MED. Alas! alas! not now for the first time, but often, Creon, hath this opinion injured me, and worked me much woe.  But whatever man is prudent, let him never educate his children too deep in wisdom.  For, independent of the other charges of idleness which they meet with, they find hostile envy from their fellow-citizens.  For holding out to fools some new-discovered wisdom, thou wilt seem to be useless and not wise.  And being judged superior to others who seem to have some varied knowledge, thou wilt appear offensive in the city.  But even I myself share this fortune; for being wise, to some I am an object of envy, but to others, unsuited; but I am not very wise.  Thou then fearest me, lest thou suffer some grievous mischief.[14] My affairs are not in a state, fear me not, Creon, so as to offend against princes.  For in what hast thou injured me?  Thou hast given thy daughter to whom thy mind led thee; but I hate my husband:  but thou, I think, didst these things in prudence.  And now I envy not that thy affairs are prospering; make your alliances, be successful; but suffer me to dwell in this land, for although injured will I keep silence, overcome by my superiors.

CRE.  Thou speakest soft words to the ear, but within my mind I have my fears, lest thou meditate some evil intent.  And so much the less do I trust thee than before.  For a woman that is quick to anger, and a man likewise, is easier to guard against, than one that is crafty and keeps silence.  But begone as quick as possible, make no more words; since this is decreed, and thou hast no art, by which thou wilt stay with us, being hostile to me.

MED. No I beseech you by your knees, and your newly-married daughter.

CRE.  Thou wastest words; for thou wilt never persuade me.

MED. Wilt thou then banish me, nor reverence my prayers?

CRE.  For I do not love thee better than my own family.

MED. O my country, how I remember thee now!

CRE.  For next to my children it is much the dearest thing to me.

MED. Alas! alas! how great an ill is love to man!

CRE.  That is, I think, as fortune also shall attend it.

MED. Jove, let it not escape thine eye, who is the cause of these misfortunes.

CRE.  Begone, fond woman, and free me from these cares.

MED. Care indeed;[15] and do not I experience cares?

CRE.  Quickly shalt thou be driven hence by force by the hands of my domestics.

MED. No, I pray not this at least; but I implore thee, Creon.

CRE.  Thou wilt give trouble, woman, it seems.[16]

MED. I will go; I dare not ask to obtain this of you.

CRE.  Why then dost thou resist, and wilt not depart from these realms?

MED. Permit me to remain here this one day, and to bring my purpose to a conclusion, in what way we shall fly, and to make provision for my sons, since their father in no way regards providing for his children; but pity them, for thou also art the father of children; and it is probable that thou hast tenderness:  for of myself I have no care whether I may suffer banishment, but I weep for them experiencing this calamity.