But, for thee--straightway Thou must go forth, where'er thy feet may choose To carry thee! Pollution such as thine Spells woe for all about thee, as I've proved. Oh, had I never seen, never rescued thee, Ne'er acted friendship's part and welcomed thee Within my palace! And, for thanks, thou took'st My daughter from me! Go, lest thou shouldst take As well the only comfort left me now-- To weep her memory! JASON. Wouldst thou thrust me forth? KING. I banish thee my sight. JASON. What shall I do? KING. Some god will answer that! JASON. Who, then, will guide My wandering steps, who lend a helping hand? For, see! my head is bleeding, wounded sore By falling firebrands! How? All silent, then? And none will guide me, none companion me, None follow me, whom once so many joyed To follow? Spirits of my babes, lead ye The way, and guide your father to the grave That waits him! [_He goes slowly away._] KING (_to his attendants_). Quick, to work! And after that, Mourning that hath no end! [_He goes away in the other direction._] _The curtain falls for a moment, and, when it rises again, discloses a wild and lonely region surrounded by forest and by lofty crags, at the foot of which lies a mean hut. A rustic enters._ RUSTIC. How fair the morning dawns! Oh, kindly gods, After the storm and fury of the night, Your sun doth rise more glorious than before! [_He goes into the hut._] (JASON _comes stumbling out of the forest and leaning heavily on his sword._) JASON. Nay, I can go no farther! How my head Doth burn and throb, the blood how boil within! My tongue cleaves to the roof of my parched mouth! Is none within there? Must I die of thirst, And all alone?--Ha! Yon's the very hut That gave me shelter when I came this way Before, a rich man still, a happy father, My bosom filled with newly-wakened hopes! [_He knocks at the door._] 'Tis but a drink I crave, and then a place To lay me down and die! [_The peasant comes out of the house._] RUSTIC. Who knocks?--Poor man, Who art thou? Ah, poor soul, he's faint to death! JASON. Oh, water, water! Give me but to drink! See, Jason is my name, famed far and wide, The hero of the wondrous Golden Fleece! A prince--a king--and of the Argonauts The mighty leader, Jason!