_Chimene._ Ah, Rodrigo, it is true, although thine enemy, I cannot blame thee for having shunned disgrace; and in whatever manner my griefs burst forth I do not accuse [thee], I [only] lament my misfortunes. I know what honor after such an insult demanded with ardor of a generous courage; thou hast only done the duty of a man of honor, but also in doing that [duty] thou hast taught me mine. Thy fatal valor has instructed me by thy victory--it has avenged thy father and maintained thy glory. The same care concerns me, and I have to add to my infliction [_lit._ to afflict me] my fame to sustain and my father to avenge. Alas! thy fate [_or_, your share] in this drives me to despair! If any other misfortune had taken from me my father, my soul would have found in the happiness of seeing thee the only relief which it could have received, and in opposition to my grief I should have felt a fond delight [_lit._ charm or a magic soothing] when a hand so dear would have wiped away my tears. But I must lose thee after having lost him. This struggle over my passion is due to my honor, and this terrible duty, whose [imperious] command is slaying me, compels me to exert myself [_lit._ labor or work] for thy destruction. For, in fine, do not expect from my affection any morbid [_lit._ cowardly] feelings as to thy punishment. However strongly my love may plead in thy favor, my steadfast courage must respond to thine. Even in offending me, thou hast proved thyself worthy of me; I must, by thy death, prove myself worthy of thee. _Don Rodrigo._ Defer, then, no longer that which honor commands. It demands my head [_or_, life], and I yield it to thee; make a sacrifice of it to this noble duty; the [death] stroke will be welcome [_lit._ sweet], as well as the doom. To await, after my crime, a tardy justice, is to defer thine honor as well as my punishment. I should die too happy in dying by so delightful a [death] blow! _Chimene._ Go [i.e. no]; I am thy prosecutor, and not thy executioner. If thou offerest me thine head, is it for me to take it; I ought to attack it, but thou oughtest to defend it. It is from another than thee that I must obtain it, and it is my duty [_lit._ I ought] to pursue thee, but not to punish thee. _Don Rodrigo._ However in my favor our love may plead, thy steadfast courage ought to correspond to mine; and to borrow other arms to avenge a father is, believe me, my Chimene, not the [method of] responding to it. My hand alone was fit [_lit._ has understood how] to avenge the insult offered to _my_ father; thy hand alone ought to take vengeance for thine. _Chimene._ O cruel! for what reason shouldst thou persevere on this point? Thou hast avenged thyself without aid, and dost thou wish to give me thine [aid]? I shall follow thy example; and I have too much courage to endure that my glory shall be divided with thee. My father and mine honor shall owe nothing to the dictates of thy love and of thy despair.