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arise 'twixt those who are near and dear。
JASON
Needs must I now； it seems； turn orator； and； like a good helmsman
on a ship with close…reefed sails； weather that wearisome tongue of
thine。 Now； I believe； since thou wilt exaggerate thy favours； that to
Cypri； alone of gods or men I owe the safety of my voyage。 Thou hast a
subtle wit enough； yet were it a hateful thing for me to say that
the Love…god constrained thee by his resistless shaft to save my life。
However； I will not reckon this too nicely； 'twas kindly done；
however thou didst serve me。 Yet for my safety hast thou received more
than ever thou gavest； as I will show。 First； thou dwellest in Hellas；
instead of thy barbarian land； and hast learnt what justice means
and how to live by law； not by the dictates of brute force； and all
the Hellenes recognize thy cleverness； and thou hast gained a name；
whereas； if thou hadst dwelt upon the confines of the earth； no tongue
had mentioned thee。 Give me no gold within my halls； nor skill to sing
a fairer strain than ever Orpheus sang； unless there…with my fame be
spread abroad！ So much I say to thee about my own toils； for 'twas
thou didst challenge me to this retort。 As for the taunts thou
urgest against my marriage with the princess； I will prove to thee；
first； that I am prudent herein； next chastened in my love； and last
powerful friend to thee and to thy sons； only hold thy peace。 Since
I have here withdrawn from Iolcos with many a hopeless trouble at my
back； what happier device could I； an exile； frame than marriage
with the daughter of the king？ 'Tis not because I loathe thee for my
wife…the thought that rankles in thy heart； 'tis not because I am
smitten with desire for a new bride； nor yet that I am eager to vie
with others in begetting many children； for those we have are quite
enough； and I do not complain。 Nay； 'tis that we…and this is most
important…may dwell in comfort； instead of suffering want （for well
I know that every whilom friend avoids the poor）； and that I might
rear my sons as doth befit my house； further； that I might be the
father of brothers for the children thou hast borne； and raise these
to the same high rank； uniting the family in one；…to my lasting bliss。
Thou； indeed； hast no need of more children； but me it profits to help
my present family by that which is to be。 Have I miscarried here？
Not even thou wouldest say so unless a rival's charms rankled in thy
bosom。 No； but you women have such strange ideas； that you think all
is well so long as your married life runs smooth； but if some
mischance occur to ruffle your love； all that was good and lovely erst
you reckon as your foes。 Yea； men should have begotten children from
some other source； no female race existing； thus would no evil ever
have fallen on mankind。
LEADER
This speech； O Jason； hast thou with specious art arranged； but
yet I think…albeit in speaking I am indiscreet…that thou hast sinned
in thy betrayal of thy wife。
MEDEA
No doubt I differ from the mass of men on many points； for； to
my mind； whoso hath skill to fence with words in an unjust cause；
incurs the heaviest penalty； for such an one； confident that he can
cast a decent veil of words o'er his injustice； dares to practise
it； and yet he is not so very clever after all。 So do not thou put
forth thy specious pleas and clever words to me now； for one word of
mine will lay thee low。 Hadst thou not had a villain's heart； thou
shouldst have gained my consent； then made this match； instead of
hiding it from those who loved thee。
JASON
Thou wouldest have lent me ready aid； no doubt； in this
proposal； if had told thee of my marriage； seeing that not even now
canst thou restrain thy soul's hot fury。
MEDEA
This was not what restrained thee； but thine eye was turned
towards old age； and a foreign wife began to appear a shame to thee。
JASON
Be well assured of this： 'twas not for the woman's sake I wedded
the king's daughter； my present wife； but； as I have already told
thee； I wished to insure thy safety and to be the father of royal sons
bound by blood to my own children…a bulwark to our house。
MEDEA
May that prosperity； whose end is woe； ne'er be mine； nor such
wealth as would ever sting my heart！
JASON
Change that prayer as I will teach thee； and thou wilt show more
wisdom。 Never let happiness appear in sorrow's guise； nor； when thy
fortune smiles； pretend she frowns！
MEDEA
Mock on； thou hast a place of refuge； I am alone； an exile soon to
be。
JASON
Thy own free choice was this； blame no one else。
MEDEA
What did I do？ Marry； then betray thee？
JASON
Against the king thou didst invoke an impious curse。
MEDEA
On thy house too maybe I bring the curse。
JASON
Know this； I will no further dispute this point with thee。 But； if
thou wilt of my fortune somewhat take for the children or thyself to
help thy exile； say on； for I am ready to grant it with ungrudging
hand； yea and to bend tokens to my friends elsewhere who shall treat
thee well。 If thou refuse this offer； thou wilt do a foolish deed； but
if thou cease from anger the greater will be thy gain。
MEDEA
I will have naught to do with friends of thine； naught will I
receive of thee； offer it not to me； a villain's gifts can bring no
blessing。
JASON
At least I call the gods to witness； that I am ready in all things
to serve thee and thy children； but thou dost scorn my favours and
thrustest thy friends stubbornly away； wherefore thy lot will be
more bitter still。
MEDEA
Away！ By love for thy young bride entrapped； too long thou
lingerest outside her chamber； go wed； for； if God will； thou shalt
have such a marriage as thou wouldst fain refuse。
（JASON goes out。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
When in excess and past all limits Love doth come； he brings not
glory or repute to man； but if the Cyprian queen in moderate might
approach； no goddess is so full of charm as she。 Never； O never；
lady mine； discharge at me from thy golden bow a shaft invincible；
in passion's venom dipped。
antistrophe 1
On me may chastity； heaven's fairest gift； look with a favouring
eye； never may Cypris； goddess dread； fasten on me a temper to
dispute； or restless jealousy； smiting my soul with mad desire for
unlawful love； but may she hallow peaceful married life and shrewdly
decide whom each of us shall wed。
strophe 2
O my country； O my own dear home！ God grant I may never be an
outcast from my city； leading that cruel helpless life； whose every
day is misery。 Ere that may I this life complete and yield to death；
ay； death； for there is no