Gone is now the trust I put in oaths. I cannot even understand whether thou thinkest that the gods of old no longer rule, or that fresh decrees are now in vogue amongst mankind,for thy conscience must tell thee thou hast not kept faith with me. Ah! poor right hand, which thou didst often grasp. These knees thou didst embrace! All in vain, I suffered a traitor to touch me! How short of my hopes I am fallen! But come, I will deal with thee as though thou wert my friend.Yet what kindness can I expect from one so base as thee? but yet I will do it, for my questioning will show thee yet more base. Whither can I turn me now? to my father’s house, to my own country, which I for thee deserted to come hither? to the hapless daughters of Pelias? A gladwelcome, I trow, would they give me in their home, whose father’s death I compassed! My case stands even thus: I am become the bitter foe to those of mine own home, and those whom I need ne’er have wronged I have made mine enemies to pleasure thee. Wherefore to reward me for this thou hast made me doubly blest in the eyes of many a wife in Hellas;and in thee I own a peerless, trusty lord. O woe is me, if indeed I am to be cast forth an exile from the land, without one friend; one lone woman with her babes forlorn! Yea, a fine reproach to thee in thy bridal hour,that thy children and the wife who saved thy life are beggars and vagabonds! O Zeus! why hast thou granted unto man clear signs to know the sham in gold, white on man’s brow no brand is stamped whereby to gauge the villain’s heart?
ὅρκων δὲ φρούδη πίστις, οὐδ’ ἔχω μαθεῖνἦ θεοὺς νομίζεις τοὺς τότ’ οὐκ ἄρχειν ἔτι,ἢ καινὰ κεῖσθαι θέσμι’ ἀνθρώποις τὰ νῦν,ἐπεὶ σύνοισθά γ’ εἰς ἔμ’ οὐκ εὔορκος ὤν.φεῦ δεξιὰ χείρ, ἧς σὺ πόλλ’ ἐλαμβάνου,καὶ τῶνδε γονάτων, ὡς μάτην κεχρῴσμεθακακοῦ πρὸς ἀνδρός, ἐλπίδων δ’ ἡμάρτομεν.ἄγ’· ὡς φίλῳ γὰρ ὄντι σοι κοινώσομαι—δοκοῦσα μὲν τί πρός γε σοῦ πράξειν καλῶς;ὅμως δ’· ἐρωτηθεὶς γὰρ αἰσχίων φανῇ—νῦν ποῖ τράπωμαι; πότερα πρὸς πατρὸς δόμους,οὓς σοὶ προδοῦσα καὶ πάτραν ἀφικόμην;ἢ πρὸς ταλαίνας Πελιάδας; καλῶς γ’ ἂν οὖνδέξαιντό μ’ οἴκοις ὧν πατέρα κατέκτανον.ἔχει γὰρ οὕτω· τοῖς μὲν οἴκοθεν φίλοιςἐχθρὰ καθέστηχ’, οὓς δέ μ’ οὐκ ἐχρῆν κακῶςδρᾶν, σοὶ χάριν φέρουσα πολεμίους ἔχω.τοιγάρ με πολλαῖς μακαρίαν Ἑλληνίδωνἔθηκας ἀντὶ τῶνδε· θαυμαστὸν δέ σεἔχω πόσιν καὶ πιστὸν ἡ τάλαιν’ ἐγώ,εἰ φεύξομαί γε γαῖαν ἐκβεβλημένη,φίλων ἔρημος, σὺν τέκνοις μόνη μόνοις—καλόν γ’ ὄνειδος τῷ νεωστὶ νυμφίῳ,πτωχοὺς ἀλᾶσθαι παῖδας ἥ τ’ ἔσῳσά σε.ὦ Ζεῦ, τί δὴ χρυσοῦ μὲν ὃς κίβδηλος ᾖτεκμήρι’ ἀνθρώποισιν ὤπασας σαφῆ,ἀνδρῶν δ’ ὅτῳ χρὴ τὸν κακὸν διειδέναι,οὐδεὶς χαρακτὴρ ἐμπέφυκε σώματι;
Chorus:There is a something terrible and past all cure, when quarrels arise ’twixt those who are near and dear.
Χορός:δεινή τις ὀργὴ καὶ δυσίατος πέλει,ὅταν φίλοι φίλοισι συμβάλωσ’ ἔριν.
Jason:Needs must I now, it seems, turn orator, and, like a good helmsman on a ship with close-reefed sails, weatherthat wearisome tongue of thine. Now, I believe, since thou wilt exaggerate thy favours, that to Cypris alone of gods or men I owe the safety of my voyage. Thou hast a subtle wit enough; yet were it a hateful thing for meto say that the Love-god constrained thee by his resistless shaft to save my life. However, I will not reckon this too nicely;’twas kindly done, however thou didst serve me. Yet for my safetyhast thou received more than ever thou gavest, as I will show. First, thou dwellest in Hellas, instead of thy barbarian land, and hast learnt what justice means find how to live by law, not by the dictates of brute force; and all the Hellenes recognize thy cleverness,and thou hast gained a name; whereas, if thou hadst dwelt upon the confines of the earth, no tongue had mentioned thee. Give me no gold within my halls; nor skill to sing a fairer strain than ever Orpheus sang, unless therewith my fame be spread abroad!
Ἰάσων:δεῖ μ’, ὡς ἔοικε, μὴ κακὸν φῦναι λέγειν,ἀλλ’ ὥστε ναὸς κεδνὸν οἰακοστρόφονἄκροισι λαίφους κρασπέδοις ὑπεκδραμεῖντὴν σὴν στόμαργον, ὦ γύναι, γλωσσαλγίαν.ἐγὼ δ’, ἐπειδὴ καὶ λίαν πυργοῖς χάριν,Κύπριν νομίζω τῆς ἐμῆς ναυκληρίαςσώτειραν εἶναι θεῶν τε κἀνθρώπων μόνην.σοὶ δ’ ἔστι μὲν νοῦς λεπτός—ἀλλ’ ἐπίφθονοςλόγος διελθεῖν, ὡς Ἔρως σ’ ἠνάγκασετόξοις ἀφύκτοις τοὐμὸν ἐκσῷσαι δέμας.ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἀκριβῶς αὐτὸ θήσομαι λίαν·ὅπῃ γὰρ οὖν ὤνησας, οὐ κακῶς ἔχει.μείζω γε μέντοι τῆς ἐμῆς σωτηρίαςεἴληφας ἢ δέδωκας, ὡς ἐγὼ φράσω.πρῶτον μὲν Ἑλλάδ’ ἀντὶ βαρβάρου χθονὸςγαῖαν κατοικεῖς καὶ δίκην ἐπίστασαινόμοις τε χρῆσθαι μὴ πρὸς ἰσχύος χάριν·πάντες δέ σ’ ᾔσθοντ’ οὖσαν Ἕλληνες σοφὴνκαὶ δόξαν ἔσχες· εἰ δὲ γῆς ἐπ’ ἐσχάτοιςὅροισιν ᾤκεις, οὐκ ἂν ἦν λόγος σέθεν.εἴη δ’ ἔμοιγε μήτε χρυσὸς ἐν δόμοιςμήτ’ Ὀρφέως κάλλιον ὑμνῆσαι μέλος,εἰ μὴ ’πίσημος ἡ τύχη γένοιτό μοι.
So much I say to thee about my own toils, for ’twas thou didst challenge me to this retort. As for the taunts thou urgest against my marriage with the princess, I will prove to thee, first, that I am prudent herein, next chastened in my love, and last a powerful friendto thee and to thy sons; only hold thy peace. Since I have here withdrawn from Iolcos with many a hopeless trouble at my back, what happier device could I, an exile, frame than marriage with the daughter of the king?
