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childbirth。 'Fore Heaven I once had hope； poor me！ high hope of ye
that you would nurse me in my age and deck my corpse with loving
hands； a boon we mortals covet； but now is my sweet fancy dead and
gone； for I must lose you both and in bitterness and sorrow drag
through life。 And ye shall never with fond eyes see your mother more
for o'er your life there comes a change。 Ah me！ ah me！ why do ye
look at me so； my children？ why smile that last sweet smile？ Ah me！
what am I to do？ My heart gives way when I behold my children's
laughing eyes。 O； I cannot； farewell to all my former schemes； I
will take the children from the land； the babes I bore。 Why should I
wound their sire by wounding them； and get me a twofold measure of
sorrow？ No； no； I will not do it。 Farewell my scheming！ And yet what
possesses me？ Can I consent to let those foes of mine escape from
punishment； and incur their mockery？ I must face this deed。 Out upon
my craven heart！ to think that I should even have let the soft words
escape my soul。 Into the house； children！ （The children go into the
house。） And whoso feels he must not be present at my sacrifice； must
see to it himself； I will not spoil my handiwork。 Ah！ ah！ do not； my
heart； O do not do this deed！ Let the children go； unhappy one；
spare the babes！ For if they live； they will cheer thee in our exile
there。 Nay； by the fiends of hell's abyss； never； never will I hand my
children over to their foes to mock and flout。 Die they must in any
case； and since 'tis so； why I； the mother who bore them； will give
the fatal blow。 In any case their doom is fixed and there is no
escape。 Already the crown is on her head； the robe is round her； and
she is dying； the royal bride； that do I know full well。 But now since
I have a piteous path to tread； and yet more piteous still the path
I send my children on； fain would I say farewell to them。 （The
children come out at her call。 She takes them in her arms。） O my
babes； my babes； let your mother kiss your hands。 Ah！ hands I love
so well； O lips most dear to me！ O noble form and features of my
children； I wish ye joy； but in that other land； for here your
father robs you of your home。 O the sweet embrace； the soft young
cheek； the fragrant breath！ my children！ Go； leave me； I cannot bear
to longer look upon ye； my sorrow wins the day。 At last I understand
the awful deed I am to do； but passion； that cause of direst woes to
mortal man； hath triumphed o'er my sober thoughts。
（She goes into the house with the children。）
CHORUS （chanting）
Oft ere now have I pursued subtler themes and have faced graver
issues than woman's sex should seek to probe； but then e'en we
aspire to culture； which dwells with us to teach us wisdom； I say
not all； for small is the class amongst women…（one maybe shalt thou
find 'mid many）…that is not incapable of wisdom。 And amongst mortals I
do assert that they who are wholly without experience and have never
had children far surpass in happiness those who are parents。 The
childless； because they have never proved whether children grow up
to be a blessing or curse to men are removed from all share in many
troubles； whilst those who have a sweet race of children growing up in
their houses do wear away； as I perceive； their whole life through；
first with the thought how they may train them up in virtue； next
how they shall leave their sons the means to live； and after all
this 'tis far from clear whether on good or bad children they bestow
their toil。 But one last crowning woe for every mortal man now will
name； suppose that they have found sufficient means to live； and
seen their children grow to man's estate and walk in virtue's path；
still if fortune so befall； comes Death and bears the children's
bodies off to Hades。 Can it be any profit to the gods to heap upon
us mortal men beside our other woes this further grief for children
lost； a grief surpassing all？
（MEDEA comes out of the house。）
MEDEA
Kind friends； long have I waited expectantly to know how things
would at the palace chance。 And lo！ I see one of Jason's servants
coming hither； whose hurried gasps for breath proclaim him the
bearer of some fresh tidings。
（A MESSENGER rushes in。）
MESSENGER
Fly； fly； Medea！ who hast wrought an awful deed； transgressing
every law： nor leave behind or sea…borne bark or car that scours the
plain。
MEDEA
Why； what hath chanced that calls for such a flight of mine？
MESSENGER
The princess is dead； a moment gone； and Creon too； her sire；
slain by those drugs of thine。
MEDEA
Tidings most fair are thine！ Henceforth shalt thou be ranked
amongst my friends and benefactors。
MESSENGER
Ha！ What？ Art sane？ Art not distraught； lady； who hearest with joy
the outrage to our royal house done； and art not at the horrid tale
afraid？
MEDEA
Somewhat have I； too； to say in answer to thy words。 Be not so
hasty； friend； but tell the manner of their death； for thou wouldst
give me double joy； if so they perished miserably。
MESSENGER
When the children twain whom thou didst bear came with their
father and entered the palace of the bride； right glad were we thralls
who had shared thy griefs； for instantly from ear to ear a rumour
spread that thou and thy lord had made up your former quarrel。 One
kissed thy children's hands； another their golden hair； while I for
very joy went with them in person to the women's chambers。 Our
mistress； whom now we do revere in thy room； cast a longing glance
at Jason； ere she saw thy children twain； but then she veiled her eyes
and turned her blanching cheek away； disgusted at their coming； but
thy husband tried to check his young bride's angry humour with these
words： 〃O； be not angered 'gainst thy friends； cease from wrath and
turn once more thy face this way； counting as friends whomso thy
husband counts； and accept these gifts； and for my sake crave thy sire
to remit these children's exile。〃 Soon as she saw the ornaments； no
longer she held out； but yielded to her lord in all； and ere the
father and his sons were far from the palace gone； she took the
broidered robe and put it on； and set the golden crown about her
tresses； arranging her hair at her bright mirror； with many a happy
smile at her breathless counterfeit。 Then rising from her seat she
passed across the chamber； tripping lightly on her fair white foot；
exulting in the gift； with many a glance at her uplifted ankle。 When
lo！ a scene of awful horror did ensue。 In a moment she turned pale；
reeled backwards； trembling in every limb； and sinks upon a seat
scarce soon enough to save herself from falling to the ground。 An aged
dame； one of her company； thinking belike it was a fit from Pan or
some god sent； raised a cry of prayer； till from her mouth she saw the
foam…flakes issue； her eyeballs rolling in their sockets