when Fortune smiled;
Now, when he's compassed round by stormy waves
Of evil fortune, it shall come to pass.
Ay, she shall be thy wife, and thou shalt stay
Here, with thy father. And I will myself
Make answer for it to the Amphictyons.
Who now will cry him guilty, when the king
Hath sworn him free from blame, and given him
The hand of his own daughter?

(_To the_ HERALD.)

Take my words
To those that sent thee hither. Go in peace!
The blessing of the gods be on thy head!

[_The_ HERALD _goes._]

KING (_turning to_ MEDEA).

This woman, whom the wilderness spewed up
To be a bane to thee and all good men,
Her that hath wrought the crimes men lay to thee,
Her do I banish forth from out this land
And all its borders. Death shall be her lot
And portion, if the morrow find her here!

(_To_ MEDEA.)

Depart from out my fathers' pious town,
And make the air thou poisonest pure again!

MEDEA. Is that thy sentence? Falls it, then, on me,
And me alone? And yet I say to thee,
O king, I did it not!

KING. Nay, thou hast done
Enough of evil since he saw thee first.
Away with thee from out my house and town!

MEDEA (_turning to _JASON).

Say, must I go? So be it--but follow me!
We bear the blame together, let us bear
The punishment as well! Dost thou not know
The ancient proverb: "None shall die alone?"
One home for both, one body--and one death!
Long since, when Death stared grimly in our eyes,
We sware that oath. Now keep it! Follow me!

JASON. Nay, touch me not! Begone from me, thou curse
Of all my days, who hast robbed me of my life
And happiness, from whom, when first mine eyes
Met thine, I shrank and shuddered, though I thought
Those fearful struggles in my very soul
Were but the signs of rash and foolish love.
Hence, to that wilderness that cradled thee!
Back to that bloody folk whose child thou art
In very thought and deed! But, ere thou go,
Give back to me what thou hast stol'n away,