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some god sent； raised a cry of prayer； till from her mouth she saw the
foam…flakes issue； her eyeballs rolling in their sockets； and all
the blood her face desert； then did she raise a loud scream far
different from her former cry。 Forthwith one handmaid rushed to her
father's house； another to her new bridegroom to tell his bride's
sad fate； and the whole house echoed with their running to and fro。 By
this time would a quick walker have made the turn in a course of six
plethra and reached the goal； when she with one awful shriek awoke；
poor sufferer； from her speechless trance and oped her closed eyes；
for against her a twofold anguish was warring。 The chaplet of gold
about her head was sending forth a wondrous stream of ravening
flame； while the fine raiment； thy children's gift； was preying on the
hapless maiden's fair white flesh； and she starts from her seat in a
blaze and seeks to fly； shaking her hair and head this way and that；
to cast the crown therefrom； but the gold held firm to its fastenings；
and the flame； as she shook her locks； blazed forth the more with
double fury。 Then to the earth she sinks； by the cruel blow
o'ercome； past all recognition now save to a father's eye； for her
eyes had lost their tranquil gaze； her face no more its natural look
preserved； and from the crown of her head blood and fire in mingled
stream ran down； and from her bones the flesh kept peeling off beneath
the gnawing of those secret drugs； e'en as when the pine…tree weeps
its tears of pitch； a fearsome sight to see。 And all were afraid to
touch the corpse； for we were warned by what had chanced。 Anon came
her haples father unto the house； all unwitting of her doom； and
stumbles o'er the dead； and loud he cried； and folding his arms
about her kissed her； with words like these the while； 〃O my poor；
poor child； which of the gods hath destroyed thee thus foully？ Who
is robbing me of thee； old as I am and ripe for death？ O my child；
alas！ would I could die with thee！〃 He ceased his sad lament； and
would have raised his aged frame； but found himself held fast by the
fine…spun robe as ivy that clings to the branches of the bay； and then
ensued a fearful struggle。 He strove to rise； but she still held him
back； and if ever he pulled with all his might； from off his bones his
aged flesh he tore。 At last he gave it up； and breathed forth his soul
in awful suffering； for he could no longer master the pain。 So there
they lie； daughter and aged sire； dead side by side； a grievous
sight that calls for tears。 And as for thee； I leave thee out of my
consideration； for thyself must discover a means to escape punishment。
Not now for the first time I think this human life a shadow； yea；
and without shrinking I will say that they amongst men who pretend
to wisdom and expend deep thought on words do incur a serious charge
of folly； for amongst mortals no man is happy； wealth may pour in
and make one luckier than another； but none can happy be。
（The MESSENGER departs。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
This day the deity； it seems； will mass on Jason； as he well
deserves； heavy load of evils。 Woe is thee； daughter of Creon We
pity thy sad fate； gone as thou art to Hades' halls as the price of
thy marriage with Jason。
MEDEA
My friends； I am resolved upon the deed； at once will I slay my
children and then leave this land； without delaying long enough to
hand them over to some more savage hand to butcher。 Needs must they
die in any case； and since they must； I will slay them…I； the mother
that bare them。 O heart of mine； steel thyself！ Why do I hesitate to
do the awful deed that must be done？ Come； take the sword； thou
wretched hand of mine！ Take it； and advance to the post whence
starts thy life of sorrow！ Away with cowardice！ Give not one thought
to thy babes； how dear they are or how thou art their mother。 This one
brief day forget thy children dear； and after that lament； for
though thou wilt slay them yet they were thy darlings still； and I
am a lady of sorrows。
（MEDEA enters the house。）
CHORUS （chanting）
O earth； O sun whose beam illumines all； look； look upon this lost
woman； ere she stretch forth her murderous hand upon her sons for
blood； for lo！ these are scions of thy own golden seed； and the
blood of gods is in danger of being shed by man。 O light； from Zeus
proceeding； stay her； hold her hand； forth from the house chase this
fell bloody fiend by demons led。 Vainly wasted were the throes thy
children cost thee； vainly hast thou borne； it seems； sweet babes； O
thou who hast left behind thee that passage through the blue
Symplegades； that strangers justly hate。 Ah！ hapless one； why doth
fierce anger thy soul assail？ Why in its place is fell murder
growing up？ For grievous unto mortal men are pollutions that come of
kindred blood poured on the earth； woes to suit each crime hurled from
heaven on the murderer's house。
FIRST SON （within）
Ah； me； what can I do？ Whither fly to escape my mother's blows？
SECOND SON （within）
I know not； sweet brother mine； we are lost。
CHORUS （chanting）
Didst hear； didst hear the children's cry？ O lady； born to sorrow；
victim of an evil fate！ Shall I enter the house？ For the children's
sake I am resolved to ward off the murder。
FIRST SON （within）
Yea； by heaven I adjure you； help； your aid is needed。
SECOND SON （within）
Even now the toils of the sword are closing round us。
CHORUS （chanting）
O hapless mother； surely thou hast a heart of stone or steel to
slay the offspring of thy womb by such a murderous doom。 Of all the
wives of yore I know but one who laid her hand upon her children dear；
even Ino； whom the gods did madden in the day that the wife of Zeus
drove her wandering from her home。 But she； poor sufferer； flung
herself into the sea because of the foul murder of her children；
leaping o'er the wave…beat cliff； and in her death was she united to
her children twain。 Can there be any deed of horror left to follow
this？ Woe for the wooing of women fraught with disaster！ What
sorrows hast thou caused for men ere now！
（JASON and his attendants enter。）
JASON
Ladies； stationed near this house； pray tell me is the author of
these hideous deeds； Medea； still within； or hath she fled from hence？
For she must hide beneath the earth or soar on wings towards
heaven's vault； if she would avoid the vengeance of the royal house。
Is she so sure she will escape herself unpunished from this house；
when she hath slain the rulers of the land？ But enough of this！ I am
forgetting her children。 As for her； those whom she hath wronged
will do the like by her； but I am come to save the children's life；
lest the victim's kin visit their wrath on me； in vengeance for the
murder foul； wrought by my children's mother。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS