Ion (1307-1345)

Go bid thy own mother, wherever she is, do that.

Shalt thou escape all punishment, after trying to kill me?

Not if thou choose to butcher me within this shrine.

What joy can it give thee to be slain amid the sacred wreaths?

There is one whom I shall grieve of those who have grieved me.

Oh! ’tis passing strange how badly the deity hath enacted laws for mortal men, contrary to all sound judgment; for instance, they should ne’er have suffered impious men to sit at their altars,

but should have driven them away; for it was nowise right that hands unclean should touch the altars of the gods, though the righteous deserved to find a refuge there from their oppressors, instead of good and bad alike having recourse to the same divine protection with equal success.

Refrain thyself, my son; for I, the priestess of Phoebus, chosen from all the maids of Delphi in accordance with the tripod’s ancient rite, have left that prophetic seat, and am passing o’er this threshold.

Hail to thee, dear mother mine,—mother, though thou didst not give me birth.

Yes, so have I ever been called, and the title causes me no regret.

Hast heard how this woman plotted my death?

I have; thou, too, art wrong because of thy harshness.

Am I not to pay back murderers in their coin?

Wives ever hate the children of a former marriage.

As I hate step-dames for their evil treatment of me.

Do not so; but leaving, as thou art, the shrine, and setting forth for thy country—

What then wouldst thou advise me do?

With clean hands seek Athens, attended by good omens.

Surely any man hath clean hands who slays his enemies.

Do not thou do this; but take the counsel that I have for thee.

Say on; whate’er thou say’st will be prompted by thy good will.

Dost see this basket that I carry in my arms?

An ancient ark with chaplets crowned.

Herein I found thee long ago, a newborn babe.

What sayest thou? there is novelty in the story thou art introducing.

Yea, for I was keeping these relics a secret, but now I show them.

How earnest thou to hide them on that day, now long ago, when thou didst find me?

The god wished to have thee as his servant in his courts.

Does he no longer wish it? How am I to know this?

By declaring to thee thy sire, he dismisses thee from this land.