Epeisodion 1
Creusa
Is thy home here in the temple, or hast thou a house to dwell in?
Ion
The god’s whole temple is my house, wherever sleep o’ertakes me.
315
Creusa
Was it as a child or young man that thou earnest to the temple?
Ion
Those who seem to know the truth, say I was but a babe.
Creusa
What Delphian maid, then, weaned thee?
Ion
I never knew a mother’s breast. But she who brought me up—
Creusa
Who was she, unhappy youth? I see thy sufferings in my own.
320
Ion
The priestess of Phoebus; I look oh her as my mother.
Creusa
Until thou earnest unto man’s estate, what nurture hadst thou?
Ion
The altar fed me, and the bounty of each casual guest.
Creusa
Woe is thy mother, then, whoe’er she was!
Ion
Maybe my birth was some poor woman’s wrong.
325
Creusa
Hast thou any store, for thy dress is costly enough?
Ion
The god I serve gives me these robes to wear.
Creusa
Wert thou never eager to inquire into thy birth?
Ion
Ah! yes, lady! but I have no clue at all to guide me.
Creusa
Alas! I know another woman who hath suffered as thy mother did.
330
Ion
Who is she? If she would but help me in the task, how happy should I be!
Creusa
’Tis she on whose account I have preceded my husband hither.
Ion
What are thy wishes? be sure I will serve thee, lady.
Creusa
I would fain obtain a secret answer from Apollo’s oracle.
Ion
Name it, then; the rest will I undertake for thee.
335
Creusa
Hear, then, this story. Yet am I ashamed.
Ion
Thus wilt thou accomplish naught, for shame is a goddess slow to act.
Creusa
A friend of mine asserts that Phoebus lay with her.
Ion
Phoebus with a mortal woman? Stranger lady, say not so.
Creusa
Yea, and she bare the god a child without her father’s knowledge.
340
Ion
It cannot be; some man did wrong her, and she is ashamed of it.
Creusa
This she denieis herself; and she hath suffered further woe.
Ion
How so, if she was wedded to a god?
