KING.  Nay, I have sworn
             And I will keep my oath.  But this thy wife—­

JASON.  Hear me, O king, before thou end that speech! 
             Needs must thou take us both, or none at all! 
             I were a happy man,—­ay, born anew—­
             Were she but gone forever.  But no, no! 
             I must protect her—­for she trusted me.

KING.  These magic arts she knows—­’tis them I fear. 
             The power to injure, spells the will to do it. 
             Besides, these strange, suspicious deeds of hers—­
             These are not all her guilt.

JASON.  Give her one chance. 
             Then, if she stay not quiet, hound her forth,
             Hunt her, and slay her, me, and these my babes. 
             Yet, till that time, I pray thee let her try
             If she can live at peace with this thy folk. 
             This boon I crave of thee by mightiest Zeus,
             The god of strangers—­ay, and call upon
             The ancient bond of friendship that, long since,
             Our fathers formed, mine in Iolcos, thine
             In Corinth here.  On that long-vanished day
             They dreamed there might fall need of such a tie. 
             And, now that need is here, do thou thy part
             And succor me, lest in like evil pass
             Thou make the same request, and meet denial.

KING.  ‘Tis the gods’ will; I yield, against my judgment,
             And she shall stay.  But, look you, if she show
             One sign that those wild ways are not forgot,
             I drive her forth from out this city straight
             And yield her up to those who seek her life! 
             Here in this meadow, where I found thee first,
             A sacred altar shall be raised, to Zeus,
             The god of strangers, consecrate and to
             Thy murdered uncle Pelias’ bloody shades. 
             Here will we kneel together and pray the gods
             To send their blessing on thy coming here,
             And turn to mercy that which bodes us ill.—­
             Now to my royal city follow swift.

[He turns to his attendants, who approach.]

See my behests are faithfully obeyed.

[As they turn to depart, the curtain falls.]

ACT II

A chamber in CREON’S royal palace at Corinth.  CREUSA is discovered seated, while MEDEA occupies a low stool before her, and holds a lyre in her arm.  She is clad in the Greek fashion.

CREUSA.  Now pluck this string—­the second—­this one here.

MEDEA.  So, this way?

CREUSA.  Nay, thy fingers more relaxed.