Ion (1260-1306)

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.

This altar shall not save thee, nor yet Apollo’s courts, for that pity thou implorest cries out more loudly for me and my mother, who, though absent in the flesh, is never in name far from me.

Behold this cursed woman, see the web of trickery she hath woven! yet comes she cowering to Apollo’s altar, thinking to escape the punishment of her misdeeds.

I warn thee not to slay me, both in my own name and in his at whose altar I am stationed.

What hast thou to do with Phoebus?

This body I devote unto that god to keep.

And yet thou wert for poisoning his minister?

But thou wert not Apollo’s any longer, but thy father’s.

Nay, I was his son, that is, in absence of a real father.

Thou wert so then; now ’tis I, not thou, who am Apollo’s.

Well, thou art not guiltless now, whereas I was then.

I sought to slay thee as an enemy to my house.

And yet I never invaded thy country, sword in hand.

Thou didst; and thou it was that wert casting a firebrand into the halls of Erechtheus.

What sort of brand or flaming fire was it?

Thou didst design to seize my home against my will, and make it thine.

What! when my father offered me a kingdom of his getting.

How had the sons of Aeolus any share in the realm of Pallas?

Arms, not words, he brought to champion it.

No mere ally could enter into an inheritance in my land.

And was it then from fear of consequences that thou didst try to slay me?

Yes, lest I should myself perish if thou wert spared.

Doth thy childlessness make thee envious that my father found me?

And thou, wilt thou rob the childless of her home?

Had I then no share at all in my father’s heritage?

All that his sword and shield had won was thine, and thine alone.

Quit the altar and sanctuary built for gods.