Euripides, Ion, ed. Gilbert Murray, 1320

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Προφῆτις

ἐπίσχες, ὦ παῖ· τρίποδα γὰρ χρηστήριον
1320

λιποῦσα θριγκοῦ τοῦδʼ ὑπερβάλλω πόδα

Φοίβου προφῆτις, τρίποδος ἀρχαῖον νόμον

σῴζουσα, πασῶν Δελφίδων ἐξαίρετος.

Ἴων

χαῖρʼ, ὦ φίλη μοι μῆτερ, οὐ τεκοῦσά περ.

Προφῆτις

ἀλλʼ οὖν λεγώμεθʼ· ἡ φάτις δʼ οὔ μοι πικρά.
1325

Ἴων

ἤκουσας ὥς μʼ ἔκτεινεν ἥδε μηχαναῖς;

Προφῆτις

ἤκουσα· καὶ σὺ δʼ ὠμὸς ὢν ἁμαρτάνεις.

Ἴων

οὐ χρή με τοὺς κτείνοντας ἀνταπολλύναι;

Προφῆτις

προγονοῖς δάμαρτες δυσμενεῖς ἀεί ποτε.

Ἴων

ἡμεῖς δὲ μητρυιαῖς γε πάσχοντες κακῶς.
1330

Προφῆτις

μὴ ταῦτα· λείπων ἱερὰ καὶ στείχων πάτραν

Ἴων

τί δή με δρᾶσαι νουθετούμενον χρεών;

Προφῆτις

καθαρὸς Ἀθήνας ἔλθʼ ὑπʼ οἰωνῶν καλῶν.

Ἴων

καθαρὸς ἅπας τοι πολεμίους ὃς ἂν κτάνῃ.

Προφῆτις

μὴ σύ γε· παρʼ ἡμῶν δʼ ἔκλαβʼ οὓς ἔχω λόγους.
1335

Ἴων

λέγοις ἄν· εὔνους δʼ οὖσʼ ἐρεῖς ὅσʼ ἂν λέγῃς.

Προφῆτις

ὁρᾷς τόδʼ ἄγγος χερὸς ὑπʼ ἀγκάλαις ἐμαῖς;

Ἴων

ὁρῶ παλαιὰν ἀντίπηγʼ ἐν στέμμασιν.

Προφῆτις

ἐν τῇδέ σʼ ἔλαβον νεόγονον βρέφος ποτέ.

Ἴων

τί φῄς; ὁ μῦθος εἰσενήνεκται νέος.
1340

Προφῆτις

σιγῇ γὰρ εἶχον αὐτά· νῦν δὲ δείκνυμεν.

Ἴων

πῶς οὖν ἔκρυπτες τόδε λαβοῦσʼ ἡμᾶς πάλαι;

Προφῆτις

ὁ θεός σʼ ἐβούλετʼ ἐν δόμοις ἔχειν λάτριν.

Ἴων

νῦν δʼ οὐχὶ χρῄζει; τῷ τόδε γνῶναί με χρή;

Προφῆτις

πατέρα κατειπὼν τῆσδέ σʼ ἐκπέμπει χθονός.
1345

Ἴων

σὺ δʼ ἐκ κελευσμῶν ἢ πόθεν σῴζεις τάδε;

Προφῆτις

ἐνθύμιόν μοι τότε τίθησι Λοξίας

Ἴων

τί χρῆμα δρᾶσαι; λέγε, πέραινε σοὺς λόγους.

Προφῆτις

σῶσαι τόδʼ εὕρημʼ ἐς τὸν ὄντα νῦν χρόνον.

Ἴων

ἔχει δέ μοι τί κέρδος ἢ τίνα βλάβην;
1350

Προφῆτις

ἐνθάδε κέκρυπται σπάργανʼ οἷς ἐνῆσθα σύ.

Ἴων

μητρὸς τάδʼ ἡμῖν ἐκφέρεις ζητήματα;

Προφῆτις

ἐπεί γʼ ὁ δαίμων βούλεται· πάροιθε δʼ οὔ.

