Medea
Euripides
Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Translated into English Prose from the Text of Paley. Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.
- leading that cruel helpless life, whose every 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.
- 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.
- All hail, Medea! no man knoweth fairer prelude to the greeting of friends than this.
- All hail to thee likewise, Aegeus, son of wise Pandion. Whence comest thou to this land?
- From Phoebus’ ancient oracle.
- What took thee on thy travels to the prophetic centre of the earth?
- The wish to ask how I might raise up seed unto myself.
- Pray tell me, hast thou till now dragged on a childless life?
- I have no child owing to the visitation of some god.
- Hast thou a wife, or hast thou never known the married state?
- I have a wife joined to me in wedlock’s bond.
- What said Phoebus to thee as to children?
- Words too subtle for man to comprehend.
- Surely I may learn the god’s answer?
- Most assuredly, for it is just thy subtle wit it needs.
- What said the god? speak, if I may hear it.
- He bade me not loose the wineskin’s pendent neck.[*](i.e., enjoined strict chastity.)