Epeisodion 3
Aegeus
Can he have brought himself to such a dastard deed?
695
Medea
Be assured thereof; I, whom he loved of yore, am in dishonour now.
Aegeus
Hath he found a new love? or does he loathe thy bed?
Medea
Much in love is he! A traitor to his friend is he become.
Aegeus
Enough! if he is a villain as thou sayest.
Medea
The alliance he is so much enamoured of is with a princess.
700
Aegeus
Who gives his daughter to him? go on, I pray.
Medea
Creon, who is lord of this land of Corinth.
Aegeus
Lady, I can well pardon thy grief.
Medea
I am undone, and more than that, am banished from the land.
Aegeus
By whom? fresh woe this word of thine unfolds.
705
Medea
Creon drives me forth in exile from Corinth.
Aegeus
Doth Jason allow it? This too I blame him for.
Medea
Not in words, but he will not stand out against it. Ο, I implore thee by this beard
and by thy knees, in suppliant posture, pity, O pity my sorrows; do not see me cast forth forlorn, but receive me in thy country, to a seat within thy halls. So may thy wish by heaven’s grace be crowned with a full harvest
710
of offspring, and may thy life close in happiness! Thou knowest not the rare good luck thou findest here, for I will make thy childlessness to cease and cause thee to beget fair issue; so potent are the spells I know.
715
Aegeus
Lady, on many grounds I am most fain to grant thee this thy boon,
first for the gods’ sake, next for the children whom thou dost promise I shall beget; for in respect of this I am completely lost.The Schol. gives two interpretations of φροῦδος, (1) I am ruined as far as begetting children goes. (2) I am entirely devoted to doing so. Neither is satisfactory owing to want of parallel passages. ’Tis thus with me; if e’er thou reach my land, I will attempt to champion thee as I am bound to do.
720
Only one warning I do give thee first, lady; I will not from this land bear thee away, yet if of thyself thou reach my halls, there shalt thou bide in safety and I will never yield thee up to any man. But from this land escape without my aid,
725
for I have no wish to incur the blame of my allies as well.i.e., as well as Jason.
730
Medea
It shall be even so; but wouldst thou pledge thy word to this, I should in all be well content with thee.
Aegeus
Surely thou dost trust me? or is there aught that troubles thee?
Medea
Thee I trust; but Pelias’ house and Creon are my foes.
Wherefore, if thou art bound by an oath, thou wilt not giveTo avoid the very doubtful form μεθεῖς = μεθείης some read μεθεῖ’ ἂν. me up to them when they come to drag me from the land, but, having entered into a compact and swornReading ἐνώμοτος. Hermann changes καὶ into μὴ. A simpler change, supported by a Schol., and one MS., would be to read ἀνωμοτος = whereas if thou only make a verbal compact, without oath, thou mightest be persuaded, etc. The whole passage is, as it stands, probably corrupt; numerous emendations have been proposed. If the above emendation be adopted, it will be necessary to alter οὐκ ἂν πίθοιο for which Munro proposed ὀκνῶν πίθοιο = and fearing their demands of surrender thou mightest yield. Wecklein, τάχ’ ἂν τίθοι σε (adopted by Nauck), is tempting. by heaven as well, thou wilt become my friend and disregard their overtures. Weak is any aid of mine,
735
whilst they have wealth and a princely house.
740
Aegeus
Lady, thy words show much foresight, so if this is thy will, I do not refuse. For I shall feel secure and safe if I have some pretext to offer to thy foes,
and thy case too the firmer stands. Now name thy gods.
745
Medea
Swear by the plain of Earth, by Helios my father’s sire, and, in one comprehensive oath, by all the race of gods.
Aegeus
What shall I swear to do, from what refrain? tell me that.
Medea
Swear that thou wilt never of thyself expel me from thy land,
