Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/109

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And man's effective strength; while in thy reckless heart
No thought of reputation dwells to check thy hand.
Then go thou hence and purge our kingdom of its stain;
Bear hence thy deadly poisons; free the citizens 270
From fear; abiding in some other land than this,
Outwear the patience of the gods.
Medea: Thou bid'st me flee?
Then give me back my bark wherein to flee. Restore
The partner of my flight! Why should I flee alone?
I came not thus. Or if avenging war thou fear'st,
Then banish both the culprits; why distinguish me 275
From Jason? 'Twas for him old Pelias was o'ercome;
For him the flight, the plunder of my father's realm,
My sire forsaken and my infant brother slain,
And all the guilt that love suggests; 'twas all for him.
Deep dyed in sin am I, but on my guilty soul 280
The sin of profit lieth not.
Creon: Why seek delay
By speech? Too long thou tarriest.
Medea: I go, but grant
This last request: let not the mother's fall o'erwhelm
Her hapless babes.
Creon: Then go in peace. For I to them
A father's place will fill, and take them to my heart.
Medea: Now by the fair hopes born upon this wedding day, 285
And by thy hopes of lasting sovereignty secure
From changeful fate's assault, I pray thee grant from flight
A respite brief, while I upon my children's lips
A mother's kiss imprint, perchance the last.
Creon: A time
Thou seek'st for treachery. 290
Medea: What fraud can be devised
In one short hour?
Creon: To those on mischief bent, be sure.
The briefest time is fraught with mischief's fatal power.
Medea: Dost thou refuse me, then, one little space for tears?
Creon: Though deep-ingrafted fear would fain resist thy plea,
A single day I'll give thee ere my sentence holds. 295
Medea: Too gracious thou. But let my respite further shrink,