Medea A tragedy |
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SCENE the SECOND.
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 | Medea |  |
SCENE the SECOND.
THEANO and the FIRST COLCHIAN apart. MEDEA, her TWO CHILDREN, COLCHIANS and PHÆACIANS.ELDEST CHILD.
Why fly'st thou from us? Wherefore dost thou frown,
Whene'er we name, or ask to see our father?
MEDEA.
You have no father.
ELDEST CHILD.
When we left Iolcos,
Didst thou not tell us, he was here in Corinth?
Now we have pass'd the frightful sea, what hinders,
But we may find him?
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Never find him more
To you a parent, or to me a husband.
ELDEST CHILD.
Alas! thou weep'st.
MEDEA.
You too must learn to weep,
Ye destin'd wand'rers in the vale of mourning.
Why do you lift your infant eyes to me?
Your helpless mother cannot guard your childhood,
Nor bid neglect and sorrow stand aloof.
I once had parents—Ye endearing names!
How my torn heart with recollection bleeds!
You too perhaps o'erflow your aged cheeks,
Rend from your heads the venerable snow
Oft, as your lost Medea is recall'd,
And for a hapless off-spring mourn like me.
FIRST COLCHIAN.
Heart-breaking sorrow now succeeds to rage.
Turn, royal mistress; see the holy priestess.
MEDEA.
Hail! most humane.
THEANO.
To Juno render praise.
MEDEA.
She owes me refuge. Prompted first by Juno,
I left my native Phasis, and convey'd
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Thy part was all humanity.
THEANO.
Sage princess,
Hear me divulge the menaces of Creon
To drive thee hence. Expect his presence soon.
Fear not his anger. Warranted by Juno,
By my high function, by my nature more,
I gave thee, I continue my protection.
MEDEA.
Turn to these infants thy benignant looks.
Them to secure from trouble and the terrors,
Which gather closely on the steps of time,
Is all their mother's care; at whose entreaty
Do thou receive their innocence in charge:
But leave Medea to her own protection.
ELDEST CHILD.
Our father long hath left us. By thy side,
And in thy bosom we had comfort still.
Wilt thou forsake us?
MEDEA.
We will meet again.
Remove them from me. I can bear no longer
To view those mirrors, which reflect the image
Of my distress, and multiply my pains.
THEANO.
Weep not, my children.
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Hide their melting softness,
Lest they dissolve the vigor, which must save them.
[Medea continues weeping.
THEANO.
Come, lovely mourners, rest a-while with me.
Come and be practis'd to repeat your vows
For this most wrong'd of mothers. You shall lift
Your blameless hands, sweet supplicants, shall kneel
To nuptial Juno, and to rev'rend Themis,
The arbitress of oaths, and plighted faith.
The dove-like voice of your untainted age,
Thus visited by undeserv'd affliction,
May win their guardian mercy; when the pray'rs
Of man, false man grown reprobate by time
With all the pomp of hecatombs would fail.
| Medea | |