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Aegeus
But why that downcast eye, that wasted cheek?
But why that downcast eye, that wasted cheek?
Medea
O Aegeus, my husband has proved a monster of iniquity.
690
O Aegeus, my husband has proved a monster of iniquity.
690
Aegeus
What meanest thou? explain to me clearly the cause of thy despondency.
What meanest thou? explain to me clearly the cause of thy despondency.
Medea
Jason is wronging me though I have given him no cause.
Jason is wronging me though I have given him no cause.
Aegeus
What hath he done? tell me more clearly.
What hath he done? tell me more clearly.
Medea
He is taking another wife to succeed me as mistress of his house.
He is taking another wife to succeed me as mistress of his house.
Aegeus
Can he have brought himself to such a dastard deed?
695
Can he have brought himself to such a dastard deed?
695
Medea
Be assured thereof; I, whom he loved of yore, am in dishonour now.
Be assured thereof; I, whom he loved of yore, am in dishonour now.
Aegeus
Hath he found a new love? or does he loathe thy bed?
Hath he found a new love? or does he loathe thy bed?
Medea
Much in love is he! A traitor to his friend is he become.
Much in love is he! A traitor to his friend is he become.
Aegeus
Enough! if he is a villain as thou sayest.
Enough! if he is a villain as thou sayest.
Medea
The alliance he is so much enamoured of is with a princess.
700
The alliance he is so much enamoured of is with a princess.
700
Aegeus
Who gives his daughter to him? go on, I pray.
Who gives his daughter to him? go on, I pray.
Medea
Creon, who is lord of this land of Corinth.
Creon, who is lord of this land of Corinth.
Aegeus
Lady, I can well pardon thy grief.
Lady, I can well pardon thy grief.
Medea
I am undone, and more than that, am banished from the land.
I am undone, and more than that, am banished from the land.
Aegeus
By whom? fresh woe this word of thine unfolds.
705
By whom? fresh woe this word of thine unfolds.
705
Medea
Creon drives me forth in exile from Corinth.
Creon drives me forth in exile from Corinth.
Aegeus
Doth Jason allow it? This too I blame him for.
Doth Jason allow it? This too I blame him for.
Medea
Not in words, but he will not stand out against it. Ο, I implore thee by this beard
and 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 harvest
710
of 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.
715
Not in words, but he will not stand out against it. Ο, I implore thee by this beard
and 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 harvest
710
of 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.
715
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.
1
’Tis thus with me; if e’er thou reach my land, I will attempt to champion thee as I am bound to do.
720
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,
725
for I have no wish to incur the blame of my allies as well.
2
730
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.
1
’Tis thus with me; if e’er thou reach my land, I will attempt to champion thee as I am bound to do.
720
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,
725
for I have no wish to incur the blame of my allies as well.
2
730
Medea. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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