KING. Knew"st not. Never think To "scape my wrath on this wise!
GORA. Dost thou think I shudder at thy wrath? Mine eyes have seen-- Woe"s me!--the children weltering in their blood, Slain by the hand of her that bore them, ay, Medea"s very hand! And after that, All other horrors are to me but jest!
KING. Creusa! Oh, my child, my pure, true child!
Say, did thy hand not shake, thou grisly dame, When to her side thou broughtest death?
GORA. I shed no tears for her! She had her due!
Why would she seek to s.n.a.t.c.h away the last Possession of my most unhappy mistress?
I weep for these my babes, whom I did love So tenderly, and whom I saw but now Butchered--and by their mother! Ah, I would Ye all were in your graves, and by your side That traitor that doth call himself Lord Jason!
I would I were in Colchis with Medea And these poor babes in safety! Would I ne"er Had seen your faces, or your city here, Whereon this grievous fate so justly falls!
KING. These insults thou wilt soon enough put by, When thou shalt feel my heavy hand of doom!
But is it certain that my child is dead?
So many cry her dead, though I can find None that did see her fall! Is there no way To "scape the fire? And can the flames wax strong So quickly? See how slow they lick and curl Along the fallen rafters of my house!
Do ye not see? And yet ye say she"s dead?
An hour ago she stood before mine eyes A blooming flower, instinct with happy life-- And now she"s dead! Nay, I cannot believe, And will not! "Gainst my will I turn mine eyes Now here, now there, and cannot but believe That now, or now, or now at least, she must Appear in all her stainless purity And beauty, glide in safety to me here Through those black, smoldering ruins!--Who was by?
Who saw her perish?--Thou?--Quick, speak!--Nay, then, Roll not thine eyes in horror! Tell thy tale, E"en though it kill me! Is she dead, indeed?
A SLAVE-WOMAN.
Dead!
KING. And thou saw"st it?
SLAVE-WOMAN.
With my very eyes!
Saw how the flames leaped forth from out that box Of gold, and caught her flesh--
KING. Hold! Hold! Enough!
This woman saw it! Creusa is no more!
Creusa! Oh, my daughter, my dear child!
Once, many years agone, she burnt her hand Against the altar; she was but a child, And cried aloud with pain. I rushed to her And caught her in my arms, and to my lips.
I put her poor scorched fingers, blowing hard To ease the burning pain. The little maid E"en through her bitter tears smiled up at me And, softly sobbing, whispered in my ear, "It is not much! I do not mind the pain!"
G.o.ds! That she should be burned to death? Oh, G.o.ds!
[_He turns fiercely upon_ GORA.]
And as for thee,--if I should plunge my sword Ten, twenty times, up to the hilt, clean through Thy body, would that bring my daughter back?
Or, could I find that hideous witch-wife--Stay!
Where went she, that hath robbed me of my child?
I"ll shake an answer straight from out thy mouth, Ay, though thy soul come with it, if thou"lt not Declare to me this instant where she"s gone!
GORA. I know not--and I care no whit to know!
Let her go forth alone to her sure doom.
Why dost thou tarry? Slay me! For I have No wish to live!
KING. We"ll speak of that anon; But first I"ll have thy answer!
JASON (_behind the scenes_).
Where"s Medea?
Bring her before my face! Medea!
[_He enters suddenly with drawn sword._]
Nay, They told me she was caught! Where is she, then?
(_To_ GORA.)
Ha! Thou here? Where"s thy mistress?
GORA. Fled away!
JASON. Hath she the children?
GORA. Nay!
JASON. Then they are--
GORA. Dead!
Yea, dead! thou smooth-tongued traitor, dead, I say!
She sought to put them where thine eyes could never Take joy in them again; but, knowing well No spot on earth so sacred was but thou To find them wouldst break in, she hid them, safe Forever, in the grave! Ay, stand aghast, And stare upon the pavement! Thou canst never Recall thy babes to life! They"re gone for aye!
And, for their sake, I"m glad! No, I am not, For their sake--but because thou dost despair, That, smooth-tongued traitor, glads my heart indeed!
Was it not thou that drove her to this crime, And thou, false King, with thine hypocrisy?
She was a n.o.ble creature-but ye drew Your nets of shameful treachery too close About her, till, in wild despair, cut off From all escape else, she o"erleaped your snares, And made thy crown, the kingly ornament Of royal heads, to be the awful tool Of her unnatural crime! Ay, wring your hands, But wring them for your own most grievous fate!
(_Turning to the_ KING.)
Why sought thy child another woman"s bed?
(_Turning to_ JASON.)
Why must thou steal her, bring her here to Greece, If thou didst never love her? If thou didst Right truly love her, why, then, thrust her forth?
Though others cry her murderess, yea, though I Myself must name her so, yet none the less Ye have but met your just deserts!--For me, I have no wish to live another day!
Two of my babes are dead, the third I needs Must hate forever! Take me, lead me hence And slay me, if ye will! Fair hopes I have At last, of justice in that other world, Now I have seen Heaven"s vengeance on you hurled!
[_She is led away by some of the _KING"s _attendants._]
(_Pause._)
KING. Nay, if I wronged her,--by the G.o.ds in Heaven I swear I meant it not!--Now haste we all To search these smoking ruins for what trace Remains of my poor girl, that we may lay Her broken, bruised frame to rest at last In Earth"s kind bosom!
[_He turns to _JASON.]
But, for thee--straightway Thou must go forth, where"er thy feet may choose To carry thee! Pollution such as thine Spells woe for all about thee, as I"ve proved.
Oh, had I never seen, never rescued thee, Ne"er acted friendship"s part and welcomed thee Within my palace! And, for thanks, thou took"st My daughter from me! Go, lest thou shouldst take As well the only comfort left me now-- To weep her memory!