The Tragedies of Euripides Part 34

MED. Is it allowable for me to know the oracle of the G.o.d?

aeG. Certainly, inasmuch as it needs also a deep-skilled mind.

MED. What then did he say? Speak, if I may hear.

aeG. That I was not to loose the projecting foot of the vessel--

MED. Before thou didst what, or came to what land?

aeG. Before I revisit my paternal hearth.

MED. Then as desiring what dost thou direct thy voyage to this land?

aeG. There is one Pittheus, king of the country of Trazene.

MED. The most pious son, as report says, of Pelops.

aeG. To him I wish to communicate the oracle of the G.o.d.

MED. For he is a wise man, and versed in such matters.

aeG. And to me at least the dearest of all my friends in war.

MED. Mayest thou prosper, and obtain what thou desirest.

aeG. But why is thine eye and thy color thus faded?

MED. aegeus, my husband is the worst of all men.

aeG. What sayest thou? tell me all thy troubles.

MED. Jason wrongs me, having never suffered wrong from me.

aeG. Having done what? tell me more clearly.

MED. He hath here a wife besides me, mistress of the house.

aeG. Hath he dared to commit this disgraceful action?

MED. Be a.s.sured he has; but we his former friends are dishonored.

aeG. Enamored of her, or hating thy bed?

MED. [Smitten with] violent love indeed, he was faithless to his friends.

aeG. Let him perish then, since, as you say, he is a bad man.

MED. He was charmed to receive an alliance with princes.

aeG. And who gives the bride to him? finish the account, I beg.

MED. Creon, who is monarch of this Corinthian land.

aeG. Pardonable was it then that thou art grieved, O lady.

MED. I perish, and in addition to this am I banished from this land.

aeG. By whom? thou art mentioning another fresh misfortune.

MED. Creon drives me an exile out of this land of Corinth.

aeG. And does Jason suffer it? I praise not this.

MED. By his words he does not, but at heart he wishes [to endure my banishment:] but by this thy beard I entreat thee, and by these thy knees, and I become thy suppliant, pity me, pity this unfortunate woman, nor behold me going forth in exile abandoned, but receive me at thy hearth in thy country and thy house. Thus by the G.o.ds shall thy desire of children be accomplished to thee, and thou thyself shalt die in happiness. But thou knowest not what this fortune is that thou hast found; but I will free thee from being childless, and I will cause thee to raise up offspring, such charms I know.

aeG. On many accounts, O lady, am I willing to confer this favor on thee, first on account of the G.o.ds, then of the children, whose birth thou holdest forth; for on this point else I am totally sunk in despair. But thus am I determined: if thou comest to my country, I will endeavor to receive thee with hospitality, being a just man; so much however I beforehand apprise thee of, O lady, I shall not be willing to lead thee with me from this land; but if thou comest thyself to my house, thou shalt stay there in safety, and to no one will I give thee up. But do thou of thyself withdraw thy foot from this country, for I wish to be without blame even among strangers.

MED. It shall be so, but if there was a pledge of this given to me, I should have all things from thee in a n.o.ble manner.

aeG. Dost thou not trust me? what is thy difficulty?

MED. I trust thee; but the house of Pelias is mine enemy, and Creon too; to these then, wert thou bound by oaths, thou wouldest not give me up from the country, should they attempt to drag me thence. But having agreed by words alone, and without calling the G.o.ds to witness, thou mightest be their friend, and perhaps[20] be persuaded by an emba.s.sy; for weak is my state, but theirs are riches, and a royal house.

aeG. Thou hast spoken much prudence, O lady. But if it seems fit to thee that I should do this, I refuse not. For to me also this seems the safest plan, that I should have some pretext to show to your enemies, and thy safety is better secured; propose the G.o.ds that I am to invoke.

MED. Swear by the earth, and by the sun the father of my father, and join the whole race of G.o.ds.

aeG. That I will do what thing, or what not do? speak.

MED. That thou wilt neither thyself ever cast me forth from out of thy country, nor, if any one of my enemies desire to drag me thence, that thou wilt, while living, give me up willingly.

aeG. I swear by the earth, and the hallowed majesty of the sun, and by all the G.o.ds, to abide by what I hear from thee.

MED. It is sufficient: but what wilt thou endure shouldest thou not abide by this oath?

aeG. That which befalls impious men.

MED. Go with blessings; for every thing is well. And I will come as quick as possible to thy city, having performed what I intend, and having obtained what I desire.

CHOR. But may the son of Maia the king, the guide, conduct thee safely to thy house, and the plans of those things, which thou anxiously keepest in thy mind, mayest thou bring to completion, since, aegeus, thou hast appeared to us to be a n.o.ble man.

MEDEA, CHORUS.

MED. O Jove, and thou vengeance of Jove, and thou light of the sun, now, my friends, shall I obtain a splendid victory over my enemies, and I have struck into the path. Now is there hope that my enemies will suffer punishment. For this man, where I was most at a loss, hath appeared a harbor to my plans. From him will I make fast my cable from the stern, having come to the town and citadel of Pallas. But now will I communicate all my plans to thee; but receive my words not as attuned to pleasure.

Having sent one of my domestics, I will ask Jason to come into my presence; and when he is come, I will address gentle words to him, as that it appears to me that these his actions are both honorable, and are advantageous and well determined on.[21] And I will entreat him that my sons may stay; not that I would leave my children in a hostile country for my enemies to insult, but that by deceit I may slay the king's daughter. For I will send them bearing presents in their hands, both a fine-wrought robe, and a golden-twined wreath.[22] And if she take the ornaments and place them round her person, she shall perish miserably, and every one who shall touch the damsel; with such charms will I anoint the presents. Here however I finish this account; but I bewail the deed such as must next be done by me; for I shall slay my children; there is no one who shall rescue them from me; and having heaped in ruins the whole house of Jason, I will go from out this land, flying the murder of my dearest children, and having dared a deed most unhallowed. For it is not to be borne, my friends, to be derided by one's enemies. Let things take their course; what gain is it to me to live longer? I have neither country, nor house, nor refuge from my ills.

Then erred I, when I left my father's house, persuaded by the words of a Grecian man, who with the will of the G.o.ds shall suffer punishment from me.

For neither shall he ever hereafter behold the children he had by me alive, nor shall he raise a child by his new wedded wife, since it is fated that the wretch should wretchedly perish by my spells. Let no one think me mean-spirited and weak, nor of a gentle temper, but of a contrary disposition to my foes relentless, and to my friends kind: for the lives of such sort are most glorious.