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Creusa
But who art thou? how blest I count thy mother!
But who art thou? how blest I count thy mother!
Ion
Lady, I am called the servant of Apollo, and so I am.
Lady, I am called the servant of Apollo, and so I am.
Creusa
An offering of thy city, or sold to him by some master?
310
An offering of thy city, or sold to him by some master?
310
Ion
Naught know I but this, that I am called the slave of Loxias.
Naught know I but this, that I am called the slave of Loxias.
Creusa
Then do i in my turn pity thee, sir stranger.
Then do i in my turn pity thee, sir stranger.
Ion
Because I know not her that bare me, or him that begat me.
Because I know not her that bare me, or him that begat me.
Creusa
Is thy home here in the temple, or hast thou a house to dwell in?
Is thy home here in the temple, or hast thou a house to dwell in?
Ion
The god’s whole temple is my house, wherever sleep o’ertakes me.
315
The god’s whole temple is my house, wherever sleep o’ertakes me.
315
Creusa
Was it as a child or young man that thou earnest to the temple?
Was it as a child or young man that thou earnest to the temple?
Ion
Those who seem to know the truth, say I was but a babe.
Those who seem to know the truth, say I was but a babe.
Creusa
What Delphian maid, then, weaned thee?
What Delphian maid, then, weaned thee?
Ion
I never knew a mother’s breast. But she who brought me up—
I never knew a mother’s breast. But she who brought me up—
Creusa
Who was she, unhappy youth? I see thy sufferings in my own.
320
Who was she, unhappy youth? I see thy sufferings in my own.
320
Ion
The priestess of Phoebus; I look oh her as my mother.
The priestess of Phoebus; I look oh her as my mother.
Creusa
Until thou earnest unto man’s estate, what nurture hadst thou?
Until thou earnest unto man’s estate, what nurture hadst thou?
Ion
The altar fed me, and the bounty of each casual guest.
The altar fed me, and the bounty of each casual guest.
Creusa
Woe is thy mother, then, whoe’er she was!
Woe is thy mother, then, whoe’er she was!
Ion
Maybe my birth was some poor woman’s wrong.
325
Maybe my birth was some poor woman’s wrong.
325
Creusa
Hast thou any store, for thy dress is costly enough?
Hast thou any store, for thy dress is costly enough?
Ion
The god I serve gives me these robes to wear.
The god I serve gives me these robes to wear.
Creusa
Wert thou never eager to inquire into thy birth?
Wert thou never eager to inquire into thy birth?
Ion
Ah! yes, lady! but I have no clue at all to guide me.
Ah! yes, lady! but I have no clue at all to guide me.
Creusa
Alas! I know another woman who hath suffered as thy mother did.
330
Alas! I know another woman who hath suffered as thy mother did.
330
Ion
Who is she? If she would but help me in the task, how happy should I be!
Who is she? If she would but help me in the task, how happy should I be!
Creusa
’Tis she on whose account I have preceded my husband hither.
’Tis she on whose account I have preceded my husband hither.
Ion
What are thy wishes? be sure I will serve thee, lady.
What are thy wishes? be sure I will serve thee, lady.
Creusa
I would fain obtain a secret answer from Apollo’s oracle.
I would fain obtain a secret answer from Apollo’s oracle.
Ion
Name it, then; the rest will I undertake for thee.
335
Name it, then; the rest will I undertake for thee.
335
Creusa
Hear, then, this story. Yet am I ashamed.
Hear, then, this story. Yet am I ashamed.
Ion
Thus wilt thou accomplish naught, for shame is a goddess slow to act.
Thus wilt thou accomplish naught, for shame is a goddess slow to act.
Creusa
A friend of mine asserts that Phoebus lay with her.
A friend of mine asserts that Phoebus lay with her.
Ion
Phoebus with a mortal woman? Stranger lady, say not so.
Phoebus with a mortal woman? Stranger lady, say not so.
Creusa
Yea, and she bare the god a child without her father’s knowledge.
340
Yea, and she bare the god a child without her father’s knowledge.
340
Ion
It cannot be; some man did wrong her, and she is ashamed of it.
It cannot be; some man did wrong her, and she is ashamed of it.
Creusa
This she denieis herself; and she hath suffered further woe.
This she denieis herself; and she hath suffered further woe.
Ion
How so, if she was wedded to a god?
How so, if she was wedded to a god?
Creusa
The babe she bare she did expose.
The babe she bare she did expose.
Ion
Where is the child who was thus cast forth? is he yet alive?
345
Where is the child who was thus cast forth? is he yet alive?
345
Creusa
No man knoweth. That is the very thing I would ask the oracle.
No man knoweth. That is the very thing I would ask the oracle.
Ion
But if he be no more, how did he perish?
But if he be no more, how did he perish?
Creusa
She supposes that beasts devoured the hapless babe.
She supposes that beasts devoured the hapless babe.
Ion
What proof led her to form this opinion?
What proof led her to form this opinion?
Creusa
She came to the place where she exposed him, but found him no longer there.
350
She came to the place where she exposed him, but found him no longer there.
350
Ion
Were any drops of blood upon the path?
Were any drops of blood upon the path?
Creusa
None, she says; and yet she ranged the ground to and fro.
None, she says; and yet she ranged the ground to and fro.
Ion
How long is it since the babe was destroyed?
How long is it since the babe was destroyed?
Creusa
Thy age and his would measure out the self-same span, were he alive.
Thy age and his would measure out the self-same span, were he alive.
Ion. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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