τοσαῦτα μέν σοι τῶν ἐμῶν πόνων πέριἔλεξ’· ἅμιλλαν γὰρ σὺ προύθηκας λόγων.ἃ δ’ ἐς γάμους μοι βασιλικοὺς ὠνείδισας,ἐν τῷδε δείξω πρῶτα μὲν σοφὸς γεγώς,ἔπειτα σώφρων, εἶτα σοὶ μέγας φίλοςκαὶ παισὶ τοῖς ἐμοῖσιν—ἀλλ’ ἔχ’ ἥσυχος.ἐπεὶ μετέστην δεῦρ’ Ἰωλκίας χθονὸςπολλὰς ἐφέλκων συμφορὰς ἀμηχάνους,τί τοῦδ’ ἂν εὕρημ’ ηὗρον εὐτυχέστερονἢ παῖδα γῆμαι βασιλέως φυγὰς γεγώς;
’Tis not because I loathe thee for my wife—the thought that rankles in thy heart;’tis not because I am smitten with desire fot a new bride, nor yet that I am eager to vie with others in begetting many children, for those we have are quite enough, and I do not complain. Nay,’tis that we—and this is most important—may dwell in comfort, instead of suffering want (for well I know that every whilom friend avoids the poor), and that I might rear my sons as doth befit my house; further, that I might be the father of brothers for the children thou hast born, and raise these to the same high rank, uniting the family in one,—to my lasting bliss. Thou, indeed, hast no need of more children, but me it profits to help my present family by that which is to be. Have I miscarried here? Not even thou wouldest say so unless a rival’s charms rankled in thy bosom. No, but you women have such strange ideas,that you think all is well so long as your married life runs smooth; but if some mischance occur to ruffle your love, all that was good and lovely erst you reckon as your foes. Yea, men should have begotten children from some other source, no female race existing;
οὐχ, ᾗ σὺ κνίζῃ, σὸν μὲν ἐχθαίρων λέχος,καινῆς δὲ νύμφης ἱμέρῳ πεπληγμένος,οὐδ’ εἰς ἅμιλλαν πολύτεκνον σπουδὴν ἔχων·ἅλις γὰρ οἱ γεγῶτες οὐδὲ μέμφομαι·ἀλλ’ ὡς, τὸ μὲν μέγιστον, οἰκοῖμεν καλῶςκαὶ μὴ σπανιζοίμεσθα, γιγνώσκων ὅτιπένητα φεύγει πᾶς τις ἐκποδὼν φίλος,παῖδας δὲ θρέψαιμ’ ἀξίως δόμων ἐμῶνσπείρας τ’ ἀδελφοὺς τοῖσιν ἐκ σέθεν τέκνοιςἐς ταὐτὸ θείην, καὶ ξυναρτήσας γένοςεὐδαιμονοῖμεν. σοί τε γὰρ παίδων τί δεῖ;ἐμοί τε λύει τοῖσι μέλλουσιν τέκνοιςτὰ ζῶντ’ ὀνῆσαι. μῶν βεβούλευμαι κακῶς;οὐδ’ ἂν σὺ φαίης, εἴ σε μὴ κνίζοι λέχος.ἀλλ’ ἐς τοσοῦτον ἥκεθ’ ὥστ’ ὀρθουμένηςεὐνῆς γυναῖκες πάντ’ ἔχειν νομίζετε,ἢν δ’ αὖ γένηται ξυμφορά τις ἐς λέχος,τὰ λῷστα καὶ κάλλιστα πολεμιώτατατίθεσθε. χρῆν γὰρ ἄλλοθέν ποθεν βροτοὺςπαῖδας τεκνοῦσθαι, θῆλυ δ’ οὐκ εἶναι γένος·
thus would no evil ever have fallen on mankind.
χοὕτως ἂν οὐκ ἦν οὐδὲν ἀνθρώποις κακόν.
Chorus:This speech, O Jason, hast thou with specious art arranged; but yet I think—albeit in saying so I betray indiscretion—that thou hast sinned in casting over thy wife.
Χορός:Ἰᾶσον, εὖ μὲν τούσδ’ ἐκόσμησας λόγους·ὅμως δ’ ἔμοιγε, κεἰ παρὰ γνώμην ἐρῶ,δοκεῖς προδοὺς σὴν ἄλοχον οὐ δίκαια δρᾶν.
Medea:No doubt I differ from the mass of men on many points;
Μήδεια:ἦ πολλὰ πολλοῖς εἰμι διάφορος βροτῶν.
for, to my mind, whoso hath skill to fence with words in an unjust cause, incurs the heaviest penalty; for such an one, confident that he can cast a decent veil of words o’er his injustice, dares to practise it; and yet he is not so very clever after all. So do not thou put forth thy specious pleasand clever words to me now, for one word of mine will lay thee low. Hadst thou not had a villain’s heart, thou shouldst have gained my consent, then made this match, instead of hiding it from those who loved thee.
ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις ἄδικος ὢν σοφὸς λέγεινπέφυκε, πλείστην ζημίαν ὀφλισκάνει·γλώσσῃ γὰρ αὐχῶν τἄδικ’ εὖ περιστελεῖν,τολμᾷ πανουργεῖν· ἔστι δ’ οὐκ ἄγαν σοφός.ὡς καὶ σὺ μή νυν εἰς ἔμ’ εὐσχήμων γένῃλέγειν τε δεινός. ἓν γὰρ ἐκτενεῖ σ’ ἔπος·χρῆν σ’, εἴπερ ἦσθα μὴ κακός, πείσαντά μεγαμεῖν γάμον τόνδ’, ἀλλὰ μὴ σιγῇ φίλων.
Jason:Thou wouldest have lent me ready aid, no doubt, in this proposal, if I had told thee of my marriage, seeing that not even nowcanst thou restrain thy soul’s hot fury.
Ἰάσων:καλῶς γ’ ἄν, οἶμαι, τῷδ’ ὑπηρέτεις λόγῳ,εἴ σοι γάμον κατεῖπον, ἥτις οὐδὲ νῦντολμᾷς μεθεῖναι καρδίας μέγαν χόλον.
Medea:This was not what restrained thee; but thine eye was turned towards old age, and a foreign wife began to appear discreditable to thee.
Μήδεια:οὐ τοῦτό σ’ εἶχεν, ἀλλὰ βάρβαρον λέχοςπρὸς γῆρας οὐκ εὔδοξον ἐξέβαινέ σοι.
Jason:Be well assured of this:’twas not for the woman’s sake I wedded the king’s daughter, my present wife;but, as I have already told thee, I wished to insure thy safety and to be the father of royal sons bound by blood to my own children—a bulwark to our house.
Ἰάσων:εὖ νῦν τόδ’ ἴσθι, μὴ γυναικὸς οὕνεκαγῆμαί με λέκτρα βασιλέων ἃ νῦν ἔχω,ἀλλ’, ὥσπερ εἶπον καὶ πάρος, σῷσαι θέλωνσέ, καὶ τέκνοισι τοῖς ἐμοῖς ὁμοσπόρουςφῦσαι τυράννους παῖδας, ἔρυμα δώμασι.
Medea:May that prosperity, whose end is woe, ne’er be mine, nor such wealth as would ever sting my heart!
Μήδεια:μή μοι γένοιτο λυπρὸς εὐδαίμων βίοςμηδ’ ὄλβος ὅστις τὴν ἐμὴν κνίζοι φρένα.
Jason:Change that prayer as I will teach thee, and thou wilt show more wisdom. Never let happiness appear in sorrow’s guise, nor, when thy fortune smiles, pretend she frowns!
Ἰάσων:οἶσθ’ ὡς μέτευξαι, καὶ σοφωτέρα φανῇ;τὰ χρηστὰ μή σοι λυπρὰ φαίνεσθαι ποτέ,μηδ’ εὐτυχοῦσα δυστυχὴς εἶναι δοκεῖν.
