Scaife ATLAS

CTS Library / Ion

Ion (1220-1270)

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg010.perseus-eng2:1220-1270
Refs {'start': {'reference': '1220', 'human_reference': 'Line 1220'}, 'end': {'reference': '1270', 'human_reference': 'Line 1270'}}
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O! hallowed soil, a stranger woman, daughter of Erechtheus, seeks to poison me. And the lords of Delphi decreed by general vote that my mistress should be hurled from the rock to die, because she strove to slay the priest and compass his death in the temple.
So now is the whole city seeking her, who hath to her sorrow sped a hapless journey; for, coming to crave the boon of offspring from Phoebus, she hath lost her life and children too.
1229
Chorus
Ah me! I see no way at all to turn death’s
hand aside; all, all, ere this, is brought to light owing to that fatal draught of the wine-god’s juice mixed for death with drops of viper’s gore, quick to slay;
detected is our offering to the dead; for me my life must end in woe, while death by stoning waits my mistress. How can I escape? Shall I take wings and fly away, or creep beneath the darksome caverns of the earth,
striving to shun the doom of death by stoning? or shall I mount the car drawn by swiftest steeds, or embark upon a ship?
1244
Chorus
No man may hide his guilt, save when some
god of his own will steals him away. Ah! my
poor mistress! what suffering now awaits thy soul? Must then our wish to work another harm end in our own discomfiture, as justice doth decree?
1250
Creusa
My trusty maids, the men of death are on my track; the vote of Delphi goes against me; they give me up to die.
Chorus
Unhappy one! we know thy sad mischance, how thou art placed.
Creusa
Oh! whither can I fly? for scarce had I the start of my pursuers from the house in my race for life; ’tis by stealth alone that I have thus far escaped my foes.
Chorus
Where shouldst thou fly except to the altar?
Creusa
What good is that to me?
Chorus
To slay a suppliant is forbidden.
Creusa
Aye, but the law has given me over to death.
Chorus
Only if thou fall into their hands.
Creusa
Look! here they come, cruel champions of vengeance, eagerly brandishing their swords.
Chorus
Sit thee down upon the altar of burnt-offering! for if thou art slain there, thou wilt fix
upon thy murderers the stain of bloodguiltiness; but we must bear our fortune.
1261
Ion
O father Cephissus, with the bull-shaped head, what a viper is this thy child, or dragon with fiery eyes that dart a murderous gleam, in whose heart is throned incarnate daring,
noxious as those Gorgon drops of venom wherewith she sought to compass my death. Seize her, that the peaks of Parnassus may card the flowing tresses of her hair, for thence shall she be hurled headlong amid the rocks. My lucky star hath kept me
from going to Athens, there to fall beneath the power of a step-mother. For I have gauged thy feelings towards me—the full extent of thy bitter hostility—whilst yet amongst my friends; for hadst thou once shut me
tip within thy house, my road to Hades’ halls had led direct from thence.

Tokens

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