They're gone, And all is well again!--Yet, now they're gone, How am I bettered? Must I aught the less Flee forth, today, and leave them in the hands Of these my bitter foes? Is Jason less A traitor? Will the bride make aught the less Of feasting on her bridal day, forsooth? Tomorrow, when the sun shall rise, Then shall I be alone, The world a desert waste for me, My babes, my husband--gone! A wand'rer I, with weary feet All torn and bleeding sore, And bound for exile!--Whither, then I know no more! My foes stay here and make a joyous feast, And laugh to think me gone; My babes cling tightly to a stranger's breast, Estranged from me forever, far away From where I needs must come! And wilt thou suffer that? Is it not even now too late, Too late to grant forgiveness? Hath not Creusa even now the robes, Ay, and the chalice, that fierce-flaming cup? Hark! Nay, not yet!--But soon enough Will come the shriek of agony Ringing through all the palace halls! Then they will come and slay me, Nor spare the babes! Hark! What a cry was that! Ha! Tongues of flame Leap curling from the palace! It is done! No more may I retreat, repent! Let come what must! Set forward! [GORA _bursts out of the palace in a frenzy._] GORA. Oh, horror, horror! MEDEA (_hurrying to her_). So the deed is done! GORA. Woe, woe! Creusa dead, the palace red With mounting flames! MEDEA. So, art thou gone at last, Thou snow-white, spotless bride? Or seek'st thou still To charm my children from me? Wouldst thou? Wouldst thou? Wouldst take them whither thou art gone? Nay, to the gods I give them now, And not to thee, nay, not to thee! GORA. What hast thou done?--Look, look, they come! MEDEA. They come? Too late! Too late! [_She vanishes down the colonnade._] GORA. Alas that I, so old and gray, should aid, Unknowing, such dark deeds! I counseled her To take revenge: but such revenge--oh, gods! Where are the babes? 'Twas here I left them late. Where art thou, O Medea? And thy babes-- Ah, where are they? [_She, too, disappears down the colonnade. Through the windows of the palace in the background the rapidly mounting flames now burst forth._] JASON'S VOICE. Creusa! O Creusa! KING'S VOICE (_from within_). O my daughter!