Euripides, Ion, ed. Gilbert Murray, 275

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Ἴων

εἶἑν·
275

τί δαὶ τόδʼ; ἆρʼ ἀληθὲς ἢ μάτην λόγος

Κρέουσα

τί χρῆμʼ ἐρωτᾷς; καὶ γὰρ οὐ κάμνω σχολῇ.

Ἴων

πατὴρ Ἐρεχθεὺς σὰς ἔθυσε συγγόνους;

Κρέουσα

ἔτλη πρὸ γαίας σφάγια παρθένους κτανεῖν.

Ἴων

σὺ δʼ ἐξεσώθης πῶς κασιγνήτων μόνη;

Κρέουσα

βρέφος νεογνὸν μητρὸς ἦν ἐν ἀγκάλαις.
280

Ἴων

πατέρα δʼ ἀληθῶς χάσμα σὸν κρύπτει χθονός;

Κρέουσα

πληγαὶ τριαίνης ποντίου σφʼ ἀπώλεσαν.

Ἴων

Μακραὶ δὲ χῶρός ἐστʼ ἐκεῖ κεκλημένος;

Κρέουσα

τί δʼ ἱστορεῖς τόδʼ; ὥς μʼ ἀνέμνησάς τινος.

Ἴων

τιμᾷ σφε Πύθιος ἀστραπαί τε Πύθιαι.
285

Κρέουσα

τιμᾶ τιμᾶ· ὡς μήποτʼ ὤφελόν σφʼ ἰδεῖν.

Ἴων

τί δὲ στυγεῖς σὺ τοῦ θεοῦ τὰ φίλτατα;

Κρέουσα

οὐδέν· ξύνοιδʼ ἄντροισιν αἰσχύνην τινά.

Ἴων

πόσις δὲ τίς σʼ ἔγημʼ Ἀθηναίων, γύναι;

Κρέουσα

οὐκ ἀστός, ἀλλʼ ἐπακτὸς ἐξ ἄλλης χθονός.
290

Ἴων

τίς; εὐγενῆ νιν δεῖ πεφυκέναι τινά.

Κρέουσα

Ξοῦθος, πεφυκὼς Αἰόλου Διός τʼ ἄπο.

Ἴων

καὶ πῶς ξένος σʼ ὢν ἔσχεν οὖσαν ἐγγενῆ;

Κρέουσα

Εὔβοιʼ Ἀθήναις ἔστι τις γείτων πόλις

Ἴων

ὅροις ὑγροῖσιν, ὡς λέγουσʼ, ὡρισμένη.
295

Κρέουσα

ταύτην ἔπερσε Κεκροπίδαις κοινῷ δορί.

Ἴων

ἐπίκουρος ἐλθών; κᾆτα σὸν γαμεῖ λέχος;

Κρέουσα

φερνάς γε πολέμου καὶ δορὸς λαβὼν γέρας.

Ἴων

σὺν ἀνδρὶ δʼ ἥκεις ἢ μόνη χρηστήρια;

Κρέουσα

σὺν ἀνδρί. σηκοὺς δʼ ἐκστρέφει Τροφωνίου.
300

Ἴων

πότερα θεατὴς ἢ χάριν μαντευμάτων;

Κρέουσα

κείνου τε Φοίβου θʼ ἓν θέλων μαθεῖν ἔπος.

Ἴων

καρποῦ δʼ ὕπερ γῆς ἥκετʼ, ἢ παίδων πέρι;

Κρέουσα

ἄπαιδές ἐσμεν, χρόνιʼ ἔχοντʼ εὐνήματα.

Ἴων

οὐδʼ ἔτεκες οὐδὲν πώποτʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄτεκνος εἶ;
305

Κρέουσα

ὁ Φοῖβος οἶδε τὴν ἐμὴν ἀπαιδίαν.

Ἴων

ὦ τλῆμον, ὡς τἄλλʼ εὐτυχοῦσʼ οὐκ εὐτυχεῖς.

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.) — 275 focus

Ion

Even so. But what of this next story? Is it true or groundless?
275

Creusa

What is thy question? Ask on, I have no calls upon my leisure.

Ion

Did thy sire Erechtheus offer thy sisters as a sacrifice?

Creusa

For his country’s sake he did endure to slay the maids as victims.

Ion

And how didst thou, alone of al thy sisters, escape?

Creusa

I was still a tender babe in my mother’s arms.
280

Ion

Did the earth really open its mouth and swallow thy father?

Creusa

The sea-god smote and slew him with his trident.

Ion

Is there a spot there called Macrae?

