---
title: "Medea · Μήδεια"
author: "Euripides"
translator: "Edward P. Coleridge"
title_ru: "Медея"
author_ru: "Еврипид"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 1 of 3
url: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-medea/1/
cite: "Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge, Medea · Μήδεια, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-medea/1/"
---

# Medea · Μήδεια

*Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge*

Russian: Медея, Еврипид

Abandoned by Jason in Corinth, Medea takes a terrible revenge.

> Greek: ed. Gilbert Murray, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0006.tlg003, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Edward P. Coleridge, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0006.tlg003.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 1. Lines 1–491

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-medea/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-medea/1/#p-N

[¶0] Scene.—Before the Palace of Creon at Corinth.
Nurse:
Ah! would to Heaven the good ship Argo ne’er had sped its course to the Colchian land through the misty blue Symplegades, nor ever in the glens of Pelion the pine been felled to furnish with oars the chieftain’s hands,
who went to fetch the golden fleece for Pelias; for then would my own mistress Medea never have sailed to the turrets of Iolcos, her soul with love for Jason smitten, nor would she have beguiled the daughters of Pelias
to slay their father and come to live here in the land of Corinth with her husband and children, where her exile found favour with the citizens to whose land she had come, and in all things of her own accord was she at one with Jason, the greatest safeguard this
when wife and husband do agree; but now their love is all turned to hate, and tenderest ties are weak. For Jason hath betrayed his own children and my mistress dear for the love of a royal bride, for he hath wedded the daughter of Creon, lord of this land.

> Greek: Τροφός:
Εἴθ’ ὤφελ’ Ἀργοῦς μὴ διαπτάσθαι σκάφος
Κόλχων ἐς αἶαν κυανέας Συμπληγάδας,
μηδ’ ἐν νάπαισι Πηλίου πεσεῖν ποτε
τμηθεῖσα πεύκη, μηδ’ ἐρετμῶσαι χέρας
ἀνδρῶν ἀρίστων, οἳ τὸ πάγχρυσον δέρας
Πελίᾳ μετῆλθον. οὐ γὰρ ἂν δέσποιν’ ἐμὴ
Μήδεια πύργους γῆς ἔπλευσ’ Ἰωλκίας
ἔρωτι θυμὸν ἐκπλαγεῖσ’ Ἰάσονος·
οὐδ’ ἂν κτανεῖν πείσασα Πελιάδας κόρας
πατέρα κατῴκει τήνδε γῆν Κορινθίαν
ξὺν ἀνδρὶ καὶ τέκνοισιν, ἁνδάνουσα μὲν
φυγῇ πολιτῶν ὧν ἀφίκετο χθόνα,
αὐτή τε πάντα ξυμφέρουσ’ Ἰάσονι·
ἥπερ μεγίστη γίγνεται σωτηρία,
ὅταν γυνὴ πρὸς ἄνδρα μὴ διχοστατῇ.
νῦν δ’ ἐχθρὰ πάντα, καὶ νοσεῖ τὰ φίλτατα.
προδοὺς γὰρ αὑτοῦ τέκνα δεσπότιν τ’ ἐμὴν
γάμοις Ἰάσων βασιλικοῖς εὐνάζεται,
γήμας Κρέοντος παῖδ’, ὃς αἰσύμνᾷ χθονός·

[¶1] While Medea his hapless wife, thus scorned, appeals to the oaths he swore, recalls the strong pledge his right hand gave, and bids heaven be witness what requital she is finding from Jason. And here she lies fasting, yielding her body to her grief,
wasting away in tears ever since she learnt that she was wronged by her husband, never lifting her eye nor raising her face from off the ground; and she lends as deaf an ear to her friend’s warning as if she were a rock or ocean billow, save when she turns her snow-white neck aside
and softly to herself bemoans her father dear, her country and her home, which she gave up to come hither with the man who now holds her in dishonour. She, poor lady, hath by sad experience learnt how good a thing it is
never to quit one’s native land. And she hates her children now and feels no joy at seeing them; I am afeard she may contrive some untoward scheme; for her mood is dangerous nor will she brook her cruel treatment; full well I know her, and I much do dread
that she will plunge the keen sword through their heart, stealing without a word into the chamber where their marriage couch is spread, or else that she will slay the prince and bridegroom too, and so find some calamity still more grievous than the present; for dreadful is her wrath;
verily the man that doth incur her hate will have no easy task to raise o’er her a song of triumph. Lo! where her sons come hither from their childish sports; little they reck of their mother’s woes, for the soul of the young is no inend to sorrow.

> Greek: Μήδεια δ’ ἡ δύστηνος ἠτιμασμένη
βοᾷ μὲν ὅρκους, ἀνακαλεῖ δὲ δεξιάς,
πίστιν μεγίστην, καὶ θεοὺς μαρτύρεται
οἵας ἀμοιβῆς ἐξ Ἰάσονος κυρεῖ.
κεῖται δ’ ἄσιτος, σῶμ’ ὑφεῖσ’ ἀλγηδόσι,
τὸν πάντα συντήκουσα δακρύοις χρόνον,
ἐπεὶ πρὸς ἀνδρὸς ᾔσθετ’ ἠδικημένη,
οὔτ’ ὄμμ’ ἐπαίρουσ’ οὔτ’ ἀπαλλάσσουσα γῆς
πρόσωπον· ὡς δὲ πέτρος ἢ θαλάσσιος
κλύδων ἀκούει νουθετουμένη φίλων·
ἢν μή ποτε στρέψασα πάλλευκον δέρην
αὐτὴ πρὸς αὑτὴν πατέρ’ ἀποιμώξῃ φίλον
καὶ γαῖαν οἴκους θ’, οὓς προδοῦσ’ ἀφίκετο
μετ’ ἀνδρὸς ὅς σφε νῦν ἀτιμάσας ἔχει.
ἔγνωκε δ’ ἡ τάλαινα συμφορᾶς ὕπο
οἷον πατρῴας μὴ ἀπολείπεσθαι χθονός.
στυγεῖ δὲ παῖδας οὐδ’ ὁρῶσ’ εὐφραίνεται.
δέδοικα δ’ αὐτὴν μή τι βουλεύσῃ νέον·
βαρεῖα γὰρ φρήν, οὐδ’ ἀνέξεται κακῶς
πάσχουσ’· ἐγᾦδα τήνδε, δειμαίνω τέ νιν
μὴ θηκτὸν ὤσῃ φάσγανον δι’ ἥπατος,
σιγῇ δόμους εἰσβᾶσ’, ἵν’ ἔστρωται λέχος,
ἢ καὶ τύραννον τόν τε γήμαντα κτάνῃ,
κἄπειτα μείζω συμφορὰν λάβῃ τινά.
δεινὴ γάρ· οὔτοι ῥᾳδίως γε συμβαλὼν
ἔχθραν τις αὐτῇ καλλίνικον οἴσεται.
ἀλλ’ οἵδε παῖδες ἐκ τρόχων πεπαυμένοι
στείχουσι, μητρὸς οὐδὲν ἐννοούμενοι
κακῶν· νέα γὰρ φροντὶς οὐκ ἀλγεῖν φιλεῖ.

[¶2] Attendant:
Why dost thou, so long my lady’s own handmaid,
stand here at the gate alone, loudly lamenting to thyself the piteous tale? how comes it that Medea will have thee leave her to herself?

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
παλαιὸν οἴκων κτῆμα δεσποίνης ἐμῆς,
τί πρὸς πύλαισι τήνδ’ ἄγουσ’ ἐρημίαν
ἕστηκας, αὐτὴ θρεομένη σαυτῇ κακά;
πῶς σοῦ μόνη Μήδεια λείπεσθαι θέλει;

[¶3] Nurse:
Old man, attendant on the sons of Jason, our masters’ fortunes when they go awry make good slaves grieve
and touch their hearts. Oh! I have come to such a pitch of grief that there stole a yearning wish upon me to come forth hither and proclaim to heaven and earth my mistress’s hard fate.

> Greek: Τροφός:
τέκνων ὀπαδὲ πρέσβυ τῶν Ἰάσονος,
χρηστοῖσι δούλοις ξυμφορὰ τὰ δεσποτῶν
κακῶς πίτνοντα, καὶ φρενῶν ἀνθάπτεται.
ἐγὼ γὰρ ἐς τοῦτ’ ἐκβέβηκ’ ἀλγηδόνος,
ὥσθ’ ἵμερός μ’ ὑπῆλθε γῇ τε κοὐρανῷ
λέξαι μολούσῃ δεῦρο δεσποίνης τύχας.

