Say, must I go? So be it--but follow me! We bear the blame together, let us bear The punishment as well! Dost thou not know The ancient proverb: "None shall die alone?" One home for both, one body--and one death! Long since, when Death stared grimly in our eyes, We sware that oath. Now keep it! Follow me! JASON. Nay, touch me not! Begone from me, thou curse Of all my days, who hast robbed me of my life And happiness, from whom, when first mine eyes Met thine, I shrank and shuddered, though I thought Those fearful struggles in my very soul Were but the signs of rash and foolish love. Hence, to that wilderness that cradled thee! Back to that bloody folk whose child thou art In very thought and deed! But, ere thou go, Give back to me what thou hast stol'n away, Thou wanton! Give Prince Jason back to me! MEDEA. Is't Jason thou desirest? Take him, then! But who shall give Medea back to me? Was't I that in thy homeland sought thee out? Was't I that lured thee from thy father's house? Was't I that forced, ay, forced my love on thee? Was't I that wrenched thee from thy fatherland, Made thee the butt of strangers' haughty scorn, Or dragged thee into wantonness and crime? Thou nam'st me Wanton?--Woe is me! I am! Yet--how have I been wanton, and for whom? Let these pursue me with their venomous hate, Ay, drive me forth and slay me! 'Tis their right, Because I am in truth a dreadful thing And hateful unto them, and to myself A deep abyss of evil, terrible! Let all the world heap curses on my head, Save only thee alone! Nay, thou shalt not! 'Twas thou inspiredst all these horrid deeds, Yea, thou alone. Dost thou not call to mind How I did clasp my hands about thy knees That day thou bad'st me steal the Golden Fleece? And, though I sooner far had slain myself, Yet thou, with chilly scorn, commandedst me To take it. Dost remember how I held My brother in my bosom, faint to death From that fierce stroke of thine that laid him low, Until he tore him from his sister's arms To 'scape thy frenzied vengeance, and leaped swift Into the sea, to find a kinder death Beneath its waves? Dost thou remember?--Nay, Come here to me, and shrink not so away To shelter thee behind that maiden there! JASON (_coming forward_). I hate thee,--but I fear thee not! MEDEA. Then come! [_She addresses him earnestly in low tones._]