JASON. Then she must have it still. KING. If so, then she Shall straightway yield it up, perforce. It is The pledge and symbol of thy power to come. Ay, thou shalt yet be strong and great again, Thou only son of my old friend! A king Am I, and have both wealth and power, the which With mine own daughter's spouse I'll gladly share. JASON. And I will go to claim the heritage My fathers left me, of that false man's son That keeps it from me. For I, too, am rich, Could I but have my due. KING. Peace! Look, she comes Who still doth vex us. But our task is brief. MEDEA _comes out of the palace, attended by_ GORA. MEDEA. What wouldst thou with me? KING. I did send thee late Some slaves to speak my will, whom thou didst drive With harsh words forth, and didst demand to hear From mine own lips whate'er I had to say, What my commands and what thou hadst to do. MEDEA. Say on! KING. Naught strange or new have I to tell. I would but speak once more the doom I set Upon thy head, and add thereto that thou Must forth today. MEDEA. And why today? KING. The threats That thou halt uttered 'gainst my daughter's life-- For those against mine own I do not care: The savage moods that thou of late hast shown, All these do warn me how thy presence here Bodes ill. Wherefore, today thou must begone! MEDEA. Give me my babes, and I will go--perhaps! KING. Nay, no "Perhaps!" Thou goest! But the babes Stay here! MEDEA. How? Mine own babes? But I forget To whom I speak. Let me have speech with him, My husband, standing there. KING. Nay, hear her not! MEDEA (_to _JASON). I pray thee, let me speak with thee! JASON. Well, well, So be it, then, that thou may'st see I have No fear of any words of thine to me. (_To the_ KING.) Leave us, my lord! I'll hear what she would say. KING. I go, but I am fearful. She is sly And cunning! [_He departs._] MEDEA. So, he's gone! No stranger now Is here to vex us, none to come between Husband and wife, and, what our hearts do feel, That we can speak out clear.--Say first, my lord, What are thy plans, thy wishes? JASON. Thou dost know. MEDEA. I guess thy will, but all thy secret thoughts I know not. JASON. Be contented with the first, For they are what decide. MEDEA. Then I must go? JASON. Go! MEDEA. And today? JASON. Today!