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Old Servant
How, daughter, can this harm thy enemies?
How, daughter, can this harm thy enemies?
Creusa
Hast heard of Erichthonius, or no? of course thou hast.
Hast heard of Erichthonius, or no? of course thou hast.
Old Servant
Him whom Earth produced, the founder of thy race?
1000
Him whom Earth produced, the founder of thy race?
1000
Creusa
To him whilst yet a babe did Pallas give—
To him whilst yet a babe did Pallas give—
Old Servant
Ha! what? thou hast something yet to add?
Ha! what? thou hast something yet to add?
Creusa
Two drops of Gorgon’s blood.
Two drops of Gorgon’s blood.
Old Servant
What power could they exert on the nature of a human creature?
What power could they exert on the nature of a human creature?
Creusa
The one with death is fraught, the other cures disease.
1005
The one with death is fraught, the other cures disease.
1005
Old Servant
What held them when she tied them to the child’s body?
What held them when she tied them to the child’s body?
Creusa
With links of gold she fastened them; this to my sire did Erichthonius give.
With links of gold she fastened them; this to my sire did Erichthonius give.
Old Servant
And at his death it came to thee?
And at his death it came to thee?
Creusa
Yea, and here at my wrist I wear it.
Yea, and here at my wrist I wear it.
Old Servant
How works the spell of this double gift of Pallas?
1010
How works the spell of this double gift of Pallas?
1010
Creusa
Each drop of gore which trickled from the hollow vein—
Each drop of gore which trickled from the hollow vein—
Old Servant
What purpose does it serve? what virtue does it carry?
What purpose does it serve? what virtue does it carry?
Creusa
Wards off disease, and nourishes man’s life.
Wards off disease, and nourishes man’s life.
Old Servant
What doth that second drop effect, of which thou madest mention?
What doth that second drop effect, of which thou madest mention?
Creusa
It kills, for it is venom from the Gorgon’s snakes.
1015
It kills, for it is venom from the Gorgon’s snakes.
1015
Old Servant
Dost thou carry this charm mixed in one phial, or separate?
Dost thou carry this charm mixed in one phial, or separate?
Creusa
Separate; for good is no companion for evil.
Separate; for good is no companion for evil.
Old Servant
Daughter dear, thou art fully armed with all thou needest.
Daughter dear, thou art fully armed with all thou needest.
Creusa
By this must the boy die, and thou must do the deadly deed.
By this must the boy die, and thou must do the deadly deed.
Old Servant
How and where? thine it is to speak, and mine to dare and do.
1020
How and where? thine it is to speak, and mine to dare and do.
1020
Creusa
In
Athens
, when to my house he comes.
In
Athens
, when to my house he comes.
Old Servant
That is not wisely said; I may object to thy plan as thou to mine.
That is not wisely said; I may object to thy plan as thou to mine.
Creusa
How so? Hast thou the same mistrust that I experience?
How so? Hast thou the same mistrust that I experience?
Old Servant
Thou wilt get the credit of his death, although thou slay him not.
Thou wilt get the credit of his death, although thou slay him not.
Creusa
True; men say stepdames are jealous of their husband’s children.
1025
True; men say stepdames are jealous of their husband’s children.
1025
Old Servant
Kill him here then, that so thou mayst deny the murder.
Kill him here then, that so thou mayst deny the murder.
Creusa
Well, thus I do anticipate the pleasure.
Well, thus I do anticipate the pleasure.
Old Servant
Yea, and thou wilt from thy husband keep the very secret he would keep from thee.
Yea, and thou wilt from thy husband keep the very secret he would keep from thee.
Creusa
Dost know then what to do? Take from my arm
this golden bracelet, Athena’s gift, some ancient craftsman’s work, and seek the spot where my lord is offering secret sacrifice; then when their feasting is o’er and they are about to pour drink-offering to the gods, take this phial in thy robe and pour it into the young man’s goblet;
1030
not for all, but for him alone, providing a separate draught, who thinks to lord it o’er my house. And if once it pass his lips, never shall he come to glorious
Athens
, but here abide, of life bereft.
1035
Dost know then what to do? Take from my arm
this golden bracelet, Athena’s gift, some ancient craftsman’s work, and seek the spot where my lord is offering secret sacrifice; then when their feasting is o’er and they are about to pour drink-offering to the gods, take this phial in thy robe and pour it into the young man’s goblet;
1030
not for all, but for him alone, providing a separate draught, who thinks to lord it o’er my house. And if once it pass his lips, never shall he come to glorious
Athens
, but here abide, of life bereft.
1035
Old Servant
Go thou within the house of our public hosts;
I the while will set about my appointed task. On! aged foot, grow young again in action, for all that time saith no to thee. Go, aid thy mistress against her enemy, help slay and drag him from her house.
1040
’Tis well to honour piety in the hour of fortune, but when thou wouldst harm thy foe, no law doth block thy path.
1045
Go thou within the house of our public hosts;
I the while will set about my appointed task. On! aged foot, grow young again in action, for all that time saith no to thee. Go, aid thy mistress against her enemy, help slay and drag him from her house.
1040
’Tis well to honour piety in the hour of fortune, but when thou wouldst harm thy foe, no law doth block thy path.
1045
Ion. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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