Chorus:What news, my fellow-thrall? why that hurried gait? what tidings bringest thou?
Χορός:τί δʼ ἔστιν, ὦ ξύνδουλε; τίς προθυμίαποδῶν ἔχει σε, καὶ λόγους τίνας φέρεις;
Servant:I am pursued; the rulers of this land are seeking her to stone her to death.
Θεράπων:θηρώμεθʼ· ἀρχαὶ δʼ ἁπιχώριοι χθονὸςζητοῦσιν αὐτήν, ὡς θάνῃ πετρουμένη.
Chorus:Alas, what is thy tale? say not we are detected in our secret plot for murdering the boy?
Χορός:οἴμοι, τί λέξεις; οὔτι που λελήμμεθακρυφαῖον ἐς παῖδʼ ἐκπορίζουσαι φόνον;
Servant:Thou hast guessed aright; nor wilt thou be the last to share the trouble.
Θεράπων:ἔγνως; — μεθέξεις οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις κακοῦ.
Chorus:How was the hidden scheme laid bare?
Χορός:ὤφθη δὲ πῶς τὰ κρυπτὰ μηχανήματα;
Servant:The god found means to master wrong with right, unwilling to see his shrine polluted.
Θεράπων:τὸ μὴ δίκαιον τῆς δίκης ἡσσώμενονἐξηῦρεν ὁ θεός, οὐ μιανθῆναι θέλων.
Chorus:How so? I do conjure thee, tell us all.
Χορός:πῶς; ἀντιάζω σʼ ἱκέτις ἐξειπεῖν τάδε.
For if to die or yet to live be ours,’twere sweeter so, when we know all.
πεπυσμέναι γάρ, εἰ θανεῖν ὅμως χρεών,ἥδιον ἂν θάνοιμεν, εἴθʼ ὁρᾶν φάος.
Servant:Soon as Xuthus, husband of Creusa, had left the god’s prophetic shrine, taking with him his new-found son, to hold the feast and sacrifice that he designed to offer to the gods,himself departed to the place where leaps the Bacchic flame, with blood of sacrifice to dew the double peaks of Dionysus for the son now offered to his gaze, and thus he spake, “My son, abide thou here, and raise a spacious tent by craftsmen’s toiling skill;”
Θεράπων:ἐπεὶ θεοῦ μαντεῖον ᾤχετʼ ἐκλιπὼνπόσις Κρεούσης, παῖδα τὸν καινὸν λαβὼνπρὸς δεῖπνα θυσίας θʼ ἃς θεοῖς ὡπλίζετο,Ξοῦθος μὲν ᾤχετʼ ἔνθα πῦρ πηδᾷ θεοῦβακχεῖον, ὡς σφαγαῖσι Διονύσου πέτραςδεύσειε δισσὰς παιδὸς ἀντʼ ὀπτηρίων,λέξας· Σὺ μὲν νῦν, τέκνον, ἀμφήρεις μένωνσκηνὰς ἀνίστη τεκτόνων μοχθήμασι.
“and if I remain long time away after I have sacrificed to the gods of thy birth, let the feast be spread for all friends present.”
θύσας δὲ Γενέταις Θεοῖσιν ἢν μακρὸν χρόνονμένω, παροῦσι δαῖτες ἔστωσαν φίλοις.
Therewith he took the heifers and went his way. Meantime his stripling son in solemn form set up with upright stays the tent, inclosed but not with walls,taking good heed to guard it ’gainst the blazing midday sun, nor less against his westering beams, the limit of his course; an oblong space of five score feet he meted out [so that it contained ten thousand feet within that measure’s square, as science phrases it],intending to invite all Delphi to the feast. Then from the temple-treasury tapestry he took and therewith made a shelter, wondrous sight to see. First o’er the roof-tree he threw a canopy of robes, an offering Heracles, the son of Zeus,had brought unto the god from his Amazonian spoils. On them was broidered many a pictured scene, to wit, Heaven marshalling his host of stars upon the vaulted sky; there was the sun-god urging on his steeds toward his fiery goal, the bright star of evening at his heels.
λαβὼν δὲ μόσχους ᾤχεθʼ· ὁ δὲ νεανίαςσεμνῶς ἀτοίχους περιβολὰς σκηνωμάτωνὀρθοστάταις ἱδρύεθʼ, ἡλίου βολὰςκαλῶς φυλάξας, οὔτε πρὸς μέσας φλογὸςἀκτῖνας, οὔτʼ αὖ πρὸς τελευτώσας βίον,πλέθρου σταθμήσας μῆκος εἰς εὐγωνίαν,μέτρημʼ ἔχουσαν τοὐν μέσῳ γε μυρίωνποδῶν ἀριθμόν, ὡς λέγουσιν οἱ σοφοί,ὡς πάντα Δελφῶν λαὸν ἐς θοίνην καλῶν.λαβὼν δʼ ὑφάσμαθʼ ἱερὰ θησαυρῶν πάρακατεσκίαζε, θαύματʼ ἀνθρώποις ὁρᾶν.πρῶτον μὲν ὀρόφῳ πτέρυγα περιβάλλει πέπλων,ἀνάθημα Δίου παιδός, οὓς ἩρακλέηςἈμαζόνων σκυλεύματʼ ἤνεγκεν θεῷ.ἐνῆν δʼ ὑφανταὶ γράμμασιν τοιαίδʼ ὑφαί,Οὐρανὸς ἀθροίζων ἄστρʼ ἐν αἰθέρος κύκλῳ.ἵππους μὲν ἤλαυνʼ ἐς τελευταίαν φλόγαἭλιος, ἐφέλκων λαμπρὸν Ἑσπέρου φάος·
Night too in sable robes went hurrying by, drawn by a single pair, and the stars did bear her company. Across the zenith a Pleiad sailed, and Orion too with falchion dight was there; above was the bear making his tail to turn upon the golden pole.
μελάμπεπλος δὲ Νὺξ ἀσείρωτον ζυγοῖςὄχημʼ ἔπαλλεν, ἄστρα δʼ ὡμάρτει θεᾷ·Πλειὰς μὲν ᾔει μεσοπόρου διʼ αἰθέροςὅ τε ξιφήρης Ὠρίων, ὕπερθε δὲἌρκτος στρέφουσʼ οὐραῖα χρυσήρη πόλῳ·
Up shot the moon’s full face, that parts the months in twain; there too the Hyades showed their unerring light to mariners; arid Dawn, that brings the morning back, was chasing the stars before her. Next on the sides he hung yet other tapestry;
κύκλος δὲ πανσέληνος ἠκόντιζʼ ἄνωμηνὸς διχήρης, Ὑάδες τε, ναυτίλοιςσαφέστατον σημεῖον, ἥ τε φωσφόροςἝως διώκουσʼ ἄστρα. τοίχοισιν δʼ ἔπιἤμπισχεν ἄλλα βαρβάρων ὑφάσματα·
barbarian ships bearing down on the fleet of Hellas; and monsters half-man, half-beast; the capture of the Thracian steeds; the hunting of savage stags and lions fierce; while at the entry Cecrops close to his daughters was wreathing his coils, an offering of some Athenianvotary; and in the midst of the banquet-hall he set goblets of gold, while a herald hasted and invited to the feast all citizens who would come. Then, when the tent was full, they decked themselves with garlands and took their fillof the rich viands. Anon after they had put from them the pleasure of eating came an old man and stood in the midst, where his officious zeal provoked loud laughter among the guests; for he would draw from the drinking-pitchers water to wash the hands withal andwas wasting as incense the liquid myrrh, and in his charge he took the golden beakers, setting himself unasked to this office.
εὐηρέτμους ναῦς ἀντίας Ἑλληνίσιν,καὶ μιξόθηρας φῶτας, ἱππείας τʼ ἄγραςἐλάφων, λεόντων τʼ ἀγρίων θηράματα.κατʼ εἰσόδους δὲ Κέκροπα θυγατέρων πέλαςσπείραισιν εἱλίσσοντʼ, Ἀθηναίων τινὸςἀνάθημα· χρυσέους τʼ ἐν μέσῳ συσσιτίῳκρατῆρας ἔστησʼ. ἐν δʼ ἄκροισι βὰς ποσὶκῆρυξ ἀνεῖπε τὸν θέλοντʼ ἐγχωρίωνἐς δαῖτα χωρεῖν. ὡς δʼ ἐπληρώθη στέγη,στεφάνοισι κοσμηθέντες εὐόχθου βορᾶςψυχὴν ἐπλήρουν. ὡς δʼ ἀνεῖσαν ἡδονήν,… παρελθὼν πρέσβυς ἐς μέσον πέδονἔστη, γέλων δʼ ἔθηκε συνδείπνοις πολύν,πρόθυμα πράσσων· ἔκ τε γὰρ κρωσσῶν ὕδωρχεροῖν ἔπεμπε νίπτρα, κἀξεθυμίασμύρνης ἱδρῶτα, χρυσέων τʼ ἐκπωμάτωνἦρχʼ, αὐτὸς αὑτῷ τόνδε προστάξας πόνον.
