of the palace (xii. 1).

101-110 These lines are a graceful allusion to St. Cyr, and to Mme. de
Maintenon herself.  See Introd. section III.

105 profanes, here, as in l. 155, is an especially apt word, since it
suggests not only the seclusion in which these maidens live within the
palace, but also the difference between their religion and that of the
court.

108 me cherchant moi-mme, "seeking [communion with] myself."

114 A fine antithesis.  Cf. Oedipus Rex, l. l: Kudmou tou palai nia
trophe.  120 (Heading) Endroit or _lieu_ is the general word for a
"place" or "spot."  _Place_ is the place to which a thing belongs.

123 De tous ctes and de toutes parts (l. 148) = both "on all sides"
and "from all sides."

126 jusques.  See App. I, Metre.  The "_s_" is due to the tendency of
adverbial words to assume a final "s."  Cf. _sans_ from _sine_, _alors_
from _ad illam horam_.

132 dplorable, a fine etymological use of the word; now only used in
the derived meaning "sad" or "wretched."

139 ta douleur retrace = _le recit de ta douleur_.  This is a Latin
construction of frequent occurrence in this play.  Cf. _post urbem
conditam_ = "after the founding of the city."  The past participle
qualifying the noun takes the place of our abstract substantive.

140 n'occupe.  _Pas_ is omitted after _si_ whenever the affirmative
idea is predominant.  Tr.: "unless."

146 relever.  See App. III.

149 tes peuples.  Cf. l. 19, and N. to l. 56.

155 This interview is a departure from the Book of Esther, where
Mordecai, in accordance with Eastern custom, can do no more than "walk
before the court of the women's house" (ii. II).

s'ose avancer is an elegant order for _ose s'avancer_.  The peculiarity
is that _oser_ is here used as though it were one of the two
auxiliaries _avoir and _tre_, which alone must separate the oblique
conjunctives from their governing verb.  Cf. ll. 231, 471.  We shall
find several other such pseudo-auxiliaries.

156 pre, figuratively, of course.

160 enfin must be variously translated.  It can have the force of: 1.
"at length;" 2. "too," at the end of an enumeration; 3. "in short;" 4.
"still," or, "after all;" 5. "in the end."

164 c'est fait de . . .  = _actum est de_. . . .  See also App. V, ii.
D.

166 Devoir means 1. "to owe;" 2. "to have to," "must" expressing either
physical necessity (e.g., "You must be tired") or moral obligation; 3.
"to be [about] to;" e.g., "I am to be queen of the May."

170 race d'Amalcite, in apposition to _Aman_, is infinitely more
contemptuous than the equally metrical _de race amalcite_.  Tr. "of
the brood of Amalek."  Cf. Book of Esther, iii. 1, where Haman is
stated to be descended from Agag, king of the Amalekites.

171 crdit:--"personal influence," which Haman has used as a weapon to
strike down his foes.

173 prvenir means: 1. "to forestall," 2. "to give notice" (l. 203),
"to warn," i.e., to forestall the mishap; 3. "to prejudice," i.e., to
forestall impartial judgment, as here.

174 en horreur .  Cf. _odio esse alicui_, and _en proie  (l. 1177).
See App. V, i.

176 pris.  Cf. _prendre jour avec quelqu'un_ = "to make an appointment."

182 les restes, very strong when applied to persons.

183 See l. 140, N.

189 Note the agreement of the adverb.--_Le feu de_ = "the fire that
inspired . . ."

194 affecte = "claims."  The word is very skillfully chosen.  It
conveys, without the slightest disrespect, Esther's sense of the
arbitrary character of this law.

203 _sans [que je puisse] le prvenir_.  The queen may not even inform
the king of her desire to speak with him.

208 Que dis-je? = "Nay!"

209 sang, a frequent metonymy for _race_, as in English.

211 Book of Esther, iv. 14: "and who knoweth whether thou art not come
to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

214 vain--"idle," "useless."  Cf. "in vain."

216 ses saints = "his holy ones."

218 d'un enfant, and not _d'une enfant_, because the statement is
general.  The next line appeals to Esther directly, hence the fem.
heureuse.

221 peuvent = "can avail."

226 Cf. Isaiah, xl. 17.  "All the nations are as nothing before him;
they are counted to him less than nothing."

227 trpas (from _trans_ and low Latin _passare_) is the passing across
the boundary of life.  Cf. our two uses of "trespass."

230 que is here a survival from the very frequent construction which
begins with _c'est: c'est, sans doute, que_. . .-_prouver_ has either
an active sense, "to put to the test," or a passive, "to experience."

232 The addition of _bien_ to _vouloir_ weakens the meaning from strong
volition to condescension.  Here: "has deigned."  Cf. l. 357.
Similarly _aimer_ =  "to love," but _aimer bien_ = "to like."

234 en.  See App. V, ii. C.

237 cette grce, i.e., of being the instrument of our delivery.  The
statement is of course hypothetical, and the future is used, instead of
the conditional, only for greater directness and force.

238 toute votre race, obviously "thou and thy father's house," Book of
Esther, iv. 14.

240 assidus  prier is the order.

242 jene, from _jejunum_.  Cf. our "jejune."

245 "And if I perish, I perish," Book of Esther, iv. 16.  _Contente_,
now colloquially = our "glad," has here its truest sense of "satisfied."

247 Qu'on s'loigne.  The touch of dignity added to the command by the
use of the indefinite pronoun, can hardly be translated.  For the
following prayer, see Introd. section IV.

259 sert has here its full etymological meaning of "being a slave."
Its other meanings are: 2. with _de_, "to serve as," "to be used for,"
l. 843; 3. with accus. "to serve" a person, a cause, etc., l. 336; 4.
with dative, "to be of use" to a person or for a purpose, l. 333.

200 veut, as often, = "seek to."  Note that the _de_ before _tre_ is
not dependent on _peu_, but is the regular preposition introducing an
infinitive not at the beginning of a sentence.--For _vouloir_, used as
a pseudo-auxiliary, see l. 155, N.

261 Insulter, like _applaudir_, is used with the accus. in a literal,
with the dat. in a figurative, sense.

262 Imputer always implies that you charge a person with an _offence_.
Here there is a slight hypallage: the offence lies in the fact that the
conqueror dares to credit his false gods with his triumph, and not, as
the words would literally signify, in that with which he credits them.

263 Note that adjectives at the end of the line are strongly emphatic.

266 Foi means: 1. "faith," l. 256; 2. "loyalty," l. 375; 3. "truth," as
here; 4. "promise," l. 1152.  If the Jews were annihilated, the Saviour
promised by God to the seed of Abraham could not be born to them.

277 o, frequently used for the dat. of relative pron. referring to
things.

299 Il fut is elegant for _il y eut_.  Cf. l. 477.  For the tense, see
App. II, ii. B. b.

309 Arracher is "to snatch away," "to pull off" or "up;" _dchirer_ is
"to tear into pieces."

332 Note that autrui can never be nominative.

333 Que.  See App. IV, 1. A.

347 Ni is almost always followed by _ne_ without _pas_, because _ne_ is
only attended by its intensifying particle _pas_ when used as the sole
negative in the clause, without any accompanying _rien_, _jamais_,
_aucun_, etc.  Here, therefore, there should be no _pas_.  Its
introduction creates a sort of anacoluthon, and throws great stress on
the negative.

364 When Pharaoh's host was swallowed up by the Red Sea.

367 paille lgre = "chaff."

373 ne . . . que.  Cf. l. 13, N.

375 en.  See App. V, ii. E.

382 Tout ce . . . de mystres is a construction framed on the analogy
of genitives following adverbs of quantity.

386 fait and not _faite_.  See App. III.

392 fuit is the present tense because _qui le fuit_ is equivalent to an
adjective.

404 The story is that, at the death of Gomates, the candidates to the
throne of Persia, unable to settle their rival claims, agreed that he
should be king whose horse should neigh first after sunrise, and that
Darius won the crown through the wit of his servant who led a mare to
the appointed spot in advance.  See Herodotus, III. 85-86.

405 ide, by frequent metonymy for _esprit_.

406 Chaldaea was famous for its astronomers, who had fixed the duration
of the year, were acquainted with the zodiac, and as early as the
middle of the fourth century B.C., already possessed astronomical
records extending over 1,900 years.  They were also far-famed
astrologers, and as such were in great demand as late as the last years
of the Roman empire.

415 eut du ciel.  Cf. Gray's Elegy: "He gained from heaven, 'twas all
he asked," etc.

419 Striking witness is borne to Haman's high position by the flattery
paid him by Hydaspes.

426 Tout rvre, for _tous rvrent_, for metrical reasons.  See App.
I, Metre.

430 Traiter de = "to call," always with an unfavorable connotation.

444 fragile, of course, must be translated here "broken."

445 salutaire, here "timely."

449 l'artifice.  The definite article is used distributively: = "all
artifice."

452 Racine heightens the contrast between Haman's past and present
fortunes by imagining him to have been bought for a slave, in boyhood,
by a Persian master.  This the Bible does not state, although the Rest
of the Book of Esther calls him a Macedonian (xvi, 10), but immediately
adds "and as a stranger received of us."

454 soutiens de ma puissance.  Male children were, and still are,
indispensable to prosperity in the East, as the supporters and
defenders of the family.

458 atteinte is now usually unfavorable.

459 Mardoche assis, etc.  See l. 139, N, for this Latin construction.

462 tandis que.  See l. 69, N.  _Tant que_ would have been more precise
here.

465 est . . . .  The construction is _ad sensum_, as though _sembler_
had been used.

468 Note the use of aller as a pseudo-auxiliary.  Cf. l. 155, N.

469 C'est trop peu d'une telle . . .  The _de_ in such forms is due to
false analogy with the construction in which an infinitive in
apposition follows _c'est_, for which see l. 260, N.

477 Il fut.  See App. II, ii. B. b.

478 This line, expressive of the multitude of the Jews, heightens the
contrast with l. 480.

484 a d.  See l. 166, N.

485-87 I Sam. xv, 7-8: "And Saul smote the Amalekites . . . and he took
Agag, the King of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the
people with the edge of the sword."

486 vils, a classical adjective = "valueless," "contemptible."  Cf.
Merch. of Ven. ii., 4: "'tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered."
The flocks and herds have no value, are contemptible, as adversaries;
hence, = "helpless."  Cf. l. 522.

493 couleurs, now familiarly used for "false representations."
_J'armai_, cf. l. 171.

494 J'interessai . . . etc.  "I showed him his glory at stake."  Note
the tense of _trembla_: = "till he trembled."  See App. II, ii. B. a.

502 Cf. Gen. xvi., 12; "his hand shall be against every man, and every
man's hand against him."

504 Note Haman's concluding appeal to the greed of human nature.  He is
a crafty counsellor, as unscrupulous as he is clever.

511 For enfin, see l. 160; for the Latin construction of _le trpas
diffr_, see l. 139.

519-520 There is here a slight confusion in construction.  If a comma
preceded _terrible_, _souvent_ would then be regularly dependent on
_combien_.  But there is no authority for this punctuation, and we must
supply a repeated _combien_, thus: _tu sais combien terrible . . . [il
est it combien] souvent, etc.