[¶4] Attendant:
What! has not the poor lady ceased yet from her lamentation?

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
οὔπω γὰρ ἡ τάλαινα παύεται γόων;

[¶5] Nurse:
Would I were as thou art! the mischief is but now beginning; it has not reached its climax yet.

> Greek: Τροφός:
ζηλῶ σ’· ἐν ἀρχῇ πῆμα κοὐδέπω μεσοῖ.

[¶6] Attendant:
O foolish one, if I may call my mistress such a name; how little she recks of evils yet more recent!

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
ὦ μῶρος—εἰ χρὴ δεσπότας εἰπεῖν τόδε·
ὡς οὐδὲν οἶδε τῶν νεωτέρων κακῶν.

[¶7] Nurse:
What mean’st, old man? grudge not to tell me.

> Greek: Τροφός:
τί δ’ ἔστιν, ὦ γεραιέ; μὴ φθόνει φράσαι.

[¶8] Attendant:’Tis naught; I do repent me even of the words I have spoken.

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
οὐδέν· μετέγνων καὶ τὰ πρόσθ’ εἰρημένα.

[¶9] Nurse:
Nay, by thy beard I conjure thee, hide it not from thy fellow-slave; I will be silent, if need be, on that text.

> Greek: Τροφός:
μή, πρὸς γενείου, κρύπτε σύνδουλον σέθεν·
σιγὴν γάρ, εἰ χρή, τῶνδε θήσομαι πέρι.

[¶10] Attendant:
I heard one say, pretending not to listen as I approached the place where our greybeards sit playing draughts near Pirene’s sacred spring,
that Creon, the ruler of this land, is bent on driving these children and their mother from the boundaries of Corinth; but I know not whether the news is to be relied upon, and would fain it were not.

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
ἤκουσά του λέγοντος, οὐ δοκῶν κλύειν,
πεσσοὺς προσελθών, ἔνθα δὴ παλαίτατοι
θάσσουσι, σεμνὸν ἀμφὶ Πειρήνης ὕδωρ,
ὡς τούσδε παῖδας γῆς ἐλᾶν Κορινθίας
σὺν μητρὶ μέλλοι τῆσδε κοίρανος χθονὸς
Κρέων. ὁ μέντοι μῦθος εἰ σαφὴς ὅδε
οὐκ οἶδα· βουλοίμην δ’ ἂν οὐκ εἶναι τόδε.

[¶11] Nurse:
What! will Jason brook such treatment of his sons,
even though he be at variance with their mother?

> Greek: Τροφός:
καὶ ταῦτ’ Ἰάσων παῖδας ἐξανέξεται
πάσχοντας, εἰ καὶ μητρὶ διαφορὰν ἔχει;

[¶12] Attendant:
Old ties give way to new; he bears no longer any love to this family.

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
παλαιὰ καινῶν λείπεται κηδευμάτων,
κοὐκ ἔστ’ ἐκεῖνος τοῖσδε δώμασιν φίλος.

[¶13] Nurse:
Undone, it seems, are we, if to old woes fresh ones we add, ere we have drained the former to the dregs.

> Greek: Τροφός:
ἀπωλόμεσθ’ ἄρ’, εἰ κακὸν προσοίσομεν
νέον παλαιῷ, πρὶν τόδ’ ἐξηντληκέναι.

[¶14] Attendant:
Hold thou thy peace, say not a word of this;’tis no time for our mistress to learn hereof.

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
ἀτὰρ σύ γ’—οὐ γὰρ καιρὸς εἰδέναι τόδε
δέσποιναν—ἡσύχαζε καὶ σίγα λόγον.

[¶15] Nurse:
O children, do ye hear how your father feels towards you? Perdition catch him, but no! he is my master still; yet is he proved a veiy traitor to his nearest and dearest.

> Greek: Τροφός:
ὦ τέκν’, ἀκούεθ’ οἷος εἰς ὑμᾶς πατήρ;
ὄλοιτο μὲν μή· δεσπότης γάρ ἐστ’ ἐμός·
ἀτὰρ κακός γ’ ὢν ἐς φίλους ἁλίσκεται.

[¶16] Attendant:
And who ’mongst men is not? Art learning only now, that every single man cares for himself more than for his neighbour, some from honest, motives, others for mere gain’s sake? seeing that to indulge his passion their father has ceased to love these children.

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
τίς δ’ οὐχὶ θνητῶν; ἄρτι γιγνώσκεις τόδε,
ὡς πᾶς τις αὑτὸν τοῦ πέλας μᾶλλον φιλεῖ,
οἳ μὲν δικαίως, οἳ δὲ καὶ κέρδους χάριν,
εἰ τούσδε γ’ εὐνῆς οὕνεκ’ οὐ στέργει πατήρ.

[¶17] Nurse:
Go, children, within the house; all will be well.

> Greek: Τροφός:
ἴτ’—εὖ γὰρ ἔσται—δωμάτων ἔσω, τέκνα.

[¶18] Do thou keep them as far away as may be, and bring them not near their mother in her evil hour. For ere this have I seen her eyeing them savagely, as though she were minded to do them some hurt, and well I know she will not cease from her fury till she have pounced on some victim.

> Greek: σὺ δ’ ὡς μάλιστα τούσδ’ ἐρημώσας ἔχε
καὶ μὴ πέλαζε μητρὶ δυσθυμουμένῃ.
ἤδη γὰρ εἶδον ὄμμα νιν ταυρουμένην
τοῖσδ’, ὥς τι δρασείουσαν· οὐδὲ παύσεται
χόλου, σάφ’ οἶδα, πρὶν κατασκῆψαί τινα...

[¶19] At least may she turn her hand against her foes, and not against her friends.
Medea:
(within). Ah, me! a wretched suffering woman I! O would that I could die!

> Greek: ἐχθρούς γε μέντοι, μὴ φίλους, δράσειέ τι.
⟨
Μήδεια: ἔνδοθεν⟩
ἰώ,
δύστανος ἐγὼ μελέα τε πόνων,
ἰώ μοί μοι, πῶς ἂν ὀλοίμαν;

[¶20] Nurse:’Tis as I said, my dear children; wild fancies stir your mother’s heart, wild fury goads her on.

> Greek: Τροφός:
τόδ’ ἐκεῖνο, φίλοι παῖδες· μήτηρ
κινεῖ κραδίαν, κινεῖ δὲ χόλον.

[¶21] Into the house without delay, come not near her eye, approach her not, beware her savage mood, the fell tempest of her reckless heart.
In, in with what speed ye may. For ’tis plain she will soon redouble her fury; that cry is but the herald of the gathering storm-cloud whose lightning soon will flash; what will her proud restless
soul, in the anguish of despair, be guilty of? [Exit Attendant with the children.

> Greek: σπεύσατε θᾶσσον δώματος εἴσω
καὶ μὴ πελάσητ’ ὄμματος ἐγγύς,
μηδὲ προσέλθητ’, ἀλλὰ φυλάσσεσθ’
ἄγριον ἦθος στυγεράν τε φύσιν
φρενὸς αὐθάδους.—
ἴτε νῦν, χωρεῖθ’ ὡς τάχος εἴσω.—
δῆλον δ’ ἀρχῆς ἐξαιρόμενον
νέφος οἰμωγῆς ὡς τάχ’ ἀνάψει
μείζονι θυμῷ· τί ποτ’ ἐργάσεται
μεγαλόσπλαγχνος δυσκατάπαυστος
ψυχὴ δηχθεῖσα κακοῖσιν;

[¶22] Medea:
(within). Ah, me! the agony I have suffered, deep enough to call for these laments! Curse you and your father too, ye children damned, sons of a doomed mother! Ruin seize the whole family!

> Greek: Μήδεια:
αἰαῖ,
ἔπαθον τλάμων ἔπαθον μεγάλων
ἄξι’ ὀδυρμῶν· ὦ κατάρατοι
παῖδες ὄλοισθε στυγερᾶς ματρὸς
σὺν πατρί, καὶ πᾶς δόμος ἔρροι.