Now when they were come to the time for the flute-players and the general libation, cried out that aged servitor, “Hence with these tiny cups! bring larger goblets,”“that our guests may find a quicker route to joyousness.” Thereon came servants bending ’neath the weight of goblets chased with silver and golden chalices; and that old man, as if to do his youthful lord a special service, chose out and offered to him a brimming bumper, when he had cast into the winethat potent philtre which, men say, his mistress gave to him to end the young man’s days on earth; and no man knew of this; but just as he so lately found held in his hand the drink-offering, the others following suit, some servant there uttered a word of evil import;
ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐς αὐλοὺς ἧκον ἐς κρατῆρά τεκοινόν, γέρων ἔλεξʼ· Ἀφαρπάζειν χρεὼνοἰνηρὰ τεύχη σμικρά, μεγάλα δʼ ἐσφέρειν,ὡς θᾶσσον ἔλθωσʼ οἵδʼ ἐς ἡδονὰς φρενῶν.ἦν δὴ φερόντων μόχθος ἀργυρηλάτουςχρυσέας τε φιάλας· ὃ δὲ λαβὼν ἐξαίρετον,ὡς τῷ νέῳ δὴ δεσπότῃ χάριν φέρων,ἔδωκε πλῆρες τεῦχος, εἰς οἶνον βαλὼνὅ φασι δοῦναι φάρμακον δραστήριονδέσποιναν, ὡς παῖς ὁ νέος ἐκλίποι φάος·κοὐδεὶς τάδʼ ᾔδειν. ἐν χεροῖν ἔχοντι δὲσπονδὰς μετʼ ἄλλων παιδὶ τῷ πεφηνότιβλασφημίαν τις οἰκετῶν ἐφθέγξατο·
whereat the stripling, as one who had been reared within the shrine amid reputed seers, deemed this an omen and bade them fill a fresh goblet, but that first drink-offering to the god he poured upon the ground and bade all others do the like. And silence stole upon them;while we with water and Phoenician wine were filling high the sacred bowls. While thus we were busied, comes a flight of doves and settles in the tent, for these dwell fearlessly in the courts of Loxias. Soon as the guests had poured away the luscious juice, those thirsty birds did dip their beaks therein,drawing it up into their feathered throats.
ὁ δʼ, ὡς ἐν ἱερῷ μάντεσίν τʼ ἐσθλοῖς τραφείς,οἰωνὸν ἔθετο, κἀκέλευσʼ ἄλλον νέονκρατῆρα πληροῦν· τὰς δὲ πρὶν σπονδὰς θεοῦδίδωσι γαίᾳ, πᾶσί τʼ ἐκσπένδειν λέγει.σιγὴ δʼ ὑπῆλθεν. ἐκ δʼ ἐπίμπλαμεν δρόσουκρατῆρας ἱεροὺς Βυβλίνου τε πώματος.κἀν τῷδε μόχθῳ πτηνὸς ἐσπίπτει δόμοιςκῶμος πελειῶν — Λοξίου γὰρ ἐν δόμοιςἄτρεστα ναίουσʼ — ὡς δʼ ἀπέσπεισαν μέθυ,ἐς αὐτὸ χείλη πώματος κεχρημέναικαθῆκαν, εἷλκον δʼ εὐπτέρους ἐς αὐχένας.
Now all the rest received no hurt from the god’s libation, but one that settled on the spot where the son newfound had poured his wine, no sooner had tasted thereof, than convulsions seized her feathered form and she went triad, and screaming aloud utteredstrange unwonted cries; and all the feasters gathered there marvelled to see the bird’s cruel agony, for she lay writhing in the toils of death, and her red claws relaxed their hold.
καὶ ταῖς μὲν ἄλλαις ἄνοσος ἦν λοιβὴ θεοῦ·ἣ δʼ ἕζετʼ ἔνθʼ ὁ καινὸς ἔσπεισεν γόνος,ποτοῦ τʼ ἐγεύσατʼ, εὐθὺς εὔπτερον δέμαςἔσεισε κἀβάκχευσεν, ἐκ δʼ ἔκλαγξʼ ὄπαἀξύνετον αἰάζουσʼ· ἐθάμβησεν δὲ πᾶςθοινατόρων ὅμιλος ὄρνιθος πόνους.
Forthwith the son, vouchsafed by oracles, bared his arm by casting off his cloak and stretched it out across the boardcrying “Who was it strove to slay me? Proclaim it, old sirrah, for thine was the officious zeal and thine the hand from which I took the cup.” With that he caught the grey-beard by the arm and set to searching him that he might take the old man red-handed in the act.
θνῄσκει δʼ ἀπασπαίρουσα, φοινικοσκελεῖςχηλὰς παρεῖσα. γυμνὰ δʼ ἐκ πέπλων μέληὑπὲρ τραπέζης ἧχʼ ὁ μαντευτὸς γόνος,βοᾷ δέ· Τίς μʼ ἔμελλεν ἀνθρώπων κτενεῖν;σήμαινε, πρέσβυ· σὴ γὰρ ἡ προθυμία,καὶ πῶμα χειρὸς σῆς ἐδεξάμην πάρα.εὐθὺς δʼ ἐρευνᾷ γραῖαν ὠλένην λαβών,ἐπʼ αὐτοφώρῳ πρέσβυν ὡς ἔχονθʼ ἕλοι.
So was he detected, and under strong constraint declared Creusa’s daring deed and all the trick of the poisoned draught. Forth rushed the young man, whom the oracle of Loxias to his sire assigned, taking with him the banqueters, and standing mid the Delphic nobles made harangue,“O! hallowed soil, a stranger woman, daughter of Erechtheus, seeks to poison me.” And the lords of Delphi decreed by general vote that my mistress should be hurled from the rock to die, because she strove to slay the priest and compass his death in the temple.So now is the whole city seeking her, who hath to her sorrow sped a hapless journey; for, coming to crave the boon of offspring from Phoebus, she hath lost her life and children too.
ὤφθη δὲ καὶ κατεῖπʼ ἀναγκασθεὶς μόγιςτόλμας Κρεούσης πώματός τε μηχανάς.θεῖ δʼ εὐθὺς ἔξω συλλαβὼν θοινάτοραςὁ πυθόχρηστος Λοξίου νεανίας,κἀν κοιράνοισι Πυθικοῖς σταθεὶς λέγει·Ὦ Γαῖα σεμνή, τῆς Ἐρεχθέως ὕπο,ξένης γυναικός, φαρμάκοισι θνῄσκομεν.Δελφῶν δʼ ἄνακτες ὥρισαν πετρορριφῆθανεῖν ἐμὴν δέσποιναν οὐ ψήφῳ μιᾷ,τὸν ἱερὸν ὡς κτείνουσαν ἔν τʼ ἀνακτόροιςφόνον τιθεῖσαν. πᾶσα δὲ ζητεῖ πόλιςτὴν ἀθλίως σπεύσασαν ἀθλίαν ὁδόν·παίδων γὰρ ἐλθοῦσʼ εἰς ἔρον Φοίβου πάρα,τὸ σῶμα κοινῇ τοῖς τέκνοις ἀπώλεσεν.
Chorus:Ah me! I see no way at all to turn death’shand aside; all, all, ere this, is brought to light owing to that fatal draught of the wine-god’s juice mixed for death with drops of viper’s gore, quick to slay;detected is our offering to the dead; for me my life must end in woe, while death by stoning waits my mistress. How can I escape? Shall I take wings and fly away, or creep beneath the darksome caverns of the earth,striving to shun the doom of death by stoning? or shall I mount the car drawn by swiftest steeds, or embark upon a ship?
Χορός:οὐκ ἔστʼ οὐκ ἔστιν θανάτουπαρατροπὰ μελέᾳ μοι·φανερὰ [γὰρ] φανερὰ τάδʼ ἤδη,σπονδᾶς ἐκ Διονύσου,βοτρύων θοᾶς ἐχίδναςσταγόσι μειγνυμένας φόνῳ …φανερὰ θύματα νερτέρων,συμφοραὶ μὲν ἐμῷ βίῳ,λεύσιμοι δὲ καταφθοραὶ δεσποίνᾳ.τίνα φυγὰν πτερόεσσαν ἢχθονὸς ὑπὸ σκοτίων μυχῶν πορευθῶ,θανάτου λεύσιμον ἄτανἀποφεύγουσα, τεθρίππωνὠκιστᾶν χαλᾶν ἐπιβᾶσʼ,ἢ πρύμνας ἐπὶ ναῶν;
Chorus:No man may hide his guilt, save when somegod of his own will steals him away. Ah! my poor mistress! what suffering now awaits thy soul? Must then our wish to work another harm end in our own discomfiture, as justice doth decree?
Χορός:οὐκ ἔστι λαθεῖν, ὅτε μὴ χρῄζωνθεὸς ἐκκλέπτει.τί ποτʼ, ὦ μελέα δέσποινα, μένειψυχῇ σε παθεῖν; ἆρα θέλουσαιδρᾶσαί τι κακὸν τοὺς πέλας αὐταὶπεισόμεθʼ, ὥσπερ τὸ δίκαιον;
Creusa:My trusty maids, the men of death are on my track; the vote of Delphi goes against me; they give me up to die.
Κρέουσα:πρόσπολοι, διωκόμεσθα θανασίμους ἐπὶ σφαγάς,Πυθίᾳ ψήφῳ κρατηθεῖσʼ, ἔκδοτος δὲ γίγνομαι.
Chorus:Unhappy one! we know thy sad mischance, how thou art placed.
Χορός:ἴσμεν, ὦ τάλαινα, τὰς σὰς συμφοράς, ἵνʼ εἶ τύχης.
