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Ion
Come, let us try another theme.
Come, let us try another theme.
Xuthus
Better hold to this, my son.
Better hold to this, my son.
Ion
Didst thou e’er indulge in illicit amours?
545
Didst thou e’er indulge in illicit amours?
545
Xuthus
Yes, in the folly of youth.
Yes, in the folly of youth.
Ion
Ere thou didst win Erechtheus’ daughter?
Ere thou didst win Erechtheus’ daughter?
Xuthus
Never since.
Never since.
Ion
Could it be, then, thou didst beget me?
Could it be, then, thou didst beget me?
Xuthus
The time coincides therewith.
The time coincides therewith.
Ion
In that case, how came I hither?
In that case, how came I hither?
Xuthus
That puzzles me.
That puzzles me.
Ion
After that long journey too?
After that long journey too?
Xuthus
That, too, perplexes me.
That, too, perplexes me.
Ion
Didst thou in days gone by come to the Pythian rock?
550
Didst thou in days gone by come to the Pythian rock?
550
Xuthus
Yes, to join in the mystic rites of Bacchus.
Yes, to join in the mystic rites of Bacchus.
Ion
Didst thou lodge with one of the public hosts?
Didst thou lodge with one of the public hosts?
Xuthus
With one who at
Delphi
—
With one who at
Delphi
—
Ion
Initiated thee? or what is it thou sayest?
Initiated thee? or what is it thou sayest?
Xuthus
Among the frantic votaries of Bacchus.
Among the frantic votaries of Bacchus.
Ion
Wert thou sober, or in thy cups?
Wert thou sober, or in thy cups?
Xuthus
I had indulged in the pleasures of the wine-cup.
I had indulged in the pleasures of the wine-cup.
Ion
That is just the history of my birth.
That is just the history of my birth.
Xuthus
Fate hath discovered thee, my son.
Fate hath discovered thee, my son.
Ion
How came I to the temple?
555
How came I to the temple?
555
Xuthus
Maybe the maid exposed thee.
Maybe the maid exposed thee.
Ion
I have escaped the shame of slavish birth.
I have escaped the shame of slavish birth.
Xuthus
Acknowledge then thy father, my son.
Acknowledge then thy father, my son.
Ion
It is not right that I should mistrust the god.
It is not right that I should mistrust the god.
Xuthus
Thou art right there.
Thou art right there.
Ion
What more can I desire—
What more can I desire—
Xuthus
Thine eyes now open to the sights they should.
Thine eyes now open to the sights they should.
Ion
Than from a son of Zeus to spring?
Than from a son of Zeus to spring?
Xuthus
Which is indeed thy lot.
Which is indeed thy lot.
Ion
May I embrace the author of my being?
560
May I embrace the author of my being?
560
Xuthus
Aye, put thy trust in the god.
Aye, put thy trust in the god.
Ion
Hail to thee, father mine.
Hail to thee, father mine.
Xuthus
With joy that title I accept.
With joy that title I accept.
Ion
This day—
This day—
Xuthus
Hath made me blest.
Hath made me blest.
Ion
Ah, mother dear! shall I ever see thee too? Now more than ever do I long to gaze upon thee, whoe’er thou art.
But thou perhaps art dead, and I shall never have the chance.
565
Ah, mother dear! shall I ever see thee too? Now more than ever do I long to gaze upon thee, whoe’er thou art.
But thou perhaps art dead, and I shall never have the chance.
565
Ion. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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