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.
- with her own hand will she lift and place upon her golden locks the garniture of death.
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- Ah!
- Why art so disquieted in thy prosperous hour? Why turnest thou thy cheek away, and hast no welcome for my glad news?
- Ah me!
- These groans but ill accord with the news I bring.
- Ah me! once more I say.
- Have I unwittingly announced some evil tidings?
- Have I erred in thinking my news was good?
- Thy news is as it is; I blame thee not.
- Then why this downcast eye, these floods of tears?
- Old friend, needs must I weep; for the gods and I with fell intent devised these schemes.
- Be of good cheer; thou too of a surety shalt by thy sons yet be brought home again.
- Ere that shall I bring others to their home, ah! woe is me!