Creusa:Oh! whither can I fly? for scarce had I the start of my pursuers from the house in my race for life;’tis by stealth alone that I have thus far escaped my foes.
Κρέουσα:ποῖ φύγω δῆτʼ; ἐκ γὰρ οἴκων προύλαβον μόγις πόδαμὴ θανεῖν, κλοπῇ δʼ ἀφῖγμαι διαφυγοῦσα πολεμίους.
Chorus:Where shouldst thou fly except to the altar?
Χορός:ποῖ δʼ ἂν ἄλλοσʼ ἢ ʼπὶ βωμόν;
Creusa:What good is that to me?
Κρέουσα:καὶ τί μοι πλέον τόδε;
Chorus:To slay a suppliant is forbidden.
Χορός:ἱκέτιν οὐ θέμις φονεύειν.
Creusa:Aye, but the law has given me over to death.
Κρέουσα:τῷ νόμῳ δέ γʼ ὄλλυμαι.
Chorus:Only if thou fall into their hands.
Χορός:χειρία γʼ ἁλοῦσα.
Creusa:Look! here they come, cruel champions of vengeance, eagerly brandishing their swords.
Κρέουσα:καὶ μὴν οἵδʼ ἀγωνισταὶ πικροὶδεῦρʼ ἐπείγονται ξιφήρεις.
Chorus:Sit thee down upon the altar of burnt-offering! for if thou art slain there, thou wilt fixupon thy murderers the stain of bloodguiltiness; but we must bear our fortune.
Χορός:ἵζε νυν πυρᾶς ἔπι.κἂν θάνῃς γὰρ ἐνθάδʼ οὖσα, τοῖς ἀποκτείνασί σεπροστρόπαιον αἷμα θήσεις· οἰστέον δὲ τὴν τύχην.
Ion:O father Cephissus, with the bull-shaped head, what a viper is this thy child, or dragon with fiery eyes that dart a murderous gleam, in whose heart is throned incarnate daring,noxious as those Gorgon drops of venom wherewith she sought to compass my death. Seize her, that the peaks of Parnassus may card the flowing tresses of her hair, for thence shall she be hurled headlong amid the rocks. My lucky star hath kept mefrom going to Athens, there to fall beneath the power of a step-mother. For I have gauged thy feelings towards me—the full extent of thy bitter hostility—whilst yet amongst my friends; for hadst thou once shut me tip within thy house, my road to Hades’ halls had led direct from thence.
Ἴων:ὦ ταυρόμορφον ὄμμα Κηφισοῦ πατρός,οἵαν ἔχιδναν τήνδʼ ἔφυσας ἢ πυρὸςδράκοντʼ ἀναβλέποντα φοινίαν φλόγα,ᾗ τόλμα πᾶσʼ ἔνεστιν, οὐδʼ ἥσσων ἔφυΓοργοῦς σταλαγμῶν, οἷς ἔμελλέ με κτενεῖν.λάζυσθʼ, ἵνʼ αὐτῆς τοὺς ἀκηράτους πλόκουςκόμης καταξήνωσι Παρνασοῦ πλάκες,ὅθεν πετραῖον ἅλμα δισκηθήσεται.ἐσθλοῦ δʼ ἔκυρσα δαίμονος, πρὶν ἐς πόλινμολεῖν Ἀθηνῶν χὑπὸ μητρυιὰν πεσεῖν.ἐν συμμάχοις γὰρ ἀνεμετρησάμην φρέναςτὰς σάς, ὅσον μοι πῆμα δυσμενής τʼ ἔφυς·ἔσω γὰρ ἄν με περιβαλοῦσα δωμάτωνἄρδην ἂν ἐξέπεμψας εἰς Ἅιδου δόμους.
This altar shall not save thee, nor yet Apollo’s courts, for that pity thou implorest cries out more loudly for me and my mother, who, though absent in the flesh, is never in name far from me.Behold this cursed woman, see the web of trickery she hath woven! yet comes she cowering to Apollo’s altar, thinking to escape the punishment of her misdeeds.
ἀλλʼ οὔτε βωμὸς οὔτʼ Ἀπόλλωνος δόμοςσώσει σʼ· ὁ δʼ οἶκτος ὁ σὸς ἐμοὶ κρείσσων πάρακαὶ μητρὶ τἠμῇ· καὶ γὰρ εἰ τὸ σῶμά μοιἄπεστιν αὐτῆς, τοὔνομʼ οὐκ ἄπεστί πω.ἴδεσθε τὴν πανοῦργον, ἐκ τέχνης τέχνηνοἵαν ἔπλεξε· βωμὸν ἔπτηξεν θεοῦ,ὡς οὐ δίκην δώσουσα τῶν εἰργασμένων.
Creusa:I warn thee not to slay me, both in my own name and in his at whose altar I am stationed.
Κρέουσα:ἀπεννέπω σε μὴ κατακτείνειν ἐμὲὑπέρ τʼ ἐμαυτῆς τοῦ θεοῦ θʼ ἵνʼ ἕσταμεν.
Ion:What hast thou to do with Phoebus?
Ἴων:τί δʼ ἐστὶ Φοίβῳ σοί τε κοινὸν ἐν μέσῳ;
Creusa:This body I devote unto that god to keep.
Κρέουσα:ἱερὸν τὸ σῶμα τῷ θεῷ δίδωμʼ ἔχειν.
Ion:And yet thou wert for poisoning his minister?
Ἴων:κἄπειτʼ ἔκαινες φαρμάκοις τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ;
Creusa:But thou wert not Apollo’s any longer, but thy father’s.
Κρέουσα:ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ ἦσθα Λοξίου, πατρὸς δὲ σοῦ.
Ion:Nay, I was his son, that is, in absence of a real father.
Ἴων:ἀλλʼ ἐγενόμεσθα πατρός· οὐσίαν λέγω.
Creusa:Thou wert so then; now ’tis I, not thou, who am Apollo’s.
Κρέουσα:οὐκοῦν τότʼ ἦσθα· νῦν δʼ ἐγώ, σὺ δʼ οὐκέτι.
Ion:Well, thou art not guiltless now, whereas I was then.
Ἴων:οὐκ εὐσεβεῖς γε· τἀμὰ δʼ εὐσεβῆ τότʼ ἦν.
Creusa:I sought to slay thee as an enemy to my house.
Κρέουσα:ἔκτεινά σʼ ὄντα πολέμιον δόμοις ἐμοῖς.
Ion:And yet I never invaded thy country, sword in hand.
Ἴων:οὔτοι σὺν ὅπλοις ἦλθον ἐς τὴν σὴν χθόνα.
Creusa:Thou didst; and thou it was that wert casting a firebrand into the halls of Erechtheus.
Κρέουσα:μάλιστα· κἀπίμπρης γʼ Ἐρεχθέως δόμους.
Ion:What sort of brand or flaming fire was it?
Ἴων:ποίοισι πανοῖς ἢ πυρὸς ποίᾳ φλογί;
Creusa:Thou didst design to seize my home against my will, and make it thine.
Κρέουσα:ἔμελλες οἰκεῖν τἄμʼ, ἐμοῦ βίᾳ λαβών.
Ion:What! when my father offered me a kingdom of his getting.
Ἴων:πατρός γε γῆν διδόντος ἣν ἐκτήσατο.
Creusa:How had the sons of Aeolus any share in the realm of Pallas?
Κρέουσα:τοῖς Αἰόλου δὲ πῶς μετῆν τῶν Παλλάδος;
Ion:Arms, not words, he brought to champion it.
Ἴων:ὅπλοισιν αὐτήν, οὐ λόγοις ἐρρύσατο.
Creusa:No mere ally could enter into an inheritance in my land.
Κρέουσα:ἐπίκουρος οἰκήτωρ γʼ ἂν οὐκ εἴη χθονός.
Ion:And was it then from fear of consequences that thou didst try to slay me?
Ἴων:κἄπειτα τοῦ μέλλειν μʼ ἀπέκτεινες φόβῳ;
Creusa:Yes, lest I should myself perish if thou wert spared.
Κρέουσα:ὡς μὴ θάνοιμί γʼ, εἰ σὺ μὴ μέλλων τύχοις.
Ion:Doth thy childlessness make thee envious that my father found me?
Ἴων:φθονεῖς ἄπαις οὖσʼ, εἰ πατὴρ ἐξηῦρέ με.
Creusa:And thou, wilt thou rob the childless of her home?
Κρέουσα:σὺ τῶν ἀτέκνων δῆτʼ ἀναρπάσεις δόμους;
Ion:Had I then no share at all in my father’s heritage?
Ἴων:ἡμῖν δέ γʼ ἀλλὰ πατρικῆς οὐκ ἦν μέρος;
Creusa:All that his sword and shield had won was thine, and thine alone.
Κρέουσα:ὅσʼ ἀσπὶς ἔγχος θʼ· ἥδε σοι παμπησία.
Ion:Quit the altar and sanctuary built for gods.
Ἴων:ἔκλειπε βωμὸν καὶ θεηλάτους ἕδρας.
Creusa:Go bid thy own mother, wherever she is, do that.
Κρέουσα:τὴν σὴν ὅπου σοι μητέρʼ ἐστὶ νουθέτει.
Ion:Shalt thou escape all punishment, after trying to kill me?
Ἴων:σὺ δʼ οὐχ ὑφέξεις ζημίαν, κτείνουσʼ ἐμέ;
Creusa:Not if thou choose to butcher me within this shrine.
