Hail, thou broad expanse of bright blue sky! What words can I find to utter my joy aloud? Whence comes to me such unexpected rapture? To what do I owe this bliss? Ion This is the last thing that ever would have occurred to me, mother, that I was thy child. Creusa With fear I tremble still. Ion Dost thou doubt my reality? Creusa Far from me had I banished these hopes. Whence, O whence, lady, didst thou take my babe into thy arms? Who carried him to the courts of Loxias? Ion ’Tis a miracle! Oh! may we for the rest of our career be happy, as we were hapless heretofore. Creusa In tears wert thou brought forth, my child, and with sorrow to thy mother didst thou leave her arms; but now I breathe again as I press my lips to thy cheek, in full enjoyment of happiness. Ion Thy words express our mutual feelings. Creusa No more am I of son and heir bereft; my house is stablished and my country hath a prince; Erechtheus groweth young again; no longer is the house of the earth-born race plunged in gloom, but lifts its eyes unto the radiant sun. Ion Mother mine, since my father too is here, let him share the joy I have brought to thee. Creusa My child, my child, what sayst thou? How is my sin finding me out! Ion What meanest thou? Creusa Thou art of a different, for different stock. Ion Alas for me! Am I a bastard, then, bom in thy maiden days? Creusa Nor nuptial torch nor dance, my child, ushered in my wedding and thy birth. Ion O mother, mother! whence do I draw my base origin? Creusa Be witness she who slew the Gorgon, Ion What meanest thou? Creusa She that on my native rocks makes the olive-clad hill her seat. Ion Thy words to me are but as cunning riddles. I cannot read them. Creusa Hard by the rock with nightingales melodious, Phoebus, Ion Why dost thou mention Phoebus? Creusa Forced on me his secret love. Ion Say on; for thy story will crown me with fame and fortune. Creusa And as the tenth month came round I bore a child to Phoebus in secret.