Ἴων

ὦ μακαρίων μοι φασμάτων ἥδʼ ἡμέρα.

Προφῆτις

λαβών νυν αὐτὰ τὴν τεκοῦσαν ἐκπόνει.
1355

Ἴων

πᾶσάν γʼ ἐπελθὼν Ἀσιάδʼ Εὐρώπης θʼ ὅρους.

Προφῆτις

γνώσῃ τάδʼ αὐτός. τοῦ θεοῦ δʼ ἕκατί σε

ἔθρεψά τʼ, ὦ παῖ, καὶ τάδʼ ἀποδίδωμί σοι,

ἃ κεῖνος ἀκέλευστόν μʼ ἐβουλήθη λαβεῖν

σῶσαί θʼ· ὅτου δʼ ἐβούλεθʼ οὕνεκʼ, οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν.
1360

ᾔδει δὲ θνητῶν οὔτις ἀνθρώπων τάδε

ἔχοντας ἡμᾶς, οὐδʼ ἵνʼ ἦν κεκρυμμένα.

καὶ χαῖρʼ· ἴσον γάρ σʼ ὡς τεκοῦσʼ ἀσπάζομαι.

ἄρξαι δʼ ὅθεν σὴν μητέρα ζητεῖν σε χρή·

πρῶτον μὲν εἴ τις Δελφίδων τεκοῦσά σε
1365

ἐς τούσδε ναοὺς ἐξέθηκε παρθένος,

ἔπειτα δʼ εἴ τις Ἑλλάς. — ἐξ ἡμῶν δʼ ἔχεις

ἅπαντα Φοίβου θʼ, ὃς μετέσχε τῆς τύχης.

Ion. Euripides. ed. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Ἴων (Greek) (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. II. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1921-1962))

Editions (3)

Ion, Greek text (M. A. Bayfield, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (The Greek text and dramatic structure of M. A. Bayfield's second edition of 1924 (first edition 1889), aligned by line to the Murray reference edition.)

No corresponding passage available

Ion, Greek text (A. W. Verrall, 1890) (OCR draft) Experimental (The Greek text and dramatic structure of A. W. Verrall's 1890 edition, aligned by line to the Murray reference edition.)

No corresponding passage available

Ion, Greek text (Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1926) (OCR draft) Experimental (Wilamowitz's 1926 Greek edition with its critical apparatus, aligned by line to the Murray reference edition.)

No corresponding passage available

Translations (4)

Ion Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.) — 1320 focus

Pythian Priestess

Refrain thyself, my son; for I, the priestess of Phoebus, chosen from all the maids of Delphi in accordance with the tripod’s ancient rite, have left that prophetic seat, and am passing o’er this threshold.
1320

Ion

Hail to thee, dear mother mine,—mother, though thou didst not give me birth.

Pythian Priestess

Yes, so have I ever been called, and the title causes me no regret.
1325

Ion

Hast heard how this woman plotted my death?

Pythian Priestess

I have; thou, too, art wrong because of thy harshness.

Ion

Am I not to pay back murderers in their coin?

Pythian Priestess

Wives ever hate the children of a former marriage.

Ion

As I hate step-dames for their evil treatment of me.
1330

Pythian Priestess

Do not so; but leaving, as thou art, the shrine, and setting forth for thy country—

Ion

What then wouldst thou advise me do?

Pythian Priestess

With clean hands seek Athens , attended by good omens.

Ion

Surely any man hath clean hands who slays his enemies.

Pythian Priestess

Do not thou do this; but take the counsel that I have for thee.
1335

Ion

Say on; whate’er thou say’st will be prompted by thy good will.

Pythian Priestess

Dost see this basket that I carry in my arms?

Ion

An ancient ark with chaplets crowned.

Pythian Priestess

Herein I found thee long ago, a newborn babe.

Ion

What sayest thou? there is novelty in the story thou art introducing.
1340

Pythian Priestess

Yea, for I was keeping these relics a secret, but now I show them.

Ion

How earnest thou to hide them on that day, now long ago, when thou didst find me?

Pythian Priestess

The god wished to have thee as his servant in his courts.

