Third Episode
(While MEDEA is waiting downcast, seated upon her door-step, there passes from the left a traveller with followers. As he catches sight of MEDEA he stops.)
AEGEUS.Have joy, Medea! 'Tis the homeliestWord that old friends can greet with, and the best.
MEDEA (looking up, surprised).Oh, joy on thee, too, Aegeus, gentle kingOf Athens!--But whence com'st thou journeying?
AEGEUS.From Delphi now and the old encaverned stair. . . .
MEDEA.Where Earth's heart speaks in song? What mad'st thou there?
AEGEUS.Prayed heaven for children--the same search alway.
MEDEA.Children? Ah God! Art childless to this day?
AEGEUS.So God hath willed. Childless and desolate.
MEDEA.What word did Phoebus speak, to change thy fate?
AEGEUS.Riddles, too hard for mortal man to read.
MEDEA.Which I may hear?
AEGEUS.Assuredly: they needA rarer wit.
MEDEA.How said he?
AEGEUS.Not to spillLife's wine, nor seek for more. . . .
MEDEA.Until?
AEGEUS.UntilI tread the hearth-stone of my sires of yore.
MEDEA.And what should bring thee here, by Creon's shore?
AEGEUS.One Pittheus know'st thou, high lord of Trozen?
MEDEA.Aye, Pelops' son, a man most pure of sin.
AEGEUS.Him I would ask, touching Apollo's will.
MEDEA.Much use in God's ways hath he, and much skill.
AEGEUS.And, long years back he was my battle-friend,The truest e'er man had.
MEDEA.Well, may God sendGood hap to thee, and grant all thy desire.
AEGEUS.But thou . . . ? Thy frame is wasted, and the fireDead in thine eyes.
MEDEA.Aegeus, my husband isThe falsest man in the world.
AEGEUS.What word is this?Say clearly what thus makes thy visage dim?
MEDEA.He is false to me, who never injured him.
AEGEUS.What hath he done? Show all, that I may see.
MEDEA.Ta'en him a wife; a wife, set over meTo rule his house.
AEGEUS.He hath not dared to do,Jason, a thing so shameful?
MEDEA.Aye, 'tis true:And those he loved of yore have no place now.
AEGEUS.Some passion sweepeth him? Or is it thouHe turns from?
MEDEA.Passion, passion to betrayHis dearest!
AEGEUS.Shame be his, so fallen awayFrom honour!
MEDEA.Passion to be near a throne,A king's heir!
AEGEUS.How, who gives the bride? Say on.
MEDEA.Creon, who o'er all Corinth standeth chief.
AEGEUS.Woman, thou hast indeed much cause for grief.
MEDEA.'Tis ruin.--And they have cast me out as well.
AEGEUS.Who? 'Tis a new wrong this, and terrible.
MEDEA.Creon the king, from every land and shore. . . .
AEGEUS.And Jason suffers him? Oh, 'tis too sore!
MEDEA.He loveth to bear bravely ills like these!But, Aegeus, by thy beard, oh, by thy knees,I pray thee, and I give me for thine own,Thy suppliant, pity me! Oh, pity oneSo miserable. Thou never wilt stand thereAnd see me cast out friendless to despair.Give me a home in Athens . . . by the fireOf thine own hearth! Oh, so may thy desireOf children be fulfilled of God, and thouDie happy! . . . Thou canst know not; even nowThy prize is won! I, I will make of theeA childless man no more. The seed shall be,I swear it, sown. Such magic herbs I know.
AEGEUS.Woman, indeed my heart goes forth to showThis help to thee, first for religion's sake,Then for thy promised hope, to heal my acheOf childlessness. 'Tis this hath made mine wholeLife as a shadow, and starved out my soul.But thus it stands with me. Once make thy wayTo Attic earth, I, as in law I may,Will keep thee and befriend. But in this land,Where Creon rules, I may not raise my handTo shelter thee. Move of thine own essayTo seek my house, there thou shalt alway stay,Inviolate, never to be seized again.But come thyself from Corinth. I would fainEven in foreign eyes be alway just.
MEDEA.'Tis well. Give me an oath wherein to trustAnd all that man could ask thou hast granted me.
