Ion (405-429)

Tell me what response thou bringest from Trophonius, touching our future hopes of mutual offspring.

He deigned not to forestal the prophecies of Phoebus. This only did he say, that neither thou nor I should return unto our house childless from the shrine.

Majestic mother of Phoebus, to our journey grant success, and may our previous dealings with thy son now find a better issue!

It will be so; but who acts as the god’s spokesman here?

I serve outside the shrine, others within,

who stand near the tripod, even the noblest of the Delphians chosen by lot, sir stranger.

’Tis well; I have attained the utmost of my wishes. I will go within; for I am told that a victim has been slain in public before the temple for strangers,

and to-day,—for it is a lucky day,—I would fain receive the god’s oracle. Do thou, my wife, take branches of laurel, and seated at the altars pray to the gods that I may carry home from Apollo’s shrine an answer that bodeth well for offspring.

All this shall be. Now, at any rate, if Loxias would retrieve his former sins, e’en though he cannot be my friend entirely, yet will I accept whate’er he deigns to give, because he is a god.

Why doth this stranger lady hint dark reproaches against the god