Studies in the Poetry of Italy, Part I. Roman

century A. D., amused themselves by writing tragedies, and even produced some commendable work. Varius, who was the personal friend of Vergil and Horace, was perhaps the most gifted of these. He

o. Of all these nothing remains but the barest fragments. But it is certain that the efforts of these later tragedians were for the most part of a dilettante sort, an

of numerous philosophical essays. He lived in the time of Nero, and was, indeed, the tutor of that emperor. Of these ten plays, nine

man tragedy preserved entire, that they reflect the literary complexion of the artificial age in which they were produced, and that they had so

undation of his tragedies, the boldness with which he has broken over the time-honored rule that deeds of blood should not be done upon the stage, and his fondness for abstruse mythological allusions. Add to these features the dreary prol

nificent passion, subtile analysis of character and motive. But when all is said, it must be admitted that the plays, fault

p, so far as popular scholarship was concerned. And this made Seneca rather than Euripides available. But it is also probable that his style and spirit appealed strongly to those later-day imitators. So great, indeed, was the popularity of Seneca's tragedies in the early Elizabethan age, that he might be said to have mon

by Glover in 1761. Since that date no English version was attempted until the present writer a

d (alas for the fate of so many noble works!) of the entire field of Roman tragedy. It follows Euripides in general development of

were imposed upon Jason before the fleece could be won; how, smitten by love of him, the beautiful, barbaric Medea, daughter of the king, by the help of her magic, aided Jason in all his labors and accompanied him in his flight; how, to retard her father's pursuit, she slew her brother and scattered his mangled remains in the path as she fled; how again, for love of Jason, she restored his father to youth, and tricked Pelias' own daughters into slaying their aged sire; how, for this act, Med

f sweet voices from without of a chorus of Corinthian women, c

ilder passion of rage. Medea's old nurse tries to soothe her mistress and recall her to her

rs

pray thee, and th

The man who hea

g still his time

nce gains. 'Tis hid

ed oft loses half

de

ef is that can co

lls lie not in hi

d work th

rs

his mad c

e can friendly sil

de

he brave, the faint

rs

roved, if for it

de

ys be that valor

rs

ints out the way f

de

or naught at least

rs

hy foes; thy husban

possessions no

de

re's left both sea

ods and hurtlin

rs

must be

de

er was

rs

hou no

de

he earth pro

rs

lt pe

de

wis

rs

l

de

e with

uld Med

rs

chil

de

thou

rs

thou st

de

t vengea

rs

ger will

de

I'll stop

rs

and cease thy thre

tis well to yield

de

trip me of my all

de the royal pala

f, exalted high

s to the back

eo

a, baleful daughter

her hateful presen

bent; well known he

er? Who may pass

ilence at once w

ut Jason's prayers

her free my bord

ers, and her safe

Medea app

ith fierce and thre

ience

fend us fr

presence! Bid h

ength obedienc

man

ed thy flight, thou

mons

de

, my lord, or

erits

eo

iltless qu

de

t, hear me; if tho

eo

thou must obey, n

de

ingdoms never

eo

,

ints to

de

et him tak

ht me to

eo

hy prayer,

y de

de

n judgment

suitor, though h

till himself

eo

thou

as, ere thou judg

thee grace to plea

de

to turn the soul f

how 'tis the cree

he proposed course t

ow, for I have

esent storms of i

ant, lone, forsa

er times a roya

d descent from hea

ly sought my hand

w must

Fortune, t

and given me exi

realms, since fick

o the winds. Lo t

, which time nor

afflicted, to

for the suppli

my Colchian treas

of fame,-that b

e Greeks, the off

o Greece is Orpheu

in willing bonda

art. Mine too are

en-born progeny

rce the distant view

I mention not th

the leaders: h

mpense. The res

arraign me, and r

l confess them al

accused is this

n scruples had o

ial piety had

y chieftains fall'

o'erwhelmed; then

consuming breath,

tune when she wil

t kings have owed

I reap for all m

Convict me, if

k for whom I sin

guilty. This muc

ped thy knees, a

shelter of thy

rner of thy ki

my grief. If I

remote within

und f

king of Thessaly. Jason's cause would be easy enough to defend, for he has been innocent of guilt; but it is impossi