Ion

Does he no longer wish it? How am I to know this?

Pythian Priestess

By declaring to thee thy sire, he dismisses thee from this land.
1345

Ion

Is it by his command thou keepest these relics, or why?

Pythian Priestess

Loxias put in my heart that day—

Ion

What purpose? Oh! speak, finish thy story.

Pythian Priestess

To preserve what I had found until the present time.

Ion

What weal or woe doth this import to me?
1350

Pythian Priestess

Herein were laid the swaddling-clothes in which thou wert enwrapped.

Ion

These relics thou art producing may help me to find my mother.

Pythian Priestess

Yes, for now the deity so wills it, though not before.

Ion

Hail! thou day of visions blest to me!

Pythian Priestess

Take then the relics and seek thy mother diligently.
1355

¹And when thou hast traversed Asia and the bounds of Europe,

thou wilt learn this for thyself; for the god’s sake I reared thee, my child, and now to thee do I entrust these relics, which he willed that I should take

into my safe keeping, without being bidden; why he willed it I cannot tell thee. For no living soul wist that I had them in my possession, nor yet their hiding-place. And now farewell! as a mother might her child, so I greet thee. The starting-point of thy inquiry for thy mother must be this;
1360

first, was it a Delphian maid that gave birth to thee, and exposed thee in this temple; next, was it a daughter of Hellas at all? That is all that I and Phoebus, who shares in thy lot, can do for thee. [Exit Pythian Priestess.
1365

Ion (OCR draft) Experimental (Ion. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

No corresponding passage available

Ion, English translation (A. W. Verrall, 1890) (OCR draft) Experimental (A. W. Verrall's English verse translation, passage-aligned to the Murray reference edition.)

No corresponding passage available

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1852; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 3, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1852. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.) — 1320 focus

Halt ein, o Sohn! Den gottbetrauten Seherstuhl

Verlassend, überschreit' ich diese Schranken hier,

Apolls Prophetin, die des Stuhles alten Brauch
1300

Zu wahren, ausersehen ward aus Delphi's Frau'n.

Jon.

Heil, Theure! Mutter, wenn du mich auch nicht gebarst!

Pythia.

So mag ich heißen: mir gefällt der Name wohl.

Jon.

Vernahmst du, wie mir diese Tod bereitete?

Pythia.

Gewiß; indeß auch deine Rache geht zu weit.
1305

Jon.

Ich dürfte den nicht todten, der mich todten will?,

Pythia.

Stets sind die Frau'n den Kindern erster Ehe gram.

Jon.

Stiefmuttern wir auch, thaten sie uns Böses an.

Pythia.

Nicht also! Nun vom Tempel du nach Hause ziehst -

Jon.

Was soll ich da beginnen, was gebeutst du mir?
1310

Pythia.

Komm rein zur Stadt mit guten Vorbedeutungen.¹

Jon.

Rein ist ja Jeder, dessen Hand den Feind erschlug.

Pythia.

Thu's nicht, und höre, was ich weiter sagen will.

Jon.

Sprich! Wohlgemeint ist Alles, was du reden magst.

Pythia.

Du siehest dieses Körbchen hier in meinem Arm?
1315

Jon.

Ein altes, das mit Båndern rings umwunden ist.

Pythia.

Ich fand in ihm als neugebornes Kind dich einst.

Jon.

Wie sagst du? Diese Kunde klingt mir wunderſam.

Pythia.

Verschwiegen hab' ich's immer; nun enthull' ich es.

Jon.

Warum verbargst du's, da du schon so lang mich fandst?
1320

Pythia.

Zu seinem Diener wollte dich Apollon hier.

Jon.

Und jezo nicht mehr? Doch woraus erkenn' ich das?

Pythia.

Den Vater zeigend, läßt er dich von hinnen ziehn.

Jon.

Bewahrtest du's freiwillig oder auf Befehl?

Pythia.

Mein Gott Apollon prägte tief in's Herz mir ein
1325

Jon.

Und was zu thun? Vollende deine Reden, Frau!

Pythia.

Bewahren müss' ich solchen Fund bis diesen Tag.

