If now to homeless exile thou dost send me forth, Give back the countless treasures which I left for thee. And now again we have a situation which only the quick, sharp flashes, the clash of words like steel on steel, can relieve. Here is no chance for long periods, nor flights of oratory; but sentences as short and sharp as swords, flashes of feeling, stinging epigrams. _Jason._ Though Creon, in a vengeful mood, would have thy life, I moved him by my tears to grant thee flight instead. _Medea._ I thought my exile punishment; 'tis now, I see, A gracious boon! _Jason._ O flee, while still the respite holds. Provoke him not, for deadly is the wrath of kings. _Medea._ Not so. 'Tis for Creüsa's love thou sayest this; Thou wouldst remove the hated wanton once thy wife. _Jason._ Dost thou reproach me with a guilty love? _Medea._ Yea, that, And murder too, and treachery. _Jason._ But name me now, If so thou canst, the crimes that I have done. _Medea._ Thy crimes-- Whatever I have done. _Jason._ Why then, in truth, thy guilt Must all be mine, if all thy crimes are mine. _Medea._ They are, They are all thine: for who by sin advantage gains Commits the sin. All men proclaim thy wife defiled; Do thou thyself protect her and condone her sins. Let her be guiltless in thine eyes who for thy gain Has sinned. _Jason._ But gifts which sin has brought 'twere shame to take. _Medea._ Why keep'st thou then the gifts which it were shame to take? _Jason._ Nay, curb thy fiery soul! Thy children--for their sake Be calm. _Medea._ My children! Them I do refuse, reject, Renounce! Shall then Creüsa brothers bear to these My children? _Jason._ But the queen can aid thy wretched sons. _Medea._ May that day never dawn, that day of shame and woe, When in one house are joined the low-born and the high, The sons of that foul robber Sisyphus, and these The sons of Phoebus. _Jason._ Wretched one, and wilt thou, then Involve me also in thy fall? Begone, I pray. _Medea._ The king hath yielded to my prayer. _Jason._ What wouldst thou then? _Medea._ Of thee? I'd have thee dare the law. _Jason._ The royal power Doth compass me.