Epeisodion 3
Aegeus
All hail, Medea! no man knoweth fairer prelude to the greeting of friends than this.
Medea
All hail to thee likewise, Aegeus, son of wise Pandion. Whence comest thou to this land?
665
Aegeus
From Phoebus’ ancient oracle.
Medea
What took thee on thy travels to the prophetic centre of the earth?
Aegeus
The wish to ask how I might raise up seed unto myself.
Medea
Pray tell me, hast thou till now dragged on a childless life?
670
Aegeus
I have no child owing to the visitation of some god.
Medea
Hast thou a wife, or hast thou never known the married state?
Aegeus
I have a wife joined to me in wedlock’s bond.
Medea
What said Phoebus to thee as to children?
Aegeus
Words too subtle for man to comprehend.
675
Medea
Surely I may learn the god’s answer?
Aegeus
Most assuredly, for it is just thy subtle wit it needs.
Medea
What said the god? speak, if I may hear it.
Aegeus
He bade me not loose the wineskin’s pendent neck.i.e., enjoined strict chastity.
Medea
Till when? what must thou do first, what country visit?
680
Aegeus
Till I to my native home return.
Medea
What object hast thou in sailing to this land?
Aegeus
O’er Troezen’s realm is Pittheus king.
Medea
Pelops’ son, a man devout they say.
Aegeus
To him I fain would impart the oracle of the god.
685
Medea
The man is shrewd and versed in such-like lore.
Aegeus
Aye, and to me the dearest of all my warrior friends.
Medea
Good luck to thee! success to all thy wishes!
Aegeus
But why that downcast eye, that wasted cheek?
Medea
O Aegeus, my husband has proved a monster of iniquity.
690
Aegeus
What meanest thou? explain to me clearly the cause of thy despondency.
Medea
Jason is wronging me though I have given him no cause.
Aegeus
What hath he done? tell me more clearly.
Medea
He is taking another wife to succeed me as mistress of his house.
