Euripides, Ion, ed. Gilbert Murray, 308

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Κρέουσα

σὺ δʼ εἶ τίς; ὥς σου τὴν τεκοῦσαν ὤλβισα.

Ἴων

τοῦ θεοῦ καλοῦμαι δοῦλος εἰμί τʼ, ὦ γύναι.

Κρέουσα

ἀνάθημα πόλεως, ἤ τινος πραθεὶς ὕπο;
310

Ἴων

οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· Λοξίου κεκλήμεθα.

Κρέουσα

ἡμεῖς σʼ ἄρʼ αὖθις, ὦ ξένʼ, ἀντοικτίρομεν.

Ἴων

ὡς μὴ εἰδόθʼ ἥτις μʼ ἔτεκεν ἐξ ὅτου τʼ ἔφυν.

Κρέουσα

ναοῖσι δʼ οἰκεῖς τοισίδʼ ἢ κατὰ στέγας;

Ἴων

ἅπαν θεοῦ μοι δῶμʼ, ἵνʼ ἂν λάβῃ μʼ ὕπνος.
315

Κρέουσα

παῖς δʼ ὢν ἀφίκου ναὸν ἢ νεανίας;

Ἴων

βρέφος λέγουσιν οἱ δοκοῦντες εἰδέναι.

Κρέουσα

καὶ τίς γάλακτί σʼ ἐξέθρεψε Δελφίδων;

Ἴων

οὐπώποτʼ ἔγνων μαστόν· ἣ δʼ ἔθρεψέ με

Κρέουσα

τίς, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ; ὡς νοσοῦσʼ ηὗρον νόσους.
320

Ἴων

Φοίβου προφῆτις, μητέρʼ ὣς νομίζομεν.

Κρέουσα

ἐς δʼ ἄνδρʼ ἀφίκου τίνα τροφὴν κεκτημένος;

Ἴων

βωμοί μʼ ἔφερβον οὑπιών τʼ ἀεὶ ξένος.

Κρέουσα

τάλαινά σʼ ἡ τεκοῦσα· τίς ποτʼ ἦν ἄρα;

Ἴων

ἀδίκημά του γυναικὸς ἐγενόμην ἴσως.
325

Κρέουσα

ἔχεις δὲ βίοτον· εὖ γὰρ ἤσκησαι πέπλοις.

Ἴων

τοῖς τοῦ θεοῦ κοσμούμεθʼ, ᾧ δουλεύομεν.

Κρέουσα

οὐδʼ ᾖξας εἰς ἔρευναν ἐξευρεῖν γονάς;

Ἴων

ἔχω γὰρ οὐδέν, ὦ γύναι, τεκμήριον.

Κρέουσα

φεῦ·
330

πέπονθέ τις σῇ μητρὶ ταὔτʼ ἄλλη γυνή.

Ἴων

τίς; εἰ πόνου μοι ξυλλάβοι, χαίροιμεν ἄν.

Κρέουσα

ἧς οὕνεκʼ ἦλθον δεῦρο πρὶν πόσιν μολεῖν.

Ἴων

ποῖόν τι χρῄζουσʼ; ὡς ὑπουργήσω, γύναι.

Κρέουσα

μάντευμα κρυπτὸν δεομένη Φοίβου μαθεῖν.

Ἴων

λέγοις ἄν· ἡμεῖς τἄλλα προξενήσομεν.
335

Κρέουσα

ἄκουε δὴ τὸν μῦθον. — ἀλλʼ αἰδούμεθα.

Ἴων

οὔ τἄρα πράξεις οὐδέν· ἀργὸς ἡ θεός.

Κρέουσα

Φοίβῳ μιγῆναί φησί τις φίλων ἐμῶν.

Ἴων

Φοίβῳ γυνὴ γεγῶσα; μὴ λέγʼ, ὦ ξένη.

Κρέουσα

καὶ παῖδά γʼ ἔτεκε τῷ θεῷ λάθρα πατρός.
340

Ἴων

οὐκ ἔστιν· ἀνδρὸς ἀδικίαν αἰσχύνεται.

Κρέουσα

οὔ φησιν αὐτή, καὶ πέπονθεν ἄθλια.

Ἴων

τί χρῆμα δράσασʼ, εἰ θεῷ συνεζύγη;

Κρέουσα

τὸν παῖδʼ ὃν ἔτεκεν ἐξέθηκε δωμάτων.

