IX. JASON AND MEDEA. Therein all the famous history SPENSER, FAERIE QUEENE, ii. 12. ARGUMENT. MEDEA, stirred by the news of Jason's marriage with Creusa, appeals to her husband's memory of all she had done for him in the midst of his perils in Colchis, and asks to be restored to her proper place as his wife.-(HEROIDES, XII.) The story is told by Ovid in another place (Metamorphoses, Bk. VII.; see STORIES FROM OVID, XVI.- The Golden Fleece), and is the subject of one of Euripides' tragedies. The story of Jason's infidelity to Hypsipyle and Medea forms one of the episodes in Chaucer's "Legende of Goode Women." [Medea speaks.] Why did the fates bring the Argo to Colchis? Why did I not let Jason go unguarded to his fate? ΙΟ HEI mihi! cur umquam iuvenalibus acta lacertis Cur umquam Colchi Magnetida vidimus Argo, Cur mihi plus aequo flavi placuere capilli Aut semel in nostras quoniam nova puppis arenas Et caderet cultu cultor ab ipse suo! Dempta forent capiti quam mala multa meo! 160 106 3 p. 141, ix. (4) 122 b 131 107 It is too late to complain, but there is some satisfaction in reproaching you with your crime. You came to Colchis; I fell in love with the handsome stranger, who was not slow to see his advantage. 20 30 119 a Est aliqua ingrato meritum exprobrare voluptas: 106 2 Hoc illic Medea fui, nova nupta quod hic est ; Et premitis pictos corpora Graia toros. Et vidi et perii, nec notis ignibus arsi, Et formosus eras, et me mea fata trahebant. Perfide, sensisti; quis enim bene celat amorem? 101 107 a p. 146, C 113 149 112 A hard task was laid upon you, to plough with Mars' oxen, and sow the dragons' teeth, and, last of all, to cheat the watchful eyes of the guardian of the fleece. 40 Dicitur interea tibi lex, ut dura ferorum p. 142(2) 119. 106 a 150 106 3 140 4 140 I You had little hope then of wedding a Creusa; but my love spoke for you, and my sister pleaded on your behalf. 50 60 Quam tibi tunc longe regnum dotale Creusae 107 113 152 II.2 1196 Orat opem Minyis: petit altera, et altera habebat : 107 We met by Diana's shrine: you begged my help, and promised me eternal fidelity. I could not resist your plighted troth, and yielded to your prayer. 70 80 Est nemus et piceis et frondibus ilicis atrum, Sunt in eo... fuerant certe... delubra Dianae : Noscis, an exciderunt mecum loca! Venimus illuc : 111 132 "Ius tibi et arbitrium nostrae fortuna salutis Per mala nostra precor, quorum potes esse levamen, Effice me meritis tempus in omne tuum ! Quam thalamo, nisi tu, nupta sit ulla meo: 135 152 III. I Conscia sit Iuno, sacris praefecta maritis, 106 a Et dea, marmorea cuius in aede sumus!" Sic cito sum verbis capta puella tuis. You went through your appointed task, whilst I sate, pale and trembling, to watch the success of my enchantments: and when the fleece was to be won, it was I, the poor, guilty barbarian, who found the means to lull the dragon's eyes to sleep. 90 ΙΟΟ Iungis et aeripedes inadusto corpore tauros Et solidam iusso vomere findis humum. Insopor ecce vigil squamis crepitantibus horrens 112 138 152 III I Dotis opes ubi erant ? ubi erat tibi regia coniux, 107 a Et tibi, quae raperes, vellera tuta dedi. 150 I left my home with you, a stranger, shrinking from no horror, no peril. Would that some one of the many dangers which we escaped had been fatal to us, and brought on us the punishment which we deserved. Proditus est genitor, regnum patriamque reliqui, Virginitas facta est peregrini praeda latronis; At non te fugiens sine me, germane, reliqui: [dextra: Sic ego, sed tecum, dilaceranda fui. [rem ? 140 I I 20 Numen ubi est? ubi di? meritas subeamus in alto, p.144 F.III. Aut nos Scylla rapax canibus misisset edendos! 107 d But we returned safe. Why recount my other crimes? They were all done in your interest. Sospes ad Haemonias victorque reverteris urbes : 111 152 I. And now you have the hardihood to send me away, and to contract another marriage. I tried to shut my eyes to what was going on, but at last our own child called my attention to it. 130 123 Ausus es...o! justo desunt sua verba dolori... 1076,145 a 104 At mihi funerea flebiliora tuba, Quo propior vox haec, hoc mihi peius erat. 118 140 Quis vellet tanti nuntius esse mali? p. 141, ix (2) Me quoque, quidquid erat, potius nescire juvabat: 152 1.6 |