rich banquet, set before them, afford to men delight.
CHORUS

I heard a bitter cry of lamentation! loudly, bitterly she calls on
the traitor of her marriage bed, her perfidious spouse; by grievous

wrongs oppressed she invokes Themis, bride of Zeus, witness of
oaths, who brought her unto Hellas, the land that fronts the strand of

Asia, o'er the sea by night through ocean's boundless gate.
(AS the CHORUS finishes its song, MEDEA enters from the house.)

MEDEA
From the house I have come forth, Corinthian ladies, for fear lest

you be blaming me; for well I know that amongst men many by showing
pride have gotten them an ill name and a reputation for

indifference, both those who shun men's gaze and those who move amid
the stranger crowd, and likewise they who choose a quiet walk in life.

For there is no just discernment in the eyes of men, for they, or ever
they have surely learnt their neighbour's heart, loathe him at first

sight, though never wronged by him; and so a stranger most of all
should adopt a city's views; nor do I commend that citizen, who, in

the stubbornness of his heart, from churlishness resents the city's
will.

But on me hath fallen this unforeseen disaster, and sapped my
life; ruined I am, and long to resign the boon of existence, kind

friends, and die. For he who was all the world to me, as well thou
knowest, hath turned out the worst of men, my own husband. Of all

things that have life and sense we women are the most hapless
creatures; first must we buy a husband at a great price, and o'er

ourselves a tyrant set which is an evil worse than the first; and
herein lies the most important issue, whether our choice be good or

bad. For divorce is not honourable to women, nor can we disown our
lords. Next must the wife, coming as she does to ways and customs new,

since she hath not learnt the lesson in her home, have a diviner's eye
to see how best to treat the partner of her life. If haply we

perform these tasks with thoroughness and tact, and the husband live
with us, without resenting the yoke, our life is a happy one; if

not, 'twere best to die. But when a man is vexed with what he finds
indoors, he goeth forth and rids his soul of its disgust, betaking him

to some friend or comrade of like age; whilst we must needs regard his
single self.

And yet they say we live secure at home, while they are at the
wars, with their sorry reasoning, for I would gladly take my stand

in battle array three times o'er, than once give birth. But enough!
this language suits not thee as it does me; thou hast a city here, a

father's house, some joy in life, and friends to share thy thoughts,
but I am destitute, without a city, and therefore scorned by my

husband, a captive I from a foreign shore, with no mother, brother, or
kinsman in whom to find a new haven of refuge from this calamity.

Wherefore this one boon and only this I wish to win from thee,-thy
silence, if haply I can some way or means devise to avenge me on my

husband for this cruel treatment, and on the man who gave to him his
daughter, and on her who is his wife. For though woman be timorous

enough in all else, and as regards courage, a coward at the mere sight
of steel, yet in the moment she finds her honour wronged, no heart

is filled with deadlier thoughts than hers.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS

This will I do; for thou wilt be taking a just vengeance on thy
husband, Medea. That thou shouldst mourn thy lot surprises me not. But

lo! I see Creon, king of this land coming hither, to announce some new
resolve.

(CREON enters, with his retinue.)
CREON

Hark thee, Medea, I bid thee take those sullen looks and angry
thoughts against thy husband forth from this land in exile, and with

thee take both thy children and that without delay, for I am judge
in this sentence, and I will not return unto my house till I banish

thee beyond the borders of the land.
MEDEA

Ah, me! now is utter destruction come upon me, unhappy that I
am! For my enemies are bearing down on me full sail, nor have I any

landing-place to come at in my trouble. Yet for all my wretched plight
I will ask thee, Creon, wherefore dost thou drive me from the land?

CREON
I fear thee,-no longer need I veil my dread 'neath words,-lest

thou devise against my child some cureless ill. Many things contribute
to this fear of mine; thou art a witch by nature, expert in

countless sorceries, and thou art chafing for the loss of thy
husband's affection. I hear, too, so they tell me, that thou dost

threaten the father of the bride, her husband, and herself with some
mischief; wherefore I will take precautions ere our troubles come. For

'tis better for me to incur thy hatred now, lady, than to soften my
heart and bitterlyrepent it hereafter.

MEDEA
Alas! this is not now the first time, but oft before, O Creon,

hath my reputation injured me and caused sore mischief. Wherefore
whoso is wise in his generation ought never to have his children

taught to be too clever; for besides the reputation they get for
idleness, they purchase bitter odium from the citizens. For if thou

shouldst import new learningamongst dullards, thou wilt be thought
a useless trifler, void of knowledge; while if thy fame in the city

o'ertops that of the pretenders to cunning knowledge, thou wilt win
their dislike. I too myself share in this ill-luck. Some think me

clever and hate me, others say I am too reserved, and some the very
reverse; others find me hard to please and not so very clever after

all. Be that as it may, thou dost fear me lest I bring on thee
something to mar thy harmony. Fear me not, Creon, my position scarce

is such that should seek to quarrel with princes. Why should I, for
how hast thou injured me? Thou hast betrothed thy daughter where thy

fancy prompted thee. No, 'tis my husband I hate, though I doubt not
thou hast acted wiselyherein. And now I grudge not thy prosperity;

betroth thy child, good luck to thee, but let me abide in this land,
for though I have been wronged I will be still and yield to my

superiors.
CREON

Thy words are soft to hear, but much I dread lest thou art
devising some mischief in thy heart, and less than ever do I trust

thee now; for cunning woman, and man likewise, is easier to guard
against when quick-tempered than when taciturn. Nay, begone at once!

speak me no speeches, for this is decreed, nor hast thou any art
whereby thou shalt abide amongst us, since thou hatest me.

MEDEA
O, say not so! by thy knees and by thy daughter newlywed, I do

implore!
CREON

Thou wastest words; thou wilt never persuade me.
MEDEA

What, wilt thou banish me, and to my prayers no pity yield?
CREON

I will, for I love not thee above my own family.
MEDEA

O my country! what fond memories I have of thee in this hour!
CREON

Yea, for I myself love my city best of all things save my
children.

MEDEA
Ah me! ah me! to mortal man how dread a scourge is love!

CREON
That, I deem, is according to the turn our fortunes take.

MEDEA
O Zeus! let not the author of these my troubles escape thee.

CREON
Begone, thou silly woman, and free me from my toil.

MEDEA
The toil is mine, no lack of it.