Jason
Fine support, I think, would you have given to my proposal if I had mentioned the marriage to you, seeing that even now
[590]
you cannot bring yourself to lay aside the towering rage in your heart.
Medea
It was not this. You thought that in later years a barbarian wife would discredit you.
Jason
You may be quite sure of this, that it was not for the sake of a woman that I married the royal bride I now have,
[595]
but as I have just said, because I wanted to save you and to beget princes as brothers to my children, to be a bulwark for the house.
Medea
A prosperous life that causes pain is no wish of mine, nor do I want any wealth that torments my heart.
Jason
[600]
Do you know how to change your prayer and show yourself the wiser? Pray that you may never consider advantage as painful nor think yourself wretched when you are fortunate.
Medea
Go on, insult me! You have a refuge, but I go friendless into exile.
Jason
[605]
You yourself chose that. You have no one else to blame.
Medea
How? By taking another wife and abandoning you?
Jason
By uttering unholy curses against the royal family.
Medea
Yes, and I am a curse to your house too.
Jason
I shall not argue any more of this case with you.
[610]
But if you wish to get some of my money to help the children and yourself in exile, say the word, for I am ready to give with unstinting hand, and also to send tokens1 to my friends, who will treat you well.
[615]
You would be a fool not to accept this offer, woman. Forget your anger and it will be the better for you.
Medea
I will accept no help from your friends nor will I take anything from you, so do not offer it. The gifts of a base man bring no benefit.
Jason
At any rate I call the gods to witness
[620]
that I am willing to help you and the children all I can. But you refuse good treatment and obstinately rebuff your friends. This will only make your pain the greater.Exit Jason by Eisodos B.
Medea
Go: it is clear that you are seized by longing for your new bride as you linger so long out of the palace.
[625]
Go, play the bridegroom! For perhaps—and this will prove to be prophetic—you will make such a marriage as to cause you to weep.
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1 The sumbolon is a knuckle-bone sawed in half and used to serve as a letter of introduction. The host can recognize someone sent to enjoy his hospitality by fitting the half he has with the guest's half.
Euripides. Euripides, with an English translation by David Kovacs. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. forthcoming.
The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text.
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