---
title: "Ion · Ἴων"
author: "Euripides"
translator: "Edward P. Coleridge"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 1 of 3
url: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-ion/1/
cite: "Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge, Ion · Ἴων, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-ion/1/"
---

# Ion · Ἴων

*Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge*

A temple servant at Delphi, a childless queen, and the secret of Apollo.

> Greek: ed. Gilbert Murray, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0006.tlg010, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Edward P. Coleridge, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0006.tlg010.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 1. Lines 1–556

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-ion/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-ion/1/#p-N

[¶0] Scene.—Before Apollo’s temple at Delphi.
Hermes:
Atlas, who bears upon his brazen back the pressure of the sky, ancient dwelling of the gods, begat Maia from a daughter of one of those gods, and she bare me Hermes to mighty Zeus, to be the servant of the powers divine.

> Greek: Ἑρμῆς:
Ἄτλας, ὁ χαλκέοισι [νώτοις οὐρανὸν]
[θεῶν παλαιὸν οἶκον ἐκτρίβων, θεῶν]
[μιᾶς] ἔφυσε Μαῖαν, ἣ ʼμʼ ἐγείνατο
Ἑρμῆν μεγίστῳ Ζηνί, δαιμόνων λάτριν.

[¶1] Lo! I am come to this land of Delphi where sits Phoebus on the centre of the world and giveth oracles to men, ever chanting lays prophetic of things that are to be. Now there is a city in Hellas of no small note, called after Pallas, goddess of the golden lance;
there did Phoebus force his love on Creusa, daughter of Erechtheus, beneath the rock of Pallas, northward of Athens’ steep realm, called Macrae by the kings of Attica. And she without her father’s knowledge—for such was the god’s good pleasure,—
bore the burden in her womb unto the end, and when her time came, she brought forth a child in the house and carried him away to the selfsame cave wherein the god declared his love to her, and she cradled him in the hollow of a rounded ark and cast him forth to die,
observant of the custom of her ancestors and of earth-born Erichthonius, whom the daughter of Zeus gave into the charge of the daughters of Agraulus, after setting on either side, to keep him safe, a guard of serpents twain. Hence in that land among the Erechthidae ’tis a
custom to protect their babes with charms of golden snakes. But ere she left the babe to die, the young mother tied about him her own broidered robe. And this is the request that Phoebus craves of me, for he is my brother, “Go, brother, to those children of the soil”
“that dwell in glorious Athens, for well thou knowest Athena’s city, and take a new-born babe from out the hollow rock, his cradle and his swaddling-clothes as well, and bear him to my prophetic shrine at Delphi, and set him at the entering-in of my temple.”

> Greek: ἥκω δὲ Δελφῶν τήνδε γῆν, ἵνʼ ὀμφαλὸν
μέσον καθίζων Φοῖβος ὑμνῳδεῖ βροτοῖς
τά τʼ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα θεσπίζων ἀεί.
ἔστιν γὰρ οὐκ ἄσημος Ἑλλήνων πόλις,
τῆς χρυσολόγχου Παλλάδος κεκλημένη,
οὗ παῖδʼ Ἐρεχθέως Φοῖβος ἔζευξεν γάμοις
βίᾳ Κρέουσαν, ἔνθα προσβόρρους πέτρας
Παλλάδος ὑπʼ ὄχθῳ τῆς Ἀθηναίων χθονὸς
Μακρὰς καλοῦσι γῆς ἄνακτες Ἀτθίδος.
ἀγνὼς δὲ πατρί — τῷ θεῷ γὰρ ἦν φίλον —
γαστρὸς διήνεγκʼ ὄγκον. ὡς δʼ ἦλθεν χρόνος,
τεκοῦσʼ ἐν οἴκοις παῖδʼ ἀπήνεγκεν βρέφος
ἐς ταὐτὸν ἄντρον οὗπερ ηὐνάσθη θεῷ
Κρέουσα, κἀκτίθησιν ὡς θανούμενον
κοίλης ἐν ἀντίπηγος εὐτρόχῳ κύκλῳ,
προγόνων νόμον σῴζουσα τοῦ τε γηγενοῦς
Ἐριχθονίου. κείνῳ γὰρ ἡ Διὸς κόρη
φρουρὼ παραζεύξασα φύλακε σώματος
δισσὼ δράκοντε, παρθένοις Ἀγλαυρίσι
δίδωσι σῴζειν· ὅθεν Ἐρεχθείδαις ἐκεῖ
νόμος τις ἔστιν ὄφεσιν ἐν χρυσηλάτοις
τρέφειν τέκνα. ἀλλʼ ἣν εἶχε παρθένος χλιδὴν
τέκνῳ προσάψασʼ ἔλιπεν ὡς θανουμένῳ.
κἄμʼ ὢν ἀδελφὸς Φοῖβος αἰτεῖται τάδε·
ὦ σύγγονʼ, ἐλθὼν λαὸν εἰς αὐτόχθονα
κλεινῶν Ἀθηνῶν — οἶσθα γὰρ θεᾶς πόλιν —
λαβὼν βρέφος νεογνὸν ἐκ κοίλης πέτρας
αὐτῷ σὺν ἄγγει σπαργάνοισί θʼ οἷς ἔχει
ἔνεγκε Δελφῶν τἀμὰ πρὸς χρηστήρια,
καὶ θὲς πρὸς αὐταῖς εἰσόδοις δόμων ἐμῶν.

[¶2] “What else remains shall be my care, for that child is mine, that thou mayst know it.” So I, to do my brother Loxias a service, took up the woven ark and bore it off, and at the threshold of the shrine I have laid the babe,
after opening the lid of the wicker cradle that the child might be seen.

> Greek: τὰ δʼ ἄλλʼ — ἐμὸς γάρ ἐστιν, ὡς εἰδῇς, ὁ παῖς —
ἡμῖν μελήσει. Λοξίᾳ δʼ ἐγὼ χάριν
πράσσων ἀδελφῷ πλεκτὸν ἐξάρας κύτος
ἤνεγκα, καὶ τὸν παῖδα κρηπίδων ἔπι
τίθημι ναοῦ τοῦδʼ, ἀναπτύξας κύτος
ἑλικτὸν ἀντίπηγος, ὡς ὁρῷθʼ ὁ παῖς.

[¶3] But just as the sun-god was starting forth to run his course, a priestess chanced to enter the god’s shrine; and when her eyes lit upon the tender babe she thought it strange that any Delphian maid
should dare to cast her child of shame down at the temple of the god; wherefore her purpose was to remove him beyond the altar, but from pity she renounced her cruel thought, and the god to help his child did second her pity to save the babe from being cast out. So she took and brought him up,
but she knew not that Phoebus was his sire nor of the mother that bare him, nor yet did the child know his parents. While yet he was a child, around the altar that fed him he would ramble at his play, but when he came to man’s estate, the Delphians made him treasurer of the god
and steward of all his store, and found him true, and so until the present day he leads a holy life in the god’s temple. Meantime Creusa, mother of this youth, is wedded to Xuthus; and thus it came to pass; a war broke out ’twixt Athens and the folk of Chalcodon
who dwell in the land of Euboea; and Xuthus took part therein and helped to end it, for which he received the hand of Creusa as his guerdon, albeit he was no native, but an Achaean, sprung from Aeolus, the son of Zeus; and after many years of wedded life
he and Creusa still are childless; wherefore they are come to this oracle of Apollo in their desire for offspring. To this end is Loxias guiding their destiny nor hath it escaped his ken, as some suppose. For when Xuthus enters this shrine,
the god will give him his own son and declare that Xuthus is the sire, that so the boy may come to his mother’s home and be acknowledged by Creusa, while the marriage of Loxias remains a secret and the child obtains his rights; and he shall cause him to be called Ion, founder of a realm in Asia,
through all the breadth of Hellas. But now will I get me to yon grotto ’neath the laurel’s shade that I may learn what is decreed about the child. For I see the son of Loxias now coming forth to cleanse the gateway in front of the temple
with boughs of laurel. I greet him first of all the gods by his name Ion which he soon shall bear.

