Then had there been no curse to wreck mankind. LEADER. Lord Jason, very subtly hast thou twined Thy speech: but yet, though all athwart thy will I speak, this is not well thou dost, but ill, Betraying her who loved thee and was true. MEDEA. Surely I have my thoughts, and not a few Have held me strange. To me it seemeth, when A crafty tongue is given to evil men 'Tis like to wreck, not help them. Their own brain Tempts them with lies to dare and dare again, Till . . . no man hath enough of subtlety. As thou--be not so seeming-fair to me Nor deft of speech. One word will make thee fall. Wert thou not false, 'twas thine to tell me all, And charge me help thy marriage path, as I Did love thee; not befool me with a lie. JASON. An easy task had that been! Aye, and thou A loving aid, who canst not, even now, Still that loud heart that surges like the tide! MEDEA. That moved thee not. Thine old barbarian bride, The dog out of the east who loved thee sore, She grew grey-haired, she served thy pride no more. JASON. Now understand for once! The girl to me Is nothing, in this web of sovranty I hold. I do but seek to save, even yet, Thee: and for brethren to our sons beget Young kings, to prosper all our lives again. MEDEA. God shelter me from prosperous days of pain, And wealth that maketh wounds about my heart. JASON. Wilt change that prayer, and choose a wiser part? Pray not to hold true sense for pain, nor rate Thyself unhappy, being too fortunate. MEDEA. Aye, mock me; thou hast where to lay thine head, But I go naked to mine exile. JASON. Tread Thine own path! Thou hast made it all to be. MEDEA. How? By seducing and forsaking thee? JASON. By those vile curses on the royal halls Let loose. . . . MEDEA. On thy house also, as chance falls, I am a living curse. JASON. Oh, peace! Enough Of these vain wars: I will no more thereof. If thou wilt take from all that I possess Aid for these babes and thine own helplessness Of exile, speak thy bidding. Here I stand Full-willed to succour thee with stintless hand, And send my signet to old friends that dwell On foreign shores, who will entreat thee well. Refuse, and thou shalt do a deed most vain. But cast thy rage away, and thou shalt gain Much, and lose little for thine anger's sake. MEDEA. I will not seek thy friends. I will not take Thy givings. Give them not. Fruits of a stem Unholy bring no blessing after them. JASON.