And if I come to a strange house as a foreigner, to a childless woman, who shared that misfortune with you before and now has it as her own lot,
[610]
and will feel it bitterly, how will she not hate me, and with reason, whenever I stand beside you, but she, the childless one, looks bitterly on your darling? And then either you must forsake me, looking to your wife
[615]
or honor me and throw your house into confusion. How much slaughter and destruction by poisoning have women found out for men! Besides, I pity your wife, father, growing old without a child, for she is not worthy,
[620]
being of a noble line, to have this misery.
The outward face of royalty, falsely praised , is sweet, but there is bitterness in the home; for who is happy or fortunate, who draws out his life in fear and sidelong glances?
[625]
I would rather live as a fortunate citizen than as a king, for whom it is a pleasure to have wicked friends and hate the virtuous through fear of death. You might say that gold overcomes these things
[630]
and riches give delight? I do not like to hear the noise of the crowd, while I guard my wealth at hand, nor to have troubles; I would rather have moderation, free of care.
Listen to the blessings I have here, father; first, the dearest to mortals, leisure, and
[635]
moderate trouble; no worthless creature has struck me out of the way; this is not to be borne, to give way and yield to road to the base. In prayers to the gods or . . . of men, I would serve those who rejoiced, not those who lamented.
[640]
And some I would send away, while others would come as guests, so that I was always a pleasant novelty among the new arrivals. And—what men ought to wish for, even if they are unwilling—custom and my nature made me righteous before the god. With these things in mind,
[645]
I think it better here than there, father. Let me live here; for the pleasure is equal, to rejoice in greatness or to have delight with little.
Chorus Leader
You have spoken well, if those whom I love are fortunate in what you love.
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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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