Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/115

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When, taken by my guile, his daughters slew their sire,
Whose life could not return. All this I did for thee.
In quest of thine advantage have I quite forgot
Mine own.
And now, by all thy fond paternal hopes,
By thine established house, by all the monsters slain 480
For thee, by these my hands which I have ever held
To work thy will, by all the perils past, by heaven
And sea that witnessed at my wedlock, pity me!
Since thou art blessed, restore me what I lost for thee:
That countless treasure plundered from the swarthy tribes
Of India, which filled our goodly vaults with wealth, 485
And decked our very trees with gold. This costly store
I left for thee, my native land, my brother, sire,
My reputation—all; and with this dower I came.
If now to homeless exile thou dost send me forth,
Give back the countless treasures which I left for thee. 490
Jason: Though Creon in a vengeful mood would have thy life,
I moved him by my tears to grant thee flight instead.
Medea: I thought my exile punishment; 'tis now, I see,
A gracious boon!
Jason: Oh, flee while still the respite holds;
Provoke him not, for deadly is the wrath of kings. 495
Medea; Not so. 'Tis for Creüsa's love thou sayest this;
Thou wouldst remove the hated wanton once thy wife.
Jason: Dost thou reproach me with a guilty love?
Medea: Yea, that,
And murder too, and treachery.
Jason: But name me now,
If so thou canst, the crimes that I have done.
Medea: Thy crimes—
Whatever I have done.
Jason: Why then, in truth, thy guilt
Must all be mine, if all thy crimes are mine. 500
Medea: They are,
They are all thine; for who by sin advantage gains,
Commits the sin. All men proclaim thy wife defiled.
Do thou thyself protect her, and condone her sin.
Let her be guiltless in thine eyes who for thy gain