plans, and to join in adorning and to stand by the bed, and to delight with thee that thy bride was enamored of thee; but we women are as we are, I will not speak evil of the sex; wherefore it is not right that you should put yourself on an equality with the evil, nor repay folly for folly.  I give up, and say that then I erred in judgment, but now I have determined on these things better.  O my children, my children, come forth, leave the house, come forth, salute, and address your father with me, and be reconciled to your friends from your former hatred together with your mother.  For there is amity between us, and my rage hath ceased.  Take his right hand.  Alas! my misfortunes; how I feel some hidden ill in my mind!  Will ye, my children, in this manner, and for a long time enjoying life, stretch out your dear hands?  Wretch that I am! how near am I to weeping and full of fear!—­But at last canceling this dispute with your father, I have filled thus my tender sight with tears.

CHOR.  In my eyes also the moist tear is arisen; and may not the evil advance to a greater height than it is at present.

JAS. I approve of this, lady, nor do I blame the past; for it is reasonable that the female sex be enraged with a husband who barters them for another union.—­But thy heart has changed to the more proper side, and thou hast discovered, but after some time, the better counsel:  these are the actions of a wise woman.  But for you, my sons, your father not without thought hath formed many provident plans, with the assistance of the Gods.  For I think that you will be yet the first in this Corinthian country, together with your brothers.  But advance and prosper:  and the rest your father, and whatever God is propitious, will effect.  And may I behold you blooming arrive at the prime of youth, superior to my enemies.  And thou, why dost thou bedew thine eyes with the moist tear, having turned aside thy white cheek, and why dost thou not receive these words from me with pleasure?

MED. It is nothing.  I was thinking of my sons.

JAS. Be of good courage; for I will arange well for them.

MED. I will be so, I will not mistrust thy words; but a woman is of soft mould, and was born to tears.

JAS. Why, I pray, dost thou so grieve for thy children?

MED. I brought them into the world, and when thou wert praying that thy children might live, a feeling of pity came upon me if that would be.  But for what cause thou hast come to a conference with me, partly hath been explained, but the other reasons I will mention.  Since it appeareth fit to the royal family to send me from this country, for me also this appears best, I know it well, that I might not dwell here, a check either to thee or to the princes of the land; for I seem to be an object of enmity to the house; I indeed will set out from this land in flight; but to the end that the children may be brought up by thy hand, entreat Creon that they may not leave this land.