Consigned him, did she? as ’tis wont to be set forth in painting. Creusa Yes, to the daughters of Cecrops, to keep him safe unseen. Ion I have heard the maidens opened the ark wherein the goddess laid him. Creusa And so they died, dabbling with their blood the rocky cliff. Ion Even so. But what of this next story? Is it true or groundless? Creusa What is thy question? Ask on, I have no calls upon my leisure. Ion Did thy sire Erechtheus offer thy sisters as a sacrifice? Creusa For his country’s sake he did endure to slay the maids as victims. Ion And how didst thou, alone of al thy sisters, escape? Creusa I was still a tender babe in my mother’s arms. Ion Did the earth really open its mouth and swallow thy father? Creusa The sea-god smote and slew him with his trident. Ion Is there a spot there called Macrae? Creusa Why ask that? what memories thou recallest! Ion Doth the Pythian god with his flashing fire do honour to the place? Creusa Honour, yes! Honour, indeed! would I had never seen the spot! Ion How now? dost thou abhor that which the god holds dear? Creusa No, no; but I and that cave are witnesses of a deed of shame. Ion Lady, who is the Athenian lord that calls thee wife? Creusa No citizen of Athens , but a stranger from another land. Ion Who is he? he must have been one of noble birth. Creusa Xuthus, son of Aeolus, sprung from Zeus. Ion And how did he, a stranger, win thee a native born? Creusa Hard by Athens lies a neighbouring township, Euboea. Ion With a bounding line of waters in between, so I have heard. Creusa This did he sack, making common cause with Cecrops’ sons. Ion Coming as an ally, maybe; he won thy hand for this? Creusa Yes, this was his dower of battle, the prize of his prowess. Ion Art thou come to the oracle alone, or with thy lord? Creusa With him. But he is now visiting the cavern of Trophonius.