To ARGONAUTAE
Bend thou a suppliant at my awful knee,
And thus—perhaps—at least get grace of life.
PELIAS.
And if I say I will not yield the throne?
JASON.
I am of force to take it.
PELIAS.
Are my friends
Not faithful? Who draws sword for Pelias?
MEN.
Shall we not slay thee this presumptuous fool?
JASON.
I am of force, I say. I wrestled once
From sunrise to sunset with Heracles,
Great Heracles! Not till the full moon rose
Availed his might to lay me prone. Beware!
Ye weakling knaves! I am of force, I say.
PELIAS.
Rebellious youth, the justice of thy cause
And force I will admit—where force goes far.
But think’st thou wait no wild Erinnyes
For thee a guest in these my halls, for thee
Whose hands are dipped not yet in blood so deep
As to have murdered an old man, and him
Thy father’s brother?