If one is a good servant, it’s a terrible thing

When one’s master’s luck is out; it goes to one’s heart.

So I myself have got into such a state of grief

That a longing stole over me to come outside here

And tell the earth and air of my mistress’ sorrows.

TUTOR

Has the poor lady not yet given up her crying?

NURSE

Given up? She’s at the start, not halfway through her tears.

TUTOR

Poor fool—if I may call my mistress such a name—

How ignorant she is of trouble more to come.

NURSE

What do you mean, old man? You needn’t fear to speak.

TUTOR

Nothing. I take back the words which I used just now.

NURSE

Don’t, by your beard, hide this from me, your fellow-servant.

If need be, I’ll keep quiet about what you tell me.

TUTOR

I heard a person saying, while I myself seemed

Not to be paying attention, when I was at the place

Where the old draught-players sit, by the holy fountain,

That Creon, ruler of the land, intends to drive

These children and their mother in exile from Corinth.

But whether what he said is really true or not

I do not know. I pray that it may not be true.

NURSE

And will Jason put up with it that his children

Should suffer so, though he’s no friend to their mother?

TUTOR

Old ties give place to new ones. As for Jason, he

No longer has a feeling for this house of ours.

NURSE

It’s black indeed for us, when we add new to old

Sorrows before even the present sky has cleared.

TUTOR

But you be silent, and keep all this to yourself.

It is not the right time to tell our mistress of it.

NURSE

DO you hear, children, what a father he is to you?

I wish he were dead—but no, he is still my master.

Yet certainly he has proved unkind to his dear ones.

TUTOR

Whats strange in that? Have you only just discovered

That everyone loves himself more than his neighbor?

Some have good reason, others get something out of it.

So Jason neglects his children for the new bride.

NURSE

GO indoors, children. That will be the best thing.

And you, keep them to themselves as much as possible.

Don’t bring them near their mother in her angry mood.

For I’ve seen her already blazing her eyes at them

As though she meant some mischief and I am sure that

She’ll not stop raging until she has struck at someone.

May it be an enemy and not a friend she hurts!

(Medea is heard inside the house.)

MEDEA

Ah, wretch! Ah, lost in my sufferings,

I wish, I wish I might die.

NURSE

What did I say, dear children? Your mother

Frets her heart and frets it to anger.

Run away quickly into the house,

And keep well out of her sight.

Don’t go anywhere near, but be careful

Of the wildness and bitter nature