Euripides, Medea 250-251

“I would rather stand behind a shield three times than give birth once.”

…· ὡς τρὶς ἂν παρ’ ἀσπίδα

στῆναι θέλοιμ’ ἂν μᾶλλον ἢ τεκεῖν ἅπαξ.