521  cannot be consequent to _trop_, which always takes _pour_.  Tr.
"in tormenting me."

523 Que.  See App. IV, ii. A.

527 The imperfect for the conditional past, for greater vividness.  Cf.
"One moment more and he was a dead man" = he would have been . . .

529 veux bien.  See l. 232, N.  It is condescension on the king's part
to make a confession at all.

530.  Note that the king views himself as the father of his people: a
piece of flattery on Racine's part towards Louis XIV.

533 succs, conformably with its derivation, is here without the usual
favorable connotation.  Cf. "luck" = "good luck."--_Fureur_ expresses
aggressive madness (cf. _ira furor brevis est_), which the king assumes
could alone prompt such an attempt.

538 More indirect flattery for Louis XIV.

539 Foi.  See l. 266, N.

541 trop = "passing."  For superlative use of _si_, cf. 1021.

545 frappe = "impresses."

546 nous = "us" [kings].  See App. I, Hiatus.

547 de = "out of," "among."

548 faire valoir, lit. = "to make to have its full value;" hence, "to
set off."   Tr. "to show off."  _Nous_ is indirect obj.--_Intresss_,
is the opposite of "disinterested."

549 Note that the French says: "there are none who _do_," instead of
"there is none who _does_," a plural due to the plural denotation of
_en_.

551 Et might well have preceded this second clause, which is parallel
to that in l. 550.

553 ["While they are only] too ready . . ."

553-554 Que l'injure chappe  ma vengeance plutt qu'un si rare
bienfait [chappe]  ma reconnaissance.--L'injure = "wrong" here; often
= "insult."

555 Supply: "if this service went unrewarded."  Cf. Verg. Aen. I, 48-49.

558 Que.  See App. IV, ii. A.

563 Et = "Then."--_D'autant moins_ goes closely with following _que_.

569 Que.  See App. IV, ii. C.

579 Conseils = "counsels," not "councils."

583-584 An instance of dramatic "irony," by which the poet makes words
to be spoken, of which the spectator already knows the untruth.

587 gage is the same word as "wage."  Here = "reward."  Cf. "the wages
of sin is death."

593 Note que, not _ quoi_.

596 This line explains _en vain_ of l. 595.--_Pour vous rgler sur eux_
. . .  = "that you should be guided by their practice."--_Prs de_,
here "in comparison with," more usually "auprs de," in accordance with
the tendency to use compound forms for secondary meanings.  Cf.
_mouvoir_ and _mouvoir_; _perdu_ and _perdu_.

597 neveux, classical for "posterity."  For _servir de_, see l. 259, N.

600-612 The construction is:

                 (  _que ce mortel . . . ft men_;
  _j'e voudrais_ (  _que, pour comble . . ., un seigneur . . .
                 (     guidt . . . et crit . . ._

603 orn refers to _coursier_.

604 dans has the force of "through the streets of."

605 comble from Latin _cumulus_, the "heap" that tops a full measure.
Hence its connotation is generally, though not always, favorable.
E.g., _Combler de faveurs.--Le comble de l'ingratitude est de har ses
bienfaiteurs.--Le voleur, poursuivi, se rfugia dans les combles du
chteau.--Au comble de la misre_.

607 enfin, see l. 160, N.

614 This line explains ingenuously enough the reason for the statement
in l. 613.

616 il refers to preceding _ce_.

619 prtends = "mean."

622 fais--"see."

625-628 The apodosis begins with _Plus j'assure_. . . .

630 en.  See App. V, ii. C.

633 sans tre attendue = "unsummoned."

635 Je me meurs.  _Se mourir_ is either more elevated in style than
_mourir_, or = "to die slowly."

637 suis-je pas?  The omission of _ne_, the one real negative particle,
is only possible as a poetical license, and is rightly very
rare.--_Frre_, a classical strong form for "friend."

644 encore un coup, = "once more."  _Coup_ enters into many idioms.
Cf. Le coup de grce.--Le coup de l'trier.--La ville fut prise par un
coup de main.--Venez me donner un coup de main.--Il s'est engag par
coup de tte.--Un coup d'essai, de matre, d'clat.--Un coup de
pied.--Aprs coup.--Coup sur coup.--A coup sr.--C'est un coup mont.

648 d'effroi depends on _combien_.

649 la foudre, because the king can strike as suddenly and irresistibly
as the thunderbolt.

653 tincelle, lit. "sparkles," but here: "flashes."

654 The Parsees, in Asia, worship fire to this day.  The king here
invokes his gods, the sun and stars.

656 peine is never "physical pain."

661 se pouvoir is only used impersonally, = "to be possible."

676 en.  See App. V, ii. C.--_Astres ennemis_ is in accordance with the
astrological superstitions of the time.

678 respectable, in its full etymological sense of "worthy of respect."

681 intert, see l. 57, N.

686 veut = "bids."

690 entre, here "above."

692 grce devant vos yeux = "favor in your sight."

693 ftes, in the past definite, expresses that he may have been
favorable to her in the past, in a period of time _that has come to an
end_, implying "even though he be so no more."  See App. II, ii. B. b.

701 qu'on lui fasse entendre = "give him to understand."  For dat.
_lui_, see App. III, N.

708 clarts, properly "lights;" the plural being, as often is the case,
the concrete manifestation of that quality of which the singular is the
abstract name.  Cf. "charity" and "charities."

713 Que vous semble.  See App. IV, i. B.

714 devoir is here used as a pseudo-auxiliary; see l. 155,
N,--_L'emporter_, idiomatic for "to win the day."  The substantive, for
which the fossilized pronoun _le_ stands, is uncertain.  Cf.
_l'chapper belle_, idiomatic for "to have a narrow escape."

778 Note the force of the tense: "I never [once] admired."  See App.
II, ii. B. b.

779 Note the difference between _avoir envie de_ and _porter envie a_.

799 errer is never, while "to err" is always used figuratively.

820 en.  See App. V, ii. D.

825 rejoindre = "to join."  This prefix _re_- is more freely used in
French than in English.  Cf. _recopier_ = "to copy."

826 See Book of Esther, vi. 13-14, for the few lines on which Racine
has built the two strong scenes that follow.  Also i. 6, for the
description of the grandeur of this "court of the garden of the king's
palace."

832 claircir is "to restore to its own brightness;" _clairer_ is "to
throw a light from without upon."  Cf. l. 177.

835 ressentir, from _re_ + _sentir_.  Note the doubling of the "_s_,"
in order to preserve its sound as in _sentir_.  Cf. _ressembler_,
_ressource_, _ressusciter_, etc.

aussi cette flicit, i.e., the joy of having been favored as mentioned
in l. 834, as well as the pain of the affront.

836 le mal is of course a reference to ll. 618-622; _le bienfait_, to
l. 702.

838-843 Racine had great experience of court.  See Introd.
I.--_Dvorer_, figurative, "to endure in silence."  Cf. _dvorer ses
larmes_ = "to restrain one's tears."

841 essuyer, fig. = "to put up with something disagreeable," the figure
being taken from wiping up spilt liquid, as the way to make the best of
a mishap.  E.g., _Il essuya un refus--Ce vaisseau a essuy une
tempte--Ce gnral avait essuy plusieurs dfaites.

842 un outrage endure.  For this Latin construction, see l. 139, N.

868 exerant, "wielding," correctly refers to the speaker, Haman, as
the king's minister.

872 ma vie expose, another Latin construction.

874 Que sert.  See App. IV, i. A.

881 le peuple.  Cf. l. 56, N.

890 For the spelling _voi_ (which is etymologically correct, seeing
that no first person singular ends in "s" in Lat.), see App. I, Rhyme.

892 Cf. Claudian, _In Rufinum_, I. 22, 23.
                    . . . tolluntur in altum
                  Ut lapsu graviore ruant.

894 ces bords carts, i.e., Macedonia.  We have already referred to
Rest of the Book of Esther, xvi. 10, where Haman is described as a
Macedonian.

896-897.  See l. 485, N.

898 For enfin, see l. 160, N.

910 Note the skillful way in which the poet shows Haman so possessed
with his grief that he can entertain no other thought.

911 ce chagrin, i.e., that betrayed by l. 910.

928 ds longtemps, in prose _depuis longtemps_.  See l. 75 N.

934 en, see App. V, ii. C.

935 se resserre = "is wrung."

938 ne le connatre pas.  This position of _pas_, after the infinitive,
is elegant and emphatic.

946 crotre is transitive only in poetry.

955 Suspendez = "A truce to. . . ."

956 puissent is so frequently used to express an exclamative wish, that
it usually drops the _que_, which here however is retained.

962 encore, i.e., in addition to that fear.

992 riche is the subst.--_Sous la loi_ goes closely after _gmisse_.

1008 For servir de, see l. 259, N.

1012 camp = "host."

1021 For the virtual superlative _si sage_, cf. l. 541.

1024 Dussiez-vous, = _quand mme vous devriez_.  This elegant use of
the imperf. subj. with subject pronoun inverted (= _quand mme_ and the
conditional) is generally confined to the auxiliaries, or
pseudo-auxiliaries, such as _savoir_, _pouvoir_, _falloir_, etc.  In
the third person sing. however, where the verb-forms are less
unwieldly, other verbs may be so used: it is a matter of euphony.--For
the previous offer, see l. 660.

1039 aurait puise.  Note this conditional past of hypothetical
statement.  It always implies that the speaker is unwilling to indorse
the statement on his own responsibility.

Jour means: 1. "day;" 2. "day-light;" 3. any "light,"; physical (as in
_un abat-jour_) or figurative, e.g., l. 1136; 4. "birth," cf. l. 1277;
5. in plural, "life."

1047 contre, always = "region."

1050 Here begins a magnificent passage where elevation of language
almost reaches inspiration.

1053 qu'on outrage--an adj., "oppressed."

1059 See 2 Kings, xvii. 5-23.  Shalmaneser, in 718 B.C., took captive
the kingdom of Israel, and Nebuchadnezzar II., the kingdom of Juda in
606.  The captivity of the Jews under the Assyrians lasted 70 years,
606-536 B.C., when they obtained leave from Cyrus to return to
Palestine.  See Introd., section 4, Chron. Table.

1062-3 Isaiah xlv. 1-3: "Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I
will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the
gates will not be shut, I will go before thee, and make the rugged
places plain: I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in
sunder the bars of iron; and I will give thee the treasures of
darkness, and hidden riches of secret places."  For the Persian kings
of these times, see Introd. section 4.  Cyrus reigned about 560-530 B.C.

1068 son temple dtruit, another Latin construction.--Nebuchadnezzar
II. destroyed the temple of Jerusalem after his capture of the city in
587 B.C.

1073 sortait, a most instructive use of the imperfect; the narrative
pauses in the succession of _events_, to lay stress on the happy
_state_ now prevailing.  See App. II, ii. A.

1075 son fils, Cambyses (reigned 529-522 B.C.).

1077 vous, on the assumption that Ahasuerus is Darius (reigned 521-485
B.C.).

1082 en.  See App. V, ii. C.

