Jason
But why, you foolish woman, do you deprive yourself of these?
Do you think the king's house is in need of dresses
or gold? Keep them. Don't give them away.
If my wife has any respect for me at all
she prefers me to gold, I am certain.
Medea
Oh no you don't. The saying goes "gifts persuade the gods."
And "gold is stronger than ten thousand words among men."
She has divine favor, now the god will increase it.
In her youth she has power. But to save my children from exile
I would give my life, not gold alone.
But, children, go into the wealthy house
to your father's new wife, my mistress,
supplicate her, beg her not to send you into exile,
hand her the ornaments - this is very important -
make sure that she take these gifts into her own hands.
Go, quickly. And may you succeed and be bearers of good news
to your mother of what she wants to hear.
Jason, the children, and the old Pedagogue exit.
FOURTH STASIMON
Chorus
Now I have no more hopes for the children's life -
no more. They go now to murder.
The bride will receive the gifts, the poor woman will take
the doom of the golden diadem;
onto her golden hair she will put Death's
adornment, taking it in her own hands.
The beauty and unfading glow of the golden robe
will persuade her to put on the well-crafted crown.
She will dress as a bride now for the dead below.
Into such a snare will she fall
and into the destiny of death, unhappy girl.
She can not escape her doom.
But you, unhappy, ill-wedded son-in-law of kings
unknowing to your children
you are bringing doom, and to your wife
hateful death.
Unhappy man, how far you have strayed from your destiny.
And most of all I lament your grief, unhappy mother
of children whom you will murder -
your own children, for the sake of the marriage bed, which
your husband
lawlessly deserted and now he dwells with another spouse
YOU ARE READING
Medea (Euripedes)
Ficción histórica[Play] "The mind of a queen Is a thing to fear. A queen is used To giving commands, not obeying them; And her rage once roused is hard to appease."
