登陆注册
5451000000006

第6章

JUPITER, ALCMENE, CLEANTHIS, MERCURY

JUP.My dear Alcmene, forbid the torch-bearers to come near.They give me delight in enabling me to see you; but they might betray my being here, and this were best unrevealed.Restrained by all the heavy cares with which the glory of our arms held me bound, my heart has stolen from the duties of my post the moments it has just given to your charms.This theft, which I have consecrated to your beauty, might be blamed by the public voice; and the only witness I want, is she who can thank me for it.

ALC.I take great interest, Amphitryon, in the glory which your illustrious exploits have cast upon you; the fame of your victory moves my heart to its depths.But when I see that this disastrous honour keeps my lover away from me, such is my heart's feeling that I cannot forbear to think ill of it, and to regret the high order which makes you general of the Thebans.It is sweet after a victory to see the glory to which one's lover has been raised; but, from among the perils attached to this glory, a deadly blow, alas! may soon fall.With how many fears is one's heart wounded at the report of the least skirmish! In the horror of such a thought, is there anything that can console for the threatened stroke? And with whatever laurels the victor may be crowned, whatever share one may have in that supreme honour, is it worth what it costs a tender heart, which trembles every moment for its lover?

JUP.I do not see anything in you but what inflames my passion;everything shows me a deeply enamoured heart; and, I confess, it is a great delight to find so much love in a beloved object.But, if Imay dare say so, one scruple in the tender sentiments which you show me causes me anxiety; and, in order to enjoy you the more, dear Alcmene, my heart would rather see love only, and not duty, in the favours which I receive from you; may they arise solely from affection, and have respect to my person only; let not my condition as your husband be the reason for them.

ALC.Yet it is in that name that the ardour which burns me holds the right to show itself: I do not understand this new scruple which troubles your heart.

JUP.The love and tenderness which I have for you far exceeds a husband's; in these sweet moments, you do not realise its delicacy;You do not understand that a heart deeply in love studiously attaches itself to a hundred little trifles, and is restless over the manner of being happy.In me, fair and charming Alcmene, you see a lover and a husband; but, to speak frankly, it is the lover that appeals to me; when near you, I feel the husband restrains him.This lover, who is supremely jealous of your love, wishes your heart to abandon itself solely to him: his passion does not wish anything the husband gives him.He wishes to obtain the warmth of your love from the fountain-head, and not to owe anything to the bonds of wedlock, or to a duty which palls and makes the heart sad, for by these the sweetness of the most cherished favours is daily poisoned.This idea, in short, tosses him to and fro, and he wishes, in order to satisfy his scruples, that you would differentiate where the occasion offends him, the husband to be only for your virtue, and the lover to have the whole affection and tenderness of a heart known to be full of kindness.

ALC.In truth, Amphitryon, you must be jesting, to talk thus; Ishould be afraid anyone who heard you would think you were not sane.

JUP.There is more reason in this discourse, Alcmene, than you think.But a longer stay here would render me guilty, and time presses for my return to port.Adieu.The stern call of duty tears me away from you for a time; but, lovely Alcmene, I beseech you at least to think of the lover when you see the husband.

ALC.I do not separate what the Gods unite: both husband and lover are very precious to me.

CLE.O Heaven! How delightful are the caresses of an ardently cherished husband! How far my poor husband is from all this tenderness!

MERC.I must tell Night she has but to furl all her sails; the Sun may now arise from his bed and put out the stars.

同类推荐
  • 学佛考训

    学佛考训

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 延陵先生集新旧服气经

    延陵先生集新旧服气经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Shelley

    Shelley

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 俱舍论记

    俱舍论记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说大白伞盖总持陀罗尼经

    佛说大白伞盖总持陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 老婆大人不要逃

    老婆大人不要逃

    我要一个人的命!赌注是我的命!赌命骰子,她输给了他,成为她命运的操纵者。一个脸上带着明显疤痕的女人,母亲离世时说:不嫌弃你的丑的男人,就嫁给他,贪图美貌的男人,都是负心汉!他身边女人无数,又怎么会看上这样一个丑陋的女人?我这么丑你为什么爱上我?我要的不是你的外表,我爱的是你这个人。等等,你的疤痕…
  • 我不是翻唱女王

    我不是翻唱女王

    新书上传:巨星从创造营开始,欢迎大家捧场!
  • 历代名赋

    历代名赋

    从先秦开始,赋体之文就已出现。赋是介乎诗和文之间的一种文体。是中国古代的重要文学样式。在中国古代文学发展的历史画卷中,赋体文学也曾有过它光辉灿烂的一页。本书对于历代的辞赋,选的比较全面,从中不难看出历代辞赋的发展、变化和特点。
  • 九霄丹神

    九霄丹神

    跌落凡尘,却成世家废柴,两世为人,幸抑或不幸?当记忆复苏的那一刹那,该如何抉择?屈于命运,还是奋起抗争?且看林峰,以丹定乾坤!
  • 洪荒白衣圣人

    洪荒白衣圣人

    现代修真者被自己哥哥算计,回到混之中,自己练功。见识盘古开天地,见识龙汉大劫罗睺威,见识鸿钧老道传道统,见识三清也有吃憋时。洪荒大能满天飞,其中尤以巫妖二族威,帝俊太一掌天庭,十二祖巫控大地,二族争斗几多时,白衣却是见证人。
  • 随心皇妃

    随心皇妃

    异世的灵魂,孤独中寻求一丝安定的温暖,然而,现实总是让她受尽磨难,未婚夫婿的不加信任,丈夫的暗藏杀机,让她几度飘零。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。新文:《睡睡平安之流氓公主》《男人,你被劫持了!》完结经典文:《大良凰后》《笑面罗刹》《随心皇妃》《玉面狐狸》
  • 绝斩之帝

    绝斩之帝

    世人皆想成神,却不知成神之路几多艰辛,许多人在一开始便已了无希望。绝代天骄风雪黾为救女友甘愿放弃成神之资并重新开始修炼。风雪黾凭借着逆天的资质终于强势崛起。自此以后,其在成神之路上越走越远,不知觉间已是几百年过去。
  • 狂仙

    狂仙

    现世青年徐天涯得宝书摩陀心经重生异界,勤练基础功法考试脱颖而出,领悟五行变运用超强法术,悟宝书奥妙踏足仙师境界,勇闯冥月山谷激斗四臂妖兽,成大汉名仙师威霸天下。
  • 你是我温暖的依靠

    你是我温暖的依靠

    爱是人生永不落幕的演出。滚滚红尘中,那些美丽而温暖的爱总是充斥着你我生命的每个角落,伴随着我们成长的每个时刻。无论是亲情、友情还是爱情,《你是我温暖的依靠》中的每一段文字都能带给你心灵的启迪,每一个情节都能带给你美的历程,每一个温情故事都能触动你内心柔软的一面,让你久久共鸣。
  • 一条鱼的修仙日常

    一条鱼的修仙日常

    从前有座山,山上有个庙,庙里有个放生池,池里有条鱼摆摆。不好意思烂尾了,再见!