SCENE I

_Medea, Nurse._

_Nurse._ Stay, foster-child, why fly so swiftly hence? Restrain thy wrath! curb thy impetuous haste! 365 As a Bacchante, frantic with the god And filled with rage divine, uncertain walks The top of snowy Pindus or the peak Of Nyssa, so Medea wildly goes Hither and thither; on her cheek the stain 370 Of bitter tears, her visage flushed, her breast Shaken by sobs. She cries aloud, her eyes Are drowned in scalding tears; again she laughs; All passions surge within her soul; she stays Her steps, she threatens, makes complaint, weeps, groans. 375 Where will she fling the burden of her soul? Where wreak her vengeance? where will break this wave Of fury? Passion overflows! she plans No easy crime, no ordinary deed. She conquers self; I recognize old signs 380 Of raging; something terrible she plans, Some deed inhuman, devilish, and wild. Ye gods, avert the horrors I foresee!

_Medea._ Dost thou seek how to show thy hate, poor wretch? Imitate love! And must I then endure 385 Without revenge the royal marriage-torch? Shall this day prove unfruitful, sought and gained Only by earnest effort? While the earth Hangs free within the heavens; while the vault Of heaven sweeps round the earth with changeless change; 390 While the sands lie unnumbered; while the day Follows the sun, the night brings up the stars; Arcturus never wet in ocean's wave Rolls round the pole; while rivers seaward flow, My hate shall never cease to seek revenge. 395 Did ever fierceness of a ravening beast; Or Scylla or Charybdis sucking down The waters of the wild Ausonian And the Sicilian seas; or Ætna fierce, That holds imprisoned great Enceladus 400 Breathing forth flame, so glow as I with threats? Not the swift rivers, nor the force of flame By storm-wind fanned, can imitate my wrath. I will o'erthrow and bring to naught the world! Does Jason fear the king? Thessalian war? 405 True love fears nothing. He was forced to yield, Unwillingly he gave his hand. But still He might have sought his wife for one farewell. This too he feared to do. He might have gained From Creon some delay of banishment. 410 One day is granted for my two sons' sake! I do not make complaint of too short time, It is enough for much; this day shall see What none shall ever hide. I will attack The very gods, and shake the universe! 415

_Nurse._ Lady, thy spirit so disturbed by ills Restrain, and let thy storm-tossed soul find rest.

_Medea._ Rest I can never find until I see All dragged with me to ruin; all shall fall When I do;--so to share one's woe is joy. 420

_Nurse._ Think what thou hast to fear if thou persist; No one can safely fight with princely power.