I too will aid thee in this task, for by the children's hand Iwill send to her gifts that far surpass in beauty, I well know, aught that now is seen 'mongst men, a robe of finest tissue and a chaplet of chased gold.But one of my attendants must haste and bring the ornaments hither.(A servant goes into the house.) Happy shall she be not once alone but ten thousand-fold, for in thee she wins the noblest soul to share her love, and gets these gifts as well which on a day my father's sire, the Sun-god, bestowed on his descendants.(The servant returns and hands the gifts to the children.) My children, take in your hands these wedding gifts, and bear them as an offering to the royal maid, the happy bride; for verily the gifts she shall receive are not to be scorned.
JASON
But why so rashly rob thyself of these gifts? Dost think a royal palace wants for robes or gold? Keep them, nor give them to another.
For well I know that if my lady hold me in esteem, she will set my price above all wealth.
MEDEA
Say not so; 'tis said that gifts tempt even gods; and o'er men's minds gold holds more potent sway than countless words.Fortune smiles upon thy bride, and heaven now doth swell her triumph; youth is hers and princely power; yet to save my children from exile I would barter life, not dross alone.Children, when we are come to the rich palace, pray your father's new bride, my mistress, with suppliant voice to save you from exile, offering her these ornaments the while; for it is most needful that she receive the gifts in her own hand.Now go and linger not; may ye succeed and to your mother bring back the glad tidings she fain would hear (JASON, the ATTENDANT, and the children go out together.)CHORUS (singing)
strophe 1
Gone, gone is every hope I had that the children yet might live;forth to their doom they now proceed.The hapless bride will take, ay, take the golden crown that is to be her ruin; with her own hand will she lift and place upon her golden locks the garniture of death.
antistrophe 1
Its grace and sheen divine will tempt her to put on the robe and crown of gold, and in that act will she deck herself to be a bride amid the dead.Such is the snare whereinto she will fall, such is the deadly doom that waits the hapless maid, nor shall she from the curse escape.
strophe 2
And thou, poor wretch, who to thy sorrow art wedding a king's daughter, little thinkest of the doom thou art bringing on thy children's life, or of the cruel death that waits thy bride.Woe is thee! how art thou fallen from thy high estate!
antistrophe 2
Next do I bewail thy sorrows, O mother hapless in thy children, thou who wilt slay thy babes because thou hast a rival, the babes thy husband hath deserted impiously to join him to another bride.
(The ATTENDANT enters with the children.)
ATTENDANT
Thy children, lady, are from exile freed, and gladly did the royal bride accept thy gifts in her own hands, and so thy children made their peace with her.
MEDEA
Ah!
ATTENDANT
Why art so disquieted in thy prosperous hour? Why turnest thou thy cheek away, and hast no welcome for my glad news?
MEDEA
Ah me!
ATTENDANT
These groans but ill accord with the news I bring.
MEDEA
Ah me! once more I say.
ATTENDANT
Have I unwittingly announced some evil tidings? Have I erred in thinking my news was good?
MEDEA
Thy news is as it is; I blame thee not.
ATTENDANT
Then why this downcast eye, these floods of tears?
MEDEA
Old friend, needs must I weep; for the gods and I with fell intent devised these schemes.
ATTENDANT
Be of good cheer; thou too of a surety shalt by thy sons yet be brought home again.
MEDEA
Ere that shall I bring others to their home, ah! woe is me ATTENDANTThou art not the only mother from thy children reft.Bear patiently thy troubles as a mortal must.
MEDEA
I will obey; go thou within the house and make the day's provision for the children.(The ATTENDANT enters the house.MEDEA turns to the children.) O my babes, my babes, ye have still a city and a home, where far from me and my sad lot you will live your lives, reft of your mother for ever; while I must to another land in banishment, or ever I have had my joy of you, or lived to see you happy, or ever I have graced your marriage couch, your bride, your bridal bower, or lifted high the wedding torch.Ah me! a victim of my own self-will.So it was all in vain I reared you, O my sons; in vain did suffer, racked with anguish, enduring the cruel pangs of childbirth.'Fore Heaven I once had hope, poor me! high hope of ye that you would nurse me in my age and deck my corpse with loving hands, a boon we mortals covet; but now is my sweet fancy dead and gone; for I must lose you both and in bitterness and sorrow drag through life.And ye shall never with fond eyes see your mother more for o'er your life there comes a change.Ah me! ah me! why do ye look at me so, my children? why smile that last sweet smile? Ah me!