Ἴων

ὁ δʼ ἐκτεθεὶς παῖς ποῦ ʼστιν; εἰσορᾷ φάος;
345

Κρέουσα

οὐκ οἶδεν οὐδείς. ταῦτα καὶ μαντεύομαι.

Ἴων

εἰ δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔστι, τίνι τρόπῳ διεφθάρη;

Κρέουσα

θῆράς σφε τὸν δύστηνον ἐλπίζει κτανεῖν.

Ἴων

ποίῳ τόδʼ ἔγνω χρωμένη τεκμηρίῳ;

Κρέουσα

ἐλθοῦσʼ ἵνʼ αὐτὸν ἐξέθηκʼ οὐχ ηὗρʼ ἔτι.
350

Ἴων

ἦν δὲ σταλαγμὸς ἐν στίβῳ τις αἵματος;

Κρέουσα

οὔ φησι. καίτοι πόλλʼ ἐπεστράφη πέδον.

Ἴων

χρόνος δὲ τίς τῷ παιδὶ διαπεπραγμένῳ;

Κρέουσα

σοὶ ταὐτὸν ἥβης, εἴπερ, εἶχεν ἂν μέτρον.

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.) — 308 focus

Creusa

But who art thou? how blest I count thy mother!

Ion

Lady, I am called the servant of Apollo, and so I am.

Creusa

An offering of thy city, or sold to him by some master?
310

Ion

Naught know I but this, that I am called the slave of Loxias.

Creusa

Then do i in my turn pity thee, sir stranger.

Ion

Because I know not her that bare me, or him that begat me.

Creusa

Is thy home here in the temple, or hast thou a house to dwell in?

Ion

The god’s whole temple is my house, wherever sleep o’ertakes me.
315

Creusa

Was it as a child or young man that thou earnest to the temple?

Ion

Those who seem to know the truth, say I was but a babe.

Creusa

What Delphian maid, then, weaned thee?

Ion

I never knew a mother’s breast. But she who brought me up—

Creusa

Who was she, unhappy youth? I see thy sufferings in my own.
320

Ion

The priestess of Phoebus; I look oh her as my mother.

Creusa

Until thou earnest unto man’s estate, what nurture hadst thou?

Ion

The altar fed me, and the bounty of each casual guest.

Creusa

Woe is thy mother, then, whoe’er she was!

Ion

Maybe my birth was some poor woman’s wrong.
325

Creusa

Hast thou any store, for thy dress is costly enough?

Ion

The god I serve gives me these robes to wear.

Creusa

Wert thou never eager to inquire into thy birth?

Ion

Ah! yes, lady! but I have no clue at all to guide me.

Creusa

Alas! I know another woman who hath suffered as thy mother did.
330

Ion

Who is she? If she would but help me in the task, how happy should I be!

Creusa

’Tis she on whose account I have preceded my husband hither.

Ion

What are thy wishes? be sure I will serve thee, lady.

Creusa

I would fain obtain a secret answer from Apollo’s oracle.

Ion

Name it, then; the rest will I undertake for thee.
335

Creusa

Hear, then, this story. Yet am I ashamed.

Ion

Thus wilt thou accomplish naught, for shame is a goddess slow to act.

Creusa

A friend of mine asserts that Phoebus lay with her.

Ion

Phoebus with a mortal woman? Stranger lady, say not so.

Creusa

Yea, and she bare the god a child without her father’s knowledge.
340

Ion

It cannot be; some man did wrong her, and she is ashamed of it.

Creusa

This she denieis herself; and she hath suffered further woe.

Ion

How so, if she was wedded to a god?

Creusa

The babe she bare she did expose.

Ion

Where is the child who was thus cast forth? is he yet alive?
345

Creusa

No man knoweth. That is the very thing I would ask the oracle.

Ion

But if he be no more, how did he perish?

Creusa

She supposes that beasts devoured the hapless babe.

Ion

What proof led her to form this opinion?

Creusa

She came to the place where she exposed him, but found him no longer there.
350

Ion

Were any drops of blood upon the path?

Creusa

None, she says; and yet she ranged the ground to and fro.

Ion

How long is it since the babe was destroyed?

Creusa

Thy age and his would measure out the self-same span, were he alive.

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.) — 308 focus

Wer bist du? Selig preis' ich sie, die dich gebar.

Jon.

