ace and protection."

JASON. And his answer?--Speak!

RUSTIC. He comes, my lord, to meet thee. All this folk
Make pious offering to Poseidon here
Upon the seashore. Soon in festal train
They come with garlands and fair gifts, the king
Leading his daughter by the hand. 'Tis then,
As they pass by, that he will speak with thee.

JASON. Thou hast done well. I thank thee.

MEDEA (_coming up to him_).

Jason, hail!

JASON. Hail to thee, too!

(_To the slave._)

Go, thou, and all the others,
And pluck green branches from the budding trees
To mark you suppliants. 'Tis the custom here.
And keep a quiet, peaceful mien. Dost hear?
Now go.

[_They depart._]

MEDEA. Thou'rt full of thought?

JASON. Ay, full.

MEDEA. Thou givest
Thyself no rest.

JASON. A fugitive--and rest?
There is no rest for such, but only flight.

MEDEA. Last night thou didst not close thine eyes in sleep,
But wand'redst forth in the murky night, alone.

JASON. I love the night; the sunlight hurts my eyes.

MEDEA. And thou hast sent a message to the king.
Will he receive us kindly?

JASON. That I wait
To hear.

MEDEA. He is thy friend?

JASON. He was.

MEDEA. Then sure
His heart will soften.

JASON. Even the kindest men
Shun friendship with the accurst. And thou dost know
How all the world doth flee us, since the death
Of my false uncle, Pelias, whom some god
In devilish sport caused to be strangled. Thus
The people whisper that I slew him, I,
Thy husband, from that land of magic come.
Dost thou not know this?

MEDEA. Yea.

JASON. Here's cause enough
To wake and wander all the dark night through.--
But what hath brought thee forth, before the sun
Is up? What seek'st thou in this darkling hour?
Calling old friends from Colchis?

MEDEA. Nay.

JASON. Speak truth!

MEDEA. I say, I am not.

JASON. And I say to thee,
Better for thee if thou forget all such.
Pluck no more herbs, brew no more poison-dr