Pray tell me, hast thou till now dragged on a childless life?AegeusI have no child owing to the visitation of some god.MedeaHast thou a wife, or hast thou never known the married state?AegeusI have a wife joined to me in wedlock’s bond.MedeaWhat said Phoebus to thee as to children?AegeusWords too subtle for man to comprehend.MedeaSurely I may learn the god’s answer?AegeusMost assuredly, for it is just thy subtle wit it needs.MedeaWhat said the god? speak, if I may hear it.AegeusHe bade me not loose the wineskin’s pendent neck.i.e., enjoined strict chastity.MedeaTill when? what must thou do first, what country visit?AegeusTill I to my native home return.MedeaWhat object hast thou in sailing to this land?AegeusO’er Troezen’s realm is Pittheus king.MedeaPelops’ son, a man devout they say.AegeusTo him I fain would impart the oracle of the god.MedeaThe man is shrewd and versed in such-like lore.AegeusAye, and to me the dearest of all my warrior friends.MedeaGood luck to thee! success to all thy wishes!AegeusBut why that downcast eye, that wasted cheek?MedeaO Aegeus, my husband has proved a monster of iniquity.AegeusWhat meanest thou? explain to me clearly the cause of thy despondency.MedeaJason is wronging me though I have given him no cause.AegeusWhat hath he done? tell me more clearly.MedeaHe is taking another wife to succeed me as mistress of his house.AegeusCan he have brought himself to such a dastard deed?MedeaBe assured thereof; I, whom he loved of yore, am in dishonour now.AegeusHath he found a new love? or does he loathe thy bed?MedeaMuch in love is he! A traitor to his friend is he become.AegeusEnough! if he is a villain as thou sayest.