Creusa
But who are you? How I call your mother happy!
Ion
I am called the slave of the god, lady.
Creusa
[310]
A city's offering, or sold by someone?
Ion
I only know this; I am called Loxias'.
Creusa
Then in turn, stranger, I pity you.
Ion
Because I do not know my mother, or my ancestors.
Creusa
Do you live in this temple, or in a house?
Ion
[315]
The whole home of the god is mine, wherever I may sleep.
Creusa
Were you a child when you came to the shrine, or a youth?
Ion
Those who seem to know say that I was an infant.
Creusa
And which Delphian woman nourished you with milk?
Ion
I never knew the breast. The one who brought me up—
Creusa
[320]
Who, sorrowful one? I have found an ailment like my own.
Ion
The priestess of Apollo, I consider her my mother.
Creusa
With whose support have you have come to manhood?
Ion
The altars have fed me, and any strangers that come here.
Creusa
Your mother is unhappy; who was she, then?
Ion
[325]
Perhaps my birth is some woman's wrong.
Creusa
But you have a livelihood; for you are well dressed.
Ion
I am adorned with these by the god whom I serve.
Creusa
You have not been eager to search for your family?
Ion
I have no token of proof, lady.
Creusa
[330]
Alas! Another woman has suffered as your mother did.
Ion
Who? If she could assist my troubles, I would be delighted.
Creusa
One for whose sake I have come here before my husband.
Ion
What do you want? So that I may help you, lady.
Creusa
I want to learn a secret oracle from Pheobus.
Ion
[335]
Tell me; I shall be your sponsor for the rest.
Creusa
Then hear the story.—but Shame prevents me.
Ion
Then you will accomplish nothing; that goddess is an idle one.
Creusa
One of my friends says that she had intercourse with Apollo.
Ion
A woman with Apollo? Do not say that, stranger!
Creusa
[340]
And she bore a child to the god, without her father's knowledge.
Ion
It is not so; she is ashamed of a man's wrong.
Creusa
She says not; and the wretched woman has suffered.
Ion
What did she do to suffer, if she was coupled with the god?
Creusa
She exposed out of doors the child that she bore.
Ion
[345]
Where is the exposed child? Is it alive?
Creusa
No one knows.This is what I am asking the oracle.
Ion
If it is no longer alive, how was it destroyed?
Creusa
She expects that wild animals killed the unfortunate one.
Ion
By what sign did she know this?
Creusa
[350]
When she came to the place where she had exposed him, she could no longer find him.
Ion
Was there a drop of blood in the path?
Creusa
She says not. Although she went back and forth over much ground.
Ion
How much time has passed since the child was killed?
Creusa
If he were indeed alive, he would be your age.
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Table of Contents:
Euripides. The Complete Greek Drama, edited by Whitney J. Oates and Eugene O'Neill, Jr. in two volumes. 1. Ion, translated by Robert Potter. New York. Random House. 1938.
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