Stasimon 3
[Episode]
May Maia’s princely son
Chorus
go with thee on thy way to bring thee to thy home, and mayest thou attain that on which thy soul is set so firmly, for to my mind thou seemest a generous man, O Aegeus.
760
Medea
O Zeus, and Justice, child of Zeus, and sun-god’s light,
now will I triumph o’er my foes, kind friends; on victory’s road have I set forth; good hope have I of wreaking vengeance on those I hate. For where we were in most distress this stranger hath appeared, to be a haven in my counsels;
765
to him will we make fast the cables of our ship when we come to the town and citadel of Pallas. But now will I explain to thee my plans in full; do not expect to hear a pleasant tale. A servant of mine will I to Jason
770
send and crave an interview; then when he comes I will address him with soft words, say, this pleases me, and, that is well, even the marriage with the princess, which my treacherous lord is celebrating, and add it suits us both, ’twas well thought out;Porson condemns these two lines.
775
then will I entreat that here my children may abide, not that I mean to leave them in a hostile land for foes to flout, but that I may slay the king’s daughter by guile. For I will send them with gifts in their hands,
780
carrying them unto the bride to save them from banishment, a robe of finest woof and a chaplet of gold. And if these ornaments she take and put them on, miserably shall she die, and likewise everyone who touches her; with such fell poisons will I smear my gifts.
785
And here I quit this theme; but I shudder at the deed I must do next; for I will slay the children I have borne; there is none shall take them from my toils; and when I have utterly confounded Jason’s house
790
I will leave the land, escaping punishment for my dear children’s murder, after my most unholy deed. For I cannot endure the taunts of enemies, kind friends; enough! what gain is life to me? I have no country, home, or refuge left.
795
Ο, I did wrong, that hour I left my father’s home, persuaded by that Hellene’s words, who now shall pay the penalty, so help me God. Never shall he see again alive the children I bore to him,
800
nor from his new bride shall he beget issue, for she must die a hideous death, slain by my drugs. Let no one deem me a poor weak woman who sits with folded hands, but of another mould, dangerous to foes and well-disposed to friends;
805
for they win the fairest fame who live their life like me.
810
Chorus
Since thou hast imparted this design to me, I bid thee hold thy hand, both from a wish to serve thee and because I would uphold the laws men make.
Medea
It cannot but be so; thy words
I pardon since thou art not in the same sorry plight that I am.
815
Chorus
O lady, wilt thou steel thyself to slay thy children twain?
Medea
I will, for that will stab my husband to the heart.
Chorus
It may, but thou wilt be the saddest wife alive.
Medea
No matter; wasted is every word that comes ’twixt now and then.
(To the Nurse.) Ho! thou, go call me Jason hither, for thee I do employ on every mission of trust. No word divulge of all my purpose, as thou art to thy mistress loyal and likewise of my sex.
820
[Choral 1]
Sons of Erechtheus, heroes happy from of yore,
Chorus
children of the blessed gods, fed on wisdom’s glorious food in a holy land ne’er pillaged by its foes, ye who move with sprightly step through a climate ever bright
825
and clear, where, as legend tells, the Muses nine, Pieria’s holy maids, were brought to birth by Harmonia with the golden hair;
830
and poets sing how Cypris drawing water from the streams of fair-flowing Cephissus breathesReading χώρας with Reiske. The passage is corrupt, and possibly some word is lost. o’er the land a gentle breeze
835
of balmy winds, and ever as she crowns her tresses with a garland of sweet rose-buds sends forth the Loves to sit by wisdom’s side,
840
to take a part in every excellence.
845
[Choral 2]
How then shall the city of sacred streams, the land that welcomes those it loves, receive thee, the murderess of thy children,
Chorus
thee whose presence with others is a pollution? Think on the murder of thy children, consider the bloody deed thou takest on thee. Nay, by thy knees we, one and all, implore thee,
850
WhereOf the numerous emendations of this corrupt passage, Nauck’s τέκνυν for τέκνοις is the simplest, if it goes far enough. Verrall suggests that a word has fallen out after the second ἢ and conjectures μένος of τέχναν. This is not less satisfactory than most of the emendations. shall hand or heart find hardihood enough in wreaking such a fearsome deed upon thy sons?
How wilt thou look upon thy babes, and still without a tear retain thy bloody purpose? Thou canst not, when they fall at thy feet for mercy, steel thy heart and dip
860
in their blood thy hand.
865