EURIPIDES
Nurse
And will Jason put up with it that his children
Should suffer so, though he's no friend to their mother? 75
Tutor
Old ties give place to new ones. As for Jason, he
No longer has a feeling for this house of ours.
Nurse
It's black indeed for us, when we add new to old
Sorrows before even the present sky has cleared.
Tutor
But you be silent, and keep all this to yourself. 80
It is not the right time to tell our mistress of it.
Nurse
Do you hear, children, what a father he is to you?
; QJti wish he were dead—but no, he is still my master.
1?et certainly he has proved unkind to his dear ones.
Tutor
\Vhat's strange in that? Have you only just discovered 85
That everyone loves himself more than his neighbor?
Some have good reason, others get something out of it.
So Jason neglects his children for the new bride.
Nurse
Go indoors, children. That will be the best thing.
And you, keep them to themselves as much as possible* 90
Don't bring them near their mother in her angry mood.
For I've seen her already blazing her eyes at them
As though she meant some mischief and I am sure that
She'll not stop raging until she has struck at someone.
May it be an enemy and not a friend she hurts! 95
74