Jon.

Und welchen Vortheil, welchen Nachtheil bringt er mir?

Pythia.

Hier sind die Windeln eingehullt, worin du lagst.

Jon.

Du nennst mir Zeichen, auszuspahn der Mutter Spur.
1330

Pythia.

Weil's nun die Gottheit also fügt und früher nicht.

Jon.

Heil diesem Tag, der sel'ge Wunder mir enthullt!

Pythia.

So nimm es denn, spåh' eifrig deiner Mutter nach,

Und durch Europa wandre rings und Asia,

Und forsche selber. Ich erzog dich, liebes Kind,
1335

Dem Gott zulieb und übergebe nun an dich,

Was Phobos wollte, daß ich's ungeheißen fand

Und wahrte. Seines Wollens Grund errath' ich nicht.

Indessen war es auf der Welt Niemanden kund,

Daß wir es hatten, oder wo's verborgen war.
1340

Nun lebe wohl! Gleich einer Mutter lieb' ich dich.

Beginne sie zu suchen, wo du suchen mußt:

Erst forsche nach, ob eine Jungfrau Delphens dich

Geboren und an diesem Tempel ausgesezt,

Dann, ob ein Weib in Hellas. Alles weißt du jezt
1345

Von uns und Phobos, der das Schicksal so gelenkt.

(Sie zieht sich in den Tempel zurück.)

Jon.

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Ἴων χαῖρʼ, ὦ φίλη μοι μῆτερ, οὐ τεκοῦσά περ.

Προφῆτις ἀλλʼ οὖν λεγώμεθʼ· ἡ φάτις δʼ οὔ μοι πικρά. 1325

Ἴων ἤκουσας ὥς μʼ ἔκτεινεν ἥδε μηχαναῖς;

Προφῆτις ἤκουσα· καὶ σὺ δʼ ὠμὸς ὢν ἁμαρτάνεις.

Ἴων οὐ χρή με τοὺς κτείνοντας ἀνταπολλύναι;

Προφῆτις προγονοῖς δάμαρτες δυσμενεῖς ἀεί ποτε.

Ἴων ἡμεῖς δὲ μητρυιαῖς γε πάσχοντες κακῶς. 1330

Προφῆτις μὴ ταῦτα· λείπων ἱερὰ καὶ στείχων πάτραν

Ἴων τί δή με δρᾶσαι νουθετούμενον χρεών;

Προφῆτις καθαρὸς Ἀθήνας ἔλθʼ ὑπʼ οἰωνῶν καλῶν.

Ἴων καθαρὸς ἅπας τοι πολεμίους ὃς ἂν κτάνῃ.

Προφῆτις μὴ σύ γε· παρʼ ἡμῶν δʼ ἔκλαβʼ οὓς ἔχω λόγους. 1335

Ἴων λέγοις ἄν· εὔνους δʼ οὖσʼ ἐρεῖς ὅσʼ ἂν λέγῃς.

Προφῆτις ὁρᾷς τόδʼ ἄγγος χερὸς ὑπʼ ἀγκάλαις ἐμαῖς;

Ἴων ὁρῶ παλαιὰν ἀντίπηγʼ ἐν στέμμασιν.

Προφῆτις ἐν τῇδέ σʼ ἔλαβον νεόγονον βρέφος ποτέ.

Ἴων τί φῄς; ὁ μῦθος εἰσενήνεκται νέος. 1340

Προφῆτις σιγῇ γὰρ εἶχον αὐτά· νῦν δὲ δείκνυμεν.

Ἴων πῶς οὖν ἔκρυπτες τόδε λαβοῦσʼ ἡμᾶς πάλαι;

Προφῆτις ὁ θεός σʼ ἐβούλετʼ ἐν δόμοις ἔχειν λάτριν.

Ἴων νῦν δʼ οὐχὶ χρῄζει; τῷ τόδε γνῶναί με χρή;

Προφῆτις πατέρα κατειπὼν τῆσδέ σʼ ἐκπέμπει χθονός. 1345

Ἴων σὺ δʼ ἐκ κελευσμῶν ἢ πόθεν σῴζεις τάδε;

Προφῆτις ἐνθύμιόν μοι τότε τίθησι Λοξίας

Ἴων τί χρῆμα δρᾶσαι; λέγε, πέραινε σοὺς λόγους.

