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Ion
Even so. But what of this next story? Is it true or groundless?
275
Even so. But what of this next story? Is it true or groundless?
275
Creusa
What is thy question? Ask on, I have no calls upon my leisure.
What is thy question? Ask on, I have no calls upon my leisure.
Ion
Did thy sire Erechtheus offer thy sisters as a sacrifice?
Did thy sire Erechtheus offer thy sisters as a sacrifice?
Creusa
For his country’s sake he did endure to slay the maids as victims.
For his country’s sake he did endure to slay the maids as victims.
Ion
And how didst thou, alone of al thy sisters, escape?
And how didst thou, alone of al thy sisters, escape?
Creusa
I was still a tender babe in my mother’s arms.
280
I was still a tender babe in my mother’s arms.
280
Ion
Did the earth really open its mouth and swallow thy father?
Did the earth really open its mouth and swallow thy father?
Creusa
The sea-god smote and slew him with his trident.
The sea-god smote and slew him with his trident.
Ion
Is there a spot there called Macrae?
Is there a spot there called Macrae?
Creusa
Why ask that? what memories thou recallest!
Why ask that? what memories thou recallest!
Ion
Doth the Pythian god with his flashing fire do honour to the place?
285
Doth the Pythian god with his flashing fire do honour to the place?
285
Creusa
Honour, yes! Honour, indeed! would I had never seen the spot!
Honour, yes! Honour, indeed! would I had never seen the spot!
Ion
How now? dost thou abhor that which the god holds dear?
How now? dost thou abhor that which the god holds dear?
Creusa
No, no; but I and that cave are witnesses of a deed of shame.
No, no; but I and that cave are witnesses of a deed of shame.
Ion
Lady, who is the Athenian lord that calls thee wife?
Lady, who is the Athenian lord that calls thee wife?
Creusa
No citizen of
Athens
, but a stranger from another land.
290
No citizen of
Athens
, but a stranger from another land.
290
Ion
Who is he? he must have been one of noble birth.
Who is he? he must have been one of noble birth.
Creusa
Xuthus, son of Aeolus, sprung from Zeus.
Xuthus, son of Aeolus, sprung from Zeus.
Ion
And how did he, a stranger, win thee a native born?
And how did he, a stranger, win thee a native born?
Creusa
Hard by
Athens
lies a neighbouring township, Euboea.
Hard by
Athens
lies a neighbouring township, Euboea.
Ion
With a bounding line of waters in between, so I have heard.
295
With a bounding line of waters in between, so I have heard.
295
Creusa
This did he sack, making common cause with Cecrops’ sons.
This did he sack, making common cause with Cecrops’ sons.
Ion
Coming as an ally, maybe; he won thy hand for this?
Coming as an ally, maybe; he won thy hand for this?
Creusa
Yes, this was his dower of battle, the prize of his prowess.
Yes, this was his dower of battle, the prize of his prowess.
Ion
Art thou come to the oracle alone, or with thy lord?
Art thou come to the oracle alone, or with thy lord?
Creusa
With him. But he is now visiting the cavern of Trophonius.
300
With him. But he is now visiting the cavern of Trophonius.
300
Ion
As a spectator merely, or to consult the oracle?
As a spectator merely, or to consult the oracle?
Creusa
’Tis his wish to hear the self-same answer from Trophonius and Phoebus too.
’Tis his wish to hear the self-same answer from Trophonius and Phoebus too.
Ion
Is it to seek earth’s produce or fruit of offspring that ye come?
Is it to seek earth’s produce or fruit of offspring that ye come?
Creusa
We are childless, though wedded these many years.
We are childless, though wedded these many years.
Ion
Hast thou never been a mother? art thou wholly childless?
305
Hast thou never been a mother? art thou wholly childless?
305
Creusa
Phoebus knows whether I am childless.
Phoebus knows whether I am childless.
Ion
Unhappy wife! how this doth mar thy fortune else so happy!
Unhappy wife! how this doth mar thy fortune else so happy!
Ion. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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