MEDEA.  All causes else thou count’st for naught?

KING.  With stern
             And iron justice mine own self I rule,
             And so, with right, judge others.

MEDEA.  In the act
             Of punishing my crimes, thou dost commit
             A worse thyself!

JASON.  She shall not say of me
             That I am all hard-hearted; wherefore I
             One of the babes have promised her, to be
             His mother’s dearest comfort in her woe.

CREUSA enters with the children.

CREUSA.  One told me that these babes were summoned here. 
             What will ye have?  What deeds are now afoot? 
             Behold how they do love me, though they were
             But now brought here to Corinth!  ’Tis as if
             Long years already we had seen and known
             Each one the other.  ’Twas my gentle words
             That won them; for, poor babes, they were not used
             To loving treatment; and their sore distress,
             Their loneliness did straightway win my heart.

MEDEA.  One of the babes goes with me!

CREUSA.  What is this? 
             Leaves us?

KING.  E’en so.  It is their father’s will!

(To MEDEA,_ who stands in deep meditation._)

Here are thy children.  Let them make their choice!

MEDEA (wildly).

The babes!  My children!  Ay, ’tis they, in sooth! 
The one thing left me in this bitter world! 
Ye gods, forget those dark and wicked thoughts
That late I harbored; grant me both my babes,
Yea, both, and I’ll go forth from out this land
Praising your mercy!  Yea, I’ll e’en forgive
My husband there, and her—­No!  Her I’ll not
Forgive—­nor Jason, either!  Come to me,
Come here, my babes!—­Why stand ye silent there
And cling upon the breast of my false foe? 
Ah, could ye know how she hath humbled me,
Ye would arm your tiny hands, curve into claws
Those little, weakling fingers, rend and tear
That soft and tender form, whereto ye cling
So lovingly!—­Wouldst hold my children back
From coming to me?  Let them go!

CREUSA.  In sooth,
             Unhappy woman, I restrain them not!

MEDEA.  Not with thy hand, I know, but with thy glance,
             Thy false, deceitful face, that seems all love,
             And holds my husband from me, too!  Thou laugh’st? 
             I promise thee thou’lt weep hot tears in days
             To come!

CREUSA.  Now may the gods chastise me if I had
             A thought of laughing!

KING.  Woman, break not forth
             In insults and in anger!  Do what thou
             Hast yet to do, or go!