Mine own. And now, by all thy fond paternal hopes, By thine established house, by all the monsters slain 480 For thee, by these my hands which I have ever held To work thy will, by all the perils past, by heaven And sea that witnessed at my wedlock, pity me! Since thou art blessed, restore me what I lost for thee: That countless treasure plundered from the swarthy tribes Of India, which filled our goodly vaults with wealth, 485 And decked our very trees with gold. This costly store I left for thee, my native land, my brother, sire, My reputation--all; and with this dower I came. If now to homeless exile thou dost send me forth, Give back the countless treasures which I left for thee. 490 _Jason:_ Though Creon in a vengeful mood would have thy life, I moved him by my tears to grant thee flight instead. _Medea:_ I thought my exile punishment; 'tis now, I see, A gracious boon! _Jason:_ Oh, flee while still the respite holds; Provoke him not, for deadly is the wrath of kings. 495 _Medea:_ Not so. 'Tis for Creüsa's love thou sayest this; Thou wouldst remove the hated wanton once thy wife. _Jason:_ Dost thou reproach me with a guilty love? _Medea:_ Yea, that, And murder too, and treachery. _Jason:_ But name me now, If so thou canst, the crimes that I have done. _Medea:_ Thy crimes-- Whatever I have done. _Jason:_ Why then, in truth, thy guilt Must all be mine, if all thy crimes are mine. 500 _Medea:_ They are, They are all thine; for who by sin advantage gains, Commits the sin. All men proclaim thy wife defiled. Do thou thyself protect her, and condone her sin. Let her be guiltless in thine eyes who for thy gain Has sinned. _Jason:_ But gifts which sin has bought 'twere shame to take. _Medea:_ Why keep'st thou then the gifts which it were shame to take? 505 _Jason:_ Nay, curb thy fiery soul! Thy children--for their sake Be calm. _Medea:_ My children! Them I do refuse, reject, Renounce! Shall then Creüsa brothers bear to these My children? _Jason:_ But the queen can aid thy wretched sons. _Medea:_ May that day never dawn, that day of shame and woe, 510 When in one house are joined the low born and the high, The sons of that foul robber Sisyphus, and these, The sons of Phoebus. _Jason:_ Wretched one, and wilt thou then Involve me also in thy fall? Begone, I pray. _Medea:_ Creon hath heard my prayer. _Jason:_ What wouldst thou have me do? 515 _Medea:_ For me? I'd have thee dare the law. _Jason:_ The royal power Doth compass me.