Stories from the Greek Tragedians by Alfred Church

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[Illustration: PELAS SENDING FORTH JASON.]

Now, when this thing was told to Medea, at first she went through the
house raging like a lioness that is bereaved of her whelps, and crying
out to the Gods that they should smite the false husband that had sworn
to her and had broken his oath, and affirming that she herself would
take vengeance on him. And they that had the charge of her children kept
them from her, lest she should do some mischief. But when her first fury
was spent, she came forth from her house, and spake to certain women of
Corinth of her acquaintance, that were gathered together to comfort her,
and said, "I am come, my friends, to excuse myself to you. Ye know this
sudden trouble that hath undone me, and the exceeding great wickedness
of my husband. Surely we women are of all creatures that breathe the
most miserable. For we must take husbands to rule over us, and how shall
we know whether they be good or bad? Of a truth, a woman should have
the gift of divination, that she may know what manner of man he is to
whom she joineth herself, seeing that he is a stranger to her and
unknown. If indeed she find one that is worthy, it is well with her; but
if not, then had she better die. For a man, if he be troubled at home,
goeth abroad, and holdeth converse with his friends and equals of age,
and is comforted. But with a woman it is not so; for she hath only the
life that is at home. But why do I compare myself with you? for ye dwell
in your own land, and have parents and kinsfolk and friends; but I am
desolate and without a country, and am wronged by this man that hath
stolen me from a strange land; nor have I mother, or brother, or
kinsman, who may help me in my need. This thing, therefore, I would ask
of you; that if I can contrive any device by which I may have vengeance
on my husband, and on him that giveth his daughter to him, and on the
girl, ye keep silence. And vengeance I will have; for though a woman
have not courage, nor dare to look upon the sword, yet if she be wronged
in her love, there is nothing fiercer than she."

Then the women said, "We will keep silence as thou biddest us, for 'tis
right that thou shouldest have vengeance on thy husband. But see! here
cometh King Creon, doubtless with some new purpose."

And the King said, "Hear this, Medea. I bid thee depart out of this
land, and thy children with thee. And I am come myself to execute this
word, for I depart not again to my own house till I have cast thee forth
from my borders."

Then Medea made answer, "Now am I altogether undone. But tell me, my
lord, why dost thou drive me out of thy land?"

"Because I fear thee, lest thou should do some harm beyond all remedy to
me and to my house. For I know that thou art wise, and hast knowledge of
many curious arts; and besides, I hear that thou hast threatened
grievous hurt against all that are concerned with this new marriage."

But Medea answered, "O my lord, this report of craft and wisdom hath
wrought me harm not this day only, but many times! Truly it is not well
that a man should teach his children to be wise, for they gain thereby
no profit, but hatred only. But as for me, my lord, my wisdom is but a
small thing; nor is there cause why thou shouldest fear me. For who am I
that I should transgress against a king? Nor indeed hast thou done me
wrong. My husband, indeed, I hate; but thou hast given thy daughter as
it pleased thee. The Gods grant that it may be well with thee and thine!
Only suffer me to dwell in this land."

But the King would not, though she entreated him with many words. Only
at the last he yielded this to her, that she might abide for one day and
contrive some refuge for her children; "but," he said, "if thou tarry
after this, thou and thy children, thou shalt surely die."

Then he went his way, and Medea said to the women that stood by, "That
at least is well; be ye sure that there is evil to come for the
bridegroom and the bride in this new marriage, and for their kin. Think
ye that I had flattered this man but that I thought to gain somewhat
thereby? Surety I had not touched his hand, no, nor spoken to him. And
now--fool that he is--he hath given me this day, and when he might have
driven me from the land, he suffereth me to tarry. Verily he shall die
for it, he and his daughter and this new bridegroom. But how shall I
contrive it? Shall I put fire to the dwelling of the bride, or make my
way by stealth into her chamber and slay her? Yet if I be found so
doing, I shall perish, and my enemies will laugh me to scorn. Nay, let
me work by poison, as is my wont. Well, and if they die, what then? What
city will receive me? what friend shall give me protection? I know not.
I will tarry awhile, and if some help appear, I will work my end with
guile; but if not, I will take my sword and slay them that I hate,
though I die. For by Hecate, whom I reverence most of all the Gods, no
man shall vex my heart and prosper. Therefore, Medea, fear not; use all
thy counsel and craft. Shall the race of Sisyphus, shall Jason, laugh
thee to scorn that art of the race of the Sun?"

