tage and taken up again the discarded
lyre_).

Jason, I know a song!

JASON (_not noticing her_).

And then the tower!
Know'st thou that tower upon the sea-strand there,
Where by thy father thou didst stand and weep,
What time I climbed the Argo's side, to sail
On that far journey? For thy falling tears
I had no eyes, my heart but thirsted deep
For deeds of prowess. Lo, there came a breeze
That loosed the wimple bound about thy locks
And dropped it on the waves. Straightway I sprang
Into the sea, and caught it up, to keep
In memory of thee when far away.

CREUSA. Hast thou it still?

JASON. Nay, think how many years
Are gone since then, and with them this, thy token,
Blown far by some stray breeze.

MEDEA. I know a song!

JASON (_ignoring her_).

Then didst thou cry to me, "Farewell, my brother!"

CREUSA. And now my cry is, "Brother, welcome home!"

MEDEA (_plaintively_).

Jason, I know a song.

CREUSA. She knows a song
That thou wert wont to sing. I pray thee, listen,
And she will sing it thee.

JASON. A song? Well, well!
Where was I, then?--From childhood I was wont
To dream and dream, and babble foolishly
Of things that were not and could never be.
That habit clung to me, and mocks me now.
For, as the youth lives ever in the future,
So the grown man looks alway to the past,
And, young or old, we know not how to live
Within the present. In my dreams I was
A mighty hero, girded for great deeds,
And had a loving wife, and gold, and much
Goodly possessions, and a peaceful home
Wherein slept babes of mine.

(_To_ MEDEA.)

What is it thou
Wouldst have with me?

CREUSA. She asks to sing a song
That thou in youth wert wont to sing to us.

JASON (_to_ MEDEA).

And _thou_ hast learned it?

MEDEA. I have done my best.

JASON. Go to! Dost think to give me back my youth,
Or happiness to win again for me,
By singing me some paltry, childish tune?
Give o'er! We will not part,