Ion (247-278)

Most courteously, sir stranger, dost thou express surprise at these my tears; the sight of this temple of Apollo

recalled to me a memory of long ago, and somehow my thoughts went wandering home, though I am here myself. Ah, hapless race of women! ah, ye reckless gods! What shall I say? to what standard shall we refer justice if through the injustice of our lords and masters we are brought to ruin?

Why, lady, art thou thus cast down, past all finding out?

’Tis naught; I have shot my bolt; for what remains, I say no more, nor seek thou further to inquire.

Who art thou and whence? who is the father that begat thee? by what name are we to call thee?

Creusa is my name, the daughter of Erechtheus I; my native land is Athens.

A glorious city thine, lady, a noble line of ancestry! with what reverence I behold thee!

Thus far, no further goes my luck, good sir.

Pray, is the current legend true—

What is thy question? I fain would learn.

Was thy father’s grandsire really sprung from Earth?

Yes, Erichthonius was; but my high birth avails me not

Is it true Athena reared him from the ground?

Aye, and into maidens’ hands, though not his mother’s—

Consigned him, did she? as ’tis wont to be set forth in painting.

Yes, to the daughters of Cecrops, to keep him safe unseen.

I have heard the maidens opened the ark wherein the goddess laid him.

And so they died, dabbling with their blood the rocky cliff.

Even so. But what of this next story? Is it true or groundless?

What is thy question? Ask on, I have no calls upon my leisure.

Did thy sire Erechtheus offer thy sisters as a sacrifice?

For his country’s sake he did endure to slay the maids as victims.