Racine: Phaedra

MEDEA 135
Beneath the shattered relics of thy bark,
The Argo, crushed ; such is the bitter end
Of our espousals and thy faith betrayed,
Jason.—May the Erinyes of our slaughtered sons,
And justice, who requites each murderous deed,
Destroy you utterly
Medea.— Will any god
Or demon hear thy curses, O thou wretch,
False to thy oath, and to the sacred laws
Of hospitality ?
Jason.— Most impious woman,
Those hands yet reeking with your children's gore
Medea.—Gk) to the palace, and inter thy bride.
Jason.—Bereft of both my sons, I thither go.
Medea.—Not yet enough lament'st thou : to increase
Thy sorrows, may'st thou live till thou art old!
Jason.—Ye dearest children.
Medea.— To their mother dear,
But not to thee.
Jason.— Yet them have you destroyed.
Medea.—That I might punish thee.
Jason.— One more fond kiss
On their loved lips, ah me ! would I imprint.
Medea.—Now wouldst thou speak to them, and in thine arms
Clasp those whom living thou didst banish hence.
Jason.—Allow me, I conjure you by the gods,
My children's tender bodies to embrace.
Medea.—Thou shalt not : these presumptuous words in vain
By thee were hazarded.
Jason.— Jove, hear'st thou this,
How I with scorn am driven away, how wronged
By that detested lioness, whose fangs
Have slain her children? Yet shall my loud plaints,
While here I fix my seat, if 'tis allowed,
And this be possible, call down the gods
To witness that you hinder me from touching
My murdered sons, and paying the deceased
Funereal honors. Would to Heaven I ne'er
Had seen them born to perish by your hand !
Chorus.—Throned on Olympos, with his sovereign nod,
Classics. Vol. .?«—