The debt of guilt he owes! His palace will I bring To utter desolation; and the whirling fire To far-off Malea's crags shall send its lurid glare. 150 _Nurse:_ Be silent now, I pray thee, and thy plaints confine To secret woe! The man who heavy blows can bear In silence, biding still his time with patient soul, Full oft his vengeance gains. 'Tis hidden wrath that harms; But hate proclaimed oft loses half its power to harm. _Medea:_ But small the grief is that can counsel take and hide Its head; great ills lie not in hiding, but must rush 155 Abroad and work their will. _Nurse:_ Oh, cease this mad complaint, My mistress; scarce can friendly silence help thee now. _Medea:_ But fortune fears the brave, the faint of heart o'erwhelms. _Nurse:_ Then valor be approved, if for it still there's room. 160 _Medea:_ But it must always be that valor finds its place. _Nurse:_ No star of hope points out the way from these our woes. _Medea:_ The man who hopes for naught at least has naught to fear. _Nurse:_ The Colchians are thy foes; thy husband's vows have failed; Of all thy vast possessions not a jot is left. 165 _Medea:_ Yet I am left. There's left both sea and land and fire And sword and gods and hurtling thunderbolts. _Nurse:_ The king must be revered. _Medea:_ My father was a king. _Nurse:_ Dost thou not fear? _Medea:_ Not though the earth produced the foe. _Nurse:_ Thou'lt perish. 170 _Medea:_ So I wish it. _Nurse:_ Flee! _Medea:_ I'm done with flight.[9] Why should Medea flee? _Nurse:_ Thy children! _Medea:_ Whose, thou know'st. _Nurse:_ And dost thou still delay? _Medea:_ I go, but vengeance first. _Nurse:_ Th' avenger will pursue. _Medea:_ Perchance I'll stop his course. _Nurse:_ Nay, hold thy words, and cease thy threats, O foolish one. Thy temper curb; 'tis well to yield to fate's decrees. 175 _Medea:_ Though fate may strip me of all my, myself am left. But who flings wide the royal palace doors? Behold, 'Tis Creon's self, exalted high in Grecian sway. [Medea _retires to back of stage; exit_ Nurse; _enter_ Creon.]