Medea:Mock on; thou hast a place of refuge; I am alone, an exile soon to be.
Μήδεια:ὕβριζ’, ἐπειδὴ σοὶ μὲν ἔστ’ ἀποστροφή,ἐγὼ δ’ ἔρημος τήνδε φευξοῦμαι χθόνα.
Jason:Thy own free choice was this; blame no one else.
Ἰάσων:αὐτὴ τάδ’ εἵλου· μηδέν’ ἄλλον αἰτιῶ.
Medea:What did I do? Marry, then betray thee?
Μήδεια:τί δρῶσα; μῶν γαμοῦσα καὶ προδοῦσά σε;
Jason:Against the king thou didst invoke an impious curse.
Ἰάσων:ἀρὰς τυράννοις ἀνοσίους ἀρωμένη.
Medea:On thy house too maybe I bring the curse.
Μήδεια:καὶ σοῖς ἀραία γ’ οὖσα τυγχάνω δόμοις.
Jason:Know this, I will no further dispute this point with thee.
Ἰάσων:ὡς οὐ κρινοῦμαι τῶνδέ σοι τὰ πλείονα.
But, if thou wilt of my fortune somewhat take for the children or thyself to help thy exile, say on; for I am ready to grant it with ungrudging hand, yea and to send tokens to my friends elsewhere who shall treat thee well. If thou refuse this offer, thou wilt do a foolish deed,but if thou cease from anger the greater will be thy gain.
ἀλλ’, εἴ τι βούλῃ παισὶν ἢ σαυτῆς φυγῇπροσωφέλημα χρημάτων ἐμῶν λαβεῖν,λέγ’· ὡς ἕτοιμος ἀφθόνῳ δοῦναι χερὶξένοις τε πέμπειν σύμβολ’, οἳ δράσουσί σ’ εὖ.καὶ ταῦτα μὴ θέλουσα μωρανεῖς, γύναι·λήξασα δ’ ὀργῆς κερδανεῖς ἀμείνονα.
Medea:I will have naught to do with friends of thine, naught will I receive of thee, offer it not to me; a villain’s gifts can bring no blessing.
Μήδεια:οὔτ’ ἂν ξένοισι τοῖσι σοῖς χρησαίμεθ’ ἄν,οὔτ’ ἄν τι δεξαίμεσθα, μηδ’ ἡμῖν δίδου·κακοῦ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς δῶρ’ ὄνησιν οὐκ ἔχει.
Jason:At least I call the gods to witness,that I am ready in all things to serve thee and thy children, but thou dost scorn my favours and thrustest thy friends stubbornly away; wherefore thy lot will be more bitter still.
Ἰάσων:ἀλλ’ οὖν ἐγὼ μὲν δαίμονας μαρτύρομαι,ὡς πάνθ’ ὑπουργεῖν σοί τε καὶ τέκνοις θέλω·σοὶ δ’ οὐκ ἀρέσκει τἀγάθ’, ἀλλ’ αὐθαδίᾳφίλους ἀπωθῇ· τοιγὰρ ἀλγυνῇ πλέον.
Medea:Away! By love for thy young bride entrapped, too long thou lingerest outside her chamber;
Μήδεια:χώρει· πόθῳ γὰρ τῆς νεοδμήτου κόρηςαἱρῇ χρονίζων δωμάτων ἐξώπιος.
go wed, for, if God will, thou shalt have such a marriage as thou wouldst fain refuse.
νύμφευ’· ἴσως γάρ—σὺν θεῷ δ’ εἰρήσεται—γαμεῖς τοιοῦτον ὥστε σ’ ἀρνεῖσθαι γάμον.
Chorus:When in excess and past all limits Love doth come, he brings not glory or reputeto man; but if the Cyprian queen in moderate might approach, no goddess is so full of charm as she. Never, O never, lady mine, discharge at me from thy golden bow a shaft invincible, in passion’s venom dipped.
Χορός:ἔρωτες ὑπὲρ μὲν ἄγανἐλθόντες οὐκ εὐδοξίανοὐδ’ ἀρετὰν παρέδωκανἀνδράσιν· εἰ δ’ ἅλις ἔλθοιΚύπρις, οὐκ ἄλλα θεὸς εὔχαρις οὕτως.μήποτ’, ὦ δέσποιν’, ἐπ’ ἐμοὶ χρυσέων τόξων ἐφείηςἱμέρῳ χρίσασ’ ἄφυκτον οἰστόν.
Chorus:On me may chastity, heaven’s fairest gift, look with a favouring eye;never may Cypris, goddess dread, fasten on me a temper to dispute, or restless jealousy, smiting my soul with mad desire for unlawful love, but may she hallow peaceful married life and shrewdly decide whom each of us shall wed.
Χορός:στέργοι δέ με σωφροσύνα,δώρημα κάλλιστον θεῶν·μηδέ ποτ’ ἀμφιλόγους ὀργὰςἀκόρεστά τε νείκηθυμὸν ἐκπλήξασ’ ἑτέροις ἐπὶ λέκτροιςπροσβάλοι δεινὰ Κύπρις, ἀπτολέμους δ’ εὐνὰς σεβίζουσ’ὀξύφρων κρίνοι λέχη γυναικῶν.
Chorus:O my country, O my own dear home! God grant I may never be an outcast from my city,leading that cruel helpless life, whose every day is misery. Ere that may I this life complete and yield to death, ay, death;for there is no misery that doth surpass the loss of fatherland.
Χορός:ὦ πατρίς, ὦ δώματα, μὴδῆτ’ ἄπολις γενοίμαντὸν ἀμηχανίας ἔχουσαδυσπέρατον αἰῶν’,οἰκτροτάτων ἀχέων.θανάτῳ θανάτῳ πάρος δαμείηνἁμέραν τάνδ’ ἐξανύσασα· μό-χθων δ’ οὐκ ἄλλος ὕπερθεν ἢγᾶς πατρίας στέρεσθαι.
Chorus:I have seen with mine eyes, nor from the lips of others have I the lesson learnt;
Χορός:εἴδομεν, οὐκ ἐξ ἑτέρωνμῦθον ἔχω φράσασθαι·
no city, not one friend doth pity thee in this thine awful woe. May he perish and find no favour,whoso hath not in him honour for his friends, freely unlocking his heart to them. Never shall he be friend of mine.
σὲ γὰρ οὐ πόλις, οὐ φίλων τιςᾤκτισεν παθοῦσανδεινότατον παθέων.ἀχάριστος ὄλοιθ’, ὅτῳ πάρεστινμὴ φίλους τιμᾶν καθαρᾶν ἀνοί-ξαντα κλῇδα φρενῶν· ἐμοὶμὲν φίλος οὔποτ’ ἔσται.
Aegeus:All hail, Medea! no man knoweth fairer prelude to the greeting of friends than this.
Αἰγεύς:Μήδεια, χαῖρε· τοῦδε γὰρ προοίμιονκάλλιον οὐδεὶς οἶδε προσφωνεῖν φίλους.
Medea:All hail to thee likewise, Aegeus, son of wise Pandion. Whence comest thou to this land?
Μήδεια:ὦ χαῖρε καὶ σύ, παῖ σοφοῦ Πανδίονος,Αἰγεῦ. πόθεν γῆς τῆσδ’ ἐπιστρωφᾷ πέδον;
Aegeus:From Phoebus’ ancient oracle.
Αἰγεύς:Φοίβου παλαιὸν ἐκλιπὼν χρηστήριον.
Medea:What took thee on thy travels to the prophetic centre of the earth?
