MEDEA. And thou canst stand So calm before me and speak such a word, Nor drop thine eyes for shame, nor even blush? JASON. I must needs blush, if I should say aught else! MEDEA. Ha! Good! Well done! Speak ever words like these When thou wouldst clear thyself in others' eyes, But leave such idle feigning when thou speak'st With me! JASON. Dost call my dread of horrid deeds Which thou hast done, a sham, and idle, too? Thou art condemned by men; the very gods Have damned thee! And I give thee up to them And to their judgment! 'Tis a fate, in sooth, Thou richly hast deserved! MEDEA. Who is this man, This pious, virtuous man with whom I speak? Is it not Jason? Strives he to seem mild? O, mild and gentle one, didst thou not come To Colchis' strand, and win in bloody fight The daughter of its king? O, gentle, mild, Didst thou not slay my brother, was it not At thine own hands mine aged father fell, Thou gentle, pious man? And now thou wouldst Desert the wife whom thou didst steal away! Mild? No, say rather hateful, monstrous man! JASON. Such wild abuse I will not stay to hear. Thou knowest now what thou must do. Farewell! MEDEA. Nay, nay, I know not! Stay until I learn! Stay, and I will be quiet even as thou.-- So, I am banished, then? But what of thee? Methinks the Herald's sentence named thee, too. JASON. When it is known that I am innocent Of all these horrid deeds, and had no hand In murdering mine uncle, then the ban Will be removed from me. MEDEA. And thou wilt live Peaceful and happy, for long years to come? JASON. I shall live quietly, as doth become Unhappy men like me. MEDEA. And what of me? JASON. Thou dost but reap the harvest thine own hands Have sown. MEDEA. My hands? Hadst thou no part therein? JASON. Nay, none. MEDEA. Didst never pray thine uncle's death Might speedily be compassed? JASON. No command At least I gave. MEDEA. Ne'er sought to learn if I Had heart and courage for the deed? JASON. Thou know'st How, in the first mad burst of rage and hate, A man speaks many hot, impetuous threats Which calm reflection never would fulfil. MEDEA. Once thou didst blame thyself for that mad deed; Now thou hast found a victim who can bear The guilt in place of thee! JASON. 'Tis not the thought Of such a deed that merits punishment; It is the deed itself. MEDEA (_quickly_).