hath done wisely in making this marriage with the daughter of King
Creon. And I will ask of him that my children may remain in the land.
And I will send them with a gift to this King's daughter, even a robe
and a crown. But when she shall deck herself with them, she shall
perish, so deadly are the poisons with which I shall anoint them. But
very grievous is the deed that I must do when this shall have been
accomplished. For after this I must slay my children. Nor shall any man
deliver them out of my hand. Thus will I destroy the whole house of
Jason, and so depart from the land. A very evil deed it is; but I cannot
endure to be laughed to scorn by my enemies. And yet what profiteth me
to live? For I have no country or home or refuge from trouble. I did
evil leaving my father's house to follow this Greek. But verily he shall
pay me to the very uttermost. For his children he shall see no more, and
his bride shall perish miserably. Wherefore let no man henceforth think
me to be weak or feeble."

And when the women would have turned her from her purpose, saying that
so doing she would be the most miserable of women, she would not
hearken, thinking only how she might best wound the heart of her
husband.

Meanwhile a servant had carried the message to Jason. And when he was
come, she said that she had repented of her anger against him, and that
now he seemed to her to have done wisely, strengthening himself and his
house by this marriage; and she prayed him that he would pardon her,
being a woman and weak. And then she called to her children that they
should come forth from the house, and take their father by his hand, for
that her anger had ceased, and there was peace between them.

And Jason praised her that she had so changed her thoughts; and to his