Athalie is a 1691 play, the final tragedy of Jean Racine, and has been described as the masterpiece of "one of the greatest literary artists known" and the "ripest work" of Racine's genius. It is referred to in Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary as the masterpiece of the French stage, and Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve deemed it comparable to Oedipus Rex in beauty, with "the true God added." August Wilhelm Schlegel thought Athalie to be "animated by divine breath"; other critics have regarded the poetics of drama in the play to be superior to those of Aristotle.
“Today, let us make haste to enjoy life. Who knows if we will be tomorrow?”
Hâtons-nous aujourd'hui de jouir de la vie. Qui sait si nous serons demain?
Athalie, act II, scene IX.
Athalie (1691)
“To repair the irreparable ravages of time.”
Pour réparer des ans l'irréparable outrage.
Athalie, act II, scene V (1691).
Athalie (1691)
“God of the Jews, you prevail!”
Dieu des Juifs, tu l'emportes!
Athalie, act V, scene VI.
Athalie (1691)