[¶23] Nurse:
Ah me! ah me! the pity of it! Why, pray, do thy children share their father’s crime? Why hatest thou them? Woe is you, poor children, how do I grieve for you lest ye suffer some outrage! Strange are the tempers of princes,
and maybe because they seldom have to obey, and mostly lord it over others, change they their moods with difficulty.’Tis better then to have been trained to live on equal terms. Be it mine to reach old age, not in proud pomp, but in security!

> Greek: Τροφός:
ἰώ μοί μοι, ἰὼ τλήμων.
τί δέ σοι παῖδες πατρὸς ἀμπλακίας
μετέχουσι; τί τούσδ’ ἔχθεις; οἴμοι,
τέκνα, μή τι πάθηθ’ ὡς ὑπεραλγῶ.
δεινὰ τυράννων λήματα καί πως
ὀλίγ’ ἀρχόμενοι, πολλὰ κρατοῦντες
χαλεπῶς ὀργὰς μεταβάλλουσιν.
τὸ γὰρ εἰθίσθαι ζῆν ἐπ’ ἴσοισιν
κρεῖσσον· ἐμοὶ γοῦν ἐν μὴ μεγάλοις
ὀχυρῶς γ’ εἴη καταγηράσκειν.

[¶24] Moderation wins the day first as a better word for men to use, and likewise it is far the best course for them to pursue; but greatness that doth o’erreach itself, brings no blessing to mortal men; but pays a penalty of greater ruin whenever
fortune is wroth with a family.

> Greek: τῶν γὰρ μετρίων πρῶτα μὲν εἰπεῖν
τοὔνομα νικᾷ, χρῆσθαί τε μακρῷ
λῷστα βροτοῖσιν· τὰ δ’ ὑπερβάλλοντ’
οὐδένα καιρὸν δύναται θνητοῖς·
μείζους δ’ ἄτας, ὅταν ὀργισθῇ
δαίμων οἴκοις, ἀπέδωκεν.

[¶25] Chorus:
I heard the voice, uplifted loud, of our poor Colchian lady, nor yet is she quiet; speak, aged dame,
for as I stood by the house with double gates I heard a voice of weeping from within, and I do grieve, lady, for the sorrows of this house, for it hath won my love.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔκλυον φωνάν, ἔκλυον δὲ βοὰν
τᾶς δυστάνου Κολχίδος, οὐδέ πω
ἤπιος· ἀλλ’ ὦ γηραιά,
λέξον· ἐπ’ ἀμφιπύλου γὰρ ἔσω μελάθρου βοὰν
ἔκλυον· οὐδὲ συνήδομαι, ὦ γύναι, ἄλγεσιν
δώματος· ἐπεί μοι φίλον κέκρανται.

[¶26] Nurse:’Tis a house no more; all that is passed away long since;

> Greek: Τροφός:
οὐκ εἰσὶ δόμοι· φροῦδα τάδ’ ἤδη.

[¶27] a royal bride keeps Jason at her side, while our mistress pines away in her bower, finding no comfort for her soul in aught her friends can say.

> Greek: τὸν μὲν γὰρ ἔχει λέκτρα τυράννων,
ἃ δ’ ἐν θαλάμοις τάκει βιοτὰν
δέσποινα, φίλων οὐδενὸς οὐδὲν
παραθαλπομένα φρένα μύθοις.

[¶28] Medea:
(within). Oh, oh! Would that Heaven’s levin bolt would cleave this head in twain!
What gain is life to me? Woe, woe is me! O, to die and win release, quitting this loathed existence!

> Greek: Μήδεια:
αἰαῖ· ⟨ὦ Ζεῦ καὶ Γᾶ καὶ Φῶς·⟩
διά μου κεφαλᾶς φλὸξ οὐρανία
βαίη· τί δέ μοι ζῆν ἔτι κέρδος;
φεῦ φεῦ· θανάτῳ καταλυσαίμαν
βιοτὰν στυγερὰν προλιποῦσα.

[¶29] Chorus:
Didst hear, O Zeus, thou earth, and thou, O light, the piteous note of woe
the hapless wife is uttering? How shall a yearning for that insatiate resting-place ever hasten for thee, poor reckless one, the end that death alone can bring? Never pray for that.

> Greek: Χορός:
—ἄιες· ὦ Ζεῦ καὶ γᾶ καὶ φῶς·
ἀχὰν οἵαν ἁ δύστανος
μέλπει νύμφα;
—τίς σοί ποτε τᾶς ἀπλάτου
κοίτας ἔρος, ὦ ματαία;
σπεύσει θανάτου τελευτά·
μηδὲν τόδε λίσσου.

[¶30] And if thy lord prefers a fresh love, be not angered with him for that; Zeus will judge ’twixt thee and him herein. Then mourn not for thy husband’s loss too much, nor waste thyself away.

> Greek: —εἰ δὲ σὸς πόσις
καινὰ λέχη σεβίζει,
κείνῳ τόδε· μὴ χαράσσου·
—Ζεύς σοι τάδε συνδικήσει. μὴ λίαν
τάκου δυρομένα σὸν εὐνάταν.

[¶31] Medea:
(within). Great Themis, and husband of Themis, behold what I am suffering now, though I did bind that accursed one, my husband, by strong oaths to me? O, to see him and his bride some day brought to utter destruction, they and their house with them,
for that they presume to wrong me thus unprovoked. O my father, my country, that I have left to my shame, after slaying my own brother.

> Greek: Μήδεια:
ὦ μεγάλα Θέμι καὶ πότνι’ Ἄρτεμι
λεύσσεθ’ ἃ πάσχω, μεγάλοις ὅρκοις
ἐνδησαμένα τὸν κατάρατον
πόσιν; ὅν ποτ’ ἐγὼ νύμφαν τ’ ἐσίδοιμ’
αὐτοῖς μελάθροις διακναιομένους,
οἷ’ ἐμὲ πρόσθεν τολμῶσ’ ἀδικεῖν.
ὦ πάτερ, ὦ πόλις, ὧν ἀπενάσθην
αἰσχρῶς τὸν ἐμὸν κτείνασα κάσιν.

[¶32] Nurse:
Do ye hear her words, how loudly she adjures Themis, oft invoked, and Zeus, whom
men regard as keeper of their oaths? On no mere trifle surely will our mistress spend her rage.

> Greek: Τροφός:
κλύεθ’ οἷα λέγει κἀπιβοᾶται
Θέμιν εὐκταίαν Ζῆνά θ’, ὃς ὅρκων
θνητοῖς ταμίας νενόμισται;
οὐκ ἔστιν ὅπως ἔν τινι μικρῷ
δέσποινα χόλον καταπαύσει.

[¶33] Chorus:
Would that she would come forth for us to see, and
listen to the words of counsel we might give, if haply she might lay aside the fierce fury of her wrath, and her temper stern. Never be my zeal at any rate denied my friends!

> Greek: Χορός:
—πῶς ἂν ἐς ὄψιν τὰν ἁμετέραν
ἔλθοι μύθων τ’ αὐδαθέντων
δέξαιτ’ ὀμφάν;
—εἴ πως βαρύθυμον ὀργὰν
καὶ λῆμα φρενῶν μεθείη,
μήτοι τό γ’ ἐμὸν πρόθυμον
φίλοισιν ἀπέστω.

[¶34] But go thou and bring her hither outside the house, and tell her this our friendly thought; haste thee ere she do some mischief to those inside the house, for this sorrow of hers is mounting high.

> Greek: —ἀλλὰ βᾶσά νιν
δεῦρο πόρευσον οἴκων
ἔξω· φίλα καὶ τάδ’ αὔδα.
—σπεῦσον πρίν τι κακῶσαι τοὺς εἴσω·
πένθος γὰρ μεγάλως τόδ’ ὁρμᾶται.

[¶35] Nurse:
This will I do; but I have my doubts whether I shall persuade
my mistress; still willingly will I undertake this trouble for you; albeit, she glares upon her servants with the look of a lioness with cubs, whenso anyone draws nigh to speak to her.

> Greek: Τροφός:
δράσω τάδ’· ἀτὰρ φόβος εἰ πείσω
δέσποιναν ἐμήν·
μόχθου δὲ χάριν τήνδ’ ἐπιδώσω.
καίτοι τοκάδος δέργμα λεαίνης
ἀποταυροῦται δμωσίν, ὅταν τις
μῦθον προφέρων πέλας ὁρμηθῇ.

