Medea (Euripedes)

-9-

FIRST STASIMON
Chorus

Backward flow streams of holy rivers and justice

and all things are being turned back.

For men's counsels are deceitful, and the pledge taken

in the gods' name is no longer firmly fixed.

New tales will give glory to my life;

honor is coming to the female of the species;

discordant rumors will let women go.

The Muses will cease from their songs of ages past

from their paeans to our faithlessness.

Not to our mind has Phoebus, the leader of tunes,

granted the inspired song of the lyre;

for I could sing a song in response

to the race of men. But long life has

much to tell of our side and of men's.

You sailed from your father's home

with maddened heart between the double rocks of the sea

and you live on foreign soil,

abandoned, with no man in your marriage bed,

poor woman, now an exile from this land

you are driven away without rights.

But the grace of oaths has gone; respect no more

abides in the vast lands of Hellas, but it has flown to the skies

and you no more have the house of your father

to shelter you, poor woman,

from troubles. And over the bed

another queen more powerful stands now in the chamber.

EPISODE II
Enter Jason along the parodos leading from the palace.

Jason

This is not the first time, but over and over again, I have seen
how utterly stupid an intransigent temper can be.

You had the chance to stay in this country and keep your home

by patiently putting up with what your betters decide,

but now you have had your say and for it you are to be deported.

It makes no difference to me: never let up

saying that Jason is the vilest man alive.

But for what you have said against the royal family

think yourself lucky to be punished with exile.
I was constantly trying to assuage the passions

of the rulers in their anger and I wanted you to stay.

But you could not control your craziness, never letting up on your abuse

of the royal family. That is why you are to be exiled from this land.

Still, in spite of this I have not come to renounce

my loved ones, but because I care for your well-being, woman,

so that you will not go into exile with the children in need

or wanting for anything. Exile brings many problems

in its wake. Even if you hate me

I could never think badly of you.