Euripides Ion 82

ed. Gilbert Murray

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Ἴων

ἅρματα μὲν τάδε λαμπρὰ τεθρίππων

Ἥλιος ἤδη λάμπει κατὰ γῆν,

ἄστρα δὲ φεύγει πυρὶ τῷδʼ αἰθέρος

ἐς νύχθʼ ἱεράν·
85

Παρνησιάδες δʼ ἄβατοι κορυφαὶ

καταλαμπόμεναι τὴν ἡμερίαν

ἁψῖδα βροτοῖσι δέχονται.

σμύρνης δʼ ἀνύδρου καπνὸς εἰς ὀρόφους

Φοίβου πέταται.
90

θάσσει δὲ γυνὴ τρίποδα ζάθεον

Δελφίς, ἀείδουσʼ Ἕλλησι βοάς,

ἃς ἂν Ἀπόλλων κελαδήσῃ.

ἀλλʼ, ὦ Φοίβου Δελφοὶ θέραπες,

τὰς Κασταλίας ἀργυροειδεῖς
95

βαίνετε δίνας, καθαραῖς δὲ δρόσοις

ἀφυδρανάμενοι στείχετε ναούς·

στόμα τʼ εὔφημον φρουρεῖν ἀγαθόν,

φήμας τʼ ἀγαθὰς

τοῖς ἐθέλουσιν μαντεύεσθαι
100

γλώσσης ἰδίας ἀποφαίνειν.

ἡμεῖς δέ, πόνους οὓς ἐκ παιδὸς

μοχθοῦμεν ἀεί, πτόρθοισι δάφνης

στέφεσίν θʼ ἱεροῖς ἐσόδους Φοίβου

καθαρὰς θήσομεν, ὑγραῖς τε πέδον
105

ῥανίσιν νοτερόν· πτηνῶν τʼ ἀγέλας,

αἳ βλάπτουσιν σέμνʼ ἀναθήματα,

τόξοισιν ἐμοῖς φυγάδας θήσομεν·

ὡς γὰρ ἀμήτωρ ἀπάτωρ τε γεγὼς

τοὺς θρέψαντας
110

Φοίβου ναοὺς θεραπεύω.

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.) — 82 focus

Ion

Lo! the sun-god is e’en now turning towards the earth his chariot-car resplendent; before yon fire the stars retire

to night’s mysterious gloom from forth the firmament; the peaks of Parnassus, where no man may set foot, are all ablaze and hail the car of day for mortal’s service. Up mounts the smoke of myrrh, offering of the desert;
85

to Phoebus’ roof; there on the holy tripod sits the Delphian priestess, chanting to the ears of Hellas in numbers loud, whate’er Apollo doth proclaim. Ye Delphians, votaries of Phoebus, away!
90

to Castalia’s gushing fount as silver clear, and, when ye have bathed you in its waters pure, enter the shrine; and keep your lips in holy silence that it may be well, careful to utter words of good omen amongst yourselves
95

to those who wish to consult the oracle; while I with laurel-sprays and sacred wreaths and drops of water sprinkled o’er the floor will purify the entrance to the shrine of Phoebus,
100

my task each day from childhood’s hour; and with my bow will I put to flight the flocks of feathered fowls that harm his sacred offerings;
105

for here in Phoebus’ shrine, which nurtured me, I minister, an orphan, fatherless and motherless.
110

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.) — 82 focus

Sieh, mit dem strahlenden Wagen des Vierspanns

Glänzt Helios über den Erdkreis schon,

Und die Sterne, sie fliehn in die heilige Nacht

Vor der himmlischen Glut.
85

Unersteigliche Höhn des Parnassos, begrüßt

Vom erwachenden Tag, glühn schwelgend in Licht,

Das wonnig den Sterblichen leuchtet.¹

Und der sonnigen Myrrhe Geduft wallt auf

Zu dem Tempelgesims;
90

Und die Delpherin thront auf heiligem Stuhl,²

Und singt hellenischem Volke den Spruch,

Den stürmend Apollon ihr vorsang.

Ihr Delphier, Diener Apollons, auf!

Wallt zu den silbernen Wirbeln Kastalia's,³
95

Und wann ihr im Thau der krystallenen Flut

Euch badetet, eilt in den Tempel hinein;

Und zu Lauten des Heils nur weihend den Mund,

Laßt Heilsames nur die Verlangenden, die

Rathfragen den Gott,
100

Von gunstigen Lippen vernehmen!

Doch ich will (damit muht' ich ja stets

Als Knabe mich schon) mit dem Lorbeerzweig,

Mit heiligem Reis an dem Tempel umher

Rein kehren die Schwell' und mit tropfender Flut
105

Anfeuchten den Grund und mit meinem Geschoß

Wegscheuchen das Volk, das geflugelte, das,

Ein verheerender Schwarm,

Die geheiligten Gaben umflattert.

Denn der Mutter beraubt und des Vaters beraubt,
110

Dien' ich in Andacht

Den ernährenden Hallen Apollons.⁴

Strophe.