In context, the word “boon” (13) most likely means
(a) support
(b) dread
(c) life
(d) job
(e) pain

passage 1. euripides, medea
medea. from the house i have come forth, corinthian ladies, for fear lest
you be blaming me; for well i know that amongst men many by
showing pride have gotten them an ill name and a reputation for
indiff erence, both those who shun men’s gaze and those who move
amid the stranger crowd, and likewise they who choose a quiet
walk in life. for there is no just discernment in the eyes of men,
for they, or ever they have surely learnt their neighbour’s heart,
loathe him at fi rst sight, though never wronged by him; and so a
stranger most of all should adopt a city’s views; nor do i commend
that citizen, who, in the stubbornness of his heart, from churlishness
resents the city’s will.
but on me hath fallen this unforeseen disaster, and sapped my life;
ruined i am, and long to resign the boon of existence, kind friends,
and die. for he who was all the world to me, as well thou knowest,
hath turned out the worst of men, my own husband. of all things
that have life and sense we women are the most hapless creatures;
fi rst must we buy a husband at a great price, and o’er ourselves a
tyrant set which is an evil worse than the fi rst; and herein lies the
most important issue, whether our choice be good or bad. for
divorce is not honourable to women, nor can we disown our lords.
next must the wife, coming as she does to ways and customs new,
since she hath not learnt the lesson in her home, have a diviner’s
eye to see how best to treat the partner of her life. if haply we perform
these tasks with thoroughness and tact, and the husband live
with us, without resenting the yoke, our life is a happy one; if not,
’twere best to die. but when a man is vexed with what he fi nds
indoors, he goeth forth and rids his soul of its disgust, betaking
him to some friend or comrade of like age; whilst we must needs
regard his single self.
and yet they say we live secure at home, while they are at the
wars, with their sorry reasoning, for i would gladly take my stand
in battle array three times o’er, than once give birth. but enough!
this language suits not thee as it does me; thou hast a city here, a
father’s house, some joy in life, and friends to share thy thoughts,
but i am destitute, without a city, and therefore scorned by my
husband, a captive i from a foreign shore, with no mother,
brother, or kinsman in whom to fi nd a new haven of refuge from
this calamity. wherefore this one boon and only this i wish to win
from thee, thy silence, if haply i can some way or means devise
to avenge me on my husband for this cruel treatment, and on the
man who gave to him his daughter, and on her who is his wife.
for though woman be timorous enough in all else, and as regards
courage, a coward at the mere sight of steel, yet in the moment she
fi nds her honour wronged, no heart is fi lled with deadlier thoughts
than hers.