Why dost thou shun me, now that thou findest in me thy nearest and dearest? Ion I am not fond of schooling boors and crazy strangers. Xuthus Kill me, burn me, if thou wilt; for, if thou dost, thou wilt be thy father’s murderer. Ion Thou my father, indeed i Oh! is not news like this enough to make me laugh? Xuthus Not so; my tale, as it proceeds, will prove to thee what I assert. Ion Pray, what hast thou to tell me? Xuthus That I am thy own father, and thou my very child. Ion Who says so? Xuthus Loxias, who gave thee nurture, though thou wert my son. Ion Thou art thy own witness. Xuthus Nay, I have learnt the answer of the god. Ion Thou art mistaken in the dark riddle thou hast heard. Xuthus It seems then I do not hear aright. Ion What said Phoebus? Xuthus That the man who met me— Ion When and where? Xuthus As I came forth from the god’s temple— Ion Well! what should happen to him? Xuthus Should be my own true son. Ion Thy own true son, or a gift from others? Xuthus A gift, but mine for all that. Ion Am I the first that thou didst meet? Xuthus I have met no other, my son. Ion Whence came this piece of luck? Xuthus To both of us alike it causes surprise. Ion Ah I but who was my mother? Xuthus I cannot tell. Ion Did not Phoebus tell thee that? Xuthus I was so pleased with this, I did not ask him that. Ion I must have sprung from mother earth.