The deception, the gifts, the deliberation

Jason comes back. Medea is waiting. She begins the performance with care. She apologises — she was wrong to rage; she was a foolish woman; she should have helped him rather than fought him; she sees now how wise his choice was. She calls the children out and tells them to embrace their father, to throw away the anger they have learned from her. The boys go to him. Jason is moved; he prays they will grow up to outshine those who hate him. Medea's eyes fill. He asks why. She says she was thinking of the children. He tells her not to worry. He will protect them.

She presses on with the request. Since the king's command is the king's command, will Jason plead with the bride to let the children stay even if she herself must go. Jason agrees. He will go to the princess. Medea sends a handmaid for the gifts. They come out in caskets — the embroidered robe, the golden crown, treasures from the house of the Sun. She presses them on him. Take these, send them with the boys, ask the bride to accept them. Jason hesitates, says it is unnecessary, then takes them. He leaves with the Attendant and the boys.

The Chorus sing the song the audience hears with full knowledge — the bride is already wearing the death she does not see. The Attendant returns with the children and good news. The princess accepted the gifts gladly; the children may stay. Medea breaks. She sends him in and steels herself. Then she calls the children back out and goes through the deliberation in front of the audience. She kisses their hands, names the future she will not have with them, tells herself she will not. She tells herself she must. She sends them inside.