The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Vi Part 43

My old, fierce will yet lives, but all my strength Is vanished. Oh, were I Medea still--!

But no, I am no more! O Jason, why, Why hast thou used me so? I sheltered thee, Saved thee, and gave thee all my heart to keep; All that was mine, I flung away for thee!

Why wilt thou cast me off, why spurn my love, Why drive the kindly spirits from my heart And set fierce thoughts of vengeance in their place?

I dream of vengeance, when I have no more The power to wreak revenge! The charms I had From my own mother, that grim Colchian queen, From Hecate, that bound dark G.o.ds to me To do my bidding, I have buried them, Ay, and for love of thee!--have sunk them deep In the dim bosom of our mother Earth; The ebon wand, the veil of b.l.o.o.d.y hue, Gone!--and I stand here helpless, to my foes No more a thing of terror, but of scorn!

GORA. Then speak not of them if they'll serve thee not!

MEDEA. I know well where they lie; For yonder on the plashy ocean-strand I coffined them and sank them deep in earth.

'Tis but to toss away a little mold, And they are mine! But in my inmost soul I shudder when I think on such a venture, And on that blood-stained Fleece. Methinks the ghosts Of father, brother, brood upon their grave And will not let them go. Dost thou recall How on the pavement lay my old, gray sire Weeping for his dead son, and cursing loud His daughter? But lord Jason swung the Fleece High o'er his head, with fierce, triumphant shouts!

'Twas then I swore revenge upon this traitor Who first did slay my best-beloved, now Would slay me, too! Had I my b.l.o.o.d.y charms And secret magic here, I'd keep that vow!

But no, I dare not fetch them, for I fear Lest, shining through the Fleece's golden blaze, Mine eyes should see my father's ghostly face Stare forth at me--and oh! I should go mad!

GORA. What wilt thou do, then?

MEDEA (_wearily_).

Even let them come And slay me, if they will! I can no more!

Not one step will I stir from where I stand; My dearest wish is death! And when he sees Me lying dead, mayhap he'll follow me, Deep-smitten with remorse!

GORA. The King draws nigh; Look to thyself!

MEDEA. Nay, all my strength is gone, What can I do? If he would trample me Beneath his feet--well, let him have his will!

_The _KING_ enters._

KING. Night falls apace, thine hours of grace are fled!

MEDEA. I know it.

KING. Art thou ready to go forth?

MEDEA. Thou tauntest me! If I were not prepared, Must I the less go forth?

KING. My heart is glad To find thee minded so. 'Twill make thee think Less bitterly upon thy sorry fate, And for thy children it doth spell great good: For now they may remember who she was That bare them.

MEDEA. May remember? If they will, Thou meanest!

KING. That they shall, must be my care.

I'll rear them to be mighty heroes both; And then--who knows?--on some far-distant day Their hero-deeds may bring them to the sh.o.r.es.

Of Colchis, where they'll find thee once again, Older in years, grown soft and gentle now, And with fond love will press thee to their hearts.

MEDEA. Alas!

KING. What say'st thou?

MEDEA. Naught! I did but think On happy days long vanished, and forgot All that hath happened since.--Was this the cause That brought thee here, or hast thou aught to say Besides?

KING. Nay, I forgot one other word, But I will speak it now. Thy husband brought Much treasure when he fled to Corinth here From far Iolcos, when his uncle died.

MEDEA. There in the house it lies, still guarded safe; Go in and take it!

KING. And that trinket fair Of dazzling gold, the Fleece--the gleaming prize The Argo brought--is that within, as well?

Why turnest thou away, and wouldst depart?

Give answer! Is it there?

MEDEA. No!

KING. Where, then? Where?

MEDEA. I know not.

KING. Yet thyself didst bear it forth From Pelias' chamber--so the Herald said.

MEDEA. Nay, if he said so, it must needs be true!

KING. Where is it?

MEDEA. Nay, I know not.

KING. Never think To cheat us thus!

MEDEA. If thou wouldst give it me, I would requite thee even with my life; For, if I had it here, thou shouldst not stand Before me, shouting threats!

KING. Didst thou not seize And bear it with thee from Iolcos?

MEDEA. Yea!

KING. And now--?

MEDEA. I have it not.

KING. Who hath it, then?

MEDEA. The earth doth hold it.

KING. Ha! I understand!

So it was there, in sooth?

[_He turns to his attendants._]

Go, fetch me here That which I bade you. What I mean, ye know!

[_The attendants go out._]

Ha! Didst thou think to cheat us with thy words Of double meaning? Earth doth hold it! Now I understand thee! Nay, look not away!

Look here at me, and harken!--Yonder there Upon the seash.o.r.e, where last night ye lay, I gave command to raise a sacred fane To Pelias' shades; and, as my henchmen toiled, They found--thou palest!--freshly buried there An ebon casket, marked with curious signs.

[_The attendants bring in the chest._]

Look! Is it thine?