And then the tower! Know'st thou that tower upon the sea-strand there, Where by thy father thou didst stand and weep, What time I climbed the Argo's side, to sail On that far journey? For thy falling tears I had no eyes, my heart but thirsted deep For deeds of prowess. Lo, there came a breeze That loosed the wimple bound about thy locks And dropped it on the waves. Straightway I sprang Into the sea, and caught it up, to keep In memory of thee when far away. CREUSA. Hast thou it still? JASON. Nay, think how many years Are gone since then, and with them this, thy token, Blown far by some stray breeze. MEDEA. I know a song! JASON (_ignoring her_). Then didst thou cry to me, "Farewell, my brother!" CREUSA. And now my cry is, "Brother, welcome home!" MEDEA (_plaintively_). Jason, I know a song. CREUSA. She knows a song That thou wert wont to sing. I pray thee, listen, And she will sing it thee. JASON. A song? Well, well! Where was I, then?--From childhood I was wont To dream and dream, and babble foolishly Of things that were not and could never be. That habit clung to me, and mocks me now. For, as the youth lives ever in the future, So the grown man looks alway to the past, And, young or old, we know not how to live Within the present. In my dreams I was A mighty hero, girded for great deeds, And had a loving wife, and gold, and much Goodly possessions, and a peaceful home Wherein slept babes of mine. (_To_ MEDEA.) What is it thou Wouldst have with me? CREUSA. She asks to sing a song That thou in youth wert wont to sing to us. JASON (_to_ MEDEA). And _thou_ hast learned it? MEDEA. I have done my best. JASON. Go to! Dost think to give me back my youth, Or happiness to win again for me, By singing me some paltry, childish tune? Give o'er! We will not part, but live together; That is our fate, it seems, as things have chanced; But let me bear no word of foolish songs Or suchlike nonsense! CREUSA. Let her sing, I pray. She hath conned it o'er and o'er, to know it well, Indeed she hath! JASON. Well, sing it, sing it then! CREUSA (_to _MEDEA). So, pluck the second string. Thou know'st it still? MEDEA (_drawing her hand across her brow as if in pain_). I have forgotten!