[¶36] Wert thou to call the men of old time rude uncultured boors thou wouldst not err, seeing that they devised their hymns for festive occasions, for banquets, and to grace the board, a pleasure to catch the ear, shed o’er our life,
but no man hath found a way to allay hated grief by music and the minstrel’s varied strain, whence arise slaughters and fell strokes of fate to o’erthrow the homes of men. And yet this were surely a gain,
to heal men’s wounds by music’s spell, but why tune they their idle song where rich banquets are spread? for of itself doth the rich banquet, set before them, afford to men delight.

> Greek: σκαιοὺς δὲ λέγων κοὐδέν τι σοφοὺς
τοὺς πρόσθε βροτοὺς οὐκ ἂν ἁμάρτοις,
οἵτινες ὕμνους ἐπὶ μὲν θαλίαις
ἐπί τ’ εἰλαπίναις καὶ παρὰ δείπνοις
ηὕροντο βίου τερπνὰς ἀκοάς·
στυγίους δὲ βροτῶν οὐδεὶς λύπας
ηὕρετο μούσῃ καὶ πολυχόρδοις
ᾠδαῖς παύειν, ἐξ ὧν θάνατοι
δειναί τε τύχαι σφάλλουσι δόμους.
καίτοι τάδε μὲν κέρδος ἀκεῖσθαι
μολπαῖσι βροτούς· ἵνα δ’ εὔδειπνοι
δαῖτες, τί μάτην τείνουσι βοήν;
τὸ παρὸν γὰρ ἔχει τέρψιν ἀφ’ αὑτοῦ
δαιτὸς πλήρωμα βροτοῖσιν.

[¶37] Chorus:
I heard a bitter cry of lamentation!
loudly, bitterly she calls on the traitor of her marriage bed, her perfidious spouse; by grievous wrongs oppressed she invokes Themis, bride of Zeus, witness of oaths, who brought her
unto Hellas, the land that fronts the strand of Asia, o’er the sea by night through ocean’s boundless gate.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰαχὰν ἄιον πολύστονον γόων,
λιγυρὰ δ’ ἄχεα μογερὰ βοᾷ
τὸν ἐν λέχει προδόταν κακόνυμφον·
θεοκλυτεῖ δ’ ἄδικα παθοῦσα
τὰν Ζηνὸς ὁρκίαν Θέμιν,
ἅ νιν ἔβασεν
Ἑλλάδ’ ἐς ἀντίπορον
δι’ ἅλα νύχιον ἐφ’ ἁλμυρὰν
πόντου κλῇδ’ ἀπέραντον.

[¶38] Medea:
From the house I have come forth, Corinthian ladies,
for fear lest you be blaming me; for well I know that amongst men many by showing pride have gotten them an ill name and a reputation for indifference, both those who shun men’s gaze and those who move amid the stranger crowd, and likewise they who choose a quiet walk in life. For there is no just discernment in the eyes of men,
for they, or ever they have surely learnt their neighbour’s heart, loathe him at first sight, though never wronged by him; and so a stranger most of all should adopt a city’s views; nor do I commend that citizen, who, in the stubbornness of his heart, from churlishness resents the city’s will.

> Greek: Μήδεια:
Κορίνθιαι γυναῖκες, ἐξῆλθον δόμων,
μή μοί τι μέμφησθ’· οἶδα γὰρ πολλοὺς βροτῶν
σεμνοὺς γεγῶτας, τοὺς μὲν ὀμμάτων ἄπο,
τοὺς δ’ ἐν θυραίοις· οἱ δ’ ἀφ’ ἡσύχου ποδὸς
δύσκλειαν ἐκτήσαντο καὶ ῥᾳθυμίαν.
δίκη γὰρ οὐκ ἔνεστ’ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς βροτῶν,
ὅστις πρὶν ἀνδρὸς σπλάγχνον ἐκμαθεῖν σαφῶς
στυγεῖ δεδορκώς, οὐδὲν ἠδικημένος....
χρὴ δὲ ξένον μὲν κάρτα προσχωρεῖν πόλει...
οὐδ’ ἀστὸν ᾔνεσ’ ὅστις αὐθάδης γεγὼς
πικρὸς πολίταις ἐστὶν ἀμαθίας ὕπο.

[¶39] But on me hath fallen this unforeseen disaster, and sapped my life; ruined I am, and long to resign the boon of existence, kind friends, and die. For he who was all the world to me, as well thou knowest, hath turned out the veriest villain, my own husband.

> Greek: ἐμοὶ δ’ ἄελπτον πρᾶγμα προσπεσὸν τόδε
ψυχὴν διέφθαρκ’· οἴχομαι δὲ καὶ βίου
χάριν μεθεῖσα κατθανεῖν χρῄζω, φίλαι.
ἐν ᾧ γὰρ ἦν μοι πάντα γιγνώσκειν καλῶς,
κάκιστος ἀνδρῶν ἐκβέβηχ’ οὑμὸς πόσις.

[¶40] Of all things that have life and sense we women are the most hapless creatures; first must we buy a husband at an exorbitant price, and o’er ourselves a tyrant set which is an evil worse than the first;

> Greek: πάντων δ’ ὅσ’ ἔστ’ ἔμψυχα καὶ γνώμην ἔχει
γυναῖκές ἐσμεν ἀθλιώτατον φυτόν·
ἃς πρῶτα μὲν δεῖ χρημάτων ὑπερβολῇ
πόσιν πρίασθαι, δεσπότην τε σώματος
λαβεῖν· κακοῦ γὰρ τοῦτ’ ἔτ’ ἄλγιον κακόν.

[¶41] and herein lies the most important issue, whether our choice be good or bad. For divorce is discreditable to women, nor can we disown our lords. Next must the wife, coming as she does to ways and customs new, since she hath not learnt the lesson in her home, have a diviner’s eye to see
how best to treat the partner of her life. If haply we perform these tasks with thoroughness and tact, and the husband live with us, without resenting the yoke, our life is a happy one; if not,’twere best to die. But when a man is vexed with what he finds indoors,
he goeth forth and rids his soul of its disgust, betaking him to some friend or comrade of like age; whilst we must needs regard his single self.
And yet they say we live secure at home, while they are at the wars,
with their sorry reasoning, for I would gladly take my stand in battle array three times o’er, than once give birth.

> Greek: κἀν τῷδ’ ἀγὼν μέγιστος, ἢ κακὸν λαβεῖν
ἢ χρηστόν. οὐ γὰρ εὐκλεεῖς ἀπαλλαγαὶ
γυναιξίν, οὐδ’ οἷόν τ’ ἀνήνασθαι πόσιν.
ἐς καινὰ δ’ ἤθη καὶ νόμους ἀφιγμένην
δεῖ μάντιν εἶναι, μὴ μαθοῦσαν οἴκοθεν,
ὅτῳ μάλιστα χρήσεται ξυνευνέτῃ.
κἂν μὲν τάδ’ ἡμῖν ἐκπονουμέναισιν εὖ
πόσις ξυνοικῇ μὴ βίᾳ φέρων ζυγόν,
ζηλωτὸς αἰών· εἰ δὲ μή, θανεῖν χρεών.
ἀνὴρ δ’, ὅταν τοῖς ἔνδον ἄχθηται ξυνών,
ἔξω μολὼν ἔπαυσε καρδίαν ἄσης·
[ἢ πρὸς φίλον τιν’ ἢ πρὸς ἥλικα τραπείς·]
ἡμῖν δ’ ἀνάγκη πρὸς μίαν ψυχὴν βλέπειν.
λέγουσι δ’ ἡμᾶς ὡς ἀκίνδυνον βίον
ζῶμεν κατ’ οἴκους, οἳ δὲ μάρνανται δορί·
κακῶς φρονοῦντες· ὡς τρὶς ἂν παρ’ ἀσπίδα
στῆναι θέλοιμ’ ἂν μᾶλλον ἢ τεκεῖν ἅπαξ.

