THE M EDEA
The childless, who never discover
Whether children turn out as a good thing 1095
Or as something to cause pain, are spared
Many troubles in lacking this knowledge.
And those who have in their homes
The sweet presence of children, I see that their lives
Are all wasted away by their worries. 1100
First they must think how to bring them up well and
How to leave them something to live on.
And then after this whether all their toil
Is for those who will turn out good or bad,
Is still an unanswered question.
And of one more trouble, the last of all, 1105
That is common to mortals I tell.
For suppose you have found them enough for their living.
Suppose that the children have grown into youth
And have turned out good, still, if God so wills it,
Death will away with your children's bodies,
And carry them off into Hades. 1110
What is our profit, then, that for the sake of
Children the gods should pile upon mortals
After all else
This most terrible grief of all? 1115
(Enter Medea, from the spectators9 right.)
Medea
Friends, I can tell you that for long I have waited
For the event, I stare toward the place from where
The news will come. And now, see one of Jason's servants
Is on his way here, and that labored breath of his
Shows he has tidings for us, and evil tidings. 1120
(Enter, dso from the right, the Messenger.)
Messenger
Medea, you who have done such a dreadful thing,
So outrageous, run for your life, take what you can,
A ship to bear you hence or chariot on land.
111