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 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow ACT IV. - 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 IV. - 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]

Edition used:

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 IV.

The scene represents the Titans armed, mountains at a distance, with giants throwing them on each other.

enceladus.

  • Fear not, Prometheus, nature feels thy wrongs,
  • And joins with us in just revenge: behold
  • These pointed rocks, and shaggy mountains; soon
  • The jealous tyrants all shall sink beneath them.

prometheus.

  • Now, earth, defend thyself, and combat heaven:
  • Trumpets and drums, now shall ye first be heard:
  • March, Titans, follow me: the seat of gods
  • Is your reward; be fair Pandora mine.
  • [They march to the sound of trumpets.

chorus of titans.

  • Arm, ye valiant Titans, arm,
  • Spread around the dread alarm:
  • Let proud immortals tremble on their thrones.

prometheus.

  • Their thunder answers to our trumpets’ voice.
  • [Thunder is heard; a car descends, bearing the gods towards the mountains: Pandora is seated near Jupiter; Prometheus speaks.]
  • Jove gives the dreadful signal; haste, begin
  • The battle.
  • [The giants rise towards heaven.

chorus of nymphs.

  • Earth, and hell, and heaven confounded,
  • All with terrors are surrounded:
  • Cease, ye gods, and Titans, cease
  • Your cruel wars, and give us peace.

titans.

  • Yield, cruel tyrants.

gods.

  • Rebels, fly.

titans.

  • Yield, heaven, to earth.

gods.

  • Die, rebels, die.

pandora.

  • O heaven! O earth! ye Titans, and ye gods,
  • O cease your rage, all perish for Pandora:
  • I have made the world unhappy.

titans.

  • Draw
  • Your arrows now.

gods.

  • Strike, thunders.

titans.

  • Hurl down heaven.

gods.

  • Destroy the earth.

both.

  • Yield, cruel tyrants—rebels fly—
  • Yield, earth, to heaven—die, rebels, die.
  • [A dead silence for a time; a bright cloud descends; Destiny appears, seated in the middle of it.]

destiny.

  • Cease, hostile powers, attend to me,
  • And hear the will of Destiny.
  • [Silence ensues.

prometheus.

  • Unalterable being, power supreme,
  • Speak thy irrevocable doom; attend,
  • Ye tyrants, and obey.

chorus.

  • Speak, the gods must yield to thee;
  • Speak, immortal Destiny.

destiny.

  • [In the middle of the gods, who throng round him.
  • Hear me, ye gods; another world this day
  • Brings forth: meantime let every gift adorn
  • Pandora; and you, Titans, who ’gainst heaven
  • Have raised rebellious war, receive your doom,
  • Beneath these mountains sunk forever groan.
  • [The rocks fall upon them; the chariot of the gods descends to earth; Pandora is restored to Prometheus.

jupiter.

  • O fate, my empire yields to thee,
  • Jove submits to destiny:
  • Thou art obeyed; but from this hour let earth
  • And heaven be disunited: Nemesis,
  • Come forth.
  • [Nemesis advances from the bottom of the stage, and Jupiter proceeds.
  • Nemesis, thy aid impart,
  • Pierce the cruel beauty’s heart;
  • My vengeance let Pandora know,
  • In the gifts that I bestow:
  • Let heaven and earth henceforth be disunited.

End of the Fourth Act.