Chorus
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.
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.
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.
Chorus
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.
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 a monster of iniquity.
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! 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.
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. 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.
Medea It shall be even so; but wouldst thou pledge thy word to this, I should in all be well content with thee.
Aegeus Surely thou dost trust me? or is there aught that troubles thee?
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.
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.
Medea Swear by the plain of Earth, by Helios my father’s sire, and, in one comprehensive oath, by all the race of gods.
Aegeus What shall I swear to do, from what refrain? tell me that.
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.
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.
Medea ’Tis enough. If thou shouldst break this oath, what curse dost thou invoke upon thyself?
Aegeus Whate’er betides the impious.
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.
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