THE BOOK WAS DRENCHED - OUDL Home

MEDEA
I will have naught to do with friends of thine, naught will I receive of
thee, offer it not to me; a villain's gifts can bring no blessing.
JASON
At least I call the gods to witness, that I am ready in all things to serve
thee and thy children, but thou dost scorn my favours and thrustest thy
friends stubbornly away; wherefore thy lot will be more bitter still.
MEDEA
Away! By love for thy young bride entrapped, too long thou lingerest
outside her chamber; go wed, for, if God will, thou shalt have such a marriage
as thou wouldst fain refuse.
(JASON goes out.)
CHORUS (singing)
strophe 1
When in excess and past all limits Love doth come, he brings not
glory or repute to man; but if the Cyprian queen in moderate might
approach, no goddess is so full of charm as she. Never, O never, lady
mine, discharge at me from thy golden bow a shaft invincible, in
passion's venom dipped.
antistrofhe 1
On me may chastity, 1 heaven's fairest gift, look with a favouring
eye; never may Cypris, goddess dread, fasten on me a temper to
dispute, or restless jealousy, smiting my soul with mad desire for
unlawful love, but may she hallow peaceful married life and shrewdly
decide whom each of us shall wed.
strophe 2
0 my country, O my own dear home! God grant I may never be an
outcast from my city, leading that cruel helpless life, whose every
day is misery. Ere that may I this life complete and yield to death,
ay, death; for there is no misery that doth surpass the loss of fatherland.
antistrophe 2
1 have seen with mine eyes, nor from the lips of others have I the
lesson learnt; no city, not one friend doth pity thee in this thine
awful woe. May he perish and find no favour, whoso hath not in him
honour for his friends, freely unlocking his heart to them. Never shall
he be friend of mine.
(MEDEA has been seated in despair on her doorstep during the choral
song. AEGEUS and his attendants enter.)