Where Earth's heart speaks in song? What mad'st thou there? AEGEUS. Prayed heaven for children--the same search alway. MEDEA. Children? Ah God! Art childless to this day? AEGEUS. So God hath willed. Childless and desolate. MEDEA. What word did Phoebus speak, to change thy fate? AEGEUS. Riddles, too hard for mortal man to read. MEDEA. Which I may hear? AEGEUS. Assuredly: they need A rarer wit. MEDEA. How said he? AEGEUS. Not to spill Life's wine, nor seek for more. . . . MEDEA. Until? AEGEUS. Until I tread the hearth-stone of my sires of yore. MEDEA. And what should bring thee here, by Creon's shore? AEGEUS. One Pittheus know'st thou, high lord of Trozên? MEDEA. Aye, Pelops' son, a man most pure of sin. AEGEUS. Him I would ask, touching Apollo's will. MEDEA. Much use in God's ways hath he, and much skill. AEGEUS. And, long years back he was my battle-friend, The truest e'er man had. MEDEA. Well, may God send Good hap to thee, and grant all thy desire. AEGEUS. But thou . . . ? Thy frame is wasted, and the fire Dead in thine eyes. MEDEA. Aegeus, my husband is The falsest man in the world. AEGEUS. 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 passion sweepeth him? Or is it thou He turns from? MEDEA. Passion, passion to betray His dearest! AEGEUS. Shame be his, so fallen away From honour! MEDEA. Passion 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.