Κρέουσα:ἤν γʼ ἐντὸς ἀδύτων τῶνδέ με σφάξαι θέλῃς.
Ion:What joy can it give thee to be slain amid the sacred wreaths?
Ἴων:τίς ἡδονή σοι θεοῦ θανεῖν ἐν στέμμασι;
Creusa:There is one whom I shall grieve of those who have grieved me.
Κρέουσα:λυπήσομέν τινʼ, ὧν λελυπήμεσθʼ ὕπο.
Ion:Oh!’tis passing strange how badly the deity hath enacted laws for mortal men, contrary to all sound judgment; for instance, they should ne’er have suffered impious men to sit at their altars,but should have driven them away; for it was nowise right that hands unclean should touch the altars of the gods, though the righteous deserved to find a refuge there from their oppressors, instead of good and bad alike having recourse to the same divine protection with equal success.
Ἴων:φεῦ.δεινόν γε, θνητοῖς τοὺς νόμους ὡς οὐ καλῶςἔθηκεν ὁ θεὸς οὐδʼ ἀπὸ γνώμης σοφῆς·τοὺς μὲν γὰρ ἀδίκους βωμὸν οὐχ ἵζειν ἐχρῆν,ἀλλʼ ἐξελαύνειν· οὐδὲ γὰρ ψαύειν καλὸνθεῶν πονηρὰν χεῖρα· τοῖσι δʼ ἐνδίκοις —ἱερὰ καθίζειν, ὅστις ἠδικεῖτʼ, ἐχρῆν·καὶ μὴ ʼπὶ ταὐτὸ τοῦτʼ ἰόντʼ ἔχειν ἴσοντόν τʼ ἐσθλὸν ὄντα τόν τε μὴ θεῶν πάρα.
Pythian Priestess:Refrain thyself, my son; for I, the priestess of Phoebus, chosen from all the maids of Delphi in accordance with the tripod’s ancient rite, have left that prophetic seat, and am passing o’er this threshold.
Προφῆτις:ἐπίσχες, ὦ παῖ· τρίποδα γὰρ χρηστήριονλιποῦσα θριγκοῦ τοῦδʼ ὑπερβάλλω πόδαΦοίβου προφῆτις, τρίποδος ἀρχαῖον νόμονσῴζουσα, πασῶν Δελφίδων ἐξαίρετος.
Ion:Hail to thee, dear mother mine,—mother, though thou didst not give me birth.
Ἴων:χαῖρʼ, ὦ φίλη μοι μῆτερ, οὐ τεκοῦσά περ.
Pythian Priestess:Yes, so have I ever been called, and the title causes me no regret.
Προφῆτις:ἀλλʼ οὖν λεγώμεθʼ· ἡ φάτις δʼ οὔ μοι πικρά.
Ion:Hast heard how this woman plotted my death?
Ἴων:ἤκουσας ὥς μʼ ἔκτεινεν ἥδε μηχαναῖς;
Pythian Priestess:I have; thou, too, art wrong because of thy harshness.
Προφῆτις:ἤκουσα· καὶ σὺ δʼ ὠμὸς ὢν ἁμαρτάνεις.
Ion:Am I not to pay back murderers in their coin?
Ἴων:οὐ χρή με τοὺς κτείνοντας ἀνταπολλύναι;
Pythian Priestess:Wives ever hate the children of a former marriage.
Προφῆτις:προγονοῖς δάμαρτες δυσμενεῖς ἀεί ποτε.
Ion:As I hate step-dames for their evil treatment of me.
Ἴων:ἡμεῖς δὲ μητρυιαῖς γε πάσχοντες κακῶς.
Pythian Priestess:Do not so; but leaving, as thou art, the shrine, and setting forth for thy country—
Προφῆτις:μὴ ταῦτα· λείπων ἱερὰ καὶ στείχων πάτραν …
Ion:What then wouldst thou advise me do?
Ἴων:τί δή με δρᾶσαι νουθετούμενον χρεών;
Pythian Priestess:With clean hands seek Athens, attended by good omens.
Προφῆτις:καθαρὸς Ἀθήνας ἔλθʼ ὑπʼ οἰωνῶν καλῶν.
Ion:Surely any man hath clean hands who slays his enemies.
Ἴων:καθαρὸς ἅπας τοι πολεμίους ὃς ἂν κτάνῃ.
Pythian Priestess:Do not thou do this; but take the counsel that I have for thee.
Προφῆτις:μὴ σύ γε· παρʼ ἡμῶν δʼ ἔκλαβʼ οὓς ἔχω λόγους.
Ion:Say on; whate’er thou say’st will be prompted by thy good will.
Ἴων:λέγοις ἄν· εὔνους δʼ οὖσʼ ἐρεῖς ὅσʼ ἂν λέγῃς.
Pythian Priestess:Dost see this basket that I carry in my arms?
Προφῆτις:ὁρᾷς τόδʼ ἄγγος χερὸς ὑπʼ ἀγκάλαις ἐμαῖς;
Ion:An ancient ark with chaplets crowned.
Ἴων:ὁρῶ παλαιὰν ἀντίπηγʼ ἐν στέμμασιν.
Pythian Priestess:Herein I found thee long ago, a newborn babe.
Προφῆτις:ἐν τῇδέ σʼ ἔλαβον νεόγονον βρέφος ποτέ.
Ion:What sayest thou? there is novelty in the story thou art introducing.
Ἴων:τί φῄς; ὁ μῦθος εἰσενήνεκται νέος.
Pythian Priestess:Yea, for I was keeping these relics a secret, but now I show them.
Προφῆτις:σιγῇ γὰρ εἶχον αὐτά· νῦν δὲ δείκνυμεν.
Ion:How earnest thou to hide them on that day, now long ago, when thou didst find me?
Ἴων:πῶς οὖν ἔκρυπτες τόδε λαβοῦσʼ ἡμᾶς πάλαι;
Pythian Priestess:The god wished to have thee as his servant in his courts.
Προφῆτις:ὁ θεός σʼ ἐβούλετʼ ἐν δόμοις ἔχειν λάτριν.
Ion:Does he no longer wish it? How am I to know this?
Ἴων:νῦν δʼ οὐχὶ χρῄζει; τῷ τόδε γνῶναί με χρή;
Pythian Priestess:By declaring to thee thy sire, he dismisses thee from this land.
Προφῆτις:πατέρα κατειπὼν τῆσδέ σʼ ἐκπέμπει χθονός.
Ion:Is it by his command thou keepest these relics, or why?
Ἴων:σὺ δʼ ἐκ κελευσμῶν ἢ πόθεν σῴζεις τάδε;
Pythian Priestess:Loxias put in my heart that day—
Προφῆτις:ἐνθύμιόν μοι τότε τίθησι Λοξίας …
Ion:What purpose? Oh! speak, finish thy story.
Ἴων:τί χρῆμα δρᾶσαι; λέγε, πέραινε σοὺς λόγους.
Pythian Priestess:To preserve what I had found until the present time.
Προφῆτις:σῶσαι τόδʼ εὕρημʼ ἐς τὸν ὄντα νῦν χρόνον.
Ion:What weal or woe doth this import to me?
Ἴων:ἔχει δέ μοι τί κέρδος … ἢ τίνα βλάβην;
Pythian Priestess:Herein were laid the swaddling-clothes in which thou wert enwrapped.
Προφῆτις:ἐνθάδε κέκρυπται σπάργανʼ οἷς ἐνῆσθα σύ.
Ion:These relics thou art producing may help me to find my mother.
Ἴων:μητρὸς τάδʼ ἡμῖν ἐκφέρεις ζητήματα;
Pythian Priestess:Yes, for now the deity so wills it, though not before.
Προφῆτις:ἐπεί γʼ ὁ δαίμων βούλεται· πάροιθε δʼ οὔ.
Ion:Hail! thou day of visions blest to me!
Ἴων:ὦ μακαρίων μοι φασμάτων ἥδʼ ἡμέρα.
Pythian Priestess:Take then the relics and seek thy mother diligently.
Προφῆτις:λαβών νυν αὐτὰ τὴν τεκοῦσαν ἐκπόνει.
And when thou hast traversed Asia and the bounds of Europe,thou wilt learn this for thyself; for the god’s sake I reared thee, my child, and now to thee do I entrust these relics, which he willed that I should takeinto my safe keeping, without being bidden; why he willed it I cannot tell thee. For no living soul wist that I had them in my possession, nor yet their hiding-place. And now farewell! as a mother might her child, so I greet thee. The starting-point of thy inquiry for thy mother must be this;
Ἴων:πᾶσάν γʼ ἐπελθὼν Ἀσιάδʼ Εὐρώπης θʼ ὅρους.Προφῆτις:γνώσῃ τάδʼ αὐτός. τοῦ θεοῦ δʼ ἕκατί σεἔθρεψά τʼ, ὦ παῖ, καὶ τάδʼ ἀποδίδωμί σοι,ἃ κεῖνος ἀκέλευστόν μʼ ἐβουλήθη λαβεῖνσῶσαί θʼ· ὅτου δʼ ἐβούλεθʼ οὕνεκʼ, οὐκ ἔχω [λέγειν].ᾔδει δὲ θνητῶν οὔτις ἀνθρώπων τάδεἔχοντας ἡμᾶς, οὐδʼ ἵνʼ ἦν κεκρυμμένα.καὶ χαῖρʼ· ἴσον γάρ σʼ ὡς τεκοῦσʼ ἀσπάζομαι.ἄρξαι δʼ ὅθεν σὴν μητέρα ζητεῖν σε χρή·
first, was it a Delphian maid that gave birth to thee, and exposed thee in this temple; next, was it a daughter of Hellas at all? That is all that I and Phoebus, who shares in thy lot, can do for thee. [Exit Pythian Priestess.