When she had ended these words, there came Jason telling her that she
did not well to be thus angry, and that she had brought upon herself
this trouble of banishment by idle words against the rulers of the land;
but that nevertheless he would have a care for her, and see that she
wanted nothing needful. But when Medea heard him so speak, she burst out
upon him in great fury, calling to mind how she had saved him once again
from the bulls that breathed fire from their nostrils and from the great
dragon that guarded the fleece of gold, and how she had done the old man
Pelias to death for his sake; "and now," she said, "whither shall I go?
who will receive me? for I have made enemies of my kinsfolk on account
of thee, and now thou forsakest me. O Zeus! why can we discern false
money from the true, but as for men, when we would know which is the
good and which the bad, there is no mark by which we may know them?"

But to this Jason answered that if she had saved him in time past, she
had done it of necessity, being compelled by love; and that he had made
her a full recompense, taking her from a barbarous land to the land of
Greece, where men lived by law and not by the will of the stronger and
causing her to be highly reputed of for wisdom among the people of the
land. "And as to this marriage," he said, "for which thou blamest me, I
have made it in prudence and in care for thee and for thy children. For
being an exile in this city, what could I do better than marry the
daughter of the King? Nor is my heart turned from thee or from thy
children. Only I have made provision against poverty, and that I might
rear my sons in such fashion as befitted their birth. And now if thou
needest aught in thy banishment, speak; for I would give thee provision
without grudging, and also commend thee to such friends as I have."

"Keep thy gifts and thy friends," she said, "to thyself. There is no
profit in that which cometh from such hands as thine."

So Jason went his way; and when he was departed there came AEgeus, King
of Athens, who had been on a journey to inquire of the god at Delphi,
for he was childless, and would fain have a son born to him. But he
understood not what the god had answered, and was now on his way to King
Pittheus of Troezen, a man learned in such matters, that he might
interpret the thing to him. And when he saw that Medea had been weeping,
he would know what ailed her. Then she told him how her husband was
false to her, marrying a new wife, even the daughter of the king of the
land, and how she was on the point to be banished, and her children with
her. And when she saw that these things displeased King AEgeus, she
said--

"Now, my lord, I beseech thee to have pity on me, nor suffer me to
wander homeless and friendless, but receive me into thy house. So may
the Gods grant thee thy desire that thou mayest have a son to reign
after thee. And indeed I have such knowledge in these matters that I can
help thee myself."

Then said King AEgeus, "I am willing to do thee this service both for
right's sake and because of the hope of children which thou promisest to
me. Only I may not take thee with me from this land. But if thou comest
to me thou shalt be safe, nor will I give thee up to any man."

Then said Medea, "It is well, and I trust thee. And yet, for I am weak
and my enemies are strong, I would fain bind thee by an oath."

To this the King answered, "Lady, thou art prudent, and I refuse not the
oath; for being so bound, I shall have wherewith to answer thine
enemies, if they seek thee from me. By what Gods shall I swear?"

"Swear by the Earth and by the Sun, who was the father of my father, and
by all the Gods, that thou wilt not banish me from thy land, nor give me
up to my enemies seeking me."

And King AEgeus sware a great oath, by the Earth and by the Sun, and by
all the Gods, that he would not banish her, nor give her up; and so
departed.

Then said Medea, "Now shall my counsels prosper; for this man hath given
me that which I needed, even a refuge in the city of Athens. Now,
therefore, hear what I will do. I will send one of my servants to Jason,
and bid him come to me, and will speak softly to him, confessing that he
hath done wisely in making this marriage with the daughter of King
Creon. And I will ask of him that my children may remain in the land.
And I will send them with a gift to this King's daughter, even a robe
and a crown. But when she shall deck herself with them, she shall
perish, so deadly are the poisons with which I shall anoint them. But
very grievous is the deed that I must do when this shall have been
accomplished. For after this I must slay my children. Nor shall any man
deliver them out of my hand. Thus will I destroy the whole house of
Jason, and so depart from the land. A very evil deed it is; but I cannot
endure to be laughed to scorn by my enemies. And yet what profiteth me
to live? For I have no country or home or refuge from trouble. I did
evil leaving my father's house to follow this Greek. But verily he shall
pay me to the very uttermost. For his children he shall see no more, and
his bride shall perish miserably. Wherefore let no man henceforth think
me to be weak or feeble."

