SCENE I

_Medea_ [_alone_]. Ye gods of marriage; Lucina, guardian of the genial bed; Pallas, who taught the tamer of the seas To steer the Argo; stormy ocean's lord; Titan, dividing bright day to the world; 5 And thou three-formed Hecate, who dost shed Thy conscious splendor on the hidden rites! Ye by whom Jason plighted me his troth; And ye Medea rather should invoke: Chaos of night eternal; realm opposed 10 To the celestial powers; abandoned souls; Queen of the dusky realm; Persephone By better faith betrayed; you I invoke, But with no happy voice. Approach, approach, Avenging goddesses with snaky hair, 15 Holding in blood-stained hands your sulphurous torch! Come now as horrible as when of yore Ye stood beside my marriage-bed; bring death To the new bride, and to the royal seed, And Creon; worse for Jason I would ask-- 20 Life! Let him roam in fear through unknown lands, An exile, hated, poor, without a home; A guest now too well known, let him, in vain, Seek alien doors, and long for me, his wife! And, yet a last revenge, let him beget 25 Sons like their father, daughters like their mother! 'Tis done; revenge is even now brought forth-- I have borne sons to Jason. I complain Vainly, and cry aloud with useless words, Why do I not attack mine enemies? 30 I will strike down the torches from their hands, The light from heaven. Does the sun see this, The author of our race, and still give light? And, sitting in his chariot, does he still Run through the accustomed spaces of the sky, 35 Nor turn again to seek his rising place, And measure back the day? Give me the reins; Father, let me in thy paternal car Be borne aloft the winds, and let me curb With glowing bridle those thy fiery steeds! 40 Burn Corinth; let the parted seas be joined! This still remains--for me to carry up The marriage torches to the bridal room, And, after sacrificial prayers, to slay The victims on their altars. Seek, my soul-- 45 If thou still livest, or if aught endures Of ancient vigor--seek to find revenge Through thine own bowels; throw off woman's fears, Intrench thyself in snowy Caucasus. All impious deeds Phasis or Pontus saw, 50 Corinth shall see. Evils unknown and wild, Hideous, frightful both to earth and heaven, Disturb my soul,--wounds, and the scattered corpse, And murder. I remember gentle deeds, A maid did these; let heavier anguish come, 55 Since sterner crimes befit me now, a wife! Gird thee with wrath, prepare thine utmost rage, That fame of thy divorce may spread as far As of thy marriage! Make no long delay. How dost thou leave thy husband? As thou cam'st. 60 Homes crime built up, by crime must be dissolved.