this land escape without my aid, for I have no wish to incur the blame of my allies as well.[1]
Med. It shall be even so; but wouldst thou pledge thy word to this, I should in all be well content with thee.
Æg. Surely thou dost trust me? or is there aught that troubles thee?
Med. Thee I trust; but Pelias' house and Creon are my foes. Wherefore, if thou art bound by an oath, thou wilt not give[2] me up to them when they come to drag me from the land, but, having entered into a compact and sworn[3] by heaven as well, thou wilt become my friend and disregard their overtures. Weak is any aid of mine, whilst they have wealth and a princely house.
Æg. Lady, thy words show much foresight, so if this is thy will, I do not refuse. For I shall feel secure and safe if I have some pretext to offer to thy foes, and thy case too the firmer stands. Now name thy gods.
Med. Swear by the plain of Earth, by Helios my father's sire, and, in one comprehensive oath, by all the race of gods.
Æg. What shall I swear to do, from what refrain? tell me that.
Med. Swear that thou wilt never of thyself expel me from thy land, nor, whilst life is thine, permit any other, one of my foes maybe, to hale me thence if so he will.
- ↑ i.e., as well as Jason.
- ↑ To avoid the very doubtful form μεθεῖς=μεθείης some read μεθεῖ᾽ ἄν.
- ↑ Reading ἐνώμοτος. Hermann changes καὶ into μὴ. A simpler change, supported by a Schol., and one MS., would be to read ἀνώμοτος="whereas if thou only make a verbal compact, without oath, thou mightest be persuaded," etc. The whole passage is, as it stands, probably corrupt; numerous emendations have been proposed. If the above emendation be adopted, it will be necessary to alter οὐκ ἂν πίθοιο for which Munro proposed ὀκνῶν πίθοιο="and fearing their demands of surrender thou mightest yield." Wecklein, τάχ᾽ ἂν πίθοι σε (adopted by Nauck), is tempting.
