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Show PROGRAMMES OF BALLETS. 289 who is seen ranging through the forest and hurling his javelin at the timid inhabitants. Theseus, obliged to depart, reluctantly takes leave of his Queen, who shares deeply in his sorrows, and conjures him to hasten his return. The implacable Venus, seizing this opportunity of revenge, makes a sign to her son, who levels a dart, and Phcedra is wounded. Whence the pain with which she is seized ? In vain does she endeavour to discover the cause; she laments her fate, and implores for aid ; her attendants^endeavour to administer relief; Venus causes Hippolytus to approach, and desires him to console Phcedra, and to alleviate the sorrow she feels at the absence of his father ; the young Prince obeys and presents himself before her. Phcedra evinces great emotion! The society of Hippolytus suspends her grief: joy succeeds to woe ; and she seems revived and happy. It is Hippolytus who causes this change ; he is the author of the charm; and she cannot exist without him. He redoubles his attention, and assures her of his father's love; but Phcedra requires something more than such an assurance. Being now recovered, she thinks both on the duty she owes to the father, and on what may be the sentiments of the son; obstacles insurmountable! Pleasure is already fled, and woe has taken her place. Hippolytus knows not what to conclude from her deportment. He tries to tranquillize her; but Phcedra, unable longer to resist the torments of her passion, and the power of Venus, confesses her love to Hippolytus; he recoils with horror and remains motionless with astonishment. The daughter of Minos tries to allure him by prayers, caresses, and tears; but nothing can shake the virtue of the young Hippolytus. He essays to break from her, while she employs every art to detain him; but her |