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!