medea excerpts, because i'm fascinated
all translated by me (nan)
τὸν πάντα συντήκουσα δακρύοις χρόνον- ‘dissolving all of time in her tears’ Euripides, Medea, line 25
δεινὴ γάρ- 'for she is dangerous' Euripides, Medea, line 44
Σχετλία, τί μαίνομαι καὶ δυσμεναίνω τοῖσι βουλεύουσιν εὖ- ‘oh wretch, why do I rage and curse those whose plans are well-made.’ Medea in Euripides, Medea, line 873-4
οἴκτιρον οἴκτιρόν με τὴν δυσδαίμονα - 'pity, pity me, ill-starred.' Euripides, Medea, line 711
Di coniugales tuque genialis tori,
Lucina, custos quaeque domituram freta
Tiphyn novam frenare docuisti ratem,
et tu, profundi saeve dominator maris,
clarumque Titan dividens orbi diem,
tacitisque praebens conscium sacris iubar
Hecate triformis, quosque iuravit mihi
deos Iason, quosque Medeae magis
fas est precari: noctis aeternae chaos,
aversa superis regna manesque impios
dominumque regni tristis et dominam fide
meliore raptam, voce non fausta precor.
nunc, nunc adeste sceleris ultrices deae,
crinem solutis squalidae serpentibus,
atram cruentis manibus amplexae facem,
adeste, thalamis horridae quondam meis
quales stetistis: coniugi letum novae
letumque socero et regiae stirpi date.
Oh conjugal gods and you, guardian of the convivial bed,
Lucina, and the one who taught Tiphys to rein in that new ship in order to tame the straits,
and you, the fierce master of the fathomless sea,
and the Titan who partitions the bright day for the world,
and the radiance who provides a witness to the silent rites,
three formed Hecate, and those gods whom Jason swore by for me,
and those whom it is more right for Medea to call upon:
chaos of an eternal night, kingdoms averted from those above, unholy Manes,
the master of the grave kingdom and the mistress snatched away with a better sense of faith,
I call upon you with a voice despondent.
Now, now, be present, goddesses, avengers of villainy,
hair filthy with tangled serpents,
having taken up the black torches with bloody hands,
be present, just as you had been at my wedding, be hellish,
and bestow death on the new bride, death on the father in law,
and death on the royal line.
~ Medea, Seneca, Medea, lines 1-18
quodcumque vidit Phasis aut Pontus nefas,
videbit Isthmos. effera ignota horrida,
tremenda caelo pariter ac terris mala
mens intus agitat: vulnera et caedem et vagum
funus per artus— levia memoravi nimis:
haec virgo feci; gravior exurgat dolor:
maiora iam me scelera post partus decent.
Whatever corruption Phasis or Pontus has seen,
the Isthmus will see. Wild, unknown, horrid,
malicious things, to be dreaded equally by heaven and earth,
my mind stirs within. Wounds and slaughter and a burial,
dedicated to a set of wandering limbs— I recall you too lightly.
These things I did as a girl, and more heavy may the pain grow.
Atrocities much greater suit me now as a woman and mother.
~ Medea, Seneca, Medea, lines 44-50
So I have an odd attachment to Medea. I think she's an absolutely fascinating character, both on her own and in the context of Ancient Greek culture to which she seems to be the absolute antithesis in her very being. Her paradox is mesmerizing, and for that reason I have devoted a significant amount of my free time just translating excerpts from plays about her, though I should devote more.
-nan