1086 La Thrace, near enough to Macedonia for the queen's oratorical
purposes.  Thracia (now N. E. Roumelia), like Scythia (l. 1096), was
then a remote and almost unknown region, whose inhabitants were all
"barbarians."

1096 sqq. Esther is supremely skillful in laying to the king's credit
all that can flatter his pride, and charging all she complains of
against this _Scythe impitoyable_: a name all the more hateful to the
king as Darius had led an army against the Scythians and lost it (513
B.C.), although Esther puts the expedition in a more flattering light
in l. 1116.

1104 Que.  See App. IV, i. A.

1123 Saul, first king of the Israelites, was the son of Kish, a
Benjamite (I Sam. ix. 1-2), and Mordecai is also stated (Book of Esther
ii. 5) to be the son of Kish, a Benjamite.

1127 Impossible to anticipate more skillfully the retort that Mordecai
should have honored the king's favorite.

1135 convert de votre pourpre makes the offence almost personal to the
king.

1136 For jour, see l. 1039, N.

1141 achever = "to finish."  Tr. "come down in thy fullness."

1146 crdit, see l. 171.

1151 vos ennemis aussitt massacrs, another Lat. construction.  These
lines are a very skillful revelation of Haman's character; he attempts
to bribe the queen by the offer of that which would seem most desirable
to himself.

1162 en.  See App. V, ii. D.

1168 The king interprets Haman's attitude as an attempt at violence.

1175 repaisse.  Cf. Verg. Aen. VIII, 265: nequeunt expleri corda tuendo.

1190 est expir (on the analogy of _est mort_), for _a expir_, which
would be impossible in classical French poetry.  See App. I, Hiatus.
The result is more stress on the state, instead of on the action.

1193 Cf. Juvenal, x. 66.
                           _Seianus ducitur unco
                    Spectandus_.

1194 "O king, live forever!"

1196 entends, as very frequently, = "understand."  Note a third use:
"to understand by one's own words," i.e., "to mean."

1213 Je n'ai fait que passer may be translated: "before I had passed
by;" lit. "I only passed by," I needed not to wait, in order to witness
the short-lived triumph of the wicked.

1214 surprendre = "to take unawares."

1231 couronne = "on the throne."

1256 se plat de, now rather _se plat _.

1264 Cf. Ps. xviii. 9; "he bowed the heavens also, and came down."

1267 Jeune peuple.  Cf. l. 56, N.  There is also an allusion to the
reconstitution of the Jews as a nation, promised by the king, ll.
1182-1189.

1280 Note that nous is dative.  See App. III, N.




APPENDIX I.


FRENCH VERSE.

French verse, as found in the classical writers, consists of lines in
which the principal factor is the number of syllables (loosely called
_pieds_ in French, as well as _syllabes_), and not, as in English, the
number of accents.


METRE.

The "heroic verse," or _grand vers_ in French, is the _hexamtre_, or
_vers alexandrin_: the former name being due to the fact that this line
consists of two halves or _hmistiches_ of six syllables each; the
latter a name derived from the poet Alexandre de Bernay, who, in the
latter half of the twelfth century, first used this metre in his
celebrated epic of "_Alexandre_."

                      1   2 3  4    5  6       1   2  3    4 5   6
  E.g., Esth. l. 2.: _Que bni soit le ciel || qui te rend  mes voeux_!

Lyric poetry may have lines of any number of syllables.

  E.g., Esth. l. 1241: _Rompez vos fers_                   4 sylls.
              l.  970: _Ses criminels attentats_           7   "
              l.  722: _En un moment s'est-il vanoui_    10   "

All syllables, mute or otherwise, are counted except, (1) when a 'mute
e' is elided before a word beginning with a vowel or 'mute h,' e.g.,

         1   2  3    4       5 6
  l. 1: _Est-ce toi, chr(e) lis(e)?_ = 6 sylls.;

(2) at the end of a line, where the 'mute e' is reckoned with the
preceding sounded syllable, which is thus made a "feminine rhyme," e.g.;

                 1   2    3 4  5  6
  l. 7 . . . || _est cher  ma mmoire!_ = 6 sylls.

It is for this reason that Racine avails himself (ll. 92, 436, 514,
1232) of the license to spell _encor_ instead of _encore_, thereby
reducing the word by one syllable:

                   1  2    3 4   5  6
  l. 436 . . . || _le voit encor la nuit_;

and conversely he writes _jusques_ for _jusque_ before _au_, to prevent
the elision and keep the word dissyllabic, in

          1 2   3  4    5  6
  l. 136 _Sion, jusques au ciel_: || . . . .

Similarly in l. 426, for the simpler expression

   1    2 3 4    5 6 7
  _Tous rvrent  genoux_,

he writes,

   1    2 3      4 5 6
  _Tout rvr(e)  genoux_, ||

reducing the seven syllables of the former to a correct hemistich.


CAESURA.

Between the two hemistiches of an hexameter there must be a pause,
called _la csure_, or 'caesura.'


RHYME.

French poetry being less rhythmical than English, owing to the absence
of strong word-accents, makes up the deficiency by much greater stress
on rhyme.  In French verse, rhyme not only is almost indispensable, but
must, in a measure, satisfy the eye as well as the ear.  For instance,
words ending in 's' 'x' or 'z' can only rhyme with words also ending in
one of these three letters.  Hence, the use of such obsolete forms as
_voi_ for _vois_ (ll. 890, 947); the latter could not rhyme with _moi_
or _roi_.

French rhymes are called "feminine" when they have a 'mute e' in or
after their last sounded syllable; e.g., _descendue_, _mmoire_,
_armes_, _coururent_, _cabales_, _assassinaient_ are feminine rhymes.
In all other cases they are called 'masculine' rhymes.

In heroic verse the masculine and feminine rhymes are generally found
in alternating pairs.  In lyrics, however, they are freely crossed, but
with this restriction, that one rhyme of either kind is never found
next to a different one of the same kind, i.e., two _different_
masculines or feminines are never found in juxtaposition.


HIATUS.

Two sounded vowels coming together form a "hiatus."  A hiatus between a
vowel at the end of a word and another at the beginning of the next, is
forbidden.  Hence, l. 546, where the straightforward expression would
have been _lui chappe_, Racine wrote the equivalent _nous chappe_, in
order to avoid the hiatus.

Lastly, a sounded vowel, followed by an unelided 'mute e,' must be at
the end of the line.  Thus the word _Mardoche_ must always be at the
end of the line, or else be followed by a word beginning with a vowel
or 'mute h,' so that its 'mute e' may be elided.  Cf. ll. 44, 618, and
156, 459, etc.  Such words as _armes_, _joies_, etc., whose 'mute e'
cannot be elided, can never occur in the body of the line.  The only
exception is made in favor of the verb-endings in _-oient_ and
_-aient_.  Cf. ll. 527, 1111.

In French poetry, as in French grammar, 'mute h' always = a vowel, and
'aspirate h' = a consonant.

The rules given above apply to classical French poetry only.  The
modern poetical schools of the nineteenth century have been taking
liberties with them, especially with the caesura.  The latest school of
French poets, the _symbolistes_ or _dcadents_ as they style
themselves, are attempting to overthrow every one.  At their hands the
caesura has finally disappeared, and the following form, called a
_ternaire_, has become possible:

   1  2  3 4     5  6  7 8     9  10   11 12
  _O je filai | pensivement | la blanche laine_.  (Th. de Banville.)

Then the 'mute e's' are disregarded:

   1 2  3   4        5  6     7   8      9  10 11 12
  _Avec les filles | du vieux seigneur | en robes blanches_.
                                             (H. de Rgnier.)

The number of syllables is of little account:

   1   2  3   4        5   6  7  8   9    10      11
  _Des mortes douces | qui moururent l | quelque soir.
                                             (H. de Rgnier).

The hiatus is no longer tabooed, and lastly, not only the artificial
rules of rhyme, but rhyme itself, is being done away with: assonance
may take its place.  If the constitution of the French language did not
make it unlikely that these reforms should prove permanent, the vehicle
of French poetic thought would become mere harmonious prose.




APPENDIX II.

_THE PAST TENSES IN FRENCH_.

The English praeterite being the equivalent of three tenses in French,
it is of the utmost importance that a clear idea of the shades of
meaning conveyed by the latter should be firmly possessed.


i.

_WHENEVER REPETITION OF THE ACTION IS IMPLIED_ the IMPARFAIT is used.

The force, in English, is "used to . . .," "kept . . . -ing," etc.

E.g., Esth. l. 6: _m'aidais  soupirer_ . . . "wast wont to sigh with
me."

l. 83: . . . _disais-je_, . . . = "I would say"


ii.

_WHEN NO REPETITION OF THE ACTION IS IMPLIED_.

A. IF THE ACTION IS CONSIDERED AS BEING SIMPLY IN PROGRESS, WITHOUT
REFERENCE EITHER TO ITS BEGINNING OR TO ITS END, again the IMPARFAIT is
used.

The force, in English, is "was . . . -ing."

E.g., l. 12: _je vivais spare_ = "I was living apart."

l. 58: . . . _attendaient leur arrt_ = "were awaiting their doom."

B. IF THE ACTION IS STATED WITH REFERENCE EITHER TO ITS BEGINNING, OR
TO ITS END, OR TO BOTH, the PASS DFINI is used.

Thus _a. Simple occurrence_, which is the introduction of a new action
now beginning to take place, takes the _pass dfini_.

E.g., l. 19: . . . _ajouta-t-il_, . . . = "he [then] added."

l. 26: . . . _qui sauva nos aeux_ = "which [once before] saved our
forefathers."

l. 494.: _il trembla pour sa vie_ = "he began to tremble for his life."

_b. Continuous duration through a completed period of time_ which may
be expressed or implied, takes the _pass dfini_.

E.g., l. 4: . . . _fus de mes premiers ans la compagne assidue_ =
"wast the constant companion of my earliest years."

l. 272: . . . _qui ne furent jamais_ = "who never [in all time] had
existence."

l. 477: . . . _il fut des Juifs_ = "there was once [but is no more] a
race of Jews."

NOTE that the action may be stated as recurring a given or indefinite
number of times, and yet the verb will not be in the imperfect.

E.g., l. 249: _Mon pere mille fois m'a dit_ . . .

l. 531: _Et j'ai pli deux fois_. . . .

If the imperfect were used here, the meaning would be "My father used
to tell me a thousand times," i.e., he told me 1000 X n times, and in
the second sentence, "I grew pale 2 X n times."

The student is recommended to account to himself carefully for the
different tenses used in contrast to one another in the following
passages:

ll. 4 and 6; 72 and 73; 1058 sqq. and 1073; 1074 to 1082.


PASS INDFINI.

With regard to the third tense, the PASS INDFINI, there is no
difficulty.  It is used:

_A_. Precisely like the English compound of the past.

E.g., l. 30: _le ciel a-t-il conduit_ . . . = "has heaven brought
about. . ."

l. 158: _a . . . conduit vos pas_ = "has guided your footsteps."

_B_. As a colloquial form of the passe defini in all its uses.

