Medea script

Chorus enters. The Nurse speaks.

The Nurse: This is the wild and terrible justice of God: it brings great persons The great disasters.

I hear her crying again: it is dreadful.
Her lamentation.
She is beautiful and deep in grief: we couldn’t help coming.

We are friends of this house and its trouble hurts us

Medea (Within): Hear me, God, let me die. What I need: all dead, all dead, all dead Under the great cold stones. cold as the stones, cold.

Unhapy one,

Never pray for death, never pray for death,

He is here all too soon

O never pray for death,

Because that prayer will be answered

Medea: …. I will not die tamely

I am not Greek woman.

I hate Jason, who made this sorrow.

Old and honored servant of the great house, do you think it is wise to leave your lady alone in there, building that terrible acropolis of deady Thoughts?

We GREEKS believe that solitude is very dangerous

I think you ought to persuade Medea to come from the dark dwelling, and speak with us, before her heart breaks, or she does harm to herself

She has lived among us, we’ve learned to love her, we’d gladly tell her so.

It might comfort her spirit.

Nurse:…..— Oh, oh, she is coming!

Speak carefully to her

(whispering) They say she is dangerous. She is a witch, but not evil. She can make old men young again: she did it for Jason’s father.

All the people of her country are witches. They know about drugs and magic. They are savages, but they have a wild wisdom.

Medea:……. ; and this —man—Has left me and taken Creon’s daughter, to enjoy her fortune, and put aside her soft yellow hair

And kiss her young mouth.

She is pitiable: she is under great injuries

Creon departs. Medea Rises

Medea: I will thank you.

And the whole world will hear of it

Unhappy Medea, what haven, what sanctuary, where will you wander?

Medea:….. I’ll sleep.I’ll sleep well. I alone against all: and so weary that it is pitiful

Trumpet. Jason enters with armed Attendants

Jason is Medea’s worst enemy, who should have been her dearest protector

Jason: What buisneess have you here? Where is Medea?

There: mourning for what you have done.

Medea:… If I could peel off

The flesh, the children, the memory—-

A little love is a joy in the house,

A little fire is a jewel against frost and darkness.

A great love is a fire that burnes the beams of a roof.

The doorposts are flaming and the house falls.

And now I see the black end.

The end of great love, and God save me fom it

Medea: On the Black Sea shore—Oh, but that’s far. Not yet.

Corinth must howl first

Hatred is here; hatred is heavy, it clings to the earth.

Love blows away, hatred remains

Medea: …while I and my children Safe in Athens laugh. Farewell, Aegus.

What is she plotting in her deep mind?

O God, protector of exiles, lord of the holy sky, lead us to the high rock that Athens loves.

Medea: —-I will be reconciled with them.

Reconciled with them!

Medea: He takes his time, eh? It is intolerable to sit and wait. Do you not think that creon’s daughter will be glad of those gifts?

O Medea, too much wealth is sometimes dreadful.

Medea: Smile for him, children

Dont give them to him, medea.

If you do it will ache forever.

You have refuge;

take them there

Athens is beautiful—-

Medea:—- I wish all life would parish, and the holy gods in high heaven die, before my ones

Come home to my hands

It would be better for you, Medea,

If the earth Opened her jaws and took you down into darkness.

But one thing you will not do, for you cannot,

you will not hurt your own children.

I’ll run to the palace, I’ll warn them.

Medea: Will you? Go. Go if you will. God and my vengful goddess are doing these things:

You cannot prevent them, but you could easily fall into the same fire.

I am afraid to go.

Medea: You are wise. Anyone Running between me and my justice will reap what no man wants

Not justice; vengance.

You have suffered evil, you wish to inflict evil.

Medea: I do according to nature what I have to do. Did you hear a thin music Like a girl screaming? Or did I perhaps imagine it.

Let me go, Medea!

I’ll be mute, I’ll speak to no one. I cannot bear——

Let me go to my house!

Medea: But not all: I have children: My sons are well.

No! I want him crushed, boneless, crawling—-

I have no choice.

Awake, Medea!

Awake from the evil dream. Catch up your children and flee, (hand over kids)

Are you not fed full with evil?

Is it not enough?

She pushes the bous gently into the house. The door bolts. A moment of silence.

The Nurse: No!

Child’s voice : Mother— Ai—!

Medea, no!

Prevent her! Save them!

Open the door—

A god is here medea, he calls to you, he forbids you—-

Jason:—- Where is that murderess? Here in the house?

Or has she fled?

Are you struck dumb? are you shielding her?

Where is Medea?

You caused these things. She was faithful to you and you broke faith.

Horror is here

Jason: So she has killed herself

Good. She ever lacked courage—- I’ll take my sons away to the far ends of the

earth, and never Speak of these things again.

Death is there; death is here.

But you are both blind and deaf: how can I tell you?

Jason: But—the—children are well?

I do not know whether Medea lives or is dead.