440
SENECA'S TRAGEDIES.
[Lines 537—566
Errare fulmen. JAS. Sana meditari incipe,
Et placida fare, fi quid ex foceri domo
Poteft fugam levare, folamen pete.
MED. CoEtemnere animus regias, ut fcis, opes 540
Poteft, foletque: liberos tantum fugae
Habere comites liceat, in quorum finu
Lacrimas profundam. te novi nati manent.
JAS. Parere precibus cupere me, fateor, tuis;
Pietas vetat. namque iftud ut poffim pati, 545
Non ipfe memet cogat & rex, & focer.
Hsec caufa vilse eft, hoc perufti pefloris
Curis !evamen. fpiritu citius queam
Carere, membris, luce, med. Sic natos amat?
Bene eft. tenetur. vulneri patuit locus. 550
Suprema certe liceat abeuntem loqui
Mandata. liceat ultimum amplexum dare.
Gratum eft & illud. Voce jam extrema peto,
Ne fi qua nofter dubius effudit dolor,
Maneant in animo verba: melioris tibi 555
Memoria noftri fubeat. hsec ira data
Obliterentur. jAS. Omnia ex animo expuli.
Precorque, & ipfa fervidam ut mentem regas,
Placideque tracles. miferias lenit quies.
MED. Difceffit. itan' eft? vadis oblitus mei, 560
Et tot meorum facinorum? excidimus tibi?
Nunquam excidemus. hoc age, omnes advoca
Vires & artes. ftru(5lus eft fcelerum tibi,
Nullum fcelus putare. vix fraudi eft locus.
Timemur, hac aggredere, qua nemo poteft 565
Quidquam timere. perge. nunc aude, incipe,
JASON.
Now do begin to meditate reasonable things, and speak of more pleasant topics, and, if anything can be done to lighten the blow of having to quit the palace of the father-in-law,—seek my aid.
MEDEA.
My disposition, as thou full well knowest, is accustomed, and can afford, to despise royal assistance—only let me have my children as companions in my exile, upon whose bosoms I can occasionally shed my maternal tears. Fresh children will remain for thee, the gifts of Creusa!
JASON.
I freely confess, that I should be willing to comply with thy wishes in that respect, but my own affection for