Swear by the Earth thou treadest, by the Sun, Sire of my sires, and all the G.o.ds as one... .

AEGEUS.

To do what thing or not do? Make all plain.

MEDEA.

Never thyself to cast me out again.

Nor let another, whatsoe'er his plea, Take me, while thou yet livest and art free.

AEGEUS.

Never: so hear me, Earth, and the great star Of daylight, and all other G.o.ds that are!

MEDEA.

'Tis well: and if thou falter from thy vow ... ?

AEGEUS.

G.o.d's judgment on the G.o.dless break my brow!

MEDEA.

Go! Go thy ways rejoicing.--All is bright And clear before me. Go: and ere the night Myself will follow, when the deed is done I purpose, and the end I thirst for won.

[AEGEUS _and his train depart_.

CHORUS.

Farewell: and Maia's guiding Son Back lead thee to thy hearth and fire, Aegeus; and all the long desire That wasteth thee, at last be won: Our eyes have seen thee as thou art, A gentle and a righteous heart.

MEDEA.

G.o.d, and G.o.d's Justice, and ye blinding Skies!

At last the victory dawneth! Yea, mine eyes See, and my foot is on the mountain's brow.

Mine enemies! Mine enemies, oh, now Atonement cometh! Here at my worst hour A friend is found, a very port of power To save my shipwreck. Here will I make fast Mine anchor, and escape them at the last In Athens' walled hill.--But ere the end 'Tis meet I show thee all my counsel, friend: Take it, no tale to make men laugh withal!

Straightway to Jason I will send some thrall To entreat him to my presence. Comes he here, Then with soft reasons will I feed his ear, How his will now is my will, how all things Are well, touching this marriage-bed of kings For which I am betrayed--all wise and rare And profitable! Yet will I make one prayer, That my two children be no more exiled But stay... . Oh, not that I would leave a child Here upon angry sh.o.r.es till those have laughed Who hate me: 'tis that I will slay by craft The king's daughter. With gifts they shall be sent, Gifts to the bride to spare their banishment, Fine robings and a carcanet of gold.

Which raiment let her once but take, and fold About her, a foul death that girl shall die And all who touch her in her agony.

Such poison shall they drink, my robe and wreath!

Howbeit, of that no more. I gnash my teeth Thinking on what a path my feet must tread Thereafter. I shall lay those children dead-- Mine, whom no hand shall steal from me away!

Then, leaving Jason childless, and the day As night above him, I will go my road To exile, flying, flying from the blood Of these my best-beloved, and having wrought All horror, so but one thing reach me not, The laugh of them that hate us.

Let it come!

What profits life to me? I have no home, No country now, nor shield from any wrong.

That was my evil hour, when down the long Halls of my father out I stole, my will Chained by a Greek man's voice, who still, oh, still, If G.o.d yet live, shall all requited be.

For never child of mine shall Jason see Hereafter living, never child beget From his new bride, who this day, desolate Even as she made me desolate, shall die Shrieking amid my poisons... . Names have I Among your folk? One light? One weak of hand?

An eastern dreamer?--Nay, but with the brand Of strange suns burnt, my hate, by G.o.d above, A perilous thing, and pa.s.sing sweet my love!

For these it is that make life glorious.

LEADER.

Since thou has bared thy fell intent to us I, loving thee, and helping in their need Man's laws, adjure thee, dream not of this deed!

MEDEA.

There is no other way.--I pardon thee Thy littleness, who art not wronged like me.

LEADER.

Thou canst not kill the fruit thy body bore!

MEDEA.

Yes: if the man I hate be pained the more.

LEADER.

And thou made miserable, most miserable?

MEDEA.

Oh, let it come! All words of good or ill Are wasted now.

[_She claps her hands: the_ NURSE _comes out from the house_.

Ho, woman; get thee gone And lead lord Jason hither... . There is none Like thee, to work me these high services.

But speak no word of what my purpose is, As thou art faithful, thou, and bold to try All succours, and a woman even as I!

[_The_ NURSE _departs_.

CHORUS.

The sons of Erechtheus, the olden, Whom high G.o.ds planted of yore In an old land of heaven upholden, A proud land untrodden of war: They are hungered, and, lo, their desire With wisdom is fed as with meat: In their skies is a shining of fire, A joy in the fall of their feet: And thither, with manifold dowers, From the North, from the hills, from the morn, The Muses did gather their powers, That a child of the Nine should be born; And Harmony, sown as the flowers, Grew gold in the acres of corn.

And Cephisus, the fair-flowing river-- The Cyprian dipping her hand Hath drawn of his dew, and the shiver Of her touch is as joy in the land.

For her breathing in fragrance is written, And in music her path as she goes, And the cloud of her hair, it is litten With stars of the wind-woven rose.

So fareth she ever and ever, And forth of her bosom is blown, As dews on the winds of the river, An hunger of pa.s.sions unknown.

Strong Loves of all G.o.dlike endeavour, Whom Wisdom shall throne on her throne.

_Some Women._

But Cephisus the fair-flowing, Will he bear thee on his sh.o.r.e?

Shall the land that succours all, succour thee, Who art foul among thy kind, With the tears of children blind?

Dost thou see the red gash growing, Thine own burden dost thou see?

Every side, Every way, Lo, we kneel to thee and pray: By thy knees, by thy soul, O woman wild!

One at least thou canst not slay, Not thy child!