Des Gottes Diener heiß' ich, Frau, und bin es auch.

Kreusa.

Geweiht von Delphern, oder irgendwo gekauft?¹

Jon.

Nur Eines weiß ich, daß ich Phobos eigen bin.

Kreusa.

So muß ich dich bedauern, wie du mich, o Freund.
310

Jon.

Weil mir geheim blieb, welcher Aeltern Sohn ich sei.

Kreusa.

Du wohnst im Tempel, oder sonst in einem Haus?

Ion.

Des Gottes Haus ist meines, wo mich Schlaf befällt.

Kreusa.

Du kamst als Jungling oder schon als Kind hieher?

Jon.

Als Kind, behauptet Mancher, der's zu wissen meint.
315

Kreusa.

A

Und hat dich eine Delpherin mit Milch genährt?

Jon.

Nie sah ich Frauenbruste; doch, die mich erzog,

Kreusa.

Wer war es, Armer? (Leidend fand ich andres Leid!)

Jon.

Die Seherin des Phobos gilt als Mutter mir.

Kreusa.

Von wem gepflegt denn wuchsest du zum Mann heran?
320

Jon.

Von Phobos' Herd, von Pilgern, die hiehergelangt.

Kreusa,

Unglucklich deine Mutter, wer sie immer war!

Jon.

Wohl gab der Fehltritt einer Frau das Leben mir.

Kreusa.

Doch hast du Mittel? Dein Gewand ist reich bestellt.

Jon.

Uns schmuckt des Gottes Habe, dem wir dienen hier.
325

Kreusa.

Nach deinen Veltern gingst du nie zu spåhen aus?

Jon.

Mir fehlt's an allen Spuren, sie zu finden, Frau.

Weh!

Kreusa.

Was deine Mutter, duldet auch ein andres Weib.

Jon.

Wer? Theilt sie meinen Kummer, soll mir's Freude sein.

Kreusa.

Um ihretwillen kam ich eh' als mein Gemahl.
330

Jon.

Wonach verlangst du? Denn ich will dir helfen, Frau.

Kreusa.

Geheime Spruche wunsch' ich mir aus Phobos' Mund.

Jon.

Sprich immer; ich vermittle dann das Uebrige.

Kreusa.

So hore, was ich sage; doch

Jon.

ich schame mich.

Dann wirst du Nichts ausrichten; denn tråg ist die Scham.
335

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Κρέουσα σὺ δʼ εἶ τίς; ὥς σου τὴν τεκοῦσαν ὤλβισα.

Ἴων τοῦ θεοῦ καλοῦμαι δοῦλος εἰμί τʼ, ὦ γύναι.

Κρέουσα ἀνάθημα πόλεως, ἤ τινος πραθεὶς ὕπο; 310

Ἴων οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· Λοξίου κεκλήμεθα.

Κρέουσα ἡμεῖς σʼ ἄρʼ αὖθις, ὦ ξένʼ, ἀντοικτίρομεν.

Ἴων ὡς μὴ εἰδόθʼ ἥτις μʼ ἔτεκεν ἐξ ὅτου τʼ ἔφυν.

Κρέουσα ναοῖσι δʼ οἰκεῖς τοισίδʼ ἢ κατὰ στέγας;

Ἴων ἅπαν θεοῦ μοι δῶμʼ, ἵνʼ ἂν λάβῃ μʼ ὕπνος. 315

Κρέουσα παῖς δʼ ὢν ἀφίκου ναὸν ἢ νεανίας;

Ἴων βρέφος λέγουσιν οἱ δοκοῦντες εἰδέναι.

Κρέουσα καὶ τίς γάλακτί σʼ ἐξέθρεψε Δελφίδων;

Ἴων οὐπώποτʼ ἔγνων μαστόν· ἣ δʼ ἔθρεψέ με

Κρέουσα τίς, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ; ὡς νοσοῦσʼ ηὗρον νόσους. 320

Ἴων Φοίβου προφῆτις, μητέρʼ ὣς νομίζομεν.

Κρέουσα ἐς δʼ ἄνδρʼ ἀφίκου τίνα τροφὴν κεκτημένος;

Ἴων βωμοί μʼ ἔφερβον οὑπιών τʼ ἀεὶ ξένος.

