Medea (Euripedes)

-15-

Aigeus

Did he fall in love, or grow weary of his marriage to you

Medea

Yes, very much in love. He is disloyal to his family.

Aigeus

Let it go then, if, as you say, he is wicked.

Medea

He has fallen in love with marrying into a royal family.

Aigeus

And who is father of the bride? Finish the story.

Medea

Creon, who rules this country of Corinth.

Aigeus

No wonder you are upset, my lady.

Medea

I am ruined. And besides that I am driven into exile.

Aigeus

By whom? This is yet another new tragedy.

Medea

Creon has banished me from Corinth.

Aigeus

And Jason permits it? I don't approve of that.

Medea

He says he does not, but he is willing to put up with it.

But I beg you by your beard

and I fall suppliant at your knees,

pity me, pity me in my despair

and do not let me be driven out destitute,

but take me in to share your home and country.

And then with the gods' help I pray your desire for children will bear fruit and you yourself die happy.

You do not know what a lucky find you have found in me.

I will put an end to your childlessness and help you

become a father. I know how to concoct a potent elixir.

Aigeus

There are many reasons that I am eager to grant you

this favor, my lady, first out of reverence for the gods

and then in the hope of children whose birth you predict.

For I am in utter despair over it.

This is how it is with me. If you come to my land

I will do my best as a man of honor to receive you as my guest.

This much I will promise you, Medea:

I am not prepared to give you escort from this place,

but if on your own you come to my home,

you will remain there under protection and I will not deliver you up to anyone.

But you must make your way from this country

for I want to be free from blame in the eyes of my hosts here.

Medea
Yes, I will do that. But if there could be a pledge to me

of these things, I will have everything I need from you.