Robertson Robin - Medea

CONTENTS

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors and publishers rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. Epub ISBN: 9781407013992 Version 1.0 www.randomhouse.co.uk Published by Vintage 2008 2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1 Copyright Robin Robertson 2008 All Rights Reserved First published in Great Britain by Vintage in 2008 V INTAGE Random House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road,
London SW1V 2SA
www.vintage-classics.co.uk Addresses for companies within The Random House Group Limited can be found at: www.randomhouse.co.uk The Random House Group Limited Reg. No. 954009 An extract was published in Poetry Review A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 9780099511779 to Clare Outside the house of Jason and Medea in Corinth.Enter Nurse from the house. If only it had never happened like this. If the Argo hadnt opened its sails and flown to Colchis through the Clashing Rocks.

If the pines were still standing in the glens of Mount Pelion, not cut and turned to oars for the Argonauts. If Pelias the king hadnt sent those heroes off to do his bidding, to cross the sea and steal the Golden Fleece. It would all be different. Not as it is. My dear mistress, Medea, would never have met their leader, Jason; never fallen for him, head over heels, never left a life behind to sail away with him. Not tricked Peliass daughters into killing their own father.

And not fled here, at last, to Corinth, far from family and home. 10 In the beginning everything was fine. Though a foreigner like me, Medea was welcomed with her husband and her children and was happy in her new life, obedient to Jason in everything he said and did. In marriage thats the safest way, I think, to follow your husband, and accept his rules. But now this house is full of hate; its timbers are rotten with it. Jason has gone from her and the children, leaving them for a royal bed.

Hes marrying this young thing, the princess, daughter of Creon, the Corinthian king. My poor Medea dishonoured reminds him 20 of his oaths, invokes the gods of justice and truth to witness what hes done, after all shes done for him. To no avail. Since she heard of his deceit shes refused all food, and comfort; she stays in her room and cries the days away, wont lift her head for anyone, wont raise her eyes from the ground. Unmoved by words, by anything around her, shes deaf as a stone or a wave in the sea. Sometimes she turns to look away, 30 to call out for her father, her country and her home: all abandoned and betrayed for a man who now abandons her, betrays her honour and her love.

She has learnt the hard way what it is to be an exile, to have given up everything. She loathes to have her children near, and cannot bear to look at them. I am afraid some plan is already forming in her mind. She has a temper on her that is vile, and violent, and she will never rest. I know her well enough to be sure. 40 She is deadly, let me tell you, and none who spark her rage will walk away. Enter Tutor, escorting the two sons of Jason and Medea. But look, here they are now, her boys, hot from their games. Enter Tutor, escorting the two sons of Jason and Medea. But look, here they are now, her boys, hot from their games.

They dont understand their mothers grief; why should they? Their minds are still too young for pain.

Old nurse, what are you doing, standing out here talking to yourself? 50 Why arent you with your mistress? Old teacher, tired slave to Jasons children, dont you know that if the dice fall badly for our masters they fall the same for us? I feel Medeas troubles as my own, and have come out here to share them with the earth and air. So she is still crying? Still crying? I envy your innocence. 60 This is only the start. Her grief has just begun. The poor ignorant woman if a servant may speak so of a lady.

She doesnt know the news.

What news, old man? Dont keep it to yourself. Nothing. I shouldnt have said... Please, I beg you as a fellow servant. Well, I was down by the sacred spring at Peirene where the old men play at draughts and I happened to hear something though I was pretending not to listen something about King Creon banishing these children, and their mother, from Corinth. 70 I dont know if its true. 70 I dont know if its true.

I hope not.

Jason would never let that happen. His quarrel is with Medea, not with them. Old loves are dropped when new ones come along. Jasons love no longer lives here. We are done for, then.

We were weathering a squall and now it turns to storm.

You must say nothing to your mistress, 80 this is not the time. Sweet children, do you hear what kind of man your father is? He is my master, so I cannot curse him, but such disloyalty to those he ought to love... He is guilty... What mortal man is not guilty? A new woman in the bed leaves no room for anyone else. He has forgotten everything, including his boys.

Has it just dawned on you that were each of us human: we put ourselves above all others.

Go in to the house, children, everything will be fine. To Tutor. And you keep them as far away from their mother 90 as you can; shes distraught. Ive seen the way she looks at them, like a wild animal. Im afraid she might do something. She will not let this anger cool until shes brought it down on the head of an enemy.

And I pray it is an enemy she turns on, not those she loves...

Oh gods, I am so wretched, so miserable. Please, let me die! Just as I said, children, your mothers hearts upset; shes stirring the pot of her darkest temper. 100 Quickly, into the house, and dont go near her dont let her see you. She is fierce, my dears, fierce with hate. Quick, inside! Exit Tutor and children into the house. The storm is upon us.

There is greater passion to come: lightning flashes to burst these black clouds of grief and bring down hellish weather. What will she do, this proud unbiddable woman, under the sting of this lash? 110

Do I not suffer? Have I not been wronged? Can I not weep? Damned children of a damned mother, I hope you die with your father, and his whole house falls around you all! Oh gods! What part have they in their fathers guilt? Why do you hate them? Poor children, Im so frightened you might come to harm. She explains to the children. Royal minds are different to ours, and dangerous. Being used to giving orders rather than taking them, 120 they can become outraged and that rage is slow to cool. Ordinary life is much better where everyones equal. I hope to grow old just as I am: lowly, unremarkable and safe.

Moderation is a lovely word and we should live by it; its good for our souls. Excessiveness brings mortals no advantage. All it does is draw more ruin on us when the gods are wild. 130

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