AEGEUS.Dost trust me not? Or what thing troubleth thee?
MEDEA.I trust thee. But so many, far and near,Do hate me--all King Pelias' house, and hereCreon. Once bound by oaths and sanctitiesThou canst not yield me up for such as theseTo drag from Athens. But a spoken word,No more, to bind thee, which no God hath heard. . .The embassies, methinks, would come and go:They all are friends to thee. . . . Ah me, I knowThou wilt not list to me! So weak am I,And they full-filled with gold and majesty.
AEGEUS.Methinks 'tis a far foresight, this thine oath.Still, if thou so wilt have it, nothing loathAm I to serve thee. Mine own hand is soThe stronger, if I have this plea to showThy persecutors: and for thee withalThe bond more sure.--On what God shall I call?
MEDEA.Swear by the Earth thou treadest, by the Sun,Sire of my sires, and all the gods as one. . . .
AEGEUS.To do what thing or not do? Make all plain.
MEDEA.Never thyself to cast me out again.Nor let another, whatsoe'er his plea,Take me, while thou yet livest and art free.
AEGEUS.Never: so hear me, Earth, and the great starOf daylight, and all other gods that are!
MEDEA.'Tis well: and if thou falter from thy vow . . . ?
AEGEUS.God's judgment on the godless break my brow!
MEDEA.Go! Go thy ways rejoicing.--All is brightAnd clear before me. Go: and ere the nightMyself will follow, when the deed is doneI purpose, and the end I thirst for won.
(AEGEUS and his train depart.)
CHORUS.Farewell: and Maia's guiding SonBack lead thee to thy hearth and fire,Aegeus; and all the long desireThat wasteth thee, at last be won:Our eyes have seen thee as thou art,A gentle and a righteous heart.
MEDEA.God, and God's Justice, and ye blinding Skies!At last the victory dawneth! Yea, mine eyesSee, and my foot is on the mountain's brow.Mine enemies! Mine enemies, oh, nowAtonement cometh! Here at my worst hourA friend is found, a very port of powerTo save my shipwreck. Here will I make fastMine anchor, and escape them at the lastIn Athens' walled hill.--But ere the end'Tis meet I show thee all my counsel, friend:Take it, no tale to make men laugh withal!Straightway to Jason I will send some thrallTo entreat him to my presence. Comes he here,Then with soft reasons will I feed his ear,How his will now is my will, how all thingsAre well, touching this marriage-bed of kingsFor which I am betrayed--all wise and rareAnd profitable! Yet will I make one prayer,That my two children be no more exiledBut stay. . . . Oh, not that I would leave a childHere upon angry shores till those have laughedWho hate me: 'tis that I will slay by craftThe king's daughter. With gifts they shall be sent,Gifts to the bride to spare their banishment,Fine robings and a carcanet of gold.Which raiment let her once but take, and foldAbout her, a foul death that girl shall dieAnd all who touch her in her agony.Such poison shall they drink, my robe and wreath!Howbeit, of that no more. I gnash my teethThinking on what a path my feet must treadThereafter. I shall lay those children dead--Mine, whom no hand shall steal from me away!Then, leaving Jason childless, and the dayAs night above him, I will go my roadTo exile, flying, flying from the bloodOf these my best-beloved, and having wroughtAll horror, so but one thing reach me not,The laugh of them that hate us.Let it come!What profits life to me? I have no home,No country now, nor shield from any wrong.That was my evil hour, when down the longHalls of my father out I stole, my willChained by a Greek man's voice, who still, oh, still,If God yet live, shall all requited be.For never child of mine shall Jason seeHereafter living, never child begetFrom his new bride, who this day, desolateEven as she made me desolate, shall dieShrieking amid my poisons. . . . Names have IAmong your folk? One light? One weak of hand?An eastern dreamer?--Nay, but with the brandOf strange suns burnt, my hate, by God above,A perilous thing, and passing sweet my love!For these it is that make life glorious.
LEADER.Since thou has bared thy fell intent to usI, loving thee, and helping in their needMan's laws, adjure thee, dream not of this deed!
MEDEA.There is no other way.--I pardon theeThy littleness, who art not wronged like me.
LEADER.Thou canst not kill the fruit thy body bore!