eo

and purge our kin

thy flight thy f

ear; abiding in

patience o

de

idst m

my bark in which

y flight. Why sh

Or if avenging

the culprits; w

s for him old Pe

t, the plunder of

n and my infant

that love suggests

in am I, but o

f profit

eo

seek

Too long th

de

but

let not the mothe

pless

eo

peace; fo

ill fill, and take

de

hopes born upon

s of lasting so

s assault, I pray th

while I upon my

s imprint, per

eo

ti

'st for t

de

ud can b

short

eo

mischief b

s fraught with misc

de

e, then, one littl

eo

ted fear would fai

l give thee ere

de

. But let my resp

depart

eo

shall s

o-morrow's sun b

Cor

ce of Hymen

e rites of this

s gazing darkly after him for a few moments, a

h voyage of the Argonauts, their dreadful experiences in consequence, their wild adventure's prize of fatal gold and more fatal Colchian sorceress; their dark forebodings of the consequences in after years,

rs

er, whither spee

e, and restrain th

g or noticing her. The nurse, looking

chanal, whose fu

now roams distraug

y Nysa's rugged

e, with frenzied s

ing every mark

ek and sighs deep

te

than tears. In he

rs is seen, and o

r groans of angui

soul? What mean he

aming wave of fu

e, I fear, no

erself she will

wonted marks o

wild, profane an

her madness. O

rove vain f

, and we listen in fearful silence while Medea, communing with her tortured

de

hate, po

ure seek? Let it

y view the weddin

day go uneventf

o grudgingly bes

her heights, the

e

ile seasons run th

ed lie; while days

rocession pass; wh

bears revolve, a

the sea: my grief

and shall forev

can equal mine?

ng pool? What bu

s heaving breast?

sea, nor breath o

ga

al my wild storm

limitles

struggles to calm her terrible passion

Jas

wer of Creon and

f against the fea

o yield, and pledg

ave sought his wife

well. But this, tho

. The cruel ter

n-in-law not sof

or last farewell

pace I'll not bewa

ur

it stretches

a deed that ne'er

d pray the gods, a

all work

dilemma in which he finds himself. Regard for his marriage vows, love for his children, and fear of

so

if frowns or smile

y cures far wors

! If, now, I wish

y lawful bride,

shrink from deat

I fear no power

paternal love

hat in my death m

d Justice, if in h

hat for my child

that even she

is of soul, and br

ren's good outweig

rgument my purpo

ise to brav

edea.] But

lames anew! Hate

her face is pict

ly the forsaken wife, indignant, indeed, but pathetic in her appeals for sympathy and help from him for whose sake she had given up al

de

n, that we flee.

but the cause of

as wont to flee,

dost thou send m

? Shall I the Col

realm whose soil i

What country dost

a is open? Sha

the noble kings o

the threatening jaw

egades? Or sha

s realms? Lo, all

ened wide, I've c

hou send me now? T

no way or me

arcasm.] But

son-in-law comm

orments on me; I

oppress me, wa

nd load my guilty

mured in dungeon

nishment be less

thou then forgot

reath? the fear tha

Mars, the earth-bo

e sword? 'Twas by

ll by mutual blo

ece of gold I won f

was lulled to r

for thee. For the

guile, his daughte

not return. All t

ne advantage ha

e o

ll thy fond p

hed house, by all

se my hands whic

by all the peril

tnessed at my w

ssed, restore me w

sure plundered from

illed our goodly

y trees with gold.

my native land,

ll; and with th

ss exile thou do

tless treasures wh

s like steel on steel, can relieve. Here is no chance for long periods, nor flights of o

so

vengeful mood, wo

tears to grant t

de

ile punishment;

cious

so

e still the

for deadly is t

de

Creüsa's love t

ve the hated want

so

roach me with

de

, t

too, and

so

ame m

t, the crimes t

de

cr

r I hav

so

in truth

e, if all thy c

de

y a

ne: for who by s

All men proclaim

protect her and

ess in thine eyes

si

so

in has brought 't

de

n the gifts which it

so

ry soul! Thy chil

c

de

Them I do r

then Creüsa brot

hild

so

can aid thy

de

r dawn, that day

are joined the low

foul robber Sis

ns of

so

e, and wilt

o in thy fall?