πρῶτον μὲν εἴ τις Δελφίδων τεκοῦσά σεἐς τούσδε ναοὺς ἐξέθηκε παρθένος,ἔπειτα δʼ εἴ τις Ἑλλάς. — ἐξ ἡμῶν δʼ ἔχειςἅπαντα Φοίβου θʼ, ὃς μετέσχε τῆς τύχης.
Ion:Ah me! the tears stream from my eyeswhen I think of the day my mother bore me, as the fruit of her secret love, only to smuggle her babe away privily, without suckling it; nameless I led a servant’s life in the courts of the god. His service truly was kindly, yet was my fortuneheavy; for just when I ought to have lain softly in a mother’s arms, tasting somewhat of the joys of life, was I deprived of a fond mother’s fostering care. Nor less is she a prey to sorrow that bare me, seeing she hath suffered the self-same pang in losing all the joy a son might bring.
Ἴων:φεῦ φεῦ· κατʼ ὄσσων ὡς ὑγρὸν βάλλω δάκρυ,ἐκεῖσε τὸν νοῦν δούς, ὅθʼ ἡ τεκοῦσά μεκρυφαῖα νυμφευθεῖσʼ ἀπημπόλα λάθρακαὶ μαστὸν οὐκ ὑπέσχεν· ἀλλʼ ἀνώνυμοςἐν θεοῦ μελάθροις εἶχον οἰκέτην βίον.τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ μὲν χρηστά, τοῦ δὲ δαίμονοςβαρέα· χρόνον γὰρ ὅν με χρῆν ἐν ἀγκάλαιςμητρὸς τρυφῆσαι καί τι τερφθῆναι βίου,ἀπεστερήθην φιλτάτης μητρὸς τροφῆς.τλήμων δὲ χἡ τεκοῦσά μʼ· ὡς ταὐτὸν πάθοςπέπονθε, παιδὸς ἀπολέσασα χαρμονάς.
Now will I take and bear this ark unto the god as an offering, that herein I may discover naught that I would rather not. For if haply my mother proves to be some slave-girl,’twere worse to find her out than let her rest in silence. O! Phoebus, to thy temple do I dedicate this ark.Yet why? this is to war against the god’s intention, who saved these tokens of my mother for my sake. I must undo the lid and bear the worst. For that which fate ordains, I may ne’er o’erstep. O! hallowed wreaths and fastenings,that have kept so safe these relics dear to me; why, ah! why were ye hidden from me? Behold the covering of this rounded ark! No signs of age are here, owing to some miracle; decay hath not touched these chaplets; and yet ’tis long enough since these were stored away.
καὶ νῦν λαβὼν τήνδʼ ἀντίπηγʼ οἴσω θεῷἀνάθημʼ, ἵνʼ εὕρω μηδὲν ὧν οὐ βούλομαι.εἰ γάρ με δούλη τυγχάνει τεκοῦσά τις,εὑρεῖν κάκιον μητέρʼ ἢ σιγῶντʼ ἐᾶν.ὦ Φοῖβε, ναοῖς ἀνατίθημι τήνδε σοῖς …καίτοι τί πάσχω; τοῦ θεοῦ προθυμίᾳπολεμῶ, τὰ μητρὸς σύμβολʼ ὃς σέσωκέ μοι.ἀνοικτέον τάδʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τολμητέον·τὰ γὰρ πεπρωμένʼ οὐχ ὑπερβαίην ποτʼ ἄν.ὦ στέμμαθʼ ἱερά, τί ποτέ μοι κεκεύθατε,καὶ σύνδεθʼ, οἷσι τἄμʼ ἐφρουρήθη φίλα;ἰδοὺ περίπτυγμʼ ἀντίπηγος εὐκύκλουὡς οὐ γεγήρακʼ ἔκ τινος θεηλάτου,εὐρώς τʼ ἄπεστι πλεγμάτων· ὁ δʼ ἐν μέσῳχρόνος πολὺς δὴ τοῖσδε θησαυρίσμασιν.
Creusa:Ha! what unlooked-for sight is here?
Κρέουσα:τί δῆτα φάσμα τῶν ἀνελπίστων ὁρῶ;
Ion:Peace, woman! now, as erst, thou art my enemy.
Ἴων:σίγα σύ· πολλὰ καὶ πάροιθεν οἶσθά μοι …
Creusa:Silence is not for me. Bid me not be still; for lo! I see the ark wherein I did expose thee, my child, in days gone by, whilst yet a tender babe [in the cavern of][Cecrops,’neath the rocky roof of Macrae]. So now will I leave this altar, though death await me.
Κρέουσα:οὐκ ἐν σιωπῇ τἀμά· μή με νουθέτει.ὁρῶ γὰρ ἄγγος οὗ ʼξέθηκʼ ἐγώ ποτε …σέ γʼ, ὦ τέκνον μοι, βρέφος ἔτʼ ὄντα νήπιον,Κέκροπος ἐς ἄντρα καὶ Μακρὰς πετρηρεφεῖς.λείψω δὲ βωμὸν τόνδε, κεἰ θανεῖν με χρή.
Ion:Seize her; she is mad, springing thus from the shelter of the carved altar. Bind her arms.
Ἴων:λάζυσθε τήνδε· θεομανὴς γὰρ ἥλατοβωμοῦ λιποῦσα ξόανα· δεῖτε δʼ ὠλένας.
Creusa:Kill! spare not! for I to thee will cleave,and to this ark, and all that is within it.
Κρέουσα:σφάζοντες οὐ λήγοιτʼ ἄν· ὡς ἀνθέξομαικαὶ τῆσδε καὶ σοῦ τῶν τε σῶν κεκρυμμένων.
Ion:Is not this monstrous? here am I laid claim to on a specious pretext.
Ἴων:τάδʼ οὐχὶ δεινά; ῥυσιάζομαι λόγῳ.
Creusa:Nay, nay, but as a friend art thou by friends now found.
Κρέουσα:οὔκ, ἀλλὰ σοῖς φίλοισιν εὑρίσκῃ φίλος.
Ion:I a friend of thine! and wouldst thou, then, have slain me privily?
Ἴων:ἐγὼ φίλος σός; κᾆτά μʼ ἔκτεινες λάθρα;
Creusa:Thou art my child, if that is what a parent holds most dear.
Κρέουσα:παῖς γʼ, εἰ τόδʼ ἐστὶ τοῖς τεκοῦσι φίλτατον.
Ion:An end to thy web of falsehood! Right well will I convict thee.
Ἴων:παῦσαι πλέκουσα. — λήψομαί σʼ ἐγὼ καλῶς.
Creusa:My child, that is my aim; God grant I reach it!
Κρέουσα:ἐς τοῦθʼ ἱκοίμην, τοῦδε τοξεύω, τέκνον.
Ion:Is this ark empty, or hath it aught within?
Ἴων:κενὸν τόδʼ ἄγγος ἢ στέγει πλήρωμά τι;
Creusa:Thy raiment wherein I exposed thee long ago.
Κρέουσα:σά γʼ ἔνδυθʼ, οἷσί σʼ ἐξέθηκʼ ἐγώ ποτε.
Ion:Wilt put a name thereto before thou see it?
Ἴων:καὶ τοὔνομʼ αὐτῶν ἐξερεῖς πρὶν εἰσιδεῖν;
Creusa:Unless I describe it, I offer to die.
Κρέουσα:κἂν μὴ φράσω γε, κατθανεῖν ὑφίσταμαι.
Ion:Say on; there is something strange in this thy confidence.
Ἴων:λέγʼ· ὡς ἔχει τι δεινὸν ἥ γε τόλμα σου.
Creusa:Behold the robe my childish fingers wove.
Κρέουσα:σκέψασθʼ· ὃ παῖς ποτʼ οὖσʼ ὕφασμʼ ὕφηνʼ ἐγὼ …
Ion:Describe it; maidens weave many a pattern.
Ἴων:ποῖόν τι; πολλὰ παρθένων ὑφάσματα.
Creusa:’Tis not perfect, but a first lesson, as it were, in weaving.
Κρέουσα:οὐ τέλεον, οἷον δʼ ἐκδίδαγμα κερκίδος.
Ion:Describe its form; thou shalt not catch me thus.
Ἴων:μορφὴν ἔχον τίνʼ; ὥς με μὴ ταύτῃ λάβῃς.
Creusa:A Gorgon figures in the centre of the warp.
Κρέουσα:Γοργὼ μὲν ἐν μέσοισιν ἠτρίοις πέπλων.
Ion:Great Zeus! what fate is this that dogs my steps?
Ἴων:ὦ Ζεῦ, τίς ἡμᾶς ἐκκυνηγετεῖ πότμος;
Creusa:’Tis fringed with snakes like an aegis.
Κρέουσα:κεκρασπέδωται δʼ ὄφεσιν αἰγίδος τρόπον.