MEDEA.Yes: if the man I hate be pained the more.
LEADER.And thou made miserable, most miserable?
MEDEA.Oh, let it come! All words of good or illAre wasted now.
(She claps her hands: the NURSE comes out from the house.)
Ho, woman; get thee goneAnd lead lord Jason hither. . . . There is noneLike thee, to work me these high services.But speak no word of what my purpose is,As thou art faithful, thou, and bold to tryAll succours, and a woman even as I!
(The NURSE departs.)
Words in this poem 41
- phoebus n.
- Apollo; the sun god.
- assuredly adv.
- Certainly; indubitably.
- spill n.
- A bit of wood split off; a splinter. [sq. root170. Cf. Spell a splinter.]
- yore adv.
- In time long past; in old time; long since. [OE. , yare, , AS. geára;akin to geár a year, E. year. Year.]
- visage n.
- The face, countenance, or look of a person or an animal; -- chiefly applied to the human face. [F. visage, from L. visus a seeing, a look, fr. videre, visum, to see. See Vision.]
- honour n.
- Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
- hast
- , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
- bravely adv.
- In a brave manner; courageously; gallantly; valiantly; splendidly; nobly.
- suppliant a.
- Asking earnestly and submissively; entreating; beseeching; supplicating. [F., p.pr. of supplier to entreat, L. supplicare. See Supplicate, and cf. Supplicant.]
- friendless a.
- Destitute of friends; forsaken. [AS. freóndleás.]
- shall v. i.
- To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
- ache n.
- A name given to several species of plants; as, smallage, wild celery, parsley. Holland. [F. ache, L. apium parsley.]
- childlessness n.
- The state of being childless.
- befriend v. t.
- To act as a friend to; to favor; to aid, benefit, or countenance.
- shalt
- 2d per. sing. of Shall.
- inviolate a.
- Not violated; uninjured; unhurt; unbroken. [L. inviolatus. See In- not, and Violate.]
- fain v. t.
- To be glad ; to wish or desire.
- methinks v.
- It seems to me; I think. See Me. [AS. þyncan to seem, me þynceedh, me þuhte, OE. me thinketh, me thoughte; akin to G. dünken to seem, denken to think, and E. think. See Me, and Think.]
- loath a.
- Hateful; odious; disliked. [OE. looth, loth, AS. la hostile, odious; akin to OS. l, G. leid, Icel. lei, Sw. led, G. leiden to suffer, OHG. lidan to suffer, go, cf. AS. li to go, Goth. leip]
- withal adv.
- With this; with that. [With + all.]
- sire n.
- A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
- daylight n.
- The light of day as opposed to the darkness of night; the light of the sun, as opposed to that of the moon or to artificial light.
- falter v. t.
- To thrash in the chaff; also, to cleanse or sift, as barley.
- godless a.
- Having, or acknowledging, no God; without reverence for God; impious; wicked.
- depart v. i.
- To part; to divide; to separate. [OE. departen to divide, part, depart, F. départir to divide, distribute, se départir to separate one's self, depart; pref. dé- (L. de) + partir to part, depart,]
- straightway adv.
- Immediately; without loss of time; without delay.
- entreat v. t.
- To treat, or conduct toward; to deal with; to use. [OE. entreten to treat, request, OF. entraiter to treat of; pref. en- (L. in) + traitier to treat. See Treat.]
- angry a.
- Troublesome; vexatious; rigorous. [See Anger.]
- craft n.
- Strength; might; secret power. [AS. cr strength, skill, art, cunning; akin to OS., G., Sw., & Dan. kraft strength, D. kracht, Icel. kraptr; perh. originally, a drawing together, stretching, fr]
- carcanet n.
- A jeweled chain, necklace, or collar. [Also written carkenet and carcant.] [Dim. fr. F. carcan the iron collar or chain of a criminal, a chain of preciousstones, LL. carcannum, fr. Armor. kerchen bosom, neck, kechen collar, fr. kelch ci]
- howbeit conj.
- Be it as it may; nevertheless; notwithstanding; although; albeit; yet; but; however. [How + be + it.]
- gnash v. t.
