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Ion
Attendant maids, that watch and wait your mistress here at the steps of the temple fragrant with incense, say, hath Xuthus already left the holy tripod and the sanctuary, or doth he still abide within to ask yet further of his childlessness?
510
Attendant maids, that watch and wait your mistress here at the steps of the temple fragrant with incense, say, hath Xuthus already left the holy tripod and the sanctuary, or doth he still abide within to ask yet further of his childlessness?
510
Chorus
He is still in the temple, sir, nor hath he passed this threshold yet.
But hark! I hear a footstep at the outlet of the door, and lo! thou mayst see my master this moment coming out.
515
He is still in the temple, sir, nor hath he passed this threshold yet.
But hark! I hear a footstep at the outlet of the door, and lo! thou mayst see my master this moment coming out.
515
Xuthus
All hail! my son; that word suits well as my first greeting to thee.
All hail! my son; that word suits well as my first greeting to thee.
Ion
’Tis well with me; do but restrain thyself, and then both of us will be happy.
’Tis well with me; do but restrain thyself, and then both of us will be happy.
Xuthus
Give me thy hand to grasp, thy body to embrace.
Give me thy hand to grasp, thy body to embrace.
Ion
Art thou in thy senses, sir, or hath some spiteful god reft thee of them?
520
Art thou in thy senses, sir, or hath some spiteful god reft thee of them?
520
Xuthus
I am in my senses, for I have found what I hold most dear, and am eager to show my love.
I am in my senses, for I have found what I hold most dear, and am eager to show my love.
Ion
Cease! touch me not, nor tear these garlands of the god!
Cease! touch me not, nor tear these garlands of the god!
Xuthus
I will embrace thee, for I am not seizing what is not my own, but only finding my own that I love full well.
I will embrace thee, for I am not seizing what is not my own, but only finding my own that I love full well.
Ion
Hands off! or thou shalt feel an arrow pierce thy ribs.
Hands off! or thou shalt feel an arrow pierce thy ribs.
Xuthus
Why dost thou shun me, now that thou findest in me thy nearest and dearest?
525
Why dost thou shun me, now that thou findest in me thy nearest and dearest?
525
Ion
I am not fond of schooling boors and crazy strangers.
I am not fond of schooling boors and crazy strangers.
Xuthus
Kill me, burn me, if thou wilt; for, if thou dost, thou wilt be thy father’s murderer.
Kill me, burn me, if thou wilt; for, if thou dost, thou wilt be thy father’s murderer.
Ion
Thou my father, indeed i Oh! is not news like this enough to make me laugh?
Thou my father, indeed i Oh! is not news like this enough to make me laugh?
Xuthus
Not so; my tale, as it proceeds, will prove to thee what I assert.
Not so; my tale, as it proceeds, will prove to thee what I assert.
Ion
Pray, what hast thou to tell me?
530
Pray, what hast thou to tell me?
530
Xuthus
That I am thy own father, and thou my very child.
That I am thy own father, and thou my very child.
Ion
Who says so?
Who says so?
Xuthus
Loxias, who gave thee nurture, though thou wert my son.
Loxias, who gave thee nurture, though thou wert my son.
Ion
Thou art thy own witness.
Thou art thy own witness.
Xuthus
Nay, I have learnt the answer of the god.
Nay, I have learnt the answer of the god.
Ion
Thou art mistaken in the dark riddle thou hast heard.
Thou art mistaken in the dark riddle thou hast heard.
Xuthus
It seems then I do not hear aright.
It seems then I do not hear aright.
Ion
What said Phoebus?
What said Phoebus?
Xuthus
That the man who met me—
That the man who met me—
Ion
When and where?
535
When and where?
535
Xuthus
As I came forth from the god’s temple—
As I came forth from the god’s temple—
Ion
Well! what should happen to him?
Well! what should happen to him?
Xuthus
Should be my own true son.
Should be my own true son.
Ion
Thy own true son, or a gift from others?
Thy own true son, or a gift from others?
Xuthus
A gift, but mine for all that.
A gift, but mine for all that.
Ion
Am I the first that thou didst meet?
Am I the first that thou didst meet?
Xuthus
I have met no other, my son.
I have met no other, my son.
Ion
Whence came this piece of luck?
Whence came this piece of luck?
Xuthus
To both of us alike it causes surprise.
To both of us alike it causes surprise.
Ion
Ah I but who was my mother?
540
Ah I but who was my mother?
540
Xuthus
I cannot tell.
I cannot tell.
Ion
Did not Phoebus tell thee that?
Did not Phoebus tell thee that?
Xuthus
I was so pleased with this, I did not ask him that.
I was so pleased with this, I did not ask him that.
Ion
I must have sprung from mother earth.
I must have sprung from mother earth.
Xuthus
The ground brings forth no children.
The ground brings forth no children.
Ion
How can I be thine?
How can I be thine?
Xuthus
I know not; I refer it to the god.
I know not; I refer it to the god.
Ion. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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