Page:Medea (Webster 1868).djvu/44

 And there should be no woman tribe at all;

So would there be no mischief in the world.

Jason, these reasons hast thou tricked out well;

And yet, meseems, though I speak to thy distaste,

Thou dost not justly to betray thy wife.

Sure many ways from many men I differ.

For him who does wrong and is wise to gloze it

I hold worth worser doom. For making sure

He'll show wrong gracious with his tongue, he's bold

To every crime: yet he's not over wise—

As thou art not. Be no more specious with me

And cunning-phrased: one word o'ertopples thee;

It would have fitted thee, wert thou no knave,

To make this marriage with my won consent,

Instead of keeping secrecy from friends.

Rarely wouldst thou have humoured the design,

Had I shown thee the marriage, thou too weak

Even now to put away thy heart's mad rage.