Προφῆτις σῶσαι τόδʼ εὕρημʼ ἐς τὸν ὄντα νῦν χρόνον.

Ἴων ἔχει δέ μοι τί κέρδος ἢ τίνα βλάβην; 1350

Προφῆτις ἐνθάδε κέκρυπται σπάργανʼ οἷς ἐνῆσθα σύ.

Ἴων μητρὸς τάδʼ ἡμῖν ἐκφέρεις ζητήματα;

Προφῆτις ἐπεί γʼ ὁ δαίμων βούλεται· πάροιθε δʼ οὔ.

Ἴων ὦ μακαρίων μοι φασμάτων ἥδʼ ἡμέρα.

Προφῆτις λαβών νυν αὐτὰ τὴν τεκοῦσαν ἐκπόνει. 1355

Ἴων πᾶσάν γʼ ἐπελθὼν Ἀσιάδʼ Εὐρώπης θʼ ὅρους.

Current edition Perseus

Pythian Priestess Refrain thyself, my son; for I, the priestess of Phoebus, chosen from all the maids of Delphi in accordance with the tripod’s ancient rite, have left that prophetic seat, and am passing o’er this threshold. 1320

Ion Hail to thee, dear mother mine,—mother, though thou didst not give me birth.

Pythian Priestess Yes, so have I ever been called, and the title causes me no regret. 1325

Ion Hast heard how this woman plotted my death?

Pythian Priestess I have; thou, too, art wrong because of thy harshness.

Ion Am I not to pay back murderers in their coin?

Pythian Priestess Wives ever hate the children of a former marriage.

Ion As I hate step-dames for their evil treatment of me. 1330

Pythian Priestess Do not so; but leaving, as thou art, the shrine, and setting forth for thy country—

Ion What then wouldst thou advise me do?

Pythian Priestess With clean hands seek Athens , attended by good omens.

Ion Surely any man hath clean hands who slays his enemies.

Pythian Priestess Do not thou do this; but take the counsel that I have for thee. 1335

Ion Say on; whate’er thou say’st will be prompted by thy good will.

Pythian Priestess Dost see this basket that I carry in my arms?

Ion An ancient ark with chaplets crowned.

Pythian Priestess Herein I found thee long ago, a newborn babe.

Ion What sayest thou? there is novelty in the story thou art introducing. 1340

Pythian Priestess Yea, for I was keeping these relics a secret, but now I show them.

Ion How earnest thou to hide them on that day, now long ago, when thou didst find me?

Pythian Priestess The god wished to have thee as his servant in his courts.

Ion Does he no longer wish it? How am I to know this?

Pythian Priestess By declaring to thee thy sire, he dismisses thee from this land. 1345

Ion Is it by his command thou keepest these relics, or why?

Pythian Priestess Loxias put in my heart that day—

Ion What purpose? Oh! speak, finish thy story.

Pythian Priestess To preserve what I had found until the present time.

Ion What weal or woe doth this import to me? 1350

Pythian Priestess Herein were laid the swaddling-clothes in which thou wert enwrapped.

Ion These relics thou art producing may help me to find my mother.

Pythian Priestess Yes, for now the deity so wills it, though not before.

Ion Hail! thou day of visions blest to me!

Halt ein, o Sohn! Den gottbetrauten Seherstuhl Verlassend, überschreit' ich diese Schranken hier, Apolls Prophetin, die des Stuhles alten Brauch 1300 Zu wahren, ausersehen ward aus Delphi's Frau'n.

Jon. Heil, Theure! Mutter, wenn du mich auch nicht gebarst!

Pythia. So mag ich heißen: mir gefällt der Name wohl.

Jon. Vernahmst du, wie mir diese Tod bereitete?

Pythia. Gewiß; indeß auch deine Rache geht zu weit. 1305

Jon. Ich dürfte den nicht todten, der mich todten will?,

Pythia. Stets sind die Frau'n den Kindern erster Ehe gram.