And when the women would have turned her from her purpose, saying that
so doing she would be the most miserable of women, she would not
hearken, thinking only how she might best wound the heart of her
husband.

Meanwhile a servant had carried the message to Jason. And when he was
come, she said that she had repented of her anger against him, and that
now he seemed to her to have done wisely, strengthening himself and his
house by this marriage; and she prayed him that he would pardon her,
being a woman and weak. And then she called to her children that they
should come forth from the house, and take their father by his hand, for
that her anger had ceased, and there was peace between them.

And Jason praised her that she had so changed her thoughts; and to his
children he said, "Be sure, my sons, that your father hath counselled
wisely for you. Live, you shall yet be the first in this land of
Corinth."

And as he spake these words, he perceived that Medea wept, and said,
"Why weepest thou?"

And she answered, "Women are always ready with tears for their children.
I bare them; and when thou saidst to them 'Live,' I doubted whether this
might be. But listen. Doubtless it is well that I depart from this land,
both for me and for you. But as for these children, wilt thou not
persuade the King that he suffer them to dwell here?"

"I know not whether I shall persuade him; but I will endeavour."

"Ask thy wife to intercede for these children, that they be not banished
from this land."

"Even so. With her doubtless I shall prevail, if she be like to other
women."

"I will help thee in this, sending her gifts so fair that there could be
found nothing more beautiful on the earth--a robe exceeding fine and a
crown of gold. These shall my children bear to her. So shall she be the
happiest of women, having such a husband as thou art, and this adornment
which the Sun, my grandsire, gave to his descendants after him that they
should possess it."

Then she turned herself to her children, and said, "Take these caskets
in your hands, my sons, and take them to the new bride, the King's
daughter."

"But why wilt thou empty thy hands? Are there not, thinkest thou, robes
enough and gold enough in the treasure of the King? Keep them for
thyself. She will make more account of me than of thy gifts."

"Nay, not so. Is it not said that even the Gods are persuaded by gifts,
and that gold is mightier than ten thousand speeches? Go, then, my
children, to the King's palace. Seek your father's new wife, and fall
down before her, and beseech her, giving her these adornments, that ye
be not banished from the land."

So the two boys went to the palace bearing the gifts. And all the
servants of Jason that were therein rejoiced to see them, thinking that
Medea had put away her anger against her husband. And they kissed their
hands and their heads; and one led them into the chambers of the women,
to the King's daughter. And she, who before sat looking with much love
upon Jason, when she saw the boys, turned her head from them in anger.

But Jason soothed her, saying, "Be not angry with thy friends, but love
them whom thy husband loveth, and take the gifts which they bring, and
persuade thy father for my sake that he banish them not."

And when she saw the gifts, she changed her thoughts, and consented to
his words. And in a very brief space she took the robe and clothed
herself with it, and put the crown upon her head, and ordered her hair,
looking in the glass and smiling at the image of herself. And then she
rose from her seat, and walked through the house, stepping daintily, and
often regarding herself.

But then befell a dreadful thing; for she grew pale, and trembled, and
had well-nigh fallen upon the ground, scarce struggling to her chair.

And an old woman that was of her attendants set up a great cry, thinking
that Pan or some other god had smitten her. But when she saw that she
foamed at her mouth, and that her eyes rolled, and that there was no
blood left in her, she ran to tell Jason of the matter, and another
hastened to the King's chamber.

And then there came upon the maiden a greater woe than at the first, for
there came forth a marvellous stream of fire from the crown of gold that
was about her head, and all the while the robe devoured her flesh. Then
she rose from her seat, and ran through the house, tossing her hair, and
seeking to cast away the crown. But this she could not, for it clung to
her very closely. And at the last she fell dead upon the ground, sorely
disfigured so that none but her father only had known her. And all
feared to touch her, lest they should be devoured also of the fire.

But when the King was come, he cast himself upon the dead body, saying,
"O my child! what God hath so smitten thee? Why hast thou left me in my
old age?"

And when he would have lifted himself, the robe held him fast, and he
could not, though he struggled sorely. So he also died; and the two,
father and daughter, lay together dead upon the ground.

Now in the meanwhile the old man that had the charge of the boys led
them back to the house of the mother, and bade her rejoice, for that
they were released from the sentence of banishment, and that some day
she should also return by their means.