E.g., l. 24: _j'ai su trouver_ = "I succeeded in finding."

l. 399: . . . _que j'ai laiss plus calme_ = "whom I left . . ."




APPENDIX III.

_ACTIVE INFINITIVES WITH PASSIVE MEANING_.

_Faire_, _laisser_, and a very few verbs of physical perception, such
as _voir_, _entendre_, _sentir_, are idiomatically used before an
active infinitive which assumes a passive meaning.  E.g., _J'ai fait
faire un habit_, "I have had a coat made."

These constructions are due to the dropping of the obvious subject of
the infinitive ("I made [the tailor] make a coat") which must be
supplied in order to account for the form.

E.g., Esth. l. 9: . . . _je te fais chercher_ = _que je fais [mes
esclaves] te chercher.

l. 146: _Quand verrai-je relever tes remparts_ = _quand verrai-je [tes
fils] relever tes remparts_.

l. 386: _Sa voix s'est fait entendre_ = _sa voix a fait [nous] entendre
elle-mme_.

l. 731: _laissant de ses eaux partager le secours_ = _laissant [cette
main] partager le secours de ses eaux_.

For other instances of this construction, see ll. 110, 181, 394, 407,
523.

This construction is possible in English: . . . "for whose sake Artemis
let slay the boar" (Swinburne, Argument of "Atalanta in Calydon.")

NOTE.  It should be borne in mind that, should the subject of the
infinitive be expressed, whenever the infinitive is _transitive_, that
subject may (and if the first verb is _faire_, must) be put in the
dative case, or in the oblique case with _par_.  Thus in l. 52,

  _Il me fit d'un empire accepter l'esprance_,

_me_ is dative and not accusative.  Similarly in l. 1280,

  _Il nous fait remporter une illustre victoire_,

_nous_ is dative.




APPENDIX IV.

QUE, _CONJUNCTIVE AND ADVERBIAL_.

The interrogative pronouns are _Qui?_ = "Who?" or "Whom?" and _quoi?_ =
"What?" the latter having the conjunctive form _que_, which, as is the
case with all conjunctives, must be used in preference to the
disjunctive form, if possible.

i.

The CONJUNCTIVE QUE is used:

_A_. Instead of accusative _quoi_:

Esth. l. 161: _Que nous annoncez-vous?_

l. 593: _Que penses-tu?_

Also ll. 637, 675, 762, 1078, 1104, etc.

In _Que sert?_ (ll. 874 and 333), the _que_ is probably the accus.
conjunctive, due to a confusion in the construction of _servir_.  (See
N. to l. 259)

_B_. Instead of nominative _quoi_, when followed by the formal subject
_ce_ or _il_.

E.g., _Qu'est-ce?  Qu'est-ce que c'est?_ etc.

Esth. l. 596: _Que sont-ils?_

l. 713: _Que vous semble?_ ( =  _Que vous semble-t-il?_)


ii.

QUE is used ADVERBIALLY:

_A_. As an interrogative = "why," followed by _ne_ and no _pas_.

E.g. Esth. l. 558: _Que n'a-t-il plus tt demand son salaire?_

Also, but very rarely, in the affirmative.

E.g., l. 523: _Que tardez-vous?_

_B_. As an exclamative = "how!"

E.g., l. 465: _Que ce temps est long  mon impatience!_

Also ll. 691, 735, 946.

_C_. As a relative of time = "when."

E.g., l. 569: _Sur le point que la vie_, etc.




APPENDIX V.

EN.

Reference to the derivation of this word will do much to remove the
difficulty attending a clear understanding of its various functions.


i.

EN, _PREPOSITION_, from the Latin _in_, offers no stumbling-block save
in its second use = "as" or "like."

Eg., Esth. l. 1192: _on va donner en spectacle_ = "as a spectacle."

l. 174; _il nous croit en horreur_ = "he thinks us an object of
horror."  Cf. also l. 246 and l. 1177.

In Corneille's "Le Cid" (l. 318) _vivre en infme_ = "to live [as] an
infamous man."


ii.

EN, _CONJUNCTIVE PRONOUN_, from the Latin _inde_ ("hence," "from that,"
etc.) is used:

_A_.  As an ordinary genitive = "of" or "from it, him," "her," "them,"
etc.

_B_. As a partitive accusative; as we might say in English: "I will
take of that."

These two uses are too frequent to require illustration.

_C_. With the force of "on account of that," "for that," when it is not
always to be translated in English.

E.g., Esth. l. 234: _Nous n'en verrons pas moins_, etc. = "none the
less [for that]."  Cf. also l. 630.

l. 934: . . . _et j'en frmis = "I shudder at the sight," lit.,
"because of this," viz., because this man is Haman.

l. 1082: _Les Juifs . . . en poussrent des cris_, i.e. on account of
this promise of mildness given by the king.

_D_. In a number of expressions where, from constant use, it has
become, so to speak, stereotyped:

E.g., l. 1144: _J'en atteste_ = "I call to witness [for the truth of
this] . . ."

l. 1162: _C'en est fait_ = "It is all over [with my pride]."  Cf. l.
164, where _c'en est fait d'Isral_ would be equally correct.

l. 820: _Il n'en est pas ainsi de_ = "such is not the case with."

_E_.  In a few semi-idiomatic expressions, with a generalizing force
due to the broadening of the meaning "on account of this," "in this
matter," into that of "in any matter."

Eg., l. 375: _on s'en peut reposer sur ma foi_ = "I am ever to be
trusted."

Cf. _Si vous m'en croyez_ = "If you will be guided by me."

NOTE.  This generalization mainly results in a figurative force; E.g.,
_En venir _ = "to be reduced to;" _en passer par l_ = "to have to
submit to that."




  VOCABULARY

  A

  , to, for, with, in.
  abaisser, to lower, abase; s'--, to bow down.
  abandonner, to abandon, deliver up, forsake.
  abattre, to beat down.
  abme, m., abyss, chasm.
  abolir, to abolish, wipe out.
  abondance, f., abundance.
  abri, m., shelter; mettre  l'--, to shield.
  absolu, absolute.
  abuser, to deceive.
  accabler, to overwhelm, crush.
  accepter, to accept; ne pas --, to decline.
  accompagner, to accompany.
  accord, m., chord (_of music_).
  accorder, to grant.
  accourir, to run, flock.
  acheter, to buy.
  achever (de), to finish.
  acte, m., act.
  action, f., action, deed.
  adieu, farewell.
  admettre, to admit.
  admirer, to admire, marvel at.
  adopter, to adopt.
  adorer, to worship.
  adoucir, to soften.
  adresser (s'), to appeal,
  adroit, skilful, clever.
  adultre, criminal.
  affecter de, to claim to.
  affliger, to distress.
  affranchir, to rid.
  affreu-x, -se, hideous, awful.
  affront, m., affront, insult.
  affronter, to brave.
  ge, m., age, years.
  agir, to act; -- sur, to work upon.
  agit, tossed; -- de, disturbed, fretting over.
  agiter, to disturb.
  agneau, m., lamb.
  agreable, agreeable, sweet, acceptable.
  aider, to aid, assist.
  aeux, m. pl., ancestors, forefathers.
  aigrir, to sour, embitter.
  aile, f., wing.
  ailleurs, elsewhere.
  aimable, lovable, sweet, easy.
  aimer, to love.
  ainsi, thus; -- quo, as well as; il en est -- de,
    such is the case with.
  airain, m., brass.
  alarme, f., alarm, fear.
  alarm, alarmed, frightened.
  allegresse, f., joy.
  aller, to go.
  allumer, to light, kindle.
  alors, then, at the time, in those days.
  altr de, thirsting for.
  alternativement, alternately.
  alti-er, -re, haughty.
  Amalcite, Amalekite.
  Aman, Haman.
  amas, m., heap.
  amasser, to heap up, collect.
  amateur, m., lover.
  ame, f., soul.
  amener, to bring, bring round.
  amertume, f., bitterness.
  ami (de), m., friend (_to_).
  amiti, f., friendship, affection.
  amour, m., love.
  an, m., year.
  anantir, to bring to naught.
  ange, m., angel.
  anim, animated; -- a, keen, bent upon; -- de, fired with.
  annales, f. pl., (_yearly_) records.
  annoncer, to announce, bring news.
  antique, ancient, aged.
  apaiser, to appease, s'--, to be appeased.
  appareil, m., show.
  appartement, m., apartment, room, private rooms.
  appeler, to call, summon, court; faire --, to summon.
  appesanti, weighing, laid heavily.
  applaudir, to applaud; s'-- de, to enjoy, rejoice in.
  apprendre, to learn, teach, tell.
  apprter, to make ready.
  approcher (de), to draw near, be nigh to.
  appui, m., aid, support, might.
  appuyer, to confirm, s'-- sur, to lean upon.
  aprs, after.
  aquilon, m., north-wind.
  arbitre, m., master, lord.
  ardent, glowing.
  arme, f., arm, weapon.
  arme, f., army, host.
  armer, to arm, use as a weapon; s'--, to take up arms.
  arracher, to tear off.
  arrt, m., decree, order, doom.
  arrter, to restrain.
  arriver, to arrive, come round.
  artifice, m., art, artfulness, cunning, deception, malice.
  Asie, f; Asia.
  asile, m., asylum, refuge, abode.
  aspect, m., aspect, sight.
  aspirer , to strive to.
  assassinat, m., assassination, murder.
  assassiner, to murder.
  assembler, to assemble, gather together.
  asaeoir, to seat; s'--, to sit.
  assez, enough.
  assidu (), constant (_in_).
  assiger, to besiege.
  assurer, to make sure, safeguard, reassure.
  astre, m.,  star (_i.e. any heavenly body_).
  atours, m. pl., attire, garments.
  attacher, to bind, fasten, rivet.
  atteinte, f., impression.
  attendre, to await, wait for, expect.
  attentat, m., crime.
  attenti-f, -ve, attentive.
  attester, to call upon.
  attirer, to attract, provoke.
  attrait, m., attraction, charm, spell.
  audace, f., audacity.
  audacieu-x, -se, audacious, bold; m., bold person.
  auguste, august, noble, royal.
  aujourd'hui, to-day.
  auprs de, near, about, by the side of.
  aurore, f., dawn.
  aussi, also.
  aussitt, at once, instantly.
  austre, strict.
  austrit, f., austerity, seriousness.
  autant (que), as much (_as_); d'-- moins, so much the less.
  autel, m., altar.
  auteur, m., author; les --s de mes jours, the authors of my
    being; i.e. my parents.
  autre, other, different, another.
  autrefois, former, of yore.
  autrui, m., other people, others.
  avancer (s'), to advance.
  avant, before (_in time_); -- tout, first of all.
  avantage, m., advantage, privilege, merit.
  avec, with.
  avenir, m., future.
  aversion, f., aversion, dislike, hatred.
  aveugle, blind.
  aveuglement, m., blindness.
  aveugler, to blind.
  avide (de), greedy, thirsting (_for_).
  avis, m., opinion, advice, notice, information.
  avoir, to have.
  avouer, to confess,


  B

  baiser, to kiss.
  baisser, to lower.
  balance, f., scales.
  bandeau, m., fillet, (_part of royal headdress_).
  bannir, to banish.
  barbare, barbarous.
  barriere, f., barrier, rampart, defence,
  bas, -se, low.
  bassesse, f., evil.
  beau, bel, belle, beautiful
  beaucoup, much.
  beaut, f., beauty.
  bnir, to bless.
  besoin, m., need.
  bien, well.
  bien, m., blessing; --s, wealth.
  bien-fait, m., benefit, service, favor, blessing.
  bienheureu-x, -se, happy, thrice happy.
  bientt, soon.
  blasphmer, to blaspheme.
  boire, to drink.
  bon, -ne, good, kind.
  bonheur, m., happiness, success.
  bont, f., goodness; --s, mercies.
  bord, m., edge, shore.
  borne, f., limit.
  borner, to limit.
  bouche, f., mouth, lips.
  bout, m., end.
  bras, m., arm.
  braver, to defy.
  breuvage, m., beverage.
  bride, f., bridle.
  brigue, f., canvass, party.
  briguer, to canvass for, solicit,
  brillant, brilliant, bright.
  briller, to shine.
  briser, to break, dash.
  bruit, m., noise, rumor, report.
  but, m., goal.


