Good? Ha, good? 'Tis a false lie! For know, thou old, gray man, She will betray thee, _hath_ betrayed thee, thee, Ay, and herself! But thou didst curse her sore "Know thou shalt be thrust forth Like a beast of the wilderness," thou saidst; "Friendless and homeless, with no place To lay thy head! And he, for whom Thou hast betrayed me, he will be First to take vengeance on thee, first To leave thee, thrust thee forth, and first To slay thee!" See, thy words were true! For here I stand, thrust forth indeed, By all men like a monster shunned, Deserted by the wretch for whom I gave thee up, and with no place To lay me down; alas! not dead; Black thoughts of murder in my heart!-- Dost thou rejoice at thy revenge? Com'st closer?--Children! O my babes! [_She rushes across to where the children lie sleeping, and shakes them violently._] My children, did ye hear? Awake! BOY (_waking_). What wouldst thou? MEDEA (_pressing them fiercely to her_). Clasp your arms about me close! BOY. I slept so soundly. MEDEA. Slept? How could ye sleep? Thought ye, because your mother watched you here, That ye were safe? Ye ne'er were in the hands Of any foe more dangerous! Sleep? With me, Your mother, near? How could ye?--Go within, And there ye shall find rest, indeed! [_The children sleepily mount the steps and disappear down the colonnade into the palace._]