de

th yielded

so

uldst t

de

have thee d

so

oyal

compa

de

than the k

ont to front, an

l strife let Jas

so

woes I yield. B

ften thou shoulds

de

mistress hav

so

t

t Acastus comes,

threatens in

de

lee th

o draw thy sword

thy pious hands w

flee w

so

esistance

le visage rear h

castus join in

de

chian armies with

n the Scythian an

f of ruin will I

so

epter do I lo

de

wa

but lust of power

so

: have done, lest

de

ut thy heavens let

make bare! Th

se, and shake th

s! At random hurl

her me nor Jas

r falls may peri

m. For thy hurtl

ring

so

and in cal

ace and reason.

al house can com

s solace of

de

l doth

gs. But let me ha

flight, that in th

rs may flow. New s

so

to yield to thee

shall never from

lf demand. My ver

omfort and my joy

I part with limbs

ght o

de

e thus love his

and in his armored

he place

ldren. It is true that twice she had bitterly renounced them, once to the nurse, and again but now to Jason himself, since they were Jason's also, and were likely now to be brothers to the sons of her hated rival; nevertheless her mother-love still is strong. But now, by Jason's unfortunate emphasis upon the lov

purposes of revenge and overcome Jas

t ere I

t request: let me

small boon will c

t prayer to thee:

er-bold, let not

y heart. Rememb

y bitter words b

if, indeed, a passionate nature like hers, inflamed by wrongs like hers, could

nger in my soul;

s heart, and gen

n ever soothes

t Ja

n of affairs, with no recognition of his wife's great suff

n it be? And shal

nd all my servi

ed toy, out of hi

Up then, and summ

And this, the fru

criminal that

t

; scant room is le

k be made where le

stance. Now Me

most, yea, beyond

thou, my faithful

y gr

s wanderings of my

these my plans.

Colchian realm,

elf to King ?

gleaming circlet,

old, the yellow g

ing crown to deck

let Medea's chil

But first imbue

invoke the a

ing sacrifices

flames through all

ll hath no fury like a woman scorned," and continuing with a prayer for Jason's safety. It then recounts the individual history of Jason's companions subsequent to the Argonautic expedition, showing how almost all came to an untimely end. These migh

ices the feeling that we all have upon th

es, for I feel t

isaster. Swiftly

dling; and again

e. I oft have seen

in her soul, co

ry heavens to he

of greater mome

aring. For, b

enzy hurry off

There, in her cha

are revealed; o

hath held in fear

by one her min

kable, and wra

he waters under the earth, for every form of venomous serpent, noxious herb, and dread, uncanny thing that the mind of man can conceive; and by the time he has his full array

nt herbs she takes

om, mixing all;

birds, a wailing s

e's vitals torn

ns all she rang

r of hidden fire

rs lurks the numbi

s she adds, mo

t

, and as with madd

rms, while heaven

o

fearful work with her in the last few hours. We see at a gla

hath held in fear

ds of the underworld, the silent throng from the dark world of spirits, the tormented shades, all to come to her prese

adiant

orb, my supplicat

y sternest guise,

ull oft have I wi

, wandered through

iration summone

es; the heaving se

ished waves to oce

he sun and star

reversed; while

nged. The seasons,

ning summer bloss

r autumn's gold

s swirling waves to

ing to the sea

checks and slugg

the mad sea rage

At my command

fy shade, and Phoeb

dle heaven; whil

t my

ich she has in some occult way gathered from various mythological and traditionary sources, and which she now takes occasion to recount. And it i

what confused ravings, Medea a

s bridal robe, a

nd when she dons t

go stealing throug

rom the daring young Pha?thon, who had himself perished in flames because of his overweening folly; the fiery Chimera's breath, and some of "that fierce heat that parched the b

ried strain, we hast

O H

ce to these my

ard the hidden

ape detectio

instant life a

reams run thro

heat consum

blazing lo

e torches!-

ice have repl

g hounds

s ready:

let them be

nts to the brid

ns, of haples

h gifts and

or of t

quick your

old you in a

ard the palace

te dir

s dread of her unbridled passion. It knows that she has one day only bef

messenger comes running breathless from the direction of the royal palace. All ears are strai