[¶42] But enough! this language suits not thee as it does me; thou hast a city here, a father’s house, some joy in life, and friends to share thy thoughts,
but I am destitute, without a city, and therefore scorned by my husband, a captive I from a foreign shore, with no mother, brother, or kinsman in whom to find a new haven of refuge from this calamity. Wherefore this one boon and only this I wish to win from thee,—
thy silence, if haply I can some way or means devise to avenge me on my husband for this cruel treatment, and on the man who gave to him his daughter, and on her who is his wife. For though a woman be timorous enough in all else, and as regards courage, a coward at the mere sight of steel,
yet in the moment she finds her honour wronged, no heart is filled with deadlier thoughts than hers.

> Greek: ἀλλ’ οὐ γὰρ αὑτὸς πρὸς σὲ κἄμ’ ἥκει λόγος·
σοὶ μὲν πόλις θ’ ἥδ’ ἐστὶ καὶ πατρὸς δόμοι
βίου τ’ ὄνησις καὶ φίλων συνουσία,
ἐγὼ δ’ ἔρημος ἄπολις οὖσ’ ὑβρίζομαι
πρὸς ἀνδρός, ἐκ γῆς βαρβάρου λελῃσμένη,
οὐ μητέρ’, οὐκ ἀδελφόν, οὐχὶ συγγενῆ
μεθορμίσασθαι τῆσδ’ ἔχουσα συμφορᾶς.
τοσοῦτον οὖν σου τυγχάνειν βουλήσομαι,
ἤν μοι πόρος τις μηχανή τ’ ἐξευρεθῇ
πόσιν δίκην τῶνδ’ ἀντιτείσασθαι κακῶν,
[τὸν δόντα τ’ αὐτῷ θυγατέρ’ ἥ τ’ ἐγήματο]
σιγᾶν. γυνὴ γὰρ τἄλλα μὲν φόβου πλέα
κακή τ’ ἐς ἀλκὴν καὶ σίδηρον εἰσορᾶν·
ὅταν δ’ ἐς εὐνὴν ἠδικημένη κυρῇ,
οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλη φρὴν μιαιφονωτέρα.

[¶43] Chorus:
This will I do; for thou wilt be taking a just vengeance on thy husband, Medea. That thou shouldst mourn thy lot surprises me not. But lo! I see Creon, king of this land coming hither,
to announce some new resolve.

> Greek: Χορός:
δράσω τάδ’· ἐνδίκως γὰρ ἐκτείσῃ πόσιν,
Μήδεια. πενθεῖν δ’ οὔ σε θαυμάζω τύχας.
ὁρῶ δὲ καὶ Κρέοντα, τῆσδ’ ἄνακτα γῆς,
στείχοντα, καινῶν ἄγγελον βουλευμάτων.

[¶44] Creon:
Hark thee, Medea, I bid thee take those sullen looks and angry thoughts against thy husband forth from this land in exile, and with thee take both thy children and that without delay, for I am judge in this sentence,
and I will not return unto my house till I banish thee beyond the borders of the land.

> Greek: Κρέων:
σὲ τὴν σκυθρωπὸν καὶ πόσει θυμουμένην,
Μήδειαν, εἶπον τῆσδε γῆς ἔξω περᾶν
φυγάδα, λαβοῦσαν δισσὰ σὺν σαυτῇ τέκνα·
καὶ μή τι μέλλειν· ὡς ἐγὼ βραβεὺς λόγου
τοῦδ’ εἰμί, κοὐκ ἄπειμι πρὸς δόμους πάλιν,
πρὶν ἄν σε γαίας τερμόνων ἔξω βάλω.

[¶45] Medea:
Ah, me! now is utter destruction come upon me, unhappy that I am! For my enemies are bearing down on me full sail, nor have I any landing-place to come at in my trouble.

> Greek: Μήδεια:
αἰαῖ· πανώλης ἡ τάλαιν’ ἀπόλλυμαι.
ἐχθροὶ γὰρ ἐξιᾶσι πάντα δὴ κάλων,
κοὐκ ἔστιν ἄτης εὐπρόσοιστος ἔκβασις.

[¶46] Yet for all my wretched plight I will ask thee, Creon, wherefore dost thou drive me from the land?

> Greek: ἐρήσομαι δὲ καὶ κακῶς πάσχουσ’ ὅμως·
τίνος μ’ ἕκατι γῆς ἀποστέλλεις, Κρέον;

[¶47] Creon:
I fear thee,—no longer need I veil my dread ’neath words,—lest thou devise against my child some cureless ill. Many things contribute to this fear of mine;

> Greek: Κρέων:
δέδοικά σ’—οὐδὲν δεῖ παραμπίσχειν λόγους—
μή μοί τι δράσῃς παῖδ’ ἀνήκεστον κακόν.
συμβάλλεται δὲ πολλὰ τοῦδε δείματος·

[¶48] thou art a witch by nature, expert in countless sorceries, and thou art chafing for the loss of thy husband’s affection. I hear, too, so they tell me, that thou dost threaten the father of the bride, her husband, and herself with some mischief; wherefore I will take precautions ere our troubles come.

> Greek: σοφὴ πέφυκας καὶ κακῶν πολλῶν ἴδρις,
λυπῇ δὲ λέκτρων ἀνδρὸς ἐστερημένη.
κλύω δ’ ἀπειλεῖν σ’, ὡς ἀπαγγέλλουσί μοι,
τὸν δόντα καὶ γήμαντα καὶ γαμουμένην
δράσειν τι. ταῦτ’ οὖν πρὶν παθεῖν φυλάξομαι.

[¶49] For ’tis better for me to incur thy hatred now, lady, than to soften my heart and bitterly repent it hereafter.

> Greek: κρεῖσσον δέ μοι νῦν πρός σ’ ἀπεχθέσθαι, γύναι,
ἢ μαλθακισθένθ’ ὕστερον μέγα στένειν.

[¶50] Medea:
Alas! this is not now the first time, but oft before, O Creon, hath my reputation injured me and caused sore mischief. Wherefore whoso is wise in his generation ought
never to have his children taught to be too clever; for besides the reputation they get for idleness, they purchase bitter odium from the citizens. For if thou shouldst import new learning amongst dullards, thou will be thought a useless trifler, void of knowledge;

> Greek: Μήδεια:
φεῦ φεῦ.
οὐ νῦν με πρῶτον, ἀλλὰ πολλάκις, Κρέον,
ἔβλαψε δόξα μεγάλα τ’ εἴργασται κακά.
χρὴ δ’ οὔποθ’ ὅστις ἀρτίφρων πέφυκ’ ἀνὴρ
παῖδας περισσῶς ἐκδιδάσκεσθαι σοφούς·
χωρὶς γὰρ ἄλλης ἧς ἔχουσιν ἀργίας
φθόνον πρὸς ἀστῶν ἀλφάνουσι δυσμενῆ.
σκαιοῖσι μὲν γὰρ καινὰ προσφέρων σοφὰ
δόξεις ἀχρεῖος κοὐ σοφὸς πεφυκέναι·

[¶51] while if thy fame in the city o’ertops that of the pretenders to cunning knowledge, thou wilt win their dislike. I too myself share in this ill-luck. Some think me clever and hate me, [others say I am too reserved, and some the very reverse];
others find me hard to please and not so very clever after all. Be that as it may, thou dost fear me lest I bring on thee something to mar thy harmony. Fear me not, Creon, ray position scarce is such that I should seek to quarrel with princes. Why should I, for how hast thou injured me? Thou hast betrothed thy daughter
where thy fancy prompted thee. No,’tis my husband I hate, though I doubt not thou hast acted wisely herein. And now I grudge not thy prosperity; betroth thy child, good luck to thee, but let me abide in this land, for though I have been wronged
I will be still and yield to my superiors.