> Greek: κυρεῖ δʼ ἅμʼ ἱππεύοντος ἡλίου κύκλῳ
προφῆτις ἐσβαίνουσα μαντεῖον θεοῦ·
ὄψιν δὲ προσβαλοῦσα παιδὶ νηπίῳ
ἐθαύμασʼ εἴ τις Δελφίδων τλαίη κόρη
λαθραῖον ὠδῖνʼ ἐς θεοῦ ῥῖψαι δόμον,
ὑπέρ τε θυμέλας διορίσαι πρόθυμος ἦν·
οἴκτῳ δʼ ἀφῆκεν ὠμότητα — καὶ θεὸς
συνεργὸς ἦν τῷ παιδὶ μὴ ʼκπεσεῖν δόμων —
τρέφει δέ νιν λαβοῦσα. τὸν σπείραντα δὲ
οὐκ οἶδε Φοῖβον οὐδὲ μητέρʼ ἧς ἔφυ,
ὁ παῖς τε τοὺς τεκόντας οὐκ ἐπίσταται.
νέος μὲν οὖν ὢν ἀμφὶ βωμίους τροφὰς
ἠλᾶτʼ ἀθύρων· ὡς δʼ ἀπηνδρώθη δέμας,
Δελφοί σφʼ ἔθεντο χρυσοφύλακα τοῦ θεοῦ
ταμίαν τε πάντων πιστόν, ἐν δʼ ἀνακτόροις
θεοῦ καταζῇ δεῦρʼ ἀεὶ σεμνὸν βίον.
Κρέουσα δʼ ἡ τεκοῦσα τὸν νεανίαν
Ξούθῳ γαμεῖται συμφορᾶς τοιᾶσδʼ ὕπο·
ἦν ταῖς Ἀθήναις τοῖς τε Χαλκωδοντίδαις,
οἳ γῆν ἔχουσʼ Εὐβοῖδα, πολέμιος κλύδων·
ὃν συμπονήσας καὶ συνεξελὼν δορὶ
γάμων Κρεούσης ἀξίωμʼ ἐδέξατο,
οὐκ ἐγγενὴς ὤν, Αἰόλου δὲ τοῦ Διὸς
γεγὼς Ἀχαιός. χρόνια δὲ σπείρας λέχη
ἄτεκνός ἐστι, καὶ Κρέουσʼ· ὧν οὕνεκα
ἥκουσι πρὸς μαντεῖʼ Ἀπόλλωνος τάδε
ἔρωτι παίδων. Λοξίας δὲ τὴν τύχην
ἐς τοῦτʼ ἐλαύνει, κοὐ λέληθεν, ὡς δοκεῖ.
δώσει γὰρ εἰσελθόντι μαντεῖον τόδε
Ξούθῳ τὸν αὑτοῦ παῖδα, καὶ πεφυκέναι
κείνου σφε φήσει, μητρὸς ὡς ἐλθὼν δόμους
γνωσθῇ Κρεούσῃ, καὶ γάμοι τε Λοξίου
κρυπτοὶ γένωνται παῖς τʼ ἔχῃ τὰ πρόσφορα.
Ἴωνα δʼ αὐτόν, κτίστορʼ Ἀσιάδος χθονός,
ὄνομα κεκλῆσθαι θήσεται καθʼ Ἑλλάδα.
ἀλλʼ ἐς δαφνώδη γύαλα βήσομαι τάδε,
τὸ κρανθὲν ὡς ἂν ἐκμάθω παιδὸς πέρι.
ὁρῶ γὰρ ἐκβαίνοντα Λοξίου γόνον
τόνδʼ, ὡς πρὸ ναοῦ λαμπρὰ θῇ πυλώματα
δάφνης κλάδοισιν. ὄνομα δʼ, οὗ μέλλει τυχεῖν,
Ἴωνʼ ἐγώ ⟨νιν⟩ πρῶτος ὀνομάζω θεῶν.

[¶4] 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;
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!
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
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,
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;
for here in Phoebus’ shrine, which nurtured me, I minister, an orphan, fatherless and motherless.

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἅρματα μὲν τάδε λαμπρὰ τεθρίππων
Ἥλιος ἤδη λάμπει κατὰ γῆν,
ἄστρα δὲ φεύγει πυρὶ τῷδʼ αἰθέρος
ἐς νύχθʼ ἱεράν·
Παρνησιάδες δʼ ἄβατοι κορυφαὶ
καταλαμπόμεναι τὴν ἡμερίαν
ἁψῖδα βροτοῖσι δέχονται.
σμύρνης δʼ ἀνύδρου καπνὸς εἰς ὀρόφους
Φοίβου πέταται.
θάσσει δὲ γυνὴ τρίποδα ζάθεον
Δελφίς, ἀείδουσʼ Ἕλλησι βοάς,
ἃς ἂν Ἀπόλλων κελαδήσῃ.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ Φοίβου Δελφοὶ θέραπες,
τὰς Κασταλίας ἀργυροειδεῖς
βαίνετε δίνας, καθαραῖς δὲ δρόσοις
ἀφυδρανάμενοι στείχετε ναούς·
στόμα τʼ εὔφημον φρουρεῖν ἀγαθόν,
φήμας τʼ ἀγαθὰς
τοῖς ἐθέλουσιν μαντεύεσθαι
γλώσσης ἰδίας ἀποφαίνειν.
ἡμεῖς δέ, πόνους οὓς ἐκ παιδὸς
μοχθοῦμεν ἀεί, πτόρθοισι δάφνης
στέφεσίν θʼ ἱεροῖς ἐσόδους Φοίβου
καθαρὰς θήσομεν, ὑγραῖς τε πέδον
ῥανίσιν νοτερόν· πτηνῶν τʼ ἀγέλας,
αἳ βλάπτουσιν σέμνʼ ἀναθήματα,
τόξοισιν ἐμοῖς φυγάδας θήσομεν·
ὡς γὰρ ἀμήτωρ ἀπάτωρ τε γεγὼς
τοὺς θρέψαντας
Φοίβου ναοὺς θεραπεύω.

[¶5] Ion:
Come, thou tender laurel-shoot, gathered from gardens divine to wait upon the glorious god,
thou that sweepest clean the altar of Phoebus hard by his shrine, where holy founts, that ever gush with ceaseless flow,
bedew the myrtle’s hallowed spray wherewith I cleanse the temple-floor the livelong day, so soon as the swift sun-god wings his flight on high, in my daily ministration.

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἄγʼ, ὦ νεηθαλὲς ὦ
καλλίστας προπόλευμα δά-
φνας, ἃ τὰν Φοίβου θυμέλαν
σαίρεις ὑπὸ ναοῖς,
κήπων ἐξ ἀθανάτων,
ἵνα δρόσοι τέγγουσʼ ἱεραί,
⟨ῥοὰν⟩ ἀέναον
παγᾶν ἐκπροϊεῖσαι,
μυρσίνας ἱερὰν φόβαν·
ᾇ σαίρω δάπεδον θεοῦ
παναμέριος ἅμʼ ἁλίου
πτέρυγι θοᾷ
λατρεύων τὸ κατʼ ἦμαρ.

[¶6] Hail Paean, prince of healing! blest, ah! doubly blest be thou, child of Latona!

> Greek: ὦ Παιὰν ὦ Παιάν,
εὐαίων εὐαίων
εἴης, ὦ Λατοῦς παῖ.

[¶7] Ion:
Fair the service that I render to thee, Phoebus, before thy house,
honouring thy seat of prophecy; a glorious task I count it, to serve not mortal man but deathless gods; wherefore I never weary
of performing holy services. Phoebus is to me as the father that begot me, for as such I praise the god that gives me food. Whom I call by that helpful name of father,
Tis Phoebus, who dwelleth in the temple, Hail Paean, healing god, good luck to thee and blessing, child of Latona!

> Greek: Ἴων:
καλόν γε τὸν πόνον, ὦ
Φοῖβε, σοὶ πρὸ δόμων λατρεύ-
ω τιμῶν μαντεῖον ἕδραν·
κλεινὸς δʼ ὁ πόνος μοι
θεοῖσιν δούλαν χέρʼ ἔχειν
οὐ θνατοῖς, ἀλλʼ ἀθανάτοις·
εὐφάμους δὲ πόνους
μοχθεῖν οὐκ ἀποκάμνω.
Φοῖβός μοι γενέτωρ πατήρ·
τὸν βόσκοντα γὰρ εὐλογῶ,
τὸ δʼ ὠφέλιμον ἐμοὶ πατέρος
ὄνομα λέγω
Φοίβου τοῦ κατὰ ναόν.
ὦ Παιὰν ὦ Παιάν,
εὐαίων εὐαίων
εἴης, ὦ Λατοῦς παῖ.

[¶8] Ion:
My task is nearly done
of sweeping with the laurel broom, so now from a golden ewer will I sprinkle o’er the ground water from Castalia’s gushing spring, scattering the liquid dew
with hands from all defilement free. Oh may I never cease thus to serve Phoebus, or, if I do, may fortune smile upon me!

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἀλλʼ ἐκπαύσω γὰρ μόχθους
δάφνας ὁλκοῖς,
χρυσέων δʼ ἐκ τευχέων ῥίψω
Γαίας παγάν,
ἃν ἀποχεύονται
Κασταλίας δῖναι,
νοτερὸν ὕδωρ βάλλων,
ὅσιος ἀπʼ εὐνᾶς ὤν.
εἴθʼ οὕτως αἰεὶ Φοίβῳ
λατρεύων μὴ παυσαίμαν,
ἢ παυσαίμαν ἀγαθᾷ μοίρᾳ.

[¶9] Ha! they come, the feathered tribes,
leaving their nests on Parnassus. I forbid ye to settle on the coping or enter the gilded dome. Thou herald of Zeus, that masterest the might of other birds with those talons of thine,
once more shall my arrow o’ertake thee.

> Greek: ἔα ἔα·
φοιτῶσʼ ἤδη λείπουσίν τε
πτανοὶ Παρνασοῦ κοίτας·
αὐδῶ μὴ χρίμπτειν θριγκοῖς
μηδʼ ἐς χρυσήρεις οἴκους —
μάρψω σʼ αὖ τόξοις, ὦ Ζηνὸς
κῆρυξ, ὀρνίθων γαμφηλαῖς
ἰσχὺν νικῶν.

[¶10] Lo! another comes sailing towards the altar, a swan this time; take thy bright plumes elsewhere; the lyre that Phoebus tuneth to thy song shall never
save thee from the bow; so fly away, and settle at the Delian mere, for if thou wilt not hearken, thy blood shall choke the utterance of thy fair melody.

> Greek: ὅδε πρὸς θυμέλας ἄλλος ἐρέσσει
κύκνος. οὐκ ἄλλᾳ
φοινικοφαῆ πόδα κινήσεις;
οὐδέν σʼ ἁ φόρμιγξ ἁ Φοίβου
σύμμολπος τόξων ῥύσαιτʼ ἄν.
πάραγε πτέρυγας·
λίμνας ἐπίβα τᾶς Δηλιάδος·
αἱμάξεις, εἰ μὴ πείσῃ,
τὰς καλλιφθόγγους ᾠδάς.

[¶11] Ha! what new bird comes now? Does it mean to lodge a nest of dry straw for its brood beneath the gables? Soon shall my twanging bow drive thee away. Dost not hear me?
Away and rear thy young amid the streams of swirling Alpheus, or get thee to the woody Isthmian glen, that Phoebus’ offerings and his shrine may take no hurt. I am loth to slay ye,
ye messengers to mortal man of messages from heaven; still must I serve Phoebus, to whose tasks I am devoted, nor will I cease to minister to those that give me food.

