EPISODE 93

IN WHICH A TERRIBLE VENGEANCE TAKES PLACE

Previously: The Argonauts returned triumphantly to their homeland and then they parted company. But Medea is preparing a terrible vengeance against King Pelias.

At dawn, Medea slipped inside Pelias’ palace wrapped in a great red cloak. No one saw her shadow steal towards the rooms of the king’s daughters. The young women were already out of bed and they were having fun together when Medea pushed their door open. They did not feel at all suspicious towards this long-haired woman. In a few words, they were completely seduced.

“Your father Pelias is growing old, isn’t he?” asked Medea.

The young girls sighed: “Alas, yes, he is getting old…”

“I am an enchantress,” Medea then said, “I can rejuvenate your father. With my magic herbs, I can restore youth to anyone who wishes it.”

The young girls were innocent and gullible. They let out cries of astonishment. Only one of them, Alcestis, still kept back. Something about Medea’s ways caused her fear, but she did not know what. Suspicious, she asked:

“Oh, really? Well, first of all prove to us that you are a sorceress.”

Medea smiled and asked for a great cauldron full of water to be fetched and also for a very old ram. Once the servant girls had brought all these things, Medea boiled the water in the cauldron. The daughters of Pelias had made a circle around her, very excited. Medea closed her eyes and cast a few magic herbs into the cauldron. Then she killed the old ram, cut it into pieces and threw the pieces into the cauldron. Silence fell. All of them had their eyes screwed on the cauldron. Many long moments passed and then they saw a very young lamb emerge from the boiling water. Mesmerized, the young girls clapped their hands.

“I leave you this cauldron and the magic herbs,” said Medea. “You only have to do the same thing to your father Pelias and then thanks to you he will recover his youth.” With these words, she disappeared.

Furtive steps were heard along the corridors of the palace, where everyone was still asleep. They belonged to the daughters of King Pelias, who were going to their father’s room. They loved their father and they could not bear the idea of seeing him soon grow old and then die. Medea’s proof had convinced them. Only Alcestis resisted. She too had a passionate love for her father. But she could not resign herself to killing him, even if it meant that he would be reborn young by the process. And, what is more, she actually loved his wrinkles and the way his hair had turned white with age. Her sisters, however, would not listen to her. Which of them had struck the first blow? Which one had cut Pelias to pieces? Which was the one who cast the pieces of her father’s body into the magic cauldron? No one can recall, for no one saw them act. Alcestis was sobbing in a corner of the room; the gleam of light shining in her sisters’ eyes frightened her. Time passed. The young girls were staring fervently at the cauldron in which their father was boiling. But he was not being reborn.

Stunned, they continued to wait, without understanding. Alcestis then began to howl: “Madwomen! Madwomen that you are! You believed that sorceress! And she bewitched you! But now look, look at your crime. You have killed our father, and never shall he be reborn from this vile stew!” The screams and the wailings of Alcestis woke up the entire palace. The young girls, seized with horror at what they had just done, fled running. They left the island for ever. Already the frightful Erinyes were setting out to pursue them for the rest of their days. One could already smell the monstrous stench of these righters of wrongs. Misery to all who kill their parents.

All alone on the beach, Jason could not guess the appalling crime that Medea had once more committed for his sake. He had closed his eyes and had let this woman in love take action. The beautiful enchantress joined him silently. She simply whispered in his ear: “You have been avenged.” Jason did not turn his head round to face her. He did not reply. He was thinking of his companions, and of his youth, which had just come to its end. He took Medea’s hand in his and with his other hand continued to stroke the Golden Fleece on his shoulder. Hermes was looking at the couple formed by Medea and Jason and he could not help feeling worried about them. He had appreciated Jason’s strength and bravery but he now dreaded his weakness and his cowardice. He had liked the passion of Medea but he was appalled by her cruelty. He could tell that she was likely to topple over into rage and folly.

 

To be continued…