> Greek: τῶν δ’ αὖ δοκούντων εἰδέναι τι ποικίλον
κρείσσων νομισθεὶς ἐν πόλει λυπρὸς φανῇ.
ἐγὼ δὲ καὐτὴ τῆσδε κοινωνῶ τύχης.
σοφὴ γὰρ οὖσα, τοῖς μέν εἰμ’ ἐπίφθονος,
τοῖς δ’ ἡσυχαία, τοῖς δὲ θατέρου τρόπου,
τοῖς δ’ αὖ προσάντης· εἰμὶ δ’ οὐκ ἄγαν σοφή.
σὺ δ’ οὖν φοβῇ με· μὴ τί πλημμελὲς πάθῃς;
οὐχ ὧδ’ ἔχει μοι—μὴ τρέσῃς ἡμᾶς, Κρέον—
ὥστ’ ἐς τυράννους ἄνδρας ἐξαμαρτάνειν.
σὺ γὰρ τί μ’ ἠδίκηκας; ἐξέδου κόρην
ὅτῳ σε θυμὸς ἦγεν. ἀλλ’ ἐμὸν πόσιν
μισῶ· σὺ δ’, οἶμαι, σωφρονῶν ἔδρας τάδε.
καὶ νῦν τὸ μὲν σὸν οὐ φθονῶ καλῶς ἔχειν·
νυμφεύετ’, εὖ πράσσοιτε· τήνδε δὲ χθόνα
ἐᾶτέ μ’ οἰκεῖν. καὶ γὰρ ἠδικημένοι
σιγησόμεσθα, κρεισσόνων νικώμενοι.

[¶52] Creon:
Thy words are soft to hear, but much I dread lest thou art devising some mischief in thy heart, and less than ever do I trust thee now; for a cunning woman, and man likewise,
is easier to guard against when quick-tempered than when taciturn. Nay, begone at once! speak me no speeches, for this is decreed, nor hast thou any art whereby thou shalt abide amongst us, since thou hatest me.

> Greek: Κρέων:
λέγεις ἀκοῦσαι μαλθάκ’, ἀλλ’ ἔσω φρενῶν
ὀρρωδία μοι μή τι βουλεύσῃς κακόν,
τόσῳ δέ γ’ ἧσσον ἢ πάρος πέποιθά σοι·
γυνὴ γὰρ ὀξύθυμος, ὡς δ’ αὔτως ἀνήρ,
ῥᾴων φυλάσσειν ἢ σιωπηλὸς σοφός.
ἀλλ’ ἔξιθ’ ὡς τάχιστα, μὴ λόγους λέγε·
ὡς ταῦτ’ ἄραρε, κοὐκ ἔχεις τέχνην ὅπως
μενεῖς παρ’ ἡμῖν οὖσα δυσμενὴς ἐμοί.

[¶53] Medea:
O, say not so! by thy knees and by thy daughter newly-wed, I do implore!

> Greek: Μήδεια:
μή, πρός σε γονάτων τῆς τε νεογάμου κόρης.

[¶54] Creon:
Thou wastest words; thou wilt never persuade me.

> Greek: Κρέων:
λόγους ἀναλοῖς· οὐ γὰρ ἂν πείσαις ποτέ.

[¶55] Medea:
What, wilt thou banish me, and to my prayers no pity yield?

> Greek: Μήδεια:
ἀλλ’ ἐξελᾷς με κοὐδὲν αἰδέσῃ λιτάς;

[¶56] Creon:
I will, for I love not thee above my own family.

> Greek: Κρέων:
φιλῶ γὰρ οὐ σὲ μᾶλλον ἢ δόμους ἐμούς.

[¶57] Medea:
O my country! what fond memories I have of thee in this hour!

> Greek: Μήδεια:
ὦ πατρίς, ὥς σου κάρτα νῦν μνείαν ἔχω.

[¶58] Creon:
Yea, for I myself love my city best of all things save my children.

> Greek: Κρέων:
πλὴν γὰρ τέκνων ἔμοιγε φίλτατον πολύ.

[¶59] Medea:
Ah me! ah me! to mortal man how dread a scourge is love!

> Greek: Μήδεια:
φεῦ φεῦ, βροτοῖς ἔρωτες ὡς κακὸν μέγα.

[¶60] Creon:
That, I deem, is according to the turn our fortunes take.

> Greek: Κρέων:
ὅπως ἄν, οἶμαι, καὶ παραστῶσιν τύχαι.

[¶61] Medea:
O Zeus! let not the author of these my troubles escape thee.

> Greek: Μήδεια:
Ζεῦ, μὴ λάθοι σε τῶνδ’ ὃς αἴτιος κακῶν.

[¶62] Creon:
Begone, thou silly woman, and free me from my toil.

> Greek: Κρέων:
ἕρπ’, ὦ ματαία, καί μ’ ἀπάλλαξον πόνων.

[¶63] Medea:
The toil is mine, no lack of it.

> Greek: Μήδεια:
πονοῦμεν ἡμεῖς κοὐ πόνων κεχρήμεθα.

[¶64] Creon:
Soon wilt thou be thrust out forcibly by the hand of servants.

> Greek: Κρέων:
τάχ’ ἐξ ὀπαδῶν χειρὸς ὠσθήσῃ βίᾳ.

[¶65] Medea:
Not that, not that, I do entreat thee, Creon!

> Greek: Μήδεια:
μὴ δῆτα τοῦτό γ’, ἀλλά σ’ αἰτοῦμαι, Κρέον...

[¶66] Creon:
Thou wilt cause disturbance yet, it seems.

> Greek: Κρέων:
ὄχλον παρέξεις, ὡς ἔοικας, ὦ γύναι.

[¶67] Medea:
I will begone; I ask thee not this boon to grant.

> Greek: Μήδεια:
φευξούμεθ’· οὐ τοῦθ’ ἱκέτευσα σοῦ τυχεῖν.

[¶68] Creon:
Why then this violence? why dost thou not depart?

> Greek: Κρέων:
τί δαὶ βιάζῃ κοὐκ ἀπαλλάσσῃ χερός;

[¶69] Medea:
Suffer me to abide this single day and devise some plan for the manner of my exile, and means of living for my children, since their father cares not to provide his babes therewith. Then pity them; thou too hast children of thine own;
thou needs must have a kindly heart. For my own lot I care naught, though I an exile am, but for those babes I weep, that they should learn what sorrow means.

> Greek: Μήδεια:
μίαν με μεῖναι τήνδ’ ἔασον ἡμέραν
καὶ ξυμπερᾶναι φροντίδ’ ᾗ φευξούμεθα,
παισίν τ’ ἀφορμὴν τοῖς ἐμοῖς, ἐπεὶ πατὴρ
οὐδὲν προτιμᾷ μηχανήσασθαι τέκνοις.
οἴκτιρε δ’ αὐτούς· καὶ σύ τοι παίδων πατὴρ
πέφυκας· εἰκὸς δ’ ἐστὶν εὔνοιάν σ’ ἔχειν.
τοὐμοῦ γὰρ οὔ μοι φροντίς, εἰ φευξούμεθα,
κείνους δὲ κλαίω συμφορᾷ κεχρημένους.

[¶70] Creon:
Mine is a nature anything but harsh; full oft by showing pity have I suffered shipwreck;

> Greek: Κρέων:
ἥκιστα τοὐμὸν λῆμ’ ἔφυ τυραννικόν,
αἰδούμενος δὲ πολλὰ δὴ διέφθορα·

[¶71] and now albeit I clearly see my error, yet shalt thou gain this request, lady; but I do forewarn thee, if to-morrow’s rising sun shall find thee and thy children within the borders of this land, thou diest; my word is spoken and it will not lie.

> Greek: καὶ νῦν ὁρῶ μὲν ἐξαμαρτάνων, γύναι,
ὅμως δὲ τεύξῃ τοῦδε· προυννέπω δέ σοι,
εἴ σ’ ἡ ’πιοῦσα λαμπὰς ὄψεται θεοῦ
καὶ παῖδας ἐντὸς τῆσδε τερμόνων χθονός,
θανῇ· λέλεκται μῦθος ἀψευδὴς ὅδε.

[¶72] So now, if abide thou must, stay this one day only, for in it thou canst not do any of the fearful deeds I dread.

> Greek: νῦν δ’, εἰ μένειν δεῖ, μίμν’ ἐφ’ ἡμέραν μίαν·
οὐ γάρ τι δράσεις δεινὸν ὧν φόβος μ’ ἔχει.

[¶73] Chorus:
Ah! poor lady, woe is thee! Alas, for thy sorrows! Whither wilt thou turn? What protection,
what home or country to save thee from thy troubles wilt thou find? O Medea, in what a hopeless sea of misery heaven hath plunged thee!

