The young prince Hippolytus, having incurred the displeasure of the king his father, has started for his place of exile. He is driving his chariot along the sea shore, when all at once a hideous monster emerges from the waves. After a severe conflict, in which the monster is killed, the horses become unmanageable from fright. His chariot is dashed to pieces, and himself becoming entangled in the reins, is dragged amongst the rocks. His guards hasten to render him assistance, but he has only time to utter a few words before he expires. The details of this melancholy catastrophe are related to the father by one of his attendants. A PEINE nous sortions des portes de Trézène 4 L'œil morne maintenant et la tête baissée, Répond en gemissant à ce cri redoutable. Jusqu'au fond de nos cœurs notre sang 5 s'est glacé ; 1 His vain imaginary hope. 2 ephemeral (short-lived.) 3 let the reins hang 5 our blood is congealed in our hearts. loosely. 4 with sorrowful eye. Des coursiers attentifs le crin1 s'est hérissé. Arrête ses coursiers, saisit ses javelots, Pousse au monstre," et d'un dard lancé d'une main sûre, Il lui fait dans le flanc une large blessure. De rage et de douleur le monstre bondissant 8 10 Vient aux pieds des chevaux tomber en 9 mugissant ; 12 1 The mane stands erect. 2 upon the surface of the watery plain. 3 in large angry waves. 4 with yellow scales. 5 his back moves in tortuous folds. 6 the earth is in commotion. 7 rushes against the monster. 8 the monster rebounding. 9 roaring. 10 a fiery mouth. 11 the bit. 12 exhausts himself in powerless efforts. 13 they stain the bit with bloody foam. On dit qu'on a vu même, en ce désordre affreux, Un Dieu qui d'aiguillons pressait leur flanc poudreux.1 A travers les rochers la peur les précipite; L'essieu crie et se rompt2; l'intrépide Hippolyte Ils courent; tout son corps n'est bientôt qu'une plaie, Leur fougue impétueuse enfin se ralentit 5: Ils s'arrêtent non loin de ces tombeaux antiques 1 Who thrust the goads into their dusty flanks. 2 the axletree breaks. 3 he sees his broken chariot shivered to pieces. 4 is quickly one mass of wounds. 5 their impetuous fury slackens. 6 stained. 7 the dropping briars bear the bloody spoils of his locks. Qu'il lui rende..." A ce mot ce Héros expiré RACINE. LA FEUILLE FLÉTRIE. POURQUOI tomber déjà feuille jaune et flétrie ? Pauvre feuille! il n'est plus le temps où ta verdure Si fraîche au mois de Mai! faut-il que la froidure L'hiver, saison des nuits, s'avance et décolore Ce qui servait d'asyle aux habitants des cieux; Tu meurs, un vent du soir vient t'embrasser encore, Mais ses baisers glacés pour toi sont des adieux. ELISA MERCOEUR. L'OUBLI. SUR LA MORT D'UNE JEUNE FILLE. Après avoir dit quelque temps 1 Would fail to recognise. During the decline of the Roman empire, the provinces, especially those which were most remote, were subject to the most cruel despotism at the hands of the Roman governors. There was no kind of cruelty of which these envoys of Rome were not guilty to gratify their avarice. Groaning under this oppressive rule, some tribes from the banks of the Danube sent a deputy to Rome to prefer a complaint to the senate. This man was remarkable for the meanness of his appearance; but on being introduced into the senate, after pourtraying in the strongest colours and most energetic language the tyranny under which his country groaned, he concluded with an eloquent appeal to the justice of the Roman senate and people. His plainness and freedom of speech, so far from bringing upon him the displeasure of the senate, so won their regard, that they elected him a senator. (The piece opens with a description of the savage appearance and dress of the peasant deputy.) SON menton nourrissait une barbe touffue; Toute sa personne velue 3 1 And smiles will wipe away the former tears. 2 staying there his rapid course. 3 covered with hair. |