And yet they say we live secure at home, while they are at the wars, with their sorry reasoning, for I would gladly take my stand in battle array three times o'er, than once give birth.But enough!
this language suits not thee as it does me; thou hast a city here, a father's house, some joy in life, and friends to share thy thoughts, but I am destitute, without a city, and therefore scorned by my husband, a captive I from a foreign shore, with no mother, brother, or kinsman in whom to find a new haven of refuge from this calamity.
Wherefore this one boon and only this I wish to win from thee,-thy silence, if haply I can some way or means devise to avenge me on my husband for this cruel treatment, and on the man who gave to him his daughter, and on her who is his wife.For though woman be timorous enough in all else, and as regards courage, a coward at the mere sight of steel, yet in the moment she finds her honour wronged, no heart is filled with deadlier thoughts than hers.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
This will I do; for thou wilt be taking a just vengeance on thy husband, Medea.That thou shouldst mourn thy lot surprises me not.But lo! I see Creon, king of this land coming hither, to announce some new resolve.
(CREON enters, with his retinue.)
CREON
Hark thee, Medea, I bid thee take those sullen looks and angry thoughts against thy husband forth from this land in exile, and with thee take both thy children and that without delay, for I am judge in this sentence, and I will not return unto my house till I banish thee beyond the borders of the land.
MEDEA
Ah, me! now is utter destruction come upon me, unhappy that Iam! For my enemies are bearing down on me full sail, nor have I any landing-place to come at in my trouble.Yet for all my wretched plight I will ask thee, Creon, wherefore dost thou drive me from the land?
CREON
I fear thee,-no longer need I veil my dread 'neath words,-lest thou devise against my child some cureless ill.Many things contribute to this fear of mine; thou art a witch by nature, expert in countless sorceries, and thou art chafing for the loss of thy husband's affection.I hear, too, so they tell me, that thou dost threaten the father of the bride, her husband, and herself with some mischief; wherefore I will take precautions ere our troubles come.For 'tis better for me to incur thy hatred now, lady, than to soften my heart and bitterly repent it hereafter.
MEDEA
Alas! this is not now the first time, but oft before, O Creon, hath my reputation injured me and caused sore mischief.Wherefore whoso is wise in his generation ought never to have his children taught to be too clever; for besides the reputation they get for idleness, they purchase bitter odium from the citizens.For if thou shouldst import new learning amongst dullards, thou wilt be thought a useless trifler, void of knowledge; while if thy fame in the city o'ertops that of the pretenders to cunning knowledge, thou wilt win their dislike.I too myself share in this ill-luck.Some think me clever and hate me, others say I am too reserved, and some the very reverse; others find me hard to please and not so very clever after all.Be that as it may, thou dost fear me lest I bring on thee something to mar thy harmony.Fear me not, Creon, my position scarce is such that should seek to quarrel with princes.Why should I, for how hast thou injured me? Thou hast betrothed thy daughter where thy fancy prompted thee.No, 'tis my husband I hate, though I doubt not thou hast acted wisely herein.And now I grudge not thy prosperity;betroth thy child, good luck to thee, but let me abide in this land, for though I have been wronged I will be still and yield to my superiors.
CREON
Thy words are soft to hear, but much I dread lest thou art devising some mischief in thy heart, and less than ever do I trust thee now; for cunning woman, and man likewise, is easier to guard against when quick-tempered than when taciturn.Nay, begone at once!
speak me no speeches, for this is decreed, nor hast thou any art whereby thou shalt abide amongst us, since thou hatest me.
MEDEA
O, say not so! by thy knees and by thy daughter newlywed, I do implore!
CREON
Thou wastest words; thou wilt never persuade me.
MEDEA
What, wilt thou banish me, and to my prayers no pity yield?
CREON
I will, for I love not thee above my own family.
MEDEA
O my country! what fond memories I have of thee in this hour!
CREON
Yea, for I myself love my city best of all things save my children.
MEDEA
Ah me! ah me! to mortal man how dread a scourge is love!
CREON
That, I deem, is according to the turn our fortunes take.
MEDEA
O Zeus! let not the author of these my troubles escape thee.
CREON
Begone, thou silly woman, and free me from my toil.
MEDEA
The toil is mine, no lack of it.
CREON
Soon wilt thou be thrust out forcibly by the hand of servants.
MEDEA
Not that, not that, I do entreat thee, Creon CREONThou wilt cause disturbance yet, it seems.
MEDEA
I will begone; I ask thee not this boon to grant.
CREON
Why then this violence? why dost thou not depart?
MEDEA
Suffer me to abide this single day and devise some plan for the manner of my exile, and means of living for my children, since their father cares not to provide his babes therewith.Then pity them;thou too hast children of thine own; thou needs must have a kindly heart.For my own lot I care naught, though I an exile am, but for those babes I weep, that they should learn what sorrow means.
CREON
Mine is a nature anything but harsh; full oft by showing pity have suffered shipwreck; and now albeit I clearly see my error, yet shalt thou gain this request, lady; but I do forewarn thee, if tomorrow's rising sun shall find thee and thy children within the borders of this land, thou diest; my word is spoken and it will not lie.So now, if abide thou must, stay this one day only, for in it thou canst not do any of the fearful deeds I dread.
(CREON and his retinue go out.)
CHORUS (chanting)
