Nov 4– From "Polyeucte" by Cornielle (1643) Translated by Thomas Constable

 INTENSE FACIAL EXPRESSONS!

Nov 4– From Polyeucte by Cornielle (1643) Translated by Thomas Constable

Summary: SIMPING! and famous quotes and a conversion.

Commentary: I wanted to make a joke about Pauline being in peril, but it doesn't really fit here.

     FABIAN.

     Yes,—you may—see her—see her—this you may—

     SEV.

     Thy speech is halting—odious thy delay!

     She loves no more? I grope! O give me light!

I'm amused both by the em-dashes/halting speech, and by the groping when she loves no more. You shouldn't do that.

     SEV.

     To wed a queen—an empress—were only loss and shame;

     One heart for me—Pauline's! One boast—that dearest name!

     Her love was virgin gold! O ne'er shall baser metal ring

     From mine, who live her name to bless! her peerless praise to sing!

     O, words are naught, till that I see her face,

     Then doubly naught till I my love embrace.

     In every war my hope was placed in death,

     Her name upon my lips at every breath:

     My rank, my fame, now hers and hers alone,

     What is not hers, hers only—I disown!

     FABIAN.

     Yes, Polyeucte is her lord.

     He came, he saw, he conquered thine adored.

I would like to know if this reference is in the original French or a translation addition. (My relatively half assed Google provided no answers.) "To thine own self be true" is in there later, which leads me to believe the translator just wanted to put in a bunch of famous quotes.