按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
husband when he trafficks in other marriages besides his own。 But
thy heart is changed to wiser schemes and thou art determined on the
better course； late though it be； this is acting like a woman of sober
sense。 And for you； my sons； hath your father provided with all good
heed a sure refuge； by God's grace； for ye； I trow； shall with your
brothers share hereafter the foremost rank in this Corinthian realm。
Only grow up； for all the rest your sire and whoso of the gods is kind
to us is bringing to pass。 May I see you reach man's full estate； high
o'er the heads of those I hate！ But thou； lady； why with fresh tears
dost thou thine eyelids wet； turning away thy wan cheek； with no
welcome for these my happy tidings？
MEDEA
'Tis naught； upon these children my thoughts were turned。
JASON
Then take heart； for I will see that it is well with them。
MEDEA
I will do so； nor will I doubt thy word； woman is a weak creature；
ever given to tears。
JASON
Why prithee； unhappy one； dost moan o'er these children？
MEDEA
I gave them birth； and when thou didst pray long life for them；
pity entered into my soul to think that these things must be。 But
the reason of thy coming hither to speak with me is partly told； the
rest will I now mention。 Since it is the pleasure of the rulers of the
land to banish me； and well I know 'twere best for me to stand not
in the way of thee or of the rulers by dwelling here； enemy as I am
thought unto their house； forth from this land in exile am I going；
but these children；…that they may know thy fostering hand； beg Creon
to remit their banishment。
JASON
I doubt whether I can persuade him； yet must I attempt it。
MEDEA
At least do thou bid thy wife ask her sire this boon； to remit the
exile of the children from this land。
JASON
Yea； that will I； and her methinks I shall persuade； since she
is woman like the rest。
MEDEA
I too will aid thee in this task； for by the children's hand I
will send to her gifts that far surpass in beauty； I well know；
aught that now is seen 'mongst men； a robe of finest tissue and a
chaplet of chased gold。 But one of my attendants must haste and
bring the ornaments hither。 （A servant goes into the house。） Happy
shall she be not once alone but ten thousand…fold； for in thee she
wins the noblest soul to share her love； and gets these gifts as
well which on a day my father's sire； the Sun…god； bestowed on his
descendants。 （The servant returns and hands the gifts to the
children。） My children； take in your hands these wedding gifts； and
bear them as an offering to the royal maid； the happy bride； for
verily the gifts she shall receive are not to be scorned。
JASON
But why so rashly rob thyself of these gifts？ Dost think a royal
palace wants for robes or gold？ Keep them； nor give them to another。
For well I know that if my lady hold me in esteem； she will set my
price above all wealth。
MEDEA
Say not so； 'tis said that gifts tempt even gods； and o'er men's
minds gold holds more potent sway than countless words。 Fortune smiles
upon thy bride； and heaven now doth swell her triumph； youth is hers
and princely power； yet to save my children from exile I would
barter life； not dross alone。 Children； when we are come to the rich
palace； pray your father's new bride； my mistress； with suppliant
voice to save you from exile； offering her these ornaments the
while； for it is most needful that she receive the gifts in her own
hand。 Now go and linger not； may ye succeed and to your mother bring
back the glad tidings she fain would hear
（JASON； the ATTENDANT； and the children go out together。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Gone； gone is every hope I had that the children yet might live；
forth to their doom they now proceed。 The hapless bride will take； ay；
take the golden crown that is to be her ruin； with her own hand will
she lift and place upon her golden locks the garniture of death。
antistrophe 1
Its grace and sheen divine will tempt her to put on the robe and
crown of gold； and in that act will she deck herself to be a bride
amid the dead。 Such is the snare whereinto she will fall； such is
the deadly doom that waits the hapless maid； nor shall she from the
curse escape。
strophe 2
And thou； poor wretch； who to thy sorrow art wedding a king's
daughter； little thinkest of the doom thou art bringing on thy
children's life； or of the cruel death that waits thy bride。 Woe is
thee！ how art thou fallen from thy high estate！
antistrophe 2
Next do I bewail thy sorrows； O mother hapless in thy children；
thou who wilt slay thy babes because thou hast a rival； the babes
thy husband hath deserted impiously to join him to another bride。
（The ATTENDANT enters with the children。）
ATTENDANT
Thy children； lady； are from exile freed； and gladly did the royal
bride accept thy gifts in her own hands； and so thy children made
their peace with her。
MEDEA
Ah！
ATTENDANT
Why art so disquieted in thy prosperous hour？ Why turnest thou thy
cheek away； and hast no welcome for my glad news？
MEDEA
Ah me！
ATTENDANT
These groans but ill accord with the news I bring。
MEDEA
Ah me！ once more I say。
ATTENDANT
Have I unwittingly announced some evil tidings？ Have I erred in
thinking my news was good？
MEDEA
Thy news is as it is； I blame thee not。
ATTENDANT
Then why this downcast eye； these floods of tears？
MEDEA
Old friend； needs must I weep； for the gods and I with fell intent
devised these schemes。
ATTENDANT
Be of good cheer； thou too of a surety shalt by thy sons yet be
brought home again。
MEDEA
Ere that shall I bring others to their home； ah！ woe is me
ATTENDANT
Thou art not the only mother from thy children reft。 Bear
patiently thy troubles as a mortal must。
MEDEA
I will obey； go thou within the house and make the day's provision
for the children。 （The ATTENDANT enters the house。 MEDEA turns to
the children。） O my babes； my babes； ye have still a city and a
home； where far from me and my sad lot you will live your lives；
reft of your mother for ever； while I must to another land in
banishment； or ever I have had my joy of you； or lived to see you
happy； or ever I have graced your marriage couch； your bride； your
bridal bower； or lifted high the wedding torch。 Ah me！ a victim of
my own self…will。 So it was all in vain I reared you； O my sons； in
vain did suffer； racked with anguish； enduring the cruel pangs of
childbirth。 'Fore Heaven I once had hope； poor me！ high hope of ye
that you would