> Greek: ἔα ἔα·
τίς ὅδʼ ὀρνίθων καινὸς προσέβα;
μῶν ὑπὸ θριγκοὺς εὐναίας
καρφυρὰς θήσων τέκνοις;
ψαλμοί σʼ εἴρξουσιν τόξων.
οὐ πείσῃ; χωρῶν δίναις
ταῖς Ἀλφειοῦ παιδούργει,
ἢ νάπος Ἴσθμιον,
ὡς ἀναθήματα μὴ βλάπτηται
ναοί θʼ οἱ Φοίβου …
κτείνειν δʼ ὑμᾶς αἰδοῦμαι
τοὺς θεῶν ἀγγέλλοντας φήμας
θνατοῖς· οἷς δʼ ἔγκειμαι μόχθοις,
Φοίβῳ δουλεύσω, κοὐ λήξω
τοὺς βόσκοντας θεραπεύων.

[¶12] (First) Chorus:
It is not in holy Athens
only that there are courts of the gods with fine colonnades, and the worship of Apollo, guardian of highways; but here, too, at the shrine of Loxias, son of Latona, shines the lovely eye of day on faces twain.

> Greek: Χορός:
— οὐκ ἐν ταῖς ζαθέαις Ἀθά-
ναις εὐκίονες ἦσαν αὐ-
λαὶ θεῶν μόνον, οὐδʼ ἀγυι-
άτιδες θεραπεῖαι·
ἀλλὰ καὶ παρὰ Λοξίᾳ
τῷ Λατοῦς διδύμων προσώ-
πων καλλιβλέφαρον φῶς.

[¶13] (Second) Chorus:
Just look at this! here is the son of Zeus killing with his scimitar of gold the watersnake of Lerna. Do look at him, my friend!

> Greek: — ἰδοὺ τάνδʼ, ἄθρησον,
Λερναῖον ὕδραν ἐναίρει
χρυσέαις ἅρπαις ὁ Διὸς παῖς·
φίλα, πρόσιδʼ ὄσσοις.

[¶14] (First) Chorus:
Yes, I see. And close to him stands another
with a blazing torch uplifted; who is he? Can this be the warrior Iolaus whose story is told on my broidery, who shares with
the son of Zeus his labours and helps him in the moil?

> Greek: Χορός:
— ὁρῶ. καὶ πέλας ἄλλος αὐ-
τοῦ πανὸν πυρίφλεκτον αἴ-
ρει τις — ἆρʼ ὃς ἐμαῖσι μυ-
θεύεται παρὰ πήναις,
ἀσπιστὰς Ἰόλαος, ὃς
κοινοὺς αἰρόμενος πόνους
Δίῳ παιδὶ συναντλεῖ;

[¶15] (Third) Chorus:
Oh! but look at this! a man mounted on a winged horse, killing a fire-breathing monster with three bodies.

> Greek: — καὶ μὰν τόνδʼ ἄθρησον
πτεροῦντος ἔφεδρον ἵππου·
τὰν πῦρ πνέουσαν ἐναίρει
τρισώματον ἀλκάν.

[¶16] (First) Chorus:
I am turning my eyes in every direction. Behold the rout of the giants carved on these walls of stone.

> Greek: Χορός:
— πάντᾳ τοι βλέφαρον διώ-
κω. σκέψαι κλόνον ἐν τείχεσ-
σι λαΐνοισι Γιγάντων.

[¶17] (Fourth) Chorus:
Yes, yes, good friends, I am looking.
(Fifth) Chorus:
Dost see her standing over Enceladus brandishing her shield with the Gorgon’s head?
(Sixth) Chorus:
I see Pallas, my own goddess.

> Greek: — ὦ φίλαι, ὧδε δερκόμεσθα.
— λεύσσεις οὖν ἐπʼ Ἐγκελάδῳ
γοργωπὸν πάλλουσαν ἴτυν —
— λεύσσω Παλλάδʼ, ἐμὰν θεόν.

[¶18] (Seventh) Chorus:
Again, dost see the massy thunderbolt all aflame in the far-darting hands of Zeus?

> Greek: — τί γάρ; κεραυνὸν ἀμφίπυρον
ὄβριμον ἐν Διὸς
ἑκηβόλοισι χερσίν;

[¶19] (Eighth) Chorus:
I do;’tis blasting with its flame Mimas, that deadly foe.

> Greek: — ὁρῶ· τὸν δάϊον
Μίμαντα πυρὶ καταιθαλοῖ.

[¶20] (Ninth) Chorus:
Bromius too, the god of revelry, is slaying another of the sons of Earth with his thyrsus of ivy, never meant for battle.

> Greek: — καὶ Βρόμιος ἄλλον ἀπολέμοι-
σι κισσίνοισι βάκτροις
ἐναίρει Γᾶς τέκνων ὁ Βακχεύς.

[¶21] (First) Chorus:
Thou that art stationed by this fane, to thee I do address me,
may we pass the threshold of these vaults, with our fair white feet?

> Greek: Χορός:
σέ τοι, τὸν παρὰ ναὸν αὐ-
δῶ· θέμις γυάλων ὑπερ-
βῆναι, λευκῷ ποδί γʼ —;

[¶22] Ion:
Nay, ye must not, stranger ladies.
(Tenth)

> Greek: Ἴων:
οὐ θέμις, ὦ ξέναι.

[¶23] Chorus:
May I ask thee about something I have heard?

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐδʼ ἂν
ἐκ σέθεν ἂν πυθοίμεθʼ αὐδάν;

[¶24] Ion:
What wouldst thou ask?
(Eleventh)

> Greek: Ἴων:
τίνα τήνδε θέλεις;

[¶25] Chorus:
Is it really true that the temple of Phoebus stands upon the centre of the world?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἆρʼ ὄντως μέσον ὀμφαλὸν
γᾶς Φοίβου κατέχει δόμος;

[¶26] Ion:
Aye, there it stands with garlands decked and gorgeous all around.

> Greek: Ἴων:
στέμμασί γʼ ἐνδυτόν, ἀμφὶ δὲ Γοργόνες.

[¶27] (Twelfth) Chorus:
E'en so the legend saith.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὕτω καὶ φάτις αὐδᾷ.

[¶28] Ion:
If ye have offered a sacrificial cake before the shrine and have aught ye wish to ask Phoebus, approach the altar; but enter not the inmost sanctuary, save ye have sacrificed sheep.

> Greek: Ἴων:
εἰ μὲν ἐθύσατε πέλανον πρὸ δόμων
καί τι πυθέσθαι χρῄζετε Φοίβου,
πάριτʼ ἐς θυμέλας· ἐπὶ δʼ ἀσφάκτοις
μήλοισι δόμων μὴ πάριτʼ ἐς μυχόν.

[¶29] (Thirteenth) Chorus:
I understand; but we have ho mind to trespass against the god’s law; the pictures here without will amuse us.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔχω μαθοῦσα· θεοῦ δὲ νόμον
οὐ παραβαίνομεν,
ἃ δʼ ἐκτός, ὄμμα τέρψει.

[¶30] Ion:
Feast your eyes on all ye may.
(Fourteenth)

> Greek: Ἴων:
πάντα θεᾶσθʼ, ὅ τι καὶ θέμις, ὄμμασι.

[¶31] Chorus:
My mistress gave me leave to see these vaulted chambers.

> Greek: Χορός:
μεθεῖσαν δεσπόται
με θεοῦ γύαλα τάδʼ εἰσιδεῖν.

[¶32] Ion:
Whose handmaids do ye avow yourselves?

> Greek: Ἴων:
δμῳαὶ δὲ τίνων κλῄζεσθε δόμων;

[¶33] (Fifteenth) Chorus:
The temple, where Pallas dwells, is the nursing-home of my lords. But lo! here is she of whom thou askest.

> Greek: Χορός:
Παλλάδι σύνοικα τρόφιμα μέλα-
θρα τῶν ἐμῶν τυράννων·
παρούσας δʼ ἀμφὶ τᾶσδʼ ἐρωτᾷς.

[¶34] Ion:
Lady, whosoe’er thou art, I see thou art of noble birth, and thy bearing proves thy gentle breeding. For from his bearing one may mostly judge
whether a man is nobly born. Yet am I much amazed to see thee close thine eyes in grief and with tears bedew thy noble face, when thou standest face to face with the holy oracle of Loxias. Why, lady, art thou thus disquieted?

> Greek: Ἴων:
γενναιότης σοι, καὶ τρόπων τεκμήριον
τὸ σχῆμʼ ἔχεις τόδʼ, ἥτις εἶ ποτʼ, ὦ γύναι.
γνοίη δʼ ἂν ὡς τὰ πολλά γʼ ἀνθρώπου πέρι
τὸ σχῆμʼ ἰδών τις εἰ πέφυκεν εὐγενής.
ἔα·
ἀλλʼ ἐξέπληξάς μʼ, ὄμμα συγκλῄσασα σὸν
δακρύοις θʼ ὑγράνασʼ εὐγενῆ παρηίδα,
ὡς εἶδες ἁγνὰ Λοξίου χρηστήρια.
τί ποτε μερίμνης ἐς τόδʼ ἦλθες, ὦ γύναι;

[¶35] Here, where all others show their joy at sight of Phoebus’ sanctuary, thine eye is wet with tears.

> Greek: ὃ πάντες ἄλλοι γύαλα λεύσσοντες θεοῦ
χαίρουσιν, ἐνταῦθʼ ὄμμα σὸν δακρυρροεῖ;

[¶36] Creusa:
Most courteously, sir stranger, dost thou express surprise at these my tears; the sight of this temple of Apollo
recalled to me a memory of long ago, and somehow my thoughts went wandering home, though I am here myself. Ah, hapless race of women! ah, ye reckless gods! What shall I say? to what standard shall we refer justice if through the injustice of our lords and masters we are brought to ruin?

