Penny Dreadfuls, 1912 · page 39 of 118
The Medea — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 23 of "Medea" This is a page of running dramatic verse—specifically, a soliloquy from what appears to be a Victorian adaptation of the classical tragedy *Medea*. The text presents Medea's anguished deliberation over how to murder Jason and his new bride, weighing options like arson and stabbing before settling on poison as her preferred method. She invokes the goddess Hecaté for aid and resolves to commit the murders despite knowing she will face exile and death as a consequence. The passage is marked with marginal brackets indicating stage directions or emphatic moments.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MEDEA _-- 23 So many thoughts of murder to my turn, I know not which best likes me. Shall I burn Their house with fire? Or stealing past unseen To Jason’s bed—I have a blade made keen For that—stab, breast to breast, that wedded pair ? Good, but for one thing. When I am taken there, yAnd killed, they will laugh loud who hate me... . Nay, I love the old way best, the simple way Of poison, where we too are strong as men. Ah me! f And they being dead—what place shall hold me then? What friend shall rise, with land inviolate And trusty doors, to shelter from their hate This flesh? . . .. None anywhere! ... A little more I needs must wait: and, if there ope some door Of refuge, some strong tower to shield me, good: In craft and darkness I will hunt this blood. Else, if mine hour be come and no hope nigh, Then sword in hand, full-willed and sure to die, I yet will live to slay them. I will wend Man-like, their road of daring to the end. So help me She who of all Gods hath been The best to me, of all my chosen queen And helpmate, Hecaté, who dwells apart, The flame of flame, in my fire’s inmost heart: For all their strength, they shall not stab my soul And laugh thereafter! Dark and fullofdole . ; Their bridal feast shall be, most dark the day They joined their hands, and hunted me away. Awake thee now, Medea! Whatso plot . \ Thou hast, or cunning, strive and falter not. EORNIE OOO KS.EO) =}