Racine: Phaedra

MEDEA 123
Some great calamity, by the fond hope
Of bearing glad intelligence misled?
Medea.—For having told what thou hast told, no blame
To thee do I impute.
Attendant.— But on the ground
Why fix those eyes, and shed abundant tears ?
Medea.—Necessity constrains me: for the gods
Of Erebus and I in evil hour
Our baleful machinations have devised.
Attendant.—Be of good cheer ; for in your children still
Are you successful.
Medea.— 'Midst the realms of night
Others I first will plunge. Ah, wretched me
Attendant.—Not you alone are from your children torn.
Mortal you are, and therefore must endure
Calamity with patience.
Medea.— I these counsels
Will practise : but go thou into the palace,
And for the children whatsoe'er to-day
Is requisite, make ready. [Exit Attendant.
O my sons!
My sons ! ye have a city and a house
Where, leaving hapless me behind, without
A mother ye forever shall reside.
But I to other realms an exile go.
Ere any help from you I could derive,
Or see you blest ; the hymeneal pomp,
The bride, the genial couch, for you adorn.
And in these hands the kindled torch sustain.
How wretched am I through my own perverseness
You, O my sons, I then in vain have nurtured.
In vain have toiled, and, wasted with fatigue,
Suffered the pregnant matron's grievous throes.
On you, in my afflictions, many hopes
I founded erst : that ye with pious care
Would foster my old age, and on the bier
Extend me after death—much envied lot
Of mortals ; but these pleasing anxious thoughts
Are vanished now ;
for, losing you, a life
Of bitterness and anguish shall I lead.