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ὦ ξένε, τὸ μὲν σὸν οὐκ ἀπαιδεύτως ἔχει
ἐς θαύματʼ ἐλθεῖν δακρύων ἐμῶν πέρι·
ἐγὼ δʼ ἰδοῦσα τούσδʼ Ἀπόλλωνος δόμους
μνήμην παλαιὰν ἀνεμετρησάμην τινά·
οἴκοι δὲ τὸν νοῦν ἔσχον ἐνθάδʼ οὖσά που.
ὦ τλήμονες γυναῖκες· ὦ τολμήματα
θεῶν. τί δῆτα; ποῖ δίκην ἀνοίσομεν,
εἰ τῶν κρατούντων ἀδικίαις ὀλούμεθα;

[¶37] Ion:
Why, lady, art thou thus cast down, past all finding out?

> Greek: Ἴων:
τί χρῆμʼ ἀνερμήνευτα δυσθυμῇ, γύναι;

[¶38] Creusa:’Tis naught; I have shot my bolt; for what remains, I say no more, nor seek thou further to inquire.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
οὐδέν· μεθῆκα τόξα· τἀπὶ τῷδε δὲ
ἐγώ τε σιγῶ, καὶ σὺ μὴ φρόντιζʼ ἔτι.

[¶39] Ion:
Who art thou and whence? who is the father that begat thee? by what name are we to call thee?

> Greek: Ἴων:
τίς δʼ εἶ; πόθεν γῆς ἦλθες; ἐκ ποίας πάτρας
πέφυκας; ὄνομα τί σε καλεῖν ἡμᾶς χρεών;

[¶40] Creusa:
Creusa is my name, the daughter of Erechtheus I; my native land is Athens.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
Κρέουσα μέν μοι τοὔνομʼ, ἐκ δʼ Ἐρεχθέως
πέφυκα, πατρὶς γῆ δʼ Ἀθηναίων πόλις.

[¶41] Ion:
A glorious city thine, lady, a noble line of ancestry! with what reverence I behold thee!

> Greek: Ἴων:
ὦ κλεινὸν οἰκοῦσʼ ἄστυ γενναίων τʼ ἄπο
τραφεῖσα πατέρων, ὥς σε θαυμάζω, γύναι.

[¶42] Creusa:
Thus far, no further goes my luck, good sir.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
τοσαῦτα κεὐτυχοῦμεν, ὦ ξένʼ, οὐ πέρα.

[¶43] Ion:
Pray, is the current legend true—

> Greek: Ἴων:
πρὸς θεῶν ἀληθῶς, ὡς μεμύθευται βροτοῖς …;

[¶44] Creusa:
What is thy question? I fain would learn.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
τί χρῆμʼ ἐρωτᾷς, ὦ ξένʼ, ἐκμαθεῖν θέλων;

[¶45] Ion:
Was thy father’s grandsire really sprung from Earth?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἐκ γῆς πατρός σου πρόγονος ἔβλαστεν πατήρ;

[¶46] Creusa:
Yes, Erichthonius was; but my high birth avails me not

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
Ἐριχθόνιός γε· τὸ δὲ γένος μʼ οὐκ ὠφελεῖ.

[¶47] Ion:
Is it true Athena reared him from the ground?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἦ καί σφʼ Ἀθάνα γῆθεν ἐξανείλετο;

[¶48] Creusa:
Aye, and into maidens’ hands, though not his mother’s—

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἐς παρθένους γε χεῖρας, οὐ τεκοῦσά νιν.

[¶49] Ion:
Consigned him, did she? as ’tis wont to be set forth in painting.

> Greek: Ἴων:
δίδωσι δʼ, ὥσπερ ἐν γραφῇ νομίζεται …;

[¶50] Creusa:
Yes, to the daughters of Cecrops, to keep him safe unseen.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
Κέκροπός γε σῴζειν παισὶν οὐχ ὁρώμενον.

[¶51] Ion:
I have heard the maidens opened the ark wherein the goddess laid him.

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἤκουσα λῦσαι παρθένους τεῦχος θεᾶς.

[¶52] Creusa:
And so they died, dabbling with their blood the rocky cliff.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
τοιγὰρ θανοῦσαι σκόπελον ᾕμαξαν πέτρας.

[¶53] Ion:
Even so. But what of this next story? Is it true or groundless?

> Greek: Ἴων:
εἶἑν·
τί δαὶ τόδʼ; ἆρʼ ἀληθὲς ἢ μάτην λόγος …

[¶54] Creusa:
What is thy question? Ask on, I have no calls upon my leisure.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
τί χρῆμʼ ἐρωτᾷς; καὶ γὰρ οὐ κάμνω σχολῇ.

[¶55] Ion:
Did thy sire Erechtheus offer thy sisters as a sacrifice?

> Greek: Ἴων:
πατὴρ Ἐρεχθεὺς σὰς ἔθυσε συγγόνους;

[¶56] Creusa:
For his country’s sake he did endure to slay the maids as victims.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἔτλη πρὸ γαίας σφάγια παρθένους κτανεῖν.

[¶57] Ion:
And how didst thou, alone of al thy sisters, escape?

> Greek: Ἴων:
σὺ δʼ ἐξεσώθης πῶς κασιγνήτων μόνη;

[¶58] Creusa:
I was still a tender babe in my mother’s arms.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
βρέφος νεογνὸν μητρὸς ἦν ἐν ἀγκάλαις.

[¶59] Ion:
Did the earth really open its mouth and swallow thy father?

> Greek: Ἴων:
πατέρα δʼ ἀληθῶς χάσμα σὸν κρύπτει χθονός;

[¶60] Creusa:
The sea-god smote and slew him with his trident.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
πληγαὶ τριαίνης ποντίου σφʼ ἀπώλεσαν.

[¶61] Ion:
Is there a spot there called Macrae?

> Greek: Ἴων:
Μακραὶ δὲ χῶρός ἐστʼ ἐκεῖ κεκλημένος;

[¶62] Creusa:
Why ask that? what memories thou recallest!

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
τί δʼ ἱστορεῖς τόδʼ; ὥς μʼ ἀνέμνησάς τινος.

[¶63] Ion:
Doth the Pythian god with his flashing fire do honour to the place?

> Greek: Ἴων:
τιμᾷ σφε Πύθιος ἀστραπαί τε Πύθιαι.

[¶64] Creusa:
Honour, yes! Honour, indeed! would I had never seen the spot!

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
[τιμᾶ τιμᾶ]· ὡς μήποτʼ ὤφελόν σφʼ ἰδεῖν.

[¶65] Ion:
How now? dost thou abhor that which the god holds dear?

> Greek: Ἴων:
τί δὲ στυγεῖς σὺ τοῦ θεοῦ τὰ φίλτατα;

[¶66] Creusa:
No, no; but I and that cave are witnesses of a deed of shame.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
οὐδέν· ξύνοιδʼ ἄντροισιν αἰσχύνην τινά.

[¶67] Ion:
Lady, who is the Athenian lord that calls thee wife?

> Greek: Ἴων:
πόσις δὲ τίς σʼ ἔγημʼ Ἀθηναίων, γύναι;

[¶68] Creusa:
No citizen of Athens, but a stranger from another land.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
οὐκ ἀστός, ἀλλʼ ἐπακτὸς ἐξ ἄλλης χθονός.

[¶69] Ion:
Who is he? he must have been one of noble birth.

> Greek: Ἴων:
τίς; εὐγενῆ νιν δεῖ πεφυκέναι τινά.

[¶70] Creusa:
Xuthus, son of Aeolus, sprung from Zeus.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
Ξοῦθος, πεφυκὼς Αἰόλου Διός τʼ ἄπο.

[¶71] Ion:
And how did he, a stranger, win thee a native born?

> Greek: Ἴων:
καὶ πῶς ξένος σʼ ὢν ἔσχεν οὖσαν ἐγγενῆ;

[¶72] Creusa:
Hard by Athens lies a neighbouring township, Euboea.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
Εὔβοιʼ Ἀθήναις ἔστι τις γείτων πόλις …

[¶73] Ion:
With a bounding line of waters in between, so I have heard.

> Greek: Ἴων:
ὅροις ὑγροῖσιν, ὡς λέγουσʼ, ὡρισμένη.

[¶74] Creusa:
This did he sack, making common cause with Cecrops’ sons.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ταύτην ἔπερσε Κεκροπίδαις κοινῷ δορί.

[¶75] Ion:
Coming as an ally, maybe; he won thy hand for this?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἐπίκουρος ἐλθών; κᾆτα σὸν γαμεῖ λέχος;

[¶76] Creusa:
Yes, this was his dower of battle, the prize of his prowess.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
φερνάς γε πολέμου καὶ δορὸς λαβὼν γέρας.

[¶77] Ion:
Art thou come to the oracle alone, or with thy lord?

> Greek: Ἴων:
σὺν ἀνδρὶ δʼ ἥκεις ἢ μόνη χρηστήρια;

[¶78] Creusa:
With him. But he is now visiting the cavern of Trophonius.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
σὺν ἀνδρί. σηκοὺς δʼ ἐκστρέφει Τροφωνίου.

[¶79] Ion:
As a spectator merely, or to consult the oracle?

> Greek: Ἴων:
πότερα θεατὴς ἢ χάριν μαντευμάτων;

[¶80] Creusa:’Tis his wish to hear the self-same answer from Trophonius and Phoebus too.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
κείνου τε Φοίβου θʼ ἓν θέλων μαθεῖν ἔπος.

[¶81] Ion:
Is it to seek earth’s produce or fruit of offspring that ye come?

> Greek: Ἴων:
καρποῦ δʼ ὕπερ γῆς ἥκετʼ, ἢ παίδων πέρι;

[¶82] Creusa:
We are childless, though wedded these many years.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἄπαιδές ἐσμεν, χρόνιʼ ἔχοντʼ εὐνήματα.

[¶83] Ion:
Hast thou never been a mother? art thou wholly childless?

> Greek: Ἴων:
οὐδʼ ἔτεκες οὐδὲν πώποτʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄτεκνος εἶ;

[¶84] Creusa:
Phoebus knows whether I am childless.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ὁ Φοῖβος οἶδε τὴν ἐμὴν ἀπαιδίαν.

