SCENE II

_Medea, Nurse._

_Nurse._ Up! up! Medea! Swiftly flee the land Of Pelops; seek in haste a distant shore.

_Medea._ Shall I fly? I? Were I already gone I would return for this, that I might see These new betrothals. Dost thou pause, my soul? 855 This joy's but the beginning of revenge. Thou dost but love if thou art satisfied To widow Jason. Seek new penalties, Honor is gone and maiden modesty,-- It were a light revenge pure hands could yield. 860 Strengthen thy drooping spirit, stir up wrath, Drain from thy heart its all of ancient force, Thy deeds till now call honor; wake, and act, That they may see how light, how little worth, All former crime--the prelude of revenge! 865 What was there great my novice hands could dare? What was the madness of my girlhood days? I am Medea now, through sorrow strong. Rejoice, because through thee thy brother died; Rejoice, because through thee his limbs were torn, 870 Through thee thy father lost the golden fleece; Rejoice, that armed by thee his daughters slew Old Pelias! Seek revenge! No novice hand Thou bring'st to crime; what wilt thou do; what dart Let fly against thy hated enemy? 875 I know not what my maddened spirit plots, Nor yet dare I confess it to myself! In folly I made haste--would that my foe Had children by this other! Mine are his, We'll say Creusa bore them! 'Tis enough; 880 Through them my heart at last finds full revenge; My soul must be prepared for this last crime. Ye who were once my children, mine no more, Ye pay the forfeit for your father's crimes. Awe strikes my spirit and benumbs my hand; 885 My heart beats wildly; mother-love drives out Hate of my husband; shall I shed their blood-- My children's blood? Demented one, rage not, Be far from thee this crime! What guilt is theirs? Is Jason not their father?--guilt enough! 890 And worse, Medea claims them as her sons. They are not sons of mine, so let them die! Nay, rather let them perish since they are! But they are innocent--my brother was! Fear'st thou? Do tears already mar thy cheek? 895 Do wrath and love like adverse tides impel Now here, now there? As when the winds wage war, And the wild waves against each other smite, My heart is beaten; duty drives out fear, As wrath drives duty. Anger dies in love. 900 Dear sons, sole solace of a storm-tossed house, Come hither, he may have you safe if I May claim you too! But he has banished me; Already from my bosom torn away They go lamenting--perish then to both, 905 To him as me! My wrath again grows hot; Furies, I go wherever you may lead. Would that the children of the haughty child Of Tantalus were mine, that I had borne Twice seven sons! In bearing only two 910 I have been cursed! And yet it is enough For father, brother, that I have borne two.-- Where does that horde of furies haste? whom seek? For whom prepare their fires? or for whom Intends the infernal band its bloody torch? 915 Whom does Megaera seek with hostile brand? The mighty dragon lashes its fierce tail-- What shade uncertain brings its scattered limbs? It is my brother, and he seeks revenge; I grant it, thrust the torches in my eyes; 920 Kill, burn, the furies have me in their power! Brother, command the avenging goddesses To leave me, and the shades to seek their place In the infernal regions without fear; Here leave me to myself, and use this hand 925 That held the sword--your soul has found revenge. [_Kills one of her sons._ What is the sudden noise? They come in arms And think to drive me into banishment. I will go up on the high roof, come thou; I'll take the body with me. Now my soul, 930 Strike! hold not hid thy power, but show the world What thou art able.

[_She goes out with the nurse and the living boy, and carries with her the body of her dead son._