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skilled in…by poison to destroy them。 Well； suppose them dead； what
city will receive me？ What friendly host will give me a shelter in
his land； a home secure； and save my soul alive？ None。 So I will
wait yet a little while in case some tower of defence rise up for
me； then will I proceed to this bloody deed in crafty silence； but
if some unexpected mischance drive me forth； I will with mine own hand
seize the sword； e'en though I die for it； and slay them； and go forth
on my bold path of daring。 By that dread queen whom I revere before
all others and have chosen to share my task； by Hecate who dwells
within my inmost chamber； not one of them shall wound my heart and rue
it not。 Bitter and sad will I make their marriage for them； bitter
shall be the wooing of it； bitter my exile from the land。 Up； then；
Medea； spare not the secrets of thy art in plotting and devising； on
to the danger。 Now comes a struggle needing courage。 Dost see what
thou art suffering？ 'Tis not for thee to be a laughing…stock to the
race of Sisyphus by reason of this wedding of Jason； sprung； as thou
art； from noble sire； and of the Sun…god's race。 Thou hast cunning；
and； more than this； we women； though by nature little apt for
virtuous deeds； are most expert to fashion any mischief。
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Back to their source the holy rivers turn their tide。 Order and
the universe are being reversed。 'Tis men whose counsels are
treacherous； whose oath by heaven is no longer sure。 Rumour shall
bring a change o'er my life； bringing it into good repute。 Honour's
dawn is breaking for woman's sex； no more shall the foul tongue of
slander fix upon us。
antistrophe 1
The songs of the poets of old shall cease to make our
faithlessness their theme。 Phoebus； lord of minstrelsy； hath not
implanted in our mind the gift of heavenly song； else had I sung an
answering strain to the race of males； for time's long chapter affords
many a theme on their sex as well as ours。
strophe 2
With mind distraught didst thou thy father's house desert on thy
voyage betwixt ocean's twin rocks； and on a foreign strand thou
dwellest thy bed left husbandless； poor lady； and thou an exile from
the land； dishonoured； persecuted。
antistrophe 2
Gone is the grace that oaths once had。 Through all the breadth
of Hellas honour is found no more； to heaven hath it sped away。 For
thee no father's house is open； woe is thee！ to be a haven from the
troublous storm； while o'er thy home is set another queen； the bride
that is preferred to thee。
（As the CHORUS finishes its song； JASON enters；
alone。 MEDEA comes out of the house。）
JASON
It is not now I first remark； but oft ere this； how unruly a
pest is a harsh temper。 For instance； thou； hadst thou but patiently
endured the will of thy superiors； mightest have remained here in this
land and house； but now for thy idle words wilt thou be banished。
Thy words are naught to me。 Cease not to call Jason basest of men； but
for those words thou hast spoken against our rulers； count it all gain
that exile is thy only punishment。 I ever tried to check the outbursts
of the angry monarch； and would have had thee stay； but thou wouldst
not forego thy silly rage； always reviling our rulers； and so thou
wilt be banished。 Yet even after all this I weary not of my
goodwill； but am come with thus much forethought； lady； that thou
mayst not be destitute nor want for aught； when； with thy sons； thou
art cast out。 Many an evil doth exile bring in its train with it；
for even though thou hatest me； never will I harbour hard thoughts
of thee。
MEDEA
Thou craven villain （for that is the only name my tongue can
find for thee； a foul reproach on thy unmanliness）； comest thou to me；
thou； most hated foe of gods； of me； and of all mankind？ 'Tis no proof
of courage or hardihood to confront thy friends after injuring them；
but that worst of all human diseases…loss of shame。 Yet hast thou done
well to come； for I shall ease my soul by reviling thee； and thou wilt
be vexed at my recital。 I will begin at the very beginning。 I saved
thy life； as every Hellene knows who sailed with thee aboard the
good ship Argo； when thou wert sent to tame and yoke fire…breathing
bulls； and to sow the deadly tilth。 Yea； and I slew the dragon which
guarded the golden fleece； keeping sleepless watch o'er it with many a
wreathed coil； and I raised for thee a beacon of deliverance。 Father
and home of my free will I left and came with the to Iolcos； 'neath
Pelion's hills； for my love was stronger than my prudence。 Next I
caused the death of Pelias by a doom most grievous； even by his own
children's hand； beguiling them of all their fear。 All this have I
done for thee； thou traitor！ and thou hast cast me over； taking to
thyself another wife； though children have been born to us。 Hadst thou
been childless still； I could have pardoned thy desire for this new
union。 Gone is now the trust I put in oaths。 I cannot even
understand whether thou thinkest that the gods of old no longer
rule； or that fresh decrees are now in vogue amongst mankind； for
thy conscience must tell thee thou hast not kept faith with me。 Ah！
poor right hand； which thou didst often grasp。 These knees thou
didst embrace！ All in vain； I suffered a traitor to touch me！ How
short of my hopes I am fallen！ But come； I will deal with the as
though thou wert my friend。 Yet what kindness can I expect from one so
base as thee？ But yet I will do it； for my questioning will show
thee yet more base。 Whither can I turn me now？ to my father's house；
to my own country； which I for thee deserted to come hither？ to the
hapless daughters of Pelias？ A glad welcome； I trow； would they give
me in their home； whose father's death I compassed！ My case stands
even thus： I am become the bitter foe to those of mine own home； and
those whom I need ne'er have wronged I have made mine enemies to
pleasure thee。 Wherefore to reward me for this thou hast made me
doubly blest in the eyes of many wife in Hellas； and in thee I own a
peerless； trusty lord。 O woe is me； if indeed I am to be cast forth an
exile from the land； without one friend； one lone woman with her babes
forlorn！ Yea； a fine reproach to thee in thy bridal hour； that thy
children and the wife who saved thy life are beggars and vagabonds！
O Zeus！ why hast thou granted unto man clear signs to know the sham in
gold； while on man's brow no brand is stamped whereby to gauge the
villain's heart？
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
There is a something terrible and past all cure； when quarrels
arise 'twixt those who are near and dear。
JASON
Needs must I now； it seems； turn