despite; but as to Medea--for that was the cause of strife--that they
should give her in ward to Leto's daughter apart from the throng, until
some one of the kings that dispense justice should utter his doom,
whether she must return to her father's home or follow the chieftains to
the land of Hellas.

Now when the maiden had mused upon all this, sharp anguish shook her
heart unceasingly; and quickly she called forth Jason alone apart from
his comrades, and led him aside until they were far away, and before his
face uttered her speech all broken with sobs:

"What is this purpose that ye are now devising about me, O son of Aeson?
Has thy triumph utterly cast forgetfulness upon thee, and reckest thou
nothing of all that thou spakest when held fast by necessity? whither
are fled the oaths by Zeus the suppliants' god, whither are fled thy
honied promises? for which in no seemly wise, with shameless will, I
have left my country, the glories of my home and even my parents--things
that were dearest to me; and far away all alone I am borne over the sea
with the plaintive kingfishers because of thy trouble, in order that I
might save thy life in fulfilling the contests with the oxen and the
earthborn men. Last of all the fleece--when the matter became known, it
was by my folly thou didst win it; and a foul reproach have I poured on
womankind. Wherefore I say that as thy child, thy bride and thy sister,
I follow thee to the land of Hellas. Be ready to stand by me to the end,
abandon me not left forlorn of thee when thou dost visit the kings. But
only save me; let justice and right, to which we have both agreed, stand
firm; or else do thou at once shear through this neck with the sword,
that I may gain the guerdon due to my mad passion. Poor wretch! if the
king, to whom you both commit your cruel covenant, doom me to belong to
my brother. How shall I come to my father's sight? Will it be with a
good name? What revenge, what heavy calamity shall I not endure in agony
for the terrible deeds I have done? And wilt thou win the return that
thy heart desires? Never may Zeus' bride, the queen of all, in whom thou
dost glory, bring that to pass. Mayst thou some time remember me when
thou art racked with anguish; may the fleece like a dream vanish into
the nether darkness on the wings of the wind! And may my avenging Furies
forthwith drive thee from thy country, for all that I have suffered
through thy cruelty! These curses will not be al