Μήδεια:τί δ’ ὀμφαλὸν γῆς θεσπιῳδὸν ἐστάλης;
Aegeus:The wish to ask how I might raise up seed unto myself.
Αἰγεύς:παίδων ἐρευνῶν σπέρμ’ ὅπως γένοιτό μοι.
Medea:Pray tell me, hast thou till now dragged on a childless life?
Μήδεια:πρὸς θεῶν—ἄπαις γὰρ δεῦρ’ ἀεὶ τείνεις βίον;
Aegeus:I have no child owing to the visitation of some god.
Αἰγεύς:ἄπαιδές ἐσμεν δαίμονός τινος τύχῃ.
Medea:Hast thou a wife, or hast thou never known the married state?
Μήδεια:δάμαρτος οὔσης, ἢ λέχους ἄπειρος ὤν;
Aegeus:I have a wife joined to me in wedlock’s bond.
Αἰγεύς:οὐκ ἐσμὲν εὐνῆς ἄζυγες γαμηλίου.
Medea:What said Phoebus to thee as to children?
Μήδεια:τί δῆτα Φοῖβος εἶπέ σοι παίδων πέρι;
Aegeus:Words too subtle for man to comprehend.
Αἰγεύς:σοφώτερ’ ἢ κατ’ ἄνδρα συμβαλεῖν ἔπη.
Medea:Surely I may learn the god’s answer?
Μήδεια:θέμις μὲν ἡμᾶς χρησμὸν εἰδέναι θεοῦ;
Aegeus:Most assuredly, for it is just thy subtle wit it needs.
Αἰγεύς:μάλιστ’, ἐπεί τοι καὶ σοφῆς δεῖται φρενός.
Medea:What said the god? speak, if I may hear it.
Μήδεια:τί δῆτ’ ἔχρησε; λέξον, εἰ θέμις κλύειν.
Aegeus:He bade me “not loose the wineskin’s pendent neck.”
Αἰγεύς:ἀσκοῦ με τὸν προύχοντα μὴ λῦσαι πόδα—
Medea:Till when? what must thou do first, what country visit?
Μήδεια:πρὶν ἂν τί δράσῃς ἢ τίν’ ἐξίκῃ χθόνα;
Aegeus:Till I to my native home return.
Αἰγεύς:πρὶν ἂν πατρῴαν αὖθις ἑστίαν μόλω.
Medea:What object hast thou in sailing to this land?
Μήδεια:σὺ δ’ ὡς τί χρῄζων τήνδε ναυστολεῖς χθόνα;
Aegeus:O’er Troezen’s realm is Pittheus king.
Αἰγεύς:Πιτθεύς τις ἔστι, γῆς ἄναξ Tροζηνίας....
Medea:Pelops’ son, a man devout they say.
Μήδεια:παῖς, ὡς λέγουσι, Πέλοπος, εὐσεβέστατος.
Aegeus:To him I fain would impart the oracle of the god.
Αἰγεύς:τούτῳ θεοῦ μάντευμα κοινῶσαι θέλω.
Medea:The man is shrewd and versed in such-like lore.
Μήδεια:σοφὸς γὰρ ἁνὴρ καὶ τρίβων τὰ τοιάδε.
Aegeus:Aye, and to me the dearest of all my warrior friends.
Αἰγεύς:κἀμοί γε πάντων φίλτατος δορυξένων.
Medea:Good luck to thee! success to all thy wishes!
Μήδεια:ἀλλ’ εὐτυχοίης καὶ τύχοις ὅσων ἐρᾷς.
Aegeus:But why that downcast eye, that wasted cheek?
Αἰγεύς:τί γὰρ σὸν ὄμμα χρώς τε συντέτηχ’ ὅδε;
Medea:O Aegeus, my husband has proved a monster of iniquity.
Μήδεια:Αἰγεῦ, κάκιστός ἐστί μοι πάντων πόσις.
Aegeus:What meanest thou? explain to me clearly the cause of thy despondency.
Αἰγεύς:τί φῄς; σαφῶς μοι σὰς φράσον δυσθυμίας.
Medea:Jason is wronging me though I have given him no cause.
Μήδεια:ἀδικεῖ μ’ Ἰάσων οὐδὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ παθών.
Aegeus:What hath he done? tell me more clearly.
Αἰγεύς:τί χρῆμα δράσας; φράζε μοι σαφέστερον.
Medea:He is taking another wife to succeed me as mistress of his house.
Μήδεια:γυναῖκ’ ἐφ’ ἡμῖν δεσπότιν δόμων ἔχει.
Aegeus:Can he have brought himself to such a dastard deed?
Αἰγεύς:οὔ που τετόλμηκ’ ἔργον αἴσχιστον τόδε;
Medea:Be assured thereof; I, whom he loved of yore, am in dishonour now.
Μήδεια:σάφ’ ἴσθ’· ἄτιμοι δ’ ἐσμὲν οἱ πρὸ τοῦ φίλοι.
Aegeus:Hath he found a new love? or does he loathe thy bed?
Αἰγεύς:πότερον ἐρασθεὶς ἢ σὸν ἐχθαίρων λέχος;
Medea:Much in love is he! A traitor to his friend is he become.
Μήδεια:μέγαν γ’ ἔρωτα πιστὸς οὐκ ἔφυ φίλοις.
Aegeus:Enough! if he is a villain as thou sayest.
Αἰγεύς:ἴτω νυν, εἴπερ, ὡς λέγεις, ἐστὶν κακός.
Medea:The alliance he is so much enamoured of is with a princess.
Μήδεια:ἀνδρῶν τυράννων κῆδος ἠράσθη λαβεῖν.
Aegeus:Who gives his daughter to him? go on, I pray.
Αἰγεύς:δίδωσι δ’ αὐτῷ τίς; πέραινέ μοι λόγον.
Medea:Creon, who is lord of this land of Corinth.
Μήδεια:Κρέων, ὃς ἄρχει τῆσδε γῆς Κορινθίας.
Aegeus:Lady, I can well pardon thy grief.
Αἰγεύς:συγγνωστὰ μέν τἄρ’ ἦν σε λυπεῖσθαι, γύναι.
Medea:I am undone, and more than that, am banished from the land.
Μήδεια:ὄλωλα· καὶ πρός γ’ ἐξελαύνομαι χθονός.
Aegeus:By whom? fresh woe this word of thine unfolds.
Αἰγεύς:πρὸς τοῦ; τόδ’ ἄλλο καινὸν αὖ λέγεις κακόν.
Medea:Creon drives me forth in exile from Corinth.
Μήδεια:Κρέων μ’ ἐλαύνει φυγάδα γῆς Κορινθίας.
Aegeus:Doth Jason allow it? This too I blame him for.
Αἰγεύς:ἐᾷ δ’ Ἰάσων; οὐδὲ ταῦτ’ ἐπῄνεσα.
Medea:Not in words, but he will not stand out against it. Ο, I implore thee by this beardand by thy knees, in suppliant posture, pity, O pity my sorrows; do not see me cast forth forlorn, but receive me in thy country, to a seat within thy halls. So may thy wish by heaven’s grace be crowned with a full harvestof offspring, and may thy life close in happiness! Thou knowest not the rare good luck thou findest here, for I will make thy childlessness to cease and cause thee to beget fair issue; so potent are the spells I know.
Μήδεια:λόγῳ μὲν οὐχί, καρτερεῖν δὲ βούλεται.ἀλλ’ ἄντομαί σε τῆσδε πρὸς γενειάδοςγονάτων τε τῶν σῶν ἱκεσία τε γίγνομαι,οἴκτιρον οἴκτιρόν με τὴν δυσδαίμονακαὶ μή μ’ ἔρημον ἐκπεσοῦσαν εἰσίδῃς,δέξαι δὲ χώρᾳ καὶ δόμοις ἐφέστιον.οὕτως ἔρως σοὶ πρὸς θεῶν τελεσφόροςγένοιτο παίδων, καὐτὸς ὄλβιος θάνοις.εὕρημα δ’ οὐκ οἶσθ’ οἷον ηὕρηκας τόδε·παύσω δέ σ’ ὄντ’ ἄπαιδα καὶ παίδων γονὰςσπεῖραί σε θήσω· τοιάδ’ οἶδα φάρμακα.