Creusa

Why ask that? what memories thou recallest!

Ion

Doth the Pythian god with his flashing fire do honour to the place?
285

Creusa

Honour, yes! Honour, indeed! would I had never seen the spot!

Ion

How now? dost thou abhor that which the god holds dear?

Creusa

No, no; but I and that cave are witnesses of a deed of shame.

Ion

Lady, who is the Athenian lord that calls thee wife?

Creusa

No citizen of Athens , but a stranger from another land.
290

Ion

Who is he? he must have been one of noble birth.

Creusa

Xuthus, son of Aeolus, sprung from Zeus.

Ion

And how did he, a stranger, win thee a native born?

Creusa

Hard by Athens lies a neighbouring township, Euboea.

Ion

With a bounding line of waters in between, so I have heard.
295

Creusa

This did he sack, making common cause with Cecrops’ sons.

Ion

Coming as an ally, maybe; he won thy hand for this?

Creusa

Yes, this was his dower of battle, the prize of his prowess.

Ion

Art thou come to the oracle alone, or with thy lord?

Creusa

With him. But he is now visiting the cavern of Trophonius.
300

Ion

As a spectator merely, or to consult the oracle?

Creusa

’Tis his wish to hear the self-same answer from Trophonius and Phoebus too.

Ion

Is it to seek earth’s produce or fruit of offspring that ye come?

Creusa

We are childless, though wedded these many years.

Ion

Hast thou never been a mother? art thou wholly childless?
305

Creusa

Phoebus knows whether I am childless.

Ion

Unhappy wife! how this doth mar thy fortune else so happy!

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.) — 275 focus

Doch - ist es richtig, oder nur ein leer Gerücht -

Kreusa.

Was willst du wissen? Gerne gonn' ich dir die Zeit.

Jon.

Daß einst Erechtheus deine Schwestern opferte?¹
275

Kreusa.

Er gab entschlossen für das Land die Töchter hin.

Jon.

Nur du von deinen Schwestern kamst davon, und wie?

Kreusa.

Ich lag, ein neugebornes Kind, im Mutterarm.

Jon.

Barg deinen Vater wirklich dann ein Erdenschlund?

Kreusa.

Mit seines Dreizacks Schlagen tilgt Poseidon ihn.²
280

Jon.

Und Makrå heißt die Ståtte, wo dein Vater starb?

Kreusa.

Was fragst du dies? Erinnerungen weckst du mir

Jon.

Sie liebt Apollon, Phobos' Bliz liebt diesen Ort.³

Kreusa.

Er liebt, er liebt ihn? Daß ich ihn doch nie gesehn!⁴

Jon.

Wie? Kannst du hassen, was dem Gott sein Liebstes ist?
285

Kreusa.

Nein; einen Frevel weiß ich, in der Kluft verübt.

Jon.

Doch welcher Athender, Frau, war dein Gemahl?

Kreusa.

Kein Bürger; Fremdling, kam er her aus fernem Land.

Jon.

Wer ist es? Edel muß er wohl geboren sein.

Kreusa.

Der Aeolide Xuthos, der Zeus' Enkel war.
290

Jon.

Wie ward der Fremdling dein Gemahl, der Bürgerin?

Kreusa.

Eubda lehnt sich nachbarlich an Attika

Jon.

Durch Wasserscheiden, sagen sie, von ihm getrennt.

Kreusa.

Im Bund mit Kekrops' Enkeln nahm er dieses Land.

Jon.

Ihr treuer Helfer, und erhielt dann deine Hand?
295

Kreusa.

Als Kriegesmitgift, als des Kampfes Ehrensold.

Jon.

Du kamst allein her, oder in des Gatten Hut?

Kreusa.

Mit ihm: Trophonios' Heiligthum, besucht er noch.⁵

Jon.

Nur um zu schauen? Oder wunscht er einen Spruch?

Kreusa.

Von ihm und Phobos will er Eins erkundigen.
300

Jon.

Um Kinder kommt ihr oder um des Feldes Frucht?

Kreusa.

Vereint in langer Ehe, sind wir kinderlos.

Jo.

So hast du nie geboren, warst nie Mutter, Frau?

Apollon weiß um meine Kinderlosigkeit.

Jon.

Unsel'ge, sonst so glucklich, doch nicht glucklich hier!
305

Kreusa.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Ἴων εἶἑν· 275 τί δαὶ τόδʼ; ἆρʼ ἀληθὲς ἢ μάτην λόγος

Κρέουσα τί χρῆμʼ ἐρωτᾷς; καὶ γὰρ οὐ κάμνω σχολῇ.

