SCENE II

_Creon with Attendants, Medea._

_Creon._ What, is Medea of the hated race Of Colchian Æëtes, not yet gone? Still she is plotting evil; well I know Her guile, and well I know her cruel hand. Whom does she spare, or whom let rest secure? 185 Verily I had thought to cut her off With the swift sword, but Jason's prayers availed To spare her life. She may go forth unharmed If she will set our city free from fear. Threatening and fierce, she seeks to speak with us; 190 Attendants, keep her off, bid her be still, And let her learn at last, a king's commands Must be obeyed. Go, haste, and take her hence.

_Medea._ What fault is punished by my banishment?

_Creon._ A woman, innocent, may ask, 'What fault?' 195

_Medea._ If thou wilt judge, examine.

_Creon._ Kings command. Just or unjust, a king must be obeyed.

_Medea._ An unjust kingdom never long endures.

_Creon._ Go hence! Seek Colchis!

_Medea._ Willingly I go; Let him who brought me hither take me hence. 200

_Creon._ Thy words come late, my edict has gone forth.

_Medea._ The man who judges, one side still unheard, Were hardly a just judge, though he judge justly.

_Creon._ Pelias for listening to thee died, but speak, I may find time to hear so good a plea. 205

_Medea._ How hard it is to calm a wrathful soul, How he who takes the scepter in proud hands Deems his own will sufficient, I have learned; Have learned it in my father's royal house. For though the sport of fortune, suppliant, 210 Banished, alone, forsaken, on all sides Distressed, my father was a noble king. I am descended from the glorious sun. What lands the Phasis in its winding course Bathes, or the Euxine touches where the sea 215 Is freshened by the water from the swamps, Or where armed maiden cohorts try their skill Beside Thermodon, all these lands are held Within my father's kingdom, where I dwelt Noble and happy and with princely power. 220 He whom kings seek, sought then to wed with me. Swift, fickle fortune cast me headlong forth, And gave me exile. Put thy trust in thrones-- Such trust as thou mayst put in what light chance Flings here and there at will! Kings have one power, 225 A matchless honor time can never take: To help the wretched, and to him who asks To give a safe retreat. This I have brought From Colchis, this at least I still can claim: I saved the flower of Grecian chivalry, 230 Achaian chiefs, the offspring of the gods; It is to me they owe their Orpheus Whose singing melted rocks and drew the trees; Castor and Pollux are my twofold gift; Boreas' sons, and Lynceus whose sharp eye 235 Could pierce beyond the Euxine, are my gift, And all the Argonauts. Of one alone, The chief of chiefs, I do not speak; for him Thou owest me naught; those have I saved for thee, This one is mine. Rehearse, now, all my crime; 240 Accuse me; I confess; this is my fault-- I saved the Argo! Had I heard the voice Of maiden modesty or filial love, Greece and her leaders had regretted it, And he, thy son-in-law, had fallen first 245 A victim to the fire-belching bull. Let fortune trample on me as she will, My hand has succored princes, I am glad! Assign the recompense for these my deeds, Condemn me if thou wilt, but tell the fault. 250 Creon, I own my guilt--guilt known to thee When first, a suppliant, I touched thy knees, And asked with outstretched hands protecting aid. Again I ask a refuge, some poor spot For misery to hide in; grant a place 255 Withdrawn, a safe asylum in thy realm, If I must leave the city.

_Creon._ I am no prince who rules with cruel sway, Or tramples on the wretched with proud foot. Have I not shown this true by choosing him 260 To be my son-in-law who is a man Exiled, without resource, in fear of foes? One whom Acastus, king of Thessaly, Seeks to destroy, that so he may avenge A father weak with age, bowed down with years, 265 Whose limbs were torn asunder? That foul crime His wicked sisters impiously dared Tempted by thee; if thou wouldst say the deed Was Jason's, he can prove his innocence; No guiltless blood has stained him, and his hands 270 Touched not the sword, are yet unstained by thee. Foul instigator of all evil deeds, With woman's wantonness in daring aught, And man's courageous heart--and void of shame, Go, purge our kingdom; take thy deadly herbs, 275 Free us from fear; dwelling in other lands Afar, invoke the gods.

_Medea._ Thou bidst me go? Give back the ship and comrade of my flight. Why bid me go alone? Not so I came. If thou fear war, both should go forth, nor choice 280 Be made between two equally at fault: That old man fell for Jason's sake; impute To Jason flight, rapine, a brother slain, And a deserted father; not all mine The crimes to which a husband tempted me; 285 'Tis true I sinned, but never for myself.

_Creon._ Thou shouldst begone, why waste the time with words?

_Medea._ I go, but going make one last request: Let not a mother's guilt drag down her sons.

_Creon._ Go, as a father I will succor them, 290 And with a father's care.

_Medea._ By future hopes, By the king's happy marriage, by the strength Of thrones, which fickle fortune sometimes shakes, I pray thee grant the exile some delay That she, perchance about to die, may press 295 A last kiss on her children's lips.

_Creon._ Thou seekst Time to commit new crime.

_Medea._ In so brief time What crime were possible?

_Creon._ No time too short For him who would do ill.

_Medea._ Dost thou deny To misery short space for tears?

_Creon._ Deep dread 300 Warns me against thy prayer; yet I will grant One day in which thou mayst prepare for flight.

_Medea._ Too great the favor! Of the time allowed, Something withdraw. I would depart in haste.

_Creon._ Before the coming day is ushered in 305 By Phœbus, leave the city or thou diest. The bridal calls me, and I go to pay My vows to Hymen.