_Jason:_ O heartless fate, if frowns or smiles bedeck thy brow, How often are thy cures far worse than the disease They seek to cure! If, now, I wish to keep the troth 435 I plighted to my lawful bride, my life must pay The forfeit; if I shrink from death, my guilty soul Must perjured be. I fear no power that man can wield; But in my heart paternal love unmans me quite; For well I know that in my death my children's fate Is sealed. O sacred Justice, if in heaven thou dwell'st, 440 Be witness now, that for my children's sake I act. Nay, sure am I that even she, Medea's self, Though fierce she is of soul and brooking no restraint, Will see her children's good outweighing all her wrongs. With this good argument my purpose now is fixed, 445 In humble wise to brave her wrath. [_Enter_ Medea.] At sight of me Her raging fury flames anew! Hate, like a shield, She bears, and in her face is pictured all her woe. _Medea:_ Thou see'st, Jason, that we flee. 'Tis no new thing To suffer exile, but the cause of flight is strange; For with thee I was wont to flee, not from thee. Yes, I go. But whither dost thou send me whom thou driv'st 450 From out thy home? Shall I the Colchians seek again, My royal father's realm, whose soil is steeped in blood My brother shed? What country dost thou bid me seek? What way by sea is open? Shall I fare again Where once I saved the noble kings of Greece, and thee, 455 Thou wanton, through the threatening jaws of Pontus' strait, The blue Symplegades? Or shall I hie me back To fair Thessalia's realms? Lo, all the doors which I, For thee, have opened wide, I've closed upon myself. But whither dost thou send me now? Thou bid'st me flee, 460 But show'st no way or means of flight. But 'tis enough: The king's own son-in-law commands and I obey. Come, heap thy torments on me; I deserve them all. Let royal wrath oppress me, wanton that I am, With cruel hand, and load my guilty limbs with chains; And let me be immured in dungeons black as night: 465 Still will my punishment be less than my offense. O ingrate! hast thou then forgot the brazen bull, And his consuming breath? the fear that smote thee, when, Upon the field of Mars, the earth-born brood stood forth To meet thy single sword? 'Twas by my arts that they, 470 The monsters, fell by mutual blows. Remember, too, The long-sought fleece of gold I won for thee, whose guard, The dragon huge, was lulled to rest at my command; My brother slain for thee. For thee old Pelias fell, 475 When, taken by my guile, his daughters slew their sire, Whose life could not return. All this I did for thee. In quest of thine advantage have I quite forgot