Racine: Phaedra

MEDEA
SCENE.—BEFORE THE PALACE
Nurse,—Ah ! would to heaven the Argo ne'er had urged
Its rapid voyage to the Colchian strand
'Twixt the Cyanean rocks, nor had the pine
Been fell in Pelion's forests, nor the hands
Of those illustrious chiefs, who that famed bark
Ascended to obtain, the golden fleece
For royal Pelias, plied the stubborn oar
So to lolchos' turrets had my Queen
Medea never sailed, her soul with love
For Jason smitten, nor, as since her arts
Prevailed on Pelias' daughters to destroy
Their father, in this realm of Corinth dwelt
An exile with her husband and her sons
Thus to the citizens whose land received her
Had she grown pleasing, and in all his schemes
Assisted Jason : to the wedded pair.
Hence bliss supreme arises, when the bond
Of concord joins them : now their souls are filled
With ruthless hates, and all affection's lost
For false to his own sons, and her I serve,
With a new consort of imperial birth
Sleeps the perfidious Jason, to the daughter
Of Creon wedded, lord of these domains.
The wretched scorned Medea oft exclaims,
" O by those oaths, by that right hand thou gav'st
The pledge of faith ! " She then invokes the gods
To witness what requital she hath found
From Jason. On a couch she lies, no food
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