[¶85] Ion:
Unhappy wife! how this doth mar thy fortune else so happy!

> Greek: Ἴων:
ὦ τλῆμον, ὡς τἄλλʼ εὐτυχοῦσʼ οὐκ εὐτυχεῖς.

[¶86] Creusa:
But who art thou? how blest I count thy mother!

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

[¶87] Ion:
Lady, I am called the servant of Apollo, and so I am.

> Greek: Ἴων:
τοῦ θεοῦ καλοῦμαι δοῦλος εἰμί τʼ, ὦ γύναι.

[¶88] Creusa:
An offering of thy city, or sold to him by some master?

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἀνάθημα πόλεως, ἤ τινος πραθεὶς ὕπο;

[¶89] Ion:
Naught know I but this, that I am called the slave of Loxias.

> Greek: Ἴων:
οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· Λοξίου κεκλήμεθα.

[¶90] Creusa:
Then do i in my turn pity thee, sir stranger.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἡμεῖς σʼ ἄρʼ αὖθις, ὦ ξένʼ, ἀντοικτίρομεν.

[¶91] Ion:
Because I know not her that bare me, or him that begat me.

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

[¶92] Creusa:
Is thy home here in the temple, or hast thou a house to dwell in?

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ναοῖσι δʼ οἰκεῖς τοισίδʼ ἢ κατὰ στέγας;

[¶93] Ion:
The god’s whole temple is my house, wherever sleep o’ertakes me.

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἅπαν θεοῦ μοι δῶμʼ, ἵνʼ ἂν λάβῃ μʼ ὕπνος.

[¶94] Creusa:
Was it as a child or young man that thou earnest to the temple?

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
παῖς δʼ ὢν ἀφίκου ναὸν ἢ νεανίας;

[¶95] Ion:
Those who seem to know the truth, say I was but a babe.

> Greek: Ἴων:
βρέφος λέγουσιν οἱ δοκοῦντες εἰδέναι.

[¶96] Creusa:
What Delphian maid, then, weaned thee?

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
καὶ τίς γάλακτί σʼ ἐξέθρεψε Δελφίδων;

[¶97] Ion:
I never knew a mother’s breast. But she who brought me up—

> Greek: Ἴων:
οὐπώποτʼ ἔγνων μαστόν· ἣ δʼ ἔθρεψέ με …

[¶98] Creusa:
Who was she, unhappy youth? I see thy sufferings in my own.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
τίς, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ; ὡς νοσοῦσʼ ηὗρον νόσους.

[¶99] Ion:
The priestess of Phoebus; I look oh her as my mother.

> Greek: Ἴων:
Φοίβου προφῆτις, μητέρʼ ὣς νομίζομεν.

[¶100] Creusa:
Until thou earnest unto man’s estate, what nurture hadst thou?

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἐς δʼ ἄνδρʼ ἀφίκου τίνα τροφὴν κεκτημένος;

[¶101] Ion:
The altar fed me, and the bounty of each casual guest.

> Greek: Ἴων:
βωμοί μʼ ἔφερβον οὑπιών τʼ ἀεὶ ξένος.

[¶102] Creusa:
Woe is thy mother, then, whoe’er she was!

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
τάλαινά σʼ ἡ τεκοῦσα· τίς ποτʼ ἦν ἄρα;

[¶103] Ion:
Maybe my birth was some poor woman’s wrong.

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἀδίκημά του γυναικὸς ἐγενόμην ἴσως.

[¶104] Creusa:
Hast thou any store, for thy dress is costly enough?

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἔχεις δὲ βίοτον· εὖ γὰρ ἤσκησαι πέπλοις.

[¶105] Ion:
The god I serve gives me these robes to wear.

> Greek: Ἴων:
τοῖς τοῦ θεοῦ κοσμούμεθʼ, ᾧ δουλεύομεν.

[¶106] Creusa:
Wert thou never eager to inquire into thy birth?

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
οὐδʼ ᾖξας εἰς ἔρευναν ἐξευρεῖν γονάς;

[¶107] Ion:
Ah! yes, lady! but I have no clue at all to guide me.

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἔχω γὰρ οὐδέν, ὦ γύναι, τεκμήριον.

[¶108] Creusa:
Alas! I know another woman who hath suffered as thy mother did.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
φεῦ·
πέπονθέ τις σῇ μητρὶ ταὔτʼ ἄλλη γυνή.

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

> Greek: Ἴων:
τίς; εἰ πόνου μοι ξυλλάβοι, χαίροιμεν ἄν.

[¶110] Creusa:’Tis she on whose account I have preceded my husband hither.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἧς οὕνεκʼ ἦλθον δεῦρο πρὶν πόσιν μολεῖν.

[¶111] Ion:
What are thy wishes? be sure I will serve thee, lady.

> Greek: Ἴων:
ποῖόν τι χρῄζουσʼ; ὡς ὑπουργήσω, γύναι.

[¶112] Creusa:
I would fain obtain a secret answer from Apollo’s oracle.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
μάντευμα κρυπτὸν δεομένη Φοίβου μαθεῖν.

[¶113] Ion:
Name it, then; the rest will I undertake for thee.

> Greek: Ἴων:
λέγοις ἄν· ἡμεῖς τἄλλα προξενήσομεν.

[¶114] Creusa:
Hear, then, this story. Yet am I ashamed.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἄκουε δὴ τὸν μῦθον. — ἀλλʼ αἰδούμεθα.

[¶115] Ion:
Thus wilt thou accomplish naught, for shame is a goddess slow to act.

> Greek: Ἴων:
οὔ τἄρα πράξεις οὐδέν· ἀργὸς ἡ θεός.

[¶116] Creusa:
A friend of mine asserts that Phoebus lay with her.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
Φοίβῳ μιγῆναί φησί τις φίλων ἐμῶν.

[¶117] Ion:
Phoebus with a mortal woman? Stranger lady, say not so.

> Greek: Ἴων:
Φοίβῳ γυνὴ γεγῶσα; μὴ λέγʼ, ὦ ξένη.

[¶118] Creusa:
Yea, and she bare the god a child without her father’s knowledge.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
καὶ παῖδά γʼ ἔτεκε τῷ θεῷ λάθρα πατρός.

[¶119] Ion:
It cannot be; some man did wrong her, and she is ashamed of it.

> Greek: Ἴων:
οὐκ ἔστιν· ἀνδρὸς ἀδικίαν αἰσχύνεται.

[¶120] Creusa:
This she denieis herself; and she hath suffered further woe.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
οὔ φησιν αὐτή, καὶ πέπονθεν ἄθλια.

[¶121] Ion:
How so, if she was wedded to a god?

> Greek: Ἴων:
τί χρῆμα δράσασʼ, εἰ θεῷ συνεζύγη;

[¶122] Creusa:
The babe she bare she did expose.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
τὸν παῖδʼ ὃν ἔτεκεν ἐξέθηκε δωμάτων.

[¶123] Ion:
Where is the child who was thus cast forth? is he yet alive?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ὁ δʼ ἐκτεθεὶς παῖς ποῦ ʼστιν; εἰσορᾷ φάος;

[¶124] Creusa:
No man knoweth. That is the very thing I would ask the oracle.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
οὐκ οἶδεν οὐδείς. ταῦτα καὶ μαντεύομαι.

[¶125] Ion:
But if he be no more, how did he perish?

> Greek: Ἴων:
εἰ δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔστι, τίνι τρόπῳ διεφθάρη;

[¶126] Creusa:
She supposes that beasts devoured the hapless babe.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
θῆράς σφε τὸν δύστηνον ἐλπίζει κτανεῖν.

[¶127] Ion:
What proof led her to form this opinion?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ποίῳ τόδʼ ἔγνω χρωμένη τεκμηρίῳ;

[¶128] Creusa:
She came to the place where she exposed him, but found him no longer there.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἐλθοῦσʼ ἵνʼ αὐτὸν ἐξέθηκʼ οὐχ ηὗρʼ ἔτι.

[¶129] Ion:
Were any drops of blood upon the path?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἦν δὲ σταλαγμὸς ἐν στίβῳ τις αἵματος;

[¶130] Creusa:
None, she says; and yet she ranged the ground to and fro.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
οὔ φησι. καίτοι πόλλʼ ἐπεστράφη πέδον.

[¶131] Ion:
How long is it since the babe was destroyed?

> Greek: Ἴων:
χρόνος δὲ τίς τῷ παιδὶ διαπεπραγμένῳ;

[¶132] Creusa:
Thy age and his would measure out the self-same span, were he alive.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
σοὶ ταὐτὸν ἥβης, εἴπερ, εἶχεν ἂν μέτρον.

[¶133] Ion:
Hath she given birth to no other child since then?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἀδικεῖ νιν ὁ θεός· ἡ τεκοῦσα δʼ ἀθλία.

[¶134] Creusa:
The god doth wrong her, and wretched is she in having no child.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
οὔκουν ἔτʼ ἄλλον γʼ ὕστερον τίκτει γόνον.

[¶135] Ion:
But what if Phoebus privily removed her child, and is rearing it?

> Greek: Ἴων:
τί δʼ, εἰ λάθρα νιν Φοῖβος ἐκτρέφει λαβών;

[¶136] Creusa:
Then is he acting unfairly in keeping to himself alone a joy he ought to share.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
τὰ κοινὰ χαίρων οὐ δίκαια δρᾷ μόνος.

[¶137] Ion:
Ah me! this misfortune sounds so like my own.

> Greek: Ἴων:
οἴμοι· προσῳδὸς ἡ τύχη τὠμῷ πάθει.

[¶138] Creusa:
Thee too, fair sir, thy poor mother misses, I am sure.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
καὶ σέ, ὦ ξένʼ, οἶμαι μητέρʼ ἀθλίαν ποθεῖν.

