Creusa Old friend, although to meet thine eye, I am ashamed, yet will I tell thee.
Old Servant Full well I know how to lend my friends a generous sympathy.
Creusa Then hearken; dost know a cave toward the north of Cecrops’ rock, that we call Macrae?
Old Servant I know it; there is the shrine of Pan, and his altar hard by.
Creusa That was the scene of my dire conflict.
Old Servant What conflict? see how my tears start forth to meet thy words.
Creusa Phoebus forced me to a woful marriage.
Old Servant Was it then this, my daughter, that I noticed myself?
Creusa I know not; but I will tell thee if thou speak the truth.
Old Servant At the time thou wert mourning in secret some hidden complaint?
Creusa Yes, ’twas then this trouble happened, which now I am declaring to thee.
Old Servant How then didst conceal thy union with Apollo?
Creusa I bore a child; hear me patiently, old friend.
Old Servant Where? and who helped thy travail? or didst thou labour all alone?
Creusa All alone, in the cave where I became a wife.
Old Servant Where is the child? that thou mayst cease thy childless state.
Creusa Dead, old friend, to beasts exposed.
Old Servant Dead? did Apollo, evil god, no help afford?
Creusa None; my boy is in the halls of Hades.
Old Servant Who then exposed him? surely not thyself.
Creusa Myself, when ’neath the gloom of night I had wrapped him in my robe.
Old Servant Did no one share thy secret of the babe’s exposure?
Creusa Ill-fortune and secrecy alone.
Old Servant How couldst thou in the cavern leave thy babe?
Creusa Ah! how? but still I did, with many a word of pity uttered o’er him.
Old Servant Oh for thy hard heart! Oh for the god’s, more hard than thine!
Creusa Hadst thou but seen the babe stretch forth his hands to me!
Old Servant To find thy mother’s breast, to nestle in thy arms?
Creusa By being kept therefrom he suffered grievous wrong from me.
Old Servant How earnest thou to think of casting forth thy babe?
Creusa Methought the god would save his own begotten child.
Old Servant Ah me! what storms assail thy family’s prosperity!
Creusa Why weepest thou, old man, with head close-veiled?
Old Servant To see the sorrows of thy sire and thee.
Creusa Such is our mortal life; naught abideth in one stay.
Old Servant Daughter, let us cease to dwell on themes of woe.
Creusa What must I do? Misfortune leaves us helpless.
Old Servant Avenge thee on the god who first did injure thee.
Creusa How can I, weak mortal as I am, outrun those mightier powers?
Old Servant Set fire to Apollo’s awful sanctuary.
Creusa I am afraid; my present sorrows are enough for me.
Old Servant Then what thou canst, that dare—thy husband’s death.
Creusa Nay, I do respect his former love in the days when he was good and true.
Old Servant At least, then, slay the boy who hath appeared to supplant thee.
Creusa How can I? would it were possible! how I wish it were!
Old Servant Arm thy followers with daggers.
Creusa I will about it; but where is the deed to be done?
Old Servant In the sacred tent, where he is feasting his friends.
Creusa The murder will be too public, and slaves are poor support.
Old Servant Ah! thou art turning coward. Devise some scheme thyself.
Creusa Well, I too have subtle plans that cannot fail.
Old Servant If both conditions they fulfil, I will assist thee.
Cite This Text