The Argonauts

ACTUS PRIMUS 11 JASON. Justice covers all. The Furies cannot follow if a man To his own heart be reconciled. They feed On his own bosom, nay! are born thereof. An alien clan he might elude, but these, Blood of his blood, he shall nor slay nor ’scape. My heart hath never pastured on regret Or pang for thee. My justice covers all. PELIAS. That one word “ justice” covers all indeed To thine own self. But think’st thou for a word To ruin many years of commonweal, And poison in an hour the politics Of states and thrones for—justice? Thou art just; But wisdom, but the life of innocents, The happiness of all, are better served By solemn thought and weighty counsel held. JASON. This is more simple. I abolish thee— One sword-sweep—and assume thy “ politics.” PELIAS. Thou art this “simple”! Will my liege allies (Willing with age and wisdom to accord) Not tremble at thy firebrand breed, not think Who hath in blood, an old man’s blood, made fast A perilous footing, may betimes discover More “ justice ”—and invasion footing it