- To strike together, as in anger or pain; as, to gnash the teeth. [OE. gnasten, gnaisten, cf. Icel. gnastan a gnashing, gn to gnash, Dan.knaske, Sw. gnissla, D. knarsen, G. knirschen.]
- thereafter adv.
- After that; afterward. [AS. th\'d6ræfter after that. See There, and After.]
- stole n.
- A long, loose garment reaching to the feet. [AS. stole, L. stola, Gr. stall. See Stall.]
- hereafter adv.
- In time to come; in some future time or state. [AS. hræfter.]
- amid prep.
- In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
- folk n.
- In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe. [AS. folc; akin to D. volk, OS. & OHG. folk, G. volk, Icel. f, Sw. & Dan. folk, Lith. pulkas crowd, and perh. to E. follow.]
- dreamer n.
- One who dreams.
- glorious a.
- Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
- adjure v. t.
- To charge, bind, or command, solemnly, as if under oath, or under the penalty of a curse; to appeal to in the most solemn or impressive manner; to entreat earnestly. [L. adjurare, adjurdium, to swear to; later, to adjure: cf. F. adjurer. See Jury.]
- claps v. t.
- Variant of Clasp
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
Third Episode is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Medea of Euripides, translated into English rhyming verse by Gilbert Murray, Project Gutenberg ebook #35451, the Gilbert Murray translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: Euripides, Third Episode, in Medea (1906), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #35451, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/euripides-medea/third-episode.html, id L28756.
Form and metre
Third Episode is 262 lines in 67 stanzas. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 87%).
See other poems in iambic pentameter.
Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.
Rhyme words, stanza by stanza
The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.
- 2 -AA aegeus · homeliestA · bestA
- 3 -AA surprised · kingA · journeyingA
- 43 -AA--BBCCDDEE- medea · theseA · kneesA · own · one · thereB · despairB · fireC · desireC · thouD · nowD · theeE · beE · know
- 44 --AABBCCDDCCEE- aegeus · show · sakeA · acheA · wholeB · soulB · wayC · mayC · landD · handD · essayC · stayC · againE · fainE · just
- 47 -AABBCCDD-- medea · nearA · hereA · sanctitiesB · theseB · wordC · heardC · goD · knowD · i · majesty
- 48 -AABBCC aegeus · oathA · loathA · soB · showB · withalC · callC
- 49 -AA medea · sunA · oneA
- 51 --AA medea · again · pleaA · freeA
- 52 -AA aegeus · starA · areA
- 55 -AABB medea · brightA · nightA · doneB · wonB
- 57 -ABBACC chorus · sonA · fireB · desireB · wonA · artC · heartC
- 58 -AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHGGIIJJKKLL--MMNNOO-----PPQQRRSSTTSSUUVV- medea · skiesA · eyesA · browB · nowB · hourC · powerC · fastD · lastD · endE · friendE · withalF · thrallF · hereG · earG · thingsH · kingsH · rareG · prayerG · exiledI · childI · laughedJ · craftJ · sentK · banishmentK · goldL · foldL · die · agony · wreathM · teethM · treadN · deadN · awayO · dayO · road · blood · wrought · not · us · comeP · homeP · wrongQ · longQ · willR · stillR · beS · seeS · begetT · desolateT · dieS · iS · handU · brandU · aboveV · loveV · glorious
- 59 --AA leader · us · needA · deedA
- 60 -AA medea · theeA · meA
- 66 --AABB gone · none · servicesA · isA · tryB · iB
Scansion, line by line
Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| (While MEDEA is waiting downcast, seated upon her door-step, there passes from the left a traveller with followers. As he catches sight of MEDEA he stops.) | 39 | ·˘/˘·/˘/·/˘······/˘····/˘·/˘··/˘··˘/˘·· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Have joy, Medea! 'Tis the homeliest | 10 | ··˘/˘····· |
| Word that old friends can greet with, and the best. | 10 | ·········· |
| MEDEA (looking up, surprised). | 9 | ˘/˘/˘·˘/˘ |
| Oh, joy on thee, too, Aegeus, gentle king | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Of Athens!--But whence com'st thou journeying? | 10 | ·/˘····/˘˘ |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| From Delphi now and the old encaverned stair. . . . | 11 | ·/˘········ |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Where Earth's heart speaks in song? What mad'st thou there? | 10 | ·········· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Prayed heaven for children--the same search alway. | 11 | ·/˘·/˘···/˘ |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Children? Ah God! Art childless to this day? | 10 | /˘···/˘··· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| So God hath willed. Childless and desolate. | 10 | ····/˘·/˘˘ |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| What word did Phoebus speak, to change thy fate? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Riddles, too hard for mortal man to read. | 10 | /˘···/˘··· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Which I may hear? | 4 | ···· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Assuredly: they need | 6 | ˘/˘˘·· |