But the woman wept and answered doubtfully. Then she bade him go into
the house and prepare for the lads what they might need for the day. And
when he was departed she said, "O my sons, I go to a strange land and
shall not see you come to fair estate and fortune; nor shall I make
preparations for your marriage when you have grown to manhood. Vainly
did I bear you with pangs of travail; vainly did I rear you; vainly did
I hope that ye should cherish me in my old age, and lay me out for my
burial. O my children, why do ye so regard me? Why do ye laugh at me
that shall never laugh again? Nay, I cannot do the deed. When I see the
eyes of my children how bright they are, I cannot do it. And yet shall
my enemies triumph over me and laugh me to scorn? Not so; I will dare it
all." And she bade her children go into the house. But after a space she
spake again, "O my heart, do not this deed. Spare my children! They will
gladden thee in the land of thy banishment." And then again, after a
space, "But no, it is otherwise ordained, and there is no escape. And I
know that by this time the King's daughter hath the robe upon her and
the crown about her head, and what I do I must do quickly."

Then she called to the boys again and said, "O my children! give me your
right hands. O hands and mouths that I love, and faces fair exceedingly.
Be ye happy--but not here. All that is here your father hath taken from
you. O dear regard, O soft, soft flesh, O sweet, sweet breath of my
children! Go, my children, go; I cannot look upon your faces any more."

And now there came a messenger from the King's palace and told her all
that had there befallen. But when she heard it she knew that the time
was come, and went into the house.

And the women that stood without heard a terrible cry from the children
as they sought to flee from their mother and could not. And while they
doubted whether they should not hasten within and, it might be, deliver
them from their mother, came Jason to the gate and said to them, "Tell
me, ladies, is Medea in this place, or hath she fled? Verily she must
hide herself in the earth, or mount into the air, if she would not
suffer due punishment for that which she hath done to the King and to
his daughter. But of her I think not so much as of her children. For I
would save them, lest the kinsmen of the dead do them some harm, seeking
vengeance for the bloody deed of their mother."

Then the women answered, "O Jason, thou knowest not the truth, or thou
wouldst not speak such words."

"How so? Would she kill me also?"

"Thy children are dead, slain by the hand of their mother."

"Dead are they? When did she slay them?"

"If thou wilt open the gates thou wilt see the dead corpses of thy
children."

But when he battered at the gates, and cried out that they should open
to him, he heard a voice from above, and saw Medea borne in a chariot,
with winged dragons for horses, who cried to him, "Why seekest thou the
dead and me that slew them? Trouble not thyself. If thou wantest aught
of me, say on, but thou shalt never touch me with thy hand. For this
chariot, which my father the Sun hath given me, shalt deliver me out of
thy hands."

Then Jason cried, "Thou art an accursed woman, that hast slain thy own
children with the sword, and yet darest to look upon the earth and the
sun. What madness was it that I brought thee from thy own country to
this land of Greece, for thou didst betray thy father and slay thy
brother with the sword, and now thou hast killed thine own children, to
avenge what thou deemest thine own wrong. No woman art thou, but a
lioness or monster of the sea."

And to these things she answered, "Call me what thou wilt, lioness or
monster of the sea; but this I know, that I have pierced thy heart. And
as for thy children, thou shalt not touch them or see them any more; for
I will bear them to the grove of Here and bury them there, lest some
enemy should break up their tomb and do them some dishonour. And I
myself go to the land of Attica, where I shall dwell with King AEgeus,
the son of Pandion. And as for thee, thou shalt perish miserably, for a
beam from the ship Argo shall smite thee on the head. So shalt thou
die."

Thus was the vengeance of Medea accomplished.

THE STORY OF THE DEATH OF HERCULES.

Oeneus, who was king of the city of Pleuron in the land of AEtolia, had
a fair daughter, Deianeira by name. Now the maiden was sought in
marriage by the god of the river Acheloues; but she loved him not, for he
was strange and terrible to look at. Sometimes he had the shape of a
great dragon with scales, and sometimes he had the shape of a man, only
that his head was the head of a bull, and streams of water flowed down
from his beard. But it came to pass that Hercules, who was stronger than
all the men that dwelt upon the earth, coming to the city of Pleuron,
saw the maiden and loved her, and would have her to wife. And when she
told him, saying that the river-god Acheloues sought her in marriage, he
bade her be of good courage, for that he would vanquish the creature in
battle, so that it should not trouble her any more. Which thing he did,
for when the river-god came, after his custom, Hercules did battle with
him, and came nigh to strangling him, and brake off one of his horns.
And the maiden looked on while the two fought together, and was well
pleased that Hercules prevailed. King Oeneus also was glad, and
willingly gave her to him to wife. So after a while he departed with her
unto his own country. And as they journeyed they came to the river
Evenus. Now on the banks of this river there dwelt one Nessus, a
centaur. (These centaurs had heads as the heads of men, but their bodies
were like horses' bodies; and they were a savage race and a lawless.)
This Nessus was wont to carry travellers across the river, which indeed
was very broad and deep. And when he saw Deianeira that she was very
fair, he would have taken her from her husband; but Hercules drew his
bow and smote him with an arrow.