  C

  cabale, f., cabal, plot.
  cacher (), to hide (_from_).
  calme, m., calm, peace.
  calme, calm.
  calmer, to calm.
  calomnie, f., calumny.
  campagne, f., fields.
  cantique, m., hymn.
  caprice, m., fickleness, capriciousness.
  capti-f, -ve, m., f., captive, prisoner, slave; also adj.
  captivit, f., captivity.
  carnage, m., slaughter.
  cause, f., case.
  causer, to cause, give.
  ce, cet, m., cette, f., this, that, it; ces, pl.,
    these, those.
  cdre, m., cedar.
  clbre, celebrated, famous.
  clbrer, to celebrate, sing.
  celui, m., celle, f., he, she, the one;
    ceux, m. pl; celles, f. pl., those.
  cendre, f., ashes.
  cent, a hundred.
  cependant, meanwhile, however.
  certain, certain, assured.
  cesser, to cease.
  chacun, each.
  chagrin, m., grief, gloom.
  Chalde, f., Chaldaea.
  Chalden, m., Chaldee.
  chaleur, f., heat, warmth.
  chambre, f., chamber, room.
  champ, m., field.
  chanceler, to stagger, waver.
  chant, m., song.
  chanter, to sing.
  chaque, each, every,
  charmant, delightful.
  charmer, to charm, soothe.
  chasser, to chase, drive away.
  chtier, to chastise, punish.
  chtiment, m., punishment.
  chef, m., chief.
  chemin, m., road, path, way.
  ch-er, -re, dear, precious.
  chercher, to seek.
  chri, cherished, beloved.
  chrir, to love, cherish.
  cheveux, m. pl., hair.
  chez, at _or_ in, _or_ to the house _or_ apartments of.
  choeur, m., chorus.
  choisir, to choose.
  choix, m., choice.
  chose, f., thing; quelque --, something, anything.
  chute, f., fall, downfall.
  ciel, m., cieux, pl., sky, heaven.
  cilice, m., hair-shirt.
  clart, f., tight; --s, wisdom.
  clemence, f., clemency, mercy.
  climat, m., climate, clime.
  coeur, m., heart.
  colre, f., anger, wrath.
  colombe, f., dove.
  combat, m., battle.
  combattre, to combat, fight.
  combien, how, how much.
  comble, m., height; pour -- de gloire, for crowning glory.
  combler de, to load with (_good things_).
  commander, to command, bid.
  comme, as, like, how.
  commencer, to begin.
  commettre, to commit; entrust.
  compagne, f., companion.
  comparatre, to appear (_in answer to summons_).
  comparer, to compare.
  complot, m., plot.
  compter, to count, reckon, hold.
  condamnable, blameworthy.
  condamner, to condemn.
  conduire, to conduct, lead, guide, bring about.
  conduite, f., conduct, practice; ordering, management.
  confiance, f., trust.
  confident, -e, confidant, confidential friend.
  confier, to confide; se -- to trust.
  confondre, to confound, put to confusion.
  conforme, suitable.
  confus, confused, troubled.
  conjurer, to beseech.
  connatre, to know, distinguish, spare.
  consacrer, to commemorate.
  conseil, m., counsel, advice; council.
  conserver, to preserve.
  conspirer, to agree.
  consulter, to consult.
  consumer, to consume.
  contempler, to gaze upon.
  content, glad, satisfied.
  contenter, to satisfy.
  coner, to relate.
  contraire, contrary; au --, on the contrary.
  contre, against.
  contre, f., region, land.
  contre-temps, m., untoward event, accident.
  convier, to invite.
  corps, m., body.
  corriger, to correct.
  ct, m., side; de tous --s, on all sides.
  couchant, m., setting sun, west.
  couler, to now.
  couleur, f., color, false color, false reason.
  coup, m., blow; tout  --, suddenly; encore un --, once more.
  coupable, guilty; m., offender.
  coupe, f., cup, goblet.
  couple, m., pair.
  cour, f., court.
  courber, to bend; se -- to bow down.
  courir, to run.
  couronner, to crown.
  courroux, m., wrath.
  cours, m., course, vent.
  coursier, m., charger (_horse_).
  couteau, m., (_sacrificial_) knife.
  couvrir, to cover.
  craindre, to fear.
  crainte, f., fear.
  crdit, m., influence, power.
  crdule, credulous.
  cri, m., cry.
  crier, to shout.
  criminel, criminal.
  croire, to believe, think.
  crotre, to increase.
  cruaut, f., cruelty.
  culte, m., worship, religion.
  curieu-x, -se, curious, inquisitive; dsir --, curiosity.


  D

  daigner, to condescend, deign.
  danger, m., danger, peril.
  dans, in, into, to.
  de, of, from, by, with, in, on, among.
  dbris, m., wreck, ,ruins.
  dceler, to betray.
  dchirer, to tear up.
  dclamer, to declaim, speak.
  dclarer, to declare.
  dcouvrir, to disclose, reveal.
  ddaigner, to spurn.
  ddain, m., disdain.
  ddans, au --, within.
  ddier, to dedicate.
  dfendre, to defend, forbid.
  dfense, f., defence, protection.
  degr, m., step (_in a flight of stairs_).
  dguiser, to disguise.
  dehorg; au --, outside, without.
  dj, already.
  del, au --, beyond.
  dlices, f. pl., delights.
  dlivrer, to rid.
  demlain, to-morrow.
  demander, to ask,
  demeurer, to remain.
  dmon, m., devil.
  dpendre (de), to depend (_upon_), rest (_with_).
  dpit, m., vexation, wrath.
  dplorable, deplorable, miserable, woful.
  dployer, to unfold, stretch forth.
  dposer, to deposit, lay down.
  dpt, m., deposit, thing entrusted, trust.
  dpouille, f., spoils.
  dpouiller, to strip, put off.
  depuis, since, for.
  derni-er, -re, last.
  drober (se) , to steal away from.
  derrire, behind.
  des, as early as, in; -- longtemps, for a long time past.
  descendre, to descend, come down, be descended.
  dsert, m., desert.
  dsespoir, m., despair.
  dsir, m., desire, wish; -- curieux, curiosity.
  dsol, distressed, miserable.
  dsoler, to distress, decimate.
  dsordre, m., disorder, confusion.
  dsormais, henceforth.
  dessein, m., design.
  dessiller, to open (_the eyes_).
  destin, m., fate.
  destine, f., destiny, fate.
  dtacher, to divert.
  detestable, abominable.
  dtester, to detest, hate.
  dtourer, to turn away, avert, deflect.
  dtruire, to destroy.
  deux, two.
  devancer, to anticipate, come before, rise before.
  devant, before, in front of, in the sight of.
  dvelopper, to unravel.
  devenir, to become.
  devin, m., seer.
  devoir, to owe, have to, be to.
  devoir, m., duty.
  dvorer, to devour, swallow up, consume, put up with.
  diadme, m., diadem, crown.
  dicter, to dictate, suggest.
  Dieu, m., God.
  diffrer, to postpone, delay.
  digne, worthy.
  dire, to say, speak.
  discerner (de), to distinguish (from).
  discorde, f., discord.
  discours, m., speech.
  disgrce, f., disfavor, downfall.
  disparatre, to disappear.
  disperser, to disperse, scatter.
  disputer, to fight for.
  dissimuler, to disemble, conceal.
  dissiper, to dispel, scatter.
  divin, divine, godsent.
  Divinit, f., divinity, godhead, God.
  diviser, to separate, be aloof.
  dix, ten.
  docile, docile, obedient.
  domestique, m., member of the household, officer.
  don, m., gift.
  donc, then, (_often merely emphatic and not to be translated_).
  donner, to give.
  dont, (_genitive of_ qui,) of which, of whom; with which,
    with whom; by which, by whom.
  douceur, f., mildness, gentleness, favor, sweetness, sweets, joys.
  douleur, f., grief, woes.
  doute, m., doubt; sans --, doubtless.
  dou-x, -ce, sweet, favorable.
  droit, m., right.
  durant, during.
  dure, f., duration.
  dussiez, imp. subj. of devoir; -- -vous, even though you were to.


