But they whose halls with laughter sweet
Of children ring—I mark them aye
Care-fretted, travailing alway 1100
To win their loved ones nurture meet.
III
One toils with love more strong than death:
Yet—yet—who knoweth whether he
A wise man or a fool shall be
To whom he shall his wealth bequeath?
But last, but worst, remains to tell:
For though ye get you wealth enow,
And though your sons to manhood grow,
Fair sons and good:—if Death the fell,
To Hades vanishing, bears down 1110
Your children's lives, what profit is
That Heaven hath laid, with all else, this
Upon mankind, this sorrow's crown?
Medea.
Friends, long have I, abiding fortune's hap,
Expected what from yonder shall befall.
And lo, a man I see of Jason's train
Hitherward coming, and my eager heart
Foretelleth him the herald of new ills. 1120
Enter Messenger.
Messenger.
O thou who hast wrought an awful deed and lawless,
Flee, O Medea, flee, nor once leave thou
The sea-wain, or the car that scours the plain.
