Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/93



Enter Nurse of Medea's Children.

God that Argo's hull had never flown

Through those blue Clashing Rocks to Kolchis-land,

Nor that in Pelion's glens had fallen ever

The axe-hewn pine, nor filled with oars the hands

Of hero-princes, who at Pelias' hest

Quested the Golden Fleece! My mistress then,

Medea, to Iolkos' towers had sailed not

With love for Jason thrilled through all her soul,

Nor had on Pelias' daughters wrought to slay

Their sire, nor now in this Corinthian land

Dwelt with her lord and children, gladdening

By this her exile them whose land received her,

Yea, and in all things serving Jason's weal,

Which is the chief salvation of the home,

When wife stands not at variance with her lord.

Now all is hatred: love is sickness-stricken.

For Jason, traitor to his babes and her,

My mistress, weddeth with a child of kings,

Daughter of Kreon ruler of the land.

And, slighted thus, Medea, hapless wife,

Cries on the oaths, invokes that mightiest pledge