Epeisodion 1
Ion
Lady, whosoe’er thou art, I see thou art of noble birth, and thy bearing proves thy gentle breeding. For from his bearing one may mostly judge
whether a man is nobly born. Yet am I much amazed to see thee close thine eyes in grief and with tears bedew thy noble face, when thou standest face to face with the holy oracle of Loxias. Why, lady, art thou thus disquieted?
240
Here, where all others show their joy at sight of Phoebus’ sanctuary, thine eye is wet with tears.
245
Creusa
Most courteously, sir stranger, dost thou express surprise at these my tears; the sight of this temple of Apollo
recalled to me a memory of long ago, and somehow my thoughts went wandering home, though I am here myself. Ah, hapless race of women! ah, ye reckless gods! What shall I say? to what standard shall we refer justice if through the injustice of our lords and masters we are brought to ruin?
250
Ion
Why, lady, art thou thus cast down, past all finding out?
255
Creusa
’Tis naught; I have shot my bolt; for what remains, I say no more, nor seek thou further to inquire.
Ion
Who art thou and whence? who is the father that begat thee? by what name are we to call thee?
Creusa
Creusa is my name, the daughter of Erechtheus I; my native land is Athens.
260
Ion
A glorious city thine, lady, a noble line of ancestry! with what reverence I behold thee!
Creusa
Thus far, no further goes my luck, good sir.
Ion
Pray, is the current legend true—
265
Creusa
What is thy question? I fain would learn.
Ion
Was thy father’s grandsire really sprung from Earth?
Creusa
Yes, Erichthonius was; but my high birth avails me not
Ion
Is it true Athena reared him from the ground?
Creusa
Aye, and into maidens’ hands, though not his mother’s—
270
Ion
Consigned him, did she? as ’tis wont to be set forth in painting.
Creusa
Yes, to the daughters of Cecrops, to keep him safe unseen.
Ion
I have heard the maidens opened the ark wherein the goddess laid him.
Creusa
And so they died, dabbling with their blood the rocky cliff.
Ion
Even so. But what of this next story? Is it true or groundless?
275
Creusa
What is thy question? Ask on, I have no calls upon my leisure.
Ion
Did thy sire Erechtheus offer thy sisters as a sacrifice?
Creusa
For his country’s sake he did endure to slay the maids as victims.
Ion
And how didst thou, alone of al thy sisters, escape?
Creusa
I was still a tender babe in my mother’s arms.
280
Ion
Did the earth really open its mouth and swallow thy father?
Creusa
The sea-god smote and slew him with his trident.
Ion
Is there a spot there called Macrae?