> Greek: Χορός:
[δύστανε γύναι,]
φεῦ φεῦ, μελέα τῶν σῶν ἀχέων.
ποῖ ποτε τρέψῃ; τίνα πρὸς ξενίαν;
ἦ δόμον ἢ χθόνα σωτῆρα κακῶν
ἐξευρήσεις;
ὡς εἰς ἄπορόν σε κλύδωνα θεός,
Μήδεια, κακῶν ἐπόρευσε.

[¶74] Medea:
On all sides sorrow pens me in. Who shall gainsay this?

> Greek: Μήδεια:
κακῶς πέπρακται πανταχῇ· τίς ἀντερεῖ;

[¶75] But all is not yet lost! think not so. Still are there troubles in store for the new bride, and for her bridegroom no light toil. Dost think I would ever have fawned on yonder man, unless to gain some end or form some scheme?

> Greek: ἀλλ’ οὔτι ταύτῃ ταῦτα, μὴ δοκεῖτέ πω.
ἔτ’ εἴσ’ ἀγῶνες τοῖς νεωστὶ νυμφίοις
καὶ τοῖσι κηδεύσασιν οὐ σμικροὶ πόνοι.
δοκεῖς γὰρ ἄν με τόνδε θωπεῦσαί ποτε,
εἰ μή τι κερδαίνουσαν ἢ τεχνωμένην;

[¶76] Nay, I would not so much as have spoken to him or touched him with my hand. But he has in folly so far stepped in that, though he might have checked my plot by banishing me from the land, he hath allowed me to abide this day, in which I will lay low in death three of my enemies—
a father and his daughter and my husband too. Now, though I have many ways to compass their death, I am not sure, friends, which I am to try first. Shall I set fire to the bridal mansion, or plunge the whetted sword through their hearts,
softly stealing into the chamber where their couch is spread? One thing stands in my way. If I am caught making my way into the chamber, intent on my design, I shall be put to death and cause my foes to mock.’Twere best to take the shortest way—the way we women are
most skilled in—by poison to destroy them. Well, well, suppose them dead; what city will receive me? What friendly host will give me a shelter in his land, a home secure, and save my soul alive? None. So I will wait yet a little while
in case some tower of defence rise up for me; then will I proceed to this bloody deed in crafty silence; but if some unexpected mischance drive me forth, I will with mine own hand seize the sword, e’en though I die for it, and slay them, and go forth on my bold path of daring.

> Greek: οὐδ’ ἂν προσεῖπον οὐδ’ ἂν ἡψάμην χεροῖν.
ὃ δ’ ἐς τοσοῦτον μωρίας ἀφίκετο,
ὥστ’ ἐξὸν αὐτῷ τἄμ’ ἑλεῖν βουλεύματα
γῆς ἐκβαλόντι, τήνδ’ ἀφῆκεν ἡμέραν
μεῖναί μ’, ἐν ᾗ τρεῖς τῶν ἐμῶν ἐχθρῶν νεκροὺς
θήσω, πατέρα τε καὶ κόρην πόσιν τ’ ἐμόν.
πολλὰς δ’ ἔχουσα θανασίμους αὐτοῖς ὁδούς,
οὐκ οἶδ’ ὁποίᾳ πρῶτον ἐγχειρῶ, φίλαι·
πότερον ὑφάψω δῶμα νυμφικὸν πυρί,
ἢ θηκτὸν ὤσω φάσγανον δι’ ἥπάτος,
σιγῇ δόμους ἐσβᾶσ’, ἵν’ ἔστρωται λέχος.
ἀλλ’ ἕν τί μοι πρόσαντες· εἰ ληφθήσομαι
δόμους ὑπεσβαίνουσα καὶ τεχνωμένη,
θανοῦσα θήσω τοῖς ἐμοῖς ἐχθροῖς γέλων.
κράτιστα τὴν εὐθεῖαν, ᾗ πεφύκαμεν
σοφαὶ μάλιστα, φαρμάκοις αὐτοὺς ἑλεῖν.
εἶἑν·
καὶ δὴ τεθνᾶσι· τίς με δέξεται πόλις;
τίς γῆν ἄσυλον καὶ δόμους ἐχεγγύους
ξένος παρασχὼν ῥύσεται τοὐμὸν δέμας;
οὐκ ἔστι. μείνασ’ οὖν ἔτι σμικρὸν χρόνον,
ἢν μέν τις ἡμῖν πύργος ἀσφαλὴς φανῇ,
δόλῳ μέτειμι τόνδε καὶ σιγῇ φόνον·
ἢν δ’ ἐξελαύνῃ ξυμφορά μ’ ἀμήχανος,
αὐτὴ ξίφος λαβοῦσα, κεἰ μέλλω θανεῖν,
κτενῶ σφε, τόλμης δ’ εἶμι πρὸς τὸ καρτερόν.

[¶77] By that dread queen whom I revere before all others and have chosen to share my task, by Hecate who dwells within my inmost chamber, not one of them shall wound my heart and rue it not. Bitter and sad will I make their marriage for them;
bitter shall be the wooing of it, bitter my exile from the land. Up, then, Medea, spare not the secrets of thy art in plotting and devising; on to the danger. Now comes a struggle needing courage. Dost see what thou art suffering?’Tis not for thee to be a laughing-stock
to the race of Sisyphus by reason of this wedding of Jason, sprung, as thou art, from a noble sire, and of the Sun-god’s race. Thou hast cunning; and, more than this, we women, though by nature little apt for virtuous deeds, are most expert to fashion any mischief.

> Greek: οὐ γὰρ μὰ τὴν δέσποιναν ἣν ἐγὼ σέβω
μάλιστα πάντων καὶ ξυνεργὸν εἱλόμην,
Ἑκάτην, μυχοῖς ναίουσαν ἑστίας ἐμῆς,
χαίρων τις αὐτῶν τοὐμὸν ἀλγυνεῖ κέαρ.
πικροὺς δ’ ἐγώ σφιν καὶ λυγροὺς θήσω γάμους,
πικρὸν δὲ κῆδος καὶ φυγὰς ἐμὰς χθονός.
ἀλλ’ εἶα· φείδου μηδὲν ὧν ἐπίστασαι,
Μήδεια, βουλεύουσα καὶ τεχνωμένη·
ἕρπ’ ἐς τὸ δεινόν· νῦν ἀγὼν εὐψυχίας.
ὁρᾷς ἃ πάσχεις· οὐ γέλωτα δεῖ σ’ ὀφλεῖν
τοῖς Σισυφείοις τοῖς τ’ Ἰάσονος γάμοις,
γεγῶσαν ἐσθλοῦ πατρὸς Ἡλίου τ’ ἄπο.
ἐπίστασαι δέ· πρὸς δὲ καὶ πεφύκαμεν
γυναῖκες, ἐς μὲν ἔσθλ’ ἀμηχανώταται,
κακῶν δὲ πάντων τέκτονες σοφώταται.

[¶78] Chorus:
Back to their source the holy rivers turn their tide. Order and the universe are being reversed.’Tis men whose counsels are treacherous, whose oath by heaven is no longer sure.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄνω ποταμῶν ἱερῶν χωροῦσι παγαί,
καὶ δίκα καὶ πάντα πάλιν στρέφεται.
ἀνδράσι μὲν δόλιαι βουλαί, θεῶν δ’
οὐκέτι πίστις ἄραρε·

[¶79] Rumour shall bring a change o’er my life, bringing it into good repute. Honour’s dawn is breaking for woman’s sex;

> Greek: τὰν δ’ ἐμὰν εὔκλειαν ἔχειν βιοτὰν στρέψουσι φᾶμαι·
ἔρχεται τιμὰ γυναικείῳ γένει·

[¶80] no more shall the foul tongue of slander fix upon us.

> Greek: οὐκέτι δυσκέλαδος φάμα γυναῖκας ἕξει.

[¶81] Chorus:
The songs of the poets of old shall cease to make our faithlessness their theme. Phoebus, lord of minstrelsy, hath not implanted in our mind
the gift of heavenly song, else had I sung an answering strain to the race of males, for time’s long chapter affords
many a theme on their sex as well as ours.

