After some years, in order to mend his fortunes, Jason marries Creusa, the daughter of the King of Corinth. Medea, doomed to exile, plots vengeance on her husband. To Creusa she sends her two children bearing a poisoned robe and crown, ostensibly that they may beg to remain under the new bride's protection, but in reality that they may compass her destruction. Medea now seeks—her children being again with her to steel her heart to murder them. O children, children mine: and you have found Of long years, to myself most full of pain. hall see your mother, far away being thrown My babes, my own, Why gaze ye so?-What is it that ye see! Women, my strength is gone, Gone like a dream, since once I looked upon I can do it not. Those shining faces Mocked at, and leave mine enemies to sting [The children go in. And they whose eyes Shall hold it sin to share my sacrifice, On their heads be it! My hand shall swerve not now. Ah, ah, thou Wrath within me! Do not thou, Do not- .. Down, down, thou tortured thing, and spare My children! They will dwell with us, aye, there Far off, and give thee peace. Too late, too late! By all Hell's living agonies of hate, They shall not take my little ones alive Queen dying. I know all. Yet . . seeing that I A little from me. [A handmaid brings the children out again. There. Come, children; stand Reach out your hand, Your right hand-so-to mother: and good-by! [She has kept them hitherto at arm's-length: but at the touch of their hands, her resolution breaks down, and she gathers them passionately into her arms. Oh, darling hand! Oh, darling mouth, and eye, blind? . . . Mine eyes can see not, when I look to find Their places. I am broken by the wings Of evil. . . . Yea, I know to what bad things I go, but louder than all thought doth cry Anger, which maketh man's worst misery. Am I [She follows the children into the house. Euripides 50 SCENES FROM ROMEO AND JULIET I HE place is a banqueting hall in the house of joyously forward. Although there is a deadly feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, Romeo, a young scion of the latter house, has been induced to join a group of gay companions, and is in attendance, masked. With "this night's revels" begins the tragic story of the play. The opening speech is addressed to a servingman. Romeo does not suspect that the lady about whom he inquires is Juliet, a daughter of the household, and a Capulet. Rom. What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand Of yonder knight? Serv. I know not, sir. Rom. O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Romeo has made his way to Juliet, and now addresses her in lines which constitute the first quatrain of a Shakespearean sonnet. Succeeding speeches complete the sonnet. Rom. [To Juliet.] If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, Rom. Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. Jul. Then have my lips the sin that they have took. Jul. You kiss by the book. The conversation is here interrupted, but the two are already lovers, and before many moments have passed each has learned, with dismay, the identity of the other. II The place is Capulet's orchard, a garden. The dance is over. Romeo has escaped his companions, and in the hope of seeing Juliet has leapt the orchard wall. The first line he speaks is a comment upon the satirical sallies of the wittiest of his fellow-maskers, Mercutio, who has been loudly calling after him, but in vain. |