[¶139] Ion:
Oh! call me not back to piteous thoughts I had forgotten.

> Greek: Ἴων:
καὶ μή γʼ ἐπʼ οἶκτόν μʼ ἔξαγʼ οὗ ʼλελήσμεθα.

[¶140] Creusa:
I am dumb; proceed with that which touches my inquiry.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
σιγῶ· πέραινε δʼ ὧν σʼ ἀνιστορῶ πέρι.

[¶141] Ion:
Dost know the one weak point in this thy story?

> Greek: Ἴων:
οἶσθʼ οὖν ὃ κάμνει τοῦ λόγου μάλιστά σοι;

[¶142] Creusa:’Tis all weak in that poor lady’s case.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
τί δʼ οὐκ ἐκείνῃ τῇ ταλαιπώρῳ νοσεῖ;

[¶143] Ion:
How should the god declare that which he wishes hidden?

> Greek: Ἴων:
πῶς ὁ θεὸς ὃ λαθεῖν βούλεται μαντεύσεται;

[¶144] Creusa:
He must, if here upon the tripod he sits for all Hellas to seek to.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
εἴπερ καθίζει τρίποδα κοινὸν Ἑλλάδος.

[¶145] Ion:
He is ashamed of the deed; do not question him.

> Greek: Ἴων:
αἰσχύνεται τὸ πρᾶγμα· μὴ ʼξέλεγχέ νιν.

[¶146] Creusa:
Aye, but his victim has her sorrows too.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἀλγύνεται δέ γʼ ἡ παθοῦσα τῇ τύχῃ.

[¶147] Ion:
There is none who will act as thy medium in this.

> Greek: Ἴων:
οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις σοι προφητεύσει τάδε.

[¶148] For were Phoebus in his own temple proved a villain, he would justly wreak his vengeance on the man who expounded to thee his oracles; desist then, lady; we must not prophesy against the god’s will,
for it would be the height of folly in us, were we to try and make the gods against their will declare reluctant truths either by sacrifice of sheep at their altars, or by omens from birds. For those answers we strive to extort from heaven, lady, are goods that bring no blessing on our getting;

> Greek: ἐν τοῖς γὰρ αὑτοῦ δώμασιν κακὸς φανεὶς
Φοῖβος δικαίως τὸν θεμιστεύοντά σοι
δράσειεν ἄν τι πῆμα. ἀπαλλάσσου, γύναι.
τῷ γὰρ θεῷ τἀναντίʼ οὐ μαντευτέον.
ἐς γὰρ τοσοῦτον ἀμαθίας ἔλθοιμεν ἄν,
εἰ τοὺς θεοὺς ἄκοντας ἐκπονήσομεν
φράζειν ἃ μὴ θέλουσιν, ἢ προβωμίοις
σφαγαῖσι μήλων ἢ διʼ οἰωνῶν πτεροῖς.
ἃν γὰρ βίᾳ σπεύδωμεν ἀκόντων θεῶν,
ἄκοντα κεκτήμεσθα τἀγάθʼ, ὦ γύναι·

[¶149] but what they freely offer, thereby we profit.

> Greek: ἃ δʼ ἂν διδῶσʼ ἑκόντες, ὠφελούμεθα.

[¶150] Chorus:
Many are the chances that befall the many tribes of men, and diverse are their forms. But scarce one happy scene canst thou find in all the life of man.

> Greek: Χορός:
πολλαί γε πολλοῖς εἰσι συμφοραὶ βροτῶν,
μορφαὶ δὲ διαφέρουσιν· ἓν δʼ ἂν εὐτυχὲς
μόλις ποτʼ ἐξεύροι τις ἀνθρώπων βίῳ.

[¶151] Creusa:
Ah! Phoebus, here as there, art thou unjust
to that absent sufferer, whose cause I now am pleading. Thou didst not preserve thy child, as in duty bound, nor wilt thou, for all thy prophetic skill, answer his mother’s questioning, that, if he be no more, a mound may be raised o’er him, or, if he live, he may some day be restored to his mother’s eyes.
In vain is this the home of oracles if the god prevents me from learning what I wish to ask. But lo! I see my noble lord, Xuthus, nigh at hand, returning 278 from the lair of Trophonius; say nothing,
sir, to my husband of what I have told thee, lest I incur reproach for troubling about secrets, and the matter take a different turn to that which I sought to give it. For women stand towards men in a difficult position, and the virtuous from being mingled with the wicked amongst us are hated;
such is our unhappy destiny.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ὦ Φοῖβε, κἀκεῖ κἀνθάδʼ οὐ δίκαιος εἶ
ἐς τὴν ἀποῦσαν, ἧς πάρεισιν οἱ λόγοι·
ὃς οὔτʼ ἔσωσας τὸν σὸν ὃν σῶσαί σʼ ἐχρῆν,
οὔθʼ ἱστορούσῃ μητρὶ μάντις ὢν ἐρεῖς,
ὡς, εἰ μὲν οὐκέτʼ ἔστιν, ὀγκωθῇ τάφῳ,
εἰ δʼ ἔστιν …
ἀλλʼ ἐᾶν χρὴ τάδʼ, εἰ πρὸς τοῦ θεοῦ
κωλυόμεσθα μὴ μαθεῖν ἃ βούλομαι.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, εἰσορῶ γὰρ εὐγενῆ πόσιν
Ξοῦθον πέλας δὴ τόνδε, τὰς Τροφωνίου
λιπόντα θαλάμας, τοὺς λελεγμένους λόγους
σίγα πρὸς ἄνδρα, μή τινʼ αἰσχύνην λάβω
διακονοῦσα κρυπτά, καὶ προβῇ λόγος
οὐχ ᾗπερ ἡμεῖς αὐτὸν ἐξειλίσσομεν.
τὰ γὰρ γυναικῶν δυσχερῆ πρὸς ἄρσενας,
κἀν ταῖς κακαῖσιν ἁγαθαὶ μεμειγμέναι
μισούμεθʼ· οὕτω δυστυχεῖς πεφύκαμεν.

[¶152] Xuthus:
First to the god all hail! for he must receive the first-fruits of my salutation, and next all hail to thee, my wife! Has my delay in arriving caused thee alarm?

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
πρῶτον μὲν ὁ θεὸς τῶν ἐμῶν προσφθεγμάτων
λαβὼν ἀπαρχὰς χαιρέτω, σύ τʼ, ὦ γύναι.
μῶν χρόνιος ἐλθών σʼ ἐξέπληξʼ ὀρρωδίᾳ;

[¶153] Creusa:
By no means; but thou art come at an anxious time.
Tell me what response thou bringest from Trophonius, touching our future hopes of mutual offspring.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
οὐδέν γʼ· ἀφίκου δʼ ἐς μέριμναν. ἀλλά μοι
λέξον, τί θέσπισμʼ ἐκ Τροφωνίου φέρεις,
παίδων ὅπως νῷν σπέρμα συγκραθήσεται;

[¶154] Xuthus:
He deigned not to forestal the prophecies of Phoebus. This only did he say, that neither thou nor I should return unto our house childless from the shrine.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
οὐκ ἠξίωσε τοῦ θεοῦ προλαμβάνειν
μαντεύμαθʼ· ἓν δʼ οὖν εἶπεν· οὐκ ἄπαιδά με
πρὸς οἶκον ἥξειν οὐδὲ σὲ ἐκ χρηστηρίων.

[¶155] Creusa:
Majestic mother of Phoebus, to our journey grant success, and may our previous dealings with thy son now find a better issue!

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ὦ πότνια Φοίβου μῆτερ, εἰ γὰρ αἰσίως
ἔλθοιμεν, ἅ τε νῷν συμβόλαια πρόσθεν ἦν
ἐς παῖδα τὸν σόν, μεταπέσοι βελτίονα.

[¶156] Xuthus:
It will be so; but who acts as the god’s spokesman here?

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
ἔσται τάδʼ· ἀλλὰ τίς προφητεύει θεοῦ;

[¶157] Ion:
I serve outside the shrine, others within,
who stand near the tripod, even the noblest of the Delphians chosen by lot, sir stranger.

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἡμεῖς τά γʼ ἔξω, τῶν ἔσω δʼ ἄλλοις μέλει,
οἳ πλησίον θάσσουσι τρίποδος, ὦ ξένε,
Δελφῶν ἀριστῆς, οὓς ἐκλήρωσεν πάλος.

[¶158] Xuthus:’Tis well; I have attained the utmost of my wishes. I will go within; for I am told that a victim has been slain in public before the temple for strangers,
and to-day,—for it is a lucky day,—I would fain receive the god’s oracle. Do thou, my wife, take branches of laurel, and seated at the altars pray to the gods that I may carry home from Apollo’s shrine an answer that bodeth well for offspring.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
καλῶς· ἔχω δὴ πάνθʼ ὅσων ἐχρῄζομεν.
στείχοιμʼ ἂν εἴσω· καὶ γάρ, ὡς ἐγὼ κλύω,
χρηστήριον πέπτωκε τοῖς ἐπήλυσι
κοινὸν πρὸ ναοῦ· βούλομαι δʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ
τῇδʼ — αἰσία γάρ — θεοῦ λαβεῖν μαντεύματα.
σὺ δʼ ἀμφὶ βωμούς, ὦ γύναι, δαφνηφόρους
λαβοῦσα κλῶνας, εὐτέκνους εὔχου θεοῖς
χρησμούς μʼ ἐνεγκεῖν ἐξ Ἀπόλλωνος δόμων.

[¶159] Creusa:
All this shall be. Now, at any rate, if Loxias would retrieve his former sins, e’en though he cannot be my friend entirely, yet will I accept whate’er he deigns to give, because he is a god.
[Exeunt Xuthus and Creusa.

> Greek: Κρέουσα:
ἔσται τάδʼ, ἔσται. Λοξίας δʼ ἐὰν θέλῃ
νῦν ἀλλὰ τὰς πρὶν ἀναλαβεῖν ἁμαρτίας,
ἅπας μὲν οὐ γένοιτʼ ἂν εἰς ἡμᾶς φίλος,
ὅσον δὲ χρῄζει — θεὸς γάρ ἐστι — δέξομαι.

