ver, till thou--

KING. Rise, I say.

[_Jason rises to his feet._]

KING. So, from thine Argo-quest thou art returned?

JASON. 'Tis scarce one moon since I set foot on land.

KING. What of the golden prize ye sought? Is't won?

JASON. The king who set the task--he hath it now.

KING. Why art thou banished from thy fatherland?

JASON. They drove me forth--homeless I wander now.

KING. Ay, but why banished? I must see this clear.

JASON. They charged me with a foul, accursed crime.

KING. Truly or falsely? Answer me this first.

JASON. A false charge! By the gods I swear, 'tis false!

KING (_swiftly grasping_ JASON's _hand and leading him forward_).

Thine uncle perished?

JASON. Yea, he died.

KING. But how?

JASON. Not at my hands! As I do live and breathe,
I swear that bloody deed was none of mine!

KING. Yet Rumor names thee Murderer, and the word
Through all the land is blown.

JASON. Then Rumor lies,
And all that vile land with it!

KING. Dream'st thou then
I can believe thy single tale, when all
The world cries, "Liar!"

JASON. 'Tis the word of one
Thou knowest well, against the word of strangers.

KING. Say, then, how fell the king?

JASON. 'Twas his own blood,
The children of his flesh, that did the deed.

KING. Horror of horrors! Surely 'tis not true?
It cannot be!

JASON. The gods know it is truth.
Give ear, and I will tell thee how it chanced.

KING. Nay, hold. Creusa comes. This is no tale
For gentle ears. I fain would shield the maid
From knowledge of such horror. (_Aloud._) For the moment
I know enough. We'll hear the rest anon.
I will believe thee worthy while I can.

CREUSA (_coming up to _KING CREON).

Hast heard his tale? He's innocent, I know.

KING. Go, take his hand. Thou canst without disgrace.

CREUSA. Didst doubt him, father? Nay, I never did!
My heart told me these tales were never true,
These hideous stories that men tell of him.
Gentle he was, and kind; how could he, then,
Show him so base and cruel? Couldst thou know
How they have slandere