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