[¶160] Ion:
Why doth this stranger lady hint dark reproaches against the god
unceasingly, either out of affection for her on whose behalf she seeks the oracle, or maybe because she is hiding something needing secrecy? Yet what have I to do with the daughter of Erectheus? She is naught to me.
No, I will go to the laver, and from golden ewers sprinkle the holy water. Yet must I warn Phoebus of what is happening to him; he ravishes a maid and proves unfaithful to her, and after secretly begetting a son leaves him to die. O! Phoebus, do not so, but as thou art supreme,
follow in virtue’s track; for whosoever of mortal men transgresses, him the gods punish. How, then, can it be just that you should enact your laws for men, and yourselves incur the charge of breaking them? Now I will put this case, though it will never happen.
Wert thou, wert Poseidon, and Zeus, the lord of heaven, to make atonement to mankind for every act of lawless love, ye would empty your temples in paying the fines for your misdeeds. For when ye pursue pleasure in preference to the claims of prudence, ye act unjustly; no longer is it fair
to call men wicked, if we are imitating the evil deeds of gods, but rather those who give us such examples. [Exit Ion

> Greek: Ἴων:
τί ποτε λόγοισιν ἡ ξένη πρὸς τὸν θεὸν
κρυπτοῖσιν αἰεὶ λοιδοροῦσʼ αἰνίσσεται;
ἤτοι φιλοῦσά γʼ ἧς ὕπερ μαντεύεται,
ἢ καί τι σιγῶσʼ ὧν σιωπᾶσθαι χρεών;
ἀτὰρ θυγατρὸς τῆς Ἐρεχθέως τί μοι
μέλει; προσήκει γʼ οὐδέν. ἀλλὰ χρυσέαις
πρόχοισιν ἐλθὼν εἰς ἀπορραντήρια
δρόσον καθήσω. νουθετητέος δέ μοι
Φοῖβος, τί πάσχει· παρθένους βίᾳ γαμῶν
προδίδωσι; παῖδας ἐκτεκνούμενος λάθρᾳ
θνῄσκοντας ἀμελεῖ; μὴ σύ γʼ· ἀλλʼ, ἐπεὶ κρατεῖς,
ἀρετὰς δίωκε. καὶ γὰρ ὅστις ἂν βροτῶν
κακὸς πεφύκῃ, ζημιοῦσιν οἱ θεοί.
πῶς οὖν δίκαιον τοὺς νόμους ὑμᾶς βροτοῖς
γράψαντας, αὐτοὺς ἀνομίαν ὀφλισκάνειν;
εἰ δʼ — οὐ γὰρ ἔσται, τῷ λόγῳ δὲ χρήσομαι —
δίκας βιαίων δώσετʼ ἀνθρώποις γάμων,
σὺ καὶ Ποσειδῶν Ζεύς θʼ ὃς οὐρανοῦ κρατεῖ,
ναοὺς τίνοντες ἀδικίας κενώσετε.
τὰς ἡδονὰς γὰρ τῆς προμηθίας πάρος
σπεύδοντες ἀδικεῖτʼ. οὐκέτʼ ἀνθρώπους κακῶς
λέγειν δίκαιον, εἰ τὰ τῶν θεῶν καλὰ
μιμούμεθʼ, ἀλλὰ τοὺς διδάσκοντας τάδε.

[¶161] Chorus:
On thee I call, Athena mine, at whose birth-throes no kindly goddess lent her aid,
delivered as thou wert by Titan Prometheus from the forehead of Zeus. Come, O lady Victory, come to the Pythian shrine, winging thy way from the gilded chambers of Olympus
to the city’s streets, where Phoebus at his altar on the centre of the world brings his oracles to pass beside the dance-encircled tripod;
come, too, thou daughter of Latona, together come, ye virgin goddesses, fair sisters of Phoebus! And be this your prayer, fair maidens, that the ancient house of Erechtheus
may obtain by clear oracles the blessing of children, though late it come.

> Greek: Χορός:
σὲ τὰν ὠδίνων λοχιᾶν
ἀνειλείθυιαν, ἐμὰν
Ἀθάναν, ἱκετεύω,
Προμηθεῖ Τιτᾶνι λοχευ-
θεῖσαν κατʼ ἀκροτάτας
κορυφᾶς Διός, ὦ μάκαιρα Νίκα,
μόλε Πύθιον οἶκον,
Ὀλύμπου χρυσέων θαλάμων
πταμένα πρὸς ἀγυιάς,
Φοιβήιος ἔνθα γᾶς
μεσσόμφαλος ἑστία
παρὰ χορευομένῳ τρίποδι
μαντεύματα κραίνει,
σὺ καὶ παῖς ἁ Λατογενής,
δύο θεαὶ δύο παρθένοι,
κασίγνηται σεμναὶ Φοίβου.
ἱκετεύσατε δʼ, ὦ κόραι,
τὸ παλαιὸν Ἐρεχθέως
γένος εὐτεκνίας χρονίου καθαροῖς
μαντεύμασι κῦρσαι.

[¶162] Chorus:
For this brings to man a settled source of all-surpassing bliss,
even to such as see in their ancestral halls a splendid race of strong young parents blest with offspring, to inherit from their sires
their wealth in due succession after other children; yea, for they are a defence in time of trouble, and add a charm to weal, affording to their fatherland a saving help in battle.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὑπερβαλλούσας γὰρ ἔχει
θνατοῖς εὐδαιμονίας
ἀκίνητον ἀφορμάν,
τέκνων οἷς ἂν καρποτρόφοι
λάμπωσιν ἐν θαλάμοις
πατρίοισι νεάνιδες ἧβαι,
διαδέκτορα πλοῦτον
ὡς ἕξοντες ἐκ πατέρων
ἑτέροις ἐπὶ τέκνοις.
ἀλκά τε γὰρ ἐν κακοῖς
σύν τʼ εὐτυχίαις φίλον,
δορί τε γᾷ πατρίᾳ φέρει
σωτήριον ἀλκάν.

[¶163] Give me before the pomp of wealth or royal marriages the careful nurture of noble children. The childless life I do abhor, and him who thinks it good I blame;

> Greek: ἐμοὶ μὲν πλούτου τε πάρος
βασιλικῶν τʼ εἶεν θαλάμων
τροφαὶ κήδειοι κεδνῶν γε τέκνων.
τὸν ἄπαιδα δʼ ἀποστυγῶ
βίον, ᾧ τε δοκεῖ ψέγω·

[¶164] to a happy life amongst my children, blest with moderate wealth, may I hold fast.

> Greek: μετὰ δὲ κτεάνων μετρίων βιοτᾶς
εὔπαιδος ἐχοίμαν.

[¶165] Chorus:
Ye haunts of Pan, and rocks hard by the grots of Macrae,
where Agraulos’ daughters three trip it lightly o’er the green grass-lawns before the shrine of Pallas, to the music of the piper’s varied note,
what time thou, Pan, art piping in those caves of thine, where a maiden once that had a child by Phoebus, unhappy mother! exposed her babe, forced issue of her woful wooing,
for birds to tear and beasts to rend, a bloody banquet! Never have I seen it told in woven tale or legend that children born to gods by daughters of earth have any share in bliss.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ Πανὸς θακήματα καὶ
παραυλίζουσα πέτρα
μυχώδεσι Μακραῖς,
ἵνα χοροὺς στείβουσι ποδοῖν
Ἀγλαύρου κόραι τρίγονοι
στάδια χλοερὰ πρὸ Παλλάδος
ναῶν, συρίγγων
ὑπʼ αἰόλας ἰαχᾶς
ὕμνων, ὅτʼ ἀναλίοις
συρίζεις, ὦ Πάν,
τοῖς σοῖσιν ἐν ἄντροις,
ἵνα τεκοῦσά τις Φοίβῳ
παρθένος, ὦ μελέα, βρέφος,
πτανοῖς ἐξόρισεν θοίναν
θηρσί τε φοινίαν δαῖτα, πικρῶν γάμων
ὕβριν· οὔτʼ ἐπὶ κερκίσιν οὔτε λόγοις
φάτιν ἄιον εὐτυχίας μετέχειν
θεόθεν τέκνα θνατοῖς.

[¶166] Ion:
Attendant maids, that watch and wait your mistress here at the steps of the temple fragrant with incense, say, hath Xuthus already left the holy tripod and the sanctuary, or doth he still abide within to ask yet further of his childlessness?

> Greek: Ἴων:
πρόσπολοι γυναῖκες, αἳ τῶνδʼ ἀμφὶ κρηπῖδας δόμων
θυοδόκων φρούρημʼ ἔχουσαι δεσπότιν φυλάσσετε,
ἐκλέλοιπʼ ἤδη τὸν ἱερὸν τρίποδα καὶ χρηστήριον
Ξοῦθος, ἢ μίμνει κατʼ οἶκον ἱστορῶν ἀπαιδίαν;

[¶167] Chorus:
He is still in the temple, sir, nor hath he passed this threshold yet.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐν δόμοις ἔστʼ, ὦ ξένʼ· οὔπω δῶμʼ ὑπερβαίνει τόδε.

[¶168] But hark! I hear a footstep at the outlet of the door, and lo! thou mayst see my master this moment coming out.

> Greek: ὡς δʼ ἐπʼ ἐξόδοισιν ὄντος, τῶνδʼ ἀκούομεν πυλῶν
δοῦπον, ἐξιόντα τʼ ἤδη δεσπότην ὁρᾶν πάρα.

[¶169] Xuthus:
All hail! my son; that word suits well as my first greeting to thee.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
ὦ τέκνον, χαῖρʼ· ἡ γὰρ ἀρχὴ τοῦ λόγου πρέπουσά μοι.

