Ion
May you be fortunate and grant me your favor, my lady.
Whoever you are, you are clearly of the highest nobility.
Everyone says that to know whether someone is well-born,
it is enough to look at their outward form.
And for clear evidence this… and of your line…
One need no more than consider your striking appearance and bearing.
But, if I might be so bold as to say
one thing about you strikes me as strange: I saw you shut your eyes
And I notice on your well-born cheeks, the damp of tears wiped away
just as you arrived here at the untainted oracle of Loxias.
My lady, may I ask why cares haunt you in this place?
When you look upon the god’s sanctum, how is it that a sight which
fills all others with wonder, somehow fill your eyes with tears?
Creousa
Oh, it is a credit to your upbringing that you noticed [such a subtlety]
And so kindly express your concern, attendant.
I — when I looked upon the temple of Apollo
I was forced to relive an old memory, that is all.
Though I am physically here, my mind is far away.
(She is again, distant)
(Sigh) Miserable women – that we are ground down under such burdens; Add to that: blasé indifference
from the gods above. But why complain? How could anyone hope for justice
xxx when the injustice which rains down upon us comes from the most powerful?
Ion
I am sorry, my lady? It is difficult for me to follow what you are saying—has something upset you?
Kreousa
It is nothing. My tongue is like a bow, held tense and drawn for too long until it misfired, so to speak. I should have kept silent. Please, do not waste any further concern on it.
Ion
*clears his throat, changing subjects* Where are my manners… I should have asked for a proper introduction. Tell me about yourself: which land do you come from? From which father were you born? By what name should I call you?
Kreousa
I am named Kreousa: [And it is proper to call me by my own noble name, not that of my husband.] My father was King Erechtheus. Athens is my home city and native land.
Ion
Oh – to think you come from such an illustrious city and are descended from
A family line which is so famous and noble. I must admit, I am in awe of you, my lady.
Kreousa
An awe that is undeserved. While there are two circumstances in which I am fortunate, attendant, trust that there are no others.
Ion
By the gods – I am dying to ask: are they true? Regarding your family, there are so many outstanding legends and tragedies about which other men sometimes speak of when…
Kreousa
Interrupts him. Feel free to ask. What is it that you want to know, attendant?
Ion
Was he — did one of your ancestors really shoot up like a sprout from out of the earth?
Kreousa
Yes: Erichthonius. But being from an autochthonous, earth-born, line has been of very little use to me in the present. xxx
Ion
And… Athena herself… did she really bear him from the earth?
Kreousa
Taken right into her perfect virginal hands. No painful labor needed for that surrogate mother.
Ion
And then she abandoned him, yes? In paintings it is normally depicted that she placed the baby in a casket and…
Kreousa
Handed him over to the daughters of Kekrops. They swore to keep the basket safe but never to look upon him.
Ion
But it was opened nevertheless, yes? I heard that the maidens could not resist and….
Kreousa
And ensured their own death: they caked the rocks below the palace in gore and stained them red with their blood.
Ion
Oh. How, horrible. Changes subject. What about… that other matter? Now I hesitate to ask whether such a thing could be true or if it is just an idle rumor…
Kr.
I hope you do not think that I am offended by your questions. What exactly are you asking about?
IO
Your father Erechtheus…. Did he really place his own blood-kin on the altar? To perform a human sacrifice?
Kr.
He forced himself to, yes. The dark earth of the fatherland demanded a virgin sacrifice –the very daughters of the king– in place of their usual bloody gifts. And so, yes, to save Athens, he killed them all.
Io
But you… how is it that you survived, alone out of all your sisters?
Kr.
At the time I was just a newborn baby, safe, deep in my mother’s embrace.
Io
Deep… oh, that reminds me. Your father… what of his mysterious disappearance after that? Is it true that he still lives, dwelling hidden deep under the earth — after a chasm opened up and swallowed him whole?
Kr
No. He was obliterated. Near the palace, you can see a place where the earth is still broken, marked by the force and impact of the sea god’s trident.
Ion
Oh. I see. Changes subject. By any chance was this near the long rocks – the Makrai? There is a place on the Acropolis called this, yes?
Kreousa
Why in the world would you ask about that place? *sigh* That has unearthed a memory that I would have preferred stay buried.
Ion
Apologies – I mean no offence. I only ask because it is said that Lord Apollo sometimes blesses the Makrai with his presence, causing the appearance of his fiery lights there.
Kr
Blesses? Ha – Blesses?! That is not what I would call what he does. But yes, it was nearby. I am very familiar with the place, though I wish I could say that was not.
Ion
I am confused: how could you react with such disgust to something so clearly touched by the love of the pure god?
Kr.
Disgust? Not exactly. But… there is a cave there and I am ashamed…
that is, I react because I know of something which happened there. Something truly shameful.
Ion
Oh, I see. Awkward pause. Well… what of your husband? Tell me: which of the Athenian citizens was lucky and privledged enough to marry such a one as you, my lady?
Kr.
Not a citizen. A foreigner.
Ion
What? I mean… but how? He must have been someone born from an exceedingly noble line.
Kr.
Oh yes. Born from the divine king Aeolus, boasting Zeus himself as his grandfather. Xouthos, by name.
Ion
Even so. You are a citizen and of the royal house — how could it be that a foreigner was permitted to marry you?
Kr.
Do you know the territory of Euboea — their major city is near Athens?
Ion
I have heard of it. Separated from each other only by a narrow inlet of water, so they say.
Kr.
Too close, in fact. We, the heirs of Kekrops, fought Euboea in a war for our very survival. Only through the aid of Xouthos’ spear were we able to conquer them, bring them into our empire.
Ion.
Ah, I see: so he volunteered as an allied fighter and merited immigration through his service. But I still do not understand how, in doing so, he also earned marriage to you.
Kr.xxx
Wryly and ironically – she is not wholly serious. I am a spear-bride — a captive, seized after a victorious battle. War was my dowry, and for his share of glory, he claimed me from among the prizes.
//Taking the dowry as the reward for his help in war
Ion
Oh. And your husband… Have you come here to ask for an oracle with him or alone?
Kr.
With him. But he wanted to stop first at the precinct of Trophionus. Though he is a fearful spirit, he is said to know the secrets beneath the fertile earth.
Ion
As a sightseer, I hope. Or was it to request an oracle?
Kr.
There is a certain question that he intends to present to both Trophionus and Phoebus.
Ion
Hmmm a question about fertility then? Something about the yield and production of crops? Sees her face. Oh, dear–no. Then it must be the other sort… something about your children…?
Kr.
The absence of a child, rather, though our marriage is hardly a new one.
Ion
Oh, I see. Because it might pertain to your consultation, might I ask: is it that you have given birth before but are currently without child or is it that you have never given birth at all?
Kr.
A million miles away. Have I ever given birth to a child? Have I lost the child to whom I gave birth? …These are questions only Phoebus can answer.
Ion
[To be denied a child…]– what a terrible burden you bear. On the surface, I thought you to be so fortunate but now I see the unfortunate truth. You have my sincere pity.