there is something hollow in my chest

The Sower (Sower with Setting Sun)  Detail   -     Vincent van Gogh , 1888.

Dutch, 1853-1889

Oil on canvas,  204.5 x 162.5 cm

featuring Euripides, Ovid, and Seneca

ὡς τρὶς ἂν παρ᾽ ἀσπίδα/στῆναι θέλοιμ᾽ ἂν μᾶλλον ἢ τεκεῖν ἅπαξ (Euripides Med. 250-1)

for I would rather thrice stand by the shield/ than once bear a child

καὶ σοῖς ἀραία γ᾽ οὖσα τυγχάνω δόμοις. (Euripides Med. 608)

I am a curse unto your house as well

καὶ μανθάνω μὲν οἷα τολμήσω κακά/θυμὸς δὲ κρείσσων τῶν ἐμῶν βουλευμάτων/ὅσπερ μεγίστων αἴτιος κακῶν βροτοῖς. (Euripides Med. 1078-80)

I know what evils I dare to do/ my heart is stronger than my plans/ and great is my blame for the blood

dum ferrum flammaeque aderunt sucusque veneni/ hostis Medeae nullus inultus erit (Ovid Her. 12.181-2)

as long as I have iron and fire and poison at my disposal/ no enemy of Medea’s will go unpunished

viderit ista deus, qui nunc mea pectora versat/ nescio quid certe mens mea maius agit! (Ovid Her. 211-2)

the god who twists my heart will witness these deeds/ for surely I know not what vast act my mind devises!

tum me de tigride natam/ tum ferrum et scopulos gestare in corde fatebor (Ovid Met. 7.32-3) 

then I will be called the daughter of a tiger/ and they will say I carry iron and stone in my heart

maximus intra me deus est (Ovid Met. 7.55)  

the greatest god is within me

et vertice sidera tangam (Ovid Met. 7.61)

and I will reach the stars with the crown of my head

Medea superest, hic mare et terras vides/ ferrumque et ignes et deos et fulmina (Seneca Med. 166-7)

Medea stands alone, here you see the sea and the lands/ and iron and fire and gods and lightning

si placet, damna ream;/ sed redde crimen (Seneca Med. 245-6)

condemn me if you like;/ but give me back my crime

invadam deos/ et cuncta quatiam (Seneca Med. 424-5)

I will invade the gods/ and shake all things

Medea nunc sum; crevit ingenium malis (Seneca Med. 910)