> Greek: Χορός:
μοῦσαι δὲ παλαιγενέων λήξουσ’ ἀοιδῶν
τὰν ἐμὰν ὑμνεῦσαι ἀπιστοσύναν.
οὐ γὰρ ἐν ἁμετέρᾳ γνώμᾳ λύρας
ὤπασε θέσπιν ἀοιδὰν
Φοῖβος, ἀγήτωρ μελέων· ἐπεὶ ἀντάχησ’ ἂν ὕμνον
ἀρσένων γέννᾳ. μακρὸς δ’ αἰὼν ἔχει
πολλὰ μὲν ἁμετέραν ἀνδρῶν τε μοῖραν εἰπεῖν.

[¶82] Chorus:
With mind distraught didst thou thy father’s house desert on thy voyage betwixt ocean’s twin rocks, and on a foreign
strand thou dwellest, thy bed left husbandless, poor lady and thou an exile from the land, dishonoured, persecuted.

> Greek: Χορός:
σὺ δ’ ἐκ μὲν οἴκων πατρίων ἔπλευσας
μαινομένᾳ κραδίᾳ, διδύμους ὁρίσασα πόντου
πέτρας· ἐπὶ δὲ ξένᾳ
ναίεις χθονί, τᾶς ἀνάνδρου
κοίτας ὀλέσασα λέκτρον,
τάλαινα, φυγὰς δὲ χώρας
ἄτιμος ἐλαύνῃ.

[¶83] Chorus:
Gone is the grace that oaths once had. Through all the breadth
of Hellas honour is found no more; to heaven hath it sped away. For thee no father’s house is open, woe is thee! to be a haven from the troublous storm, while o’er thy home is set another queen, the bride that is
preferred to thee.

> Greek: Χορός:
βέβακε δ’ ὅρκων χάρις, οὐδ’ ἔτ’ αἰδὼς
Ἑλλάδι τᾷ μεγάλᾳ μένει, αἰθερία δ’ ἀνέπτα.
σοὶ δ’ οὔτε πατρὸς δόμοι,
δύστανε, μεθορμίσασθαι
μόχθων πάρα, τῶν τε λέκτρων
ἄλλα βασίλεια κρείσσων
δόμοισιν ἐπέστα.

[¶84] Jason:
It is not now I first remark, but oft ere this, how unruly a pest is a harsh temper. For instance, thou, hadst thou but patiently endured the will of thy superiors, mightest have remained here in this land and house,
but now for thy idle words wilt thou be banished. Thy words are naught to roe. Cease not to call Jason basest of men; but for those words thou hast spoken against our rulers, count it all gain that exile is thy only punishment.

> Greek: Ἰάσων:
οὐ νῦν κατεῖδον πρῶτον ἀλλὰ πολλάκις
τραχεῖαν ὀργὴν ὡς ἀμήχανον κακόν.
σοὶ γὰρ παρὸν γῆν τήνδε καὶ δόμους ἔχειν
κούφως φερούσῃ κρεισσόνων βουλεύματα,
λόγων ματαίων οὕνεκ’ ἐκπεσῇ χθονός.
κἀμοὶ μὲν οὐδὲν πρᾶγμα· μὴ παύσῃ ποτὲ
λέγουσ’ Ἰάσον’ ὡς κάκιστός ἐστ’ ἀνήρ·
ἃ δ’ ἐς τυράννους ἐστί σοι λελεγμένα,
πᾶν κέρδος ἡγοῦ ζημιουμένη φυγῇ.

[¶85] I ever tried to check the outbursts of the angry monarch, and would have had thee stay, but thou wouldst not forego thy silly rage, always reviling our rulers, and so thou wilt be banished. Yet even after all this I weary not of my goodwill,
but am come with thus much forethought, lady, that thou mayst not be destitute nor want for aught, when, with thy sons, thou art cast out. Many an evil doth exile bring in its train with it; for even though thou hatest me, never will I harbour hard thoughts of thee.

> Greek: κἀγὼ μὲν αἰεὶ βασιλέων θυμουμένων
ὀργὰς ἀφῄρουν καί σ’ ἐβουλόμην μένειν·
σὺ δ’ οὐκ ἀνίεις μωρίας, λέγουσ’ ἀεὶ
κακῶς τυράννους· τοιγὰρ ἐκπεσῇ χθονός.
ὅμως δὲ κἀκ τῶνδ’ οὐκ ἀπειρηκὼς φίλοις
ἥκω, τὸ σὸν δὲ προσκοπούμενος, γύναι,
ὡς μήτ’ ἀχρήμων σὺν τέκνοισιν ἐκπέσῃς
μήτ’ ἐνδεής του· πόλλ’ ἐφέλκεται φυγὴ
κακὰ ξὺν αὑτῇ. καὶ γὰρ εἰ σύ με στυγεῖς,
οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην σοὶ κακῶς φρονεῖν ποτε.

[¶86] Medea:
Thou craven villain (for that is the only name my tongue can find for thee, a foul reproach on thy unmanliness)! comest thou to me, thou, most hated foe of gods, of me, and of all mankind? Tis no proof of courage or hardihood
to confront thy friends after injuring them, but that worst of all human diseases—loss of shame. Yet hast thou done well to come; for I shall ease ray soul by reviling thee, and thou wilt be vexed at my recital.

> Greek: Μήδεια:
ὦ παγκάκιστε, τοῦτο γάρ σ’ εἰπεῖν ἔχω,
γλώσσῃ μέγιστον εἰς ἀνανδρίαν κακόν·
ἦλθες πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ἦλθες ἔχθιστος γεγώς;
[θεοῖς τε κἀμοὶ παντί τ’ ἀνθρώπων γένει;]
οὔτοι θράσος τόδ’ ἐστὶν οὐδ’ εὐτολμία,
φίλους κακῶς δράσαντ’ ἐναντίον βλέπειν,
ἀλλ’ ἡ μεγίστη τῶν ἐν ἀνθρώποις νόσων
πασῶν, ἀναίδει’· εὖ δ’ ἐποίησας μολών·
ἐγώ τε γὰρ λέξασα κουφισθήσομαι
ψυχὴν κακῶς σε καὶ σὺ λυπήσῃ κλύων.

[¶87] I will begin at the very beginning. I saved thy life, as every Hellene knows who sailed with thee aboard the good ship Argo, when thou wert sent to tame and yoke fire-breathing bulls, and to sow the deadly tilth.

> Greek: ἐκ τῶν δὲ πρώτων πρῶτον ἄρξομαι λέγειν.
ἔσῳσά σ’, ὡς ἴσασιν Ἑλλήνων ὅσοι
ταὐτὸν συνεισέβησαν Ἀργῷον σκάφος,
πεμφθέντα ταύρων πυρπνόων ἐπιστάτην
ζεύγλῃσι καὶ σπεροῦντα θανάσιμον γύην·

[¶88] Yea, and I slew the dragon which guarded the golden fleece, keeping sleepless watch o’er it with many a wreathed coil, and I raised for thee a beacon of deliver arice. Father and home of my free will I left and came with thee to Iolcos,’neath Pelion’s hills,
for my love was stronger than my prudence. Next I caused the death of Pelias by a doom most grievous, even by his own children’s hand, beguiling them of all their fear. All this have I done for thee, thou traitor! and thou hast cast me over, taking to thyself another wife,
though children have been bom to us. Hadst thou been childless still, I could have pardoned thy desire for this new union.

> Greek: δράκοντά θ’, ὃς πάγχρυσον ἀμπέχων δέρας
σπείραις ἔσῳζε πολυπλόκοις ἄυπνος ὤν,
κτείνασ’ ἀνέσχον σοὶ φάος σωτήριον.
αὐτὴ δὲ πατέρα καὶ δόμους προδοῦσ’ ἐμοὺς
τὴν Πηλιῶτιν εἰς Ἰωλκὸν ἱκόμην
σὺν σοί, πρόθυμος μᾶλλον ἢ σοφωτέρα·
Πελίαν τ’ ἀπέκτειν’, ὥσπερ ἄλγιστον θανεῖν,
παίδων ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ, πάντα τ’ ἐξεῖλον δόμον.
καὶ ταῦθ’ ὑφ’ ἡμῶν, ὦ κάκιστ’ ἀνδρῶν, παθὼν
προύδωκας ἡμᾶς, καινὰ δ’ ἐκτήσω λέχη—
παίδων γεγώτων· εἰ γὰρ ἦσθ’ ἄπαις ἔτι,
συγγνώστ’ ἂν ἦν σοι τοῦδ’ ἐρασθῆναι λέχους.