Collected Works (Vol. II)

88 THE ARGONAUTS WOMEN. Here is the ugly monster! Out! To think We once believed him reverend and refined, Saw majesty in all that tottering gait, And honour in the goat-like beard of him ! FIRST WOMAN. A week ago your blue eyes were in tears, Sidelong regarding the old mountebank. SECOND WOMAN. To-day I would not be his concubine For all Iolchus—for all Thessaly ! THIRD WOMAN. I see the same glance seek out Jason now. SECOND WOMAN. Ay, there's a man! What muscles! What fine fire In the quick eye! What vigour and warm strength ! FIRST WOMAN. Yes, in your wishes. But indeed he is A proper man. Away, you ancient egg ! PELIAS. With what audacious foot and impious voice Strides this young man and talks? Let him advance, Trembling at our offended majesty. Who art thou whose rude summons startles us From work of state to listen a young mouth Beardless? Speak, man, for shortly thou shalt die. JASON. Athena speaks. WOMEN. Ah, there’s a fine retort ! PELIAS. - Goddesses speak and men list reverently. Could he not find a fitter messenger? JASON. Her cause is Jason’s. Jason therefore speaks. PELIAS. Aha! A suppliant to our clemency ! I did mistake the gesture and the sword Angrily gripped, the foot flung terribly Foremost, the fierce, constrainéd attitude. But—as a suppliant ! Tell thy woeful tale, Sad youth ! Some woman thou hast loved and lost ? JASON. Thou hast robbed me of this kingdom. Thou hast kept My father (poor half-witted man !) a slave And parasite about thy court (one grief The more I add to this account of thine !) Myself a babe thou didst seek out to slay, And, I being hid, with fish-hooks bent with lies And gilded with most spacious promises, Cunningly angled for old Chiron’s! grace To catch me yet. Athena hears me swear To right all this—nay, answer me before Anger get all the spoil of me, and drink Thy life-blood in one gulp! Descend that dais ! Bend thou a suppliant at my awful knee, And thus—perhaps—at least get grace of life. .PELIAS. And if I say I will not yield the throne? JASON, I am of force to take it. PELIAS, Are my friends Not faithful? Who draws sword for Pelias? MEN. Shall we not slay thee this presumptuous fool? 1 A Centaur who hid the child Jason.