Medea (Euripedes)

-21-

EPISODE V
Enter Pedagogue with the children.

Pedagogue

Mistress, your children are pardoned from exile

and the royal bride happily took the gifts

in her hands. There is peace from that quarter for your children.

ea [hah!]

Why do you stand in confusion when the news is good?

[Why have you turned away your face

and do not gladly accept this word from me?]

Medea

aiai [Aah! Aah!]

Pedagogue

That is not in tune with my message.

Medea

aiai [Aah! Aah!] again.

Pedagogue

Have I announced a misfortune I was not aware of,

and been cheated of my hope of being a bearer of good news?

Medea

You told what you had to tell. I do not blame you.

Pedagogue

Why then is your face downcast and why are you crying?

Medea

It has to be, old man. For the gods and I ...

yes, I with faulty reasoning have devised these things.

Pedagogue

Cheer up. You too will come home with your children's help.

Medea

I will send others home before that, unhappy woman that I am.

Pedagogue

You are not the only woman to be separated from her children.

As humans we must lightly bear misfortunes.

Medea

I will do that. But go into the house

and prepare for the children what they need for today.

Children, children, you have a city

and a home in which, when you have left me in my misery,

you will dwell forever deprived of a mother.
And I will go to another country, a refugee,

where I cannot delight in you or see you happy.

I will never adorn your nuptial bath and bride

and marriage bed, never hold up the wedding torch.

My own daring has wrecked my life.

Dear, dear children all my care for you has gone to waste!

What a waste the toils which wore me out,

when I endured the hard useless pangs of childbirth.

Truly once, grief-stricken though I am now, I had high hopes

in you, that you would care for me in my old age

and when I died, with your own hands you would tend me,

something we all hope for. But now it's all gone,

my sweet expectation. For without you

I will live a life of sorrow, agonizing for me.

And you, with those dear eyes of yours, will never again

look at your mother, when you have gone away to another life.

feu, feu [Ah! Ah!] Why are your eyes staring at mine, children?

Why do you smile that very last smile?

aiai [Ah, Ah!] What will I do? My heart is not in it,

women, when I look at the gleaming eyes of my children.

I could not do it. Goodbye my plans

of before. I shall take my children with me.

Why should I abuse them to wound their father,

and have twice as many woes myself?

I will not do it. Goodbye my plans.

But what is the matter with me? Do I want to be

a laughing stock, letting my enemies go unpunished?

These things must be endured. Damn my cowardice!

How could I let soft words into my heart?

Go into the house, children.

(Children start to leave.)

Whoever

is not permitted to partake of my sacrifice

stay away. I shall not let my hand grow slack.

Ah. Ah. [a, a]

Do not, oh my heart, do not do these things.

Let them alone, you miserable woman, spare your children.

Living there with me they will delight you.

No! By the avengers down in Hades!

There is no way that I will leave my children

to be abused by my enemies.

[They must die. And since they must,

I who gave them birth will kill them.]

The plan is underway and there is no escape.

The crown is on her head; dressed in the robes,

the royal bride is in her death throes; I am certain of it.

Now I shall set out upon a most sorrowful road

and I shall send them on one more sorrowful still.

I want to speak to my children. Dear children,

give your mother your right hand to kiss.

Oh dearest hand, dearest mouth,

and form and noble face of my children,

may you be happy, but there. Your father has ruined

everything here. Oh sweet embrace.

Oh soft skin and lovely breath of my children.

Go, go on. I am no longer able to look

at you. I am overcome by wrongs.

Children exit.

I understand what evil I am about to do

but my wrath is stronger even than my thoughts,

which is the cause of the greatest wrongs of humankind.