Ion:Lo!’tis the very robe; how true we find the voice of God!
Ἴων:ἰδού·τόδʼ ἔσθʼ ὕφασμα, θέσφαθʼ ὡς εὑρίσκομεν.
Creusa:Ah! woven work that erst my virgin shuttle wrought.
Κρέουσα:ὦ χρόνιον ἱστῶν παρθένευμα τῶν ἐμῶν.
Ion:Is there aught beside, or stays thy lucky guessing here?
Ἴων:ἔστιν τι πρὸς τῷδʼ, ἢ μόνῳ τῷδʼ εὐτυχεῖς;
Creusa:There be serpents, too, with jaws of gold, an old-world symbol.Ion:Is that Athena’s gift, bidding her race grow up under their guardianship?Creusa:Yes, to copy our ancestor Erichthonius.
Κρέουσα:δράκοντες· ἀρχαῖόν τι παγχρύσῳ γένειδώρημʼ Ἀθάνας, ἣ τέκνʼ ἐντρέφειν λέγει … …Ἐριχθονίου γε τοῦ πάλαι μιμήματα.
Ion:What is their object? what the use of these golden gauds? pray, tell.
Ἴων:τί δρᾶν, τί χρῆσθαι, φράζε μοι, χρυσώματι;
Creusa:Necklaces for the new-born babe to wear, my child.
Κρέουσα:δέραια παιδὶ νεογόνῳ φέρειν, τέκνον.
Ion:Lo! here they lie. Yet would I know the third sign.
Ἴων:ἔνεισιν οἵδε· τὸ δὲ τρίτον ποθῶ μαθεῖν.
Creusa:About thy brow I bound an olive-wreath that day, plucked from the tree Athena first made grow on her own rock.If haply that is there, it hath not lost its verdure yet, but still is fresh, for it came from the stock that grows not old.
Κρέουσα:στέφανον ἐλαίας ἀμφέθηκά σοι τότε,ἣν πρῶτʼ Ἀθάνα σκόπελον εἰσηνέγκατο,ὅς, εἴπερ ἔστιν, οὔποτʼ ἐκλείπει χλόην,θάλλει δʼ, ἐλαίας ἐξ ἀκηράτου γεγώς.
Ion:Mother, dearest mother, with what rapture I behold thee, as on thy cheeks, that share my joy, I press my lips!
Ἴων:ὦ φιλτάτη μοι μῆτερ, ἄσμενός σʼ ἰδὼνπρὸς ἀσμένας πέπτωκα σὰς παρηίδας.
Creusa:My son, light that in thy mother’s eye outshinest yonder sun,—I know the god will pardon me,—in my arms I hold thee, whom I never hoped to find, for I thought thy home was in that nether world, among the ghosts with Queen Persephone.
Κρέουσα:ὦ τέκνον, ὦ φῶς μητρὶ κρεῖσσον ἡλίου —συγγνώσεται γὰρ ὁ θεός — ἐν χεροῖν σʼ ἔχω,ἄελπτον εὕρημʼ, ὃν κατὰ γᾶς ἐνέρωνχθόνιον μετὰ Περσεφόνας τʼ ἐδόκουν ναίειν.
Ion:Ah, dear mother mine! within thy arms I rest, the dead now brought to light, and dead no more.
Ἴων:ἀλλʼ, ὦ φίλη μοι μῆτερ, ἐν χεροῖν σέθενὁ κατθανών τε κοὐ θανὼν φαντάζομαι.
Creusa:Hail, thou broad expanse of bright blue sky! What words can I find to utter my joy aloud? Whence comes to me such unexpected rapture? To what do I owe this bliss?
Κρέουσα:ἰὼ ἰώ, λαμπρᾶς αἰθέρος ἀμπτυχαί,τίνʼ αὐδὰν ἀύσω,βοάσω; πόθεν μοισυνέκυρσʼ ἀδόκητος ἡδονά; πόθενἐλάβομεν χαράν;
Ion:This is the last thing that ever would have occurred to me, mother, that I was thy child.
Ἴων:ἐμοὶ γενέσθαι πάντα μᾶλλον ἄν ποτε,μῆτερ, παρέστη τῶνδʼ, ὅπως σός εἰμʼ ἐγώ.
Creusa:With fear I tremble still.
Κρέουσα:ἔτι φόβῳ τρέμω.
Ion:Dost thou doubt my reality?
Ἴων:μῶν οὐκ ἔχειν μʼ ἔχουσα;
Creusa:Far from me had I banished these hopes. Whence, O whence, lady, didst thou take my babeinto thy arms? Who carried him to the courts of Loxias?
Κρέουσα:τὰς γὰρ ἐλπίδαςἀπέβαλον πρόσω.ἰὼ γύναι, πόθεν πόθεν ἔλαβες ἐμὸνβρέφος ἐς ἀγκάλας;τίνʼ ἀνὰ χεῖρα δόμον ἔβα Λοξίου;
Ion:’Tis a miracle! Oh! may we for the rest of our career be happy, as we were hapless heretofore.
Ἴων:θεῖον τόδʼ· ἀλλὰ τἀπίλοιπα τῆς τύχηςεὐδαιμονοῖμεν, ὡς τὰ πρόσθε δυστυχῆ.
Creusa:In tears wert thou brought forth, my child,and with sorrow to thy mother didst thou leave her arms; but now I breathe again as I press my lips to thy cheek, in full enjoyment of happiness.
Κρέουσα:τέκνον, οὐκ ἀδάκρυτος ἐκλοχεύῃ,γόοις δὲ ματρὸς ἐκ χερῶν ὁρίζῃ·νῦν δὲ γενειάσιν παρὰ σέθεν πνέωμακαριωτάτας τυχοῦσʼ ἡδονᾶς.
Ion:Thy words express our mutual feelings.
Ἴων:τοὐμὸν λέγουσα καὶ τὸ σὸν κοινῶς λέγεις.
Creusa:No more am I of son and heir bereft; my house is stablished and my country hath a prince;
Κρέουσα:ἄπαιδες οὐκέτʼ ἐσμὲν οὐδʼ ἄτεκνοι·δῶμʼ ἑστιοῦται, γᾶ δʼ ἔχει τυράννους·
Erechtheus groweth young again; no longer is the house of the earth-born race plunged in gloom, but lifts its eyes unto the radiant sun.
ἀνηβᾷ δʼ Ἐρεχθεύς,ὅ τε γηγενέτας δόμος οὐκέτι νύκτα δέρκεται,ἀελίου δʼ ἀναβλέπει λαμπάσιν.
Ion:Mother mine, since my father too is here, let him share the joy I have brought to thee.
Ἴων:μῆτερ, παρών μοι καὶ πατὴρ μετασχέτωτῆς ἡδονῆς τῆσδʼ ἧς ἔδωχʼ ὑμῖν ἐγώ.
Creusa:My child, my child, what sayst thou? How is my sin finding me out!
Κρέουσα:ὦ τέκνον,τί φῄς; οἷον οἷον ἀνελέγχομαι.
Ion:What meanest thou?
Ἴων:πῶς εἶπας;
Creusa:Thou art of a different, for different stock.
Κρέουσα:ἄλλοθεν γέγονας, ἄλλοθεν.
Ion:Alas for me! Am I a bastard, then, bom in thy maiden days?
Ἴων:ὤμοι· νόθον με παρθένευμʼ ἔτικτε σόν;
Creusa:Nor nuptial torch nor dance,my child, ushered in my wedding and thy birth.
Κρέουσα:οὐχ ὑπὸ λαμπάδων οὐδὲ χορευμάτωνὑμέναιος ἐμός,τέκνον, ἔτικτε σὸν κάρα.
Ion:O mother, mother! whence do I draw my base origin?
Ἴων:αἰαῖ· πέφυκα δυσγενής. μῆτερ, πόθεν;
Creusa:Be witness she who slew the Gorgon,
Κρέουσα:ἴστω Γοργοφόνα …
Ion:What meanest thou?
Ἴων:τί τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας;
Creusa:She that on my native rocksmakes the olive-clad hill her seat.
Κρέουσα:ἃ σκοπέλοις ἐπʼ ἐμοῖςτὸν ἐλαιοφυῆ πάγονθάσσει …
Ion:Thy words to me are but as cunning riddles. I cannot read them.
Ἴων:λέγεις μοι δόλια κοὐ σαφῆ τάδε.
Creusa:Hard by the rock with nightingales melodious, Phoebus,
Κρέουσα:παρʼ ἀηδόνιον πέτρανΦοίβῳ …
Ion:Why dost thou mention Phoebus?
Ἴων:τί Φοῖβον αὐδᾷς;
Creusa:Forced on me his secret love.
Κρέουσα:κρυπτόμενον λέχος ηὐνάσθην …
Ion:Say on; for thy story will crown me with fame and fortune.
Ἴων:λέγʼ· ὡς ἐρεῖς τι κεδνὸν εὐτυχές τέ μοι.
Creusa:And as the tenth month came round I bore a child to Phoebus in secret.
Κρέουσα:δεκάτῳ δέ σε μηνὸς ἐνκύκλῳ κρύφιον ὠδῖνʼ ἔτεκον Φοίβῳ.
Ion:Oh! thy happy tidings, if thy story is true.
Ἴων:ὦ φίλτατʼ εἰποῦσʼ, εἰ λέγεις ἐτήτυμα.
