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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 I
am！ 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
CREON
Thou 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）
Ah！ poor lady； woe is thee！ Alas； for thy sorrows！ Whither wilt
thou turn？ What protection； what home or country to save thee from thy
troubles wilt thou find？ O Medea； in what a hopeless sea of misery
heaven hath plunged thee！
MEDEA
On all sides sorrow pens me in。 Who shall gainsay this？ But all is
not yet lost！ think not so。 Still are there troubles in store for
the new bride； and for her bridegroom no light toil。 Dost think I
would ever have fawned on yonder man； unless to gain some end or
form some scheme？ Nay； would not so much as have spoken to him or
touched him with my hand。 But he has in folly so far stepped in
that； though he might have checked my plot by banishing me from the
land； he hath allowed me to abide this day； in which I will lay low in
death three of my enemies…a father and his daughter and my husband
too。 Now； though I have many ways to compass their death； I am not
sure； friends； which I am to try first。 Shall I set fire to the bridal
mansion； or plunge the whetted sword through their hearts； softly
stealing into the chamber where their couch is spread？ One thing
stands in my way。 If I am caught making my way into the chamber；
intent on my design； I shall be put to death and cause my foes to
mock； 'Twere best to take the shortest way…the way we women are most
skilled in…by poison to destroy them。 Well； suppose them dead； what
city will receive me？ What friendly host