[_Exeunt sons toward the palace_, Medea _in the opposite direction_.] * * * * * _Chorus:_ Where hastes this Bacchic fury now, All passion-swept? what evil deed 850 Does her unbridled rage prepare? Her features are congealed with rage, And with a queenly bearing, grand But terrible, she sets herself 855 Against e'en Creon's royal power. An exile who would deem her now? Her cheeks anon with anger flush, And now a deadly pallor show; Each feeling quick succeeds to each, 860 While all the passions of her heart Her changing aspect testifies. She wanders restless here and there, As a tigress, of her young bereft, In frantic grief the jungle scours. 865 Medea knows not how in check To hold her wrath nor yet her love; If love and wrath make common cause, What dire results will come? When will this scourge of Corinth leave 870 Our Grecian shores for Colchis' strand, And free our kingdom from its fear? Now, Phoebus, hasten on thy course With no retarding rein. 875 Let friendly darkness quickly veil the light, And this dread day be buried deep in night. FOOTNOTES: [15] Reading, with period after _meae_. [16] Reading, _relicto_, and substituting comma for semicolon. ACT V _Messenger_ [_comes running in from the direction of the palace_]: Lo, all is lost! the kingdom totters from its base! The daughter and the father lie in common dust! 880 _Chorus:_ By what snare taken? _Messenger:_ By gifts the common snare of kings. _Chorus:_ What harm could lurk in them? _Messenger:_ In equal doubt I stand; And, though my eyes proclaim the dreadful deed is done, I scarce can trust their witness. _Chorus:_ What the mode of death? _Messenger:_ Devouring flames consume the palace at the will 885 Of her who sent them; there complete destruction reigns, While men do tremble for the very city's doom. _Chorus:_ Let water quench the fire. _Messenger:_ Nay here is added wonder: The copious streams of water feed the deadly flames; And opposition only fans their fiery rage To whiter heat. The very bulwarks feel their power. 890 [Medea _enters in time to hear that her magic has been successful_.] _Nurse_ [_to_ Medea]: Oh, haste thee, leave this land of Greece, in headlong flight!