Good? Ha, good?
'Tis a false lie! For know, thou old, gray man,
She will betray thee, hath betrayed thee, thee,
Ay, and herself! But thou didst curse her sore
"Know thou shalt be thrust forth
Like a beast of the wilderness," thou saidst;
"Friendless and homeless, with no place
To lay thy head! And he, for whom
Thou hast betrayed me, he will be
First to take vengeance on thee, first
To leave thee, thrust thee forth, and first
To slay thee!" See, thy words were true!
For here I stand, thrust forth indeed,
By all men like a monster shunned,
Deserted by the wretch for whom
I gave thee up, and with no place
To lay me down; alas! not dead;
Black thoughts of murder in my heart!—
Dost thou rejoice at thy revenge?
Com'st closer?—Children! O my babes!
[She rushes across to where the children lie sleeping, and shakes them violently.]
My children, did ye hear? Awake!
BOY (waking).
What wouldst thou?
MEDEA (pressing them fiercely to her).
Clasp your arms about me close!
BOY. I slept so soundly.
MEDEA. Slept? How could ye sleep?
Thought ye, because your mother watched you here,
That ye were safe? Ye ne'er were in the hands
Of any foe more dangerous! Sleep? With me,
Your mother, near? How could ye?—Go within,
And there ye shall find rest, indeed!
[The children sleepily mount the steps and disappear down the colonnade into the palace.]