Κρέουσα τάλαινά σʼ ἡ τεκοῦσα· τίς ποτʼ ἦν ἄρα;

Ἴων ἀδίκημά του γυναικὸς ἐγενόμην ἴσως. 325

Κρέουσα ἔχεις δὲ βίοτον· εὖ γὰρ ἤσκησαι πέπλοις.

Ἴων τοῖς τοῦ θεοῦ κοσμούμεθʼ, ᾧ δουλεύομεν.

Κρέουσα οὐδʼ ᾖξας εἰς ἔρευναν ἐξευρεῖν γονάς;

Ἴων ἔχω γὰρ οὐδέν, ὦ γύναι, τεκμήριον.

Κρέουσα φεῦ· 330 πέπονθέ τις σῇ μητρὶ ταὔτʼ ἄλλη γυνή.

Ἴων τίς; εἰ πόνου μοι ξυλλάβοι, χαίροιμεν ἄν.

Κρέουσα ἧς οὕνεκʼ ἦλθον δεῦρο πρὶν πόσιν μολεῖν.

Ἴων ποῖόν τι χρῄζουσʼ; ὡς ὑπουργήσω, γύναι.

Κρέουσα μάντευμα κρυπτὸν δεομένη Φοίβου μαθεῖν.

Ἴων λέγοις ἄν· ἡμεῖς τἄλλα προξενήσομεν. 335

Κρέουσα ἄκουε δὴ τὸν μῦθον. — ἀλλʼ αἰδούμεθα.

Ἴων οὔ τἄρα πράξεις οὐδέν· ἀργὸς ἡ θεός.

Κρέουσα Φοίβῳ μιγῆναί φησί τις φίλων ἐμῶν.

Ἴων Φοίβῳ γυνὴ γεγῶσα; μὴ λέγʼ, ὦ ξένη.

Κρέουσα καὶ παῖδά γʼ ἔτεκε τῷ θεῷ λάθρα πατρός. 340

Ἴων οὐκ ἔστιν· ἀνδρὸς ἀδικίαν αἰσχύνεται.

Κρέουσα οὔ φησιν αὐτή, καὶ πέπονθεν ἄθλια.

Ἴων τί χρῆμα δράσασʼ, εἰ θεῷ συνεζύγη;

Κρέουσα τὸν παῖδʼ ὃν ἔτεκεν ἐξέθηκε δωμάτων.

Ἴων ὁ δʼ ἐκτεθεὶς παῖς ποῦ ʼστιν; εἰσορᾷ φάος; 345

Κρέουσα οὐκ οἶδεν οὐδείς. ταῦτα καὶ μαντεύομαι.

Ἴων εἰ δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔστι, τίνι τρόπῳ διεφθάρη;

Κρέουσα θῆράς σφε τὸν δύστηνον ἐλπίζει κτανεῖν.

Ἴων ποίῳ τόδʼ ἔγνω χρωμένη τεκμηρίῳ;

Κρέουσα ἐλθοῦσʼ ἵνʼ αὐτὸν ἐξέθηκʼ οὐχ ηὗρʼ ἔτι. 350

Ἴων ἦν δὲ σταλαγμὸς ἐν στίβῳ τις αἵματος;

Κρέουσα οὔ φησι. καίτοι πόλλʼ ἐπεστράφη πέδον.

Ἴων χρόνος δὲ τίς τῷ παιδὶ διαπεπραγμένῳ;

Κρέουσα σοὶ ταὐτὸν ἥβης, εἴπερ, εἶχεν ἂν μέτρον.

Current edition Perseus

Creusa But who art thou? how blest I count thy mother!

Ion Lady, I am called the servant of Apollo, and so I am.

Creusa An offering of thy city, or sold to him by some master? 310

Ion Naught know I but this, that I am called the slave of Loxias.

Creusa Then do i in my turn pity thee, sir stranger.

Ion Because I know not her that bare me, or him that begat me.

Creusa Is thy home here in the temple, or hast thou a house to dwell in?

Ion The god’s whole temple is my house, wherever sleep o’ertakes me. 315

Creusa Was it as a child or young man that thou earnest to the temple?

Ion Those who seem to know the truth, say I was but a babe.

Creusa What Delphian maid, then, weaned thee?

Ion I never knew a mother’s breast. But she who brought me up—

Creusa Who was she, unhappy youth? I see thy sufferings in my own. 320

Ion The priestess of Phoebus; I look oh her as my mother.