| A rarer wit. | 4 | ·/˘· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| How said he? | 3 | ··· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Not to spill | 3 | ··· |
| Life's wine, nor seek for more. . . . | 6 | ······ |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Until? | 2 | ·· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Until | 2 | ·· |
| I tread the hearth-stone of my sires of yore. | 10 | ·········· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| And what should bring thee here, by Creon's shore? | 9 | ········· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| One Pittheus know'st thou, high lord of Trozen? | 10 | ·········· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Aye, Pelops' son, a man most pure of sin. | 10 | ·········· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Him I would ask, touching Apollo's will. | 10 | ····/˘˘/˘· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Much use in God's ways hath he, and much skill. | 10 | ·········· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| And, long years back he was my battle-friend, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| The truest e'er man had. | 6 | ·/˘··· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Well, may God send | 4 | ···· |
| Good hap to thee, and grant all thy desire. | 11 | ········˘/˘ |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| But thou . . . ? Thy frame is wasted, and the fire | 11 | ·····/˘··/˘ |
| Dead in thine eyes. | 4 | ···· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Aegeus, my husband is | 6 | ···/˘· |
| The falsest man in the world. | 7 | ·/˘···· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| What word is this? | 4 | ···· |
| Say clearly what thus makes thy visage dim? | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| He is false to me, who never injured him. | 10 | ······//˘· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| What hath he done? Show all, that I may see. | 10 | ·········· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Ta'en him a wife; a wife, set over me | 10 | ·········· |
| To rule his house. | 4 | ···· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| He hath not dared to do, | 6 | ······ |
| Jason, a thing so shameful? | 7 | /˘···/˘ |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Aye, 'tis true: | 3 | ··· |
| And those he loved of yore have no place now. | 10 | ·········· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Some passion sweepeth him? Or is it thou | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| He turns from? | 3 | ··· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Passion, passion to betray | 7 | /˘/˘·˘/ |
| His dearest! | 3 | ·/˘ |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Shame be his, so fallen away | 8 | ····/˘˘/ |
| From honour! | 3 | ·/˘ |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Passion to be near a throne, | 7 | /˘····· |
| A king's heir! | 3 | ··· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| How, who gives the bride? Say on. | 7 | ······· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Creon, who o'er all Corinth standeth chief. | 9 | ····/˘/˘· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Woman, thou hast indeed much cause for grief. | 10 | /˘··˘/···· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| 'Tis ruin.--And they have cast me out as well. | 10 | ·/········ |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Who? 'Tis a new wrong this, and terrible. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Creon the king, from every land and shore. . . . | 10 | ····/˘˘··· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| And Jason suffers him? Oh, 'tis too sore! | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| He loveth to bear bravely ills like these! | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| But, Aegeus, by thy beard, oh, by thy knees, | 10 | ·········· |
| I pray thee, and I give me for thine own, | 10 | ·········· |
| Thy suppliant, pity me! Oh, pity one | 11 | ·/˘˘/˘··/˘· |
| So miserable. Thou never wilt stand there | 10 | ·/˘˘˘·/··· |
| And see me cast out friendless to despair. | 10 | ·····/˘·˘/ |
| Give me a home in Athens . . . by the fire | 11 | ·····/˘··/˘ |
| Of thine own hearth! Oh, so may thy desire | 11 | ········˘/˘ |
| Of children be fulfilled of God, and thou | 10 | ·/˘·˘/···· |
| Die happy! . . . Thou canst know not; even now | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| Thy prize is won! I, I will make of thee | 10 | ·········· |
| A childless man no more. The seed shall be, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| I swear it, sown. Such magic herbs I know. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Woman, indeed my heart goes forth to show | 10 | /˘˘/······ |
| This help to thee, first for religion's sake, | 10 | ······˘/˘· |
| Then for thy promised hope, to heal my ache | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Of childlessness. 'Tis this hath made mine whole | 10 | ·/˘˘······ |
