KING. Peace! Look, she comes
Who still doth vex us. But our task is brief.

MEDEA _comes out of the palace, attended by_ GORA.

MEDEA. What wouldst thou with me?

KING. I did send thee late
Some slaves to speak my will, whom thou didst drive
With harsh words forth, and didst demand to hear
From mine own lips whate'er I had to say,
What my commands and what thou hadst to do.

MEDEA. Say on!

KING. Naught strange or new have I to tell.
I would but speak once more the doom I set
Upon thy head, and add thereto that thou
Must forth today.

MEDEA. And why today?

KING. The threats
That thou halt uttered 'gainst my daughter's life--
For those against mine own I do not care:
The savage moods that thou of late hast shown,
All these do warn me how thy presence here
Bodes ill. Wherefore, today thou must begone!

MEDEA. Give me my babes, and I will go--perhaps!

KING. Nay, no "Perhaps!" Thou goest! But the babes
Stay here!

MEDEA. How? Mine own babes? But I forget
To whom I speak. Let me have speech with him,
My husband, standing there.

KING. Nay, hear her not!

MEDEA (_to _JASON).

I pray thee, let me speak with thee!

JASON. Well, well,
So be it, then, that thou may'st see I have
No fear of any words of thine to me.

(_To the_ KING.)

Leave us, my lord! I'll hear what she would say.

KING. I go, but I am fearful. She is sly
And cunning! [_He departs._]

MEDEA. So, he's gone! No stranger now
Is here to vex us, none to come between
Husband and wife, and, what our hearts do feel,
That we can speak out clear.--Say first, my lord,
What are thy plans, thy wishes?

JASON. Thou dost know.

MEDEA. I guess thy will, but all thy secret thoughts
I know not.

JASON. Be contented with the first,
For they are what decide.

MEDEA. Then I must go?

JASON. Go!

MEDEA. And today?

JASON. Today!

MEDEA. And thou canst stand
So calm before me and speak such a word,
Nor drop thine eyes for shame, nor