What word is this?

Say clearly what thus makes thy visage dim?

MEDEA.

He is false to me, who never injured him.

AEGEUS.

What hath he done? Show all, that I may see.

MEDEA.

Ta'en him a wife; a wife, set over me To rule his house.

AEGEUS.

He hath not dared to do, Jason, a thing so shameful?

MEDEA.

Aye, 'tis true: And those he loved of yore have no place now.

AEGEUS.

Some pa.s.sion sweepeth him? Or is it thou He turns from?

MEDEA.

Pa.s.sion, pa.s.sion to betray His dearest!

AEGEUS.

Shame be his, so fallen away From honour!

MEDEA.

Pa.s.sion to be near a throne, A king's heir!

AEGEUS.

How, who gives the bride? Say on.

MEDEA.

Creon, who o'er all Corinth standeth chief.

AEGEUS.

Woman, thou hast indeed much cause for grief.

MEDEA.

'Tis ruin.--And they have cast me out as well.

AEGEUS.

Who? 'Tis a new wrong this, and terrible.

MEDEA.

Creon the king, from every land and sh.o.r.e... .

AEGEUS.

And Jason suffers him? Oh, 'tis too sore!

MEDEA.

He loveth to bear bravely ills like these!

But, Aegeus, by thy beard, oh, by thy knees, I pray thee, and I give me for thine own, Thy suppliant, pity me! Oh, pity one So miserable. Thou never wilt stand there And see me cast out friendless to despair.

Give me a home in Athens ... by the fire Of thine own hearth! Oh, so may thy desire Of children be fulfilled of G.o.d, and thou Die happy! ... Thou canst know not; even now Thy prize is won! I, I will make of thee A childless man no more. The seed shall be, I swear it, sown. Such magic herbs I know.

AEGEUS.

Woman, indeed my heart goes forth to show This help to thee, first for religion's sake, Then for thy promised hope, to heal my ache Of childlessness. 'Tis this hath made mine whole Life as a shadow, and starved out my soul.

But thus it stands with me. Once make thy way To Attic earth, I, as in law I may, Will keep thee and befriend. But in this land, Where Creon rules, I may not raise my hand To shelter thee. Move of thine own essay To seek my house, there thou shalt alway stay, Inviolate, never to be seized again.

But come thyself from Corinth. I would fain Even in foreign eyes be alway just.

MEDEA.

'Tis well. Give me an oath wherein to trust And all that man could ask thou hast granted me.

AEGEUS.

Dost trust me not? Or what thing troubleth thee?

MEDEA.

I trust thee. But so many, far and near, Do hate me--all King Pelias' house, and here Creon. Once bound by oaths and sanct.i.ties Thou canst not yield me up for such as these To drag from Athens. But a spoken word, No more, to bind thee, which no G.o.d hath heard...

The emba.s.sies, methinks, would come and go: They all are friends to thee... . Ah me, I know Thou wilt not list to me! So weak am I, And they full-filled with gold and majesty.

AEGEUS.

Methinks 'tis a far foresight, this thine oath.

Still, if thou so wilt have it, nothing loath Am I to serve thee. Mine own hand is so The stronger, if I have this plea to show Thy persecutors: and for thee withal The bond more sure.--On what G.o.d shall I call?

MEDEA.