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er。 Let him woo some Achaean girl far away among his own folk； let maidenhood be mine and the home of my parents。 Yet； taking to myself a reckless heart； I will no more keep aloof but will make trial of my sister to see if she will entreat me to aid in the contest； through grief for her own sons； this would quench the bitter pain in my heart。〃
（ll。 645…673） She spake； and rising from her bed opened the door of her chamber； bare…footed； clad in one robe； and verily she desired to go to her sister； and crossed the threshold。 And for long she stayed there at the entrance of her chamber； held back by shame； and she turned back once more； and again she came forth from within； and again stole back； and idly did her feet bear her this way and that； yea； as oft as she went straight on； shame held her within the chamber； and though held back by shame； bold desire kept urging her on。 Thrice she made the attempt and thrice she checked herself； the fourth time she fell on her bed face downward； writhing in pain。 And as when a bride in her chamber bewails her youthful husband； to whom her brothers and parents have given her； nor yet does she hold converse with all her attendants for shame and for thinking of him； but she sits apart in her grief； and some doom has destroyed him； before they have had pleasure of each other's charms； and she with heart on fire silently weeps； beholding her widowed couch； in fear lest the women should mock and revile her； like to her did Medea lament。 And suddenly as she was in the midst of her tears； one of the handmaids came forth and noticed her； one who was her youthful attendant； and straightway she told Chalciope； who sat in the midst of her sons devising how to win over her sister。 And when Chalciope heard the strange tale from the handmaid； not even so did she disregard it。 And she rushed in dismay from her chamber right on to the chamber where the maiden lay in her anguish； having torn her cheeks on each side； and when Chalciope saw her eyes all dimmed with tears； she thus addressed her：
（ll。 674…680） 〃Ah me； Medea； why dost thou weep so？ What hath befallen thee？ What terrible grief has entered thy heart？ Has some heaven…sent disease enwrapt thy frame； or hast thou heard from our father some deadly threat concerning me and my sons？ Would that I did not behold this home of my parents； or the city； but dwelt at the ends of the earth； where not even the name of Colchians is known！〃
（ll。 681…687） Thus she spake； and her sister's cheeks flushed； and though she was eager to reply； long did maiden shame restrain her。 At one moment the word rose on the end of her tongue； at another it fluttered back deep within her breast。 And often through her lovely lips it strove for utterance； but no sound came forth； till at last she spoke with guileful words； for the bold Loves were pressing her hard：
（ll。 688…692） 〃Chalciope； my heart is all trembling for thy sons； lest my father forthwith destroy them together with the strangers。 Slumbering just now in a short…lived sleep such a ghastly dream did I seemay some god forbid its fulfilment and never mayst thou win for thyself bitter care on thy sons' account。〃
（ll。 693…704） She spake； making trial of her sister to see if she first would entreat help for her sons。 And utterly unbearable grief surged over Chalciope's soul for fear at what she heard； and then she replied： 〃Yea； I myself too have come to thee in eager furtherance of this purpose； if thou wouldst haply devise with me and prepare some help。 But swear by Earth and Heaven that thou wilt keep secret in thy heart what I shall tell thee； and be fellow…worker with me。 I implore thee by the blessed gods； by thyself and by thy parents； not to see them destroyed by an evil doom piteously； or else may I die with my dear sons and come back hereafter from Hades an avenging Fury to haunt thee。〃
（ll。 705…710） Thus she spake； and straightway a torrent of tears gushed forth and low down she clasped her sister's knees with both hands and let her head sink on to her breast。 Then they both made piteous lamentation over each other； and through the halls rose the faint sound of women weeping in anguish。 Medea； sore troubled； first addressed her sister：
（ll。 711…717） 〃God help thee； what healing can I bring thee for what thou speakest of； horrible curses and Furies？ Would that it were firmly in my power to save thy sons！ Be witness that mighty oath of the Colchians by which thou urgest me to swear； the great Heaven； and Earth beneath； mother of the gods； that as far as strength lies in me； never shalt thou fail of help； if only thy prayers can be accomplished。〃
（ll。 718…723） She spake； and Chalciope thus replied： 〃Couldst thou not then； for the strangerwho himself craves thy aid devise some trick or some wise thought to win the contest； for the sake of my sons？ And from him has come Argus urging me to try to win thy help； I left him in the palace meantime while I came hither。〃
（ll。 724…739） Thus she spake； and Medea's heart bounded with joy within her； and at once her fair cheeks flushed； and a mist swam before her melting eyes； and she spake as follows： 〃Chalciope； as is dear and delightful to thee and thy sons； even so will I do。 Never may the dawn appear again to my eyes； never mayst thou see me living any longer； if I should take thought for anything before thy life or thy sons' lives； for they are my brothers； my dear kinsmen and youthful companions。 So do I declare myself to be thy sister； and thy daughter too； for thou didst lift me to thy breast when an infant equally with them； as I ever heard from my mother in past days。 But go； bury my kindness in silence； so that I may carry out my promise unknown to my parents； and at dawn I will bring to Hecate's temple charms to cast a spell upon the bulls。〃
（ll。 740…743） Thus Chalciope went back from the chamber； and made known to her sons the help given by her sister。 And again did shame and hateful fear seize Medea thus left alone； that she should devise such deeds for a man in her father's despite。
（ll。 744…771） Then did night draw darkness over the earth； and on the sea sailors from their ships looked towards the Bear and the stars of Orion； and now the wayfarer and the warder longed for sleep； and the pall of slumber wrapped round the mother whose children were dead； nor was there any more the barking of dogs through the city； nor sound of men's voices； but silence held the blackening gloom。 But not indeed upon Medea came sweet sleep。 For in her love for Aeson's son many cares kept her wakeful； and she dreaded the mighty strength of the bulls； beneath whose fury he was like to perish by an unseemly fate in the field of Ares。 And fast did her heart throb within her breast； as a sunbeam quivers upon the walls of a house when flung up from water； which is just poured forth in a caldron or a pail may be； and hither and thither on the swift eddy does it dart and dance along； even so the maiden's heart quivered in her breast。 And the tear of pity flowed from her eyes； and ever within anguish tortured her； a smouldering fire through her frame； and about her fine nerves and deep down beneath the nape of the neck where the pain enters keenest； whenever the unwearied Loves direct against the heart their shafts of agony。 And she thought now that she would give him the charms to cast a spell on the bulls； now that she would not； and that she herself would perish； and again that she would not perish and would not give the charms； but just as she was would endure her fate in silence。 Then sitting down she wavered in mind and said：
（ll。 772…801） 〃Poor wretch； must I toss hither and thither in woe？ On every side my heart is in despair； nor is there any help for my pain； but it burneth ever thus。 Would that I had been slain by the swift shafts of Artemis before I had set eyes on him； before Chalciope's sons reached the Achaean land。 Some god or some Fury brought them hither for our grief； a cause of many tears。 Let him perish in the contest if it be his lot to die in the field。 For how could I prepare the charms without my parents' knowledge？ What story call I tell them？ What trick； what cunning device for aid can I fin