Medea

Euripides’ tragedy of Medea, the princess of Colchis who helped Jason win the Golden Fleece, and who plans her revenge when he leaves her in Corinth to marry the king’s daughter.

Start reading2 parts, about 14,000 words

Famous quotes

• Hast thou lived all these years, and learned but now
  That every man more loveth his own head
  Than other men’s?

  Part 1, spoken by AttendantIn context

  • Character

• How can any man, whose eyes
  Are wholesome, seek to rear his children wise
  Beyond men’s wont? Much helplessness in arts
  Of common life, and in their townsmen’s hearts
  Envy deep-set … so much their learning brings!
  Come unto fools with knowledge of new things,
  They deem it vanity, not knowledge.

  Part 1, spoken by MedeaIn context

  • Envy
  • Intelligence
  • Knowledge

• Alas, the Love that falleth like a flood,
  Strong-winged and transitory:
  Why praise ye him? What beareth he of good
  To man, or glory?
  Yet Love there is that moves in gentleness,
  Heart-filling, sweetest of all powers that bless.

  Part 1, spoken by ChorusIn context

  • Love

• ’Tis written, gifts persuade
  The gods in heaven; and gold is stronger made
  Than words innumerable to bend men’s ways.

  Part 2, spoken by MedeaIn context

  • Money
  • Power

• Yea, I know to what bad things
  I go, but louder than all thought doth cry
  Anger, which maketh man’s worst misery.

  Part 2, spoken by MedeaIn context

  • Anger

• I looked upon man’s days, and found a grey
  Shadow. And this thing more I surely say,
  That those of all men who are counted wise,
  Strong wits, devisers of great policies,
  Do pay the bitterest toll. Since life began,
  Hath there in God’s eye stood one happy man?
  Fair days roll on, and bear more gifts or less
  Of fortune, but to no man happiness.

  Part 2, spoken by MessengerIn context

  • Happiness
  • Life & Death
  • Wisdom

• Great treasure halls hath Zeus in heaven,
  From whence to man strange dooms be given,
  Past hope or fear.
  And the end men looked for cometh not,
  And a path is there where no man thought:
  So hath it fallen here.

  Part 2, spoken by ChorusIn context

  • God
  • Luck

Contents

1. Part 1
2. Part 2