Creusa Until thou earnest unto man’s estate, what nurture hadst thou?

Ion The altar fed me, and the bounty of each casual guest.

Creusa Woe is thy mother, then, whoe’er she was!

Ion Maybe my birth was some poor woman’s wrong. 325

Creusa Hast thou any store, for thy dress is costly enough?

Ion The god I serve gives me these robes to wear.

Creusa Wert thou never eager to inquire into thy birth?

Ion Ah! yes, lady! but I have no clue at all to guide me.

Creusa Alas! I know another woman who hath suffered as thy mother did. 330

Ion Who is she? If she would but help me in the task, how happy should I be!

Creusa ’Tis she on whose account I have preceded my husband hither.

Ion What are thy wishes? be sure I will serve thee, lady.

Creusa I would fain obtain a secret answer from Apollo’s oracle.

Ion Name it, then; the rest will I undertake for thee. 335

Creusa Hear, then, this story. Yet am I ashamed.

Ion Thus wilt thou accomplish naught, for shame is a goddess slow to act.

Κρέουσα

σὺ δʼ εἶ τίς; ὥς σου τὴν τεκοῦσαν ὤλβισα.

Ἴων

τοῦ θεοῦ καλοῦμαι δοῦλος εἰμί τʼ, ὦ γύναι.

Κρέουσα

ἀνάθημα πόλεως, ἤ τινος πραθεὶς ὕπο;
310

Ἴων

οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· Λοξίου κεκλήμεθα.

Κρέουσα

ἡμεῖς σʼ ἄρʼ αὖθις, ὦ ξένʼ, ἀντοικτίρομεν.

Ἴων

ὡς μὴ εἰδόθʼ ἥτις μʼ ἔτεκεν ἐξ ὅτου τʼ ἔφυν.

Κρέουσα

ναοῖσι δʼ οἰκεῖς τοισίδʼ ἢ κατὰ στέγας;

Ἴων

ἅπαν θεοῦ μοι δῶμʼ, ἵνʼ ἂν λάβῃ μʼ ὕπνος.
315

Κρέουσα

παῖς δʼ ὢν ἀφίκου ναὸν ἢ νεανίας;

Ἴων

βρέφος λέγουσιν οἱ δοκοῦντες εἰδέναι.

Κρέουσα

καὶ τίς γάλακτί σʼ ἐξέθρεψε Δελφίδων;

Ἴων

οὐπώποτʼ ἔγνων μαστόν· ἣ δʼ ἔθρεψέ με

Κρέουσα

τίς, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ; ὡς νοσοῦσʼ ηὗρον νόσους.
320

Ἴων

Φοίβου προφῆτις, μητέρʼ ὣς νομίζομεν.

Κρέουσα

ἐς δʼ ἄνδρʼ ἀφίκου τίνα τροφὴν κεκτημένος;

Ἴων

βωμοί μʼ ἔφερβον οὑπιών τʼ ἀεὶ ξένος.

Κρέουσα

τάλαινά σʼ ἡ τεκοῦσα· τίς ποτʼ ἦν ἄρα;

Ἴων

ἀδίκημά του γυναικὸς ἐγενόμην ἴσως.
325

Κρέουσα

ἔχεις δὲ βίοτον· εὖ γὰρ ἤσκησαι πέπλοις.

Ἴων

τοῖς τοῦ θεοῦ κοσμούμεθʼ, ᾧ δουλεύομεν.

Κρέουσα

οὐδʼ ᾖξας εἰς ἔρευναν ἐξευρεῖν γονάς;

Ἴων

ἔχω γὰρ οὐδέν, ὦ γύναι, τεκμήριον.

Κρέουσα

φεῦ·
330

πέπονθέ τις σῇ μητρὶ ταὔτʼ ἄλλη γυνή.

Ἴων

τίς; εἰ πόνου μοι ξυλλάβοι, χαίροιμεν ἄν.

Κρέουσα

ἧς οὕνεκʼ ἦλθον δεῦρο πρὶν πόσιν μολεῖν.

Ἴων

ποῖόν τι χρῄζουσʼ; ὡς ὑπουργήσω, γύναι.

Κρέουσα

μάντευμα κρυπτὸν δεομένη Φοίβου μαθεῖν.

Ἴων

λέγοις ἄν· ἡμεῖς τἄλλα προξενήσομεν.
335

Κρέουσα

ἄκουε δὴ τὸν μῦθον. — ἀλλʼ αἰδούμεθα.