Creusa:And about thee as swaddling-clothes I fastened this my maiden work,the faulty efforts of my loom. But to my breast I never held thy lips, or suckled or washed thee with a mother’s care; but in a desert cave wert thou cast outto die, for taloned kites to rend and feast upon.
Κρέουσα:παρθένια δʼ ἐμᾶς ⟨λάθρα⟩ ματέροςσπάργανʼ ἀμφίβολά σοι τάδʼ ἐνῆψα, κερ-κίδος ἐμᾶς πλάνους.γάλακτι δʼ οὐκ ἐπέσχον, οὐδὲ μαστῷτροφεῖα ματρὸς οὐδὲ λουτρὰ χειροῖν,ἀνὰ δʼ ἄντρον ἔρημον οἰωνῶνγαμφηλαῖς φόνευμα θοίναμά τʼ εἰςἍιδαν ἐκβάλλῃ.
Ion:An awful deed! O mother!
Ἴων:ὦ δεινὰ τλᾶσα μῆτερ.
Creusa:Fear held me captive, and I cast thy life away, my child;
Κρέουσα:ἐν φόβῳ, τέκνον,καταδεθεῖσα σὰνἀπέβαλον ψυχάν·
I would, though loth, have slain thee too.Ion:Thou too wert all but slain by me most impiously.
ἔκτεινά σʼ ἄκουσʼ.Ἴων:ἐξ ἐμοῦ τʼ [οὐχ ὅσιʼ] ἔθνῃσκες.
Creusa:O the horror of all I suffered then! O the horror of what is to follow now! To and frofrom bad to good we toss, though now the gale is shifting round. May it remain steady! the past brought sorrows enough; but now hath a fair breeze sprung up, my son, to waft us out of woe.
Κρέουσα:ἰώ· δειναὶ μὲν τότε τύχαι,δεινὰ δὲ καὶ τάδʼ· ἑλισσόμεσθʼ ἐκεῖθενἐνθάδε δυστυχίαισιν εὐτυχίαις τε πάλιν,μεθίσταται δὲ πνεύματα.μενέτω· τὰ πάροιθεν ἅλις κακά· νῦν δὲγένοιτό τις οὖρος ἐκ κακῶν, ὦ παῖ.
Chorus:Let no man ever deem a thing past hoping for, when he turns an eye towards what is happening now.
Χορός:μηδεὶς δοκείτω μηδὲν ἀνθρώπων ποτὲἄελπτον εἶναι πρὸς τὰ τυγχάνοντα νῦν.
Ion:O Fortune! who ere now hast changed the lot of countless mortals first to grief, and then to joy again, to what a goal my life had come,even to staining my hands with a mother’s blood and enduring sufferings ill-deserved! Ah well! may we not learn these truths daily in all that the bright sun embraces? O mother, in thee have I made a happy discovery, and from my point of view there is no fault to find with my birth;
Ἴων:ὦ μεταβαλοῦσα μυρίους ἤδη βροτῶνκαὶ δυστυχῆσαι καὖθις αὖ πρᾶξαι καλῶς,Τύχη, παρʼ οἵαν ἤλθομεν στάθμην βίουμητέρα φονεῦσαι καὶ παθεῖν ἀνάξια.φεῦ·ἆρʼ ἐν φαενναῖς ἡλίου περιπτυχαῖςἔνεστι πάντα τάδε καθʼ ἡμέραν μαθεῖν;φίλον μὲν οὖν σʼ εὕρημα, μῆτερ, ηὕρομεν,καὶ τὸ γένος οὐδὲν μεμπτόν, ὡς ἡμῖν, τόδε·
but what remains I fain would speak to thee apart. Come hither, for I would say a word in thine ear, and o’er these matters cast the veil of silence. Bethink thee, mother, carefully; didst thou make the fatal slip, that maidens will, as touching secret amours,and then upon the god wouldst foist the blame, in thy anxiety to escape the shame of my birth asserting that Phoebus is my sire, albeit the god was not the parent.
τὰ δʼ ἄλλα πρὸς σὲ βούλομαι μόνην φράσαι.δεῦρʼ ἔλθʼ· ἐς οὖς γὰρ τοὺς λόγους εἰπεῖν θέλωκαὶ περικαλύψαι τοῖσι πράγμασι σκότον.ὅρα σύ, μῆτερ· μὴ σφαλεῖσʼ ἃ παρθένοιςἐγγίγνεται νοσήματʼ ἐς κρυπτοὺς γάμους,ἔπειτα τῷ θεῷ προστίθης τὴν αἰτίαν,καὶ τοὐμὸν αἰσχρὸν ἀποφυγεῖν πειρωμένη,Φοίβῳ τεκεῖν με φῄς, τεκοῦσʼ οὐκ ἐκ θεοῦ;
Creusa:Nay, by our queen of Victory, Athena, that fought by Zeus, in days gone by, high on his car against the earth-born giants I swear,no mortal is thy father, my son, but King Loxias himself who brought thee up.
Κρέουσα:μὰ τὴν παρασπίζουσαν ἅρμασίν ποτεΝίκην Ἀθηνᾶν Ζηνὶ γηγενεῖς ἔπι,οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις σοι πατὴρ θνητῶν, τέκνον,ἀλλʼ ὅσπερ ἐξέθρεψε, Λοξίας ἄναξ.
Ion:How then is it he gave his own child to another father, declaring that I was begotten of Xuthus?
Ἴων:πῶς οὖν τὸν αὑτοῦ παῖδʼ ἔδωκʼ ἄλλῳ πατρὶΞούθου τέ φησι παῖδά μʼ ἐκπεφυκέναι;
Creusa:“Begotten” he never said, but as a gift he doth bestow theehis own son on him; for friend might give to friend even his own son to rule his house.
Κρέουσα:πεφυκέναι μὲν οὐχί, δωρεῖται δέ σεαὑτοῦ γεγῶτα· καὶ γὰρ ἂν φίλος φίλῳδοίη τὸν αὑτοῦ παῖδα δεσπότην δόμων.
Ion:Mother mine, this thought disturbs my breast, as well it may, whether the god speaks truth or gives an idle oracle.
Ἴων:ὁ θεὸς ἀληθὴς ἢ μάτην μαντεύεται,ἐμοῦ ταράσσει, μῆτερ, εἰκότως φρένα.
Creusa:Hear, then, my son, the thought that hath occurred to me;
Κρέουσα:ἄκουε δή νυν ἅμʼ ἐσῆλθεν, ὦ τέκνον·
Loxias out of kindness is establishing thee in a noble family, for hadst thou been called the god’s son, thou hadst never inherited a father’s home and name. How couldst thou, when I strove to hide my marriage with him and would have slain thee privily?
εὐεργετῶν σε Λοξίας ἐς εὐγενῆδόμον καθίζει· τοῦ θεοῦ δὲ λεγόμενος,οὐκ ἔσχες ἄν ποτʼ οὔτε παγκλήρους δόμουςοὔτʼ ὄνομα πατρός. πῶς γάρ, οὗ γʼ ἐγὼ γάμουςἔκρυπτον αὐτὴ καί σʼ ἀπέκτεινον λάθρα;
But he for thy interest is handing thee over to another father.
ὃ δʼ ὠφελῶν σε προστίθησʼ ἄλλῳ πατρί.
Ion:Not thus lightly do I pursue the inquiry; nay, I will enter Apollo’s shrine and question him whether I am the child of a mortal sire or his own son. Ha! who is that hovering o’er the incense-smoking roof,and showing to our gaze a heavenly face, bright as the sun? Let us fly, mother, that we see not sights divine, unless haply it is right we should.
Ἴων:οὐχ ὧδε φαύλως αὔτʼ ἐγὼ μετέρχομαι,ἀλλʼ ἱστορήσω Φοῖβον εἰσελθὼν δόμους,εἴτʼ εἰμὶ θνητοῦ πατρὸς εἴτε Λοξίου.ἔα· τίς οἴκων θυοδόκων ὑπερτελὴςἀντήλιον πρόσωπον ἐκφαίνει θεῶν;φεύγωμεν, ὦ τεκοῦσα, μὴ τὰ δαιμόνωνὁρῶμεν — εἰ μὴ καιρός ἐσθʼ ἡμᾶς ὁρᾶν.
Athena:Fly not! I am no foe ye seek to shun, but alike in Athens and this place your kindly friend.
Ἀθήνα:μὴ φεύγετʼ· οὐ γὰρ πολεμίαν με φεύγετε,ἀλλʼ ἔν τʼ Ἀθήναις κἀνθάδʼ οὖσαν εὐμενῆ.
’Tis I, Pallas, after whom your land is named, that am here, by Apollo sent in headlong haste; for he thought not fit to appear before you twain, lest his coming might provoke reproaches for the past; but me he sends to proclaim to you his words,how that this is thy mother, and Apollo thy sire; while thyself he doth bestow, as seems him good, not indeed on him that begat thee, nay, but that he may bring thee to a house of high repute. For when this matter was brought to light, he devised a way of deliverance,fearing that thou wouldst be slain by thy mother’s wiles and she by thine. Now it was King Apollo’s wish to keep this matter secret awhile, and then in Athens to acknowledge this lady as thy mother and thyself as the child of her and Phoebus. But to end the business and discharge his oracles for the god,I bid you hearken; for such was my purpose in yoking my chariot-steeds.