| Life as a shadow, and starved out my soul. | 10 | ···/······ |
| But thus it stands with me. Once make thy way | 10 | ·········· |
| To Attic earth, I, as in law I may, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Will keep thee and befriend. But in this land, | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| Where Creon rules, I may not raise my hand | 9 | ········· |
| To shelter thee. Move of thine own essay | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| To seek my house, there thou shalt alway stay, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Inviolate, never to be seized again. | 10 | ˘/˘˘/···˘/ |
| But come thyself from Corinth. I would fain | 10 | ··˘/·/˘··· |
| Even in foreign eyes be alway just. | 10 | /˘·/˘··/˘· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| 'Tis well. Give me an oath wherein to trust | 10 | ·········· |
| And all that man could ask thou hast granted me. | 11 | ········/˘· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Dost trust me not? Or what thing troubleth thee? | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| I trust thee. But so many, far and near, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Do hate me--all King Pelias' house, and here | 10 | ·········· |
| Creon. Once bound by oaths and sanctities | 9 | ······/˘˘ |
| Thou canst not yield me up for such as these | 10 | ·········· |
| To drag from Athens. But a spoken word, | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| No more, to bind thee, which no God hath heard. . . | 10 | ·········· |
| The embassies, methinks, would come and go: | 10 | ·/˘˘˘/···· |
| They all are friends to thee. . . . Ah me, I know | 10 | ·········· |
| Thou wilt not list to me! So weak am I, | 10 | ·········· |
| And they full-filled with gold and majesty. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Methinks 'tis a far foresight, this thine oath. | 10 | ˘/···/···· |
| Still, if thou so wilt have it, nothing loath | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Am I to serve thee. Mine own hand is so | 10 | ·········· |
| The stronger, if I have this plea to show | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Thy persecutors: and for thee withal | 10 | ·/˘·˘···˘/ |
| The bond more sure.--On what God shall I call? | 10 | ·········· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Swear by the Earth thou treadest, by the Sun, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Sire of my sires, and all the gods as one. . . . | 10 | /········· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| To do what thing or not do? Make all plain. | 10 | ·········· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Never thyself to cast me out again. | 10 | /˘˘/····˘/ |
| Nor let another, whatsoe'er his plea, | 9 | ··˘/˘···· |
| Take me, while thou yet livest and art free. | 10 | ·········· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Never: so hear me, Earth, and the great star | 10 | /˘········ |
| Of daylight, and all other gods that are! | 10 | ·/···/˘··· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| 'Tis well: and if thou falter from thy vow . . . ? | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| AEGEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| God's judgment on the godless break my brow! | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Go! Go thy ways rejoicing.--All is bright | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| And clear before me. Go: and ere the night | 10 | ·········· |
| Myself will follow, when the deed is done | 10 | ·/·/˘····· |
| I purpose, and the end I thirst for won. | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| (AEGEUS and his train depart.) | 7 | ·····˘/ |
| CHORUS. | 2 | /˘ |
| Farewell: and Maia's guiding Son | 8 | ·/·/˘/˘· |
| Back lead thee to thy hearth and fire, | 9 | ·······/˘ |
| Aegeus; and all the long desire | 9 | ······˘/˘ |
| That wasteth thee, at last be won: | 8 | ·/˘····· |
| Our eyes have seen thee as thou art, | 9 | /˘······· |
| A gentle and a righteous heart. | 8 | ·/˘··/˘· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| God, and God's Justice, and ye blinding Skies! | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| At last the victory dawneth! Yea, mine eyes | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| See, and my foot is on the mountain's brow. | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Mine enemies! Mine enemies, oh, now | 10 | ·/˘˘·/˘˘·· |
| Atonement cometh! Here at my worst hour | 11 | ˘/˘/˘····/˘ |
| A friend is found, a very port of power | 11 | ·····/˘··/˘ |
| To save my shipwreck. Here will I make fast | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Mine anchor, and escape them at the last | 10 | ·/˘·˘/···· |
| In Athens' walled hill.--But ere the end | 10 | ·/˘·˘····· |
| 'Tis meet I show thee all my counsel, friend: | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Take it, no tale to make men laugh withal! | 10 | ········˘/ |
