JASON. It was some god that turned her heart to me. Fast friend was she in many a dangerous pass. I saw how in her bosom love was born, Which yet her royal pride bade firm restrain; No word she spake betrayed her--'twas her looks, Her deeds that told the secret. Then on me A madness came, like to a rushing wind. Her silence but inflamed me; for a new And warlike venture then I girded me, For love I struggled with her--and I won! Mine she became.--Her father cursed his child; But mine she was, whether I would or no. 'Twas she that won me that mysterious Fleece; She was my guide to that dank horror-cave Where dwelt the dragon, guardian of the prize, The which I slew, and bore the Fleece away. Since then I see, each time I search her eyes, That hideous serpent blinking back at me, And shudder when I call her wife!-- At last We sailed away. Her brother fell. KING (_quickly_). She slew him? JASON. The gods' hand smote him down. Her aged father, With curses on his lips for her, for me, For all our days to come, with bleeding nails Dug his own grave, and laid him down to die, So goes the tale--grim victim of his own Rash passion. KING. Dread beginning of your life Together! JASON. Ay, and, as the days wore on, More dreadful still. KING. Thine uncle--what of him? JASON. For four long years some god made sport of us And kept us wandering far from hearth and home O'er land and sea. Meanwhile, pent up with her Within the narrow confines of our bark, Seeing her face each moment of the day, The edge of my first shuddering fear grew blunt. The past was past.--So she became my wife. KING. When home thou camest, what befell thee there?