Fourth Episode

(Enter JASON.)

JASON.I answer to thy call. Though full of hateThou be, I yet will not so far abateMy kindness for thee, nor refuse mine ear.Say in what new desire thou hast called me here.

MEDEA.Jason, I pray thee, for my words but nowSpoken, forgive me. My bad moods. . . . Oh, thouAt least wilt strive to bear with them! There beMany old deeds of love 'twixt me and thee.Lo, I have reasoned with myself apartAnd chidden: "Why must I be mad, O heartOf mine: and raging against one whose wordIs wisdom: making me a thing abhorredTo them that rule the land, and to mine ownHusband, who doth but that which, being done,Will help us all--to wed a queen, and getYoung kings for brethren to my sons? And yetI rage alone, and cannot quit my rage--What aileth me?--when God sends harbourageSo simple? Have I not my children? KnowI not we are but exiles, and must goBeggared and friendless else?" Thought upon thoughtSo pressed me, till I knew myself full-fraughtWith bitterness of heart and blinded eyes.So now--I give thee thanks: and hold thee wiseTo have caught this anchor for our aid. The foolWas I; who should have been thy friend, thy tool;Gone wooing with thee, stood at thy bed-sideServing, and welcomed duteously thy bride.But, as we are, we are--I will not sayMere evil--women! Why must thou to-dayTurn strange, and make thee like some evil thing,Childish, to meet my childish passioning?See, I surrender: and confess that thenI had bad thoughts, but now have turned againAnd found my wiser mind.(She claps her hands.)Ho, children! RunQuickly! Come hither, out into the sun,

(The CHILDREN come from the house, followed by their ATTENDANT.)

And greet your father. Welcome him with us,And throw quite, quite away, as mother does,Your anger against one so dear. Our peaceIs made, and all the old bad war shall ceaseFor ever.--Go, and take his hand. . . .

(As the CHILDREN go to JASON, she suddenly bursts into tears. The CHILDREN quickly return to her: she recovers herself, smiling amid her tears.)

Ah me,I am full of hidden horrors! . . . Shall it beA long time more, my children, that ye liveTo reach to me those dear, dear arms? . . . Forgive!I am so ready with my tears to-day,And full of dread. . . . I sought to smooth awayThe long strife with your father, and, lo, nowI have all drowned with tears this little brow!

(She wipes the child's face.)

LEADER.O'er mine eyes too there stealeth a pale tear:Let the evil rest, O God, let it rest here!

JASON.Woman, indeed I praise thee now, nor sayIll of thine other hour. 'Tis nature's way,A woman needs must stir herself to wrath,When work of marriage by so strange a pathCrosseth her lord. But thou, thine heart doth wendThe happier road. Thou hast seen, ere quite the end,What choice must needs be stronger: which to doShows a wise-minded woman. . . . And for you,Children; your father never has forgotYour needs. If God but help him, he hath wroughtA strong deliverance for your weakness. Yea,I think you, with your brethren, yet one dayShall be the mightiest voices in this land.Do you grow tall and strong. Your father's handGuideth all else, and whatso power divineHath alway helped him. . . . Ah, may it be mineTo see you yet in manhood, stern of brow,Strong-armed, set high o'er those that hate me. . . .How?Woman, thy face is turned. Thy cheek is sweptWith pallor of strange tears. Dost not acceptGladly and of good will my benisons?

MEDEA.'Tis nothing. Thinking of these little ones. . . .

JASON.Take heart, then. I will guard them from all ill.

MEDEA.I do take heart. Thy word I never willMistrust. Alas, a woman's bosom bearsBut woman's courage, a thing born for tears.

JASON.What ails thee?--All too sore thou weepest there.

MEDEA.I was their mother! When I heard thy prayerOf long life for them, there swept over meA horror, wondering how these things shall be.But for the matter of my need that thouShould speak with me, part I have said, and nowWill finish.--Seeing it is the king's behestTo cast me out from Corinth . . . aye, and best,Far best, for me--I know it--not to stayLonger to trouble thee and those who swayThe realm, being held to all their house a foe. . . .Behold, I spread my sails, and meekly goTo exile. But our children. . . . Could this landBe still their home awhile: could thine own handBut guide their boyhood. . . . Seek the king, and prayHis pity, that he bid thy children stay!

JASON.He is hard to move. Yet surely 'twere well done.

MEDEA.Bid her--for thy sake, for a daughters boon. . . .

JASON.Well thought! Her I can fashion to my mind.

MEDEA.Surely. She is a woman like her kind. . . .Yet I will aid thee in thy labour; IWill send her gifts, the fairest gifts that lieIn the hands of men, things of the days of old,Fine robings and a carcanet of gold,By the boys' hands.--Go, quick, some handmaiden,And fetch the raiment.

(A handmaid goes into the house.)

Ah, her cup shall thenBe filled indeed! What more should woman crave,Being wed with thee, the bravest of the brave,And girt with raiment which of old the sireOf all my house, the Sun, gave, steeped in fire,To his own fiery race?

(The handmaid has returned bearing the Gifts.)

Come, children, liftWith heed these caskets. Bear them as your giftTo her, being bride and princess and of rightBlessed!--I think she will not hold them light.

JASON.Fond woman, why wilt empty thus thine handOf treasure? Doth King Creon's castle standIn stint of raiment, or in stint of gold?Keep these, and make no gift. For if she holdJason of any worth at all, I swearChattels like these will not weigh more with her.

MEDEA.Ah, chide me not! 'Tis written, gifts persuadeThe gods in heaven; and gold is stronger madeThan words innumerable to bend men's ways.Fortune is hers. God maketh great her days:Young and a crowned queen! And banishmentFor those two babes. . . . I would not gold were spent,But life's blood, ere that come.My children, goForth into those rich halls, and, bowing low,Beseech your father's bride, whom I obey,Ye be not, of her mercy, cast awayExiled: and give the caskets--above allMark this!--to none but her, to hold withalAnd keep. . . . Go quick! And let your mother knowSoon the good tiding that she longs for. . . . Go!

(She goes quickly into the house. JASON and the CHILDREN with their ATTENDANT depart.)