MEDEA.
They are thine—they are all thine, certainly; he virtually commits a crime, who is an accessory before the fact, and who gladly partakes of the proceeds of a crime! Suppose then, that every one points to thy wife and brands her with infamy, thou art the only champion who is bound to defend her, and the only one bound to call her innocent! Whoever is acting in thy interests, in a criminal capacity, deserves, at least some claim for innocence at thy hands!
JASON.
Life is very distasteful, when one has cause to blush for it.
MEDEA.
Then life needs no longer to be retained, when the blushing fit supervenes!
JASON.
But, really, is it not rather desirable for thee to restrain the anger raging in thy heart, and to quiet thyself for the sake of the children?
MEDEA.
I renounce them—I resign them,—I utterly repudiate them! Will not Creusa furnish brothers for my children?
JASON.
A powerful queen will be the protectress of the children of an exile.
MEDEA.
Never shall such a miserable day as that arrive for me, when my illustrious progeny, the grandsons of a Phœbus, shall be huddled together with the ignoble descendants of a Sisyphus!
JASON.
Why, miserable woman, dost thou wish to drag me into exile with thyself? Go away, I beseech thee.