ἐπώνυμος δὲ σῆς ἀφικόμην χθονὸςΠαλλάς, δρόμῳ σπεύσασʼ Ἀπόλλωνος πάρα,ὃς ἐς μὲν ὄψιν σφῷν μολεῖν οὐκ ἠξίου,μὴ τῶν πάροιθε μέμψις ἐς μέσον μόλῃ,ἡμᾶς δὲ πέμπει τοὺς λόγους ὑμῖν φράσαι·ὡς ἥδε τίκτει σʼ ἐξ Ἀπόλλωνος πατρός,δίδωσι δʼ οἷς ἔδωκεν, οὐ φύσασί σε,ἀλλʼ ὡς νομίζῃ ʼς οἶκον εὐγενέστατον.ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀνεῴχθη πρᾶγμα μηνυθὲν τόδε,θανεῖν σε δείσας μητρὸς ἐκ βουλευμάτωνκαὶ τήνδε πρὸς σοῦ, μηχαναῖς ἐρρύσατο.ἔμελλε δʼ αὐτὰ διασιωπήσας ἄναξἐν ταῖς Ἀθήναις γνωριεῖν ταύτην τε σήν,σέ θʼ ὡς πέφυκας τῆσδε καὶ Φοίβου πατρός.ἀλλʼ ὡς περαίνω πρᾶγμα, καὶ χρησμοὺς θεοῦ,ἐφʼ οἷσιν ἔζευξʼ ἅρματʼ, εἰσακούσατον.
Do thou, Creusa, take this stripling and to Cecrops’ land set forth; and there upon the monarch’s throne establish him, for from Erechtheus’ stock is he sprung, and therefore hath a right to rule that land of mine.Through Hellas shall his fame extend; for his children,—four branches springing from one root,—shall give their names to the land and to the tribes of folk therein that dwell upon the rock I love. Teleona shall be the first; and next in order shall comethe Hopletes and Argades; and then the Aegicores, called after my aegis, shall form one tribe. And their children again shall in the time appointed found an island home amid the Cyclades and on the sea-coast, thereby strengthening my country;for they shall dwell upon the shores of two continents, of Europe and of Asia, on either side the strait; and in honour of Ion’s name shall they be called Ionians and win them high renown. From Xuthus too and thee I see a common stock arise;Dorus, whence the famous Dorian state will spring; and after him Achaeus in the land of Pelops; he shall lord it o’er the seaboard nigh to Rhium, and his folk, that bear his name, shall win the proud distinction of their leader’s title.
λαβοῦσα τόνδε παῖδα Κεκροπίαν χθόναχώρει, Κρέουσα, κἀς θρόνους τυραννικοὺςἵδρυσον. ἐκ γὰρ τῶν Ἐρεχθέως γεγὼςδίκαιος ἄρχειν τῆς γʼ ἐμῆς ὅδε χθονός,ἔσται τʼ ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδʼ εὐκλεής. οἱ τοῦδε γὰρπαῖδες γενόμενοι τέσσαρες ῥίζης μιᾶςἐπώνυμοι γῆς κἀπιφυλίου χθονὸςλαῶν ἔσονται, σκόπελον οἳ ναίουσʼ ἐμόν.Γελέων μὲν ἔσται πρῶτος· εἶτα δεύτερος⟨… ⟩Ὅπλητες Ἀργαδῆς τʼ, ἐμῆς τʼ ἀπʼ αἰγίδοςἔμφυλον ἕξουσʼ Αἰγικορῆς. οἱ τῶνδε δʼ αὖπαῖδες γενόμενοι σὺν χρόνῳ πεπρωμένῳΚυκλάδας ἐποικήσουσι νησαίας πόλειςχέρσους τε παράλους, ὃ σθένος τἠμῇ χθονὶδίδωσιν· ἀντίπορθμα δʼ ἠπείροιν δυοῖνπεδία κατοικήσουσιν, Ἀσιάδος τε γῆςΕὐρωπίας τε· τοῦδε δʼ ὀνόματος χάρινἼωνες ὀνομασθέντες ἕξουσιν κλέος.Ξούθῳ δὲ καὶ σοὶ γίγνεται κοινὸν γένος,Δῶρος μέν, ἔνθεν Δωρὶς ὑμνηθήσεταιπόλις κατʼ αἶαν Πελοπίαν· ὁ δεύτεροςἈχαιός, ὃς γῆς παραλίας Ῥίου πέλαςτύραννος ἔσται, κἀπισημανθήσεταικείνου κεκλῆσθαι λαὸς ὄνομʼ ἐπώνυμος.
Thus in all hath Apollo rightly done; first did he deliver thee of thy babe without sickness, so that thy friends knew naught; and after thou didst bear this child and in swaddling-clothes hadst laid him, he bade Hermes carry him in his arms hither,and did rear him, suffering him not to die. Now therefore hold thy peace as to this thy child’s real parentage, that Xuthus may delight in his fond fancy, and thou, lady, continue to enjoy thy blessing. So fare ye well! for to you Ibring tidings of a happier fate after this respite from affliction.
καλῶς δʼ Ἀπόλλων πάντʼ ἔπραξε· πρῶτα μὲνἄνοσον λοχεύει σʼ, ὥστε μὴ γνῶναι φίλους·ἐπεὶ δʼ ἔτικτες τόνδε παῖδα κἀπέθουἐν σπαργάνοισιν, ἁρπάσαντʼ ἐς ἀγκάλαςἙρμῆν κελεύει δεῦρο πορθμεῦσαι βρέφος,ἔθρεψέ τʼ οὐδʼ εἴασεν ἐκπνεῦσαι βίον.νῦν οὖν σιώπα, παῖς ὅδʼ ὡς πέφυκε σός,ἵνʼ ἡ δόκησις Ξοῦθον ἡδέως ἔχῃ,σύ τʼ αὖ τὰ σαυτῆς ἀγάθʼ ἔχουσʼ ἴῃς, γύναι.καὶ χαίρετʼ· ἐκ γὰρ τῆσδʼ ἀναψυχῆς πόνωνεὐδαίμονʼ ὑμῖν πότμον ἐξαγγέλλομαι.
Ion:O Pallas, daughter of almighty Zeus, in full assurance will we accept thy words; for I am convinced of my parentage from Loxias and this lady; which even before was not incredible.
Ἴων:ὦ Διὸς Παλλὰς μεγίστου θύγατερ, οὐκ ἀπιστίᾳσοὺς λόγους ἐδεξάμεσθα· πείθομαι δʼ εἶναι πατρὸςΛοξίου καὶ τῆσδε. — καὶ πρὶν τοῦτο δʼ οὐκ ἄπιστον ἦν.
Creusa:To what I say give ear. My former blame of Phoebus now is turned to praise,because he now restores to me the babe whom erst he slighted. Now are these portals fair unto mine eyes and this oracle of the god, though before I hated them. With joy now I even cling to the knocker on the door and salute the gates.
Κρέουσα:τἀμὰ νῦν ἄκουσον· αἰνῶ Φοῖβον οὐκ αἰνοῦσα πρίν,οὕνεχʼ οὗ ποτʼ ἠμέλησε παιδὸς ἀποδίδωσί μοι.αἵδε δʼ εὐωποὶ πύλαι μοι καὶ θεοῦ χρηστήρια,δυσμενῆ πάροιθεν ὄντα. νῦν δὲ καὶ ῥόπτρων χέραςἡδέως ἐκκρημνάμεσθα καὶ προσεννέπω πύλας.
Athena:I commend thee for thy sudden change, and thy fair words about the god.’Tis ever thus; Heaven’s justice may tarry awhile, yet comes it at the last in no wise weakened.
Ἀθήνα:ᾔνεσʼ οὕνεκʼ εὐλογεῖς θεὸν μεταβαλοῦσʼ· ἀεὶ γὰρ οὖνχρόνια μὲν τὰ τῶν θεῶν πως, ἐς τέλος δʼ οὐκ ἀσθενῆ.
Creusa:My son, let us set out for home.
Κρέουσα:ὦ τέκνον, στείχωμεν οἴκους.
Athena:Go; I will follow.
Ἀθήνα:στείχεθʼ, ἕψομαι δʼ ἐγώ.
Ion:A guide we well may prize.Creusa:Aye, and one that holds our city dear.
Κρέουσα:ἀξία γʼ ἡμῶν ὁδουρός.Ἀθήνα:καὶ φιλοῦσά γε πτόλιν.
Athena:Go, sit thee down upon the throne of thy ancestors.Ion:’Tis my heritage and I value it.
Κρέουσα:ἐς θρόνους δʼ ἵζου παλαιούς.Ἴων:ἄξιον τὸ κτῆμά μοι.
Chorus:All hail, Apollo, son of Zeus and Latona!’Tis only right that he,whose house is sore beset with trouble, should reverence God and keep good heart; for at the last the righteous find their just reward, but the wicked, as their nature is, will never prosper.
Χορός:ὦ Διὸς Λητοῦς τʼ Ἄπολλον, χαῖρʼ· ὅτῳ δʼ ἐλαύνεταισυμφοραῖς οἶκος, σέβοντα δαίμονας θαρσεῖν χρεών·ἐς τέλος γὰρ οἱ μὲν ἐσθλοὶ τυγχάνουσιν ἀξίων,οἱ κακοὶ δʼ, ὥσπερ πεφύκασʼ, οὔποτʼ εὖ πράξειαν ἄν.