Aegeus:Lady, on many grounds I am most fain to grant thee this thy boon,first for the gods’ sake, next for the children whom thou dost promise I shall beget; for in respect of this I am completely lost.’Tis thus with me; if e’er thou reach my land, I will attempt to champion thee as I am bound to do.
Αἰγεύς:πολλῶν ἕκατι τήνδε σοι δοῦναι χάριν,γύναι, πρόθυμός εἰμι, πρῶτα μὲν θεῶν,ἔπειτα παίδων ὧν ἐπαγγέλλῃ γονάς·ἐς τοῦτο γὰρ δὴ φροῦδός εἰμι πᾶς ἐγώ.οὕτω δ’ ἔχει μοι· σοῦ μὲν ἐλθούσης χθόνα,πειράσομαί σου προξενεῖν δίκαιος ὤν.
Only one warning I do give thee first, lady; I will not from this land bear thee away, yet if of thyself thou reach my halls, there shalt thou bide in safety and I will never yield thee up to any man. But from this land escape without my aid,for I have no wish to incur the blame of my allies as well.
τόσον γε μέντοι σοι προσημαίνω, γύναι·ἐκ τῆσδε μὲν γῆς οὔ σ’ ἄγειν βουλήσομαι,αὐτὴ δ’ ἐάνπερ εἰς ἐμοὺς ἔλθῃς δόμους,μενεῖς ἄσυλος κοὔ σε μὴ μεθῶ τινι.ἐκ τῆσδε δ’ αὐτὴ γῆς ἀπαλλάσσου πόδα·ἀναίτιος γὰρ καὶ ξένοις εἶναι θέλω.
Medea:It shall be even so; but wouldst thou pledge thy word to this, I should in all be well content with thee.
Μήδεια:ἔσται τάδ’· ἀλλὰ πίστις εἰ γένοιτό μοιτούτων, ἔχοιμ’ ἂν πάντα πρὸς σέθεν καλῶς.
Aegeus:Surely thou dost trust me? or is there aught that troubles thee?
Αἰγεύς:μῶν οὐ πέποιθας; ἢ τί σοι τὸ δυσχερές;
Medea:Thee I trust; but Pelias’ house and Creon are my foes.Wherefore, if thou art bound by an oath, thou wilt not give me up to them when they come to drag me from the land, but, having entered into a compact and sworn by heaven as well, thou wilt become my friend and disregard their overtures. Weak is any aid of mine,whilst they have wealth and a princely house.
Μήδεια:πέποιθα· Πελίου δ’ ἐχθρός ἐστί μοι δόμοςΚρέων τε. τούτοις δ’ ὁρκίοισι μὲν ζυγεὶςἄγουσιν οὐ μεθεῖ’ ἂν ἐκ γαίας ἐμέ·λόγοις δὲ συμβὰς καὶ θεῶν ἀνώμοτοςφίλος γένοι’ ἂν τἀπικηρυκεύματα·—οὐκ ἂν πίθοιο· τἀμὰ μὲν γὰρ ἀσθενῆ,τοῖς δ’ ὄλβος ἐστὶ καὶ δόμος τυραννικός.
Aegeus:Lady, thy words show much foresight, so if this is thy will, I do not refuse. For I shall feel secure and safe if I have some pretext to offer to thy foes,and thy case too the firmer stands. Now name thy gods.
Αἰγεύς:πολλὴν ἔλεξας ἐν λόγοις προμηθίαν·ἀλλ’, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, δρᾶν τάδ’ οὐκ ἀφίσταμαι.ἐμοί τε γὰρ τάδ’ ἐστὶν ἀσφαλέστατα,σκῆψίν τιν’ ἐχθροῖς σοῖς ἔχοντα δεικνύναι,τὸ σόν τ’ ἄραρε μᾶλλον· ἐξηγοῦ θεούς.
Medea:Swear by the plain of Earth, by Helios my father’s sire, and, in one comprehensive oath, by all the race of gods.
Μήδεια:ὄμνυ πέδον Γῆς, πατέρα θ’ Ἥλιον πατρὸςτοὐμοῦ, θεῶν τε συντιθεὶς ἅπαν γένος.
Aegeus:What shall I swear to do, from what refrain? tell me that.
Αἰγεύς:τί χρῆμα δράσειν ἢ τί μὴ δράσειν; λέγε.
Medea:Swear that thou wilt never of thyself expel me from thy land,nor, whilst life is thine, permit any other, one of my foes maybe, to hale me thence if so he will.
Μήδεια:μήτ’ αὐτὸς ἐκ γῆς σῆς ἔμ’ ἐκβαλεῖν ποτε,μήτ’ ἄλλος ἤν τις τῶν ἐμῶν ἐχθρῶν ἄγεινχρῄζῃ, μεθήσειν ζῶν ἑκουσίῳ τρόπῳ.
Aegeus:By earth I swear, by the sun-god’s holy beam and by all the host of heaven that I will stand fast to the terms, I hear thee make.
Αἰγεύς:ὄμνυμι Γαῖαν ⟨Ἡλίου θ’ ἁγνὸν σέβας⟩θεούς τε πάντας ἐμμενεῖν ἅ σου κλύω.
Medea:’Tis enough. If thou shouldst break this oath, what curse dost thou invoke upon thyself?
Μήδεια:ἀρκεῖ· τί δ’ ὅρκῳ τῷδε μὴ ’μμένων πάθοις;
Aegeus:Whate’er betides the impious.
Αἰγεύς:ἃ τοῖσι δυσσεβοῦσι γίγνεται βροτῶν.
Medea:Go in peace; all is well, and I with what speed I may, will to thy city come, when I have wrought my purpose and obtained my wish.
Μήδεια:χαίρων πορεύου· πάντα γὰρ καλῶς ἔχει.κἀγὼ πόλιν σὴν ὡς τάχιστ’ ἀφίξομαι,πράξασ’ ἃ μέλλω καὶ τυχοῦσ’ ἃ βούλομαι.
Chorus:May Maia’s princely songo with thee on thy way to bring thee to thy home, and mayest thou attain that on which thy soul is set so firmly, for to my mind thou seemest a generous man, O Aegeus.
Χορός:ἀλλά σ’ ὁ Μαίας πομπαῖος ἄναξπελάσειε δόμοις, ὧν τ’ ἐπίνοιανσπεύδεις κατέχων πράξειας, ἐπεὶγενναῖος ἀνήρ,Αἰγεῦ, παρ’ ἐμοὶ δεδόκησαι.