Ἴων πατὴρ Ἐρεχθεὺς σὰς ἔθυσε συγγόνους;

Κρέουσα ἔτλη πρὸ γαίας σφάγια παρθένους κτανεῖν.

Ἴων σὺ δʼ ἐξεσώθης πῶς κασιγνήτων μόνη;

Κρέουσα βρέφος νεογνὸν μητρὸς ἦν ἐν ἀγκάλαις. 280

Ἴων πατέρα δʼ ἀληθῶς χάσμα σὸν κρύπτει χθονός;

Κρέουσα πληγαὶ τριαίνης ποντίου σφʼ ἀπώλεσαν.

Ἴων Μακραὶ δὲ χῶρός ἐστʼ ἐκεῖ κεκλημένος;

Κρέουσα τί δʼ ἱστορεῖς τόδʼ; ὥς μʼ ἀνέμνησάς τινος.

Ἴων τιμᾷ σφε Πύθιος ἀστραπαί τε Πύθιαι. 285

Κρέουσα τιμᾶ τιμᾶ· ὡς μήποτʼ ὤφελόν σφʼ ἰδεῖν.

Ἴων τί δὲ στυγεῖς σὺ τοῦ θεοῦ τὰ φίλτατα;

Κρέουσα οὐδέν· ξύνοιδʼ ἄντροισιν αἰσχύνην τινά.

Ἴων πόσις δὲ τίς σʼ ἔγημʼ Ἀθηναίων, γύναι;

Κρέουσα οὐκ ἀστός, ἀλλʼ ἐπακτὸς ἐξ ἄλλης χθονός. 290

Ἴων τίς; εὐγενῆ νιν δεῖ πεφυκέναι τινά.

Κρέουσα Ξοῦθος, πεφυκὼς Αἰόλου Διός τʼ ἄπο.

Ἴων καὶ πῶς ξένος σʼ ὢν ἔσχεν οὖσαν ἐγγενῆ;

Κρέουσα Εὔβοιʼ Ἀθήναις ἔστι τις γείτων πόλις

Ἴων ὅροις ὑγροῖσιν, ὡς λέγουσʼ, ὡρισμένη. 295

Κρέουσα ταύτην ἔπερσε Κεκροπίδαις κοινῷ δορί.

Ἴων ἐπίκουρος ἐλθών; κᾆτα σὸν γαμεῖ λέχος;

Κρέουσα φερνάς γε πολέμου καὶ δορὸς λαβὼν γέρας.

Ἴων σὺν ἀνδρὶ δʼ ἥκεις ἢ μόνη χρηστήρια;

Κρέουσα σὺν ἀνδρί. σηκοὺς δʼ ἐκστρέφει Τροφωνίου. 300

Ἴων πότερα θεατὴς ἢ χάριν μαντευμάτων;

Κρέουσα κείνου τε Φοίβου θʼ ἓν θέλων μαθεῖν ἔπος.

Ἴων καρποῦ δʼ ὕπερ γῆς ἥκετʼ, ἢ παίδων πέρι;

Κρέουσα ἄπαιδές ἐσμεν, χρόνιʼ ἔχοντʼ εὐνήματα.

Ἴων οὐδʼ ἔτεκες οὐδὲν πώποτʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄτεκνος εἶ; 305

Κρέουσα ὁ Φοῖβος οἶδε τὴν ἐμὴν ἀπαιδίαν.

Ἴων ὦ τλῆμον, ὡς τἄλλʼ εὐτυχοῦσʼ οὐκ εὐτυχεῖς.

Current edition Perseus

Ion Even so. But what of this next story? Is it true or groundless? 275

Creusa What is thy question? Ask on, I have no calls upon my leisure.

Ion Did thy sire Erechtheus offer thy sisters as a sacrifice?

Creusa For his country’s sake he did endure to slay the maids as victims.

Ion And how didst thou, alone of al thy sisters, escape?

Creusa I was still a tender babe in my mother’s arms. 280

Ion Did the earth really open its mouth and swallow thy father?

Creusa The sea-god smote and slew him with his trident.

Ion Is there a spot there called Macrae?

Creusa Why ask that? what memories thou recallest!

Ion Doth the Pythian god with his flashing fire do honour to the place? 285

Creusa Honour, yes! Honour, indeed! would I had never seen the spot!

Ion How now? dost thou abhor that which the god holds dear?

Creusa No, no; but I and that cave are witnesses of a deed of shame.

Ion Lady, who is the Athenian lord that calls thee wife?

Creusa No citizen of Athens , but a stranger from another land. 290

Ion Who is he? he must have been one of noble birth.

