Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/131

Rh Enter Jason.

Summoned I come: for, though thou be my foe,

This grace thou shalt not miss; but I will hear

What new thing, lady, thou dost wish of me.

Jason, I ask thee to forgive the words

Late-spoken, and to bear with that my mood:

Well mayst thou, for remembrance of old loves.

Now have I called myself to account, and railed

Upon myself—"Wretch, wherefore am I mad?

And wherefore rage against good counsellors,

And am at feud with rulers of the land,

And with my lord, who works my veriest good,

Wedding a royal house, to raise up brethren

Unto my sons? Shall I not cease from wrath?

What aileth me, when the Gods proffer boons?

Have I not children? Know I not that we

Are exiles from our own land, lacking friends?"

Thus musing, was I ware that I had nursed

Folly exceeding, anger without cause.

Now then I praise thee; wise thou seem'st to me

In gaining us this kinship, senseless I,

Who in these counsels should have been thine ally,

Have furthered all, have decked the bridal couch,

And joyed to minister unto the bride.

But we are—women: needs not harsher word.

Yet evil shouldst thou not for evil render,

Nor pit against my folly folly of thine.

I yield, confessing mine unwisdom then,

But unto better counsels now am come.

Children, my children, hither: leave the house;