Ἴων

οὔ τἄρα πράξεις οὐδέν· ἀργὸς ἡ θεός.

Κρέουσα

Φοίβῳ μιγῆναί φησί τις φίλων ἐμῶν.

Ἴων

Φοίβῳ γυνὴ γεγῶσα; μὴ λέγʼ, ὦ ξένη.

Κρέουσα

καὶ παῖδά γʼ ἔτεκε τῷ θεῷ λάθρα πατρός.
340

Ἴων

οὐκ ἔστιν· ἀνδρὸς ἀδικίαν αἰσχύνεται.

Κρέουσα

οὔ φησιν αὐτή, καὶ πέπονθεν ἄθλια.

Ἴων

τί χρῆμα δράσασʼ, εἰ θεῷ συνεζύγη;

Κρέουσα

τὸν παῖδʼ ὃν ἔτεκεν ἐξέθηκε δωμάτων.

Ἴων

ὁ δʼ ἐκτεθεὶς παῖς ποῦ ʼστιν; εἰσορᾷ φάος;
345

Κρέουσα

οὐκ οἶδεν οὐδείς. ταῦτα καὶ μαντεύομαι.

Ἴων

εἰ δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔστι, τίνι τρόπῳ διεφθάρη;

Κρέουσα

θῆράς σφε τὸν δύστηνον ἐλπίζει κτανεῖν.

Ἴων

ποίῳ τόδʼ ἔγνω χρωμένη τεκμηρίῳ;

Κρέουσα

ἐλθοῦσʼ ἵνʼ αὐτὸν ἐξέθηκʼ οὐχ ηὗρʼ ἔτι.
350

Ἴων

ἦν δὲ σταλαγμὸς ἐν στίβῳ τις αἵματος;

Κρέουσα

οὔ φησι. καίτοι πόλλʼ ἐπεστράφη πέδον.

Ἴων

χρόνος δὲ τίς τῷ παιδὶ διαπεπραγμένῳ;

Κρέουσα

σοὶ ταὐτὸν ἥβης, εἴπερ, εἶχεν ἂν μέτρον.

Creusa

But who art thou? how blest I count thy mother!

Ion

Lady, I am called the servant of Apollo, and so I am.

Creusa

An offering of thy city, or sold to him by some master?
310

Ion

Naught know I but this, that I am called the slave of Loxias.

Creusa

Then do i in my turn pity thee, sir stranger.

Ion

Because I know not her that bare me, or him that begat me.

Creusa

Is thy home here in the temple, or hast thou a house to dwell in?

Ion

The god’s whole temple is my house, wherever sleep o’ertakes me.
315

Creusa

Was it as a child or young man that thou earnest to the temple?

Ion

Those who seem to know the truth, say I was but a babe.

Creusa

What Delphian maid, then, weaned thee?

Ion

I never knew a mother’s breast. But she who brought me up—

Creusa

Who was she, unhappy youth? I see thy sufferings in my own.
320

Ion

The priestess of Phoebus; I look oh her as my mother.

Creusa

Until thou earnest unto man’s estate, what nurture hadst thou?

Ion

The altar fed me, and the bounty of each casual guest.

Creusa

Woe is thy mother, then, whoe’er she was!

Ion

Maybe my birth was some poor woman’s wrong.
325

Creusa

Hast thou any store, for thy dress is costly enough?

Ion

The god I serve gives me these robes to wear.

Creusa

Wert thou never eager to inquire into thy birth?

Ion

Ah! yes, lady! but I have no clue at all to guide me.

Creusa

Alas! I know another woman who hath suffered as thy mother did.
330

Ion

Who is she? If she would but help me in the task, how happy should I be!

Creusa

’Tis she on whose account I have preceded my husband hither.

Ion

What are thy wishes? be sure I will serve thee, lady.

Creusa

I would fain obtain a secret answer from Apollo’s oracle.

Ion

Name it, then; the rest will I undertake for thee.
335

Creusa

Hear, then, this story. Yet am I ashamed.

Ion

Thus wilt thou accomplish naught, for shame is a goddess slow to act.

Creusa

A friend of mine asserts that Phoebus lay with her.

Ion

Phoebus with a mortal woman? Stranger lady, say not so.

Creusa

Yea, and she bare the god a child without her father’s knowledge.
340