EURIPIDES
You and your children in the confines of my land,
You die. This word I have spoken is firmly fixed.
But now, if you must stay, stay for this day alone. 355
For in it you can do none of the things I fear.
(Exit Creon -with his attendants.)
Chorus
Oh, unfortunate one! Oh, cruel!
Where will you turn? Who will help you?
What house or what land to preserve you 360
From ill can you find?
Medea, a god has thrown suffering
Upon you in waves of despair.
Medea
Things have gone badly every way. No doubt of that
But not these things this far, and don't imagine so. 365
There are still trials to come for the new-wedded pair,
And for their relations pain that will mean something.
Do you think that I would ever have fawned on that man
Unless I had some end to gain or profit in it?
I would not even have spoken or touched him with my
hands, 370
But he has got to such a pitch of foolishness
That, though he could have made nothing of all my plans
By exiling me, he has given me this one day
To stay here, and in this I .will make dead bodies
Of three of my enemies—father, the girl, and my
husband- 375
I have many ways of death which I might suit to them,
And do not know, friends, which one to take in hand;
Whether to setjre underneath their bridal mansion,
Or sharpen a sword and thrust it to the heart,
Stealing into the palace where the bed is made. 380
There is just one obstacle to this. If I am caught
Breaking into the house and scheming against it,
I shall die, and give my enemies cause for laughter.
It is best to go by the straight road, the one in which