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 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow ACT III. - The Works of Voltaire, Vol. IX The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Alzire, Orestes, Sémiramis, Catiline, Pandora) and Part II (The Scotch Woman, Nanine, The Prude, The Tatler).

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ACT III. - Voltaire, The Works of Voltaire, Vol. IX The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Alzire, Orestes, Sémiramis, Catiline, Pandora) and Part II (The Scotch Woman, Nanine, The Prude, The Tatler). [1901]

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From The Works of Voltaire, A Contemporary Version, (New York: E.R. DuMont, 1901), A Critique and Biography by John Morley, notes by Tobias Smollett, trans. William F. Fleming. Vol. IX The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Alzire, Orestes, Sémiramis, Catiline, Pandora) and Part II (The Scotch Woman, Nanine, The Prude, The Tatler).

Part of: The Works of Voltaire. A Contemporary Version, in 21 vols.

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ACT III.

The scene represents the palace of Jupiter.

jupiter, mercury.

jupiter.

  • O Mercury, I’ve seen this lovely object,
  • Earth’s fair production; heaven is in her eye,
  • The graces dwell around her, and my heart
  • Is sacrificed a victim to her charms.

mercury.

  • And she shall answer to thy love.

jupiter.

  • O no:
  • Terror is mine, and power; I reign supreme
  • O’er earth, and hell, and heaven; but love alone
  • Can govern hearts: malicious, cruel fate,
  • When it divided this fair universe,
  • Bestowed the better part on mighty love.

mercury.

  • What fearest thou? fair Pandora scarce hath seen
  • The light of day; and thinkest thou that she loves?

jupiter.

  • Love is a passion learned with ease; and what
  • Cannot Pandora do? she is a woman,
  • And handsome: but I will retire a moment,
  • Enchant her eyes, and captivate her heart:
  • Ye heavens! in vain, alas! ye shine, for nought
  • Have you so fair, so beauteous as Pandora.
  • [He retires.

pandora.

  • Scarce have these eyes beheld the light of day,
  • Scarce have they looked on him I loved, when lo!
  • ’Tis all snatched from me; death, they say, will come
  • And take me soon: O I have felt him sure
  • Already: is not death the sudden loss
  • Of those we love? O give me back, ye gods,
  • To earth, to that delightful grove where first
  • I saw my kind creator, when at once
  • I breathed and loved: O envied happiness!
  • [The gods, with their several attributes, come upon the stage.]

chorus of gods.

  • Let heaven rejoice
  • At the glad voice
  • Of heaven’s eternal king.

neptune.

  • Let the sea’s bosom—

pluto.

  • And the depths of hell—

chorus of gods.

  • To distant worlds his endless praises tell.
  • Let heaven rejoice, etc.

pandora.

  • How all conspires to threaten and alarm me!
  • O how I hate and fear this dazzling splendor!
  • Another’s merit how can I approve,
  • Or bear the praise of aught but him I love?

the three graces.

  • Love’s fair daughter, here remain,
  • Thou in right of him shalt reign;
  • Heaven thy chosen seat shall be,
  • Earth in vain shall wish for thee.

pandora.

  • All affrights me,
  • Nought delights me,
  • Alas! a desert had more charms for me.
  • Hence, ye idle visions; cease,
  • Discordant sounds,
  • [A Symphony is heard.
  • And give me peace.
  • [Jupiter comes forth out of a cloud.

jupiter.

  • Thou art the best and fairest charm of nature,
  • Well worthy of eternity: from earth
  • Sprang thy weak body; but thy purer soul
  • Partakes of heaven’s unalterable fire,
  • And thou wert born for gods alone: with Jove
  • Taste then the sweets of immortality.

pandora.

  • I scorn thy gift, and rather would be nothing,
  • From whence I sprang; thy immortality,
  • Without the lovely object I adore,
  • Is but eternal punishment.

jupiter.

  • Fair creature,
  • Thou knowest not I am master of the thunder:
  • Canst thou in heaven look back to earth?

pandora.

  • That earth
  • Is my abode; there first I learned to love.

jupiter.

  • ’Twas but the shadow of it, in a world
  • Unworthy of that noble flame, which here
  • Alone can burn unquenchable.

pandora.

  • Great Jove,
  • Content with glory and with splendor, leave
  • To earthly lovers happiness and joy:
  • Thou art a god; O hear my humble prayer!
  • A gracious god should make his creatures happy.

jupiter.

  • Thou shalt be happy, and in thee I hope
  • For bliss supreme: ye powerful pleasures, you
  • Who dwell around me, now exert your charms,
  • Deceive her lovely eyes, and win her heart.
  • [The Pleasures dance around her and sing.

chorus of pleasures.

  • Thou with us shalt reign and love,
  • Thou alone art worthy Jove.

a single voice.

  • Nought has earth but shadows vain,
  • Of pleasures followed close by pain;
  • Soon her winged transports fly,
  • Soon her roses fade and die.

chorus.

  • Thou with us shalt reign and love,
  • Thou alone art worthy Jove.

single voice.

  • Here the brisk and sportive hours
  • Shall cull thee ever-blooming flowers;
  • Time has no wings, he cannot fly,
  • And love is joined to immortality.

chorus.

  • Thou with us shalt reign and love,
  • Thou alone art worthy Jove.

pandora.

  • Ye tender pleasures, ye increase my flame,
  • And ye increase my pain: if happiness
  • Is yours to give, O bear it to my love.

jupiter.

  • Is this the sad effect of all my care,
  • To make a rival happy?
  • [Enter Mercury.

mercury.

  • Assume thy lightnings, Jove, and blast thy foe;
  • Prometheus is in arms, the Titans rage,
  • And threaten heaven; mountain on mountain piled,
  • They scale the skies; already they approach.

jupiter.

  • Jove has the power to punish; let them come.

pandora.

  • And wilt thou punish? thou, who art the cause
  • Of all his miseries; thou art a jealous tyrant:
  • Go on, and love me; I shall hate thee more;
  • Be that thy punishment.

jupiter.

  • I must away:
  • Rive them, ye thunder-bolts.

pandora.

  • Have mercy, Jove!

jupiter.

  • [To Mercury.
  • Conduct Pandora to a place of safety:
  • The happy world was wrapped in peace profound,
  • A beauty comes, and nought is seen but ruin.
  • [He goes out.

pandora.

  • [Alone.
  • O fatal charms! would I had ne’er been born!
  • Beauty and love, and every gift divine,
  • But make me wretched: if, all-powerful Love,
  • Thou didst create me, now relieve my sorrows;
  • Dry up my tears, bid war and slaughter cease,
  • And give to heaven and earth eternal peace.

End of the Third Act.