Jon. Stiefmuttern wir auch, thaten sie uns Böses an.

Pythia. Nicht also! Nun vom Tempel du nach Hause ziehst -

Jon. Was soll ich da beginnen, was gebeutst du mir? 1310

Pythia. Komm rein zur Stadt mit guten Vorbedeutungen. 1

Jon. Rein ist ja Jeder, dessen Hand den Feind erschlug.

Ἴων

χαῖρʼ, ὦ φίλη μοι μῆτερ, οὐ τεκοῦσά περ.

Προφῆτις

ἀλλʼ οὖν λεγώμεθʼ· ἡ φάτις δʼ οὔ μοι πικρά.
1325

Ἴων

ἤκουσας ὥς μʼ ἔκτεινεν ἥδε μηχαναῖς;

Προφῆτις

ἤκουσα· καὶ σὺ δʼ ὠμὸς ὢν ἁμαρτάνεις.

Ἴων

οὐ χρή με τοὺς κτείνοντας ἀνταπολλύναι;

Προφῆτις

προγονοῖς δάμαρτες δυσμενεῖς ἀεί ποτε.

Ἴων

ἡμεῖς δὲ μητρυιαῖς γε πάσχοντες κακῶς.
1330

Προφῆτις

μὴ ταῦτα· λείπων ἱερὰ καὶ στείχων πάτραν

Ἴων

τί δή με δρᾶσαι νουθετούμενον χρεών;

Προφῆτις

καθαρὸς Ἀθήνας ἔλθʼ ὑπʼ οἰωνῶν καλῶν.

Ἴων

καθαρὸς ἅπας τοι πολεμίους ὃς ἂν κτάνῃ.

Προφῆτις

μὴ σύ γε· παρʼ ἡμῶν δʼ ἔκλαβʼ οὓς ἔχω λόγους.
1335

Ἴων

λέγοις ἄν· εὔνους δʼ οὖσʼ ἐρεῖς ὅσʼ ἂν λέγῃς.

Προφῆτις

ὁρᾷς τόδʼ ἄγγος χερὸς ὑπʼ ἀγκάλαις ἐμαῖς;

Ἴων

ὁρῶ παλαιὰν ἀντίπηγʼ ἐν στέμμασιν.

Προφῆτις

ἐν τῇδέ σʼ ἔλαβον νεόγονον βρέφος ποτέ.

Ἴων

τί φῄς; ὁ μῦθος εἰσενήνεκται νέος.
1340

Προφῆτις

σιγῇ γὰρ εἶχον αὐτά· νῦν δὲ δείκνυμεν.

Ἴων

πῶς οὖν ἔκρυπτες τόδε λαβοῦσʼ ἡμᾶς πάλαι;

Προφῆτις

ὁ θεός σʼ ἐβούλετʼ ἐν δόμοις ἔχειν λάτριν.

Ἴων

νῦν δʼ οὐχὶ χρῄζει; τῷ τόδε γνῶναί με χρή;

Προφῆτις

πατέρα κατειπὼν τῆσδέ σʼ ἐκπέμπει χθονός.
1345

Ἴων

σὺ δʼ ἐκ κελευσμῶν ἢ πόθεν σῴζεις τάδε;

Προφῆτις

ἐνθύμιόν μοι τότε τίθησι Λοξίας

Ἴων

τί χρῆμα δρᾶσαι; λέγε, πέραινε σοὺς λόγους.

Προφῆτις

σῶσαι τόδʼ εὕρημʼ ἐς τὸν ὄντα νῦν χρόνον.

Ἴων

ἔχει δέ μοι τί κέρδος ἢ τίνα βλάβην;
1350

Προφῆτις

ἐνθάδε κέκρυπται σπάργανʼ οἷς ἐνῆσθα σύ.

Ἴων

μητρὸς τάδʼ ἡμῖν ἐκφέρεις ζητήματα;

Προφῆτις

ἐπεί γʼ ὁ δαίμων βούλεται· πάροιθε δʼ οὔ.

