Stasimon 3
[Episode]
Daughter, with pity am I filled as a gaze upon thy face; my reason leaves me; for just as I am striving to lighten my spirit of its sea of troubles, comes another wave astern and catches me by reason of thy words; for no sooner hadst thou uttered this tale of present troubles
925
Old Servant
than thou didst turn aside into a fresh a track of other woes. What is it thou sayest? What charge against Apollo dost thou bring? What child is this thou dost assert that thou didst bear? Where was it in the city that thou didst expose him, for beasts to rejoice o’er his burial? Tell me once again.
930
Creusa
Old friend, although to meet thine eye, I am ashamed, yet will I tell thee.
Old Servant
Full well I know how to lend my friends a generous sympathy.
935
Creusa
Then hearken; dost know a cave toward the north of Cecrops’ rock, that we call Macrae?
Old Servant
I know it; there is the shrine of Pan, and his altar hard by.
Creusa
That was the scene of my dire conflict.
Old Servant
What conflict? see how my tears start forth to meet thy words.
940
Creusa
Phoebus forced me to a woful marriage.
Old Servant
Was it then this, my daughter, that I noticed myself?
Creusa
I know not; but I will tell thee if thou speak the truth.
Old Servant
At the time thou wert mourning in secret some hidden complaint?
Creusa
Yes, ’twas then this trouble happened, which now I am declaring to thee.
945
Old Servant
How then didst conceal thy union with Apollo?
Creusa
I bore a child; hear me patiently, old friend.
Old Servant
Where? and who helped thy travail? or didst thou labour all alone?
Creusa
All alone, in the cave where I became a wife.
Old Servant
Where is the child? that thou mayst cease thy childless state.
950
Creusa
Dead, old friend, to beasts exposed.
Old Servant
Dead? did Apollo, evil god, no help afford?
Creusa
None; my boy is in the halls of Hades.
Old Servant
Who then exposed him? surely not thyself.
Creusa
Myself, when ’neath the gloom of night I had wrapped him in my robe.
955
Old Servant
Did no one share thy secret of the babe’s exposure?
Creusa
Ill-fortune and secrecy alone.
Old Servant
How couldst thou in the cavern leave thy babe?
Creusa
Ah! how? but still I did, with many a word of pity uttered o’er him.
Old Servant
Oh for thy hard heart! Oh for the god’s, more hard than thine!
960
Creusa
Hadst thou but seen the babe stretch forth his hands to me!
Old Servant
To find thy mother’s breast, to nestle in thy arms?