Creusa Xuthus, son of Aeolus, sprung from Zeus.

Ion And how did he, a stranger, win thee a native born?

Creusa Hard by Athens lies a neighbouring township, Euboea.

Ion With a bounding line of waters in between, so I have heard. 295

Creusa This did he sack, making common cause with Cecrops’ sons.

Ion Coming as an ally, maybe; he won thy hand for this?

Creusa Yes, this was his dower of battle, the prize of his prowess.

Ion Art thou come to the oracle alone, or with thy lord?

Creusa With him. But he is now visiting the cavern of Trophonius. 300

Ion As a spectator merely, or to consult the oracle?

Creusa ’Tis his wish to hear the self-same answer from Trophonius and Phoebus too.

Ion Is it to seek earth’s produce or fruit of offspring that ye come?

Creusa We are childless, though wedded these many years.

Ion Hast thou never been a mother? art thou wholly childless? 305

Creusa Phoebus knows whether I am childless.

Ion Unhappy wife! how this doth mar thy fortune else so happy!

Doch - ist es richtig, oder nur ein leer Gerücht -

Kreusa. Was willst du wissen? Gerne gonn' ich dir die Zeit.

Jon. Daß einst Erechtheus deine Schwestern opferte? 1 275

Kreusa. Er gab entschlossen für das Land die Töchter hin.

Jon. Nur du von deinen Schwestern kamst davon, und wie?

Kreusa. Ich lag, ein neugebornes Kind, im Mutterarm.

Jon. Barg deinen Vater wirklich dann ein Erdenschlund?

Kreusa. Mit seines Dreizacks Schlagen tilgt Poseidon ihn. 2 280

Jon. Und Makrå heißt die Ståtte, wo dein Vater starb?

Kreusa. Was fragst du dies? Erinnerungen weckst du mir

Jon. Sie liebt Apollon, Phobos' Bliz liebt diesen Ort. 3

Ἴων

εἶἑν·
275

τί δαὶ τόδʼ; ἆρʼ ἀληθὲς ἢ μάτην λόγος

Κρέουσα

τί χρῆμʼ ἐρωτᾷς; καὶ γὰρ οὐ κάμνω σχολῇ.

Ἴων

πατὴρ Ἐρεχθεὺς σὰς ἔθυσε συγγόνους;

Κρέουσα

ἔτλη πρὸ γαίας σφάγια παρθένους κτανεῖν.

Ἴων

σὺ δʼ ἐξεσώθης πῶς κασιγνήτων μόνη;

Κρέουσα

βρέφος νεογνὸν μητρὸς ἦν ἐν ἀγκάλαις.
280

Ἴων

πατέρα δʼ ἀληθῶς χάσμα σὸν κρύπτει χθονός;

Κρέουσα

πληγαὶ τριαίνης ποντίου σφʼ ἀπώλεσαν.

Ἴων

Μακραὶ δὲ χῶρός ἐστʼ ἐκεῖ κεκλημένος;

Κρέουσα

τί δʼ ἱστορεῖς τόδʼ; ὥς μʼ ἀνέμνησάς τινος.

Ἴων

τιμᾷ σφε Πύθιος ἀστραπαί τε Πύθιαι.
285

Κρέουσα

τιμᾶ τιμᾶ· ὡς μήποτʼ ὤφελόν σφʼ ἰδεῖν.

Ἴων

τί δὲ στυγεῖς σὺ τοῦ θεοῦ τὰ φίλτατα;

Κρέουσα

οὐδέν· ξύνοιδʼ ἄντροισιν αἰσχύνην τινά.

Ἴων

πόσις δὲ τίς σʼ ἔγημʼ Ἀθηναίων, γύναι;

Κρέουσα

οὐκ ἀστός, ἀλλʼ ἐπακτὸς ἐξ ἄλλης χθονός.
290

Ἴων

τίς; εὐγενῆ νιν δεῖ πεφυκέναι τινά.

Κρέουσα

Ξοῦθος, πεφυκὼς Αἰόλου Διός τʼ ἄπο.

Ἴων

καὶ πῶς ξένος σʼ ὢν ἔσχεν οὖσαν ἐγγενῆ;

Κρέουσα

Εὔβοιʼ Ἀθήναις ἔστι τις γείτων πόλις

Ἴων

ὅροις ὑγροῖσιν, ὡς λέγουσʼ, ὡρισμένη.
295

Κρέουσα

ταύτην ἔπερσε Κεκροπίδαις κοινῷ δορί.

