Seneca's Medea
Kelli /
- Created on 2020-04-01 03:54:02
- Modified on 2020-05-11 02:03:45
- Aligned by Kelli
Latin
English
ME . Quod crimen aut quae culpa multatur fuga ?
CR . Quae causa pellat , innocens mulier rogat .
ME . Si iudicas , cognosce , si regnas , iube .
CR . Aequum atque iniquum regis imperium feras . 195
ME . Iniqua numquam regna perpetuo manent .
CR . I , querere Colchis . ME . Redeo : qui auexit , ferat .
CR . Vox constituto sera decreto uenit .
ME . Qui statuit aliquid parte inaudita altera ,
aequum licet statuerit , haud aequus fuit . 200
CR . Auditus a te Pelia supplicium tulit ?
sed fare , causae detur egregiae locus .
ME . Difficile quam sit animum ab ira flectere
iam concitatum quamque regale hoc putet
sceptris superbas quisquis admouit manus , 205
qua coepit ire , regia didici mea .
quamuis enim sim clade miseranda obruta ,
expulsa supplex sola deserta , undique
afflicta , quondam nobili fulsi patre
auoque clarum Sole deduxi genus . 210
CR . Quae causa pellat , innocens mulier rogat .
ME . Si iudicas , cognosce , si regnas , iube .
CR . Aequum atque iniquum regis imperium feras . 195
ME . Iniqua numquam regna perpetuo manent .
CR . I , querere Colchis . ME . Redeo : qui auexit , ferat .
CR . Vox constituto sera decreto uenit .
ME . Qui statuit aliquid parte inaudita altera ,
aequum licet statuerit , haud aequus fuit . 200
CR . Auditus a te Pelia supplicium tulit ?
sed fare , causae detur egregiae locus .
ME . Difficile quam sit animum ab ira flectere
iam concitatum quamque regale hoc putet
sceptris superbas quisquis admouit manus , 205
qua coepit ire , regia didici mea .
quamuis enim sim clade miseranda obruta ,
expulsa supplex sola deserta , undique
afflicta , quondam nobili fulsi patre
auoque clarum Sole deduxi genus . 210
MEDEA
[ 192 ] What crime , what fault is punishment by my exile ?
CREON
[ 193 ] What cause expels her – that may an innocent woman ask .
MEDEA
[ 194 ] If thou’rt my judge , then hear me ; if my king , command .
CREON
[ 195 ] A king’s commands , just and unjust , thou must obey .
MEDEA
[ 196 ] Unjust rule never abides continually .
CREON
[ 197 ] Go , complain to the Colchians .
MEDEA
[ 197 ] I go ; but let him take me who brought me thence .
CREON
[ 198 ] Thy prayer comes too late ; my resolve is fixed .
MEDEA
[ 199 ] Didst thou hear Pelias ere he suffered punishment ? But say on ; be a hearing granted to thine excellent case .
MEDEA
[ 203 ] How hard it is to turn away from wrath the spirit when once aroused , and how royal it seems to him who has grasped the sceptre in his proud hands to go on as he has begun , I have learned in my own royal home . For , although I am overwhelmed by piteous disaster , an exile , suppliant , lonely , forsaken , on all sides buffeted , once I had glory from my noble father , and from my grandsire , the Sun , traced illustrious descent .
[ 192 ] What crime , what fault is punishment by my exile ?
CREON
[ 193 ] What cause expels her – that may an innocent woman ask .
MEDEA
[ 194 ] If thou’rt my judge , then hear me ; if my king , command .
CREON
[ 195 ] A king’s commands , just and unjust , thou must obey .
MEDEA
[ 196 ] Unjust rule never abides continually .
CREON
[ 197 ] Go , complain to the Colchians .
MEDEA
[ 197 ] I go ; but let him take me who brought me thence .
CREON
[ 198 ] Thy prayer comes too late ; my resolve is fixed .
MEDEA
[ 199 ] Didst thou hear Pelias ere he suffered punishment ? But say on ; be a hearing granted to thine excellent case .
MEDEA
[ 203 ] How hard it is to turn away from wrath the spirit when once aroused , and how royal it seems to him who has grasped the sceptre in his proud hands to go on as he has begun , I have learned in my own royal home . For , although I am overwhelmed by piteous disaster , an exile , suppliant , lonely , forsaken , on all sides buffeted , once I had glory from my noble father , and from my grandsire , the Sun , traced illustrious descent .