  E

  eau, f., water.
  blouir, to dazzle.
  cart, remote.
  carter, to remove, dispel, drive away.
  chapper , to escape.
  clair, m., lightning.
  claircir, to clear up.
  clairer, to light, shine upon, enlighten.
  clat, m., brilliancy, lustre, show; montrer avec --,
    to show to all men.
  clatant, brilliant, striking.
  clater, to burst, burst forth, be far-reaching;
    faire --, to show forth.
  clore, to blossom.
  couter, to listen to, hear.
  crire, to write.
  cueil, m., rock.
  dit, m., edict, order, decree.
  effacer, to efface.
  effet, m., effect; en --, indeed.
  effort, m., effort, attempt.
  effrayant, terrifying.
  effrayer, to frighten, terrify.
  effroi, m., terror.
  effroyable, awful, terrible.
  gal, equal, the same;  l'-- de, on a par with, equally with.
  galer, to equal.
  garer (s'), to stray,
  gorger, to butcher, slay.
  Egypte, f., Egypt.
  lancer (s'), to dart forth.
  lever, to raise, rear.
  loigner, to remove, far away; s'--, to depart.
  embarras, m. pl; many cares.
  embarrasser, to perplex.
  embraser, to set fire to; s'--, to be kindled.
  embrasser, to embrace, espouse.
  minent en, eminent for.
  emmener, to lead away.
  empoisonner, to poison, taint.
  emporter, to carry away; l'--, to win the day.
  empreint, imprinted.
  empress, eager.
  empresser (s'), to be eager to.
  emprunter, to borrow.
  en, of _or_ from him, her, it, them; some; as a; at it;
    on that account.
  en, in.
  encens, m., incense.
  enchan, chained, tied.
  enchanement, m., chain of events.
  enchaner, to link.
  encor, encore, still.
  endormir (s'), to fall asleep.
  endroit, m., place, spot.
  endurer, to endure, put up with.
  enfance, f., childhood,
  enfant, m. f., child.
  enfanter, to beget.
  enfer, m., enfers, pl., hell.
  enfin, at length, at last, lastly, in short, anyhow.
  enflammer, to inflame.
  enfoncer, to drive deeply.
  ennemi, m., enemy; adj., hostile.
  ennui, m., weariness, trouble,
  ennuyer, to weary; s'-- , to find no pleasure in.
  entasser, to heap up.
  entendre, to hear; se faire --, to be heard;
    to understand; faire --, to give to understand.
  enti-er, -re, whole.
  entraner, to sweep on, away.
  entre, between, among, in, above.
  entre, f., entrance.
  envelopper, to wrap.
  envenim, venomous.
  envi;  l'--, vieing with one another.
  envie, f., envy; porter -- , to envy.
  envier, to envy.
  environner, to surround.
  envisager, to review, consider.
  envoyer, to send, send forth.
  pars, scattered.
  perdu, bewildered, helpless.
  pier, to spy.
  plor, weeping.
  pouse, f., wife.
  pouvantable, terrific.
  poux, m., husband.
  pris, enamored.
  prouver, to feel, put to the test.
  ener, to wander.
  erreur, f., error.
  esclave, m. f., slave,
  esprance, f., hope.
  esprer, to hope, trust,
  espoir, m., hope.
  esprit, m., mind, spirit, angel.
  essaim, m., swarm.
  essuyer, to wipe up, put up with.
  eatimer, to esteem.
  et, and; et . . . et . . ., both . . . and . . .
  tat, m., state, condition.
  tat, m., state (_province, etc._).
  teindre, to extinguish.
  tendard, m., standard, banner.
  ternel, eternal, immortal, ever-lasting; l'--, the Almighty.
  tinceler, to sparkle, flash.
  tonner (s'), to be astonished.
  trange, strange.
  trang-er, -ere, strange, foreign, unknown; m., stranger.
  tre, to be, exist; -- , to belong to.
  tude, f., study.
  evanouir (s'), to vanish; to faint.
  veiller, s'--, to wake.
  vnement, m., event.
  viter, to avoid.
  xces, m., excess; -- d'honneur, passing great honor.
  xciter, to urge.
  excrable, execrable, hateful.
  excuter, to carry out.
  exemple, m., example.
  exercer, to wield.
  exiler, to exile.
  expirer, to expire.
  expliquer, to explain.
  exposer, to expose, reveal; s'--, to risk one's life,
  exprimer, to express, describe.
  exterminer, to exterminate, annihilate.


  F

  faible, weak.
  faiblement, weakly, little.
  faiblesse, f., weakness.
  faire, to make, do; play, take, speak the part of;
    c'est fait de, it is all over with.
  fait, m., fact, deed.
  fate, m., top, head.
  falloir, to be necessary.
  fameu-x, -se, famous, far-famed.
  famille, f., family.
  farouche, fierce.
  fatal, fatal, fateful.
  fatiguer, to weary.
  fau-x, -sse, false.
  faveur, f., favor; en -- de, on behalf of.
  favorable, favorable, propitious.
  favori, favorite.
  fcond, fruitful.
  feint, feigned, hypocritical.
  flicit, f., great happiness.
  femme, f., woman, wife.
  fer, m., iron, steel, sword; --s, fetters, chains.
  ferme, firm, strong.
  fermer, to close.
  festin, m; feasting, banquet, feast.
  fte, f., feast, festival.
  feu, m., fire.
  fidle, faithful, constant.
  fi-er, -re, proud.
  firement, proudly.
  figurer, to figure, represent.
  fil, m., thread.
  fille, f., girl, daughter.
  fils, m., son.
  fin, f., end;  la --, at last.
  flambeau, m., torch.
  flatter, to flatter, gratify.
  flche, f., arrow.
  flchir, to bend.
  florissant, flourishing, thriving.
  flotter, to float, waver.
  foi, f., faith, promise, word, truth, loyalty, faithfulness.
  fois, f., (_repeated_) time; e.g. deux --, twice;
    cent --, a hundred times;  la --, at the same time.
  fond, m., back, depths.
  fonder, to base, found, build; fond sur, strong in,
    (_e.g. based upon_).
  forcer, to force, compel.
  former, to form, make, contrive, train.
  fort, m., fort, fortress.
  fou, folle, mad, senseless.
  foudre, f., thunder (bolt).
  foudroyer, to strike down (_as by a thunderbolt_).
  foule, f., crowd.
  fouler, to trample.
  fragile, frail; roseau --, broken reed.
  frapper, to strike.
  fraude, f., deception.
  frayeur, f., fear.
  frmir, to shudder, tremble.
  frmissement, m., thrill, shudder.
  frre, m., brother, dear friend.
  frissonner, to shudder.
  frivole, frivolous.
  front, m., forehead, brow.
  frontire, f., frontier.
  fugiti-f, -ve, fleeing, fleeting.
  fuir, to fly from, shun.
  fuite, f., flight.
  funbre, funereal, black, dark.
  funeste, baneful.
  fureur, f., fury; en --, furious, raging.
  furieu-x, -se, furious, ravening.


  G

  gage, m., pledge, token, mark.
  gagner, to win.
  garde, m., guard.
  garder, to keep, observe,
  gmir, to moan, groan.
  gmissement, m., moan, groan.
  gnreu-x, -se, generous, lofty.
  genou, m., knee;  --x, on (their) knees.
  glacer, to chill; se --, to freeze.
  glaive, m., sword.
  gloire, f., glory.
  glorieu-x, -se, glorious.
  glorifier, to glorify.
  got, m., taste; avoir -- , to have a taste for.
  goter, to taste, enjoy.
  gouverner, to govern, rule, wield.
  grce, f., grace, graciousness, charm, attraction, favor;
    trouver --, to find favor.
  grand, great, big, large.
  grand, m., grandee, noble.
  grandeur, f., greatness, grandeur.
  graver, to engrave,
  gr;  son --, at will.
  grossir, to swell.
  guerre, f., war.
  guider, to guide, lead,


  H

  habillements, m. pl., garments.
  habiller, to dress.
  habit, m., coat; fl., clothes, raiment.
  habiter, to dwell, inhabit.
  haine, f., hatred.
  har, to hate, loathe.
  hardi, bold, audacious.
  harmonic, f., harmony.
  hasarder, to risk.
  haut, high, loud; du -- de, from the height of.
  h, why!  what!  h --?  what?
  Hbreu, m., Hebrew, Jew.
  hlas! alas!
  Hellespont, Hellespont (_the modern Dardanelles_).
  heraut, m., herald.
  herbe, f., grass.
  hrsie, f., heresy, false religious doctrine.
  hritage, m., inheritance.
  hritier, m., heir.
  hros, m., hero.
  heure, f., hour; les --s, time.
  heureu-x, -se, happy, successful.
  histoire, f., story.
  hol!  here!
  homicide, homicidal, murderous.
  hommage, m., homage.
  homme, m., man,
  honneur, m., honor.
  honorer, to honor.
  honte, f., shame.
  honteux, shameful.
  horreur, f., horror, awe, horrible thing, horrible thought.
  humain, human; les --s, mankind.
  humilier, to humble.


  I

  ici, here,
  ide, f., thought, mind.
  idole, f., idol.
  Idume, f., Idumaea.
  ignominie, f., ignominy, shame.
  ignorer, not to know.
  illustre, illustrious.
  image, f., image, vision.
  immobile, immovable.
  immoler, to sacrifice.
  immortel, -le, immortal.
  impie, impious.
  impit, f., impiety, the impious.
  impitoyable, pitiless.
  implacable, implacable, unappeasable.
  implorer, to implore, beseech.
  important, important, weighty.
  importer, to be of importance; il n'importe, no matter.
  imposteur, m., impostor.
  impuissant, powerless, impotent.
  impur, unclean, foul.
  imputer, to ascribe.
  inanim, inanimate, lifeless.
  inconnu, unknown.
  inconstance, f., inconstancy, restlessness, fickleness.
  Inde, Indus (river).
  Indien, m., Indian.
  indigne, unworthy, shameful.
  indompt, wild, untamed, indomitable.
  invitable, unavoidable.
  inexorable, inexorable, unmovable.
  infecter, to pollute.
  infidle, faithless, infidel, heretic.
  inflexible, inflexible, unbending.
  infortun, unhappy, unfortunate.
  ingnieux, ingenious, skilful.
  ingrat, ungrateful.
  injure, f., wrong, insult, injury.
  innocent, innocent, pure.
  innombrable, innumerable.
  inou, unheard of.
  inqui-et, -te, anxious.
  inquiter, to make anxious.
  inquitude, f., anxiety.
  insens, senseless, foolish.
  insipide, insipid, tasteless; devenir --, to pall upon.
  insolent, m., insolent man.
  inspirer, to inspire.
  instrument, m., instrument, means, musical instrument,
  insulter, to insult; -- , to mock.
  interdit, confused, perplexed.
  intress, self-seeking.
  intresser, to cause to be interested.
  intrt, w., interest, self-interest, greed;
    claim, prize, need, cause.
  intrieur, inner; palais --, private apartments of a palace.
  interroger, to examine, 'search the heart of'.
  interrompre, to interrupt.
  intestine, civil.
  introduire, to introduce, show.
  inutile, useless.
  invariable, unchanging.
  inventer, to invent.
  irrit, angry, angered.
  irriter, to anger.
  Israelite, m. f., Israelite, Jew, Jewess; adj. Jewish.
  issu, sprung.
  ivre, drunk.


  J

  jadis, formerly, long ago.
  jalousie, f., jealousy.
  jaloux, jealous.
  jamais, ever; ne . . . --, never.
  jardin, m., garden.
  jeter, to throw, cast.
  jeu, m., game, sport.
  jeune, young.
  jene, m., fast, fasting.
  joie, f., joy.
  jouet, m., toy, plaything, sport.
  joug, m., yoke.
  jouir de, to enjoy.
  jour, m., day, light; voir le --, to be born;
    mettre au --, to give birth to; --s, life.
  Jourdain, m., Jordan (river).
  journe, f., day, date.
  juger, to judge.
  Jui-f, -ve, Jew, Jewess.
  jurer, to swear.
  jusqu', jusques , as far as, even to.
  juste, just, merciful; m., just man.
  justement, justly.


  L

  l, there; de --, hence.
  laisser, to allow, leave.
  lambeau, m., rag, tatter.
  langage, m., language.
  langue, f., tongue.
  larme, f., tear.
  las, -se, tired, weary.
  lasser, to weary, pall upon; se --, to tire, grow weary.
  lg-er, -re, light.
  lopard, m., leopard,
  leur, their; to them, them.
  lever, to lift, raise; se --, to arise.
  libation, f., libation (_offering of wine, etc_.).
  libre, free.
  lier, to tie, bind,
  lieu, m., place, spot.
  ligue, f., league, banded forces.
  lire, to read.
  lit, m., bed.
  livre, m., book.
  livrer, to deliver up.
  loi, f., law.
  loin, far.
  long, -ue, long, slow.
  longtemps, long.
  lorsque, when.
  louange, f., praise.
  loup, m., wolf.
  lui, he, him; to him, to her; -- -meme, himself, the same.
  luire, to shine; faire --, to flash.
  lumire, f., light.