Ἴων

ἐπίκουρος ἐλθών; κᾆτα σὸν γαμεῖ λέχος;

Κρέουσα

φερνάς γε πολέμου καὶ δορὸς λαβὼν γέρας.

Ἴων

σὺν ἀνδρὶ δʼ ἥκεις ἢ μόνη χρηστήρια;

Κρέουσα

σὺν ἀνδρί. σηκοὺς δʼ ἐκστρέφει Τροφωνίου.
300

Ἴων

πότερα θεατὴς ἢ χάριν μαντευμάτων;

Κρέουσα

κείνου τε Φοίβου θʼ ἓν θέλων μαθεῖν ἔπος.

Ἴων

καρποῦ δʼ ὕπερ γῆς ἥκετʼ, ἢ παίδων πέρι;

Κρέουσα

ἄπαιδές ἐσμεν, χρόνιʼ ἔχοντʼ εὐνήματα.

Ἴων

οὐδʼ ἔτεκες οὐδὲν πώποτʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄτεκνος εἶ;
305

Κρέουσα

ὁ Φοῖβος οἶδε τὴν ἐμὴν ἀπαιδίαν.

Ἴων

ὦ τλῆμον, ὡς τἄλλʼ εὐτυχοῦσʼ οὐκ εὐτυχεῖς.

Ion

Even so. But what of this next story? Is it true or groundless?
275

Creusa

What is thy question? Ask on, I have no calls upon my leisure.

Ion

Did thy sire Erechtheus offer thy sisters as a sacrifice?

Creusa

For his country’s sake he did endure to slay the maids as victims.

Ion

And how didst thou, alone of al thy sisters, escape?

Creusa

I was still a tender babe in my mother’s arms.
280

Ion

Did the earth really open its mouth and swallow thy father?

Creusa

The sea-god smote and slew him with his trident.

Ion

Is there a spot there called Macrae?

Creusa

Why ask that? what memories thou recallest!

Ion

Doth the Pythian god with his flashing fire do honour to the place?
285

Creusa

Honour, yes! Honour, indeed! would I had never seen the spot!

Ion

How now? dost thou abhor that which the god holds dear?

Creusa

No, no; but I and that cave are witnesses of a deed of shame.

Ion

Lady, who is the Athenian lord that calls thee wife?

Creusa

No citizen of Athens , but a stranger from another land.
290

Ion

Who is he? he must have been one of noble birth.

Creusa

Xuthus, son of Aeolus, sprung from Zeus.

Ion

And how did he, a stranger, win thee a native born?

Creusa

Hard by Athens lies a neighbouring township, Euboea.

Ion

With a bounding line of waters in between, so I have heard.
295

Creusa

This did he sack, making common cause with Cecrops’ sons.

Ion

Coming as an ally, maybe; he won thy hand for this?

Creusa

Yes, this was his dower of battle, the prize of his prowess.

Ion

Art thou come to the oracle alone, or with thy lord?

Creusa

With him. But he is now visiting the cavern of Trophonius.
300

Ion

As a spectator merely, or to consult the oracle?

Creusa

’Tis his wish to hear the self-same answer from Trophonius and Phoebus too.

Ion

Is it to seek earth’s produce or fruit of offspring that ye come?

Creusa

We are childless, though wedded these many years.

Ion

Hast thou never been a mother? art thou wholly childless?
305

Creusa

Phoebus knows whether I am childless.

Ion

Unhappy wife! how this doth mar thy fortune else so happy!

Kreusa.

Was willst du wissen? Gerne gonn' ich dir die Zeit.

Jon.

Daß einst Erechtheus deine Schwestern opferte?¹
275

Kreusa.

Er gab entschlossen für das Land die Töchter hin.

Jon.

Nur du von deinen Schwestern kamst davon, und wie?

Kreusa.

Ich lag, ein neugebornes Kind, im Mutterarm.

Jon.

Barg deinen Vater wirklich dann ein Erdenschlund?

Kreusa.

Mit seines Dreizacks Schlagen tilgt Poseidon ihn.²
280

Jon.

Und Makrå heißt die Ståtte, wo dein Vater starb?

Kreusa.

Was fragst du dies? Erinnerungen weckst du mir

Jon.

Sie liebt Apollon, Phobos' Bliz liebt diesen Ort.³

Kreusa.

Er liebt, er liebt ihn? Daß ich ihn doch nie gesehn!⁴

Jon.

Wie? Kannst du hassen, was dem Gott sein Liebstes ist?
285

Kreusa.

Nein; einen Frevel weiß ich, in der Kluft verübt.

Jon.

Doch welcher Athender, Frau, war dein Gemahl?