Thy own free choice was this; blame no one else.
MEDEA. What did I do? Marry, then betray thee?
JASON. Against the king thou didst invoke an impious curse.
MEDEA. On thy house too maybe I bring the curse.
JASON. Know this, I will no further dispute this point with thee. 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 bend 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.
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.
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.
MEDEA. Away! By love for thy young bride entrapped, too long thou lingerest outside her chamber; go wed, for, if God will, thou shalt have such a marriage as thou wouldst fain refuse.
[JASON goes out.]
CHORUS. [singing.]
STROPHE 1.
When in excess and past all limits Love doth come, he brings not glory or repute to 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.
ANTISTROPHE 1.
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.
STROPHE 2.
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.
ANTISTROPHE 2.
I have seen with mine eyes, nor from the lips of others have I the lesson learnt; 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.
[MEDEA has been seated in despair on her door-step during the choral song. AEGEUS and his attendants enter.]
AEGEUS. All hail, Medea! no man knoweth fairer prelude to the greeting of friends than this.
MEDEA. All hail to thee likewise, Aegeus, son of wise Pandion. Whence comest thou to this land?
AEGEUS. From Phoebus’ ancient oracle.
MEDEA. What took thee on thy travels to the prophetic centre of the earth?
AEGEUS. The wish to ask how I might raise up seed unto myself.
MEDEA. Pray tell me, hast thou till now dragged on a childless life?
AEGEUS. I have no child owing to the visitation of some god.
MEDEA. Hast thou a wife, or hast thou never known the married state?
AEGEUS. I have a wife joined to me in wedlock’s bond.
MEDEA. What said Phoebus to thee as to children?
AEGEUS. Words too subtle for man to comprehend.
MEDEA. Surely I may learn the god’s answer?
AEGEUS. Most assuredly, for it is just thy subtle wit it needs.
MEDEA. What said the god? speak, if I may hear it.
AEGEUS. He bade me “not loose the wineskin’s pendent neck.”
MEDEA. Till when? what must thou do first, what country visit?
AEGEUS. Till I to my native home return.
MEDEA. What object hast thou in sailing to this land?
AEGEUS. O’er Troezen’s realm is Pittheus king.
MEDEA. Pelops’ son, a man devout they say.
AEGEUS. To him I fain would impart the oracle of the god.
MEDEA. The man is shrewd and versed in such-like lore.
AEGEUS. Aye, and to me the dearest of all my warrior friends.
MEDEA. Good luck to thee! success to all thy wishes!
AEGEUS. But why that downcast eye, that wasted cheek?
MEDEA. O Aegeus, my husband has proved most evil.
AEGEUS. What meanest thou? explain to me clearly the cause of thy despondency.
MEDEA. Jason is wronging me though I have given him no cause.
AEGEUS. What hath he done? tell me more clearly.
MEDEA. He is taking another wife to succeed me as mistress of his house.
AEGEUS. Can he have brought himself to such a dastard deed?
MEDEA. 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?
MEDEA. Much in love is he! A traitor to his friend is he become.
AEGEUS. Enough! if he is a villain as thou sayest.
MEDEA. The alliance he is so much enamoured of is with a princess.
AEGEUS. Who gives his daughter to him? go on, I pray.
MEDEA. Creon, who is lord of this land of Corinth.
AEGEUS. Lady, I can well pardon thy grief.
MEDEA. I am undone, and more than that, am banished from the land.
AEGEUS. By whom? fresh woe this word of thine unfolds.
MEDEA. Creon drives me forth in exile from Corinth.
AEGEUS. Doth Jason allow it? This too I blame him for.
MEDEA. Not in words, but he will not stand out against it. O, 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 of offspring, and may thy life close in happiness!