  M

  magnanime, magnanimous.
  magnifique, magnificent, splendid, noble.
  main, f., hand.
  maintenant, now, at present.
  mais, but.
  matre, m., master.
  matresse, f., mistress, queen.
  majest, f., majesty.
  mal, m., hurt, offence.
  mal, badly, ill.
  maldiction, f., malediction, curses.
  malgr, in spite of.
  malheur, m., misfortune, woe.
  malheureu-x, -se, unfortunate, unhappy; m., wretch,
    wretched being.
  malice, f., wickedness; --s, 'slings and arrows' (_of fortune_).
  manquer, to be lacking.
  marbre, m., marble.
  marcher, to walk, go.
  Mardoche, Mordecai.
  marque, f., mark, token.
  marquer, to mark, fix, set.
  matin, m., morning.
  maudire, to curse.
  mchant, wicked.
  mler, to mingle, mix; se -- , to mingle with.
  membre, m., limb.
  mme, even; adj., same, very, self; un --, one and the same.
  mmoire, f., memory.
  menacer, to menace, threaten.
  mener, to lead.
  mensonge, m., untruth.
  mensong-er, -re, lying.
  menteu-r, -se, lying.
  mpriser, to scorn, spurn.
  mer, f., sea.
  merci, f, mercy.
  mrite, m., merit, deserts.
  mriter, to deserve.
  merveille, f., marvel, wonder.
  mesurer, to measure.
  mets, m., meat, dish.
  mettre, to put, place.
  meurtre, m., murder.
  mieux, better, the better; le, la --, the best.
  milieu, m., middle.
  mille, a thousand.
  ministre, m., steward, minister.
  misrable, wretched.
  modle, m., model, example.
  moi, I, me; -- -mme, myself.
  moindre, less; le, la --, the least;
    vos -- . . . , your least . . .
  moins, -- de, less; au --, at the least, so much as;
    du --, at least, at any rate;
    d'autant --, so much the less.
  mois, m., month.
  moiti, f., half;  --, half.
  mollesse, f., softness, luxury.
  mon, ma, mes, my.
  monarque, m., monarch.
  monde, m., world.
  mont, m., mount, mountain, hill.
  montagne, f., hill,
  monter, to rise.
  montrer, to show.
  monument, m., monument; reminder, record.
  mort, f., death.
  mortel, -le, mortal, m., les --s, mankind.
  mot, m., word.
  mourir, se --, to die.
  muet, -te, dumb.
  mur, m., wall.
  mystre, m., mystery.


  N

  nager, to swim.
  naissance, f., birth.
  naissant, young, growing, (_lit_. just being born).
  natre, to be born.
  ne . . . pas, point, not; -- de, no.
  ne . . . plus, no longer, no more.
  ne . . . que, only.
  nant, m., nothingness; comme un --, as if it were nothing.
  neveux, m. pl., posterity.
  ni . . . ni, neither . . . nor.
  noces, f. pl., nuptials.
  noeud, m., knot, tie, bond.
  noir, black.
  nom, m., name.
  nombreux, numerous.
  nommer, to name; se --, to be called, be named.
  notre, pl., nos, our.
  nourrir, to feed, nourish, cherish.
  nouveau, nouvel, nouvelle, new.
  noyer, to drown.
  nuage, cloud.
  nuit, f., night.
  nul, -le, no.


  O

  obir , to obey, comply with.
  obeissance, f., obedience.
  objet, m., object.
  obscur, obscure, mysterious.
  obscurcir, to darken.
  obscurit, f., obscurity.
  observer, to observe, notice.
  obtenir, to obtain, win.
  occuper, to occupy, fill.
  odeur, f., smell, fragrance.
  odieu-x, -se, hateful.
  oeil, m., eye.
  oeuvre, f., work.
  offense, f., offence, offence given, sin.
  offens, hurt, wounded.
  officier, m., officer.
  offrir, to offer.
  ombre, f., shadow, darkness.
  on, one, a man, people, you, they.
  oncle, m., uncle.
  opposer, to oppose.
  oppresseur, m., oppressor.
  opprobre, m., shame, Bcum.
  opulence, f., wealth.
  or, m., gold.
  orage, m., storm.
  orageu-x, -se, stormy.
  ordonner, to command, order, prepare.
  ordre, m., order, summons.
  oreille, f., ear.
  orgueil, m., pride.
  orgueilleux, proud.
  ornement, m., ornament, adornment.
  orner, to adorn.
  orphelin, m., orphan.
  oser, to dare.
  ou, or; -- . . . --, either . . . or.
  o, where, when, in which; d'--, whence.
  oubli, m., forgetfulness.
  oublier, to forget, se faire --, to be forgotten
    (_lit_. make people forget one).
  outrager, to outrage, oppress.
  ouvrage, m., work, handiwork.


  P

  pacifique, peaceful, favorable.
  paille, f., straw; -- lgre, chaff.
  paisible, peaceful.
  paix, f., peace.
  palais, m., palace.
  ple, pale.
  pleur, f., pallor, whiteness.
  plir, to turn pale.
  par, by.
  paratre, to appear.
  pareil, similar, like; -- , like unto.
  parer, to adorn, deck.
  parfait, perfect.
  parler, to speak.
  parmi, among, in the ranks of.
  parole, f., word.
  parricide, parricidal.
  part, f., share, side; de toutes --s, on all sides.
  partage, m., lot.
  partager, to share, diffuse, distribute.
  Parthe, m., Parthian.
  partie, f., part; in part.
  partir, to depart, go; -- de, to come from.
  partout, everywhere.
  pas, m., step.
  pas; ne . . . --, not; ne . . . -- de, no.
  passage, m., way, channel.
  passag-er, -re, temporary, fleeting.
  pass, m., past.
  passer, to pass over, by; se --, to go on, take place.
  patrie, f., country,
  pture, f., pasture, food.
  pav, m., pavement, stone floor.
  payer, to pay for.
  pays, m., country, land.
  pcher, to sin.
  peindre, to paint, depict.
  peine, f., distress, penalty;  --, hardly.
  pencher, to sway, lean.
  pendant, during; -- que, while.
  pntrer, to penetrate; pntr de, thrilled with.
  pense, f., thought.
  penser, to think; -- , to think of.  Que penses-tu?
    What is thy suggestion?
  percer, to pierce.
  perdre, to lose, destroy.
  pre, m., father.
  perfide, perfidious, treacherous.
  perfidie, f., treachery.
  pril, m., peril, danger.
  prir, to perish.
  permettre, to permit, suffer, allow.
  Persan, Persian.
  Perse, f., Persia.
  perscuteur, m., persecutor.
  personnage, m., character (in a play); --s, dramatis personae.
  perte, f., loss, destruction.
  peu, little.
  peuple, m., nation, people, host.
  peupler, to people.
  peut-tre, may be, perhaps.
  pied, m., foot.
  pige, m., snare.
  pierre, f., stone.
  pit, f., Piety, Love of God.
  piti, f., pity.
  place, f., place, room, square.
  placer, to place, set.
  plaindre, to pity; se --, to complain.
  plainte, f., complaint.
  plaire (), to please; se -- (), to enjoy.
  plaisir, m., pleasure.
  plein, full.
  pleurer, to weep, weep over.
  pleurs, m. pl., tears.
  plier, to bend.
  plonger, to steep.
  ployer, to bend.
  plus, more: -- de, more than; le, la, les --, most, the most.
  plusieurs, several.
  plutt, rather.
  poids, m., weight.
  point, m., point; sur le -- que, just when; de -- en --,
    in every particular; ne . . . --, not; ne . . . -- de, no.
  pompe, f., pomp.
  pompeusement, magnificently.
  pompeu-x, -se, pompous, splendid.
  porte, f., door, gate.
  porter, to carry, bear.
  portique, m., porch.
  poser, to place, set.
  possder, to possess, have, enjoy.
  possesseur, m., owner.
  postrit, f.; posterity, descendants.
  poudre, f., dust.
  pour, for, to, in order to, in favor _or_ defence of.
  pourpre, f., purple.
  pourquoi, why?
  poursuivre, to pursue.
  pousser, to impel.
  poussire, f., dust.
  pouvoir, m., power.
  pouvoir, to be able; se --, to be possible.
  pratiques, f. pl., plottings.
  prcieu-x, -se, precious.
  prdestin, predestined.
  prfrer, to prefer.
  premi-er, -re, first, former.
  prendre, to take; -- un jour, to set a date.
  prparer, to prepare.
  prs de, near to, in comparison with.
  prsage, m., presage, omen.
  prsence, f., presence.
  prsent, m., present, gift; present (_time_).
  prsenter, to present, offer; se --, to appear.
  pressant, pressing, imminent.
  presser, to be pressing, oppress.
  prtendre, to mean.
  prter, to lend.
  prtre, m., priest.
  prvenir, to warn, notify; forestall; anticipate, bias.
  prier, to pray.
  prire, f., prayer.
  priv de, deprived of, without.
  prix, m., price, prize, reward, penalty.
  prochain, adjoining.
  prodiguer, to lavish.
  profanation, f., profanation, desecration.
  profane, profane, unworthy; m., intruder.
  profiter, to take advantage.
  profond, deep, bottomless.
  proie, f., prey; en -- , a prey to.
  projet, m., project, plan, scheme.
  promettre, to promise.
  prompt, quick, prompt, ready; -- , eager to.
  promptement, promptly.
  prononcer, to decide.
  prophte, m., prophet.
  proposer, to propose, offer.
  propre, own.
  proscrit, proscribed, condemned.
  prosprer, to prosper, thrive.
  prosprit, f., prosperity.
  prostern, bowed, prostrate.
  prosterner (se),to bow, bend the knee.
  protger, to protect.
  prudence, f., prudence, tact.
  publi-c, -que, public.
  publier, to make known.
  pudeur, f., modesty, shame.
  puis, then.
  puiser, to draw (_as from a well_).
  puisque, since.
  puissance, f., power, might.
  puissant, powerful, mighty.
  puisse, puissent, (_subj. pres. of_ pouvoir) may . . .!
  punir, to punish.
  pur, pure, genuine.
  purifier, to purify, cleanse.


  Q

  quand, when.
  que, whom, which, that; let . . .!  what?  why?
    How! -- de!  What a number of!
  quel, -le, what?  which?  what!  what a!
  quel que, whoever.
  quelque, whatever, some.
  quelqu'un, one, someone.
  querelle, f., quarrel, cause; pour ta --, on your behalf.
  qui, who, which, that.
  quiconque, whoever, whose.
  quitter, to leave, forsake, take off.
  quoi? h --! What!