Now when Nessus knew that he should die of his wound--for neither man
nor beast lived that was wounded of these arrows--he thought in his
wicked heart that he would be avenged on this man that had slain him.
Whereupon he said to the woman, "Behold I die. But first I would give
thee a gift. Take of the blood that cometh from this wound, and it shall
come to pass that if the love of thy husband fail thee, thou shalt take
of this blood and smear it on a garment, and give him the garment to
wear, and he shall love thee again as at the first."

So the woman took of the blood and kept it by her. And it came to pass
after a time that the two went to the city of Trachis and dwelt there.
Now Trachis is in the land of Thessaly, near unto the springs of Oeta.
And Hercules loved his wife, and she dwelt in peace and happiness, only
that he sojourned not long at home, but wandered over the face of the
earth, doing many wonderful works at the commandment of Eurystheus, his
brother. For the Gods had made Eurystheus to be master over him, for all
that he was so strong. Now for the most part this troubled not his wife
overmuch; for he departed from his house as one who counted it certain
that he should return thereto. But at the last this was not so. For he
left a tablet wherein were written many things such as a man writeth who
is about to die. For he had ordered therein the portion which his wife
should have as her right of marriage, and how his possessions should be
divided among his children. Also he wrote therein a certain space of
time, even a year and three months, for when that was come to an end, he
said, he must either be dead or have finished happily all his labours,
and so be at peace continually. And this he had heard as an oracle from
the doves that dwell in the oaks of Dodona. And when this time was
well-nigh come to an end, Deianeira, being in great fear, told the
matter to Hyllus, her son. And even as she had ended, there came a
messenger, saying, "Hail, lady! Put thy trouble from thee. The son of
Alcmena lives and is well. This I heard from Lichas the herald; and
hearing it I hastened to thee without delay, hoping that so I might
please thee."

"But," said the Queen, "why cometh not the herald himself?"

"Because all the people stand about him, asking him questions, and
hinder him."

And not a long while after the herald came; and the name of the man was
Lichas. And when the Queen saw him she cried, "What news hast thou of my
husband? Is he yet alive?"

"Yea," said the herald, "he is alive and in good health."

"And where didst thou leave him? In some country of the Greeks, or among
barbarians?"

"I left him in the land of Euboea, where he ordereth a sacrifice to
Zeus."

"Payeth he thus some vow, or did some oracle command it?"

"He payeth a vow. And this vow he made before he took with his spear the
city of these women whom thou seest."

"And who are these? For they are very piteous to behold."

"These he led captive when he destroyed the city of King Eurytus."

"And hath the taking of the city so long delayed him? For I have not
seen him for the space of a year and three months."

"Not so. The most of this time he was a slave in the land of Lydia. For
he was sold to Omphale, who is Queen of that land, and served her. And
how this came about I will tell thee. Thy husband sojourned in the house
of King Eurytus, who had been long time his friend. But the King dealt
ill with him, and spake to him unfriendly. For first he said that
Hercules could not excel his sons in shooting with the bow, for all that
he had arrows that missed not their aim. And next he reviled him, for
that he was but a slave who served a free man, even King Eurystheus, his
brother. And at the last, at a banquet, when Hercules was overcome with
wine, the King cast him forth. Wherefore Hercules, being very wroth,
slew the man. For the King came to the land of Tiryns, looking for
certain horses, and Hercules caught him unawares, having his thoughts
one way and his eyes another, and cast him down from the cliff that he
died. Then Zeus was very wroth because he had slain him by craft, as he
had never slain any man before, and caused that he should be sold for a
year as a bond-slave to Queen Omphale. And when the year was ended, and
Hercules was free, he vowed a vow that he would destroy this city from
which there had come to him this disgrace; which vow he accomplished.
And these women whom thou seest are the captives of his spear. And as
for himself, be sure that thou wilt see him in no long space."

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