BAJAZET Essay Example For Students

BAJAZET Essay A monolog from the play by Jean Racine NOTE: This monolog is republished from The Dramatic Works of Jean Racine. Trans. Robert Bruce Boswell. London: George Bell and Sons, 1911. ACHMET: Wouldst thou have me learnNow at my age the useless legend of love?And will a heart that long stretches of drudge have hardendBlindly submit to follow vain delights?Nay, she pulls in my look with other charms,I love in her the blood of illustrious sires.Through this collusion to the honored position and brought nearBy Bajazet, I accordingly secure a shieldTo watch myself against him. Some offenceIs sure to ascend, for barely has vizierBeen picked ere the Sultan fears his creature,And voracity or jealousy before long impacts his ruin.To-day he praises me and courts my favour,The dangers he runs slant his heart toward me.But stablishd on the position of authority, this BajazetPerchance will toss aside a futile friend:And, if my dependable help be forgotten,The day may come when he will set out to fate meTo demise. I state no more, however tis my purposeTo keep him hanging tight for my head full long.I know the obligation that I owe my masters,But tis for captives to humor their caprices,Nor am I so besotted as to lickThe hand that strikes me. In this manner it comes to passThat I inside these dividers have free admittance,And with mine eyes may view Roxana.At first she listend to my voice, herselfUnseen, and feard to break the unbending lawsThat monitor the array of mistresses. Be that as it may, those maddening scruples,Our banter hampering, ere long were banishd.She has herself picked this alcove remoteWhere eyes may hearts find unrestraind.A slave conducts me by a mystery passageBut here she comes, with her cherished Atalide.Stay, and be prepared, ought to there need arise,To confirm the announcement I will make her.