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day is misery。 Ere that may I this life complete and yield to death；
ay； death； for there is no misery that doth surpass the loss of
fatherland。
antistrophe 2
I have seen with mine eyes； nor from the lips of others have I the
lesson learnt； no city； not one friend doth pity thee in this thine
awful woe。 May he perish and find no favour； whoso hath not in him
honour for his friends； freely unlocking his heart to them。 Never
shall he be friend of mine。
（MEDEA has been seated in despair on her door…step during
the choral song。 AEGEUS and his attendants enter。）
AEGEUS
All hail； Medea！ no man knoweth fairer prelude to the greeting
of friends than this。
MEDEA
All hail to thee likewise； Aegeus； son of wise Pandion。 Whence
comest thou to this land？
AEGEUS
From Phoebus' ancient oracle。
MEDEA
What took thee on thy travels to the prophetic centre of the
earth？
AEGEUS
The wish to ask how I might raise up seed unto myself。
MEDEA
Pray tell me； hast thou till now dragged on a childless life？
AEGEUS
I have no child owing to the visitation of some god。
MEDEA
Hast thou a wife； or hast thou never known the married state？
AEGEUS
I have a wife joined to me in wedlock's bond。
MEDEA
What said Phoebus to thee as to children？
AEGEUS
Words too subtle for man to comprehend。
MEDEA
Surely I may learn the god's answer？
AEGEUS
Most assuredly； for it is just thy subtle wit it needs。
MEDEA
What said the god？ speak； if I may hear it。
AEGEUS
He bade me 〃not loose the wineskin's pendent neck。〃
MEDEA
Till when？ what must thou do first； what country visit？
AEGEUS
Till I to my native home return。
MEDEA
What object hast thou in sailing to this land？
AEGEUS
O'er Troezen's realm is Pittheus king。
MEDEA
Pelops' son； a man devout they say。
AEGEUS
To him I fain would impart the oracle of the god。
MEDEA
The man is shrewd and versed in such…like lore。
AEGEUS
Aye； and to me the dearest of all my warrior friends。
MEDEA
Good luck to thee！ success to all thy wishes！
AEGEUS
But why that downcast eye； that wasted cheek？
MEDEA
O Aegeus； my husband has proved most evil。
AEGEUS
What meanest thou？ explain to me clearly the cause of thy
despondency。
MEDEA
Jason is wronging me though I have given him no cause。
AEGEUS
What hath he done？ tell me more clearly。
MEDEA
He is taking another wife to succeed me as mistress of his house。
AEGEUS
Can he have brought himself to such a dastard deed？
MEDEA
Be assured thereof； I； whom he loved of yore； am in dishonour now。
AEGEUS
Hath he found a new love？ or does he loathe thy bed？
MEDEA
Much in love is he！ A traitor to his friend is he become。
AEGEUS
Enough！ if he is a villain as thou sayest。
MEDEA
The alliance he is so much enamoured of is with a princess。
AEGEUS
Who gives his daughter to him？ go on； I pray。
MEDEA
Creon； who is lord of this land of Corinth。
AEGEUS
Lady； I can well pardon thy grief。
MEDEA
I am undone； and more than that； am banished from the land。
AEGEUS
By whom？ fresh woe this word of thine unfolds。
MEDEA
Creon drives me forth in exile from Corinth。
AEGEUS
Doth Jason allow it？ This too I blame him for。
MEDEA
Not in words； but he will not stand out against it。 O； I implore
thee by this beard and by thy knees； in suppliant posture； pity； O
pity my sorrows； do not see me cast forth forlorn； but receive me in
thy country； to a seat within thy halls。 So may thy wish by heaven's
grace be crowned with a full harvest of offspring； and may thy life
close in happiness！ Thou knowest not the rare good luck thou findest
here； for I will make thy childlessness to cease and cause thee to
beget fair issue； so potent are the spells I know。
AEGEUS
Lady； on many grounds I am most fain to grant thee this thy
boon； first for the gods' sake； next for the children whom thou dost
promise I shall beget； for in respect of this I am completely lost。
'Tis thus with me； if e'er thou reach my land； I will attempt to
champion thee as I am bound to do。 Only one warning I do give thee
first； lady； I will not from this land bear thee away； yet if of
thyself thou reach my halls； there shalt thou bide in safety and I
will never yield thee up to any man。 But from this land escape without
my aid； for I have no wish to incur the blame of my allies as well。
MEDEA
It shall be even so； but wouldst thou pledge thy word to this； I
should in all be well content with thee。
AEGEUS
Surely thou dost trust me？ or is there aught that troubles thee？
MEDEA
Thee I trust； but Pelias' house and Creon are my foes。
Wherefore； if thou art bound by an oath； thou wilt not give me up to
them when they come to drag me from the land； but； having entered into
a compact and sworn by heaven as well； thou wilt become my friend
and disregard their overtures。 Weak is any aid of mine； whilst they
have wealth and a princely house。
AEGEUS
Lady； thy words show much foresight； so if this is thy will； I
do not； refuse。 For I shall feel secure and safe if I have some
pretext to offer to thy foes； and thy case too the firmer stands。
Now name thy gods。
MEDEA
Swear by the plain of Earth； by Helios my father's sire； and； in
one comprehensive oath； by all the race of gods。
AEGEUS
What shall I swear to do； from what refrain？ tell me that。
MEDEA
Swear that thou wilt never of thyself expel me from thy land； nor；
whilst life is thine； permit any other； one of my foes maybe； to
hale me thence if so he will。
AEGEUS
By Earth I swear； by the Sun…god's holy beam and by all the host
of heaven that I will stand fast to the terms I hear thee make。
MEDEA
'Tis enough。 If thou shouldst break this oath； what curse dost
thou invoke upon thyself？
AEGEUS
Whate'er betides the impious。
MEDEA
Go in peace； all is well； and I with what speed I may； will to thy
city come； when I have wrought my purpose and obtained my wish。
（AEGEUS and his retinue depart。）
CHORUS （chanting）
May Maia's princely son go with thee on thy way to bring thee to
thy home； and mayest thou attain that on which thy soul is set so
firmly； for to my mind thou seemest a generous man； O Aegeus。
MEDEA
O Zeus； and Justice； child of Zeus； and Sun…god's light； now
will triumph o'er my foes； kind friends； on victory's road have I
set forth； good hope have I of wreaking vengeance on those I hate。 For
where we were in most distress this stranger hath appeared； to be a
haven in my counsels； to him will we make fast the