[¶170] Ion:’Tis well with me; do but restrain thyself, and then both of us will be happy.

> Greek: Ἴων:
χαίρομεν· σὺ δʼ εὖ φρόνει γε, καὶ δύʼ ὄντʼ εὖ πράξομεν.

[¶171] Xuthus:
Give me thy hand to grasp, thy body to embrace.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
δὸς χερὸς φίλημά μοι σῆς σώματός τʼ ἀμφιπτυχάς.

[¶172] Ion:
Art thou in thy senses, sir, or hath some spiteful god reft thee of them?

> Greek: Ἴων:
εὖ φρονεῖς μέν; ἤ σʼ ἔμηνε θεοῦ τις, ὦ ξένε, βλάβη;

[¶173] Xuthus:
I am in my senses, for I have found what I hold most dear, and am eager to show my love.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
σωφρονῶ· τὰ φίλταθʼ εὑρὼν οὐ φυγεῖν ἐφίεμαι.

[¶174] Ion:
Cease! touch me not, nor tear these garlands of the god!

> Greek: Ἴων:
παῦε, μὴ ψαύσας τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ στέμματα ῥήξῃς χερί.

[¶175] Xuthus:
I will embrace thee, for I am not seizing what is not my own, but only finding my own that I love full well.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
ἅψομαι· κοὐ ῥυσιάζω, τἀμὰ δʼ εὑρίσκω φίλα.

[¶176] Ion:
Hands off! or thou shalt feel an arrow pierce thy ribs.

> Greek: Ἴων:
οὐκ ἀπαλλάξῃ, πρὶν εἴσω τόξα πλευμόνων λαβεῖν;

[¶177] Xuthus:
Why dost thou shun me, now that thou findest in me thy nearest and dearest?

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
ὡς τί δὴ φεύγεις με; σαυτοῦ γνωρίσας τὰ φίλτατα —

[¶178] Ion:
I am not fond of schooling boors and crazy strangers.

> Greek: Ἴων:
οὐ φιλῶ φρενοῦν ἀμούσους καὶ μεμηνότας ξένους.

[¶179] Xuthus:
Kill me, burn me, if thou wilt; for, if thou dost, thou wilt be thy father’s murderer.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
κτεῖνε καὶ πίμπρη· πατρὸς γάρ, ἢν κτάνῃς, ἔσῃ φονεύς.

[¶180] Ion:
Thou my father, indeed i Oh! is not news like this enough to make me laugh?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ποῦ δέ μοι πατὴρ σύ; ταῦτʼ οὖν οὐ γέλως κλύειν ἐμοῦ;

[¶181] Xuthus:
Not so; my tale, as it proceeds, will prove to thee what I assert.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
οὔ· τρέχων ὁ μῦθος ἄν σοι τἀμὰ σημήνειεν ἄν.

[¶182] Ion:
Pray, what hast thou to tell me?

> Greek: Ἴων:
καὶ τί μοι λέξεις;

[¶183] Xuthus:
That I am thy own father, and thou my very child.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
πατὴρ σός εἰμι καὶ σὺ παῖς ἐμός.

[¶184] Ion:
Who says so?

> Greek: Ἴων:
τίς λέγει τάδε;

[¶185] Xuthus:
Loxias, who gave thee nurture, though thou wert my son.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
ὅς σʼ ἔθρεψεν ὄντα Λοξίας ἐμόν.

[¶186] Ion:
Thou art thy own witness.

> Greek: Ἴων:
μαρτυρεῖς σαυτῷ.

[¶187] Xuthus:
Nay, I have learnt the answer of the god.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ γʼ ἐκμαθὼν χρηστήρια.

[¶188] Ion:
Thou art mistaken in the dark riddle thou hast heard.

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἐσφάλης αἴνιγμʼ ἀκούσας.

[¶189] Xuthus:
It seems then I do not hear aright.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
οὐκ ἄρʼ ὄρθʼ ἀκούομεν.

[¶190] Ion:
What said Phoebus?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ὁ δὲ λόγος τίς ἐστι Φοίβου;

[¶191] Xuthus:
That the man who met me—

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
τὸν συναντήσαντά μοι —

[¶192] Ion:
When and where?

> Greek: Ἴων:
τίνα συνάντησιν;

[¶193] Xuthus:
As I came forth from the god’s temple—

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
δόμων τῶνδʼ ἐξιόντι τοῦ θεοῦ

[¶194] Ion:
Well! what should happen to him?

> Greek: Ἴων:
συμφορᾶς τίνος κυρῆσαι;

[¶195] Xuthus:
Should be my own true son.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
παῖδʼ ἐμὸν πεφυκέναι.

[¶196] Ion:
Thy own true son, or a gift from others?

> Greek: Ἴων:
σὸν γεγῶτʼ, ἢ δῶρον ἄλλως;

[¶197] Xuthus:
A gift, but mine for all that.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
δῶρον, ὄντα δʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ.

[¶198] Ion:
Am I the first that thou didst meet?

> Greek: Ἴων:
πρῶτα δῆτʼ ἐμοὶ ξυνάπτεις πόδα σόν;

[¶199] Xuthus:
I have met no other, my son.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
οὐκ ἄλλῳ, τέκνον.

[¶200] Ion:
Whence came this piece of luck?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἡ τύχη πόθεν ποθʼ ἥκει;

[¶201] Xuthus:
To both of us alike it causes surprise.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
δύο μίαν θαυμάζομεν.

[¶202] Ion:
Ah I but who was my mother?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἔα. τίνος δέ σοι πέφυκα μητρός;

[¶203] Xuthus:
I cannot tell.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
οὐκ ἔχω φράσαι.

[¶204] Ion:
Did not Phoebus tell thee that?

> Greek: Ἴων:
οὐδὲ Φοῖβος εἶπε;

[¶205] Xuthus:
I was so pleased with this, I did not ask him that.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
τερφθεὶς τοῦτο, κεῖνʼ οὐκ ἠρόμην.

[¶206] Ion:
I must have sprung from mother earth.

> Greek: Ἴων:
γῆς ἄρʼ ἐκπέφυκα μητρός.

[¶207] Xuthus:
The ground brings forth no children.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
οὐ πέδον τίκτει τέκνα.

[¶208] Ion:
How can I be thine?

> Greek: Ἴων:
πῶς ἂν οὖν εἴην σός;

[¶209] Xuthus:
I know not; I refer it to the god.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
οὐκ οἶδʼ, ἀναφέρω δʼ ἐς τὸν θεόν.

[¶210] Ion:
Come, let us try another theme.

> Greek: Ἴων:
φέρε λόγων ἁψώμεθʼ ἄλλων.

[¶211] Xuthus:
Better hold to this, my son.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
ταῦτʼ ἀμείνονʼ, ὦ τέκνον.

[¶212] Ion:
Didst thou e’er indulge in illicit amours?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἦλθες ἐς νόθον τι λέκτρον;

[¶213] Xuthus:
Yes, in the folly of youth.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
μωρίᾳ γε τοῦ νέου.

[¶214] Ion:
Ere thou didst win Erechtheus’ daughter?

> Greek: Ἴων:
πρὶν κόρην λαβεῖν Ἐρεχθέως;

[¶215] Xuthus:
Never since.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
οὐ γὰρ ὕστερόν γέ πω.

[¶216] Ion:
Could it be, then, thou didst beget me?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἆρα δῆτʼ ἐκεῖ μʼ ἔφυσας;

[¶217] Xuthus:
The time coincides therewith.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
τῷ χρόνῳ γε συντρέχει.

[¶218] Ion:
In that case, how came I hither?

> Greek: Ἴων:
κᾆτα πῶς ἀφικόμεσθα δεῦρο —

[¶219] Xuthus:
That puzzles me.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
ταῦτʼ ἀμηχανῶ.

[¶220] Ion:
After that long journey too?

> Greek: Ἴων:
διὰ μακρᾶς ἐλθὼν κελεύθου;

[¶221] Xuthus:
That, too, perplexes me.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
τοῦτο κἄμʼ ἀπαιολεῖ.

[¶222] Ion:
Didst thou in days gone by come to the Pythian rock?

> Greek: Ἴων:
Πυθίαν δʼ ἦλθες πέτραν πρίν;

[¶223] Xuthus:
Yes, to join in the mystic rites of Bacchus.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
ἐς φανάς γε Βακχίου.

[¶224] Ion:
Didst thou lodge with one of the public hosts?

> Greek: Ἴων:
προξένων δʼ ἔν του κατέσχες;

[¶225] Xuthus:
With one who at Delphi—

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
ὅς με Δελφίσιν κόραις …

[¶226] Ion:
Initiated thee? or what is it thou sayest?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἐθιάσευσʼ, ἢ πῶς τάδʼ αὐδᾷς;

[¶227] Xuthus:
Among the frantic votaries of Bacchus.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
Μαινάσιν γε Βακχίου.

[¶228] Ion:
Wert thou sober, or in thy cups?

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἔμφρονʼ ἢ κάτοινον ὄντα;

[¶229] Xuthus:
I had indulged in the pleasures of the wine-cup.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
Βακχίου πρὸς ἡδοναῖς.

[¶230] Ion:
That is just the history of my birth.

> Greek: Ἴων:
τοῦτʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ἵνʼ ἐσπάρημεν.

[¶231] Xuthus:
Fate hath discovered thee, my son.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
ὁ πότμος ἐξηῦρεν, τέκνον.

[¶232] Ion:
How came I to the temple?

> Greek: Ἴων:
πῶς δʼ ἀφικόμεσθα ναούς;

[¶233] Xuthus:
Maybe the maid exposed thee.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
ἔκβολον κόρης ἴσως.

[¶234] Ion:
I have escaped the shame of slavish birth.

> Greek: Ἴων:
ἐκπεφεύγαμεν τὸ δοῦλον.

[¶235] Xuthus:
Acknowledge then thy father, my son.

> Greek: Ξοῦθος:
πατέρα νυν δέχου, τέκνον.