MEDEA (wildly).

They are mine!

JASON.  Men call them by their father’s name; and that
             Shall never grace barbarians!  Here in Greece
             I’ll rear them, to be Greeks!

MEDEA.  To be despised
             And scorned by offspring of thy later bed? 
             I tell thee, they are mine!

JASON.  Nay, have a care,
             Lest thou shouldst turn my pity unto hate! 
             And keep a quiet mien, since that is all
             Can soften thy hard fate.

MEDEA.  To prayers and tears
             I needs must humble me!  My husband!—­No,
             For that thou art no more!  Beloved!—­No,
             For that, thou never wert!  Man, shall I say? 
             He is no man who breaks his solemn oath! 
             Lord Jason!—­Pah!  It is a traitor’s name! 
             How shall I name thee?  Devil!—­Gentle!  Good! 
             Give me my babes, and let me go in peace!

JASON.  I cannot, I have told thee, cannot do it.

MEDEA.  Hard heart!  Thou tak’st the husband from the wife,
             And robb’st the mother of her babes as well?

JASON.  Nay, then, that thou may’st know how I have yet
             Some kindness left, take with thee when thou goest
             One of the babes.

MEDEA.  But one?  Say, only one?

JASON.  Beware thou ask too much!  The little I
             Have just now granted, oversteps the right.

MEDEA.  Which shall it be?

JASON.  We’ll leave the choice to them,
             The babes themselves; and whichsoever will,
             Him thou shalt take.

MEDEA.  O thanks a thousand times,
             Thou gentle, kindly man!  He lies who calls
             Thee traitor!

[The KING_ appears at the door._]

JASON.  Come, my lord!

KING.  Is’t settled, then?

JASON.  She goes; and I have granted her to take
             One of the children with her.

(To one of the slaves who has accompanied the KING.)

Hasten swift
And bring the babes before us!

KING.  What is this? 
             Here they shall stay, ay, both of them!

MEDEA.  This gift
             That in mine eyes so small is, seemeth it
             So great a boon to thee?  Hast thou no fear
             Of Heaven’s fell anger, harsh and violent man?

KING.  The gods deal harshly with such wanton crimes
             As thou hast done!

MEDEA.  Yea, but they see the cause
             That drove us to such deeds!

KING.  ’Tis wicked thoughts,
             Deep in the heart, beget such crimes as thine!