Go bid thy own mother, wherever she is, do that.IonShalt thou escape all punishment, after trying to kill me?CreusaNot if thou choose to butcher me within this shrine.IonWhat joy can it give thee to be slain amid the sacred wreaths?CreusaThere is one whom I shall grieve of those who have grieved me.IonOh! ’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.Pythian PriestessRefrain 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.IonHail to thee, dear mother mine,—mother, though thou didst not give me birth.Pythian PriestessYes, so have I ever been called, and the title causes me no regret.IonHast heard how this woman plotted my death?Pythian PriestessI have; thou, too, art wrong because of thy harshness.IonAm I not to pay back murderers in their coin?Pythian PriestessWives ever hate the children of a former marriage.IonAs I hate step-dames for their evil treatment of me.Pythian PriestessDo not so; but leaving, as thou art, the shrine, and setting forth for thy country—IonWhat then wouldst thou advise me do?Pythian PriestessWith clean hands seek Athens, attended by good omens.IonSurely any man hath clean hands who slays his enemies.Pythian PriestessDo not thou do this; but take the counsel that I have for thee.IonSay on; whate’er thou say’st will be prompted by thy good will.Pythian PriestessDost see this basket that I carry in my arms?IonAn ancient ark with chaplets crowned.Pythian PriestessHerein I found thee long ago, a newborn babe.IonWhat sayest thou? there is novelty in the story thou art introducing.Pythian PriestessYea, for I was keeping these relics a secret, but now I show them.IonHow earnest thou to hide them on that day, now long ago, when thou didst find me?Pythian PriestessThe god wished to have thee as his servant in his courts.IonDoes he no longer wish it? How am I to know this?Pythian PriestessBy declaring to thee thy sire, he dismisses thee from this land.