  R

  rage, f., rage, fury.
  rallumer, to rekindle.
  rang, m., rank, high position; mettre au -- de, to consider, deem.
  ranger, to draw up; se --, to gather.
  rassembler, to gather together.
  rassurer, to reassure, calm the fears of.
  ravir, to ravish, take (the life), rob; -- , to take from.
  ravisseur, m., ravisher, destroyer.
  rebtir, to rebuild.
  rebut, m., scum,
  recevoir, to receive.
  rcit, m., tale, story.
  rcompense, f., reward.
  rcompenser, to reward.
  reconnaissance, f., gratitude,
  reconnatre, to recognize, acknowledge, reward.
  recul, distant.
  redire, to repeat.
  redoubtable, redoutable.
  redouter, to dread.
  rduire, to reduce, bring.
  refuser, to refuse.
  regagner, to seek again, go back to.
  regard, m., look.
  regarder, to look at, see.
  rgler, to rule, se -- sur, to be guided by.
  rgne, m., reign.
  rgner, to reign, be king or queen.
  regorger, to flow up.
  reine, f., queen.
  rejeter, to reject.
  rejoindre, to join.
  rjouir, to rejoice.
  relever, to raise again.
  remords, m., remorse.
  rempart, m., rampart.
  remplir, to fill.
  remporter, to carry off, win.
  renatre, to be born again.
  rendre, to give back, pay (_hommage_); make; se --, to go, attend.
  renfermer, to enclose, contain.
  rentrer, to return.
  renverser, to overthrow.
  repaire, m., den.
  repatre, to glut.
  rpandre, to pour, shed, scatter, se --, to spread.
  rparer, to repair, atone for.
  repasser, to cross back over.
  repentir, m., repentance.
  rpondre, to answer.
  rponse, f., answer, reply.
  repos, m., rest, peace.
  reposer, to rest; se--sur, to trust to.
  reprendre, to resume.
  reprsenter, to represent.
  reproche, m., reproach.
  reprocher, to reproach.
  rpudier, to repudiate.
  rserver, to reserve, keep.
  respirer, to breathe.
  ressentir, to feel, be sensible to.
  resserrer (se), to be wrung.
  ressort, m., spring.
  reste, m., rest, remainder, remains; du --, moreover.
  rester, to remain.
  retenir, to detain, keep.
  retentir de, to echo with.
  retirer, to draw; se --, to withdraw.
  retour, m., return.
  retracer, to retrace, rehearse, tell.
  retrancher, to cut off.
  rvler, to reveal.
  revenir, to come back; --  soi, to come back to life.
  rvrer, to revere, worship.
  revtir, to clothe.
  revtu, clothed, clad.
  revivre, to live again.
  revoir, to see again, review, revisit.
  rvoquer, to revoke, cancel.
  Rhin, Rhine (_river_).
  riant, laughing.
  riche, rich.
  richesse, f., wealth, riches.
  rigueur, f., severity.
  rise, laughter, mockery.
  rivales, f. pl., rival queens.
  rive, f., bank.
  robe, f., robe, dress, gown.
  roi, m., king.
  rompre, to break.
  roseau, m., reed.
  rougeur, m., redness, flush.
  route, f., road, path.
  rudesse, f., hardness.
  rugir, to roar.
  ruisseau, m., stream.


  S

  sacr, sacred, holy.
  sage, wise.
  sagesse, f., wisdom.
  saint, holy, pious; m., saint.
  sais, _indic. of_ savoir; un je ne -- quel trouble,
    a nameless fear (_lit. an I-know-not-what agitation).
  saisissement, m., fright, terror.
  salaire, m., reward.
  salon, m., drawing-room, hall.
  salut, m., safety, welfare.
  salutaire, helpful, saving.
  sanctifier, to sanctify.
  sang, m., blood, race.
  sanglant, bloodthirsty.
  sanglot, m., sob.
  sanguinaire, bloodthirsty.
  sans, without, but for.
  sauvage, savage, wild.
  sauver, to save, save life.
  savant, learned.
  savoir, to know, know how to, succeed in.
  sceau, m., seal.
  scne, f., scene.
  sceptre, m., scepter.
  Scythe, m., Scythian.
  second, second, other,
  seconder, to second, support, back.
  secourir, to succour, rescue.
  secours, m., succour, help, aid.
  secr-et, -te, secret.
  seditieux, seditious, mutinous.
  seigneur, m., Lord.
  sein, m., bosom, depths.
  sejour, m., abode, dwelling-place.
  sembler, to seem.
  semence, f; seed.
  semer, to sow.
  sentiment, m., feeling, opinion, view.
  sentir, to feel.
  spar, apart, removed.
  sparer, to separate.
  spulture, f., burial.
  serein, serene, cloudless, mild, favorable.
  service, m., service (_rendered_).
  servile, slavish.
  servir, to be a slave, serve, be of use; -- de,
    to serve as a, be a; que sert? what is the use?
  servitude, f; slavery.
  seul, alone.
  seulement, only, just.
  svre, severe, stem.
  sexe, m., sex,
  si, so, if, whether,
  sicle, m., century, age.
  signaler, to memorize, make famous.
  signer, to sign.
  simple, simple, mere; --s enfants, little children.
  sincre, sincere, faithful.
  Sion, Zion.
  sitt, so soon, so quickly.
  soeur, f., sister.
  soin, m., care, pains; --s, attentions; avoir -- de,
    to be sure to.
  soleil, m., sun.
  solennel, solemn.
  solennit, f., solemn feast.
  solitaire, solitary, in solitude.
  sombre, dark, gloomy.
  sommeil, m., sleep.
  sommeiller, to sleep.
  son, m., sound.
  son, sa, ses, his, her, its.
  songe, m., dream.
  songer , to think of.
  sort, m., fate.
  sortir, to go out, come (_on the stage_).
  soudain, sudden, suddenly.
  souffle, m., breath.
  souffler, to blow, breathe.
  souffrir, to suffer, allow.
  souhaiter, to wish.
  soulager, to relieve, lighten,
  soumis, (_past part. of_ soumettre), submissive, obedient.
  souponner, to suspect.
  soupir, m., sigh.
  soupirer, to sigh, sigh over, deplore.
  sourd, deaf.
  sous, under, beneath.
  soutenir, to hold up, support, maintain; withstand, stand.
  soutien, m., support, supporter.
  souvenir (se), to remember.
  souvent, often.
  souverain, sovereign.
  spectacle, m., show, spectacle, display.
  splendent, f., splendor.
  subtil, subtle, keen; trop --, over-nice, over-ingenious,
  succs, m., success, result.
  suffire, to suffice, be enough.
  suffrage, m., claim to preference.
  suite, f., escort; de la -- de, in attendance upon,
    in waiting upon.
  suivre, to follow, attend.
  sujet, m., subject, cause.
  superbe, haughty, magnificent.
  superflu, superfluous, idle.
  supplice, m., punishment, penalty.
  suprme, supreme.
  sur, on, upon, over.
  surprendre, to take by surprise, unawares.
  surtout, above all, especially.
  Suse, Susa, (_in the Bible_: Shushan the palace).
  suspendre, to keep in suspense, delay, interrupt.


  T

  taire (se), to keep silence, be silent; faire --, to silence.
  tandis que, while, so long as.
  tant, so much; -- de, so much, so many.
  tard, late.
  tarder, to delay.
  teint, m., complexion, cheeks.
  tel, such; -- que, such as.
  tmoin, m., witness.
  tempte, f., tempest, storm.
  temps, m., time; en mme --, at the same time.
  tendre, to aim; stretch, extend, hold out.
  tendre, tender, loving.
  tendresse, f., affection, love.
  tnbres, f. pl., darkness.
  tenir, to hold, keep; -- lieu de, to fill the place of.
  terminer, to put an end to.
  terre, f., earth.
  terreur, f., terror.
  terrible, terrible, dreadful, frightful.
  tte, f., head.
  thtre, m., theater, stage.
  tigre, m., tiger.
  timide, timid.
  tirer, to draw.
  toi, thou, thee.
  tombeau, m., tomb, grave.
  tomber, to fall.
  ton, ta, tes, thy.
  tonnerre, m., thunder.
  tt, soon.
  toucher, to touch, move.
  toujours, always, ever, still.
  tour, m., turn, round.
  tour, f., tower.
  tourment, m., torture.
  tourmenter, to torment.
  tourner, to turn.
  tous, pl., all.
  tout, all, whole; everything; only, quite.
  toutefois, however.
  tracer, to trace, write, enter.
  trahir, to betray.
  traner, to drag.
  trait, m., shaft, arrow,
  traiter, to treat; -- de, to consider as, call.
  tratre, m., traitor.
  trame, f., plot.
  tranquille, tranquil, calm.
  transplanter, to transplant.
  transport, m., rage, temper.
  trembler, to tremble.
  trpas, m., death.
  trsor, m., treasure, treasury.
  tribu, f., tribe.
  triomphe, m., triumph, achievement.
  triste, sad.
  tristesse, f., sadness.
  trois, three.
  troisime, third.
  tromper, to deceive, disappoint; se --, to be in error.
  trompeu-r, -se, deceitful, deceptive, treacherous.
  tronc, m., (_tree_) trunk.
  trne, m., throne.
  trop, too, too much, over.
  trouble, m., agitation.
  troubler, to disturb.
  troupe, f., band.
  troupeau, m., flock, herd.
  trouver, to find; se --, to be found.
  tumulte, m., tumult, bustle, 'madding crowd.'
  tumultueux, tumultuous, multitudinous.
  tyrannie, f., tyranny.


  U

  un, a, one.
  unir (s'), to unite.
  univers, m., universe, the whole universe.
  usage, m., use, custom, precedent.
  usure, f., usury, usurious interest; payer avec --,
    to pay heavily for.


  V

  vain, vain, idle, empty, unreal; en --, in vain;
    --ement, uselessly.
  vaincre, to conquer.
  vainqueur, m., conqueror, victor.
  valeur, f., valor.
  vallee, f., valley, vale.
  valoir, to be worth; faire --, to show off, make the most of.
  vanter, to boast, claim.
  vapeur, f., vapor, mirkiness.
  vaste, vast.
  vautour, m., vulture.
  veiller, to watch.
  veine, f., vein.
  vengeance, f., vengeance, punishment, revenge.
  venger, to avenge.
  vengeur, avenging; m., avenger.
  venir, to come; -- de, to have just.
  vent, m., wind.
  vrit, f., truth.
  vers, towards.
  verser, to pour.
  vertu, f; virtue, power.
  vertueux, virtuous.
  vtements, m. pl., raiment.
  veuve, f; widow.
  victime, f., victim.
  victoire, f., victory.
  victorieu-x, -se, victorious.
  vie, f., life.
  vieillard, m., old man,
  vil, vile, helpless.
  violer, to violate, break.
  visage, m., face.
  vivre, to live.
  voeu, m., vow, prayer, desire.
  voici, here is; me --, here I am.
  voil, there is!  that is.
  voile, m., veil, screen, curtain.
  voir, to see.
  voix, f., voice.
  voler, to fly.
  volont, f., will.
  votre, pl. vos, your.
  vtre; le, la --, yours.
  vouloir, to wish, try, need, require; -- bien, to deign,
    condescend.
  vrai, true.
  vue, f., sight.


  Y

  y, there, in it, to it.
  yeux, pl. of oeil, m., eyes,  tes --, in thy sight.


  Z

  zle, m., zeal.
  zl, zealous.











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