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Creusa
I warn thee not to slay me, both in my own name and in his at whose altar I am stationed.
I warn thee not to slay me, both in my own name and in his at whose altar I am stationed.
Ion
What hast thou to do with Phoebus?
What hast thou to do with Phoebus?
Creusa
This body I devote unto that god to keep.
1285
This body I devote unto that god to keep.
1285
Ion
And yet thou wert for poisoning his minister?
And yet thou wert for poisoning his minister?
Creusa
But thou wert not Apollo’s any longer, but thy father’s.
But thou wert not Apollo’s any longer, but thy father’s.
Ion
Nay, I was his son, that is, in absence of a real father.
Nay, I was his son, that is, in absence of a real father.
Creusa
Thou wert so then; now ’tis I, not thou, who am Apollo’s.
Thou wert so then; now ’tis I, not thou, who am Apollo’s.
Ion
Well, thou art not guiltless now, whereas I was then.
1290
Well, thou art not guiltless now, whereas I was then.
1290
Creusa
I sought to slay thee as an enemy to my house.
I sought to slay thee as an enemy to my house.
Ion
And yet I never invaded thy country, sword in hand.
And yet I never invaded thy country, sword in hand.
Creusa
Thou didst; and thou it was that wert casting a firebrand into the halls of Erechtheus.
Thou didst; and thou it was that wert casting a firebrand into the halls of Erechtheus.
Ion
What sort of brand or flaming fire was it?
What sort of brand or flaming fire was it?
Creusa
Thou didst design to seize my home against my will, and make it thine.
1295
Thou didst design to seize my home against my will, and make it thine.
1295
Ion
What! when my father offered me a kingdom of his getting.
What! when my father offered me a kingdom of his getting.
Creusa
How had the sons of Aeolus any share in the realm of Pallas?
How had the sons of Aeolus any share in the realm of Pallas?
Ion
Arms, not words, he brought to champion it.
Arms, not words, he brought to champion it.
Creusa
No mere ally could enter into an inheritance in my land.
No mere ally could enter into an inheritance in my land.
Ion
And was it then from fear of consequences that thou didst try to slay me?
1300
And was it then from fear of consequences that thou didst try to slay me?
1300
Creusa
Yes, lest I should myself perish if thou wert spared.
Yes, lest I should myself perish if thou wert spared.
Ion
Doth thy childlessness make thee envious that my father found me?
Doth thy childlessness make thee envious that my father found me?
Creusa
And thou, wilt thou rob the childless of her home?
And thou, wilt thou rob the childless of her home?
Ion
Had I then no share at all in my father’s heritage?
Had I then no share at all in my father’s heritage?
Creusa
All that his sword and shield had won was thine, and thine alone.
1305
All that his sword and shield had won was thine, and thine alone.
1305
Ion
Quit the altar and sanctuary built for gods.
Quit the altar and sanctuary built for gods.
Creusa
Go bid thy own mother, wherever she is, do that.
Go bid thy own mother, wherever she is, do that.
Ion
Shalt thou escape all punishment, after trying to kill me?
Shalt thou escape all punishment, after trying to kill me?
Creusa
Not if thou choose to butcher me within this shrine.
Not if thou choose to butcher me within this shrine.
Ion
What joy can it give thee to be slain amid the sacred wreaths?
1310
What joy can it give thee to be slain amid the sacred wreaths?
1310
Creusa
There is one whom I shall grieve of those who have grieved me.
There is one whom I shall grieve of those who have grieved me.
Ion
Oh! ’tis passing strange how badly the deity hath enacted laws for mortal men, contrary to all sound judgment; for instance, they should ne’er have suffered impious men to sit at their altars,
but should have driven them away; for it was nowise right that hands unclean should touch the altars of the gods, though the righteous deserved to find a refuge there from their oppressors, instead of good and bad alike having recourse to the same divine protection with equal success.
1315
Oh! ’tis passing strange how badly the deity hath enacted laws for mortal men, contrary to all sound judgment; for instance, they should ne’er have suffered impious men to sit at their altars,
but should have driven them away; for it was nowise right that hands unclean should touch the altars of the gods, though the righteous deserved to find a refuge there from their oppressors, instead of good and bad alike having recourse to the same divine protection with equal success.
1315
Ion. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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