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قراءة كتاب Studies in the Poetry of Italy, Part I. Roman
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اللغة: English
Studies in the Poetry of Italy, Part I. Roman
الصفحة رقم: 4
Medea.
But small the grief is that can counsel take and hide
Its head; great ills lie not in hiding, but must rush
Abroad and work their will.
But small the grief is that can counsel take and hide
Its head; great ills lie not in hiding, but must rush
Abroad and work their will.
Nurse.
O cease this mad complaint,
My mistress; scarce can friendly silence help thee now.
O cease this mad complaint,
My mistress; scarce can friendly silence help thee now.
Medea.
But Fortune fears the brave, the faint of heart o'erwhelms.
But Fortune fears the brave, the faint of heart o'erwhelms.
Nurse.
Then valor be approved, if for it still there's room.
Then valor be approved, if for it still there's room.
Medea.
But it must always be that valor finds its place.
But it must always be that valor finds its place.
Nurse.
No star of hope points out the way from these our woes.
No star of hope points out the way from these our woes.
Medea.
The man who hopes for naught at least has naught to fear.
The man who hopes for naught at least has naught to fear.
Nurse.
The Colchians are thy foes; thy husband's vows have failed;
Of all thy vast possessions not a jot is left.
The Colchians are thy foes; thy husband's vows have failed;
Of all thy vast possessions not a jot is left.
Medea. Yet I am left. There's left both sea and land and fire
And sword and gods and hurtling thunderbolts.
And sword and gods and hurtling thunderbolts.
Nurse.
The king must be revered.
The king must be revered.
Medea.
My father was a king.
My father was a king.
Nurse.
Dost thou not fear?
Dost thou not fear?
Medea.
Not though the earth produced the foe.
Not though the earth produced the foe.
Nurse.
Thou'lt perish.
Thou'lt perish.
Medea.
So I wish it.
So I wish it.
Nurse.
Flee!
Flee!
Medea.
I'm done with flight.
Why should Medea flee?
I'm done with flight.
Why should Medea flee?
Nurse.
Thy children!
Thy children!
Medea.
Whose, thou know'st.
Whose, thou know'st.
Nurse.
And dost thou still delay?
And dost thou still delay?
Medea.
I go, but vengeance first.
I go, but vengeance first.
Nurse.
Th' avenger will pursue.
Th' avenger will pursue.
Medea.
Perchance I'll stop his course.
Perchance I'll stop his course.
Nurse.
Nay, hold thy words and cease thy threats, O foolish one.
Thy temper curb; 'tis well to yield to fate's decrees.
Nay, hold thy words and cease thy threats, O foolish one.
Thy temper curb; 'tis well to yield to fate's decrees.
Medea.
Though fate may strip me of my all, myself am left.
But who flings wide the royal palace doors? Behold,
'Tis Creon's self, exalted high in Grecian sway.
[Medea retires to the back of the stage.
Though fate may strip me of my all, myself am left.
But who flings wide the royal palace doors? Behold,
'Tis Creon's self, exalted high in Grecian sway.
[Medea retires to the back of the stage.
Creon.
[As he enters.] Medea, baleful daughter of the Colchian king,
Has not yet taken her hateful presence from our realm.
On mischief is she bent; well known her treacherous power.
For who escapes her? Who may pass his days in peace?
This cursed pestilence at once would I have stayed
By force of arms: but Jason's prayers prevailed. She still
May live, but let her free my borders from the fear
Her presence genders, and her safety gain by flight.
[He sees Medea approaching.]
[As he enters.] Medea, baleful daughter of the Colchian king,
Has not yet taken her hateful presence from our realm.
On mischief is she bent; well known her treacherous power.
For who escapes her? Who may pass his days in peace?
This cursed pestilence at once would I have stayed
By force of arms: but Jason's prayers prevailed. She still
May live, but let her free my borders from the fear
Her presence genders, and her safety gain by flight.
[He sees Medea approaching.]
But lo, she comes with fierce and threatening mien to seek
An audience with us.
Slaves! defend us from her touch
And pestilential presence! Bid her silence keep,
And learn at length obedience to the king's
Commands.
An audience with us.
Slaves! defend us from her touch
And pestilential presence! Bid her silence keep,
And learn at length obedience to the king's
Commands.
[To Medea.] Go, speed thy flight, thou thing of evil, fell
And monstrous!
And monstrous!
Medea.
What the crime, my lord, or what the guilt
That merits exile?
What the crime, my lord, or what the guilt
That merits exile?
Creon.
Let the guiltless question thus.
Let the guiltless question thus.
Medea.
If now thou judgest, hear me; if thou reign'st, command.
If now thou judgest, hear me; if thou reign'st, command.
Creon.
The king's command thou must obey, nor question aught.
The king's command thou must obey, nor question aught.
Medea.
Unrighteous kingdoms never long endure.
Unrighteous kingdoms never long endure.
Creon.
Go, bear
Thy plaints to Colchis.
Go, bear
Thy plaints to Colchis.
Medea.
Yea, but let him take me hence
Who brought me to thy shores.
Yea, but let him take me hence
Who brought me to thy shores.
Creon.
Too late thy prayer, for fixed
Is my decree.
Too late thy prayer, for fixed
Is my decree.
Medea.
Who sits in judgment and denies
His ear to either suitor, though his judgment right
Appear, is still himself unrighteous.
Who sits in judgment and denies
His ear to either suitor, though his judgment right
Appear, is still himself unrighteous.
Creon.
Didst thou lend
Thine ear to Pelias, ere thou judgedst him to death?—
But come, I'll give thee grace to plead thy goodly cause.
Didst thou lend
Thine ear to Pelias, ere thou judgedst him to death?—
But come, I'll give thee grace to plead thy goodly cause.
Medea.
How hard the task to turn the soul from wrath, when once
To wrath inclined; how 'tis the creed of sceptered kings
To swerve not from the proposed course they once have taken,
Full well I know, for I have tasted royalty.
For, though by present storms of ill I'm overwhelmed,
An exile, suppliant, lone, forsaken, all undone,
I once in happier times a royal princess shone,
How hard the task to turn the soul from wrath, when once
To wrath inclined; how 'tis the creed of sceptered kings
To swerve not from the proposed course they once have taken,
Full well I know, for I have tasted royalty.
For, though by present storms of ill I'm overwhelmed,
An exile, suppliant, lone, forsaken, all undone,
I once in happier times a royal princess shone,