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.
- 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.)
- Till when? what must thou do first, what country visit?
- Till I to my native home return.
- What object hast thou in sailing to this land?
- O’er Troezen’s realm is Pittheus king.
- Pelops’ son, a man devout they say.
- To him I fain would impart the oracle of the god.