Ἴων

ὦ μακαρίων μοι φασμάτων ἥδʼ ἡμέρα.

Προφῆτις

λαβών νυν αὐτὰ τὴν τεκοῦσαν ἐκπόνει.
1355

Ἴων

πᾶσάν γʼ ἐπελθὼν Ἀσιάδʼ Εὐρώπης θʼ ὅρους.

Pythian Priestess

Refrain thyself, my son; for I, the priestess of Phoebus, chosen from all the maids of Delphi in accordance with the tripod’s ancient rite, have left that prophetic seat, and am passing o’er this threshold.
1320

Ion

Hail to thee, dear mother mine,—mother, though thou didst not give me birth.

Pythian Priestess

Yes, so have I ever been called, and the title causes me no regret.
1325

Ion

Hast heard how this woman plotted my death?

Pythian Priestess

I have; thou, too, art wrong because of thy harshness.

Ion

Am I not to pay back murderers in their coin?

Pythian Priestess

Wives ever hate the children of a former marriage.

Ion

As I hate step-dames for their evil treatment of me.
1330

Pythian Priestess

Do not so; but leaving, as thou art, the shrine, and setting forth for thy country—

Ion

What then wouldst thou advise me do?

Pythian Priestess

With clean hands seek Athens , attended by good omens.

Ion

Surely any man hath clean hands who slays his enemies.

Pythian Priestess

Do not thou do this; but take the counsel that I have for thee.
1335

Ion

Say on; whate’er thou say’st will be prompted by thy good will.

Pythian Priestess

Dost see this basket that I carry in my arms?

Ion

An ancient ark with chaplets crowned.

Pythian Priestess

Herein I found thee long ago, a newborn babe.

Ion

What sayest thou? there is novelty in the story thou art introducing.
1340

Pythian Priestess

Yea, for I was keeping these relics a secret, but now I show them.

Ion

How earnest thou to hide them on that day, now long ago, when thou didst find me?

Pythian Priestess

The god wished to have thee as his servant in his courts.

Ion

Does he no longer wish it? How am I to know this?

Pythian Priestess

By declaring to thee thy sire, he dismisses thee from this land.
1345

Ion

Is it by his command thou keepest these relics, or why?

Pythian Priestess

Loxias put in my heart that day—

Ion

What purpose? Oh! speak, finish thy story.

Pythian Priestess

To preserve what I had found until the present time.

Ion

What weal or woe doth this import to me?
1350

Pythian Priestess

Herein were laid the swaddling-clothes in which thou wert enwrapped.

Ion

These relics thou art producing may help me to find my mother.

Pythian Priestess

Yes, for now the deity so wills it, though not before.

Ion

Hail! thou day of visions blest to me!

Halt ein, o Sohn! Den gottbetrauten Seherstuhl

Verlassend, überschreit' ich diese Schranken hier,

Apolls Prophetin, die des Stuhles alten Brauch
1300

Zu wahren, ausersehen ward aus Delphi's Frau'n.

Jon.

Heil, Theure! Mutter, wenn du mich auch nicht gebarst!

Pythia.

So mag ich heißen: mir gefällt der Name wohl.

Jon.

Vernahmst du, wie mir diese Tod bereitete?

Pythia.

Gewiß; indeß auch deine Rache geht zu weit.
1305

Jon.

Ich dürfte den nicht todten, der mich todten will?,

Pythia.

Stets sind die Frau'n den Kindern erster Ehe gram.

Jon.

Stiefmuttern wir auch, thaten sie uns Böses an.

Pythia.

Nicht also! Nun vom Tempel du nach Hause ziehst -

Jon.

Was soll ich da beginnen, was gebeutst du mir?
1310

Pythia.

Komm rein zur Stadt mit guten Vorbedeutungen.¹

Jon.

Rein ist ja Jeder, dessen Hand den Feind erschlug.

Pythia.

Thu's nicht, und höre, was ich weiter sagen will.

Jon.

Sprich! Wohlgemeint ist Alles, was du reden magst.

Pythia.

Du siehest dieses Körbchen hier in meinem Arm?
1315