Go, quick as you can. And bring your mother good news

By your success of those things which she longs to gain.

(Jason goes out with his attendants, followed by the Tutor and the children carrying the poisoned gifts.)

CHORUS

Now there is no hope left for the children’s lives.

Now there is none. They are walking already to murder.

The bride, poor bride, will accept the curse of the gold,

Will accept the bright diadem.

Around her yellow hair she will set that dress

Of death with her own hands.

The grace and the perfume and glow of the golden robe

Will charm her to put them upon her and wear the wreath,

And now her wedding will be with the dead below,

Into such a trap she will fall,

Poor thing, into such a fate of death and never

Escape from under that curse.

You, too, O wretched bridegroom, making your match with kings,

You do not see that you bring

Destruction on your children and on her, Your wife, a fearful death.

Poor soul, what a fall is yours!

In your grief, too, I weep, mother of little children,

You who will murder your own,

In vengeance for the loss of married love

Which Jason has betrayed

As he lives with another wife.

(Enter the Tutor with the children.)

TUTOR

Mistress, I tell you that these children are reprieved,

And the royal bride has been pleased to take in her hands

Your gifts. In that quarter the children are secure.

But come,

Why do you stand confused when you are fortunate?

Why have you turned round with your cheek away from me?

Are not these words of mine pleasing for you to hear?

MEDEA

Oh! I am lost!

TUTOR

That word is not in harmony with my tidings.

MEDEA

I am lost, I am lost!

TUTOR

Am I in ignorance telling you

Of some disaster, and not the good news I thought?

MEDEA

You have told what you have told. I do not blame you.

TUTOR

Why then this downcast eye, and this weeping of tears?

MEDEA

Oh, I am forced to weep, old man. The gods and I,

I in a kind of madness, have contrived all this.

TUTOR

Courage! You, too, will be brought home by your children.

MEDEA

Ah, before that happens I shall bring others home.

TUTOR

Others before you have been parted from their children.

Mortals must bear in resignation their ill luck.

MEDEA

That is what I shall do. But go inside the house,

And do for the children your usual daily work.

(The Tutor goes into the house. Medea turns to her children.)

O children, O my children, you have a city,

You have a home, and you can leave me behind you,

And without your mother you may live there forever.

But I am going in exile to another land

Before I have seen you happy and taken pleasure in you,

Before I have dressed your brides and made your marriage beds