Medea:O Zeus, and Justice, child of Zeus, and sun-god’s light,now will I triumph o’er my foes, kind friends; on victory’s road have I set forth; good hope have I of wreaking vengeance on those I hate. For where we were in most distress this stranger hath appeared, to be a haven in my counsels;
Μήδεια:ὦ Ζεῦ Δίκη τε Ζηνὸς Ἡλίου τε φῶς,νῦν καλλίνικοι τῶν ἐμῶν ἐχθρῶν, φίλαι,γενησόμεσθα κεἰς ὁδὸν βεβήκαμεν·νῦν [δ’] ἐλπὶς ἐχθροὺς τοὺς ἐμοὺς τείσειν δίκην.οὗτος γὰρ ἁνὴρ ᾗ μάλιστ’ ἐκάμνομενλιμὴν πέφανται τῶν ἐμῶν βουλευμάτων·
to him will we make fast the cables of our ship when we come to the town and citadel of Pallas. But now will I explain to thee my plans in full; do not expect to hear a pleasant tale. A servant of mine will I to Jasonsend and crave an interview; then when he comes I will address him with soft words, say, “this pleases me,” and, “that is well,” [even the marriage with the princess, which my treacherous lord is celebrating, and add “it suits us both,’twas well thought out”];
ἐκ τοῦδ’ ἀναψόμεσθα πρυμνήτην κάλων,μολόντες ἄστυ καὶ πόλισμα Παλλάδος.ἤδη δὲ πάντα τἀμά σοι βουλεύματαλέξω· δέχου δὲ μὴ πρὸς ἡδονὴν λόγους.πέμψασ’ ἐμῶν τιν’ οἰκετῶν Ἰάσοναἐς ὄψιν ἐλθεῖν τὴν ἐμὴν αἰτήσομαι·μολόντι δ’ αὐτῷ μαλθακοὺς λέξω λόγους,ὡς καὶ δοκεῖ μοι ταὐτά, καὶ καλῶς ἔχεινγάμους τυράννων οὓς προδοὺς ἡμᾶς ἔχει·καὶ ξύμφορ’ εἶναι καὶ καλῶς ἐγνωσμένα.
then will I entreat that here my children may abide, not that I mean to leave them in a hostile land for foes to flout, but that I may slay the king’s daughter by guile. For I will send them with gifts in their hands,carrying them unto the bride to save them from banishment, a robe of finest woof and a chaplet of gold. And if these ornaments she take and put them on, miserably shall she die, and likewise everyone who touches her; with such fell poisons will I smear my gifts.
παῖδας δὲ μεῖναι τοὺς ἐμοὺς αἰτήσομαι,οὐχ ὡς λιποῦσ’ ἂν πολεμίας ἐπὶ χθονὸςἐχθροῖσι παῖδας τοὺς ἐμοὺς καθυβρίσαι,ἀλλ’ ὡς δόλοισι παῖδα βασιλέως κτάνω.πέμψω γὰρ αὐτοὺς δῶρ’ ἔχοντας ἐν χεροῖν,νύμφῃ φέροντας, τήνδε μὴ φυγεῖν χθόνα,λεπτόν τε πέπλον καὶ πλόκον χρυσήλατον·κἄνπερ λαβοῦσα κόσμον ἀμφιθῇ χροΐ,κακῶς ὀλεῖται πᾶς θ’ ὃς ἂν θίγῃ κόρης·τοιοῖσδε χρίσω φαρμάκοις δωρήματα.
And here I quit this theme; but I shudder at the deed I must do next; for I will slay the children I have borne; there is none shall take them from my toils; and when I have utterly confounded Jason’s houseI will leave the land, escaping punishment for my dear children’s murder, after my most unholy deed. For I cannot endure the taunts of enemies, kind friends; enough! what gain is life to me? I have no country, home, or refuge left.
ἐνταῦθα μέντοι τόνδ’ ἀπαλλάσσω λόγον·ᾤμωξα δ’ οἷον ἔργον ἔστ’ ἐργαστέοντοὐντεῦθεν ἡμῖν· τέκνα γὰρ κατακτενῶτἄμ’· οὔτις ἔστιν ὅστις ἐξαιρήσεται·δόμον τε πάντα συγχέασ’ Ἰάσονοςἔξειμι γαίας, φιλτάτων παίδων φόνονφεύγουσα καὶ τλᾶσ’ ἔργον ἀνοσιώτατον.οὐ γὰρ γελᾶσθαι τλητὸν ἐξ ἐχθρῶν, φίλαι.ἴτω· τί μοι ζῆν κέρδος; οὔτε μοι πατρὶςοὔτ’ οἶκος ἔστιν οὔτ’ ἀποστροφὴ κακῶν.
Ο, I did wrong, that hour I left my father’s home, persuaded by that Hellene’s words, who now shall pay the penalty, so help me God. Never shall he see again alive the children I bore to him,nor from his new bride shall he beget issue, for she must die a hideous death, slain by my drugs. Let no one deem me a poor weak woman who sits with folded hands, but of another mould, dangerous to foes and well-disposed to friends;
ἡμάρτανον τόθ’ ἡνίκ’ ἐξελίμπανονδόμους πατρῴους, ἀνδρὸς Ἕλληνος λόγοιςπεισθεῖσ’, ὃς ἡμῖν σὺν θεῷ τείσει δίκην.οὔτ’ ἐξ ἐμοῦ γὰρ παῖδας ὄψεταί ποτεζῶντας τὸ λοιπὸν οὔτε τῆς νεοζύγουνύμφης τεκνώσει παῖδ’, ἐπεὶ κακῶς κακὴνθανεῖν σφ’ ἀνάγκη τοῖς ἐμοῖσι φαρμάκοις.μηδείς με φαύλην κἀσθενῆ νομιζέτωμηδ’ ἡσυχαίαν, ἀλλὰ θατέρου τρόπου,βαρεῖαν ἐχθροῖς καὶ φίλοισιν εὐμενῆ·
for they win the fairest fame who live their life like me.
τῶν γὰρ τοιούτων εὐκλεέστατος βίος.
Chorus:Since thou hast imparted this design to me, I bid thee hold thy hand, both from a wish to serve thee and because I would uphold the laws men make.
Χορός:ἐπείπερ ἡμῖν τόνδ’ ἐκοίνωσας λόγον,σέ τ’’ ὠφελεῖν θέλουσα, καὶ νόμοις βροτῶνξυλλαμβάνουσα, δρᾶν σ’ ἀπεννέπω τάδε.
Medea:It cannot but be so; thy wordsI pardon since thou art not in the same sorry plight that I am.
Μήδεια:οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλως· σοὶ δὲ συγγνώμη λέγειντάδ’ ἐστί, μὴ πάσχουσαν, ὡς ἐγώ, κακῶς.
Chorus:O lady, wilt thou steel thyself to slay thy children twain?
Χορός:ἀλλὰ κτανεῖν σὸν σπέρμα τολμήσεις, γύναι;
Medea:I will, for that will stab my husband to the heart.
Μήδεια:οὕτω γὰρ ἂν μάλιστα δηχθείη πόσις.
Chorus:It may, but thou wilt be the saddest wife alive.
Χορός:σὺ δ’ ἂν γένοιό γ’ ἀθλιωτάτη γυνή.
Medea:No matter; wasted is every word that comes ’twixt now and then.
Μήδεια:ἴτω· περισσοὶ πάντες οὑν μέσῳ λόγοι.
(To the Nurse.) Ho! thou, go call me Jason hither, for thee I do employ on every mission of trust. No word divulge of all my purpose, as thou art to thy mistress loyal and likewise of my sex.
ἀλλ’ εἶα χώρει καὶ κόμιζ’ Ἰάσονα·ἐς πάντα γὰρ δὴ σοὶ τὰ πιστὰ χρώμεθα.λέξῃς δὲ μηδὲν τῶν ἐμοὶ δεδογμένων,εἴπερ φρονεῖς εὖ δεσπόταις γυνή τ’ ἔφυς.