| Straightway to Jason I will send some thrall | 10 | /˘·/˘····· |
| To entreat him to my presence. Comes he here, | 11 | ·˘/···/˘··· |
| Then with soft reasons will I feed his ear, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| How his will now is my will, how all things | 10 | ·········· |
| Are well, touching this marriage-bed of kings | 10 | ··/˘·/˘··· |
| For which I am betrayed--all wise and rare | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| And profitable! Yet will I make one prayer, | 10 | ·/˘˘······ |
| That my two children be no more exiled | 10 | ···/˘···/· |
| But stay. . . . Oh, not that I would leave a child | 10 | ·········· |
| Here upon angry shores till those have laughed | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Who hate me: 'tis that I will slay by craft | 10 | ·········· |
| The king's daughter. With gifts they shall be sent, | 10 | ··/˘······ |
| Gifts to the bride to spare their banishment, | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| Fine robings and a carcanet of gold. | 10 | ·····/˘˘·· |
| Which raiment let her once but take, and fold | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| About her, a foul death that girl shall die | 10 | ·········· |
| And all who touch her in her agony. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| Such poison shall they drink, my robe and wreath! | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Howbeit, of that no more. I gnash my teeth | 11 | ˘/˘········ |
| Thinking on what a path my feet must tread | 10 | /˘········ |
| Thereafter. I shall lay those children dead-- | 10 | ˘/˘····/˘· |
| Mine, whom no hand shall steal from me away! | 10 | ········˘/ |
| Then, leaving Jason childless, and the day | 10 | ·/˘/˘/˘··· |
| As night above him, I will go my road | 10 | ·········· |
| To exile, flying, flying from the blood | 10 | ·/·/˘/˘··· |
| Of these my best-beloved, and having wrought | 10 | ····˘/·/˘· |
| All horror, so but one thing reach me not, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| The laugh of them that hate us. | 7 | ······· |
| Let it come! | 3 | ··· |
| What profits life to me? I have no home, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| No country now, nor shield from any wrong. | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| That was my evil hour, when down the long | 10 | ···//˘···· |
| Halls of my father out I stole, my will | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Chained by a Greek man's voice, who still, oh, still, | 10 | ·········· |
| If God yet live, shall all requited be. | 10 | ·········· |
| For never child of mine shall Jason see | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| Hereafter living, never child beget | 10 | ˘/˘/˘/˘·˘/ |
| From his new bride, who this day, desolate | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Even as she made me desolate, shall die | 10 | /····/˘··· |
| Shrieking amid my poisons. . . . Names have I | 10 | /˘˘/·/˘··· |
| Among your folk? One light? One weak of hand? | 10 | ·········· |
| An eastern dreamer?--Nay, but with the brand | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| Of strange suns burnt, my hate, by God above, | 10 | ·········· |
| A perilous thing, and passing sweet my love! | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| For these it is that make life glorious. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Since thou has bared thy fell intent to us | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| I, loving thee, and helping in their need | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| Man's laws, adjure thee, dream not of this deed! | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| There is no other way.--I pardon thee | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Thy littleness, who art not wronged like me. | 10 | ·/˘˘······ |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Thou canst not kill the fruit thy body bore! | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Yes: if the man I hate be pained the more. | 10 | ·········· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| And thou made miserable, most miserable? | 11 | ···/˘˘·/˘˘˘ |
| MEDEA. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| Oh, let it come! All words of good or ill | 10 | ·········· |
| Are wasted now. | 4 | ·/˘· |
| (She claps her hands: the NURSE comes out from the house.) | 11 | ··········· |
| Ho, woman; get thee gone | 6 | ·/˘··· |
| And lead lord Jason hither. . . . There is none | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| Like thee, to work me these high services. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| But speak no word of what my purpose is, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| As thou art faithful, thou, and bold to try | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| All succours, and a woman even as I! | 10 | ·/˘··/˘/·· |
| (The NURSE departs.) | 4 | ··˘/ |
The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.