Medea (598-669)

May that prosperity, whose end is woe, ne’er be mine, nor such wealth as would ever sting my heart!

Change that prayer as I will teach thee, and thou wilt show more wisdom. Never let happiness appear in sorrow’s guise, nor, when thy fortune smiles, pretend she frowns!

Mock on; thou hast a place of refuge; I am alone, an exile soon to be.

Thy own free choice was this; blame no one else.

What did I do? Marry, then betray thee?

Against the king thou didst invoke an impious curse.

On thy house too maybe I bring the curse.

Know this, I will no further dispute this point with thee.

But, if thou wilt of my fortune somewhat take for the children or thyself to help thy exile, say on; for I am ready to grant it with ungrudging hand, yea and to send tokens to my friends elsewhere who shall treat thee well. If thou refuse this offer, thou wilt do a foolish deed,

but if thou cease from anger the greater will be thy gain.

I will have naught to do with friends of thine, naught will I receive of thee, offer it not to me; a villain’s gifts can bring no blessing.

At least I call the gods to witness,

that I am ready in all things to serve thee and thy children, but thou dost scorn my favours and thrustest thy friends stubbornly away; wherefore thy lot will be more bitter still.

Away! By love for thy young bride entrapped, too long thou lingerest outside her chamber;

go wed, for, if God will, thou shalt have such a marriage as thou wouldst fain refuse.

All hail, Medea! no man knoweth fairer prelude to the greeting of friends than this.

All hail to thee likewise, Aegeus, son of wise Pandion. Whence comest thou to this land?

From Phoebus’ ancient oracle.

What took thee on thy travels to the prophetic centre of the earth?

The wish to ask how I might raise up seed unto myself.