Chorus:Sons of Erechtheus, heroes happy from of yore,children of the blessed gods, fed on wisdom’s glorious food in a holy land ne’er pillaged by its foes, ye who move with sprightly step through a climate ever brightand clear, where, as legend tells, the Muses nine, Pieria’s holy maids, were brought to birth by Harmonia with the golden hair;
Χορός:Ἐρεχθεΐδαι τὸ παλαιὸν ὄλβιοικαὶ θεῶν παῖδες μακάρων, ἱερᾶςχώρας ἀπορθήτου τ’ ἄπο, φερβόμενοικλεινοτάταν σοφίαν, αἰεὶ διὰ λαμπροτάτουβαίνοντες ἁβρῶς αἰθέρος, ἔνθα ποθ’ ἁγνὰςἐννέα Πιερίδας Μούσας λέγουσιξανθὰν Ἁρμονίαν φυτεῦσαι·
Chorus:and poets sing how Cypris drawing water from the streams of fair-flowing Cephissus breathes o’er the land a gentle breezeof balmy winds, and ever as she crowns her tresses with a garland of sweet rose-buds sends forth the Loves to sit by wisdom’s side,to take a part in every excellence.
Χορός:τοῦ καλλινάου τ’ ἐπὶ Κηφισοῦ ῥοαῖςτὰν Κύπριν κλῄζουσιν ἀφυσσαμένανχώραν καταπνεῦσαι μετρίας ἀνέμωνἡδυπνόους αὔρας· αἰεὶ δ’ ἐπιβαλλομένανχαίταισιν εὐώδη ῥοδέων πλόκον ἀνθέωντᾷ Σοφίᾳ παρέδρους πέμπειν Ἔρωτας,παντοίας ἀρετᾶς ξυνεργούς.
Chorus:How then shall the city of sacred streams, the land that welcomes those it loves, receive thee, the murderess of thy children,thee whose presence with others is a pollution? Think on the murder of thy children, consider the bloody deed thou takest on thee. Nay, by thy knees we, one and all, implore thee,slay not thy babes.
Χορός:πῶς οὖν ἱερῶν ποταμῶνἢ πόλις; ἦ φίλωνπόμπιμός σε χώρατὰν παιδολέτειραν ἕξει,τὰν οὐχ ὁσίαν μετ’ ἄλλων;σκέψαι τεκέων πλαγάν,σκέψαι φόνον οἷον αἴρῃ.μή, πρὸς γονάτων σε πάντηπάντως ἱκετεύομεν,τέκνα φονεύσῃς.
Chorus:Where shall hand or heart find hardihood enough in wreaking such a fearsome deed upon thy sons?
Χορός:πόθεν θράσος ἢ φρενὸς ἢχειρὶ τέκνων σέθενκαρδίᾳ τε λήψῃδεινὰν προσάγουσα τόλμαν;
How wilt thou look upon thy babes, and still without a tear retain thy bloody purpose? Thou canst not, when they fall at thy feet for mercy, steel thy heart and dipin their blood thy hand.
πῶς δ’ ὄμματα προσβαλοῦσατέκνοις ἄδακρυν μοῖρανσχήσεις φόνου; οὐ δυνάσῃ,παίδων ἱκετᾶν πιτνόντων,τέγξαι χέρα φοινίαντλάμονι θυμῷ.
Jason:I am come at thy bidding, for e’en though thy hate for me is bitter thou shalt not fail in this small boon, but I will hear what new request thou hast to make of me, lady.
Ἰάσων:ἥκω κελευσθείς· καὶ γὰρ οὖσα δυσμενὴςοὔ τἂν ἁμάρτοις τοῦδέ γ’, ἀλλ’ ἀκούσομαιτί χρῆμα βούλῃ καινὸν ἐξ ἐμοῦ, γύναι.
Medea:Jason, I crave thy pardonfor the words I spoke, and well thou mayest brook my burst of passion, for ere now we twain have shared much love. For I have reasoned with my soul and railed upon me thus, “Ah! poor heart 1 why am I thus distraught, why so angered ’gainst all good advice,”“why have I come to hate the rulers of the land, my husband too, who does the best for me he can, in wedding with a princess and rearing for my children noble brothers? Shall I not cease to fret? What possesses me, when heaven its best doth offer?”
Μήδεια:Ἰᾶσον, αἰτοῦμαί σε τῶν εἰρημένωνσυγγνώμον’ εἶναι· τὰς δ’ ἐμὰς ὀργὰς φέρεινεἰκός σ’, ἐπεὶ νῷν πόλλ’ ὑπείργασται φίλα.ἐγὼ δ’ ἐμαυτῇ διὰ λόγων ἀφικόμηνκἀλοιδόρησα· Σχετλία, τί μαίνομαικαὶ δυσμεναίνω τοῖσι βουλεύουσιν εὖ,ἐχθρὰ δὲ γαίας κοιράνοις καθίσταμαιπόσει θ’, ὃς ἡμῖν δρᾷ τὰ συμφορώτατα,γήμας τύραννον καὶ κασιγνήτους τέκνοιςἐμοῖς φυτεύων; οὐκ ἀπαλλαχθήσομαιθυμοῦ—τί πάσχω;—θεῶν ποριζόντων καλῶς;
“Have I not my children to consider? do I forget that we are fugitives, in need of friends?” When I had thought all this I saw how foolish I had been, how senselessly enraged. So now I do commend thee and think thee most wise in formingthis connexion for us; but I was mad, I who should have shared in these designs, helped on thy plans, and lent my aid to bring about the match, only too pleased to wait upon thy bride. But what we are, we are, we women, evil I will not say;wherefore thou shouldst not sink to our sorry level nor with our weapons meet our childishness.
οὐκ εἰσὶ μέν μοι παῖδες, οἶδα δὲ χθόναφεύγοντας ἡμᾶς καὶ σπανίζοντας φίλων;ταῦτ’ ἐννοήσασ’ ᾐσθόμην ἀβουλίανπολλὴν ἔχουσα καὶ μάτην θυμουμένη.νῦν οὖν ἐπαινῶ· σωφρονεῖν τ’ ἐμοὶ δοκεῖςκῆδος τόδ’ ἡμῖν προσλαβών, ἐγὼ δ’ ἄφρων,ᾗ χρῆν μετεῖναι τῶνδε τῶν βουλευμάτων,καὶ ξυγγαμεῖν σοι, καὶ παρεστάναι λέχεινύμφην τε κηδεύουσαν ἥδεσθαι σέθεν.ἀλλ’ ἐσμὲν οἷόν ἐσμεν, οὐκ ἐρῶ κακόν,γυναῖκες· οὔκουν χρῆν σ’ ὁμοιοῦσθαι κακοῖς,οὐδ’ ἀντιτείνειν νήπι’ ἀντὶ νηπίων.
I yield and do confess that I was wrong then, but now have I come to a better mind. Come hither, my children, come, leave the house,step forth, and with me greet and bid farewell to your father, be reconciled from all past bitterness unto your friends, as now your mother is; for we have made a truce and anger is no more. Enter the Children. Take his right hand; ah me! my sad fate!when I reflect, as now, upon the hidden future. O my children, since there awaits you even thus a long, long life, stretch forth the hand to take a fond farewell. Ah me! how new to tears am I, how full of fear! For now that I have at last released me from my quarrel with your father,I let the tear-drops stream adown my tender cheek.
παριέμεσθα, καί φαμεν κακῶς φρονεῖντότ’, ἀλλ’ ἄμεινον νῦν βεβούλευμαι τάδε·ὦ τέκνα τέκνα, δεῦτε, λείπετε στέγας,ἐξέλθετ’, ἀσπάσασθε καὶ προσείπατεπατέρα μεθ’ ἡμῶν, καὶ διαλλάχθηθ’ ἅματῆς πρόσθεν ἔχθρας ἐς φίλους μητρὸς μέτα·σπονδαὶ γὰρ ἡμῖν καὶ μεθέστηκεν χόλος.λάβεσθε χειρὸς δεξιᾶς· οἴμοι, κακῶνὡς ἐννοοῦμαι δή τι τῶν κεκρυμμένων.ἆρ’, ὦ τέκν’, οὕτω καὶ πολὺν ζῶντες χρόνονφίλην ὀρέξετ’ ὠλένην; τάλαιν’ ἐγώ,ὡς ἀρτίδακρύς εἰμι καὶ φόβου πλέα.χρόνῳ δὲ νεῖκος πατρὸς ἐξαιρουμένηὄψιν τέρειναν τήνδ’ ἔπλησα δακρύων.
