JASON.
Thy children? Never!
MEDEA (wildly).
They are mine!
JASON. Men call them by their father's name; and that
Shall never grace barbarians! Here in Greece
I'll rear them, to be Greeks!
MEDEA. To be despised
And scorned by offspring of thy later bed?
I tell thee, they are mine!
JASON. Nay, have a care,
Lest thou shouldst turn my pity unto hate!
And keep a quiet mien, since that is all
Can soften thy hard fate.
MEDEA. To prayers and tears
I needs must humble me! My husband!—No,
For that thou art no more! Beloved!—No,
For that, thou never wert! Man, shall I say?
He is no man who breaks his solemn oath!
Lord Jason!—Pah! It is a traitor's name!
How shall I name thee? Devil!—Gentle! Good!
Give me my babes, and let me go in peace!
JASON. I cannot, I have told thee, cannot do it.
MEDEA. Hard heart! Thou tak'st the husband from the wife,
And robb'st the mother of her babes as well?