118
THE ARGONAUTS
_ ACASTUS.
What folly masks what wickedness? Speak
on!
ALCESTIS.
I cannot speak.
JASON.
Speak thou, Medea!
MEDEA.
The child
Hath hewn her sire asunder, seething him
In herbs of sacred power.
ACASTUS.
By thy decree?
MEDEA.
Nay !
MADNESS.
| Safer is it to admit to these
Fools—charge the child with lack of fortune !
MEDEA.
Yea!
I bade her take a waxen shape, carved well
To look like the old man
ALCESTIS.
Nay! nay! the Sire
Himself we stole on sleeping
——
CHORUS.
Hewn apart !
Ai Ai!
MEDEA.
I said not thus !
ALCESTIS.
I am so wild,
Bewildered with these tears.
ACASTUS.
Enough of this !
It is the malice of that sorceress
Disguised —she well knows how.
CHORUS.
Thus, thus it is!
We know the witch’s cunning.
JASON.
Dogs and fools!
For this ye die.
MADNESS.
Nobility and love .
Urge my own sanction to support the wife !
JASON,
I bade my queen prepare this spell. Disputes
Your arrogance my kingship ?
ACASTUS.
Ay, indeed !
Now justice turns against thee, fickle jade
As fortune. Mine is a boy’s arm, but I
Advance against thee an impervious blade,
And give thee in thy throat and teeth the
lie ! |
JASON.
Boy’s bluster !
MADNESS.
Justice will be satisfied.
It will be best to flee!
JASON,
But what is this?
A sword? I scorn a sword. I scorn a boy.
Let none suppose me fearful !
MEDEA,
Give not back !
MADNESS.
It will be finer far to go away
As those disdaining aught but their own love.
MEDEA.
Ay ! let us leave these folk’s ingratitude,
My husband ! in thy love alone I rest.
This splendour and this toil alike resume
Our life from the long honeymoon of love
We wish
at heart.