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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;
765
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 Jason
770
send 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;
1
775
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,
780
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.
785
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;
765
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 Jason
770
send 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;
1
775
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,
780
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.
785
Medea. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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