Page:Medea (Webster 1868).djvu/42

 Forced it upon thee to preserve my life.

But not too nicely will I count our scores:

For how far thou didst help me 'twas not ill.

But in all truth thou hast for saving me

Gained far beyond thy giving: as I'll show.

First then, instead of thy barbarian land,

Thou dwellst in Hellas, and knowst justice now,

And the help of laws not measured by mere force:

And more, now all the Hellenes know thee wise,

And thou hast glory. But, hadst thou still dwelt

In those outmost shores, there were no word of thee.

And be it not mine to heap my house with gold,

Nor to sing sweeter strains than Orpheus,

If such my fortune make me not renowned.

So much then of thy troubles for my sake

I speak: since thou hast made this war of words.

But what thou twitst me with, my royal marriage,

In this I'll show thee, first that I was wise,

Then temperate, and to thee greatly kind

And to my boys. Nay, patience, hear me out

When I had come here from the Iolchian land,

Bringing with me a train of hindering cares,