EURIPIDES
Wasting away every moment of the day in tears. 25
So it has gone since she knew herself slighted by him.
Not stirring an eye, not moving her face from the ground,
No more than either a rock or surging sea water
She listens when she is given friendly advice.
Except that sometimes she twists back her white neck and 30
Moans to herself, calling out on her father's name,
And her land, and her home betrayed when she came
away with
A man who now is determined to dishonor her.
Poor creature, she has discovered by her sufferings
What it means to one not to have lost one's own country. 35
She has turned from the children and does not like to see
them.
I am afraid she may think of some dreadful thing,
For her heart is violent. She will never put up with
The treatment she is getting. I know and fear her
Lest she may sharpen a sword and thrust to the heart, 40
Stealing into the palace where the bed is made,
Or even kill the king and the new-wedded groom,
And thus bring a greater misfortune on herself.
She's a strange woman. I know it won't be easy
To make an enemy of her and come off best. 45
But here the children come. They have finished playing.
They have no thought at all of their mother's trouble.
Indeed it is not usual for the young to grieve.
(Enter from the right the slave who is the tutor
to Medea's two small children. The
children follow him.)
Tutor
You old retainer of my mistress' household,
Why are you standing here all alone in front of the 50
Gates and moaning to yourself over your misfortune?
Medea could not wish you to leave her alone.
Nurse
Old man, and guardian of the children of Jason,
72