hildren!

KING (_to_ CREUSA).

Lead them back again
Into the palace! 'Tis not meet they hate
The mother that did bear them.

[CREUSA _moves away with the children._]

MEDEA. Woe is me!
They flee! My children flee before my face!

KING (_to_ JASON).

Come we away! To weep for what must be
Is fruitless!

[_They depart._]

MEDEA. O my babes, my little babes!

GORA _enters quickly._

GORA. Come, calm thyself, nor grant to these thy foes
The joy of seeing how they've conquered thee!

MEDEA (_flinging herself upon the ground_).

Conquered I am, at last, made nothing worth,
Trampled beneath my foes' triumphant feet!
They flee me, flee me! Mine own children flee me!

GORA (_bending over her_).

Thou must not die!

MEDEA. Nay, let me die! My babes,
My little babes!

ACT IV

_The outer court of _CREON'S _palace, as in the preceding act. It is
twilight._ MEDEA lies prone upon the steps that lead to her apartments;
_GORA_ is standing before her._

GORA. Up, Medea, speak!
Why liest thou there so silent, staring
Blindly before thee? Rise, and speak!
O, help our sore distress!

MEDEA. My babes! My babes!

GORA. Forth must we flee ere night shall fall,
And already the twilight draweth down.
Up! Rouse thee, and gird thee for flight!
Swiftly they come to slay!

MEDEA. Alas, my children!

GORA. Nay, up! I say, unhappy one,
Nor kill me with thy cries of woe!
Hadst thou but heeded when I warned,
Still should we be at home
In Colchis, safe; thy kinsmen yet
Were living; all were well with us.
Rise up! What use are tears? Come, rise!

[MEDEA _drags herself half up and kneels on the steps._]

MEDEA. 'Twas so I knelt, 'twas so I lay
And stretched my hands for pity out
To mine own children; begged and wept
And prayed for one, for only one
Of my dear children! Death itself
Were not so bitter, as to leave
One of them here!--But to have none--!
And neither came! They turned away
With terror on their baby lips,
And fled