Chorus:From my eyes too bursts forth the copious tear; O, may no greater ill than the present e’er befall!
Χορός:κἀμοὶ κατ’ ὄσσων χλωρὸν ὡρμήθη δάκρυ·καὶ μὴ προβαίη μεῖζον ἢ τὸ νῦν κακόν.
Jason:Lady, I praise this conduct, not that I blame what is past; for it is but natural to the female sex to vent their spleen against a husbandwhen he trafficks in other marriages besides his own. But thy heart is changed to wiser schemes and thou art determined on the better course, late though it be; this is acting like a woman of sober sense. And for you, my sons, hath your father providedwith all good heed a sure refuge, by God’s grace; for ye, I trow, shall with your brothers share hereafter the foremost rank in this Corinthian realm. Only grow up, for all the rest your sire and whoso of the gods is kind to us is bringing to pass.
Ἰάσων:αἰνῶ, γύναι, τάδ’, οὐδ’ ἐκεῖνα μέμφομαι·εἰκὸς γὰρ ὀργὰς θῆλυ ποιεῖσθαι γένοςγάμου παρεμπολῶντος ἀλλοίου πόσει.ἀλλ’ ἐς τὸ λῷον σὸν μεθέστηκεν κέαρ,ἔγνως δὲ τὴν νικῶσαν, ἀλλὰ τῷ χρόνῳ,βουλήν· γυναικὸς ἔργα ταῦτα σώφρονος.ὑμῖν δέ, παῖδες, οὐκ ἀφροντίστως πατὴρπολλὴν ἔθηκε σὺν θεοῖς σωτηρίαν·οἶμαι γὰρ ὑμᾶς τῆσδε γῆς Κορινθίαςτὰ πρῶτ’ ἔσεσθαι σὺν κασιγνήτοις ἔτι.ἀλλ’ αὐξάνεσθε· τἄλλα δ’ ἐξεργάζεταιπατήρ τε καὶ θεῶν ὅστις ἐστὶν εὐμενής·
May I see you reach man’s full estate, high o’er the heads of those I hate! But thou, lady, why with fresh tears dost thou thine eyelids wet, turning away thy wan cheek, with no welcome for these my happy tidings?
ἴδοιμι δ’ ὑμᾶς εὐτραφεῖς ἥβης τέλοςμολόντας, ἐχθρῶν τῶν ἐμῶν ὑπερτέρους.αὕτη, τί χλωροῖς δακρύοις τέγγεις κόρας,στρέψασα λευκὴν ἔμπαλιν παρηίδα;κοὐκ ἀσμένη τόνδ’ ἐξ ἐμοῦ δέχῃ λόγον;
Medea:’Tis naught; upon these children my thoughts were turned.
Μήδεια:οὐδέν. τέκνων τῶνδ’ ἐννοουμένη πέρι.
Jason:Then take heart; for I will see that it is well with them.
Ἰάσων:θάρσει νυν· εὖ γὰρ τῶνδ’ ἐγὼ θήσω πέρι.
Medea:I will do so; nor will I doubt thy word; woman is a weak creature, ever given to tears.
Μήδεια:δράσω τάδ’· οὔτοι σοῖς ἀπιστήσω λόγοις·γυνὴ δὲ θῆλυ κἀπὶ δακρύοις ἔφυ.
Jason:Why prithee, unhappy one, dost moan o’er these children?
Ἰάσων:τί δῆτα λίαν τοῖσδ’ ἐπιστένεις τέκνοις;
Medea:I gave them birth; and when thou didst pray long life for them, pity entered into my soul to think that these things must be. But the reason of thy coming hither to speak with me is partly told, the rest will I now mention. Since it is the pleasure of the rulers of the land to banish me,and well I know ’twere best for me to stand not in the way of thee or of the rulers by dwelling here, enemy as I am thought unto their house, forth from this land in exile am I going, but these children,—that they may know thy fostering hand,beg Creon to remit their banishment
Μήδεια:ἔτικτον αὐτούς· ζῆν δ’ ὅτ’ ἐξηύχου τέκνα,ἐσῆλθέ μ’ οἶκτος εἰ γενήσεται τάδε.ἀλλ’ ὧνπερ οὕνεκ’ εἰς ἐμοὺς ἥκεις λόγους,τὰ μὲν λέλεκται, τῶν δ’ ἐγὼ μνησθήσομαι.ἐπεὶ τυράννοις γῆς μ’ ἀποστεῖλαι δοκεῖ—κἀμοὶ τάδ’ ἐστὶ λῷστα, γιγνώσκω καλῶς,μήτ’ ἐμποδὼν σοὶ μήτε κοιράνοις χθονὸςναίειν· δοκῶ γὰρ δυσμενὴς εἶναι δόμοις—ἡμεῖς μὲν ἐκ γῆς τῆσδ’ ἀπαίρομεν φυγῇ,παῖδες δ’ ὅπως ἂν ἐκτραφῶσι σῇ χερί,αἰτοῦ Κρέοντα τήνδε μὴ φεύγειν χθόνα.
Jason:I doubt whether I can persuade him, yet must I attempt it.
Ἰάσων:οὐκ οἶδ’ ἂν εἰ πείσαιμι, πειρᾶσθαι δὲ χρή.
Medea:At least do thou bid thy wife ask her sire this boon, to remit the exile of the children from this land.
Μήδεια:σὺ δ’ ἀλλὰ σὴν κέλευσον αἰτεῖσθαι πατρὸςγυναῖκα παῖδας τήνδε μὴ φεύγειν χθόνα.
Jason:Yea, that will I; and her methinks I shall persuade,since she is a woman like the rest.
Ἰάσων:μάλιστα, καὶ πείσειν γε δοξάζω σφ’ ἐγώ.Μήδεια:εἴπερ γυναικῶν ἐστι τῶν ἄλλων μία.
Medea:I too will aid thee in this task, for by the children’s hand I will send to her gifts that far surpass in beauty, I well know, aught that now is seen ’mongst men, a robe of finest tissue and a chaplet of chased gold.But one of my attendants must haste and bring the ornaments hither. Happy shall she be not once alone but ten thousandfold, for in thee she wins the noblest soul to share her love, and gets these gifts as well which on a day my father’s sire, the Sun-god,bestowed on his descendants. My children, take in your hands these wedding gifts, and bear them as an offering to the royal maid, the happy bride; for verily the gifts she shall receive are not to be scorned.
συλλήψομαι δὲ τοῦδέ σοι κἀγὼ πόνου·πέμψω γὰρ αὐτῇ δῶρ’ ἃ καλλιστεύεταιτῶν νῦν ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν, οἶδ’ ἐγώ, πολύ,λεπτόν τε πέπλον καὶ πλόκον χρυσήλατονπαῖδας φέροντας. ἀλλ’ ὅσον τάχος χρεὼνκόσμον κομίζειν δεῦρο προσπόλων τινά.εὐδαιμονήσει δ’ οὐχ ἕν, ἀλλὰ μυρία,ἀνδρός τ’ ἀρίστου σοῦ τυχοῦσ’ ὁμευνέτουκεκτημένη τε κόσμον ὅν ποθ’ Ἥλιοςπατρὸς πατὴρ δίδωσιν ἐκγόνοισιν οἷς.λάζυσθε φερνὰς τάσδε, παῖδες, ἐς χέραςκαὶ τῇ τυράννῳ μακαρίᾳ νύμφῃ δότεφέροντες· οὔτοι δῶρα μεμπτὰ δέξεται.