Penny Dreadfuls, 1912 · page 47 of 118
The Medea — page 47: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Description This is a page of running dramatic verse from what appears to be a theatrical adaptation or translation of the classical play *Medea* (page 31). The text is a monologue in which a male character—likely Jason—justifies his remarriage to a king's daughter, arguing his motives were practical (securing wealth and status for his family) rather than lustful. He concludes with a misogynistic tirade blaming women's jealousy for mankind's destruction. The passage is printed in standard Victorian book format with no illustrations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MEDEA 31 From many a desperate mischance, what bliss Could I that day have dreamed of, like to this, To wed with a king’s daughter, I exiled And beggared? Not—what makes thy passion wild— From loathing of thy bed; not over-fraught With love for this new bride; not that I sought To upbuild mine house with offspring: ’tis enough, What thou hast borne: I make no word thereof: But, first and greatest, that we all might dwell In a fair house and want not, knowing well That poor men have no friends, but far and near Shunning and silence. Next, I sought to rear Our sons in nurture worthy of my race, And, raising brethren to them, in one place Join both my houses, and be all from now Prince-like and happy. What more need hast thou : Of children? And for me, it serves my star To link in strength the children that now are With those that shall be. Have I counselled ill? Not thine own self would say it, couldst thou still One hour thy jealous flesh.—’Tis ever so! Who looks for more in women? When the flow Of love runs plain, why, all the world is fair: But, once there fall some ill chance anywhere _ To baulk that thirst, down in swift hate are trod Men’s dearest aims and noblest. Would to God We mortals by some other seed could raise . Our fruits, and no blind women block our ways! Then had there been no curse to wreck mankind. Eomichbooks.com