The kingdom totte

d the father li

or

t snar

sen

e common sna

or

could lu

sen

l doubt

s proclaim the dre

n trust the

or

e mode

sen

s consume the p

em; there complete

emble for the v

or

r quench

sen

e is add

ms of water feed

n only fans t

he very bulwarks

e assured that her magic has been successful. The nurs

ve this land of G

ig

de

d my flight? Nay,

or this. Strange

flicting passions in a human soul. The contending forces are mother-love and the passionate hate of an outraged wife. And when the mother-love is

de

lter, O my soul?

all a portion of

s thee present joy

m thy maddened he

ed be. Pursue th

known, and steel

thought and fear

s the rod that p

st sway; exhaust t

t thou yet hast

deeds. Come, let

mes already done;

For what could hand

hat mattered mai

n the bitter

rs have

of madness as she dwells upon her

liss of

r slain, his lim

spoiled of his

ss daughters lured

ot rest; no untra

cute m

by what

wilt thou threat t

my secret heart

h I dare not u

sh madness I hav

ldren had been b

ill, since she hat

ren too a

ould be most fitt

he final deed of

it. You, who once w

lty of these your

ror melts, a numb

my soul is filled

ce, and, heedless o

er-instinct qui

y helpless childre

maddened heart!

that unnamable

that shedding of

wash

hat Jason i

that I have borne

-Nay, nay, they ar

of guilt.-Full

rother too was

tate? Why flow the

ng thoughts my wave

rmy waves opposed

est sands the br

y heart is tossed.

us hate to flight.

, my sons, sole co

thy mother's close

you, while your m

he embraces her children, th

xile drive me fo

be torn away with

to Jason since t

resumed her sway,

my soul. Now f

. Lead on, I fo

d borne twice sev

all too barr

two sufficient

her and

straught, as one who

r hastes t

eir quest? What me

re

ellish host with ho

ing lash of serp

with her deadly

here with scatter

ot

nd we will grant hi

lunge all your to

om open to you

those vengeful

down to the lowe

e me to myself,

ith the sword no

thy s

nzy, she plunges her dagger into the first of her sons. (The poet thus violates

tramping of many feet are heard; and

n uproar m

citizens on my

oof I'll mount, a

oody sa

on.] Do thou co

eless corse, within

my heart, with str

e

t renown because

ic eye my hand

ng the body of her other child in her arms. Jason and a crowd of Corinthian

sons who mourn th

e the worker of t

and raze her pal

unseen by those below, Medea

de

regained my rega

again the Colchia

d, and by the m

more! O heavenl

tal hour! O nupt

the guilt, but n

while yet thy hand

nger still? Why

of the deed? Thou

d within me, and

ep remorse. Ah me

Wretch that thou a

ur

e it!-At that tho

fills my heart whic

s, the act was a

t not; for naught

be added not t

so

.] Lo, there she

battle

the house! That sh

es she herself

de

vely.]

a lofty pyre fo

tes prepare. Alr

I done the servi

ined palace hav

has met his doom;

is fathe

so

and by the peri

ge bond which I h

re the boy, for

there be, 'tis m

m. Take my guil

de

rs and tears I dra

or

ee maids for wives,

tray the mothe

so

thee, let one

de

f one my passion

t sought. Though b

ll is all too

ndless

so

what thou

nd grant at lea

my helpl

de

asten

ion, but enjoy

y hands; its fert

so

ife, thou h

de

idst m

s the second c

nt, passion, ca

thy tearful eyes

hy wife? 'Twas t

lves provide me wi

their heads subm

pears in the air a ch

e thy sons; whil

am borne aloft thr

so

fter as sh

ealms of air that

tness, whither tho

n